The Collar, Page 25

  He took her hand. “I shouldn’t have kept his threats secret. At the time, I thought I was protecting you. I see now it implied you weren’t strong enough to handle it.”

  She set her wineglass down and shifted to face him. With her free hand she brushed the hair from his forehead. “In a way, I’m glad it happened like it did. I don’t know if I’d have had the confidence to confront him all those years ago.”

  “You had it.”

  “You always have thought I was capable of doing more than I thought I could.”

  He leaned closer; she still smelled like flowers. “I just see you more clearly than you see yourself.”

  “And who do you see now?”

  “A beautiful, strong, courageous woman. Who would have made a kick-ass Domme.”

  “Oh yeah? And what are you going to do?”

  He let go of her hand so he could stroke her cheek. “I’m going to start by kissing her.”

  With a patience he didn’t know he possessed, he took her in his arms and kissed her. Though he was tempted to rush things along, he’d been wanting this moment for days and wasn’t going to hurry through it.

  She sank into his embrace as though she’d never left, lifting her head and meeting his kiss with one of her own. His lips traced the curve of her jaw, and he allowed his hand to slip under her robe and caress her shoulder.

  Moving as slowly as possible, he drew the robe down to expose her collarbone to his lips. He nibbled along, following the path that led to the hollow of her throat, and he smiled in satisfaction. “Your heart is racing.”

  “You’re killing me.”

  “Good.” He gave her shoulder a small bite, and she rewarded him with a groan.

  “Isn’t this when you go get your bags?”

  “No,” he said, starting at the other shoulder and following the same path.

  “No?”

  “No,” he repeated. “If I go get my bags, I’ll be tempted to rush. This way”—he slipped the robe off her shoulders completely—“I’ll be sure to take my time.”

  She arched her back and hissed in pleasure when he teased the upper skin of her breasts with his lips. “I’m not sure I follow your logic.”

  “That’s okay.” He ran his tongue along the lace edge of her corset. “All it means is I’m going slow tonight. I’m going to bring you to the edge while you’re still in this gorgeous outfit, and then I’m going to have you take it off for me. And when you’re finally naked, I’m going to kiss every inch of your skin. Watch you squirm and listen to you beg. And when I think you’ve had enough, I’m going to slide between those pretty little legs and ease my cock inside until you’re completely filled.” He’d made it back up her body, so he nibbled her earlobe and continued whispering. “I’ll hold still for a bit, let you get used to my dick, because when I pull out and start to fuck you, I’m not holding back. I’m going to pound into you so hard and deep you’ll remember my claiming you for days.”

  She bucked against him. “God, Jeff. Fuck me now. Please.”

  “But I can’t. You’re nowhere near the edge yet.”

  “Oh, trust me.” She shifted her body and tried to pull him on top of her. “I’m on the edge. I’m hiking the edge. I’ve set up a picnic on the edge.”

  His fingers skirted the wet fabric of her thong, gently rubbing her clit through the cloth. “Impossible. I’ve barely touched you.”

  “You’re that good.” She grinded her hips to get more friction. “Please, oh please.”

  “Sounds like I need to slow down even more,” he whispered against her lips.

  He’d just given her a soft kiss when a noise from outside caught his attention. His head shot up. “What was that?”

  “Didn’t hear anything. Come back.”

  “Sounded like something by your door.”

  She tried to pull him close again. “Probably the neighbors.”

  He heard it again. “I’d better check it out.”

  “If you leave me on this couch alone, I’m stripping out of this lingerie without you watching.”

  “If you’re naked when I get back, I’m making you watch me jerk off alone,” he warned, rising to his feet.

  She huffed. “You’re impossible.”

  “No. I just like having my way.”

  “Same thing.”

  “Say another word and I spank your ass after I check things out.”

  Desire and playfulness filled her eyes, and she kept her gaze on him when she replied, “Word.”

  He pointed at her and grinned. “That’s ten. Hands and knees on the bed, your ass in the air, waiting for my hand. Then I’m moving you to your back so you can hold your legs open while I give that naughty pussy ten more.”

  Her only response was a low moan of eager anticipation.

  “Let me take care of this first.” He opened the door, expecting to see darkness, but instead finding Ron.

  “What the hell?”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Present day

  From her place on the couch, Dena tried to peer around Jeff’s body. “Is someone out there?”

  “Call the police. And you,” he said, reaching for whoever it was outside, “don’t even try to run unless you want me to break every bone in your body.” With a jerk, he pulled the person inside and something fell to the ground. “Not that I’m not sorely tempted to do so anyway.”

  Dena gasped as she saw Ron. What was he doing outside her apartment? She looked down at his feet. With a can of red spray paint?

  “There’s a red W on your front door,” Jeff said, his voice filled with barely controlled anger. He shook Ron. “You little fucker. I bet you’re the one who’s been harassing her.” He glanced at her. “Dena. Police.”

  His voice snapped her into action. Ron? Why?

  She reached for the phone and hesitated. “Is that really necessary? The police? Can’t the group handle him?”

  Jeff still had Ron by the scruff of the neck. “At least call Daniel,” he said, and then addressed Ron. “The only reason I’m not beating you into a pulp right now is because it’d cause problems for Dena. If you’re smart, you’ll explain what your problem is before I decide I don’t care and beat the shit out of you anyway. What the fuck were you thinking, threatening a woman?”

  Ron looked like he was about to throw up. Whatever he’d been expecting, being caught by Jeff wasn’t one of them. “I—I—I,” he stuttered.

  Jeff shook him. “Speed it up.”

  “You weren’t supposed to be here,” Ron said.

  “What?” Dena asked.

  “I thought you were going to Jeff’s house.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?” Jeff asked.

  “She wouldn’t play with me,” he rushed out.

  “I wouldn’t what?” she asked Ron, scrolling through her contacts. Her finger trembled as she pulled Daniel up.

  “Outside of a session with Ma-Master Covington.” Ron looked from her to Jeff. “She would never do a scene with me. She always turned me down.”

  “And you thought harassing her would change her mind?”

  “I just wanted to scare her.”

  “Fucking asshole,” Jeff said with a growl.

  “Hello?” Daniel answered his phone. From the silence in the background, she guessed he and Julie were at dinner with the Wests.

  Her voice shook while she explained what had happened, and he let out a string of expletives before saying he and Julie would be right over.

  “They’re on their way,” she told Jeff, who was still towering over Ron with his arms crossed and a glare that dared the younger man to move.

  Dena didn’t know what to do. Never in all her years of being a senator’s daughter had she had to handle a situation quite like this. She was scared. What if he broke confidentiality? She was angry. And though she knew she shouldn’t be, she was a little ashamed.

  But she had to do something. She didn’t want to just stand around. Her eyes fell on her discarded win
e and she realized she was half-dressed.

  “I’m going to put some clothes on.”

  Jeff nodded, never moving his eyes from Ron.

  She reentered the living room seconds before someone knocked on the door. Everything felt so surreal, like she was watching a movie. She crossed the floor, looked out the peephole, and let Daniel, Julie, Nathaniel, and Abby in.

  Julie gave her a hug. “You okay?”

  She nodded.

  Daniel had a look of disgust on his face. She thought it was directed at Ron until he spoke. “Shit, Dena, I’m so sorry.”

  “You? Whatever for?”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “I feel responsible. If it weren’t for me, this would have never happened.”

  “Don’t blame yourself,” she said, trying to reassure him. “I don’t blame you.”

  “First Sasha and now you.” He shook his head and glanced at Jeff, and she realized he was disgusted with himself. “We have to redo the entire mentor program. We’re doing something wrong.”

  “This isn’t the time, but yes, I agree,” Jeff said.

  “Did you call the police?” Nathaniel asked, and Ron turned green.

  “No,” Dena said. “I don’t want them involved. The group can deal with it.”

  “I think that’s a really bad decision,” Nathaniel said.

  “It’s mine to make.” She looked at where Jeff still towered over Ron. It didn’t appear either was paying her any attention.

  “Piece of shit, threatening women,” Jeff said. “Dominants protect and treasure submissives; they don’t try to scare the hell out of them.” He cocked his head at Ron. “Were you at the party Dena and I were supposed to demo at?”

  The fear deepened in Ron’s eyes. “Y-yes.”

  “So you know what happened?”

  “Vaguely.”

  “Did you know she was late because of your call? Did you hear me punish her?” Jeff put a hand on either side of the chair and got in Ron’s face. “Were you glad?”

  Ron didn’t say anything.

  “Dena, go get my toy bag out of the truck.”

  Dena felt rooted to the floor. What is he thinking?

  “Uh, Jeff?” Daniel asked.

  “I figure he deserves at least what I gave Dena.”

  “I agree with you in theory,” Nathaniel said. “But perhaps now isn’t the best time?”

  “You’re probably right,” Jeff said, and at that moment, Dena knew he’d had no intention of taking a strap to the younger man. “I want you to remember one thing, Ron. I owe you thirty lashes. I will pay up.”

  Or maybe he just didn’t intend to do it that particular night.

  Ron left two hours later.

  “I don’t think he’ll be causing any more problems,” Jeff said, closing the door behind him.

  “After the talk we gave him?” Nathaniel asked. “Not if he’s smart.”

  The three men had taken Ron into her guest room. “To talk,” Daniel had said. She wasn’t sure what the men told him, but he’d scurried out of her apartment as soon as they were finished.

  “I only wish Cole had been here instead of in meetings in New York,” Daniel said, and there was still a trace of guilt when he spoke. “He can be one scary bastard when he wants to be.”

  Dena hated that Daniel felt guilty. It wasn’t anything he’d done or hadn’t done. No one had suspected Ron had been the one harassing her. The whole thing made her want to cry or throw something. Probably, she’d feel better if she did both.

  “Sometime later this week or next, we need to sit down and decide what we’re going to about the mentor program,” Jeff said. “But right now I think Dena needs some rest.”

  The men spoke quietly near the door, while Julie and Abby hugged her and promised to call the next day. She was so thankful to have such supportive friends.

  When everyone left, Jeff turned to her. “Are you okay?”

  She took one look at him and burst into tears, sobs shaking her body.

  “Dena.” Jeff crossed the room, swept her into his arms, and carried her to the couch, where he put her in his lap and let her cry until there weren’t any tears left. All the while he rubbed her back, whispering things she couldn’t hear, but just the sound of his voice and the feel of his arms around her made her feel better.

  “Stay with me tonight?” she asked, looking up at him with wet eyes.

  He wiped her cheek with his thumb. “I’m not about to leave you alone.”

  “I’m just … I can’t … I played with him.” She felt betrayed, and worse—she felt dirty. She buried her head in Jeff’s chest. “I just want to crawl into bed and pretend nothing happened.”

  “He better stay far away from you. If I ever see him again …”

  His threat hung in the air.

  “Would you really take your leather strap to him?”

  “That’s the least I’ll do.” He stroked her hair. “Are you hungry? Thirsty?”

  She shook her head, not wanting to move from Jeff’s arms, but a yawn escaped before she could stop it.

  “Bed it is,” he said.

  He carried her to the bedroom even though she protested that she could walk just fine. He said he simply wanted to hold her and she’d just have to deal with it.

  After putting her in the middle of the bed, he told her to stay put and then rummaged through her drawers, looking for pajamas, she supposed. Suddenly, everything caught up with her and she felt exhausted. She watched him for a few minutes until her eyelids grew heavy.

  “Sleep naked,” she heard herself say. “Do it.”

  Jeff mumbled something, but she couldn’t hear, so she started taking her clothes off. Within seconds, his hands were on hers. She couldn’t tell if he was trying to stop her or if he was helping. Eventually, she just stayed still. It was Jeff; she was safe.

  The last thing she remembered before sleep overtook her was the security of his arms around her and his heart beating strongly in her ear.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Present day

  She woke gradually the next morning, taking time to grow aware of her surroundings before she opened her eyes. She was warm, wrapped in her soft sheets and downy comforter. Bentley hadn’t crawled into bed yet, so it couldn’t be that late. The room was still mostly dark, she noted, opening one eye. She shifted slightly and bumped into hard muscle. Hard male muscle.

  Jeff pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck. “Good morning.”

  She remembered falling asleep wrapped in Jeff’s arms, but he had never been one to hang out in bed once he woke up. “Good morning,” she said, twisting her body to face him and realizing at that moment that she was naked.

  His eyes swept over her. “I’ll say.”