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  No, he would tie Lauren again, if he hadn’t frightened her off, and judging by last night’s reaction, he felt pretty sure he hadn’t. But for the foreseeable future they’d keep their kink in the bedroom or at least inside the house.

  Chapter Ten

  Lauren positively buzzed with excitement. Not only had Beth and Sarah convinced her that bondage was “normal” they had talked her into stopping at a lingerie shop to purchase a little something on the kinky side. She glanced at the plain white bag as she drove home, her cheeks turning pink at what she hoped would be John’s reaction.

  Her machine’s light blinked “1” when she got home so she hit the button as she went through her mail, sending most of it right into the small recycling box she kept under the table beside the door. John’s sexy voice came through the speaker and Lauren paused, a half smile on her face as she listened to his recording.

  “Lauren, I wanted you to know I enjoyed last night. I hope you did too. If you’re willing, I thought perhaps we could get together tomorrow afternoon and I could show you a few more of my,” there was a pause and Lauren felt a thrill all the way to her pussy, “toys,” he finished and the machine clicked off.

  “Oh I bet you have some nice toys,” she purred. “And when you see what I bought today…”

  But why had he called her home number? Why not her cell phone? She’d given him both numbers just in case. Pulling the small phone from her jeans pocket, she shook her head. “Someday they’re going to invent one of you little guys that doesn’t need its batteries recharged all the time.” With a sigh she plugged the phone into its charger and picked up her land line to return his call.

  Ten minutes later she had a date for the following afternoon with Big John at his house. Hanging up the phone, she smiled as she considered the possibilities. Kinky sex with John would never be dull, that was for certain. He’d told her to look up on the Web and see what she could find about TPE—Total Power Exchange. Something told her she wouldn’t find sites on a new form of electrical energy. Intrigued, she headed for her computer. By the time she clicked it off, the room had grown dark and she’d missed dinner entirely.

  Oh yes. Sex with John would never be dull.

  * * * * *

  John surveyed his bedroom the next morning, shaking his head and sighing. Lauren would be here in a few hours and he wanted everything set before she came. A good scene built, each event moving the tension forward increments at a time until achieving the climax. If he built it right, there would be chapters within the scene where small climaxes kept her coming back for more.

  Of course, he’d started the scene with the phone call. The message teased, hooked her in. With their conversation later he’d given her more of a hint, like reading the first few pages of a book to see if you wanted to continue.

  “Last night I bound you with scarves,” he’d told her. “Tomorrow I will take movement from you entirely.”

  He’d heard her sudden intake of breath over the phone and knew he’d gotten her. The exposition was done. Now to introduce the conflict.

  Opening the chest behind the door, he surveyed its contents. He had bondage gear of all types. Under Will and Phillip’s tutelage, he’d acquired skills that he’d honed through several liaisons when home on leave.

  None of those relationships had lasted longer than the leave, however. John didn’t mind. Going off to war was hard enough without leaving someone behind.

  Lauren, however, was not a woman to be so easily set aside. John paused in the act of picking up a particularly heavy flogger as he considered that thought. Lauren wouldn’t be a quick and simple relationship with both of them going in their own directions after the buzz of newness wore off. He’d only known her a week so saying he’d fallen in love might be a bit premature, but he suddenly realized that he was not ruling it out. He picked up the flogger and ran the thongs through his opposite hand.

  “How far do I want to push her? How far do I want to push me?” He spoke to the flogger, deep in thought. After a moment, he swished the thongs through the air, listening to the deep woof as the air protested his assault on it. “She knows a flogging can massage and arouse. First lesson learned.” Turning, he swung the flogger downward at the footboard of the bed. The leather ends cracked in the silence.

  Standing straight once more, John held the flogger to his face, inhaling the musky leather scent. “Lesson two—submission has rewards.”

  * * * * *

  She’d dressed carefully that noon. Freshly showered, lotioned and shaved, the red lace bra and matching thong went on first. He damn well better appreciate these. For such a small amount of material they had sure cost enough. But she liked the way the bra gave her real cleavage and, when she slid another long, peasant-type skirt over her hips, she liked the way the material caressed her bare ass. A simple short-sleeve blouse finished it off. Checking herself in the mirror, Lauren grinned and unbuttoned the top button, flaring out the collar to show a little of that cleavage she’d paid so much for. With a waggle of eyebrows at the sight, she headed out the door.

  Lauren pulled into his driveway, seeing the house in the daylight for the first time. The houses to either side were typical one-family homes built just after World War II. Small porches, lots of windows, big gables. By contrast, John’s small bungalow seemed tiny. How could such a large man live in such a tiny space?

  She realized she was dawdling. Putting off the moment where she walked along the flagstone path and rang the doorbell. He hadn’t peeked out to see who had pulled into his driveway. At least, she didn’t think he had. She could still drive away.

  “Stop being foolish. He’s not going to hurt you.” Scolding herself, she turned off the engine and quickly opened the door before she chickened out. Trust took time to build, she’d said on their first date—or had it been him who said it? Didn’t matter. Each step she took along the path meant a step of trust in John’s good nature and dependability.

  Her hand reached for the bell even as the door opened. John stood there, looking totally at ease and not the least bit nervous while her stomach did a little flip. It wasn’t fair.

  He wore black pants and a crisp white shirt this afternoon, the sleeves rolled up and the top buttons undone. With that wonderful goatee encircling lips she knew would taunt her, he looked every inch the modern romantic pirate.

  “Welcome to my lair,” he teased and bowed her inside as Lauren had a momentary vision of herself bound and naked over a cannon.

  The butterflies in her stomach fluttered. Ignoring them, she stepped over the threshold with a coquettish smile and a flirt. “You look very dashing today.”

  “It’s on purpose, you know.”

  She gave him a quizzical look. “Is everything you do on purpose?”

  He shrugged and led her along the corridor into the kitchen. “Pretty much.”

  “Don’t you ever do things without thinking them through?”

  John chuckled. “Sometimes.”

  A café-style, rectangular wooden table served as his kitchen table, one end butted against the wall with two tall chairs on either side of the long sides. John pulled a chair out for her on the near side toward the wall. “Just not today.”

  Confused, Lauren sat. She knew exactly why he’d invited her over today. Hell, she hadn’t been able to think of anything else since talking with him so briefly yesterday. How could he, with so few words, get so many wonderful fantasies swirling through her imagination? Would he tie her with rope this time? Chains? Leather? Between her thoughts and the internet surfing she’d done, she was primed for anything.

  “Coffee?” he offered.

  “No thanks, I’m good.”

  “I have soda, if you’d prefer something cold.”

  Lauren shook her head, suddenly unsure of herself. Maybe he hadn’t invited her over here for incredible sex. When he pulled out the chair beside her and sat to face her, though, her stomach gave another of those annoyingly arousing flips to have him so near.

/>   “Did you read up on TPE?”

  She gave him a crooked grin. “I did. Total Power Exchange. One person voluntarily gives up all decision-making power to the other. In exchange, that person gets time without responsibilities. The person in power gets the thrill of being in control of someone.”

  “In a nutshell, that pretty well sums it up.”

  “I did my homework.” She heard the pride in her own voice and wondered if giving up power meant also giving up pride.

  “You’ve gotten to know a lot about me over the past few weeks—”

  “Week,” Lauren interrupted. “I know it seems longer, but we only met a week ago last Saturday. Today’s Monday. It won’t officially be ‘weeks’ until this Saturday.”

  John sat back. “Am I moving too fast for you?”

  Lauren shook her head quickly. “No, I didn’t mean that. I—” She stopped, not entirely sure what she meant.

  John’s eyes narrowed. A slow smile spread across his face and the dimple appeared in his left cheek. It disarmed her.

  “You’re nervous.”

  At that, she laughed outright. A quick bleat of a laugh. “Well, wouldn’t you be? If you were the one giving up power?” She frowned. “That is what this is about, right? I mean, you aren’t thinking I’m the one who wants the power and you’re going to be the…” she hesitated before saying the word. Saying it out loud in front of him made it real. Really real. She said it anyway. “Submissive.”

  His chuckle reassured her. “No, rest assured. I’m the Dominant.”

  “Good.” She leaned back in her chair, suddenly understanding why he hadn’t taken her right up to the bedroom. There were roles to be hashed out, understood. Tacit understanding wasn’t enough when physical freedom sat on the line. “So what’s next?”

  He shrugged. “That’s up to you.”

  “I thought you were the Dominant. Aren’t you going to tell me what to do?”

  “Not until you give me permission.”

  That confused her. He took her hand. It was the first time he’d touched her since she’d entered and Lauren felt the thrill right down to her toes. Her gaze fell to his hand. He reached forward and tilted her chin up and she looked into his eyes.

  His gaze told her of the seriousness with which he took this. He gave her honesty. He would demand honesty from her. No defenses, no walls to hide behind, no cute turns of phrase or deflections. He would bare his soul to her. Could she do the same?

  Lauren dropped her eyes, even as his fingers remained under her chin. He cocked his head, waiting to see if she had the courage. She’d walked in through his door even after doing her homework. That was a promising sign. But if she couldn’t say the words, if she couldn’t look him in the eye and give her permission, he couldn’t take her further.

  The corner of her mouth twitched and turned upward. She let out the breath she’d been holding and brought her gaze back to his. She said the words with conviction, “Yes, John. I give you permission. Whatever we do next will be at your discretion.”

  His grin had nothing to do with his own pleasure and everything to do with the huge step she’d just taken. Well, perhaps it had a little to do with his pleasure. She trusted him and that all by itself was a powerful aphrodisiac.

  Squeezing her hand, he simply stood and pulled her to her feet. This huge act of courage should not go unrewarded. He moved his hands so his fingers encircled each of her wrists.

  “Bindings take many forms.” He kept his voice pitched low and neutral as he explained. “Sometimes I’ll want you spread, like this.” Keeping his fingers wrapped around her wrists, he moved her arms out parallel to the floor. “I might want you hanging.” He pulled her arms up over her head and heard her intake of breath. Looking down at her, he brought her arms down and around to the small of her back. “Or I might want your hands out of the way entirely.”

  She leaned forward, a little off balance at his movement of her arms. Quickly taking advantage of the fact, he transferred both her wrists to his left hand, holding her firmly as his right came up to caress her cheek.

  “With them out of the way,” he told her softly, “you can’t prevent me from taking a kiss.”

  Her face turned up to meet him as she went on tiptoe. He kept his smile inside and brushed his lips against hers, not taking possession yet. Teasing, he waited, his eyes holding hers. And still she remained on tiptoe, although now because he’d pulled her close, forcing her to remain there. With his free hand he brushed the hair from her face, cupped her neck then fisted his hand in her wonderful tresses. A gasp followed by a small noise from the back of her throat meant he followed the right track.

  Her lips really were wonderful for kissing. Such a delicate shade of pink. He loved that she wore little to no makeup. The lack signaled she liked herself. That she didn’t need more to make her feel complete. Those lips beckoned to him now, slightly parted. She leaned against him for balance, her face upturned in trust.

  When he kissed her in earnest Lauren thought she might come right there in his kitchen. The first brush tantalized, the second touch descended quickly into dominance. She knew what he wanted. What she wanted. Hadn’t she devoured those web sites last night? Each one she turned to showed her something new, something she’d thought of only in the darkest nights, something she realized now she wanted very much. Without the slightest hesitation, she bent her head back, opening to him as his lips sought hers. His tongue pressed and she let him explore. Without even realizing she did so, she leaned into him, willing her entire being to him.

  Again and again his lips slanted over hers, tasting her, taking her. She wanted to reach up and take him in her arms, but he had her arms caught fast. Her knee, a woman’s best weapon against unwanted advances, could do damage. Part of her knew she could twist away if she really wanted to.

  But she didn’t want to. He had asked for her submission, freely given. Well, she was giving it, enjoying every moment of his touch on her.

  And then he was gone. He pulled away, letting her hands go and setting her on her feet. The sudden lack of closeness disoriented her and she blinked several times trying to catch her breath and looked up to see him grinning.

  “You are amazing, do you know that?” he told her.

  “I am? I was just thinking the same thing about you and that kiss. Hot damn, but that was good.”

  “So you’re okay with all this? You’ll exchange power with me for the afternoon?”

  “Oh yeah. If it leads to more kisses like that one, I’m a go for launch.”

  He laughed and took her hand. “Then let’s get you to the launch pad.”

  Without another word, he led her back through the short hall to the stairs. In less than a minute they’d reached the doorway of his bedroom, which Lauren could see had been set up before she got there.

  For one thing, the bed had been stripped of all coverings but for a single fitted sheet over the mattress. Glancing around, she saw the comforter neatly folded in the corner with the pillows on top. This afternoon’s events were not going to be sex, a cuddle and a nap. She shivered in spite of her desires.

  Several long, silver rods sat propped against the wall by his dresser, the top of which had also been cleared. Where several days ago lay the detritus of a normal life—a comb, a brush, deodorant, cologne, now lay a ping-pong paddle, a riding crop, a small rubber flogger and several vibrators in neat rows. Just a few of the toys he wanted to show her?

  “Coming?”

  Lauren started, not having realized she’d paused in the doorway. Chuckling, she stepped into the room with a flip remark. “Not yet.”

  He laughed with her and Lauren liked that zingers weren’t against the rules. This ground held no familiarity. She’d given him power, but what, exactly, did that mean? Suddenly the protocols seemed overwhelming.

  “John, I…” She ordered her thoughts and tried again. “Sorry. I’m just not sure what I’m supposed to do all of a sudden. Giving myself to you to ‘play’ with, as t
he site I looked at last night called it, is a wonderful thought in the abstract. But in the reality, am I just supposed to blindly follow along? Passive to the extreme?”

  John pulled her close and took her in his arms. “That’s where the negotiation comes in. We haven’t really done any of that because you’re too new at this. You don’t know the questions to ask. That’s okay.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “You’ll figure out what you want. I suspect,” he unbuttoned the top button of her blouse, “that we’ll develop protocols together.”

  “You don’t want me to call you ‘Sir’, do you?”

  His fingers continued to unbutton her blouse. “We’re both military. For us, that title has overtones it doesn’t have for others.”

  She smiled, resisting the urge to wrap her arms around his neck. “And of course, there’s the little matter that I outrank you.”

  The back of his finger brushed over her collarbone. “Which would make it only more interesting.”

  She was losing track of the conversation. Her blouse now hung open, his fingers coming lower to explore the lacy outlines of her new bra.

  “Very interesting,” she breathed.

  “As is this.” John’s finger slid under the lace to caress the top of her breast. The lace she’d bought to seduce him. Only he turned the tables. He seduced her. Taking in a deep breath that swelled her breasts, she let it out slowly, the muscles of her shoulders relaxing as she did so.

  “Better?” he asked.

  His finger had reached her nipple. All she could do was nod.

  With a sudden movement, he brushed her blouse off her shoulders and turned her around so she leaned against him. Once again he captured her hands behind her. With her head against the hard muscles of his chest, her neck lay open and bare. When the back of his free hand brushed against her cheek and continued along her neck, Lauren suddenly understood just how vulnerable she was.

  John knew he didn’t need to actually apply pressure to Lauren’s neck to get the effect he wanted. All he had to do was rest his hand there, his fingers encircling that wonderful whiteness. She trembled but didn’t make any move to get away. Taking this as a good sign, he continued, wanting to explore that lacy bra. Was it new? He hoped so. That would mean she’d bought it just for him and that thought gave him a very warm feeling that had nothing to do with sex.