Page 22

M y heart rate was through the ceiling, the sound of my blood roaring in my ears deafening while I waited for what was coming next. Adrian was in a mood, one that I had felt building since we crossed the one-month mark of me working for him several weeks ago.

He was certainly tough to get a read on. There always seemed to be this push and pull between us. I think the best way for me to describe it, at least to myself, was that he was drawn to me but didn’t want to be. Sometimes, I thought he might even hate me for making him feel. Maybe he hated himself. He certainly confused me. So many times, I could feel him looking at me when he thought I wouldn’t notice, but how could I not? I was so attuned to him that if he breathed in my direction, I was aware of it. I was aware of him.

So many times, I would act like I was oblivious, then I would surprise him by turning to stare back. It was then that the mask would slip, and I could glimpse the raw emotions on his face before he schooled his features once more. More often than not, I would see desire and longing, maybe even outright need. It always felt like he wanted more from me, perhaps more than I would be able to give him. I certainly wanted to try, though. He always made me want to try.

I’d like to think I did the same for him. I was never sure, but I knew he was behaving out of character for himself. He had gone out of his way to make me happy not only with the little tree that was still on his desk, but also by buying the life-sized version and decorating it with me. How long had it really been since he’d done more than work? How long had it been since he’d…

THWACK!

“One, Sir!”

The feel of the leather striking my flesh startled me. The first few strikes always did. It felt like my whole body was shocked into awareness and my brain struggled to process what was happening. I counted out loud as instructed, my body bucking and bowing not against the blows, but toward them. My nerve endings were on fire now, my breath coming in gasping pants while I tried to draw more oxygen into my lungs. God, I had missed this. I hadn’t realized how much because I had been so busy trying to keep up with my boss’ demanding schedule.

I could smell my own arousal and I knew Adrian could, too. I heard a few swear words over the ringing in my ears and I knew what he would be compelled to do.

He stepped closer, moving two long fingers to trace my lower lips, capturing the evidence of my desire that was making its way down my thighs. Groaning, I let my head fall backward in an unspoken plea for a kiss. With his other hand, he gave my ass cheek a hard smack, making me wince. Automatically, I called out the count.

“Six, Sir!”

Low, rueful laughter rumbled in my ear. “Such a good girl, Karma. That count wasn’t necessary because it wasn’t with the strap. Make sure you say that number again when we restart.”

“Y-yes, Sir,” I replied dutifully. Desperation was thick in my tone. I could never outright ask, but I really wanted to feel his lips on mine. Physical contact between us had been limited for some time, and now I craved him. Surely, he could see that on my face.

His eyes roamed my features and he seemed satisfied. Stepping even closer, he pressed himself against my backside, the feel of his flesh against mine abrading my sensitive skin. Being tied to a pillar made it impossible for me to do anything beyond taking whatever he did, and the feel of being held captive and at his mercy making me shiver.

“Cold, Karma? You’re sweating. I would think you were burning up.”

“Not cold, Sir,” I choked out. “Please…I need…”

“I know what you need, Karma,” he said, teeth nipping at my earlobe. “You need to be whipped, sucked, and fucked. Well, today is your lucky day.”

At that, he flicked the bows adorning my nipples, the weight of them tugging the clipped peaks downward and making them throb. Moaning, I began tugging at my bonds, wanting to free myself so I could turn around. I felt a hand sliding down my abdomen and knowing where he was going next, I whimpered, then moaned when he thrust three fingers inside my drenched channel. In, out… in, out… he worked me up until I was quivering from head to toe, then Adrian stepped back, leaving my backside exposed once more. I heard the whoosh of leather a mere second before the strap made contact with my skin.

“S-six, Sir!”

“Good girl for remembering, Karma. Fuck you are so obedient.”

His praise bloomed in my chest. So many sensations were assaulting my body at the same time. Whipped, sucked, and fucked… I did indeed need to be all those things and the images of this man doing each one to my bound body made the leg I was standing on buckle. If I wasn’t securely tied upright, I would have ended up on the floor.

I continued to count until Adrian had reached ten then I heard the heavy thump of leather hitting the floor beside me. He pressed against me again, turning my face to the side. I knew he would be able to see the tears streaming down my cheeks. His voice sounded so far in the distance; it almost didn’t penetrate the blissful haze I was experiencing.

“Tears for me, Karma?”

I barely managed a nod. “For you, Sir. All for you.”

The energy shifted slightly, then he slammed his lips over mine. I sighed with longing while pouring everything into the kiss. He ate at my lips, biting my tongue as though he was trying to consume me outright. I went to slide fingers through his hair and huffed in frustration when the reality of my bound state reminded me once more, I could do nothing but take what he gave me. He seemed amused at my frustration. Lifting his head, dark eyes held mine.

“Do you have any idea how fucking hard you make me? Tying you up so you are completely at my mercy… I could do anything, anything Brynn and all you could do is watch.”

Even in my dazed euphoric state, it did not go unnoticed that he had called me by my name.

Adrian moved from behind me to kneel between my legs. His face was in the perfect position to further torment me. He ran fingers up my left leg, digging nails into my flesh while he moved upward. I dropped my head so I could watch, feeling a fresh rush of moisture begin to drip from my needy pussy. My eyes widened when I saw that he was watching my every reaction. His eyes were nearly black with desire, his cheeks stained with the red flush of arousal. His sheathed dick looked painfully hard, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before we both got relief from the intense need we felt.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him pick up the knife that he had placed earlier on the floor. It was a kitchen knife, but it certainly looked lethal in this context. Adrian was incredibly skilled with knives, so I wasn’t concerned about my safety. I was more concerned about whether or not I would be able to remain conscious from the amount of pleasure I was about to be given.

“The lady likes knives,” he crooned, dragging the edge of the blade over my calf. He alternated between using the dull side and the knife edge on my leg. Goosebumps broke out on my skin in the wake of his teasing. Choked, garbled words began to leave my lips and the grin he gave me was practically feral.

“Let it happen, Karma. Go with it. Tell me what you feel.”

After licking my dry lips, I tried to make my tongue move in the right direction. “Too much,” I said. “I feel too much, yet it’s not enough.” I cried out sharply as he nicked the inside of my knee. Just a small cut that would barely be noticeable by anyone at work. His name left me on a deep sigh when he leaned in to lick at the small droplet of blood. Never in my wildest imagination had I ever thought I would be into knife play, but I found it sexy as fuck to see this man wield a blade and mark my skin.

“Keep talking, Karma,” he encouraged, making another shallow cut midway up my inner thigh.

“I- it’s almost an out of body experience,” I panted out. “I feel what you do to me, but… it’s almost like it’s not me. I… oh, god!”

He licked the spot on my inner thigh before using his teeth. The very thin control I had over my impending orgasm became nearly absent at that moment.

Inch by inch, the man teased and tormented me, trying to see how far he could push me until I cracked. I refused to give in to the incessant urging of my body to just “go with it”. I wouldn’t falter and I wouldn’t fail. Doubling down on my efforts to wait for his command, I became more vocal, indicating by my words and sounds how close I was. His eyes swept upward, holding my gaze. He seemed extremely smug.

The shiny blade in his hand hovered at the apex of my thighs. Fuck. This might be my tipping point.

“God damn…look at how wet you are. You know what’s coming and instead of backing away, you are basically begging me, Karma.”

He ran the dull side of the knife up and down my slit, pausing to rub my clit furiously with it until I gasped. Adrian turned the blade over until the sharp side was now poised over my sensitive nub.

“Tell me, Karma. Tell me.”

I didn’t have to ask what he meant. I knew.

“Please, Sir. I need it. I need you.”

He dug the tip into the area where I wanted to feel it most. My body began to shake uncontrollably. When he sucked the nub into his mouth, I screamed his name at the top of my lungs.