Chapter Eleven

Release

Tucker

Ella was sublime. As she contracted around his cock, he couldn’t hold back anymore. Pulling abruptly from her warmth, he fisted her head and forced her around to face him.

“Sir?” She looked stunned as she gazed up at him.

“On your knees.” He pressed on her shoulder, using his other hand to guide her into position. There was no time to explain. He was going to pump his cum all over her delectable face, then he’d hold her.

Who gave a shit about his water bill? He could afford it, and after weeks of virtually no water use at all, he figured he was owed the deluge.

His finger tightened in her sodden hair as his seed exploded over her dazed expression, her eyes fluttering closed at the same time her mouth opened to catch what he had to offer.

There were no words for indulgence like this. As the power of the orgasm swept him up like a cyclone, he could only wonder how he’d gone so long in his life without it.

Tucker didn’t know how long he stood there with the shower beating down on his back. Time had no place in perfect pockets of pleasure like the one they’d manifested. It had no right to set the tone. All he knew was that when awareness roused him again, his digits had softened in her hair, allowing her to lean against his hand. As his eyes finally opened, he realized hers were closed.

“Ella.” He tugged her to her feet, directing her back under the warmth of the water.

“That was incredible.” She mumbled the praise as he reached for the bottle of conditioner by his feet.

“It was.” His lips curled at the contentment on her face. “Let me finish your hair.”

She let out a satisfied moan as he smoothed the product into her wet tresses, apparently more than happy for him to take care of the task.

“Do you want to shave, little girl?” He remembered how smooth her skin had been when he’d first been exposed to her wonderful body and had noticed how the regrowth had started on her legs and underarms. Not that it bothered him one iota. Ella was freaking gorgeous, hair or no hair.

“Mmm?” She turned her head toward him, her brows knitting as though she didn’t understand his words.

“I have a brand-new razor over there.” He motioned to the same shelf where she’d found the shampoo. “You’re welcome to use it.”

A part of him couldn’t believe he was prepared to arm his captive, when only a few days before, he was sure she’d have used the blade against him. But things were different now. They were different. There was no rational reason to have faith in the change, yet deep down, he sensed it.

“Thanks.” Her tiny, impish smile was madly sexy as she shuffled toward the disposable razor.

“Do you need a hand?” He couldn’t resist his wry tone as he watched her play with the cap protecting the blade. “You seem a little overcome.”

“I think I was, sir.” Her free hand rose to her face, her fingertips trailing over the places his semen had branded her skin before the shower had washed it away. “But I’ll be okay.” She looked more like herself as she collected the unused quantity of conditioner from her scalp and rubbed it under her arms.

“Okay.” He watched her for a moment, in awe of her long, slender limbs as she worked. “I’ll get you a towel for when you’re ready.” Stepping out of the heat, he reached for the nearest bath sheet and threw it around his shoulders before he selected one for his little girl. He leaned against the tile, watching her as she shaved first one, then her second leg.

“All done?” Christ, she was breathtaking to watch.

“I think so, sir.” She angled her calves under the water before returning the razor to the shelf.

“We’d best switch off the water then.” He motioned to the control on the wall next to where he’d fucked her. “We’ve probably used enough for the next six weeks.”

She smirked as she walked over to the panel and pressed the button to cease the flow. Tucker took her hand, helping her the short distance to where he stood before wrapping the cobalt towel around her.

“Wow.” The devils in her eyes looked satiated as he pulled her into an embrace.

“Wow, indeed.”

“That was…” Her words faded away as he tilted her chin, so their gazes locked.

“Even better than at the cabin,” he finished for her.

“Right.” She flattened the damp strands of her hair away from her face. “I’ve never met anyone like you before, sir.”

“I should hope not,” he admonished in a playful tone. “Men like me are bad news.”

“Tell that to my clitoris.” She flashed him a cheeky smile.

“Gladly.” He chuckled at how alluring her impertinence was. “But not until you’re properly punished for your latest transgression.”

“Punished?” Her blonde brow arched. “For what, sir? Didn’t you just literally reprimand me?”

“That pain was for pleasure.” He kissed the top of her head, hoping his cock wouldn’t dwell too deeply on how magnificent it had been to swat her to what was obviously an impressive climax. “This next one won’t be.”

“What?” Her brow creased, but he noted how there was no fight in her. She might not approve of the idea of another penance, but she no longer seemed to fear one. “Why?”

“I already told you, little girl.” He still couldn’t believe how beautiful she was. “For that comment you made about my beloved cabin.”

“What comment?” she demanded, although the guilty gleam in her eyes suggested that she already knew.

“Let me think…” He mused aloud. “As I recall, you called my cabin ‘crappy.’”

“Oh, that.” Her lips twisted into a smile. “Well, it is crappy, sir. That’s not my fault.”

“You are so bad.”

His hand reached for her tresses and fisted them gently. He had been genuinely spurned by the comment, and he was more than happy to deliver a lesson about respect. Tucker still believed his lodge in the forest merited admiration. He suspected a part of him would always love the place.

“I’m just saying that I prefer this apartment.” She grinned as her gaze darted about the large bathroom. “That’s all, sir.”

“Oh, I’m sure you do…” Lowering his mouth, he skimmed his lips over hers. “And don’t worry, Ella. You’re not going anywhere. Now, get yourself dry. You have an appointment with my right palm.”

***

Ella

The warm contentment that had started in her clit and spread around her body clouded her head as Tucker guided her from the bathroom. He’d found a huge, fluffy robe for her from a nearby closet, and snuggling into its soft confines, with her toes pressed into the deep fibers of the carpet, she chose not to dwell on his intentions.

He was going to spank her. She understood enough about the man who clasped her hand and led her through the hall into yet another gigantic room to know the threat wasn’t idle.

Shouldn’t I be scared?

The question flitted through her mind as she eyed the new room, with sprawling cream couches and glass coffee tables, leading her to think it was his lounge.

“This is lovely.” She glanced around the light and airy living space, lifting her fingers to her hair and dragging the digits through the strands. She’d need to brush her mane soon, or else it would become untamable. “Is this where you want to spank me, sir?” Her voice sounded distant, as if it was coming from somewhere else. She turned her head as though she expected to see its owner, finding his bemused expression.

“Are you okay, little girl?” He spun to face her, concern flickering in his big blue eyes. “Because this can wait if you’re not well.”

“Maybe I’m just overheated from the shower?” Her hand lowered to her left cheek. She did feel hot, but after so long under the glorious water and all his close attention, she was hardly surprised. “I don’t know, sir.”

“Do you need to cool off?” He tugged at the collar of the fluffy robe. “I can turn up the temperature in here and take this off?”

“Sounds good.” She smiled as he wandered a few paces to the wall and tweaked the thermostat. Tucker was only wearing a towel around his waist, exposing enough of his tempting, muscular body to remind her of some of the many reasons he was so difficult to say no to.

“There.” His lips curled as he met her eyes. “Any other requests, little girl?”

“Do you have a hairbrush, sir?” The Tucker she’d met in the woods wouldn’t have even owned a brush, but she’d seen quite a different side of the man since they’d arrived in the city. It was possible he had one hiding around there somewhere.

“Is this a grooming parlor?” His dark eyebrow arched with his sardonic tone. “Or the lounge I’m going to spank you in?”

“I know, sir.” She offered a small shrug. “It’s just I didn’t get to bring an overnight bag, so I’m a little stumped when it comes to these things.”

“Okay.” His expression relaxed. “I have something in my bedroom.” His gaze glided to the door. “But that would mean me trusting you to stay here by yourself and not get into any mischief.”

“I can do that.” She looked around the space again, thinking how much it reminded her of one of the spreads from those glossy magazines her mother read. Every inch of the place was spotlessly clean, with fresh flowers collected in vases around the room. Even to Ella, who’d grown up with wealth, the place was surreal.

“Can you?” He sounded unconvinced. “Because we don’t have the greatest track record when it comes to me leaving you unattended, do we?”

“That’s not true, sir,” she countered. “You left me in the cabin after I had to use the bucket, and I was still on the bed when you returned.”

She wished she had a less humiliating example to offer, but life had been one mortifying experience after the next in the forest. Wherever they were right now, at least this place had a fully plumbed toilet.

“That’s true.” His rising brow suggested he’d forgotten her good behavior. “Although I asked you not to move, and as I remember, little girl, I found you playing with one of my ties?”

“You asked me to stay on the bed,” she reminded him. “You never said I couldn’t touch anything.”

“Is that right?” He shook his head with a knowing grin. “So, you’re saying my instructions need to be more explicit.”

“Maybe?” She offered him a cheeky smile. “I’m just saying I can be good, sir, and I would really love to brush my hair before it dries. After that, my ass is yours.”

Definitely not scared, then. Her lips stretched wider at her brazen approach.

“It most definitely is, Miss Bennett.” He pulled her against him, his arms tightening as his smoldering gaze speared her. “You’d do well to remember that.”

“Yes, sir.”

She melted into his hard body, conscious of the same sandalwood scent on his skin. Peering up at him, she wondered if every product he owned had that same wonderful aroma. No doubt her own tresses would share the smell now she’d used his shampoo and conditioner.

“I want you to wait on the sofa by the window.” He motioned to the one he meant, though his attention never left her face.

Her gaze scanned his face, noticing that he’d chosen not to shave in the shower, although perhaps that had more to do with her than his desire for facial hair. Emotions burned in his sapphire eyes, disguising the exhaustion he must surely have felt. He hadn’t had the opportunity to sleep during the drive over there. Finally, her concentration settled on his mouth. She watched his lips moving, abruptly aware of how good they’d felt between her thighs. She wanted more of that soon.

“And not move until I get back with the hairbrush.”

“Okay.” She considered rising to her tiptoes and risking a kiss to those alluring lips but decided against it. “I won’t move, sir.”

Ella liked this new bubble of equilibrium they’d found. She was finally clean, contented, and didn’t even fear the penance he’d brought her there for. Better that she played his good little girl and enhanced the harmony rather than bring the whole house of cards crashing down around her.

“Go on then.” He leaned down and planted a chaste caress on her forehead before the warm bondage of his arms disappeared from around her. “Let’s see you do as you’re told.”

She suppressed another smile as she turned and strode toward the oversized sofa. It was such a simple thing—walking to sit down—yet, in the midst of their crazy connection, it had such pertinence. She ran her fingertips over the soft fabric as she took a seat in the middle of it. Looking up, she met his approving expression.

“Good girl.” His hands rose to his hips. “Remember where you need to stay while I’m gone?”

“Right here, sir.”

It was insanely erotic to slide into the role he wanted her to play. Ella had spent years not giving a damn what anyone else thought about her. That was why Tucker’s rules in the cabin had seemed so stark and preposterous, but sitting there in the daylight of his swanky apartment, she was happy to make him proud. Tucker’s dominance stirred something deep inside her, and now that she didn’t feel as though she had to constantly fight to get away, she wondered if she couldn’t get used to being his good girl .

“Okay.” His twitching lips conveyed his cynicism about her obedient performance, but he said nothing more on the subject. “I won’t be long.”

She watched as he strode from the room and turned left into the corridor. Without the distraction of Tucker, her concentration slid slowly around the lounge. The room had a calming atmosphere, aided, she suspected, by the enormous swathe of sunlight that spilled in from the vast windows behind her.

Settling back against the couch, she closed her eyes and leaned into the warmth of the light as though she were a flower. Whatever happened next—whether she stayed with him or eventually found her way home—she was ready to see more of the tender side of Tucker, the man who could grant compassion as well as captivity.

She grazed her palm over the fabric of the seat beside her, allowing herself to wonder, just for a moment, if that man was the one she could finally put her trust in.