Chapter 6

Chapter

Six

A very woke the next morning to find herself all alone in her bed. Had last night just been an incredibly vivid dream? She rolled from her side to sit up, but stopped the instant her well-punished backside came in contact with the mattress. Gasping sharply, she reached back, rubbing ruefully. Okay, so at least that part hadn’t been a dream.

She’d managed to avoid any further spankings last night, although she had come close when he’d insisted she get in the hot tub to soak. She’d been far too aroused. Instead of soothing her body, the hot, bubbling water had further inflamed her desire. Thom had laughed right up until she started to get defiant. After that, all he had to do was stare straight in her eyes as he unbuckled his belt, and that had neatly squelched any further thoughts of disobeying.

As she took stock of how she was feeling, she realized it wasn’t just her bottom that was sore. It had obviously been way too long since her poor pussy had experienced a man’s seductive abuse, particularly not a man as well-endowed as Thom. She grinned; not only did he have size going for him, the man knew how to fuck. Avery had never known she was capable of multiple orgasms, but he’d happily proven her wrong.

Avery blushed as she remembered when he’d left her bed this morning. Having just wrung another three orgasms from her tired, sore body, he’d leaned over her from behind, still encased in her velvety depths.

Nipping her ear, he’d whispered, “Go back to sleep, kitten. Daddy needs to get some work done. You’re not to get out of bed until at least seven. Then put on Daddy’s shirt and come join me.”

After checking the clock, she was just gathering herself to stand as he entered the room. His face lit up when he saw her and there was no denying the effect that had in the pit of her eager belly.

“Good morning, baby.” Coming around the end of the bed, he bent to take her face in his hands and kissed her deeply. “How’s my girl?”

“Tired… sore… but happier than I can ever remember being.” She was also glad she had yet to get to her feet as she was pretty sure her legs would not have continued to support her.

He chuckled. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that.”

Plopping down on the bed beside her, he wasted no time in drawing her up into his lap. This was quickly becoming one of her favorite places to be. There was no feeling in the world like being enfolded in his arms, and nothing felt more natural than clasping her arms around his neck in return. Laying her head on his shoulder, she sighed.

“We need to talk about a couple of things.”

And there went all her contentment, right down the toilet. “We need to work on your pillow talk, Daddy, because that doesn’t sound good…”

“There’s nothing bad going on,” he assured her. “You’re not in trouble either, unless you woke up and played with yourself because Daddy wasn’t there to do it for you.”

Avery snuggled against him. “No, Daddy. I don’t think I’ll have any need or desire to play with Daddy’s toys. I’m fairly sure Daddy will take care of that.”

Avery wasn’t sure when she’d decided she liked thinking of herself as his toy or just his in general, but she knew doing so created a warm caramel-sauce feeling oozing its way into her being.

“Good answer, little girl. And you’re right, Daddy will make sure his toys are kept well-tuned, lubed, and used often.”

She shivered, her toes all but curling at his words. “So, we’ve talked about the good stuff. What’s the not-so good?”

“We’ve caught wind that things are heating back up on the Fariq and Christian front. As much as I’d like nothing more than to lay you down and explore the depths of all your sensual responses, we need to get back to work. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean we’ll be seeing people we’ve known for a long time. I think believing we might be able to keep this just between us is unrealistic, but I’m willing to leave the exact nature of our dynamic and how much they know entirely up to you.”

“But they’ll know we’re together and that you’re the dominant one in our relationship.”

Thom nodded. “Yep. I don’t expect you to call me Daddy or Sir and I sure as hell won’t ever embarrass you in front of them… well, maybe Noah outside of work just because it’s Noah and he’s been rooting for us for a long time.”

“He might have told me how you felt…”

“I’m warning you, little girl, you best get over any resentment you have about what you think Noah should or shouldn’t have done. He did what he thought best to keep you safe and he wants nothing but the best for you.”

“So, he’s sticking me with you?” she teased, and then feared she might have said the wrong thing.

Thom laughed. “That’s my sassy little girl.”

“I thought you didn’t like sass.”

“Not when you’re in trouble and not when it’s disrespectful, and I expect you to know the difference. I tell you what, when we’re alone, you can expect me to be very clear and direct about when you’re headed down the wrong path. But, when we’re in company, if I think you are getting out of line, I will get your attention and tap the face of my watch as a warning. Sound fair?”

“Yes, Sir. And I’m going to assume if that doesn’t check the behavior, when we get alone, I’ll get spanked.”

He shook his head and Avery’s heart dropped. Had the dominant Thom of yesterday retreated to the guy she knew who might still be great in the sack but unable to fulfill her submissive desires?

“No, baby, when we get home, you’ll get your bottom welted and your ass fucked. I don’t call that spanking, and I certainly don’t want you to think for even one minute that just because we’re with friends you can misbehave or that I’m not still holding the reins.”

“Thank you,” she said, raining kisses all over his face.

“Trust me,” he laughed. “You don’t want me to have to lay stripes across your pretty backside. Or maybe you’re not as opposed as you think to having Daddy take your bottom hole for his pleasure… and yours.”

Her experiences with anal weren’t exactly good memories. But as much as her knee-jerk reaction wanted to disagree and maybe even beg him not to, a part of her thought he might be right. She didn’t particularly want anal, but she did want to submit to him in any way he wanted. Maybe even sometimes in ways she didn’t particularly want to submit. “I think if that’s something you want, then I want to give it to you… or maybe to have you take would be more accurate.”

That was a hard thing to admit and she couldn’t believe she had, but Thom kissed the side of her head. “You just made Daddy very happy. To hear you tell me that you want to give me what I want even when you don’t think you want it is such a gift. I want you to know how much I treasure you and that I will never take you for granted.”

“I won’t take you for granted either,” she promised.

“Good.” He kissed her again. “Come on, let’s go in the bathroom. I’ve already showered, but I want to get you cleaned up before you shower, then we’ll head into the office.”

“Hey, if I’d known yesterday was going to happen, I’d have shaved my legs.”

“Ah, yes,” he said, running his finger up the inside of her thigh, “but would you have shaved your princess parts?”

Avery felt herself blush. She had never shaved herself there, not really. Oh, she’d neatened up the thatch, but every time the discussion had come up in the past, she’d always steadfastly refused. And that included during her last disaster of a relationship.

As if reading her mind, Thom said quietly, “Not a request, little girl. I want you bare below so I can see everything. You can keep the rest of you cleaned up, but I’ll be the one who keeps that done. Besides, if I have to spank your pussy, it will be bared for my punishment.”

She wanted to protest, but the matter-of-fact and authoritative way he’d said it sent her desire spinning. She was going to need a cold shower if he didn’t stop.

Instead of giving voice to all that, what she heard herself blurting out was a startled, “Would you do that? You’d spank my pussy?”

“If I think it’s needed, yes.”

“Won’t that hurt… a lot?”

Thom nodded. “Yep. But if it’s warranted, I have no problem using my hand or any other implement of my choosing on your most sensitive and feminine area. Hopefully, you’ll choose to behave in such a way that it isn’t necessary for me to do that, but don’t ever think that I will fail to give you what I think you need. And like our buddy Noah, I’m a big fan of ginger as a deterrent as well.”

“TMI!” she cried, bursting into shocked laughter. “Oh, my God!” Her face flamed.

“Up you go,” he said and led her into the bathroom. “Hop up on the counter, lean back, and spread your legs.”

“Thom, can’t this wait?”

“Can it? Probably. Is it going to? Nope. Your choice, little girl, isn’t whether or not I’m going to shave you bare. The question is, considering the state of your backside, do I spank your pussy first?”

His determined stance and tone of voice told her he’d just given her the only choice she had.

She gave in, grumbling, “The least you could do is let me sit on some soft, folded-up towels to cushion my sorely abused backside while you and a razor get all kinky with my private parts.”

Thom grinned, shaking his head. “Good thing for you it’s your sass that I fell in love with first.” Laying down a folded towel, he helped her up onto the counter and spread her legs. “I want you to lean back on your elbows and keep very still for Daddy.”

Giddy, not at all sure what to expect, Avery complied, but there was no suppressing her startled gasp as his strong fingers slathered warm shaving lotion all over her mons and sex.

“How does that feel?” he asked, picking up the razor and swishing it through the water before carefully making his first swipe through the lather.

“I’m not going to lie. I’ve never done this and never thought I’d ever let anyone do this. If I get all itchy because of this, I promise you’re going to know it because I’m going to get very grouchy.”

Chuckling, he continued shaving. “Do you know how much better it’s going to feel when Daddy plays with you tonight, hm? I am going to suck on your little nubbin until you’re begging me for release.”

Try though she did to hold still, Avery couldn’t help wiggling. This was at once the most un-erotic thing she’d ever suffered through and yet, his fingers rubbing in the lather, parting her folds, carefully raking the razor over her most sensitive parts—all of it was weirdly arousing. Both deliciously naughty and yet clinically gynecological all at the same time. And the way he was talking to her—not dirty per se, and certainly not demeaning—was heightening her arousal. She didn’t want to come, but the longer this went on, the more certain she was that she might not have a choice in the matter before long. Her nipples had beaded back up and her clit was pulsing. With every light brush of his razor or fingers, he only made her ache that much more.

He lathered her up three times. She made it through the first two with a fresh razor before she gave into her first tiny moan. On the last pass, he used a straight razor he’d apparently brought with him, which both freaked her out and aroused her so badly she was terrified that he would see, feel, and smell her getting wet while he did this. If he did, he didn’t say a word. He simply pressed a warm, wet washcloth over the entire area and gave her pussy a fond pat.

“See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?” he asked, holding a mirror so she could admire between her legs.

Avery blushed. “You know this may be the first time I’ve ever looked at my private parts.”

“Why? They’re beautiful. I’m going to keep you nice and clean so I can see them clearly.”

She hung her head back so that it almost touched the counter behind her. Thom had a way of wrapping her in a seductive spell that made her feel incredibly empowered by her female sexuality, extraordinarily vulnerable, and incredibly cared for and loved. He had already used the L-word and in that moment, she not only accepted that, but knew she felt it too. She looked up to see him watching her intently.

“What?” he asked softly.

Avery realized that a great deal of Thom’s strength came from his tremendous gentleness. “I just realized that you told me that you loved me…”

“Do you doubt me?” A hint of sternness crept into his voice.

“No, I was just thinking that yesterday you said you loved me or at least that you wanted me to feel your love. And then you said that my sass was the first thing you loved about me…”

“Semantics, baby girl. I’ll tell you straight out that I love you, and that I’ve loved you for quite some time. I should have said something a long time ago, but I guess I let my penchant for overthinking some things get to me.”

Curling her abs, Avery gracefully sat up on the counter to wrap his face in her hands so she could kiss him deeply. “I wasn’t arguing or questioning you, Thom. I just realized that what I feel for you I was afraid to call love because I thought you were the dream that would never come true. But just because I didn’t name it, doesn’t mean I didn’t feel it. I love you too.”

“And that, my beautiful baby girl, is the greatest gift of all. You take a shower and get dressed, and I’ll go finish up.”

“Wouldn’t you like to start and finish with me in the shower?” she asked seductively.

“More than you know, but we don’t have time. So, I need you to be a good girl, and get a move on.”

“Do we have to be on time?” she wheedled.

“I suppose not…”

Desire and delight bloomed within her.

“But if we’re late, it’ll be because Daddy had to spank you again. So, how late do you want to be?”

She growled. “I hate punctuality.”

“So do I.” He lightly smacked her hip. “Get dressed. I think this time of day, we’re probably an hour or so from the office.”

Avery grinned. “Not by chopper we’re not. There’s bonuses to having a baby girl who’s also a pilot.”

Thom laughed. “Point taken. We’ll keep that in mind from now on, but for today, be a good girl and get ready to go. I’ve already talked to John. He’s going to have everyone at the office either in person or via teleconference.”

“Even Junior and Baez?”

Two of the team had taken their annual fishing trip to the wilds of Alaska. Avery knew they weren’t back as she had been the one to fly them into the remote area.

“He was going to try to reach them, but it might not be possible. When are they due back?”

“I’m supposed to go get them next week. Want to come with me?”

Thom nodded. “If I can. I’d prefer we minimize anybody’s exposure right now. If we can reach them, I’m going to suggest that they cut their trip short so we can all reconvene back here and figure out our next steps. And you, little girl, are to stick close to home. I don’t want you off by yourself. If Noah is right, Fariq could be arranging some kind of retaliatory strike. Get ready, baby, or we’ll be late.”

“They don’t have traffic jams where I fly my chopper,” she teased as she headed into the shower.

Avery heard him chuckle as she turned on the water and stepped in. The sensation of warm water running all over her naked mons was arousing as all get out. True, ever since Thom had moved them forward and declared himself, her body seemed to be more than ready, willing, and able to achieve that state. Frankly, she reveled in his ability to bring her to heights of ecstasy that she’d only ever read about in books. But the caress of water flowing over her newly bared skin was intoxicating. If Mr. Punctuality were in here, he could take care of her need and they’d still have plenty of time to get to the office. She’d happily do it herself, except she had no doubt he would deal harshly with her for breaking the no self-pleasure rule less than twenty-four hours after he made it.

She finished showering, towel-dried her hair, pulling the riotous curls back into a loose ponytail, and added minimal makeup—tinted moisturizer, blush, eyeliner, and mascara. She reentered her bedroom and got dressed. She had on jeans, a silk and lace pirate shirt belted around her waist, and was entering in the great room pulling on her red ostrich and black cowboy boots. Avery heard Thom’s laughter only a minute before his hand caught her backside with a great deal of affection. When she turned, he swept her up and twirled her around.

“Seven,” she whispered, nipping at his ear.

He cocked an eyebrow, not quite understanding.

“Meow,” she laughed.

When that didn’t clear it up for him, she laughed harder. When realization finally hit, he hoisted her up with his arms locked under her ass while she clung to his shoulders, looking down at him.

“You, little girl, are far too sexy. You turn Daddy on in a way nobody ever has. If we didn’t have to be at work, I’d strip those jeans down and fuck that pussy all over again.”

“You’re the one who doesn’t want to be late,” she reminded, pouting playfully as he put her down.

“You’re going to need to get us to headquarters as it is.”

“Come on then,” she said, more than happy to lead the way to the garage.

He helped her wheel the chopper out and she ran through her preflight. Avery had a strict process that she went through each and every time she got ready to fly. Once that was completed, they climbed in the cockpit and she lifted off, heading toward Willa and Mac’s ranch, where the Wild Mustang Security Firm’s corporate headquarters were located.

Ethan MacDaniels, Mac, and John Hampton had been US Marshals when Mac had married Willa. It hadn’t taken Mac long to decide he preferred being home more nights than not so he and John had left the Marshals and had formed the high-end security firm specializing in kidnapping and ransom cases, as well as other forms of global terrorism for well-heeled corporate clients. Mac had pulled together one of the best teams in the world and it had taken no time at all until the firm could pick and choose the cases it took. Their reputation for both integrity and the ability to get the job done was second to none.

Last year Finlay Reid had come to their firm ostensibly to track her lost brother in the Grand Canyon. The only problem was Finn had lied long enough to discover her brother, Christian, was part of Fariq Abdal’s international arms dealing organization. Finn had fallen in love with Billy ‘Croft’ Crofton, when he’d acted as her guide in the canyon. When she realized there was a story involving Fariq and his arms dealing organization, she’d contacted her friend Zara Hughes, the celebrated journalist, who had in turn become involved with Noah Taylor of the firm. The firm had clashed with Fariq and Christian when they had tried to kill the story… and Zara.

Everybody at Wild Mustang had been involved and so knew the entire story from Finn’s initiation to Christian’s betrayal, just like everybody knew Fariq and Christian had to be stopped. Whatever it took.

When Avery set down, she was a bit surprised and delighted to see Zara, as the three women had become friends. It was hard not to be when Avery not only worked with their fiancés, but she was the unofficial baby sister for just about everyone at the firm. The friendship had become so strong that the two couples were planning to get married on the same day, at the same location, albeit in separate weddings. Finn and Croft had opted for a sunrise ceremony; Noah and Zara for midafternoon.

“What’s up, ladies?” asked Thom as he hopped out of the cockpit and ran hunched over under the rotor blades.

“We need to steal Avery,” said Zara. “I wasn’t expecting to be here, but because of this latest thing with Fariq, the big guy insisted I accompany him. Finn, Willa, and Mandy are all available so if I can grab Avery, we can head into the site in the park and try to figure out some of the last logistics. The girls all rode in early this morning.”

Shutting the chopper down, Avery quickly joined them. “Let me guess, you were too busy riding Noah to be bothered with a horse,” she teased.

Thom cleared his throat and tapped his watch face. Remembering what he’d said, Avery’s face paled. He leaned over and kissed her cheek, whispering, “That’s your only warning, behave yourself.”

“Well, she isn’t wrong,” quipped Zara. “I thought Avery could fly us to the site, then we could finalize the details.”

“Zara,” growled Noah. “That’s enough out of you. And for the record, you don’t get to do any riding, do you, sweetheart?”

“Whose fault is that?” she snarled back.

Avery grinned. They were so much fun to watch. They were madly, passionately in love, but neither had an issue with people knowing that their relationship was volatile, based on power exchange, or that Noah had taken Zara in hand shortly after they met.

He took her in hand now too. Fisting her hair, Noah yanked Zara into his embrace, kissing her passionately until she yielded, her body reluctantly melting into his so she could kiss him back every bit as intensely. Watching that brought an instant replay to her mind of the things Thom had done last night. Heat bloomed in her belly.

“I thought Mac wanted everybody here to go over your info,” said Avery, as soon as their lips unlocked.

“He did,” Zara said, newly subdued. “But they can spare you the read and it would be really helpful if you were there. We’re going to take lunch with us, if that’s okay. Willa wants to scope out the best place to do her cooking and how we’re going to set up each of the ceremony sites. We should only be gone three or four hours at most.”

“I should have fuel enough for that.” She shrugged. “Let’s load up and head into the canyon.”

Within moments they were airborne and headed into what Avery considered to be the most beautiful spot on Earth, the Grand Canyon.

She followed the wind of the Colorado River as it cut its way through hills of layered red rock, but they hadn’t gone far before Zara did some cutting of her own—straight through the chitchat. “So,” she said, already smirking. “That was fast.”

“I’ve known Thom for years and as I recall Noah had you in his bed in pretty short order, too.”

“He did,” Zara purred. “Do you know how easy my life would be if I didn’t love the sonofabitch so damn much?”

Avery laughed. “I know. I’ve been nuts about Thom for years, but I’ve got to admit: It’s only been one day and already my fantasies about being with him pale in comparison to the reality.”

“Do tell!” Zara laughed. “Well, watch out; he and Noah are friends and Noah isn’t far removed from a Neanderthal. But he’s smart, funny, crazy good in bed, and he loves me. With any luck, my friend, Thom will be just like him.”