Bondage Seduction (10 page)

Meri shook her head and burst into sobs. She pulled her knees up and tried to hide from him.

“Look. At. Me.”

He’d used his strongest Dom tone, but she refused. He felt her struggling to sit up and he lightened his grip, thinking she was trying to find a comfortable position. When she reached for her shirt and tried to scramble off his lap, he grabbed both of her shoulders. It was the only place that wouldn’t hurt her.

“You’re not leaving without explaining what happened here tonight. So just settle your ass down and let me help you.” Meri needed to learn she wasn’t the only one with a stubborn streak.

“I’m fine. I want to leave.” She kept her face averted.

She was far from fine. She was a mess. Her mascara had streaked down her face and Ted found another wound on her right breast and one along her right thigh. Whoever that woman was, she didn’t have a clue in hell what she was doing with a whip.

“I would have known if you’d requested this room, therefore you did not. You came in here with someone who hasn’t been through our safety course and allowed them to restrain you. I think that deserves an explanation.” He should be comforting her not reading her the riot act. Why did she bring out the prick in him?

“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I’d like to leave, please.” Meri’s voice quivered and just about tore out his heart.

“I can’t allow that, little one.” He shook his head. “You’re bleeding and need medical attention.”

That surprised her. Her head shot up and she met his gaze before looking down at her breast.

“There are a few places on your back too.”

Meri took a deep breath and let it out in a rush. “You’ve been very kind. But it’s not that bad, and I can take care of it when I get home.” She reached up, removed the collar and pulled her hair from the bun. With a shake of her head, she covered most of her face.

“We have a first-aid room here at the club. We can go in there and get you cleaned up. If you ride home like this, you might stain your seats.” He was grasping at straws because he couldn’t force her to let him help, but damn it, he wanted to. “Besides, you’ll have a difficult time reaching the areas along your back.” He tipped her chin up until their eyes met. “Please, allow me to help you, Meri.”

She gave a short nod then turned away from him and grabbed a tissue from the box on the cabinet against the far wall. Opening her hand, she let the collar and leash fall into the trash.

While she wiped the tears from her face, something he wished she’d let him do, he picked up the whip the mystery bitch had left. He coiled it around itself and placed the handle in his back pocket. It was very similar to his, but he would never dream of using it in such a manner. He’d spent many hours practising and perfecting his skill before he’d ever kissed a sub’s skin with the leather.

Ted took his phone from his pocket and informed Amanda he’d be off the floor for a bit and to send someone into the privacy room to sterilize it. As soon as he shoved the phone back in his pocket, he drew a blanket from the basket near the loveseat and wrapped it lightly around her shoulders.

“You look a little shaky. I can carry you.” He wanted to hold her in his arms, but she was keeping her distance. He’d really fucked up two nights ago, but he’d never dreamed she’d pay such a price.

“No, don’t touch me.” She drew away from him and backed into the sink. When her body made contact with the porcelain, her face revealed the pain.

Ted held his hands up, hoping she’d relax. He never meant to frighten her. “I didn’t put those marks on your body, little one. I would never be so careless as to break your skin. There’s no need to fear me. I’m trying to help.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m just a wuss when it comes to pain.”

Ted pulled off his gloves, threw them in the trash then opened the door. He stayed close by her side in case her legs gave way. “I don’t believe that’s true, Meri. Remember the first night we met, we watched Mike in the suspension room?” Maybe bringing back a pleasant memory would help his cause. “Afterward, I gave you your first erotic spanking.” He pushed her hair behind her shoulder so he could better see her face.

He led them farther down the corridor and away from the great hall. Once they’d reached the last door on the left, Ted twisted around and opened it for her. “Take off your skirt and lay on your stomach with your head here.” He directed her to the examination table, pleased to find a clean crisp sheet draped over it.

Meri stared at the table like it might bite. Ted tamped down his fury that someone had put such fear in her eyes. He placed a step stool in front of her. “Need a hand?”

“No.”

That seemed to be her favourite word for the evening. At least she was following his directions. After getting the supplies he needed, he slid on a fresh pair of sterile gloves. “This is probably gonna hurt, Meri. I wish there was an alternative, but I don’t know of one.”

“It’s not your fault. Just get it done.”

Two whole sentences… They were making progress. “How well do you know that woman?”

“We’re friends. She didn’t mean to hurt me. She’d never done it before and didn’t know what safety precautions to take.” Meri hissed as he ran the antiseptic over a particularly nasty mark.

Ted paused as he digested that bit of information. He silenced his first response and breathed in and out for a five count before he opened his mouth. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? You’re both lucky neither of you were seriously injured.”

“I do now,” Meri muttered against her arms as she used them for a pillow.

“You’re a smart girl. Why would you put yourself at risk like that?” He knew why, because he was an asshole and had given her an ultimatum that she couldn’t live with. She’d probably figured if he wouldn’t promise monogamy, none of the other Doms would either.
Damn it.
He’d fucked this up from start to finish.

She kept her face buried in her arms as she answered him. “When you offered to train me, you said it would help me know what I liked and disliked within the realm of BDSM. That made sense to me.” Meri dashed away a few stray tears and took a calming breath. “My friend and I are both newbies. I thought maybe we could try a few things together. We have no attraction towards each other, just a long-standing friendship, so neither of us would get our hearts involved. I don’t know. It made sense at the time.”

“I will train you, Meri, and I will agree to monogamy for the length of the training. I don’t want to see you like this again. You may not believe this, but it pains me as much as it does you.” His chest was on fire and his stomach rolling. He was the cause of her doing something stupid. If he thought it would fix things, he’d have Nick take a whip to him. Hell, he deserved it and more.

“No, Ted. I’ll admit when I came here tonight, I’d hoped to see you and change your mind, but not like this. I don’t need pity. I’m a big girl and I can figure this out on my own.”

“It’s not like that, Meri. Last night, I watched and waited for you to come through the door. I was going to tell you then that I’d made a mistake and that I’d like to train you if you were still willing.” He shrugged. “You didn’t show up, so I never had the chance.” And though he was curious as hell about how she’d spent her evening, it wasn’t his place to ask…yet.

“I had a company function to attend.”

He’d long since finished cleaning and applying ointment to her wounds, but he was afraid that if he stopped, she’d leave. It scared him to think that mattered so much to him, but it did. Meri was one submissive he couldn’t stop thinking about. “Was your date interested in BDSM?”

She shook her head. “I went alone. I hate going to them so it didn’t seem fair to subject anyone else. And I’m not dating anyone.”

Knowing she’d spent the evening alone, some of the tension eased away. “If you hate them, why go?” He massaged her shoulders and arms, needing—for reasons he chose not to examine—to keep the physical contact between them.

“To some of those there last night, it meant something that I made an appearance. I’d rather spend a few hours bored and uncomfortable than slight someone else.”

Okay, that was not the answer he’d expected, but it fit with her personality. He’d assumed she’d spout business shit—the need to make connections or networking. No, her answer was purely submissive. She was putting someone else’s needs before her own. Now, if possible, he felt like even more of an ass.

“Will you allow me to train you, Meri?” If she said yes, he was in deep trouble. Though he was fighting it, this woman had him tied in knots. It didn’t matter that she would never want anything substantial with him once she learned DiscipliNation was his only livelihood. She probably assumed this was a passing fancy of his, not his life. But if she turned him down, he knew he would pursue her. She’d got under his skin. Yep, he was fucked either way.

“Did you really change your mind yesterday? Or are you just saying that to keep from hurting my feelings?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you, Meri. Don’t get the wrong idea, I’m still not interested in a committed relationship, but I would like to train you and scene exclusively with you until we decide you’re ready to move on.” Ever since Wednesday night, he’d dreamed about her, thought about her all day long, and while the club was open, he had kept an eye on the locker room doorway hoping to catch a glimpse of her. He was so screwed. He didn’t know why he bothered fighting it.

“Ted, I should be truthful with you. I haven’t dated since my divorce three years ago. I’m very attracted to you and I don’t need my heart broken again. Tonight proved to both of us I’m not thinking straight. It probably isn’t a good idea to start something right now.”

He could feel the tension running through her. She meant what she said, but it wasn’t easy for her. “It sounds like you’re in a vulnerable spot right now. For whatever reason, you’re making choices that don’t have your best interests at heart. Perhaps you need my protection. While you’re my trainee, you would be subject to my rules. Dangerous stunts, like the one tonight, I would never allow.”

His protective streak was overruling his brain. She’d given him an out. He should take it and run, but he couldn’t. Not when she needed him.

Underneath his gruff armour, he hid a white knight in search of his damsel. One who needed him as much as he needed her. He was never going to change the world. He didn’t have his brother’s skill as a surgeon to save someone’s life. He didn’t have the power to protect the innocent or bring about justice like his sister, the judge. All he did was run a sex toy company. No one needed that and no one needed him. But maybe, for a short time, Meri did. He had no doubt that she’d be back on her feet and leave him in the dust, but right now—she needed him.

Meri turned her head to the side and looked up at him. “I’m vulnerable to you, Ted. Do you hear what I’m saying? I don’t know if I’m rebounding or if it’s the emotional gamut that comes with submission or if it’s my attraction to you, but you’ve made it clear you don’t feel anything for me besides one human being caring for another, so it’s only fair that you know where I’m coming from.”

Ted smiled. She was trying to protect him. “Another piece of the puzzle falls into place. You’re a reflective thinker. That, my pet, is a trait with a double edge. Useful when used in moderation, but destructive if you spend too much time in that mode. It can eat away at your self-confidence and make you second guess your decisions.”

Meri chuckled, but the joy didn’t reach her eyes. “So true. Is it possible you suffer from the same affliction?”

“I think I invented it.” He spent so much time analysing every aspect of his actions it was a miracle he got anything done. “Let’s take it slowly. I understand where you’re coming from and you know what my mindset is, so we’re both going into this with our eyes open. What do you say, Meri? Will you trust me?”

“I trust you.”

Her statement lacked conviction and he didn’t really blame her. They hadn’t known each other long.

“What do you want to do with this?” he asked, showing her the whip.

“Donate it to the cause. I don’t want it and I can’t imagine she would either.”

“Most of our members are comfortable financially, but there a few young bucks, just starting out, that would appreciate it.”

“I don’t ever want to see it or another like it, ever again.”

Ted put the handle back in his pocket. “Don’t jump to that conclusion, Meri. A car in the hands of someone who doesn’t know how to use it can be a very dangerous implement, but for those of us trained to use it properly, it’s a useful tool.”

“I’ll have to take your word for that because right now I’m just not feeling it.”

“One of these days, I’ll show you the difference. Tonight, I think you’ve had enough experimenting. Would you like to go into the hall and watch a few scenes?”

Meri rolled over on her left side and covered her breasts with her right arm. “I doubt I’d be good company. Do you know what happened to my top?”

“You had it in your hand when we left the other room.” He turned around and found it on the counter behind him. After holding it up, he announced, “This looks tight. If you put it on, you’ll ruin it. I slathered on the ointment.” Ted unbuttoned his shirt, took it off and held it out to her. “Wear this.”

Meri’s breath caught in her throat.
Oh, dear Lord, he is a sexy man.
Without even thinking about it, she reached for his shirt. She certainly didn’t want him to put it back on. Pulling it close to her, she inhaled his scent. Okay, it was selfish as hell, but she really wanted to wear his shirt, to have it wrapped around her. It would be almost as nice as having his arms around her. After one more deep breath, her conscience got the better of her. “Thank you, but I don’t want to stain yours. This was my stupid idea. I don’t want to put you out any more than I already have.” Reluctantly, she gave it back.

Ted tossed his shirt over his shoulder. “Let’s get you up. There’s only one stripe on your thigh that will give you trouble. When you sit down, remain still. Each time you wiggle, it’ll be a painful reminder.”

Meri nodded and pushed herself into a sitting position. It didn’t hurt nearly as bad as she’d expected. Whatever he’d used, it really worked. Ted put his hands at her waist.