Surrender to Me (14 page)

“Hmm.” He ran his tongue along her bottom lip. “We’ll leave this weekend.”

“Sounds like a plan. She rubbed the back of her hand over his jaw. “Can we visit your penthouse playroom one more time before we go?”

“If we leave right now, we’ll have time to play before dinner.”

“What are we waiting for?” She took his hand and led him to the door.

“I may have restrained myself from taking a leather strap to this ass.” He squeezed her backside. “But I will be taking you over my knee to remind you exactly who is in charge.”

“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t,
Master
.”

“Master?” He thought for a moment. “I like it, kitten.”

Chapter 13

Ari sat at the table in the posh Manhattan restaurant trying to settle her mind. It had been twenty-four hours since the incident in the club. She hadn’t heard from Roxy. Judging from Martin’s relaxed mood, Roxy hadn’t confessed about Nadia. Ari had left three voicemails and two unanswered texts for Roxy. Her time was up. Ari had to tell Martin what she knew.

“Hey.”

Ari jumped when Martin reached for her hand.

“Why so anxious?” He stroked the skin on her wrist just above her collar. “You seem distant. Did something happen with one of the properties?”

“Everything is fine with your business transactions.”

“What has you jittery?”

“Have you heard from Alex?”

“Alex?” He sipped his wine. “Why?”

“You haven’t been to the club all day.”

“That’s not unusual. Alex runs things for me on a daily basis.”

“I haven’t heard from Roxy. I wondered how their evening went.”

“You and Roxy are hitting it off. I think that’s good. She needs someone with a level head.” He smiled. “She can get herself into trouble when she doesn’t think.”

“After the example I set yesterday, you think I have a level head?”

“I know you do. You may not be a textbook sub, but Roxy can learn things from you.”

“Really? I thought you encouraged my friendship with her so she could make me a better submissive.” Ari felt guilty for keeping Roxy’s secret especially now that she knew Martin had intended for Ari to set a better example for Roxy.

“I did, but Roxy misses Gracie. She hasn’t connected with anyone since her friend went to Boston. I thought the two of you might be good for one another.”

“Am I a replacement for Gracie?” As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized how wrong they sounded. Martin’s expression confirmed her realization.

“Is that what you think? Because I can assure you what we share is nothing like what I shared with Gracie.” He let go of her hand. “I thought last night would have proved that.”

“It did. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.”

“You did on some level, Arianna, or you wouldn’t have said it.”

“No, I have something on my mind and I need to tell you.”

“Please.”

She could see his patience slipping away, along with his good mood.

“There’s something you need to know. I should have told you last night, but I —”

The ringing of his cellphone cut her off. He glanced down at the screen. “I’m sorry, this is Alex. He usually doesn’t bother me during dinner unless it’s an emergency.”

“You better take it.” She looked down at her plate. “You’ll probably want to hear what he has to say.”

Martin looked at her for a second, pondering her words before he answered the call.

“Alex,” he said.

Hopefully Roxy had come through and told the truth before Nadia could get caught up in Nico. Ari should have told Martin, but the lawyer in her respected confidence too much. It was Roxy’s place to reveal her secret, but Ari should have insisted that she do it last night.

“They met up outside of the club?” Martin’s jaw tightened. “I see.”

Ari had a bad feeling as she watched Martian’s expression turn to rage.

“Last night?” Martin motioned for the waiter. “Is she hurt?”

“Hurt?” Ari whispered. “Nadia?”

Martin nodded.

“I’ll be right there.” Martin ended the call. “I apologize but I need to end dinner early. There’s a situation at the club.”

“What happened?”

“Nico and Nadia planned a session at his home. It didn’t go well.”

“Nadia?”

“You were right about Nico.” He slammed his fist down on the table. “I should have listened to you.”

“I didn’t want to be right. Tell me what happened.”

“I don’t have all the details.”

The waiter came over to their table. “Mr. Abrams, is everything to your satisfaction?”

“I’m afraid I have to leave. Please see to it that Ms. Covington is taken care of and you get her a cab back to my penthouse when she’s ready.”

“Of course. Please let me know if you need anything.” He smiled at Ari before leaving them.

“Martin, I want to go with—”

“Arianna, please stay and finish your meal. There isn’t anything you can do at the club. I’ll be home as soon as I can.” He leaned over and kissed her longer than he normally did in public. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she whispered. “Be careful.” Now was not the time to try and persuade him to let her go with him.

“See you soon.” He ran his hand across her cheek before leaving.

Ari watched as he walked outside and handed the valet his ticket. She was certain the stress on his face mirrored what was going on in his head. Whatever situation he walked into at the club he would carry the burden of what had happened to Nadia. Ari would shoulder the responsibility with him. He opened his heart to her. When he hurt, she hurt.

* * * *

What a clusterfuck. Martin threw his keys and wallet down on the foyer table and made his way to his study. He poured himself a scotch, hoping the alcohol would help settle his nerves. The rage he felt hadn’t subsided. What had happened to Nadia under his watch was unacceptable.

He looked around the quiet, dark penthouse. Arianna must have gone to bed. He couldn’t blame her. He glanced at the grandfather clock at the end of the hall. It was after one in the morning. It took the better part of the night to sort things out with Nadia. He hoped his solution worked.

The circumstances surrounding Nadia and Nico had left him emotionally drained. He wanted to let out his frustrations and he had hoped to do it in the playroom. He made his way to the bedroom. Arianna lay in the middle of the huge king bed. The pillows and comforter nearly engulfed her, making her look tiny and delicate. He knew she was anything but fragile. Her determination and willingness to learn his lifestyle made him proud to call her his.

He undressed as he watched her. Somehow witnessing her sleep so peacefully in his bed turned his foul mood into a tranquil one. He wasn’t feeling as dominant as he had when he first came home. Arianna had a way of keeping him focused and centered.

He slipped in behind her, pressing his naked body against her soft skin. She stirred in her sleep and then turned to face him.

“Hey,” she whispered. “I fell asleep.”

“Don’t I have a rule about pajamas, no matter how sexy they are, in my bed?” He tugged on the strap of her camisole. “Do you need to be punished?”

“What happened tonight?”

Pressing his lips to hers, he spoke against her mouth. “I need you now.” He pushed her silky tank top up and cupped her breasts in his hands, concentrating on her nipples. “My evening was extremely stressful. I wanted to come home and relieve some of my tension in the playroom.” He continued to run his finger tips over her nipples. “I wanted to bind you to my Saint Andrew’s Cross and flog you. I wanted to hear you beg me to stop.”

“We can still do that.” She moved closer to him. “We can do whatever you need.”

He trailed his hand down her stomach and to her tiny, lace panties. “Get these off.”

She moved her hips as he wiggled the panties down her legs. She kicked them off once he had them around her ankles. “I’ll submit to you tonight if that’s what you need to make your night better.”

“As soon as I came into this room and saw you sleeping in my bed, so perfect and serene, my night got better.” He slipped his fingers between her legs, moving them along her slit. “You’re so beautiful.” As his lips found hers, he pushed his fingers inside her, sliding them along her moist folds.

His cock grew harder when she hiked her leg over his hip, causing his fingers to push deep inside her heat.

“Ahh…” She moaned into his neck as she tilted her hips in time with the motion of his hand.

“Offer yourself to me.” He pulled his fingers out of her pussy, spreading her arousal across her stomach.

“I’m yours, baby.” She took his face between her hands and kissed him. “However you want me.”

“I want you right now. I have to get inside you.” He leaned back, fumbling for the drawer of the nightstand.

She reached for him. “You don’t need anything.” Licking his bottom lip, she worked her hand between them and ran the tip of his cock along her entrance. “When we got back from Connecticut last month, I went on the pill. We don’t need a condom.”

“You did that for me?”

“I did that for us.” She kissed him. “I want to feel
you
inside me. I’m offering all of myself to you.”

“I accept.” He adjusted her leg over his hip and pushed his cock inside her waiting pussy. “I’m a lucky man.”

He stilled for a moment, indulging in the feel of her warmth. With nothing between them, he felt sated and fulfilled. The only woman he would ever need or desire kissed him as she rocked her waist into him, coating his shaft with her juices.

He watched as she lost herself in the pleasure they created. Her eyes half-opened, her mouth eagerly sought out his lips, at times missing and landing on his jaw. He smoothed her hair out of her face before tracing his fingers down her cheeks and over her lips.

“I needed this.” He kissed her. “I needed you.”

“I always need you.”

He held her against him, never breaking their bond as he rolled onto his back, allowing her to ride him. She smirked at him before plunging down. He dug his fingers into her hips, meeting her thrust for thrust.

“Martin…” He felt her muscles tense. “I’m so close.” She reached down to where they were joined and rubbed his balls. “I want you to fill me.”

“Hell!” He closed his eyes as she clamped around his cock, feeling a rush of warmth trickle down his length. As she came down from her climax, he held her still and released deep inside her. Claiming her as his. There would never be another in his bed or in his heart. He knew that with more certainty now than he ever had before.

She collapsed on top of him, breathing heavily. He ran his palm along her back, feeling the silk of her camisole under his skin. “You still have clothes on.”

“You didn’t give me much time to get naked.”

“Excuses.” He swatted her backside.

She let out a surprised yelp.

“You should have been naked before getting into bed.” He shook his head. “I suppose I’ll let it slide this one time seeing as how you’re usually so obedient.”

She looked up at him, conflict clouding her features. “Martin, I—”

He rolled her onto her side so he could face her. “You have something you want to tell me?”

“I tried before Alex called you.” She looked down. “I should have told you sooner.”

“Yes, you should have.” He tilted her chin. “But I know why you didn’t. Roxy confided in you and you were trying to be her friend. She told me you gave her until today to tell Alex.”

“I didn’t want to ruin her night with Alex. She looked so happy, but now…”

“Everything will work out.”

“You’re not mad?”

“Not at you.” When Roxy confessed about Nadia being homeless, she also mentioned that Arianna had encouraged her to tell the truth. Martin knew Arianna’s lawyer side kicked in and she treated Roxy’s confession with the same attorney-client privilege she would afford to her client.

“Will you tell me what happened with Nadia and Nico?”

“Aren’t you tired?” It had been a long night, and Martin suspected the days ahead would be rough at the club.

“Martin, I’ve been worried about Nadia. What did that pig do to her?”

“If I tell you what happened, you need to promise you won’t try to intervene. I have things under control for now.”

“What do you think I’ll do?”

“I never can tell.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “You’re unpredictable, which is foreign to me.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Nadia and Nico arranged to meet this afternoon outside of the club.” Martin pushed back the fury he felt when he thought about what had happened right under his nose. “He took her to lunch and then convinced her to come back to his house. She confided in him that she’d been sleeping at the club, but she needed to find an alternate solution because she didn’t want to get Roxy into trouble. Once he found out her secret, he manipulated it to his advantage. He told her she could stay with him.”

“That poor girl.”

Martin took her hand in his. “She didn’t accept, but he used her secret against her. He threatened to tell me about her sleeping at the club and how Roxy knew about it. Nadia didn’t want Roxy to get into trouble so she agreed to go into his playroom.”

“She’s not a sub.”

“Not formally.” Martin tightened his grip on her hand. “She had no business in Nico’s house, much less his playroom. She had no idea what she had gotten herself into. Once she realized she couldn’t go through with his requests she changed her mind.”

“Well, that’s good.”

“No, I’m afraid it wasn’t. They had no safe words set up, no limits, and he had no idea of her boundaries. I don’t know what he was thinking, but what happened tonight should never have occurred.”

He moved onto his back and stared at the ceiling. “She said no, but he didn’t listen. She tried to defend herself and they struggled. She scratched his cheek so he hit her in the face.”

“Is she okay?” Arianna sat up.

“She’s shaken, and understandably so. She has a swollen lip but no other physical damage. When Nico realized the severity of the situation, he dropped her back off at the club where Alex found her. He called me shortly after.”