Taking Courage (13 page)

Who deserves my loyalty
now?

“It
seems you made the right choice for you.”

“I
did.” She looked back to his eyes. “I don't want you to judge my dad, though.
He's still my father. Please know I didn't make this decision on a whim.” She
rested her head back on his shoulder. “Family isn't easy to leave, no matter
the dysfunction.”

She
did miss the comfort of her mother, knowing her love was always there. She
didn't have the heart to spell out all the reasons why she needed to stay away
from her father.

“They're
actually only one of the reasons I jumped at the job offer here.” She trailed
her finger through the tiny patch of dark hair on his chest. “I couldn't pass
on the other opportunities here.”

He
covered her roaming hand with his and pressed it against his chest, halting her
movement.

“Are
you talking about the club?”

“Yes.”
Her gaze landed on his growing erection.

“Don't
stop there. Please tell me more.” He pushed her hand down his firm stomach and
set it to rest on his cock. Together their hands rubbed up and down across his
firmness. “Why didn't you visit clubs in Detroit? Why wait until you were in
Chicago?”

“My
ex didn't want me to go.” She licked her lips and shifted her pelvis, which
allowed her a better view of their duet.

 
“Ex-boyfriend?”
He
stopped their movement.

“No.”
She clamped her eyes shut. She'd opened the door, and now she had to get the
rest out. “Not boyfriend, my ex-husband.” Her hand gripped his cock. “We were
only married for a month before I came home early and found him in our bed with
someone else.”

“He
didn't deserve you.”

“You're
right, he didn't.” She pulled on the head of his cock, and a bead of pre-cum wept
from the tip. “I let my father talk me into our first date and our second. I
let him talk me into the marriage, too. It's embarrassing.” She tugged on his
cock again.

“You're
doing a fine job, pet.” His arm wound around her hip and rubbed her ass.

“Thank
you, Sir.” She inched closer to his cock and licked the head clean. He smelled
like earthy musk and sex. She drank him in.

His
moans filled the room.

“How
long have you been a member of the club?” Her tongue stroked from base to tip,
curling around the head. “It's okay if you're not ready to share.” She licked
the head of his cock again and took him into her mouth.

“I'm
ready, but you have a wicked mouth and it’s making it hard to concentrate.”

She
relaxed her throat and strengthened her suction on the next pull. He lifted his
hips and thrust into her mouth, helping her to take more of him, but not so much
that she choked. She let his hard cock fall from her lips.

“I’m
sorry. That was probably distracting.” She kissed the head of his cock. “You
were saying?”

“You’re
a vixen.” He ran his fingers back and forth in the cleft of her ass. “If I
didn’t enjoy getting to know you better, I’d make you pay for that.” His
fingers found the plug, and he wiggled it, awakening a new path of nerves. “On
second thought, maybe I will make you pay for that.”

“Oh no.”
She moved about
an inch away before he pulled her back into his lap. Her laughter filled the
room.

He
had her trapped in his arms. They sat nose to nose. Her face ached under the
pinch of her smile. She leaned in and stole a kiss.

“You
think that will save you?”

“Maybe for a few minutes while you tell
me about yourself?”
She tucked her head on his shoulder. “When did you
join the club?”

“I
joined the club a few years ago.” He rubbed her back.

“Have
you trained many submissives?” She bit down on the inside of her cheek.

“I've
trained a few women this last year. The first couple moved on quickly to other
Doms
.”

“What
about the last one?”

“She
lied
her way into the training program. A few weeks
into her training, her husband came to the club.”

“What?”
Their gazes met. No wonder he’d had such a cross reaction to their first scene.
She'd put salt in his wound. “I'm so sorry.”

“She
lied to almost everyone in her life, and in the process she hurt a lot of
people. Your intentions were completely different. As soon as you realized your
omission, it only took a little prodding to get you to tell the truth.” He
stroked her cheek. “I'm the one that should apologize. I made you pay for her
mistakes. That wasn't fair.”

“Still,
I'm sorry I brought up those memories.” She lowered her eyes.

“I
think we are well on our way to making our own memories.” He forced her chin up,
and he reclaimed her gaze. “Don't you think, pet?”

“Yes, Sir.”
Warmth squeezed
her chest.
This one.
I want this one man.

“Would
you consider taking a new step with me tonight?” He shifted her off his lap and
reached for something on the desk, a bottle of lube and another condom.

“Tonight?”

“We
can wait until tomorrow if you want. The one-on-one rooms at the club do have
nice beds which would make it easier on your knees.”

“I'm
not worried about my knees.” He wanted to claim her in a place no one had
before. She wanted it more than anything. Her breathing increased, and her
fingers closed into fists.

“You've
trained all week. I know you're ready, but the decision is yours to make.” He
sat back on his heels.

“I
trust you.” She relaxed her fingers. “My body is yours.”

“Thank
you.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. “I've been jealous
of your plugs all week. Watching you squirm in your seat has kept me hard.
“Now, up on your knees.”

She
rolled over and presented her backside. She took a deep breath and waited.

“Push
out for me.”

She
did as he asked, and he pulled the plug from her, leaving her empty and full of
needy anticipation. He pushed the familiar cool lubricant around her back
entrance and slowly worked his way in, first one finger and then two.

“Are
you ready, pet?”

“I'm
ready, Sir.”

“What's
your safe word?”

“Lasagna,
Sir.”

“Let
me hear it if I push you past your comfort zone, okay?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Thank
you. You honor me and what we're building.” The head of his cock nudged her
rosette. “Now, push out and ease my way.”

She
pushed a little and was immediately met with strong pressure. He was too big.
She forced the air from her lungs and sucked in a gulp.

“Stay
with me, pet. I need you to push out a little more.”

“You're
too big.”

“I
am pushing at your limits. Do you want me to stop?”

“No,
don't stop. I want you here.” She pushed out more, and the pressure increased.
She cried out, and the head of his cock slipped inside.

“Beautiful.”
He squeezed her ass and didn't push any further. Several heartbeats later, “Are
you ready for more?”

Zings
of pleasurable pain were bouncing through her body and making her dizzy. She
lowered her head.

“Janna,
are you still with me?”

She
pushed back, and he slipped a little more inside her back entrance. A new round
of pleasure pushed out the sting.
“Yes, Sir.
I'm ready
for more.”

“I
knew you'd like this.” He pulled out a little and slowly pushed past where he'd
just been. With the lube easing his way, it only took a few more pushes and
pulls before his pelvis met her ass. He bent over her, and one of his arms
wrapped around her middle. “You're mine.”

“I'm
so yours.”

“It
won't take much more before you squeeze my next orgasm out of me, and I'd love
for you to go over with me.” He took her hand and brought it to her center.
“Rub against the pressure I'm sending here, okay?”

“My pleasure, Sir.”

“That's
my sub.” He pulled his arm away, and both of his hands gripped her hips.

His
rhythm started slow, and she drew circles around her clit. Soon, his pace
wasn't enough, and she pushed back against him. Needing her pussy to be filled,
she used her fingers to fuck herself. As his thrusts became harder and faster,
his balls rocked into her and his grunts filled the office.

“You're
exquisite and so damn tight.”

The
sweet tingles of an orgasm teased her channel, and she squeezed him.

“That'll
do it. I hope you're ready, sweetheart.” His fingers took a ruthless hold on
her hips, and he pushed through the pressure. “Savor your release when it
comes. I'm almost there.”

His
control over her body swam over her senses. She pulled her fingers from her
core and braced herself. There wasn't a point on her body he hadn't touched.
She could feel him everywhere.

His
next thrust started the avalanche. The orgasm took over, sealing her senses in
white hot pleasure bouncing back and forth from her ass to her pussy. Ecstasy
spread out over her and she screamed, but it was drowned out by his shouts.

The
pair slowed to a halt. Instead of holding her there, he pulled from her and
rolled her down onto her side. She was thankful to be off her knees, but she
only wanted his touch back upon her.

It
was unfair to expect anything more from their arrangement, but she wanted it
all the same. A new emptiness darkened a hollow place in her chest. She was
determined not to let her feelings show. She was here to learn, and she'd enjoy
the time she had with him. She didn't need to worry about loyalty or even love
right now.

He
snuggled in behind her. She needed to cherish what she had at the moment.

“How
did I do?”

“Sweet
Janna, you amaze me.” His fingers wrapped around hers and squeezed. “Thank you
for trusting me.” She rolled over to face him, and he placed a slow, chaste
kiss on her lips.

“Thank
you for giving me another chance.”

“That
was pretty nice of me, wasn't it?” His whole face brightened.

“Medal
worthy actually.” She froze when his smile vanished.

“You're
teasing me?” His eyebrows rose.

“You
started it.” She raised her brows to match his.

“Great comeback.”
He poked her in
the ribs.

They
rocked back and forth while they giggled like a couple of teenagers dancing
around a crush. It was nice and easy, and this new side of Simon didn't
surprise her. She'd seen him be easygoing with his coworkers. She'd just never
been on the receiving end before. It felt like a sign, like she'd passed a
test.
A comforting
warmth spread over her.

“We
should get up before we stay here all night.”

In
his arms all night sounded like the perfect ending to the day.

“Come
on.” He pushed himself off the floor. “I'll escort you home and make sure you
get settled in for a good night’s sleep. We have a lot to do tomorrow.”

“Are
we talking about the project or my training?”

“Both.”

Chapter Nine

On
the way to work Friday morning, Simon thought about all he'd learned about
Janna that week, from her apology, to her wanting training, the circumstances
surrounding her move to Chicago, and the magic they’d made on the floor of this
office last night. He respected her for making her own way in life and was
thankful for their second chance.

Warmth
radiated throughout his body. Their first night might have ended badly, but the
week proved he shouldn't have counted Janna out. She was a fighter, and now it
was clear she was claiming him as well.

She
had taken unnecessary risks the first night at the club. As her trainer, he'd
make sure it didn't happen again. He'd have to test her newfound voice, of
course. As her Dom, he felt it was his duty to ensure she remained true to
herself. He was falling fast, and he needed to make sure she stayed happy.

The
future looked brighter when he thought of her as his Project Manager. She'd
worked her tail off this week, and their project had made nice forward
movement. The project was alive and well, and so was Simon. Janna had breathed
new life into his soul, and she'd blown away his first sour impression.

Tonight,
they'd go back to where they'd met. They'd made plans for an official night at
the club. In front of everyone, he intended to stake his claim and take public
responsibility for her training.

The
more they talked, the more he learned little tidbits. Last night, he'd learned
she loved cinnamon lattes, but hadn't had one in ages. Jake had told him on
countless occasions that Lydia was the foremost authority on great coffee in
the city. Simon had called Lydia on his way home yesterday and found out the
mom and pop shop around the corner from work had Lydia-approved cinnamon
lattes.