Show Me the Ropes Read online

  “All the same, I shouldn’t have done that. I won’t do it again.”

  “What if I scream?”

  “We’ll use the soundproof rooms from now on. You can scream all you want.” A smile broke across her face and his heart flipped in his chest and sank to his groin, where it pumped furiously. He had to turn away again, this time reaching for the ropes he’d brought, taking his time untangling them while he mentally wrestled his cock back under control. When he turned back around, the game was back on.

  “Come here, Fallon.”

  “Yes, Richard.”

  He added the breast cages, finely wrought ropes woven together with rubies in a random pattern. “Hold your breast up.” She lifted the firm globe so he could slip the ropes on. Her nipple protruded from an opening in the center. He’d never seen a more priceless ruby in his life. They repeated the process with the other breast, and then he took her to the mirror so she could see for herself. “There’s more.”

  She touched her breasts reverently, admiring the craftsmanship of the cages. “These are beautiful. What more could there be?”

  His hands came around from behind and she cried out in pain as he snapped the nipple clamps on. Her hands flew to cover her tortured nipples, but he grabbed her elbows and pulled them back, forcing her breasts to thrust forward.

  “You can’t wear them all the time, not yet anyway.” Gold butterfly clamps pinched her nipples. Blood red rubies dangled from them on thin gold ropes. Her chest heaved, and her eyes watered, as she adjusted to the pain. Slowly she relaxed, and Richard loosened his grip on her arms.

  “Better now?”

  “Yes, Richard.” She flicked the rubies dangling from one breast and sent them swinging. She sucked in a breath as the pain spiked.

  “Let them be for a while. You won’t wear them for long today. I have something else for you, too.”

  “What?”

  “This won’t hurt, I promise. It’s just for appearance.” He wedged one leg between hers and pushed her legs apart. “Spread for me.” She moved her legs further apart. Her clit, exposed by the labia ropes, stood at attention. He moved to his knees in front of her, squeezed the engorged pearl between his thumb and forefinger, and slid the new jewel into place. She gasped as the clip pinched at her flesh.

  He remained on his knees, looking up at her face. “Does that hurt?”

  “No, not really. It just took me by surprise.”

  He rose and moved behind her again, wrapping his arms around her so his splayed hands covered her abdomen and framed her jeweled clit.

  “A pearl for your pearl.” He kissed the sensitive skin just below her ear. “You can wear it all you like. If it gets uncomfortable, take it off.” He nibbled his way down her neck, while his hands made their way up to her breasts in a slow inventory of all that was his. “How are your nipples?”

  “Better. Aaaahh!” she cried out as his thumbs flicked the dangling rubies.

  “Sensitive?”

  “God, yes.”

  “Yes, Richard, will do,” he teased.

  “Yes, Richard.”

  “I wish everyone could see you this way, know how completely you are mine, but I’d kill anyone who dared look at you.”

  “They know by the collar. That’s enough.”

  “Yes.” He nibbled her neck, lower until he met the knotted ropes. He flicked the rubies again and earned another choked cry from her. He spun her around in his arms and pushed her back to the mirror. He freed one nipple and clamped his mouth over the puckered flesh, soothing it with his tongue while he continually flicked the rubies dangling from the other one, shooting jolts of pleasure and pain through her each time.

  She speared her fingers through his hair and held him to her breast. “Oh Richard, oh God, ooohhh. . . . ”

  * * * * *

  Pain. Sharp. White hot. Followed by pleasure so deep it hurt. Both sent shock waves of longing and need to that spot between her legs too long neglected. She held onto Richard’s scalp like a drowning woman clinging to a bit of flotsam in the open sea. Sharks bit into one breast while Richard healed the other with the hot wetness of his mouth.

  She gasped as the sensations switched from one breast to the other, cried out as he clamped her healed nipple once again. She fought for control, but knew there was none to be had. Richard. He wouldn’t hurt her.

  Her clit throbbed and she was vaguely aware of the jewel he’d placed there, claiming it, marking it as his own. She desperately wanted him to claim all of her. Mindlessly, she bucked her hips toward him, inviting him to take all of her. He laved her nipple with his tongue, soothing it, even as the other gripped with pain. Desire and need pushed her to the edge.

  In one motion, he released her nipple and clamped it once again, spinning her around so her back was to his front. He wrapped his arms around her and dipped his lips to her bare shoulder. “There. Easy now.” He held her until the pain eased into pleasure. “Let go for me.” Once again, his leg parted hers and his hand found her folds, wet with her need.

  “Open your eyes Fallon. See how wet you are? I did that to you.” He slid two fingers inside her and pumped. It didn’t take long before she clenched around him. His other hand cradled her head and turned her face to him. He sealed his mouth over hers as she screamed through her release.

  He swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed. He laid her on the coverlet and removed the nipple clamps, massaging each puckered nipple until the pain was gone. “You look like a goddess.”

  His tender ministrations went to her heart.

  “Rest now. I’ll be back in a few hours. Maybe we could go to the spa. Would you like a massage?”

  “Mmm. That sounds good.”

  “I’ll see if Thor is available. I hear his sensual massage class is fabulous.”

  Her eyes flew wide. “Thor? But what about the ropes?”

  “You don’t want anyone to see them?”

  “No, well, yes, but I, but you said. . . . ”

  “Shhh. I know what I said, but Thor won’t tell anyone. Besides, I’ll be the one doing the massage. He’ll just be there to instruct me.”

  She relaxed again. “If you think it’s alright.”

  “I do. I don’t want to share you with anyone, but I’ll make an exception this one time. How are your nipples?” He bent his head and kissed each one in turn, flicking his tongue across them and re-igniting the flame inside her.

  “Better.”

  “Do you want to wear the clamps again?”

  “Yes, Richard.”

  He smiled that wicked one-sided smile that always made her heart flip. “Okay then. Maybe we’ll try them again sometime, somewhere you can scream and express yourself without reservation.”

  Her pussy creamed at the imagery his words brought to mind. He was going to restrain her again. She writhed against the cool comforter. “When?”

  “Soon.” He kissed her on the lips, a sweet farewell. “Now get some rest. I’ll go see about the massage.”

  Rest. Was he kidding? She listened as his footsteps crossed the cabin and she heard the click of her door opening and closing. Her hands came up to cup her tender nipples. Oh, God. She groaned and rolled to her side.

  Something about his posture challenged me. For the next half hour, I taught the bitch between his legs every trick I knew to drive a man crazy. I made it my mission to torture him without touching. Like a crazed puppeteer, I manipulated his marionette. I taught her how to curl her tongue around him, how to relax her muscles so she could take him further down her throat. I taught her how to use her teeth to inflict tiny jolts of pleasure-pain.

  From the file labeled, 'Subject M5, Richard Wolfe'

  Chapter Six

  Richard tossed the white passenger sarong on the bed and wrapped the turquoise Lothario staff one in its place. Vacation. What vacation? With Ryan gone there were things he couldn’t ignore, no matter how badly he wanted to. He made his way to the kitchens, settled a problem regarding the lack of ing
redients for one of the items on the evening menu, took care of a personnel issue with one of the dealers in the casino, and stopped by the concierge desk to sooth the feathers of a female passenger who thought she’d found the love of her life, only to be cruelly let down by the man of her dreams.

  “I’m sorry Charlotte. There really isn’t anything I can do.”

  “I want him off the ship. He tricked me into letting him. . . . ”

  “I understand. Truly I do, but I can’t put him off the ship.”

  “Why not?” she pleaded. Fresh tears streaked her already reddened cheeks.

  “For one thing, this ship doesn’t dock anywhere until tomorrow, and then it will be at a private island. I can’t just order him off the ship and leave him there.”

  “I don’t see why not.”

  He could remove the passenger from the ship, had done it before when someone had stepped over the line, but in this instance, removing the man to the mainland wasn’t warranted. From what Richard could tell, the woman had made a mistake and wanted him to punish the man for her. Wasn’t going to happen.

  “Charlotte. Did he force you? Did he threaten you in any way?”

  “No, but. . . . ”

  “Then I have to conclude you were a willing participant in the coupling.”

  She opened her mouth to protest again and he held up his hand, palm out, to stop her.

  “I suggest you steer clear of him for the remainder of the cruise. There are lots of other eligible men onboard. Go enjoy yourself. You’re a beautiful woman. I’m sure there are lots of men out there just waiting for you to look their way.”

  He signaled to one of the women working the concierge desk. “Debbie, give Charlotte a free pass to the Spa.”

  He turned back to the distraught woman. “Go to the Spa, have a massage, a pedicure, whatever you like, on the house.”

  He accepted Charlotte’s thanks, then headed to the Spa himself. With a little luck, he could still snag an appointment with Thor for this evening, and he needed to warn Thor about Charlotte.

  * * * * *

  A passenger once again, Richard planned to escort, no, lead Fallon to a quiet dinner at one of the reservation-only restaurants onboard, before taking her to the Spa. He spent a good amount of time earlier explaining to Thor about the situation. The masseur hadn’t batted an eyelash at what he had in mind, in fact, he’d suggested a few things Richard hadn’t thought of. He jingled the rope in his hand. Yes, tonight was good time to introduce the leash.

  Fallon met him at the door, her magnificently adorned body already wrapped in the evening sarong all the female passengers would be wearing tonight. He shut the door behind him and pulled her into his arms. She melted against him, her nipples firm against his naked chest. “Take it off.”

  She wiggled free enough to loosen her sarong. It fluttered to the floor and Richard dipped his head to pull one ruby nipple into his mouth. Fallon arched her back in invitation. His teeth grazed the sensitized bud and she moaned. Her fingers splayed through his hair, holding on for stability, or holding him in place. He didn’t know, didn’t care. He switched to the other side and repeated the process. When he was through, he pushed her an arm’s-length away and admired his work. Her turgid nipples glistened in the dim light of the hallway. “I have something for you.”

  “Another piece?”

  “Yes, but you’ll still get one tomorrow. This is more of an accessory.” He opened his fist and let the length of rope slither from his palm. “Come here.”

  “Yes, Richard.” Fallon closed the distance between them.

  He hooked the leash onto the D-ring on the front of the collar and led her to the full-length mirror in the bedroom. She followed obediently. “Tonight everyone will see how fully you are mine.”

  Her hand slid to the latch at her neck and he half expected her to open it and remove the leash. Instead, her fingers traced the tiny catch, and then slid along the length of the rope as far as they could go. His eyes followed their path until he noticed the pearl adorning her clit.

  “It’s beautiful, Richard.”

  “You’ll wear it?”

  “Yes, proudly.”

  “Where are the nipple clamps?”

  “I put them in the safe.”

  He led her to the small safe tucked into the closet and waited while she removed the clamps. When she had them in her hand, he led her back to the mirror. “I want you to wear them tonight. Not for long, I promise.”

  “Yes, Richard.” She sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes. He applied the clamps to her nipples quickly. She winced at the sudden pain.

  He moved so he stood behind her, partly so he could see her fully in the mirror, mostly to hide his straining erection until he could get it under control. “Open your eyes, sweetheart. Can you wear them for a few minutes?”

  “Yes, Richard.”

  He kissed her shoulder; let his lips travel up the pulsing vein in her neck to her earlobe. He drew the sensitive skin into his mouth and bit down. “You are delicious.” His hands slid along the slender columns of her arms, down to her wrists and back to her shoulders. “I’ll take the clamps off in a few minutes. I want your nipples to be hard and erect for the massage I’ve arranged.”

  “Yes, Richard.”

  He wrapped the sarong around her again, taking delight in the way the nipple clamps pressed against the thin silk. She followed him to the restaurant where he’d arranged a secluded booth with a velvet-padded bench large enough for two. The waiter took their order and discreetly disappeared. Richard poured the wine and handed Fallon a glass. “I’m going to remove the clamps now.”

  “Here?”

  “Yes, here.” He loosened the fastener holding her sarong. “No one will see us,” he assured. “Keep the wine glass in your hand. Don’t spill it, no matter what.”

  “Yes, Richard,” she breathed as his fingers closed over the clamp on her left breast. He released the clamp and replaced it with his mouth. She jerked, but kept the wine glass steady.

  “Good girl,” he whispered, his fingers replacing his mouth. “I need my hand, but I don’t want your nipple to be alone.” He took her free hand and brought it to her breast. “Pinch your nipple Fallon.”

  She did as he instructed.

  “That’s a good girl. Keep doing it until I tell you to stop.”

  He turned his attention to the loaf of crusty bread the waiter left on the table earlier. He sliced off a large piece to reveal the soft, porous inside. He tore off a hunk and dipped it into the wine glass she still held steady.

  “You can stop now.”

  As soon as her fingers left her nipple, he took the wine soaked bread and pressed it to her nipple. She jumped as the chilled liquid met her heated skin, the alcohol burning into the places where his teeth and the clamps had chafed. Rivulets of blood colored wine ran down her breast. Richard popped the bread into his mouth and used his tongue to lap the wine from her skin.

  “I’ve never tasted anything so sweet in my life. Do you want me to remove the other clamp?”

  “Yes, Richard.” He had to strain to hear her faint whisper.

  When he was done, he fastened her sarong and signaled for the discreet waiter to bring their dinner. He ate heartily and encouraged Fallon to do the same.

  “You’ll need your strength for the massage.”

  * * * * *

  Fallon chewed and swallowed. Flavors burst on her taste buds like never before. Everything seemed more vivid the last few days. It could be she was taking the time to notice details, or it could be that being with Richard made her feel alive. The leash lay across her forearm, a visual reminder that she’d given Richard permission to do as he pleased with her body. Said body hummed with arousal as she dutifully sliced another bite of chicken and brought it to her mouth. Her nipples throbbed, small pulse points straining for his attention.

  What manner of man was Richard Wolfe? She’d thought she knew him, but the last few days had disabused her of the thought.
A few days ago, she’d thought she knew herself as well, but that too had changed. She had changed. For years she’d worked to become an expert in her field, had achieved every goal she’d set. But in her quest for knowledge and recognition, she had ignored her own sexuality. She’d ignored her heart. She hadn’t really lived.

  She cast a glance at Richard, who sat next to her in the booth. Everything about him called to her, had since the first time she’d met him, but she’d kept her distance for a variety of very good, very logical reasons.

  He was her employer. There wasn’t any way to get around that argument. However, was he the playboy she’d convinced herself he was? She thought back over the last year, perhaps longer. She’d seen him with any number of women, but now that she thought about it, she’d never seen him look at any of them the way he looked at her, as if she held the key to his prison cell.

  So far, he had done nothing but see to her pleasure, had asked her for nothing, totally out of character for the man she believed him to be. Questions outnumbered answers.

  Richard plied her with dessert, but when he tugged on the leash, she left her half-eaten portion and followed him. Thor met them at the check-in desk and led them to the room he said was set up just for them.

  “I’ll wait out here until you’re ready,” Richard said. He handed the end of her leash to Thor and seated himself on one of the plush chairs in the waiting area. “Go with Thor.”

  “Yes, Richard.” She didn’t want to be separated from him, not while she was wearing the leash. It felt wrong for someone else to have that authority over her, but Richard had commanded it, so she complied. She stepped into the room and her breath caught in her lungs. Electric candles, the only safe kind on a cruise ship, provided the only illumination and cast a warm glow over the opulent furnishings. “It’s lovely,” she breathed.

  “Richard requested it.” Thor motioned to the massage table in the center of the room. “If you will lie on your back I will prepare you for the massage.”