Nobody's Lost (Rescue Me Saga #5)(44)

“Um, maybe after the sixth blow.”

“Why didn’t you use your safeword then?”

“Because… Well, in my books, the Doms delivered many more blows than that, and their trainees didn’t safeword. I felt like a wimp.”

She sniffled, realizing the tears were pouring from her eyes harder now, and her mask was soaked.

“I don’t want you to compare yourself to anyone else. How many times have I told you to listen to your body?”

“Lots of times.” She remembered hearing it at least twice.

He rubbed a cool liquid or ointment onto her ass. “That will take away the sting soon.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

Sniffle, sniffle.

How much more embarrassing could this night become? What had seemed like fun at first had gone south awfully quickly. If she could just grab a tissue from the nightstand, she could blow her nose rather than risk dripping all over the bed, but she hadn’t been given permission to move yet.

Ryder’s hands grabbed each of her wrists and pulled. “Stand up, Baby.”

She did so, and her butt hurt again from changing positions. He lifted the blindfold and mask from her face, but she refused to let him see her childish tears. His finger under her chin gave her no option but to look at him.

“I can’t work with someone who won’t tell me when she’s reached her limit.”

He was giving up on her already?

“I’m sorry. I promise I’ll do better. I just didn’t expect…so much pain.”

“Did you feel any excitement or enjoyment of the pain?”

“God, no! It hurt like hell, and I just wanted it to be over.”

He grinned, and she cocked her head. “What’s so funny?”

“I think it’s safe to say you aren’t into pain.”

“Without a doubt. But who said all kink had to be centered around pain?” Then again, judging from the implements lying on the bed, she found it hard to think of anything else they could be used for other than to inflict pain. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a riding crop like one used on horses—was that the second implement he’d used? There also was a leather belt with grommet-covered holes, but she would have recognized that if he had used it. Might be pretty to wear, but she didn’t want to feel that across her butt either.

“How does your backside feel?”

She realized the burning had stopped. “Better.”

“Good. I think it’s time for a little aftercare. We’ve learned enough for the first night.”

Oh, aftercare meant cuddling. Megan smiled. “I’d like that a lot. Sir.” She kept forgetting to address him as Sir, but noticed he didn’t really call her on it half the time. Maybe he didn’t look at her as his real submissive.

He picked up an afghan throw from the bottom of the bed and wrapped it around her. “I think I’d be more comfortable holding you on the couch.” Before she had a chance to take a step forward, he lifted her into his arms, and she gave in to the feeling of warmth and caring by resting her head on his shoulder.

Cherished. She understood the meaning of the word she’d read so often in fictional accounts of Dom/sub relationships. Overcome with emotion, she sniffled.

“Poor baby. Rough night, huh?”

She nodded, unable to speak.

In the living room, he set her on her feet and settled himself on the leather sofa before he pulled her into his lap and adjusted the cover over her. His hand stroked her head and down her arm over and over.

“Tell me what you enjoyed about what we did tonight.”

“The clothespins. Most of that, anyway. Oh, and when you gave me a scalp massage. God, you give great massages.”

“Thank you. Anything else?”

“The blindfold made things interesting. Not knowing what you were going to do increased my excitement.”

“Until I started paddling you.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t like it. Is it one of your favorite kinks?”

“I have others to choose from. Don’t worry about me running out of kinks to introduce you to. What did you think of the bare-handed spanking?”

“Oh, I did like that. It was just the hard smacks with—”

“I used a wooden paddle first then a riding crop.”

“I thought it was the crop, not that I’d have guessed until I saw it lying on the bed.” She sat up and met his gaze. “Can we play some more tomorrow?”

His smile helped right her world. “If you’d like to.”

“Oh, I’d like that very much!”

“Let’s talk a bit more so I can plan a better scene for you. I’m afraid I might have rushed things a bit tonight. I haven’t worked with someone so new to kink. Anything else you liked?”

“When you had me bend over and hold the bed. The position was very…suggestive. Erotic. I don’t know what to call it.”

“You’re doing fine. How would you feel about being restrained again, only both arms and legs this time?”

“I like ropes.”

“Ropes, chains, cuffs. There are many ways to restrain a person.”

She smiled impishly. “I think I’d enjoy that, but it depends on what you plan to do once you have me restrained.”