VICTORIOUS (A Quantum Novel)(37)

As I sit on the side of the tub and lather the area with soap, I decide I’m willing to risk the potential punishment to make one of his fantasies come true.

I’ve left my phone where I can see the time. At five minutes to eight, I get out of the tub, towel myself dry and wrap the towel around my body. Standing before the mirror, I permanently remove the contact lenses I’ve worn for cosmetic reasons since I changed my name and became Natalie. As always, the rare sight of my green eyes is a reminder of how far I’ve come since I left April behind.

Despite the long road I’ve traveled since then, she’s still part of me. Her heart still beats inside me. Her trauma is with me always but no longer defines me. I’m determined to live my life as I see fit, without giving the man who ruined April’s life any more power than he’s already had.

I brush my teeth and hair, cover my body in scented lotion and take the deep, cleansing breaths Curt taught me to use whenever I feel overwhelmed or anxious. I’m neither of those things now. I’m fearless and determined—and extremely aroused from thinking about this all day. I bring the candles from the bathroom with me and place them on the bedside table, before assuming the position he has requested—on my knees, hands folded and head down.

And then I wait.





Chapter 8





And I wait. My knees begin to hurt, but I stay where I’m supposed to be as I wonder what kind of game he’s playing. Is making me wait part of it? The longer I stay there, on my knees, awaiting his arrival, the more turned on I seem to get. I’m throbbing between my legs and my nipples are tight, perhaps from the chill of being right out of the tub and naked. But I know that’s not why. My entire body is alive with anticipation.

Right when I think I can’t take the waiting any longer, he appears in the doorway. He closes the door, leaving Fluff in the hall. Her plaintive whimpers tug at my heart, but she can’t be in here for this. She’d go ballistic. She whines for a few seconds before seeming to get it’s pointless to protest. I picture her on the floor, head on her paws, watching the door.

My head is down, as instructed, so I see his feet first. Have I ever noticed before how big they are? The thought nearly makes me laugh, and my ass tingles at the thought of the punishment I might receive for laughing right now.

“You look lovely, sweetheart.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“Are you nervous, Natalie?”

“No, Sir.”

“Are you lying?”

“No, Sir.”

His low chuckle makes me smile, but I don’t let him see that. I feel his hand stroking my hair and then his finger on my shoulder, his touch so light I barely feel it, but it sets me on fire nonetheless. I shudder and try to maintain my position until he tells me what he wants.

“Are you aroused, Natalie?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Do you remember your safe word?”

“Fluff, Sir. As well as yellow to slow down and red to stop.”

“Very good. Sit up taller now and look at me.”

I do as he asks, and that’s when I see he’s naked and fully aroused. My mouth waters at the sight of his beautiful body, hard and strong and ready for me.

He takes me by the chin to tilt my face up more and studies my eyes. “They’re lovely, Natalie. Thank you for letting me see them.”

“You’re welcome, Sir.”

“Stroke me, Natalie. Use your hand and mouth.”

I’m thrilled to get my hands on him, to make him feel as good as he makes me feel every time he touches me. I stroke him the way he’s taught me to, aggressively, keeping my hand wrapped tightly around him. Then I take the wide head into my mouth and suck while I lash him with my tongue.

“Yes,” he says on a hiss, “like that. Just like that.”

Knowing I’m pleasing him is the greatest thrill I’ve ever experienced, a natural high. I open my mouth wider and let him slide in deeper, controlling my gag reflex to let him into my throat.

“Swallow,” he says harshly, his hands pulling tightly on my hair.

I swallow twice, making him groan. Then he withdraws so quickly, I nearly topple over.

Flynn catches me and helps me up.

“Why did you stop?”

“You don’t ask questions when we’re playing, sweetheart. You can ask them later, but not now.”

“Do I get punished for asking?”