He looked forward to using both.

Even though he'd forbidden Chelsea to touch herself, he climbed beneath the hot shower spray and jacked off to the image of her on her knees, the clamp's chain hooked over his thick cock as she sucked him deep into her mouth.

The next day, at two minutes before three o'clock, he heard a car door slam. As always, she was right on time. About thirty seconds later, she knocked on his front door. He had told her she didn't need to, but she did, regardless.

There was a metallic creak as she opened the front door, then a soft snick as she closed it behind her. He heard the faint staccato of her heels against the hardwood floors. Presumably she was making her way into the living room. Then there was silence.

Over their days together, he'd discovered he liked having her here. He enjoyed her company, and he liked knowing she was preparing for him, stripping off her clothes and folding them in a perfect pile. He resisted the impulse to hurry to her. Instead he decided to finish work on his third-quarter financial projections.

She still tended to get impatient after only a couple of minutes, so he kept her waiting. He'd left lights on downstairs so she knew he was home. He had done what he needed to reassure her she wasn't alone. The rest was up to her.

Alex had been a trainer for years. It was customary for him to spend days or weeks with a submissive then send her back to her Dom. Her enthusiasm to be perfect for Evan C shouldn't have surprised Alex, after all, that was why she'd pursued him.

What did surprise him was the way he reacted to her.

There was something rewarding about making her surrender, giving up the control she liked to exert. And the way she responded to him in bed... A transformation came over her when she ceased the struggle. In bed, she was unrestrained. He'd never been with a woman so responsive and so vocal about it.

Each time he'd inserted a plug up her tight ass, she'd protested, but when he fucked her with it in, she screamed out her orgasms. When they had sex, her hot pussy enveloped him, and more than once over the last couple of days, the way she'd squeezed him had dragged his ejaculate from him sooner than he liked. The little vixen wasn't the only one swamped by physical need.

But it was more than that. She was passionate about all her pursuits. Since he'd met her, she'd sent a number of e-mails reinforcing her suggestion that Monahan Capital host a charity function. Of course, she suggested her firm handle the event. Each solicitation contained a new suggestion or reason, so he knew she was always thinking about his business. She'd been so persistent-and convincing-that he'd considered approaching his brother with the idea. He figured she was such a success in business because she refused to take no for an answer. Which pretty well meant he and Evan C were both done for.

After Alex did a check sum on each calculation, he closed the spreadsheet then pushed back from his desk. He hadn't got a lot done this morning, despite his best intentions. Thoughts of Chelsea had dominated his mind. He went downstairs, and he found her in the kneeling up position, with the clover clamps biting into her nipples. "You're doing well," he told her. After the party, in fact, there wouldn't be any reason to continue her training. He'd got her comfortable with anal. Her movements were pleasing. And for the most part, she followed direction without argument. She even sucked cock well. He didn't like the thought, so he ruthlessly shoved it away. "Have you climaxed since you left here last night?"

"You forbade it, Sir."

"Answer the question, Chelsea."

"That was my answer," she said. "I do not go behind your back, Sir, no matter how tempted I am. So, no. I did not come."

Her answer pleased him, ridiculously so. "Crawl upstairs to the guest room," he instructed.

"Of course, Sir."

She lowered herself to the floor with elegance that proved she'd continued to hone her skills even when they were apart. She managed to navigate each wooden step without protest. "Very nice," he said as he followed her down the hallway.

"Thank you, Sir."

She didn't ask him to remove the clamps, and with the way her body swayed, he knew she had to hurt. She moved a little slower as she crossed the threshold into the room and obviously saw the cross. "Keep going. I want you on the cross, facing away from me."

When she reached the sturdy base, she stood and spread her arms and legs wide, into the shape of an X.

He secured her limbs then walked in front of the cross. He captured her chin. "How are the clamps?"

"Miserable, Sir."

"Would you like me to remove them?"

She opened her eyes wide and searched his gaze. "If it pleases you, Sir."

"If I were giving you an erotic beating, I might request you leave them on as they would heighten your arousal in the event I let you come. For now, I'm all right with you concentrating on the flogging. So I will leave the choice to you."

"In that case, Sir, I'd appreciate it if you got rid of the nasty little beasts."

"Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea."

"Thank you, Sir." She smiled at him.

He knew she didn't mean it to be manipulative, but it was. He liked the sight of her smile so much he'd allow her to get away with almost anything just to see it. He captured her right breast in his palm and squeezed the flesh before releasing the clamp.

She sucked in a shallow breath. And he bent to soothe the hurt with his mouth.

Her body trembled, but when he released her, she said, "Well, Sir. That was certainly better than when I took them off last night. Thank you for making it much more pleasurable."

"Ready for the next one?"

"Please."

He squeezed the other breast and plucked the clamp from the tip. He licked and teased the nipple until her breathing returned to normal.

"Sir, I know you don't want me getting aroused, but...uhm, I am."

After he released her, he slid two fingers between her legs. "You are damp, little pain slut."

"I..." She trailed off and moved her hips towards him, as much as the rigid constraint of the wood would allow.

He continued to rub her, back and forth, across her clit.

"Sir, may I come?" She pulled against her bonds.

"Having your nipples clamped made you this wet?"

"Oh, Sir. Yes. No."

He slid a finger inside her, pulled out again.

"Yes, it was from the clamps. But it was also because of last night's spanking with your belt. And the way you smacked my pussy. I hardly slept last night because I wanted to have sex with you. I woke up thinking about you."

He told himself that only meant she wanted to get off. But his ego wanted her to crave satisfaction from him.

"I've been obsessed with imagining what today would be like," she confessed.

She struggled, and he couldn't tell whether it was to get away, to avoid orgasming without permission or whether she was trying to get him to use more pressure. He saw her digging her toes into the hardwood floor.

"Sir! I'm begging you. Please, please stop. If you keep doing that, I'm going to be helpless. And I don't want to displease you."

"Come, Chelsea." He grabbed one of her nipples and pinched brutally. "Now."

"Oh, thank you, Sir." She convulsed against the straps, her pussy constricting as she came.

He released his grip on her nipple, and she sobbed words of gratitude. He reached to smooth his thumb across the top of her eyebrows. "You are so responsive," he told her.

"It's you who turns me on and keeps me there, Sir. And I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed sucking your cock last night. You keep trying to get me to give up control, and when I don't, you seize it. I find that so...masculine. You make me happy to be a woman, Sir, and I like it," she said. She nipped at his hand and when she managed to get hold of the fleshy part at the base, she held on with her teeth.

He wasn't sure he'd felt anything more sexy. In the only physical way she had available, she reached out to him.

Yeah. Evan C was one lucky sonofabitch.

Once she released him, he placed his palms on either side of her face. "Do you still want to continue with a flogging?"

"I do. Being on this structure is mind-blowing. I wasn't sure how I'd like it, since I hated the posture collar. At first, I mean."

He nodded.

"But I think I'm finally starting to understand what you meant from the start. I am freer to explore my own reactions when I'm restrained. I can fight, but I can't get away. With the wrong person, it could be scary. With you it's not." Then she added, "Thank you."

"There's still more," he said.

She gave him what had to be an intentional, sly smile. "I'm ready, Sir."

He left her for a moment and returned with one of the floggers he'd selected in advance. "You'll notice this one has fairly thick strands. It will make a thuddy kind of impact. As far as floggers go, it's considered quite innocuous. Do keep in mind, how it's wielded makes all the difference."

"You showed me that when you used the cane on me, Sir."

"Precisely. Where I hit, the force behind my wrist, where I stand, all of it factors into your corresponding pain." He shook out the leather.

She looked at it with an expression of curiosity rather than fear.

"If I wanted to beat you for half the night until you went into subspace, I'd choose this one for you." And maybe he should. He'd had no idea she would respond so favourably to pain. "After I've warmed up your skin, I'll switch to a different one." He exchanged the floggers and returned to her. "This is one of several I use for punishment, or for a very experienced sub who enjoys impact play. I want to be clear that you're neither being punished, nor do I consider you anything other than a novice." He flicked his wrist. He smelt leather and heard a sound like a distant waterfall. He'd forgotten how much he liked holding this type of whip. "I am introducing you to its feel. If you'll notice, the leather strands are thinner so it results in a powerful sting. Would you like to use your safe word?"

Chelsea licked her upper lip before responding, "No, Sir."

He noticed she hadn't taken her gaze off the whip.

"Any questions?"

"Can we get on with it, Sir?"

"You do like to tempt fate."

She grinned. "In for a penny," she said. "Then I'll tell you I think you look hot, Sir."

His cock hardened. This morning he had dressed for his time with Chelsea. Instead of his customary business attire, he'd worn a short-sleeved T-shirt, black jeans, and motorcycle boots.

"Leather pants would be better," she continued. "Do you have any? Could you wear them tomorrow?"

"I will choose my attire, girl. And yours."

"Of course, Sir. Did you get my e-mail yesterday? I thought we could use the grounds of the Den as a setting for a photo shoot. Pictures of you in those pants and maybe a hat like you wore that first night... That would be good for your image. With the mountains as a backdrop you'll look more well-rounded."

He resisted a smile. This woman definitely liked to be in control, even when she was helpless, affixed to bondage equipment. "Monahan Capital has its own PR firm," he reminded her, reminded them both. "And I'm not running for political office."

"I sent you a proposal yesterday-"

"Would you like to wear a dental dam?" he interrupted.

"Shutting up, Sir."

"Good choice. In that case, we'll get on with it." He crossed the room and placed the flogger with the first. He went to her for a moment and trailed his touch over her body. "If you can, let some of the tension out of your muscles." He pressed his body against hers and uncurled her fists. "That's better," he said. "Splaying your fingers will keep your muscles more supple."

Being this close to her wasn't a good idea. When he drew in the scent of her shampoo and layered floral soap, he had a very masculine reaction. He wanted to be buried in her cunt, or her ass, and claim her as his. Fuck. Where the hell had that thought come from?

"Oh, Sir," she said on a moan. "Do me?"

He moved away and grabbed the flogger. "A Dom's cock has to be earned, Chelsea." He hoped she didn't hear the gruffness in his tone.

"Then I'll do whatever I need to in order to deserve having your cock in me, Sir."

If the angle weren't nearly impossible, he'd drop his jeans and ride her now.

He took a few moments to mentally centre himself. He refused to administer any kind of beating, no matter how benign, unless he was focused on his sub. It took a lot of willpower to concentrate on the task at hand, rather than on her invitation. As he'd told her before, Doms were human, and right now, primal need surged through him.

At least a minute passed before he was comfortable taking a few practice swipes with the flogger.

She flinched even though he wasn't near her.

Finally satisfied, he went to her. Her body looked so beautiful, so perfect, so ready to be reddened.

He ran the handle down her spine then between her buttocks. She stayed still like a well-behaved sub. "You're ready?"

"Yes, Sir."

"I'm going to use this all over your back and buttocks, even your shoulders. I'll warn you before I increase the intensity."

"Thank you, Sir."

He used light pressure as he allowed the leather tongues to caress her naked body. She moaned with each lick, and he smelt the sharp musk of her arousal. He'd advise any Dom who claimed her to tie her up and beat her often. "Ready for more?"

"Yes, Sir."

He changed his angle and took a step back so he could get a fuller swing.

"Oh! Wow, Sir," she said. She pulled as far away from the cross as possible in silent offering.

Greedily, he accepted, flogging her bared body. Her skin turned a beautiful pink. Perspiration covered her. Her submission made her even more beautiful. "Are you doing okay, Chelsea?"

When she didn't answer, he repeated the question. She wasn't heading for subspace already, was she? He flicked his wrist with more pressure, and this time he elicited a moan from her.

"Please," she said.