Desert Surrender Read online

  That question made her eyes widen. She laughed nervously and shifted in her seat. “No. Sorry.”

  He pressed his lips to her ear, making her close her eyes in pleasure as his warm breath wafted over her. “With me you will be. Very submissive.”

  Her denial caught in her throat, refused to pass through her mouth. She wanted to tell him she’d never be submissive, never allow herself to be subservient to any man. She knew that wasn’t true. She’d experimented with light bondage with a lover a few years back and had enjoyed it.

  It had been just light bondage, though. Somehow she knew Maddox wasn’t talking about just tying her hands to a headboard.

  “I’m sorry I’m not the meek little thing you obviously want.” His hand was still on her thigh, the warmth driving through her. His words might trouble her, but his touch made her hot and very wet.

  “I’m not looking for a ‘meek little thing.’ I’m looking for a woman who will give over power to me to bring us both extreme pleasure.”

  Clarissa giggled, knowing it made her sound foolish but not being able to stop it. She was too nervous to talk, and truthfully she wasn’t sure how to form words to say what she felt at this moment. What could it hurt, really? He was just in town for a few days, and maybe it might be interesting to see what submission entailed, exactly. And if it meant sex, good sex, then she was all for it.

  “While you’re thinking, let me ask you something, Clarissa. Do you usually orgasm with your lovers, or do they leave you hanging, having to take matters into your own hands?”

  Good heavens above, was she that transparent? How could he know that? She hadn’t even told Anna that, keeping her lack of orgasms without batteries to herself.

  “I’m not really sure what to say.” Her giggle was gone, replaced by nerves that grasped every fiber of her being.

  “Let’s not say anything, then. Let’s test your submission. Would you like that?”

  Her heart raced, and her mouth went dry. “What exactly are you proposing?”

  “It’s easy, isn’t it, when you’re in charge of sex? The idea of giving a man you’ve just met a blowjob didn’t faze you at all, really. It fascinated you. The minute I asked for something more, you became nervous, frightened to give over.”

  “Yes.” What the hell was happening here? She’d just wanted to suck his cock, not discuss feelings and exchanges of power. “Tell me what you’re proposing.”

  “I’m saying that for the next hour you’re mine, to do with as I like. Agreed?”

  “Here? In the main room? We can go to my apartment or find an empty room. Or we could—”

  He held up one finger and shook his head. “No questions, no plans or suggestions given by you. I am in charge for one hour. Agreed?” He put an emphasis on the last word that made her stomach flip-flop.

  She should say no, tell him there was no way. Truthfully, this was the most exciting thing anyone had ever suggested, and she was fascinated.

  “Yes.” The word slipped out, and there was no way to bring it back. She lifted her gaze to his, noticing for the first time how truly blue his eyes were, almost like the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean.

  “Good. Now spread your legs and relax. This will bring us both great pleasure.”

  Desert Surrender

  Chapter Two

  Maddox reached into his pocket, and Clarissa worried about what he’d bring out. This little outing wasn’t exactly going as she’d planned. She’d wanted to enjoy his company in the fashion of a nice quickie by sucking him off. She hadn’t expected him to turn the tables, take control like he had.

  He’d pulled a key ring from his pocket and was now taking something off it. “Hold out your hand.”

  She did as he asked, staring in confusion at the small coin he placed in her palm. It was about the size of a quarter and was attached to a lanyard hook with a small chain. “Is this some sort of prize?”

  “You could say that. We give them to our guests at the Moonglow. One of those free little trinkets that spreads advertising when people see it. It has a moon with our phone number on it.”

  “Is it for me?”

  “Yes. You’re going to wear it on your pussy for the next hour.” He gave her a seductive smile. “I assume you have a slave ring on your piercing?”

  “Yes.”

  “I thought as much.” His hand moved back under her dress, slid over the elastic in her thigh-high stockings, and teased her bare pussy. Their gazes locked as she widened her legs just enough for his fingers to dip inside her pussy lips. He immediately found and tugged her clit ring. His hand moved lower, and Clarissa moaned softly. She couldn’t have found a better man tonight than if she’d designed him herself. He tugged again, and she thought she might come on the spot.

  “A piercing on each side of your inner labia. Very nice.”

  “Thank you.” Good Lord, this was exciting, more exciting than anything she’d done in a long time.

  “Clean the coin.”

  She took a napkin, rubbed the coin down. It didn’t weigh that much, maybe a few ounces. When she was done, she looked at him, trying to gauge his expression. It was blank, however, as he slowly slid his hand from underneath her dress.

  When he held out his palm, she placed the coin in there, gasping when he slipped his hand back under her dress and caressed her folds. Within seconds, she heard the faint click of the lanyard sliding over her slave ring. He let go of the coin and removed his hand. The plastic lay against her wet folds.

  She shivered as he raised his finger to his face, sniffed, then tasted her juices. “Delicious.”

  Clarissa felt strangely shy as she watched him. “Thank you. What now?”

  “You wear the coin for an hour. After that I’ll find you.”

  “Find me?” Confusion filled her. “You don’t want me to stay here with you during that hour?”

  “No. I want you to mingle, talk to people, be a party girl.” He leaned over and kissed her neck. “And I want you to think about the fact you’re wearing my coin on your clit ring.”

  That got her attention. Her body tingled even though he was pulling away from her. “While you’re talking to people you’ve known for years, ponder what they would think if they knew what you had on under your dress, if they knew my coin rested in your folds.”

  He patted her thigh before taking a drink. “Go on, now. I’ll sit and watch you for a little while.”

  Clarissa stood, running her hands down the sides of her dress. The coin moved slightly. It didn’t weigh enough to pull on her ring very much, but she could still feel it, still knew it was there. The chain rubbed against her sensitive flesh, though not enough to trigger overwhelming desire.

  “One hour,” Maddox said. She turned, stopping when he called out her name. “One more thing. You may not bring yourself to orgasm, no matter how much you desire it. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir.” She saluted him, picked up her drink, and moved into the crowd of people. The coin moved against her, heightening her already tight sensations. It felt deliciously wicked to do something like this, especially with someone she’d just met. It made her wonder about Maddox even more than she had when she’d first seen him.

  What sort of man turned down a free blowjob to sit and watch a woman wander around a room with a coin hanging from her clit ring? One who knows how to build excitement, she knew, because that was exactly what was happening. Each step she took ratcheted up her desire to suck him, to let him do whatever he wanted to do to her.

  She smiled at people, stopping to talk to those she knew as she worked the room. What would some of these people say, she wondered, if they knew she had a key chain attached to her slave ring? It added to the allure of what she was doing, making her wetness flow more freely. If she wasn’t careful, her thighs would feel like she’d been out in the rain.

  “There you are.” Clarissa stopped in her tracks. Well, this was one way to stop the flow of wetness forming in her pussy.

  �
��Hello, Henry.” She turned a blank gaze to him. “Fancy meeting you here.”

  “Your father’s looking for you. He wants to talk about the Hamptons week. I think he wants the two of us to ride up together, spend some time alone in the car.”

  “Don’t get your hopes up, Henry. You’re a nice guy and all that, but it’s not happening.”

  Henry smiled like someone indulging a spoiled child. “One of the things your father likes about me is that he knows I’ll be able to tame you. It will be fun.”

  Tame me. You and what army?

  “It will be”—she paused for effect—“not happening.” She tried to push past him, but he put his hand on her arm.

  What’s the harm in talking with him? She gazed up at the man her father had chosen as her husband. He was handsome enough, with dark hair and dark eyes, but when he touched her there was no spark. Not like what she’d felt when Maddox had touched her. If anything, her nipples felt deflated when Henry touched her.

  He put his arm on the small of her back, propelling her in front of him. “He’s over by the dais, waiting for a photographer to arrive.”

  “Of course, to mark the donation he made to this charity. What’s this charity again?” The chain rubbed against her clit as she walked. A soft moan escaped her lips. Damn, that felt good. How good would it feel to go into the bathroom and get herself off, right now? Fantastic, that’s how it would feel. She remembered his final words about keeping her hands off her pussy.

  “That school for underprivileged children. I can’t remember where it is or what it’s called.”

  Right. Focus, Clarissa, focus on what you’re doing, not what you’re feeling.

  She wondered if her father could remember the name of the charity. Probably not. His sizable donation would get him a photo in the newspaper, along with other donors. At least the money was going for a good cause. She made a mental note to write a check before she left, then spotted her father talking with a few of his cronies.

  Unlike her mother, when he spotted her, he smiled, shaking his head. She was sure it was at her choice of dress. “Hello, dumpling.” Crap, she hated that nickname. It was a constant reminder that he thought she was too fat. Every time he said the word it hurt, and she knew he thought it was a funny way to remind her she was fat. She’d asked him a thousand times to stop, and he’d only laughed, saying it was his pet name for her. Now he pulled her close, kissed her forehead. He always showed affection in public and rarely did it in private.

  “Hello, Father.”

  “I’m glad to see you two found each other.” He patted her shoulder, hugging her closer. “I’m sure you have lots to talk about to prepare for our trip. It’s in less than a month, you know.”

  Clarissa knew it was no use arguing about this with her father. He would give her the standard, “We’ll discuss it later, dumpling,” when she objected.

  “We can take my car,” Henry said. “I have a brand new Beemer. It will be nice to get it out on the road.”

  The men laughed, and Clarissa was about to tell Henry he could drive it up his backside for all she cared, when she caught sight of Maddox. He was leaning against a pole, his eyes fixed on her crotch. The coin in her pussy seemed to flare to life, almost as if it could burn her insides. Her clit throbbed, begging for attention.

  She shifted her hips, pleasure shooting through her as the coin caught in her folds and the chain pulled on the ring, rubbing it against her clit. Maddox licked his upper lip, then stroked his hand down his fly as if he were adjusting himself.

  Oh sweet heavens above, he’s hard. She shifted again, the movement making her clit ache even more. She wanted to touch him, suck him, have him fill her with every inch of him.

  “Dumpling, answer me.” Clarissa turned toward her father, who narrowed his gaze at her.

  “I’m sorry, what?” Don’t think about your throbbing clit. Just ignore it, and the need will diminish. Right?

  “I said, you will go with Henry next Saturday to his firm’s party. Do you hear me?”

  “Oh, I heard you.” She nodded at her father. I heard you. I processed the information. I let it fly in one ear and out of the other. Screw his damn party.

  “Good.” He father planted a kiss on the top of her head just as the cameraman arrived. “Henry, see to it she gets home tonight, will you?”

  “Of course, Clay.” Henry’s chest seemed to puff out, and Clarissa wondered if his buttons would pop. Across the way, Maddox shot her a look that made her gasp for breath. Then he glanced at his watch and inclined his head toward the area where they’d been sitting earlier.

  Had it been an hour already? No way. Her body tingled when Maddox gave her a slight nod.

  She turned to Henry and frowned. “Have a good night.” Before she could walk away, though, he put his hand on her arm, tightening his grip when she tried to pull away.

  “I told your father I’d see you home.”

  “I don’t need a babysitter. Thanks anyway.” When he wouldn’t let go, she thought about slapping him but decided it would cause a scene, something she didn’t want tonight. Finally she looked up at him and pasted a sweet smile on her face.

  “Listen, I have to pee. If you want to help, then by all means keep hold of my arm. If not, let me go.” The red spots that appeared on his face made her want to laugh.

  “I’ll wait here.”

  “Excellent choice.” She hurried away, her heart dropping when she noticed Maddox wasn’t in the same spot where he’d been. The coin seemed to grow heavier as she walked, the feel of it pressed against her folds more erotic. The chain rubbed against her clit, and she thought if she just walked a little faster she would come, right in front of all these people.

  She stopped, her breathing just a little more labored than she cared for it to be. She needed sex. Now. If he didn’t give her his cock the minute she saw him, she might die from need.

  Where was Maddox? She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone, checked the clock. Her hour wasn’t up yet. In fact, it had twenty more minutes left on it. So what exactly was he doing? And where the hell had he gone?

  Maddox sat at the table, his gaze glued on Clarissa. It was obvious from the utter look of concentration on her face that she was close to orgasm. Good. He wanted her on edge, wanted her to feel the small claim he’d put on her body. When she moved, she felt it more. It hadn’t meant much when she was standing still, as she had been when she was talking to the two men.

  From the fatherly kiss the one had given her, he’d decided he was just that: her father. He’d seen photos of the store owner over the years, but seeing him tonight showed that the publicists were obviously only allowed to use older photos. The man was much older than what Maddox thought he would be.

  Of course he guessed Clarissa to be around thirty, and he knew she had two older sisters, one who was his age, thirty-six. Maddox had done his homework, because at one point he’d been tempted to ask Clay Alexander if he wanted to open a boutique in Moonglow. He’d dumped the idea, however, when he’d heard murmurings about how elitist Alexander was. Maddox’s casino wouldn’t be good enough for the Alexander name.

  He wondered how the old man would feel when he realized Maddox had set his sights on his youngest daughter. He watched as she scanned the room, then strode toward her friend Anna. He could tell from the way she held her hands, almost clenched into fists, that she was fighting against the pleasure building inside her.

  Good. That meant the chain and coin served their purpose, kept her on edge. Of course, thinking about the chain rubbing her clit kept him on edge too. She was the ideal submissive. She just didn’t realize it yet. Her adventurous nature was perfect, and he couldn’t wait to see how she reacted to her first spanking, her first everything, for that matter.

  A smile tugged at his lips as he watched her look around for him, her hands on her generous hips. Her body was just right, luscious and full. Her dark hair would look beautiful when it hung down her naked back; her big b
rown eyes would seem even larger when she focused on her orgasm, on pleasing both of them.

  He glanced at his watch, then dug his cell from his pocket. He dialed a number from memory, then slugged back the rest of his scotch.

  “Yes, Master Maddox?”

  “Is that the way you answer a business phone?” Maddox shook his head in mock disgust, even though his friend Doyle Forster couldn’t see him. “I hate caller ID. I want to make a purchase.”

  “Terrific. Want me to outfit a dungeon for you at your host’s home? Does she have a free room? I’d love to see the look on her face when you start moving stuff in.”

  “I have a dungeon at home, and I don’t need one here, thank you very much. What I want is a selection of books, beginner’s books, delivered to Clarissa Alexander’s house. Do you know where she lives?”

  Doyle’s whistle made Maddox laugh. “Shooting high these days, are you? And yes, I know where she lives. Her father owns a lot of property, but it’s well-known she lives in one of his lavish apartments near the park. I’m sure I can find an apartment number. Will tomorrow do?”

  “No. Tonight.”

  “What? I’ve got a club to run, you know. I don’t have time to fill your special order right now.”

  “It’ll take you five minutes to pick out some books, put them in a box, and give them to a flunky to deliver. Five minutes.” He gave instructions on what to write on a card to place inside the box.

  “You owe me.” The phone clicked dead, and Maddox put it back in his pocket. Yes, he owed Doyle for the favor, and he owed Clarissa an orgasm. He would pay her debt right now. And they’d both savor every second of it.

  * * * * *

  The press of a large, masculine hand against her back made Clarissa inhale sharply.

  “Come with me.” The commanding tone of his voice was like an aphrodisiac to her already overheated body. Where had he been? She’d looked for him, and when she couldn’t find him, she’d asked Anna and Loren if they’d seen him. When they’d answered no, she’d gone hunting again, only to have him sneak up behind her like this.