Auctioned to the Protective Dom [The Spectrum Auctions 4] (Siren Classic) Read online

  “Very nice presentation, baby girl, but that’s not what I expect of you. Up you get.”

  A wave of disappointment engulfed her at his seeming rejection as she struggled to her feet. Seeing him smile at her did a lot to restore her equilibrium, as did his next words.

  “Not that seeing you in front of me on your knees is not on my bucket list.” He winked at her when she gasped at that. “But I want your professional services in repayment of the bid.”

  Rissa couldn’t have heard him right, and she knew she was gaping at him again. He would think her a right simpleton at this rate.

  “Professional services?” she echoed.

  “Yes, you’re a vet nurse, right?” When she gave a short nod in answer he grinned. “Perfect, especially as I know that you’re not practicing right now.” He tapped her nose to get her attention when she flinched. “You don’t have to tell me why. I can guess, which is bad enough, and let me tell you. If my hunch is correct…” He stopped speaking and looked utterly furious again. It gave her a warm glow inside to see him this annoyed on her behalf. It also made her more determined for him to never find out what a mess she’d made of her life before she found Club Spectrum and a measure of sanity. While she’d been too much of a damn coward to interact, she’d observed enough true Dom-sub interaction at the club to know her past was not indicative of the lifestyle. It remained the big elephant in the room, however.

  Jonas wouldn’t want her once he knew.

  “Anyway, one day. One day soon, I hope you’ll trust me enough to tell me. Until then, I need your help with the hell hound.” Brutus’s ears perked up at that, and Jonas shook his head at him.

  “I know what I’m supposed to do, but, you’re right. I’m not home enough to be the steady influence that he needs, and the dog walkers I’ve tried, never last. He doesn’t like the other dogs, you see, and he hasn’t particularly taken to any of the other sitters that were willing to come here. I have a conference coming up, which will take me away for three days. I was going to put him into kennels—”

  “Oh no, you can’t.” Rissa interrupted him and snapped her mouth shut when Jonas’s eyebrow rose as he looked at her. There it was. That Dom look which turned her insides to mush, and conveyed his displeasure without the need for words.

  “Sorry, S…” His other eyebrow went up, and Rissa hastily corrected herself. “Sorry, Daddy.”

  The flare of heat in his azure gaze when she uttered that title took her breath away. His smile reassured her that she hadn’t completely fucked this up.

  “You have no idea how much it pleases me when you call me that, little one.”

  Rissa dropped her gaze to his Adam’s apple and pulled a much-needed breath into her suddenly constricted lungs. It was probably the same effect that hearing him call her little one had on her.

  Jonas ran his index finger across her collar bone, and she could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke again.

  “Then again, maybe you do. I think you rather like it when I call you little one, don’t you?”

  “Yes, Daddy.”

  “Good girl. Now that we’ve established that, I expect you to call me Daddy in future. When we’re on our own and at the club, anyway. Agreed? And look at me when you answer me.”

  Rissa hastily raised her head and sought his gaze. The warmth in his eyes caused an answering heat in her lower belly, the longer she held his attention. His blue orbs darkened as she licked her lips, and whispered her reply.

  “Yes, Daddy, but I’m confused.”

  Approval lit up his features.

  “Good girl for voicing that. What are you confused about?” Jonas held out his arms while he said that, and she didn’t need any further encouragement to take the cuddle he offered. Sure enough with his arms tightening around her in a comforting embrace, his strong heart beat under her ear, there was no place she’d rather be right now.

  All the subs said that Master Jonas gave the best cuddles, and wrapping her arms around his waist, Rissa closed her eyes to enjoy the moment.

  “You’re confused about….?”

  Rissa buried in deeper, and mumbled her reply into his chest.

  “If we’re not…you know…” Jonas’s chest shook in silent laughter, and she silently mourned the loss of his body warmth, as he pulled back and studied her.

  He was laughing at her. That much was clear when Rissa forced herself to look up to read his expression. It should have annoyed her, especially as he had always laughed at her expense. Rissa had always been too stupid and childish, but even though Jonas was amused, she sensed no malice from him. No need to put her down to make himself feel bigger. With a sudden flash of insight Rissa realized that’s all he had ever done.

  “I’m sorry, baby girl, but you’re too cute when you get all flustered like this. Say the word, go on. You know you want to. If we’re not…?”

  He winked at her in that devastatingly charming way he had, and this time Rissa did roll her eyes at herself. The action made Jonas’s amusement deepen, and Rissa blurted out what was bothering her.

  “If we’re not going to have sex, why go through all this dynamic stuff?”

  There, she said it.

  Jonas’s amusement fled in an instant. Wrapping one hand in her hair he tilted her head up, and slid the other hand to her neck. He tightened his hold on her just enough to let her know who was in charge, and the submissive in her dissolved into a pile of happiness.

  “Did I say that, girl? Trust me, we will have sex and lots of it.”

  Chapter Five

  Feeling her pulse jump under his hand, as she went pliant and soft against him, her gasp of shock, delight—he wasn’t entirely sure which—Jonas couldn’t hold back. He had to kiss those soft lips, and damn the consequences. Jonas closed the distance between them slowly, giving her plenty of chance to cry red. Instead of objecting, however, his sweet little Rissa balled her hands in the back of his shirt. Her eyes fluttered shut and her plump lips opened for him in silent invitation. He brushed his lips overs her in a feather light caress that made his girl sigh. Ignoring the urge to fuck her mouth, until she wouldn’t even think of questioning his motives, he kissed the half-moons her eyelashes made against her pale skin instead. Another gasp was his reward, and he smiled as he continued his exploration of her face. Every little freckle received a lick, as he followed the light dusting over her nose and cheeks to one perfectly formed ear. Jonas licked around the shell, and Rissa pressed herself closer against him, when he nibbled on the fleshy part of her earlobe, and then bit down slightly.

  “Please…” Her soft whisper shot straight to his dick, and letting go of her neck, Jonas slid his hand down her side until he could grasp a perfectly formed ass cheek. Another sharp intake of breath was his reward when he lifted her up on her tiptoes, and ground his erection into her belly. She was so damn small and fragile. It made him want to roar, to protect her from everyone, most especially him. He was far too wound up right now to be the gentle lover she would need for their first time, and besides, he wanted her submission freely given. Not wrangled out of her out of a sense of duty, because he had bid a lot of money on her.

  Mindful of that fact, he dragged his lips away from her fragrant skin, and with a groan of his own released her, as much as he could, with her small digits still having a death grip on the back of his shirt.

  Rissa swayed slightly, before she opened her eyes. Pupils hugely distended she looked like he felt. On the edge, desperate to fuck, and to see this thing between them through to its inevitable conclusion, because there was no doubt in Jonas’s mind that this was the woman for him.

  She might not agree, but he would do his damnedest to make her see that. Rissa was his and his alone.

  Her hand fluttered to her lips, she blinked and then hastily dropped her other hand from his shirt. Jonas instantly missed that desperate hold. Inwardly he cursed himself for all kinds of a fool. He could only hope that none of his confusing feelings showed on his face.


  “Why did you stop?” she asked. Jonas swallowed a groan, and to buy himself some time, he stepped away, bent down to pick up her hold all, and handed her the teddy she’d left on top of it.

  Rissa took it, and he didn’t miss the way she clutched Fred to herself like some sort of shield.

  “Come on, I’ll show you to your room. We can discuss this in the morning, when I don’t feel as though I want to fuck you silly.”

  Another gasp, followed by the most delightful blush was his response. Even from the distance separating them now, Jonas could see her nipples poke through the fabric of her top. It made his mouth water for a taste. Rissa was slim and tiny, but he’d been close enough to her to know that she had curves in all right places nonetheless. Those pert breasts of hers would be just the right handful to fit into his palms. They would look magnificent showcased in red rope, her nipples linked together by a chain, her whole body flushed in arousal while she flew for him.

  Fuck. These mental images were not helping his resolve to keep his hands off of her for tonight, at least, so Jonas turned his back on her and stomped up the stairs. Predictably Brutus followed at breakneck speed, and almost tripped him up half way up the freaking staircase. Cursing the damn hell hound under his breath, he made a lunge for the banister to stop himself from falling flat on his face. A giggle behind him worked wonders at dispelling his annoyance. Sure enough when he half turned, it was to see Rissa following. Her eyes sparkled with amusement, as she held her hand over her mouth to presumably not erupt into fits of laughter. Brutus, in the meantime did his overexcited yipping act at the top of the stairs, tail no doubt wagging ten to the dozen, bearing his teeth in that stupid doggie equivalent of a grin that never felt to get to Jonas. Fucking hell hound.

  “This is not funny.” He grumbled the words even as his lips quirked into a reluctant half smile.

  “I’m sorry, Daddy, but it is from this viewpoint.” The ease with which that title rolled off Rissa’s lips did a lot to soothe Jonas’s agitation. It did nothing for the state of his cock, mind you. The damn thing seemed determined to test the strength of his trousers, and he wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t have a damp spot on his underwear by now.

  The Dom in him didn’t fail to see to the irony of this self-inflicted cock and ball torture he was putting himself under, especially as he sensed that it wouldn’t take much persuasion on his part for Rissa to agree to have sex with him. However, he wanted more from her than just sex. Besides, under the terms of the auction that would absolve her from further responsibility to him, and he would have no recourse. She would be free to go back to that dismal room, she called home, and short of kidnapping her Jonas would stand no chance of getting her out of there.

  His blood boiled anew thinking of her in that damn place. Not that she hadn’t made the most of the small pace. It had been very her, but the location and the neighbors. No fucking way would he let her go back there.

  “Is he allowed upstairs?” Rissa’s question made him glance up to see the hell hound disappear up the landing, and Jonas swore. He was reasonably sure his bedroom door was shut. He kept it thus to ensure less chance of Brutus’s dog hair to infest his bed covers. That had happened once when he’d first brought him home, and the resulting all-over body rash, Jonas had suffered had not been pretty. While he didn’t react that strongly anymore thanks to the experimental treatment he was receiving to cure him of his dog hair allergy, he was in no hurry to repeat that experience.

  “No, he damn well isn’t.” Rissa grinned up at him, and he shook his head. “Not that that ever stopped him. See, this is just why I need you. That dog needs training by someone who knows what the fuck they’re doing. That’s clearly not me.” Jonas ran a hand through his hair, while Rissa snorted in amusement.

  “I think it’s fair to say that dog training is not your area of expertise.” Rissa overtook him while she said that, and Jonas gave himself a moment to admire the sway of her ass cheeks, perfectly showcased in her tight jeans, as she ascended the stairs in front of him. That girl had a butt to die for, and his fingers itched to strip her naked, and to tan that beautiful behind, before he fucked it. With a growing sense of impending doom he saw her pause at the top, spin around and frown.

  “Where is he gone?”

  Sure enough when Jonas reached the landing seconds later there was no sign of a little fluff ball. The only open door was…fuck.

  “Brutus!” Rissa’s shout rung in his ears, and Jonas swore out loud, when the hell hound appeared instantly, chewing on a butt plug.

  “Oh there you are, boy. What have you got…oh.” Rissa dissolved into fits of laughter, when Jonas made a lunge for the damn dog and missed. He ended up flat on his ass with Rufus disappearing down the stairs at record speed. Before Jonas could stop her, Rissa had stepped across the landing to investigate where Rufus had come from.

  Jonas swore again, dusted himself off, briefly wondered what hell hound pie would taste like, and then picked up Rissa’s bag again. He had to walk past the room that acted as both gym and play room to reach the room Rissa was staying in, and his heart thudded against his chest bone when he saw her expression.

  On the floor were the chewed remains of the packaging that had contained his newest set of butt plugs, but that wasn’t what held Rissa’s attention. Trailing her hands over his weight bench that was tucked away in one corner of the room, she ran her gaze over the rest of his equipment. The rigging system in the center of the room seemed to fascinate her. At least he hoped it was fascination and not revulsion. His guts twisted at the realization how important it was to him that she was comfortable around ropes. They were Jonas’s preferred method of restraining a sub, and he wasn’t at all sure he’d be able to give up that part of him. Not even for her. That thought almost made him swear. Why was he even considering this? They barely knew each other, after all. Observing, and wishing to get to know her better over the last few months she’d been at Club Spectrum did not mean he knew Rissa. Why then did her opinion seem to matter this much already?

  Suppressing another grunt—he seemed to have reverted to men’s cavemen days for communication purposes—he stepped away to give her some privacy. He would put this bag away in her bedroom and wait for her there. That room and her innocent exploration of his toys were too much of a fuckin temptation. He’d never be able to keep his hands to himself, and the last thing he wanted to do was spook her.

  * * * *

  Rissa knew she should leave and find Jonas, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the intricate rigging system that hung off what looked like a heavily supported beam. It seemed Jonas had had some building work done to this room, because the ceiling was higher than it had been in the rest of the house. A flutter of apprehension crawled up her spine. It would need to be, because Jonas was tall, and for him to be comfortable when rigging he would need the height.

  She’d seen him engaged in Shibari in the club, of course. More than once, and as the recognized expert in that ancient art, Jonas was the one who gave demonstrations on stage on newbie night. She bit her lip, and squeezed her thighs together at the mere thought of being at the receiving end of Jonas’s rope. While she’d never tried it, Rissa had always been fascinated by it. Never more so, since joining the staff at Club Spectrum, and observing the riggers and the lucky subs which got to fly. They always looked so blissful floating in the air. Getting on her tip toes she could just about reach the rope hanging down. It felt rough and quite coarse under her fingertips, and she jumped when Jonas cleared his throat. She spun around, somewhat guilty at having been caught snooping.

  Jonas regarded her thoughtfully, and she swallowed in an effort to get her nerves under control, when he turned to shut the door.

  “We don’t want Brutus to get back in here, do we?” He bent to pick up the mangled packaging off the floor, giving Rissa a perfect view of his to-die-for ass, as the fabric tightened over his butt, and she clutched Fred a bit tighter to herself. Jonas made short work of tidying up, a
nd her throat went dry when he approached her. His gaze fell on Fred, and he smiled.

  “What are you doing in here, baby girl? I’d have thought you’d hightail it out of here, the minute you realize what I get up to in here. And I’m not referring to the weights.” He tugged Fred out of her grasp and set him on the weight bench, where the tattered teddy fell sideways, until his face was buried in the leather.

  Jonas gave a short laugh.

  “See, even Fred can’t stand to watch.” He held his hand out to her. “Come on, your room awaits. You must be exhausted.”

  His jaw tightened when she didn’t take his hand. Crossing her arms, she shook her head.

  “I’m not that tired, and Fred is rather kinky, you know.” Jonas’s eyebrows shot up when she said that, and the sudden flare of heat in his gaze gave her the courage to carry on. “At least he’d like to be.”

  Jonas took a step closer. He looked puzzled and wary, as well he might be. Rissa wasn’t proud of her reaction the last time Jonas and she had been alone in a play room. Had that really been a few short hours ago? His next words confirmed he was thinking along the same lines.

  “You want me to tie up, Fred?”

  He smiled as he said that, but it didn’t reach his eyes. A muscle ticked in his jaw, and his whole frame tensed as he waited for her answer.

  “I think your expertise would be lost on Fred, but I would like to try.” There she’d said it, and she would have laughed at Jonas’s stunned expression, had she not sensed how important this was to him. “I’ve never…well…”

  Suddenly unsure she dropped her gaze to the floor. Jonas stepped closer, so close that the heat of his body scorched her skin. He expelled a breath. It ruffled her hair, and brought with it the scent of him. A hint of mint, the tea, they’d drunk earlier, the spice of his cologne, and underneath it all, the scent of aroused male. He lifted a hand as though to touch her, and then dropped it next to his thigh. Goosebumps broke out on Rissa’s arms when he clenched that hand into a white knuckled fist.