Hold Me Close Read Free Page B

different. She wanted Dex's whip on her back, his body pressing into hers as she flew apart in his arms. It's all she'd thought about for days.
    "Bu—" The protest died on her lips when his fingers grabbed her right hip in a grip tight enough to bruise.
    "Do you trust me to give you what you need?" he asked. His tone wasn't friendly but annoyed.  
    She nodded, too nervous to speak. He'd moved closer and the heat coming from his body surrounded her back. Another step and he'd be pressing into her. Her heartbeat went crazy and her head fogged up, making it difficult to remember why she wanted to protest.
    "Good. Now undress."
    His command shocked her to the core. Had she heard him correctly? "Right here?" she managed between compressed lips.
    "Yes, right here. I'm not going to have to repeat everything tonight, am I?"
    His hard, unyielding tone sent a flutter to her core. It wasn't as if he'd never ordered her to get naked before. In fact, every time they got together he expected her naked and ready on his cross. She turned her head from side to side. But this felt so different. They weren't at a station, or in the middle of a scene, they were standing in a crowd watching another woman get flogged rather vigorously.
    "Bonnie." The sound of her name on his lips was enough to pull her from her thoughts.
    "Yes, Sir," she said. She reached for the waistband of her skirt and peeled it down over too ample hips. Bonnie gritted her teeth against her negative thoughts. She wasn't going to focus on thick thighs or big butts right now. The Dom behind her wanted her naked and that meant something. He wasn't really trying to humiliate her. He liked what he liked and wanted what he wanted and he expected her to comply. They'd had this talk more than once.
    When the fabric pooled at her feet he bent down and retrieved the sheer material. "Keep going."
    With her gaze focused in front of her, she reached back and untied the strings of her corset. When it was loose enough for her to work with, she began unhooking all the fasteners that ran from the top edge to the bottom front. Already her lungs thanked her as she breathed a sigh of relief.  
    With the last hook undone she pulled it free and laid it in his outstretched hand. Now she stood in a crowded room with nothing on but high-heeled strappy sandals she'd bought just for tonight. Dex had a thing for heels and he always seemed to approve of her taste in them. They never came off in a scene.
    "Lift your hair," he said.
    Little butterflies took flight in her stomach as she reached back and did as he asked. The movement thrust her breasts forward.  
    "This is just for tonight. No matter what happens I want everyone to know who you belong to while in this dungeon."  
    She barely had a moment to be confused when something rubbed against her throat before he quickly wrapped it around her neck and snapped it together. Her hand flew to the thin leather collar he'd just put around her. Her mind whirled with the implications.  
    "Just for tonight, Bonnie," he said again. The warmth of his breath bathed the back of her neck as more nerves lit up and her blood rushed to her exposed nipples and bare sex.
    "Let's go." He once again grabbed her hip and steered her away from their familiar alcove. It only took a few seconds to realize his intent as the entrance to the private themed rooms drew near.
    "Where are we going?" she asked.
    "You'll find out soon enough."
    Before they could make it through the entrance, Gabe appeared from nowhere, or so it seemed. "Good to see you again, Dex."  
    Gabe turned to look at her. With her face flaming hot and probably bright red, Bonnie averted her eyes and looked down. Something about standing naked with Dex holding her in a fierce grip made her feel more submissive than ever. And of course Gabe had an amazing presence in his own right. He wasn't just her boss though. He'd pretty much taken on the role of her protector since Jim died.
    Did he see the collar? Oh