Page 57 of Just Business
Justin swallowed. That implied a long length of time, rather than a fling. Something he wanted, and didn’t. He dug his fingers into his thighs to keep from balling them into fists.
Eli cupped Justin’s chin and lifted it until their eyes met. “You can say no to this. You can always say no, Justin.”
“I don’t want to say no.” This was Eli and not Francis. This was Pittsburgh and not LA. Eli wasn’t asking him to pull his entire life apart to become a pet.
He set the collar aside. “You have to be sure of this.”
That... wouldn’t happen. Not yet. But fake it until you make it. “You said you weren’t a full-time Dom.”
“I’m not,” Eli murmured, fingers skimming Justin’s chin. “I don’t expect you to wear my collar all the time. There’s no lock. You’re free to remove it when you wish.”
“Then I’m sure.”
Eli stroked Justin’s skin and raised an eyebrow. “No lies.” Gone were the casual clothes of the morning. Eli had changed back into leather pants and a crisp white shirt.
Justin let out a huff of air. “Okay. I’m nervous, but I want to try this with you. It helps that I can...” Leave. Be free. “Choose.”
Eli’s forehead furrowed for a moment before smoothing out. “I do expect it on during scenes.”
Of course. “Not an issue.” It was outside, in life, where the problem lay.
Eli ran his thumb over Justin’s jawbone. “Then let’s see how it fits.” Eli picked up the collar and placed it around Justin’s neck.
Smooth. Soft. Tight. A touch tighter while Eli buckled it into place, but then it fit perfectly. Constraining enough that there was no mistaking what it was, but not so tight as to block air, not even when Eli slipped a finger under the band. A cascade of pinpricks swept down Justin’s back to the soles of his feet.
“Better?”
Justin swallowed, which only tightened the band and sent another tumble of electricity to his toes. “Yeah.” It was, too. Now that the leather was in place, the constriction was just right. Perfect. His body responded as it always did, cock hard, the need for pain and pleasure swirling in his head, blotting out stray thoughts and warning bells.
“Ready for more?”
Justin nodded.
Eli’s smile had the sharp edge Justin associated with the sting of a whip and the crackle of command. “Stand up, please.”
It was not a request, despite the wording, not with that depth of tone, nor with the tug against his collar. Justin rose and turned as Eli nudged him in the appropriate direction—toward a Saint Andrew’s cross.
“Back against the cross.”
He settled against the cool leather, flinching at the friction against the welts on his back. When Eli approached, he lifted his arms. “I think we’ll save rope for later.” With the same care he’d taken with the collar, Eli buckled Justin’s wrists into the cuffs at either end of the cross and adjusted the straps to keep Justin’s arms firmly in place.
Eli placed his hand against Justin’s chest, the contact of flesh on flesh sending little shocks of up Justin’s arms.
“How does that feel?” Eli’s breath caressed Justin’s skin and lips. So close. Too far.
“Like heaven.” The stretch, the restraint had him not into subspace, but in that narrow band between anticipation and utter frustration.
Then Eli kissed him, taking his mouth not with force but with a demand of submission that had Justin moaning around Eli’s tongue. The last vestiges of nervousness fled and he filled with the need to give whatever was desired. Eli trailed his hands down Justin’s arms, brushing over the hair and tender flesh of the pits. Ice and fire up danced up Justin and he twitched and whimpered. Eli broke the kiss, but didn’t move away. “Ticklish?” He stroked those same spots again.
Very ticklish. Justin danced in the restraints, nearly kicking out. “Please, no. I can’t.”
Eli flicked fingers over the sensitive skin once more. Justin fought against the cuffs, thrusting hard against Eli’s body. It took all his control to suck in a breath of air. He wanted to get away, but he didn’t want Eli to stop. This torment didn’t have the bite of a whip, but a dazzling pain all of its own.
Eli moved his hands to Justin’s hips, ground his cock against Justin’s, and stole what little breath Justin had left with another quick kiss. “That will be fun later, but first let’s deal with those twitchy legs of yours.”
The heat of Eli’s body vanished when Eli stepped back. The pull of his brow was one Justin recognized from the office—hard determination.
Eli knelt. First down on his good leg, then onto the bad one. If Justin hadn’t been strapped to the cross, he would have joined Eli on the floor. The sight of Eli kneeling, even to fetter Justin, was stunning.
