All Chained Up Read online

  An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

  www.ellorascave.com

  All Chained Up

  ISBN 9781419912801

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  All Chained Up Copyright © 2007 Brynn Paulin

  Edited by Helen Woodall.

  Cover art by Syneca.

  Electronic book Publication November 2007

  This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  All Chained Up

  Brynn Paulin

  Dedication

  To Bronwyn, who never lets me give up.

  Trademark Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Coke: Coca-Cola Company

  Oreo: Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.

  Three Stooges: Comedy III Entertainment, Inc.

  Author Note

  All Chained Up portrays some aspects of Domination/submission and BDSM but is not intended as a true-to-life account of this lifestyle.

  Four of Wands

  Dear Reader,

  I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been able write a story for the Four of Wands. Traditionally, this card is considered one of the most positive in the deck. My heroine, Keera, is stunned when she draws it. After all, she is on the run from a stalker who’s repeatedly threatened her life. She doesn’t see anything positive on the horizon. Yet this card promises that seeds already sown will lead to her happily ever after, she will find completion of the journey she’s been undertaking and she will enjoy the mutual support of another. Even more, she will find freedom and refuge from the bondage that has kept her on the run for years.

  Keera made an alliance with the hero, Theo, on the night before she ran once again. She doesn’t realize this union has set the foretold events into action. When she accepted her position as his submissive, she gained protection and a way to eliminate the threat from her life. And if she believes in the romance often associated with the Four of Wands, she might even find an unexpected happily ever after.

  Chapter One

  “How are you feeling about this?”

  Keera Thornton snuggled into the arms of her lover of five hours and looked up into his gray eyes, captured by her devotion to him. Theo Cress. He owned every part of her and didn’t even know it.

  He fingered the heavy gold links he’d placed around her neck earlier tonight. It looked like a necklace but in actuality, it was a collar. She wanted to be with him but the thought of agreeing to be his submissive did make her a little panicky.

  “I’m okay,” she answered. She was sure the few worries she had would disappear soon. She trusted Theo and she knew him well. After all, they’d been friends for six months. She smiled. And she’d been in lust with him since about five minutes after she started working for Cress Construction. Still, she never expected to discover his involvement in the Dominant/submissive community when she came to Pleasure Palace tonight to attend a sex toy party. Heck, she’d never expect to run in to him either.

  She grew warm and fuzzy when she remembered how he’d separated her from the others and pulled her to another room where he’d pressed her to the wall and kissed her breathless. She’d been stunned. Since she’d first met him, they’d gotten to know each other, often sharing lunch or dinner. While she’d sometimes caught him regarding her with a strange look on his face, he’d never expressed outright attraction. Last night, right now, it was apparent Theo was out for sex.

  His palm slid over her shoulder and down to cup her breast. “You know, the collar is a serious thing in the D/s community,” he said, massaging her erect nipple. The sensitive flesh still throbbed from the nipple clamp she’d had on earlier. Still the flesh hardened to his touch while the rest of her body softened to him. Her insides just melted for him.

  “How serious?” she asked, realizing she should have asked this before. But this was Theo, the only man she really felt comfortable around, protected. She’d give him everything.

  Not everything.

  She flinched as the familiar voice of her tormentor entered her thoughts. She would not sink into the fear that man roused. With Theo, she was safe. He couldn’t touch her while Theo stood watch.

  Worry flickered in Theo’s eyes. He rolled her beneath him, his body settling between her thighs. His dark curls fell forward around his face while he gazed earnestly at her. “We should have discussed this before.”

  That hardly seemed feasible while she’d been bent over the end of the bed, calling him Master and begging for his cock. A fresh flood of arousal warmed her cleft. Mmmm. Yeah. She needed him again. Eagerly, she rubbed against him. “Tell me now. How serious?”

  “Wedding ring serious.”

  Her eyes went wide. “Oh.”

  “Forever serious.”

  “Oh,” she whispered, barely able to force the air from her lips.

  Oh no. What had she done? How long could forever be when a stalker continually sent her running? He wouldn’t allow Theo to have her. But he hadn’t caught up with her in six months. If he didn’t know… Maybe he’d given up. Maybe she could be with Theo. She had no question in her mind that she wanted to be with him.

  “What is it?” Theo asked. “Do you need to think about this? Change your mind?”

  He sounded certain that she’d leap from the bed right now. Sure, she hadn’t anticipated “forever” but stalker aside, it settled well inside her. Belonging to Theo? Oh yes. And maybe if he fucked her hard enough he’d drive her stalker permanently from her thoughts.

  She shook her head, trying to smile. “No. I need you.”

  “I need you too,” he admitted.

  She lifted her knees to bracket his hips the way he liked and pressed her wrists beside her head, offering herself to him. She wasn’t the only one with demons. She sensed his unspoken pain in his caution. He was a man full of power—in charge of his company, in charge of his world and in charge of her. Yet he needed reassurance.

  “Then take me. I’m yours. I accept what you offer,” she whispered. “We’ll work out the rest later. Just be patient with me. I’m…ah…new to this slave thing.”

  “You’re mine and right now that is all that matters.” His lips covered hers, devouring her mouth, claiming every part of it. Immediate fire leapt through her. If she ever had any doubt his kiss drove worry away. To think, after years of running, she’d stumbled into the ultimate protective embrace tonight. Theo would never let anyone touch her.

  “Yes. Yours. Please don’t make me wait.” This entire night was foreplay enough.

  His cock surged through her drenched folds and stabbed into her sensitive channel. How many times had they done this tonight? Yet every time had been different. How many times had she hovered at the edge of release while he ordered her not to come? Not yet. Not until he was ready and as if he had complete control over her body as well, her orgasm always receded but not far. He’d kept her perched on the precipice of release. Not this time.

  Theo drove into her claiming every part of her pussy with the same ferocity as he’d taken her mouth. His wide cock surged through her swollen tissues, branding her as his.

  “Yes, Theo,” she cried, lifting into him. Already tremors erupted in her sheath as it clutched at him, holding him and claiming him as he claimed her. There was no holding back. Pleasure shot through her and a moment later, Theo stiffene
d above her on a deep groan, his cock throbbing inside her as he followed her into release. His face dropped to the curve of her neck as they both tried to breathe.

  “Quick,” he muttered.

  “Wonderful.” She threaded her fingers through his damp hair. Smoothing her palm over his head. She was so lucky to belong to this man.

  “I’m sweating all over you.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  “Hmm. Well, I’m going to go take a shower and then draw a bath for you.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  He looked down at her, the intensity in his gaze making it clear that there wasn’t just a bath involved and there was no “have to” on his part. This was something he desperately wanted to do to reward her good behavior. “Get some rest. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  Rolling on her side, she watched him walk into the bathroom and enjoyed the sight of his muscles dimpling the side of his awesome ass as he went. She turned over hugging the pillow. How did she get so lucky?

  She had a hard time squashing the giggle bubbling up her throat. She had to tell Jessica. As soon as she heard the water start, she swung from the bed and pulled her cell phone from her purse. Frowning she realized the display read one in the morning. Oh, that wouldn’t matter. Her best friend was a working machine. Chances were good she was still up to her neck in reports.

  The phone chirped signaling a missed call. Still smiling, she dialed up voice mail by rote. She had a minute before Theo returned.

  “Hello, bitch. Have fun fucking? You probably still are since I have to leave a message. You know I don’t like that.”

  No. Oh God no.

  As soon as she heard the voice through the phone, her blood went cold. Any joy or peace she’d achieved evaporated like water in the desert.

  Cary, her stepbrother, had found her again. And apparently, he’d been watching her for a while.

  “I want my money, bitch.”

  She hugged an arm around her middle. “There isn’t any,” she whispered to the message. If there were some fortune left by her parents, she’d give him every bit just to be free of him.

  “I know what you’re going to say. Don’t bother. If you won’t give me what’s mine, I’ll take my payment in the hot little cunt of yours. And don’t think that man you just finished fucking will help you. I’ll take care of him if he tries.”

  No. She had to run. She had to run as fast and as far as she could. Now. Quickly dragging on her clothes, she spared one last look toward the bathroom where Theo whistled cheerfully off-key and took off the collar he’d put around her neck.

  He couldn’t afford to claim her. And she could never bear the pain of seeing him hurt.

  * * * * *

  Theo left the shower with his spirit soaring. Keera was finally his and better, she accepted him. Quickly, he ran a towel over his body while he started to run Keera’s bath in the garden tub then set about gathering items to assist them in the “bathing”. He had a feeling, he’d end up in the tub with her.

  He grinned. Life would be good with Keera in it.

  He turned off the water and silence surrounded him. Too much silence.

  “Keera,” he called, going to the doorway. She must have fallen asleep. He couldn’t blame her. They’d had a strenuous evening so far.

  The bedside light seemed to cast a spotlight on the middle of the bed, reflecting off the gleaming gold in the center of the sheets. Rejected again, you fool. No…

  No.

  She couldn’t desert him. She’d wanted to be with him and be his. This didn’t make any sense. Keera had never lied to him before. Why would she lie now? Storming to the door, he threw it open as anger flooded him.

  The hallway was empty. Stopping long enough to grab up a pair of pants, he started down the hall while he tried to pull them on, finally having to stop a moment before he fell on his face. His fingers were clumsy with impatience. Even a small delay was too long. He needed to talk to Keera before she filled her thoughts with all sorts of irrational reasons for them not to be together.

  She wasn’t anywhere on this floor.

  He headed to the main floor of Pleasure Palace but it too was deserted. She couldn’t have gone already. He dashed for the security room, shoving open the door. He’d had surveillance cameras installed throughout the main areas of Pleasure Palace when he’d purchased it. He should be able to find Keera through them.

  Inside, his sister Francesca jumped away from where she was sucking face with some guy he didn’t know.

  “What the heck are you doing here?” she demanded, shoving a strand of goth-black hair over her shoulder and wiping excess black lipstick off her partner’s mouth. “Shouldn’t you be molesting some unsuspecting woman?”

  “Shut up, Cesca. I need to check the cameras.” He didn’t have time for his sister’s antics or sarcasm.

  “Whoa wait a sec. Was there some sort of crime?”

  “Depends on your point of view.”

  His sister, the bane of her existence, turned indignant. Her black-tipped fingers planted on her hips. “Did she run out on you? What kind of an idiot is she?”

  “A missing one. I need to see the main floor and outside cameras.”

  “Marco?” she said, turning to her friend.

  Theo squinted at the young man. He must work for Pleasure Palace. Theo bit back a growl. He’d discuss Cesca with the boy later. First he needed to locate Keera.

  None of the cameras showed her.

  “Go back ten minutes,” he said.

  He immediately found Keera tearing down the hallway from his room as if Satan himself was on her heels. His stomach lurched. Why did she look so scared? She hadn’t been scared at all when he’d gone into the shower. He knew he hadn’t scared her. The tears streaming down her face didn’t look like fear, though. They were distress. Sorrow-filled distress as if she didn’t really want to leave.

  None of it made sense.

  Watching her progression across the cameras, he saw her dash across the entry hall then freeze at the front door looking around in panic. She wasn’t looking behind her. She wasn’t afraid he was chasing her. She was afraid of someone outside…

  What the hell?

  Apparently deciding the coast was clear, she dashed for her car. A moment later, she sped away.

  “What on earth was that?” Francesca asked as confused as he was.

  He shook his head. Keera was gone. Now he had to find out why.

  * * * * *

  Keera snapped awake from a nightmare in which the two halves of her reality crashed together in a disturbing mimic of her life. Theo and her stalker had both battled for her—the stalker was stronger.

  Anxiously, she reached for the matches on the table beside her bed and lit the three fat candles there. The flickering flames cast eerie shadows around the dusty, one-room cabin. It was the only light. She hadn’t expected to be here, so she hadn’t had the power turned on. She wouldn’t either. By the time arrangements for electricity could be made, she’d be long gone.

  Cary was on her heels again. She couldn’t stay.

  Finally being with Theo was everything she’d hoped it would be. And surprising. She’d never imagined he’d be into bondage and domination. She’d never known she would be into it too. Submitting to him was a relief after these five years of running and fear and fending for herself. His powerful arms around her erased her fear—at least for the short time she found herself in his arms. He wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. She was his.

  She touched her bare neck. Already, she missed the collar he’d placed on her. If only she could have stayed with him. Should she have told him about her troubles? Tried to stay with him? Surrendered to Cary?

  She shuddered and tried to push away those thoughts. She had to focus on her future and her plan, not her past and what could have been. The darkness made her question her decisions. She couldn’t afford regrets. Regrets led to dark places she didn’t want to visit.

  The phone call had
set her on the run again. How many times had she run and restarted in the last years? Too many to count. This six months in Brandywine working for Cress Construction was the longest she’d been without Cary’s shadow looming over her. She’d actually begun to believe she was free of him.

  The very psychotic nature of his personality should have told her better. He wouldn’t give up. He’d spent five years chasing her. Why would he stop now? He wasn’t capable. The money was his obsession. In the last year, she’d discovered, so was she.

  She cast a worried glance around the darkness. Getting up, she walked the perimeter of the spacious open floor plan cabin and checked the locks on the door and windows. It wasn’t that late, only early evening. If she opened the heavy curtains, sunlight would pour inside and fill the space. She didn’t dare. Anyone could look through the windows. Like a stalker. Her stomach knotted as she remembered the last time he’d caught up with her and attacked her. As she took a moment to watch Lake Superior’s waves crash on the beach behind the house, she ran her fingers over the long pink scar on her arm.

  She’d barely escaped.

  The heavy drapery fell into place over the window. Enough. She wouldn’t remember that. Angrily, she shook off the fear. Cary had manipulated enough of her life without giving him more power over her by letting him fill her thoughts with terror. Still, there was no way she was going back to sleep even though she was tired from driving most of the night. Too many jumbled emotions kept her awake.

  Since she’d left Theo just after one a.m., she’d been unable to shake the feeling of his strong arms around her. His commanding voice still rang in her ears. She wondered if she’d ever be able to take another lover in the future and not have Theo with them in bed. It was his bed she wanted to be in. Wearing his collar…like a wedding ring.

  “Forget it, Keera,” she ordered. She couldn’t have him or he’d get hurt.