A Shot in the Dark

Chapter Four




Paige wasn’t expecting the slap. The force drove her forward, sending her stumbling as she fought to regain her balance. Carter’s big hand cupped her hip and pulled her back into position. The muscles in her back were protesting the stretch, and sweat was collecting beneath her hands where she held her boots.

Slowly, the turmoil in her mind began to recede and all Paige was able to concentrate on were the physical sensations playing havoc through her body. Carter never once released his hold on her, keeping her locked in the moment.

The second spank was as forceful, but she was better able to relax into the sting of flesh on flesh. Her p-ssy was soaked and if Carter were to reach between her legs, his fingers would come out drenched.

She tried to push that image from her mind.

“You like a spanking.” The statement didn’t seem like much of a revelation to him. “I think that is as good a place as any to start. I want you to lie across my lap. Make sure to brace yourself.”

The little streak of shame came on as strongly as ever, right after the rush of desire. Paige kept her eyes lowered as she stood, temporarily relieving the pressure on her back, and moved to Carter’s side. Without a word, she shuffled as close as she could and tried to stretch across him with at least a tiny bit of dignity and grace, but failing as she lost her balance and dropped her chest hard across his thighs.

Rick would have yelled at her and, back then, Paige would have accepted the humiliation as part of the deal. Carter helped steady her, shifting his legs and pressing a hand to the small of her back as she slid forward to brace her hands on the floor. The heels of her boots made it possible to keep her feet touching.


“Good girl. I know that must have been hard for you. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

Paige squeezed her eyes shut tight, not wanting the interrogation to continue. She didn’t want to think, talk, or do anything else other than be spanked. “Yes, Sir.”

“Yes, Sir, what? How long, Paige? I want an exact time period for the last time you were stretched out, offered up and waiting for someone to turn your ass a nice shade of red.”

It had been more black and blue than red, but she didn’t think Carter needed to know that.

“Three years.”

The slap that time was with the full force of his hand, which he didn’t cup. The sudden sting had her crying out and pressing her face to the side of his calf. “Three years, two months and a few days. Sir.”

“See, I knew you would have the exact time. You’re a precise person, aren’t you Paige?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“How about we play a little game? I’m going to pick a number between one and thirty. You have to guess what the number is. If you guess correctly, then I’ll do something you want. If you guess incorrectly, I’ll spank you the difference between the two numbers. Understand?”

Paige squirmed and thrust her ass in the air. “Yes, Sir.”

Carter continued to circle her ass with his fingers, humming as if he were considering the answer to a serious problem. “I have my number. Now it’s your turn. I want you to think about what number I could possibly choose for you. What’s an acceptable number for beautifully tense Paige, who needs someone to help her let it all go?”

Paige’s mind went blank. Even the concept of numbers themselves seemed overly complicated. Her brain wanted to focus on his fingers and the heat seeping into her body from his.

“I’m waiting, Paige.”

God, why couldn’t she do what he wanted? “Ten, Sir.”

“Oh, Paige, that wasn’t close at all. I chose thirty. That means you’ll be spanked twenty times. That’s a lot for my poor hand.” He almost sounded contrite. “I have to tell you that I wasn’t planning on working that hard tonight. It’s been a long, tiring week for me. How about I make you a deal? Would you like that, Paige?”

Every time he said her name, more of tension bled away from her body. The twitching muscles of her back and arms started to give way as she sank deeper into the moment. The slap reminded her that she was supposed to be answering him.

“Yes, Sir. Thank you.”

“I will spank you ten times with my hand. For the remaining ten I will let you choose either a flogger or a paddle. Isn’t that nice of me?”

She groaned. “Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.”

“F*ck.” His mutter was barely a whisper. Carter cleared his throat and adjusted his stance again. “I want you to count each one. I’m not into that thanking shit, so you don’t have to bother with it. I only want you to count and feel.”

Slap!

The contact this time wasn’t like his previous swats. Paige cried out and had to force in a breath to say what he’d wanted. “One.”

Carter’s thighs tensed and for a second she anticipated another quick spank. Instead, he shifted her closer to his stomach, until the hard line of his cock pressed against her side.

Slap!

“Two!”

Tears welled in her eyes and she could feel her nose start to fill with the unshed tears. Paige couldn’t keep her mouth closed anymore. Letting it fall open, she breathed in the scented air of the room, enjoying the buzz it gave. The tang of the leather seeped onto the tip of her tongue as she dipped it out to brush Carter’s calf. The rest of her mouth watered and she wanted to get more of her mouth on him. She wanted to drown in him, even as he kept her on the precipice between pleasure and pain.

Slap! Slap!

“Three. Four.” The words were choked, fighting to come through the tight muscles in her throat.

Carter had worked a surprisingly large area on her ass, even landing spanks along the top of her thighs. He stopped to massage the skin, leaning over to coo at her. “Good girl. I’m proud of you for coming this far.”

The tears were flowing freely now, but Paige didn’t care. Carter was taking care of her in a way she hadn’t ever remembered feeling. It hurt, but it was good, exactly what she needed. The tears washed away the pain of the past, giving her a clean slate.

Slap!

“Five.”

“We’re halfway through the first part. I wish you could see yourself. Your skin is pale, making the red almost glow. Like a fire truck.” He chuckled and slapped her even harder.

“Six.”

Paige hadn’t realized she’d been holding her head up until the muscles refused to cooperate. Gravity pulled her down, the tears breaking free and dripping onto the floor as Carter continued. Bliss.

“Seven. Eight.”

“It would be fantastic to spread you out on the cross in the main room. I could take my time with you, work you over until you were begging and screaming for me to release you and let you come.” He dipped his finger between her ass cheeks to tease her hole. “I can’t believe how wet you are right now.”

Without warning, he pushed a finger into her p-ssy, crooking it to press down against her G-spot. Paige moaned and shuddered, dangerously close to losing her balance along with her mind.

“I figured it had been a while for you, but three years is too much. You need to take better care of yourself.”

“Nine.” The pain was no longer as sharp as the sting melted into numbness. Her body no longer fought the pain, but welcomed it, used it to fire every inch of her. It was getting hard to count out, mostly because her mouth was dry and her throat scratchy. On some level she knew her face would be splotchy and her eyes and nose red. She mostly didn’t care. “Ten!”

Carter reached down and helped her turn to sit up. While ten slaps was not much of a punishment, not even remotely close to what she’d taken in the past, the spanks were still more than she’d had in years. Her body shook and the damn tears streamed down her face.

“Want to stop?” His voice was soft, as was the kiss he pressed to her temple.

“No, Sir,” she said, sniffing. God, she couldn’t stop yet. “We’re only halfway.”

“I wouldn’t think any less of you, Paige. It’s been a while since you’ve been here.”

By here, she knew he wasn’t referring to the club. “I can handle it, Sir.”

When she tried to sit up, Carter gently pushed her head to his shoulder. “Not yet. Let’s do this right first. You’re still fighting things and that won’t get us anywhere.”

Before she could protest Carter stood, taking her up in his arms, and walked them over to the chest.

“Josh usually stocks…there it is.” He reached into the bottommost drawer and pulled out a bottle of water. He tossed it onto her lap before returning them to the chair. “Open it.”

Paige was sluggish but eventually moved to comply. The plastic ring cracked and gave way after a few tries, water slipping down the side of the bottle. She lifted it up to Carter’s mouth, but he shook his head and took it from her.

“I’m not the one who needs this.” He pressed the opening to her lips and waited for her to open her mouth.

The water calmed her as it soothed her throat. She closed her eyes as she drank, not able to handle Carter’s intense scrutiny. It was odd, his being able to read her as easily as he could. Not that Paige imagined herself as overly complicated, but Rick had never managed to figure out what she’d needed out of their relationship, even after having been together for years.


When Carter pulled the bottle away, Paige unconsciously chased it, wanting more. He chuckled and pressed his finger to her lips. “Not too much. I don’t want you getting sick.”

Paige would have normally protested, bitching at him about how she knew exactly what she needed and could handle. The fight had dissipated along with his spanking, leaving her calmer and relaxed. “No, Sir.”

“Are you ready for the next ten? They will be harder.”

Hell no, she wasn’t ready, but she nodded anyway. This was something that she not only needed, but wanted desperately.

“Good girl. I want you to go over and pick out what you want me to use. Get the thing that will help you get where you need to go.”

Paige couldn’t keep her gaze from the chest and the toys she knew were within. While this was part of the scene and not at all unexpected, the idea of walking over there to pick out her instrument of doom wasn’t as appealing as it had been in the past. Still, she was determined to see this through to the end and wanted it to be Carter on the delivering end. Sliding to her feet, she stumbled back to the chest and carefully considered her options.

Two paddles immediately caught her attention. The first was thick with leather knots covering the surface at irregular intervals. Reaching out, she ran her fingertips over the top, letting the varying texture pick at her skin as she went. It was elaborate, elegant in its design, yet no doubt effective when used properly.

The second paddle was simple in nature, almost as if it didn’t belong. The wide head was oak or maple. It had been sanded smooth, any imperfections long removed. Paige ran the palm of her hand across the surface, sighing at the smooth feel. She picked it up and made her way back to where Carter sat. Paige held it up for his inspection, as her nerves began to creep up on her again.

His gaze flicked from her face to the paddle. Holding out his hand, he waited for her to hand it over.

“Easy to swing, yet heavy enough to leave an impression.” Carter slapped his open palm with the wide face. “Nice and big too. I’ll be able to hit most of your ass with this. I approve.”

Paige relaxed and nodded. “Thank you, Sir.”

When she stepped closer, intending to climb back on his lap, Carter crossed his legs and leaned back. “Not yet. I want to make sure I do this properly. Need room to move.”

“Whatever you want, Sir.” It came out harsher than Paige intended, dragging a snort from Carter.

“This has nothing to do with me at all, as you are aware. We are simply getting to know each other, seeing if there is something here we might want to explore further. You can walk out that door anytime you want, I won’t move a muscle to stop you. But if you stay, I want you to give yourself over to me completely. That means doing what I ask, without the snark.”

Paige let her gaze drop, hating her inadequacies. “I’m sorry, Sir. I didn’t think it would be this hard.”

“It’s not like this is your first time. Which means you’ve had a nasty experience that stopped you from coming back when it’s something you clearly want. Look at me.” Leaning forward, Carter braced his arms on his knees, letting the paddle dangle, and waited until she met his gaze. “Answer me truthfully. Do you feel pressured in any way to be here with me?”

“No, Sir.”

“And while I know we’ve only begun, have I done anything, anything at all to have made you feel uncomfortable?”

“No, nothing.”

“You can leave, Paige. I hope you don’t, but I’d understand. Is that what you want? Think before you answer.”

Was it? Despite the emotional hurricane raging inside her, Paige knew the center of the storm was approaching. If she could hold on a bit longer, she’d sink into that place where her mind would find comfort.

Paige met Carter’s gaze and relaxed. “No, Sir. I don’t want to leave. I’ve been running away from this for a long time and I need to get my head straight. If you’re willing to help me, I would appreciate it.”

Carter leaned back once more and folded his arms. “Then you know what to do.”

With her heart pounding, Paige reached behind her for the zipper. Her fingers were steady as she pulled the tab down, having fully accepted what she was doing. Carter was someone Josh trusted, and she trusted Josh. More important, Paige trusted herself to leave if there was a problem.

Holding the skirt together with one hand, she kept her gaze on Carter, making sure that they were both on the same page, before finally dropping it. The air was cool in contrast to the heat coming from her ass and her p-ssy. Even though she still wore the corset, Paige was more exposed than had she been completely naked.

Carter’s gaze drifted down her body, stopping on her breasts, her stomach, lower. He flexed his grip on the paddle. “Beautiful.”

Paige’s face heated.

“Now you have another choice. Do you want to do this over my lap again, or would you prefer to lean over the chest? I can work with either.”

Being on his lap would cut the sting down, given the slightly awkward angle, but would let her feel him. The chest would give him room to move, allowing him to make every smack count.

“The chest, Sir.”

Carter nodded, indicating she should move. The boots and corset would project an interesting image as she walked over. She made sure to add a little enticing sway to her hips as she went.

Paige cleared her mind and braced her hands on the edge of the chest. She hated when he didn’t move right away. Being watched was hard for her, especially when she wasn’t in motion. All the noise and activity kept her grounded. It was easier to hide, distract others when she never stopped long enough for others to notice.

Squeezing the edge, she was once again forced to close her eyes and take several deep breaths to calm herself. Everything relaxed into place, as she concentrated on the beats of her heart and the steady in-out of her breathing. She’d gone deep into herself and hadn’t realized Carter was standing beside her until he ran a hand down across her ass cheek.

“That’s better,” he muttered, giving her ass a small pinch. “I want you to keep your eyes closed and concentrate on your breathing. I’m not going to go easy on you, but I will check to make sure you’re okay. Understand?”

“Yes.”

He slapped her ass hard, and Paige cried out.

“Sir. Yes, Sir.”

“Good girl. I want you to count like you did before.”

The comforting presence of Carter’s body beside her disappeared, causing Paige to whimper. Unlike before, he didn’t touch her body as he moved into position behind her. Again he waited and Paige knew he was waiting for her to do as he’d asked. She let her head hang and started to count the breaths.

In and out. One.

In and out. Two.

In and out. Thr—

The crack of the wood hitting her ass was almost as loud as the scream she let loose. God dammit, that hurt! Paige let out a small sob and gave her head a shake. “One.”

“I want you to think about the reasons why you walked away from this, Paige. You had one, a serious one if I had to guess. I need you to consider if that reason is still valid.”

The sting had morphed into a burn, her already sensitive flesh and ragged nerves not ready for the hit or the question. Still, she let her mind wander to Rick. He’d hurt her, hadn’t listened to what she’d needed, when she’d needed it. He’d been after his own pleasure, using her as a tool to get off rather than a partner to share a life with.


But not Carter. This was all for her.

The second smack was as hard as the first, but the burn had shifted into a numbness that heated her entire cunt. She was wet as the tingling traveled down her thighs. F*ck, she hadn’t been this turned on in years. Light pressure against her * would be all she’d need to make her come. Not even Rick got her this hot in their time together, and he’d done a whole hell of a lot more than paddle her ass.

After the third smack, Carter stepped in and ran a hand down her back. Paige was sweating beneath the corset, the fabric scratching against her skin as she adjusted her stance. Her legs shook and she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to hold herself up much longer.

Carter slipped one hand around her hip to hold her steady, while he dipped the other between her legs. Her * was swollen and it wouldn’t take much to push her over the edge. F*ck, she needed to come badly, or else she might possibly go mad. Teasing her opening with his finger, Carter hummed in her ear, nipping at the lobe.

“You’re standing there taking it. You’re listening to me and doing what I want. But we’ve only started, haven’t we?”

“Yes—” she swallowed, “—Sir.”

“Are you ready?”

Paige couldn’t answer verbally. Instead she nodded and pushed her ass back toward him. Carter’s soft growl was the only acknowledgement he gave. He pulled back and landed two hard smacks in rapid succession. He didn’t hold back, and yet he wasn’t trying to break her.

“Four. Five.”

“That reason for you not coming here, I want you to think about it again. If it’s not an issue for you any longer I want you to say goodbye to it and let it go. Do you understand me?”

She nodded again.

Smack!

“Six.”

Rick was long gone. He’d moved to Montreal a few months after she’d kicked him out and changed her phone number. She’d been scared and angry for a long time after that. Scared she’d find herself back in another emotionally abusive relationship, when she needed pain as a release. Angry for having been too blind to appreciate the difference.

Smack!

“No!” The tears were flowing down her face again, but this time it had little to do with the physical pain. Rick had taken this from her. This was what she’d wanted, needed, and she wouldn’t let the specter of her past relationship control her any longer.

“No what, Paige? Who are you saying no to?”

“Rick. F*cking a*shole.” She wouldn’t let him continue to win.

“That’s my girl. Let it go.” The kiss to her bare shoulder. “He’s not here anymore and you are okay.”

“I’m okay,” she mumbled, nodding her head. “I’m okay.”

“Now, what number was that, Paige? I need you to tell me.”

Numbers? Shit, she was supposed to be counting. Five? No, that wasn’t right. “Seven.”

“That’s right. See, you know. And that means we’re almost done.”

With smack number eight, the blackness of peace slipped over her and Paige was no longer able to find her voice. Somewhere she registered the last two smacks before Carter’s arms were around her and her face was pressed to his chest.

“F*cking gorgeous. You’re amazing, Paige. I want to taste you. Need to…”

He set her on the table and dropped to his knees. Paige’s mind floated as he spread her thighs wide and breathed in her scent. Carter’s attention was focused on her cunt and he pushed a finger into her. Paige gasped when he leaned in and licked a swipe up across her lips.

The tingle from the blood rushing through the over-sensitized area ignited to a full-out blaze. Paige moaned, mesmerized by the precision of his licks. He tasted every inch of skin he could get his tongue on. As he increased the pace of the hand pumping into her, her battle was lost. Screwing her eyes shut, she let the orgasm explode, rending apart the remains of her resistance.

She must have blacked out because the next thing she knew she was sitting on the floor, wrapped up in Carter’s arms.

“There she is.”

Blinking up at him, Paige let the real world filter back in through the haze of her post-coital bliss. She swallowed down a dry lump.

“Here.” Carter held up the water bottle and let her take a few sips. She whimpered when he took it away. “In a second. Let that settle first.”

After a few minutes and several more mouthfuls of water, Paige noticed that Carter’s hard-as-rock-cock was still firm beneath her. Resting her hand on his chest she leaned in and placed a kiss on his cheek.

“Would you like me to take care of that, Sir?”

He smiled, kissed her forehead but gave his head a shake. “I’m okay.”

“But—”

“No buts. This wasn’t about me. We’re getting to know each other tonight, and I’m not ready for that.”

“You feel ready to me.” Paige let her head fall against his shoulder, trying to ignore her disappointment. “If you’re sure?”

“I am. And before you go off thinking that you did something wrong or that I’m not attracted to you, stop.” He bucked his hips up. “Clearly that’s not the case.”

Why she was girlishly pleased by his comment, Paige didn’t want to examine too closely. “Why not then?”

“I don’t have sex with someone I’ve just met, sub or not. Scene or not. It’s my one rule.”

“Oh.”

They sat in the quiet of the room for several long minutes, but Paige didn’t feel uncomfortable in the least. Carter was constantly touching her, running his fingers through her hair, twirling the ends and tugging slightly, squeezing her hip. For the first time in ages her mind calmed and she seemed more settled in her skin, ready to face the world. She liked it.

Slipping her fingers between the buttoned fabric of his shirt to touch the warm skin of his chest, Paige turned her face. “Now what?”

“If you’re up for it, I suggest we go back downstairs, get ourselves a drink and talk.”

“Talk? About what?”

“Date type things.”

A date? A scene wasn’t normally the sort of thing she did when she first started dating someone. Then again, there would be no awkward moments of her needing to explain how she loved to be tied up and spanked.

Carter cocked an eyebrow at her, when she sat up and carefully got to her feet. She smiled as she bent down to get her skirt. “I want a rye and ginger.”