In the Middle (11 page)

She realized her eyes had closed, and she opened them to see him gazing at her with naked lust in his eyes. He grunted with the exertion. His body shone with sweat. His deep male scent filled her nostrils. He’d be able to last forever if he wanted to since he’d just come in her mouth. There was no way she could hold on that long.
I might as well take my pleasure and deal with the consequences
. But she didn’t. She wanted to be ruled by him. It was almost painful to not come, but she’d not go without his order. She bit her lip to try to hold back.

“Come now!” he grunted, driving deep inside her.

Everything burst at once, racking her body with pent-up power. She felt him shudder as her pussy squeezed him hard, his face contorting with pleasure. Her body arched of its own accord, her eyes closing with the force of her orgasm. His cock swelled as her pussy tightened around him. Just knowing he was coming too prolonged her pleasure.
I want every last drop. Oh yes
. They pressed against each other, panting.

“Such a good girl,” he murmured when he had his breath back. He had been holding most of his weight off her, and now he rolled off completely, taking care of the condom before facing her again. His still semihard cock nestled against her hip, and his breath warmed her cheek. “So obedient. So beautiful. You’re exactly what I need in my life.”

She smiled softly. “I’m right here.” But with the words came sadness. He would go back to Chicago. She would stay in Washington. And Daniel made things complicated, at best. But she could still be here for the moment, and she didn’t want to think about the future that evening.

He uncuffed her and held her tight, brushing back the hair from her eyes. “This feels so right, doesn’t it?”

She had to agree. “But it’s strange.”

“What’s strange?”

She hesitated, not sure whether to talk to him about Daniel or not. What man wanted to hear his woman talk about her other lover? She sure wouldn’t appreciate it if her man talked about other women they’d bedded recently. Either of her men.

“You know,” Rob said, his steel blue eyes suddenly soft looking, “I’ve been around the scene a lot, and I’ve talked to a lot of people. Whatever you’re feeling, whatever you’re going through, you can talk to me about it. As your master or, if you prefer, as a friend. I love seeing you blossom.”

She considered and rolled to face him. Her curves nestled against his hard-packed muscle. His thin lips looked so fierce and so kissable, even when he obviously wanted to be understanding. The problem was that she had no one else to talk to, really. The other people she knew online did all sorts of extreme things in virtual reality, but she didn’t think any of them had much experience in real life. In fact, the harder players they were in VR, the less reality mattered to them at all, it seemed. It was too easy to do things that had nothing to do with safe or sane online, and what was crazy in reality could make the hottest fantasy. Rob, though, had always stayed grounded. He was always careful to be the same person she now knew he was in reality. A master, through and through. If anyone would understand, it was him.

“As a friend, I think.”

He smiled. “Should we get dressed, then?”

She didn’t want to go without their intimate touch yet. “A friend with benefits is fine.”

He chuckled and stroked her side before resting his hand on her hip.

“I topped Daniel this morning,” she blurted.

“Oh!” She searched his eyes for anger or jealousy, but they were as steady as a rock after a moment of surprise. “No wonder you didn’t argue with me about him not being a dom. Have you done that before? Is this a regular thing with you?”

She shook her head. “I would have told you if it was. Online.” It was so much easier to talk frankly online. Easier to lie too for those who wanted to, but that hadn’t included her. The world of Daniel and the world of Randall X never came into collision, and so she hadn’t thought either man had much of a reason to be jealous of the other. Now it was different.

She pushed back the thought of whether it would revert when Rob went back to Chicago. Even if they never saw each other again, things would always be different between her and Rob now that they’d met. “Once before, though, just before you came to town. We tried to have him top me. It didn’t work, and I couldn’t just let him feel like he failed. So I took charge. I guess there have always been elements of dominance and submission in the way we’ve acted. But this and the other time were different than that. It was more clear, more spelled out, even though we never negotiated exactly what the rules were.”

Rob nodded patiently. “And how did it make you feel?”

“Good. Great even, the second time, because I wasn’t working through the disappointment of not getting what I wanted in the first place. I really enjoyed it. I felt I was good at it.”

There was a trace of a frown for a moment on his face, but it quickly went away. “Nothing wrong with that. You do realize you’re fantastic at this too.” He waved his hand expansively as if to take in everything they had done.

“And I’ve really enjoyed tonight too. But what am I? A domme? A sub? Just a slut who likes anything I can get? It’s so confusing.”

Rob smiled. “You know, some women have tried to reclaim that word, but when people get it in their head that a word means they’re bad, it’s hard to shake that. You are not ‘just’ a slut. Whatever you feel and whatever name you want to put to it, it’s you, it’s natural, and from what I can tell, it’s good. It’s certainly brought me a great deal of pleasure. Sounds like it brought Daniel pleasure too. And most importantly, it’s bringing you pleasure.”

“I do know that this evening has been absolutely wonderful, and I want more of it. And I don’t believe that you got me to do what I did in the ballroom. If you had told me about that scene, before we ever got here, I would have said not only no, but hell no.”

He grinned at her. “I like bringing out the best in you.”

“The worst, you mean.”

“I most certainly do not. You’re finding out about yourself, and that can be a very heady experience. Pushing you, discovering what you’re capable of, is all part of that. And even as a dominant, experiencing submission can give valuable insight. Would you like me to show you more?”

Her body felt like it had more than enough sex between Daniel and Rob. But she cuddled up against Rob and found she was still eager to learn. “I’m tired. But yes.” She kissed his neck softly. He was indeed a good friend to talk to.

“How about spending the rest of the night back at my hotel? I have something I’d like to show you, although I think it might wait until morning.”

She didn’t know if a single night’s sleep would rejuvenate her, but it couldn’t hurt. And she wanted to sleep with his warm strength against her. “Yes, please. That would be wonderful.”

Chapter Six

Daniel tapped his fingers on the arm of the couch just inside the door at Le Bon Vivant. He wasn’t used to being nervous. He was able to face the toughest judge without flinching or losing any sleep over it. He won almost all his cases. He knew he was one of the best, and he carried that with him each time he opened his mouth in front of a judge or jury in a courtroom. But in front of Louise, that was a different matter.

She’d taken hours to respond to his text the night before. When she finally did, all she said to his request for a meeting at lunch was a simple
kk
. He knew she was with Rob, and maybe he should have left an e-mail for her to find in the morning, but he didn’t know how long she’d sleep in. He could be patient with court delays and hung juries, but it was hard not to press with Louise, even if he knew he’d benefit from waiting. Pushing didn’t seem very submissive, but he knew what he wanted. He reached into his pocket and fingered the box with the ring in it. He wanted her to be his, forever, and he was afraid Rob would make a move on her that took her away from him. In a couple of days, Rob would be gone, but still Daniel worried. The worst thing that could happen to him would be to lose Louise, and that thought was unbearable.

She walked in, wearing a floral print sundress. She wasn’t wearing makeup except for a swath of ruby red lipstick. Had she gotten dressed in a hurry? He rose to greet her, and she smiled big and put out her hands to him, like she so often had before. He pulled her into an embrace. She purred in his arms. That was a good sign.

“Thank you for inviting me to lunch, Daniel. Fancy place.” She looked around wide-eyed at the tuxedoed waiters, the chandeliers, the blue and white decor.

“If monsieur and mademoiselle would follow me?” asked the maître d’ rhetorically. He led them to a quiet table in the back where Daniel knew they wouldn’t be disturbed, allowing Daniel to help Louise sit. Daniel had paid for the nearby tables to stay empty. The window held a perfect view of the river. Several sailboats floated by, and he waited until Louise had taken in the sights before saying anything further.

But then Louise spoke first. “You haven’t been touching yourself, have you, boy?”

Boy?
He had to get past a moment of annoyance. Clearly she was enjoying her mistress role. He wasn’t at all sure he wanted her to be a domme every time he was with her, but his cock liked the idea, stiffening uncomfortably. She was studying him. He adjusted himself as discreetly as he could. “No, Louise.”

Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t correct him; he’d half thought she’d make him say “Mistress.” “Good boy. Have you wanted to?”

“A little. Okay, a lot. But—” He had lost control of the conversation already, and he wanted desperately to get it back on track.

“I like to hear that. I’m finding I enjoy making you suffer a little, but don’t worry. I love you too, and I’ll take good care of you. Just be honest with me, please.”

He nodded. Fighting the distraction of a hard-on was worse than any jury. He wanted to let her have control, but he needed to steer the conversation, and her question about touching himself hadn’t made it any easier. “Louise, I don’t want to be submissive to you every moment of every day. I value our friendship together, and I’m worried that might slip away.”

“Asking you not to touch yourself was too much? I’m sorry. I’m new at this, you know. I’m kind of following my instincts.”

He smiled. “Asking me not to touch myself was fine. But I need for the moment to talk to my friend and my lover. My sometime mistress too. I would love that to be part of the package. An important part, especially in our lovemaking. I have no problems with you taking charge any or even every time we’re in the bedroom. I’d like it, actually.”

Louise noticeably relaxed in her chair. “I’m glad, because I think being that way 24-7 would be hard on me too. Is that what you brought me here to talk about?”

“No, but it’s all tangled up in it.”

“Then what?”

The waiter was approaching. “Let’s talk after we’ve eaten, if that’s okay.”

Louise looked like she was about to object, and then she noticed the waiter as well. They ordered their food. She asked for the coq au vin, and he requested the beef burgundy. They chatted about the Redskins’ latest acquisition and the chances the Nationals would ever win a pennant, and all the latest gossip Louise had gotten from her friend Zoe about a new CPA who wasn’t working out. Under any other circumstance, he would have enjoyed the conversation; putting off his question was agony. He hoped she’d say yes, but he just didn’t know. He wanted to ask at the right time, the food tasted and smelled heavenly, and he noticed Louise relaxing and breathing it all in.

The waiter swept away their plates, and Daniel told him they’d like to wait awhile for dessert. Louise looked at him expectantly after the waiter departed.

“Well,” he said, “I guess that connects to what I have to say too. The whole business at the office. You don’t have to work, if you don’t want to. But you can, if you do.”

“Huh?”

He smiled. “What I’m trying to say is that I’ve realized in the last few days how much I love you. Submission is only a part of it, the final piece in an emotional puzzle if you will. The rest has been growing for months. I long ago quit looking for any other woman to spend time with, even though we’ve always had an open relationship. I’d like to spend more time with you. I’d like to share a home with you. As my mistress, but more importantly as my friend and lover.”

He couldn’t read her face, so he went on as he’d planned. Inside his heart felt like it was stuck in his throat, but his words were still coming smoothly enough. He reached into his pocket, aware she was looking on curiously. He pulled out the small box he’d acquired weeks ago, knowing the moment would come to use it. He got up and knelt on one knee in front of her. Then he opened the box and let her see what was inside. His heart felt like it was in his throat. He badly wanted her to say yes.

“Louise, will you marry me?”

LOUISE BLINKED. A dozen little diamonds glittered around one huge marquise-cut diamond in the center. The band was a perfect yellow gold. It must have cost a small fortune.

Despite the food she’d eaten, she felt light-headed. The chardonnay she’d had with lunch wasn’t helping, but that wasn’t entirely it. She was overwhelmed. She opened her mouth to respond, not knowing whether she was going to say yes or no, when suddenly something buzzed deep in her pussy. She grabbed the table for balance, even though she was sitting down.

Timing.

She had agreed to have the vibrating plastic egg inside her all day when she got up in the morning. Rob held the remote control, which used cell phone technology. He could activate it from anywhere in the country, no matter where she was. There was no way he could know what he was buzzing in the middle of, however. It was part of what she liked about the idea—that it could go off at any time, convenient or otherwise.

Rob had certainly found the most inconvenient time.

She was conscious of Daniel waiting there for an answer. She tried to think—would he want her to be faithful? That went along with the whole marriage thing, although maybe as his mistress she could order him to let her do what she pleased. Except he was quite clear he wanted that dynamic in the bedroom only. She wanted it that way too. Well, perhaps for a rather wide definition of what constituted the bedroom. Bossing him around was fine. Doing things against his will that would cause him real emotional distress? No. That was not what BDSM was for. But it was hard to think with the vibrator buzzing away inside her. She ached for something to rub her clit on or to pinch her nipples. But of course the restaurant was far too public a place, even if it seemed pretty empty except for the waitstaff and a few customers all the way on the other end. She shifted her weight in the chair, but that didn’t help.