In the Middle (7 page)

“You don’t want to do it that way.” Rob’s voice cut through her reverie. “A single rope will cut into her wrists painfully and possibly injuriously. Untie that, and follow directions.”

She looked over at Daniel in time to see his face darken. But he untied her wrists nearly as fast as he’d tied them, and he regained his composure at the same time. “For you,” he whispered.

“Double the rope in two, wrap them around her wrist, and then pull the two ends through the loop created by the bending of the rope. Here, do you want me to show you?”

Daniel must have given some sign of assent, for he backed away and Rob tied her wrists together again. It was different, the way he did it. She didn’t know how many times the rope was wrapped around her wrists, but the pressure was distributed over a larger area, and it was more comfortable, even if it lacked the suddenness of Daniel’s attempt.

Then they untied her, and Daniel gave it a try. No one would ever call Daniel a slow learner. In moments her wrists were bound securely, much as they had been when Rob tied the knot. She pulled at it, but she couldn’t get free.

Daniel pulled her to him suddenly, his hand on her stomach at first, slowly rising until he cupped her left breast. He kissed the back of her neck, nipping at it, and she felt the fine hairs there tingle with excitement. Hands bound, she was powerless to resist him. Not that he couldn’t overpower her anytime he wanted. But gentle Daniel wasn’t that type of person. This was a new side to him, and it excited her. She knew he cared for her. If he could be convinced to play rough, he’d be just about perfect.

He lifted her skirt and stroked her thigh. She heard Rob clap Daniel’s back, and then he walked away to stand near the window. He watched them with a soft smile on his face.

“Do you like him watching?” Daniel whispered in her ear.

“Yes.” Whether it was because it was Rob, the man who’d taken her to so many places in her imagination, or just because it was someone safe, she didn’t know. Being watched was another one of those things that sounded sexy, but in reality, if it was a stranger, it might be very different indeed.

Daniel suddenly pulled at her shirt, and it opened. A button flew off it, distracting her for a moment until he grabbed her breast through the lace of her bra. Her nipple tightened under his touch. “I bet he likes watching a woman as beautiful as you.”

Inch by inch, her skirt was being pulled higher as well. She felt the soft breeze of the room’s air conditioner on her thighs. It made her extra aware of the dampness between her legs.

“You don’t have any panties on,” Daniel murmured in surprise.

She blushed and shook her head. “No.”

He moved his hand until it rested on her mound. The skirt pulled up and bunched above his wrist. His finger slid across her clit, then found her opening. “Such a beautiful woman you are, Louise,” Daniel told her. “And mine. All mine.”

If that last was partly directed at Rob, Louise was past the point of caring. Her fantasy of Daniel controlling her was coming true. Combine that with the man watching them both, who she knew but was also a near stranger, and her core was burning with desire. Daniel knew her body and her responses. He knew just how much pressure she liked on her clit and when to speed up and when to wait.

He pinched her nipple softly as he fucked her with two fingers, his hand angled so that the rise between palm and fingers rubbed against her clit with each motion. Each touch built the fire inside her higher.

“Spread your legs, Louise. Lean on me, and I’ll support you. Let’s give him a show.” Daniel’s voice was pitched low, and she didn’t know whether it carried to Rob or not. Embarrassed, she obeyed. She glanced at Rob through the haze of her desire and thought she saw the corner of his mouth turn up in response. His cock, pressing against his jeans, was rock hard.

That bit of knowledge—that she was pleasing one master while submitting to another—brought her to the edge. Daniel’s next rough thrust with his fingers pushed her over. Forgetting she was in a hotel room, she screamed as her pleasure took her, making her shake against Daniel, juices gushing around his fingers. He held her while the aftershocks coursed through her, making her shudder in his arms.

Sated, she wanted to return the pleasure she’d been given. She pushed her bottom up against Daniel, hoping to rub against his hard cock, wondering what she’d be asked to do next. She frowned, then looked up at him with open eyes. He was smiling at her, that loving, caring Daniel smile. He wasn’t quite all the way soft—something was stirring in his tailored slacks. But he wasn’t hard. She knew what his big cock felt like when he was excited, and what he’d done clearly hadn’t aroused him. It was for her,
all
for her. She froze, not sure what to do and not sure of her emotions. She didn’t know whether to be flattered at the lengths he would go to in order to please her or disappointed that it didn’t arouse him as much as it aroused her. Even Rob, who’d only been watching, was more turned on.

He bent down to loosen the ropes. She wanted to run from the room as soon as she was free, but that would be selfish. Daniel had tried his best. It wasn’t Rob’s fault either. But she needed to please as well as be pleased. She stayed there in Daniel’s arms, but she couldn’t fake comfort any more than he could fake arousal. He let her go, obviously sensing something was wrong. Hell, he might even be smart enough to figure out what. She backed away, having trouble meeting anyone’s eyes.

Rob broke the silence at last. “You did a good job, Daniel; you really got her going. The first thing a sub needs to know is that she pleased you.” Louise wondered if Rob knew what was wrong too. She doubted it. There was no hint of guile in his voice, no sly dig.

For a moment, she thought Daniel was going to look her in the eye and lie to her. “You’re wonderful, Louise. Any man would love to have you in his arms, and I love it when you come.”

That was Daniel, through and through. She should have known he’d find a way to avoid lying and put the best face on the truth. “Thank you.”

Rob said, “Now I hate to shoo everyone out, but there’s a meeting I can’t miss in twenty minutes, and the conference I’m going to is in the next hotel over. And I would like a few words with Louise before I go.”

Daniel looked to her for guidance, as she knew he would. She nodded. “If it’s just a few minutes, would you mind waiting for me?”

Daniel smiled and tilted his head down a fraction. “Not at all.” He shot Rob a glance that Louise couldn’t quite catch—a warning, perhaps?—and walked out of the room.

Rob waited for him to leave, and then walked forward. He pulled her into his arms, sensing her need for comfort even if he didn’t understand the reason. “I hope that helped. But what I really wanted to say was that I’d like to see you again. Are you free Friday night?”

Tomorrow
. She and Daniel often did things on weekend nights, but she’d left this weekend clear on purpose, and Daniel knew why. Another night with Rob, submitting to someone who enjoyed being on top, and who she liked? “Yes. Please.”

“The last meeting of the conference gets out at six. Be here then, and I’ll tell you the dress code in an e-mail. We’ll eat dinner, and then go to a club.” He was telling, not asking.

Go to a club. What kind of club? And why does that make me feel so warm inside, even after coming at the hands of two different men in the last two hours or so?
“Yes, Master.”

He grinned. “Good girl. Now get your clothes on, and I’ll do the same. We don’t want to keep your friend waiting.”

She nodded. She retrieved her panties from where she’d kicked them under the bed just before Daniel entered, and started making herself presentable. The button Daniel had popped was the one that went right between her breasts, and she’d have to keep the ones above unbuttoned or it would be really obvious. She’d be showing a lot of cleavage, but that couldn’t be helped. She doubted either Rob or Daniel would mind.

Rob got his shirt on before she finished, and he waited. He held the door for her as she left, and nodded to Daniel. “Take good care of her.”

Now that definitely sounded like a warning. The glance Daniel gave in response to Rob’s tone wasn’t warm either. In a way, it was flattering to have two men fight over her, even if they were sort of managing to share. She wished they’d get along, but that was too much to expect.

They got lucky and arrived just in time for an elevator, but it was crowded with people. She didn’t feel like she was alone with Daniel until they were on the street. There were still people, but they were on the move and presumably had better things to do than listen to them.

“Are you doing anything this evening?” she asked with a casualness she didn’t feel. She didn’t want to be alone.

His face lit up for just a second, but he shook his head. “I have a few things to sort out in my head.”

She frowned. She’d gotten used to Daniel always saying yes too. She felt guilty.
I’ve taken him for granted.

His face softened. “I could make it later, perhaps after dinner? I’ve got an hour or so of work to do on a case, and hopefully I’ll have things sorted by then. Eight?”

“Perfect.” That meant he would be staying the night. She didn’t need sex, but she wanted cuddles and reassurance.

Chapter Four

Daniel stared at the glass of white wine. At some level, he’d been regretting not having Louise’s company at dinner. He certainly could afford to pay for her food. But he’d never get any thinking done.

He’d understood what Louise wanted in the hotel room because he knew that desire all too well. He’d fantasized about Louise being in control ever since he met her several years ago. When Louise had told him about her adventures online, the fantasies had only increased. She had told him she was exploring her submissive side, but in his daydreams, she found something else entirely. Since she’d flipped control on him in her bedroom earlier in the week, he’d had to struggle to focus on reality.

What had happened in the hotel room brought it crashing back.

He held up his fingers as if he was counting off facts for a jury. One, Louise’s submissive side was obviously, for lack of a better word, dominant. Two, he wasn’t cut out to be a dom, no matter what she wanted. He loved the idea of bending himself to her will, but that didn’t mean he could enjoying bending
her
to
his
will because she wanted it and wanted him to get off on it. She needed more than to be given orders; she needed someone who was really into it, just like he did. Three, now that he’d had a taste of submission, he wanted more. With Louise, preferably. Would she top him? Could she and enjoy it? She sure seemed to enjoy it the other night. If she didn’t, would he have to find someone else?

He quit counting, picked up the glass of wine, inhaled its fruity bouquet, and sipped. It seemed like the very opposite of submission, to insist that he be allowed to go see other women. Not that she’d ever forbidden him to; he just hadn’t. Truth to tell, he was never interested. The idea of calling some other woman
Mistress
didn’t make him hard. Vanilla sex with Louise aroused him more. But he’d always known there was something missing. Like it or not, their relationship had changed forever with the events of the last few days. He loved her more than ever. And his desire to submit had grown even more.

Before I settle for second best, I’m going to see if I can get exactly what I want and make Louise happy in the process.

* * * *

It was eight exactly when Louise opened the door to see Daniel. She wasn’t sure quite what to expect, but everything seemed normal. She’d been tempted to change her clothes, to put on something seductive, but he’d said he had things to sort out and as a friend, she wanted to let him. She’d changed her white blouse for a yellow one because she hadn’t felt much like sewing buttons, and kicked off her shoes, but that was it. He was dressed in the same tailored three-piece suit and looked entirely yummy.

Her resolve to let him set the agenda almost faltered. She knew from some experience that their sex had been hotter when she initiated, and she felt she understood why more now. Perhaps tonight wouldn’t be about sex. Goodness knew what he thought of her after seeing her with Rob. She was nervous, but her heart hadn’t started really pounding until she saw Daniel at the door. She didn’t trust herself to speak, so she stepped back and gestured him inside.

He didn’t speak either when he entered. She looked at him, and he looked back. Her and Daniel. Best friends. Lovers.
Have I hurt him beyond what he could take? Was the teasing while he was in the stairway too much?
She closed the door behind him.

“I’m no good at this, Louise. I want something, and I don’t know how to ask for it.”

She smiled at him. “You’ve always been good with words. I’m sure you’ll figure out a way. Sit down on the couch, and I’ll join you. Would you like something to drink?”

“Scotch and soda? But I can get it myself.”

She shook her head. “My house, my rules. Hostess gets the drinks. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable. I’ll make you a scotch and sofa.” She giggled. “Soda! Now go sit.”

He sat, but his chuckle at her slip of the tongue sounded tense. Maybe the drink would help. She took a breath and tried to will herself to be calm. Whatever was bothering him, she wanted to be there for him. She mixed herself a gin and tonic and handed his drink to him before she joined him on the couch. He was sitting off center, and his posture was rigid. She lounged at the far end. She was tempted to put her feet in his lap and see how he reacted, but she wanted to hear what he had to say first.

He looked at her, and she smiled back. The silence continued. “Go for it,” she suggested.

He took a breath and gestured with a finger, like he was going to count, and then shook his head. Finally she saw a trace of a smile, even if it was self-mocking one. “One of the biggest speeches of my life and I’m tongue-tied.”

“You have a friendly jury. And you don’t need to make it a speech. Just say it.”