Celebration (16 page)

The limo pulled away from the curb, even as she untied the belt of her raincoat. She took ages with it, her gaze locked on him and shining from behind the mask.

“Was he very bad, Rafe?” she asked in a low voice.

“He fought hard, even when he was told this was by your command,” Rafe acknowledged.

Mike moaned in an attempt to defend himself.

“I had a feeling he’d be bad,” Joanna said darkly. “He’s been very naughty lately.” She opened her raincoat, revealing that she wore one of Mike’s favorite corsets. This one was made of black patent leather and nipped her waist in tightly. It rose beneath her breasts to cup them and he saw immediately that she’d rouged her nipples.

They were tight peaks, a sign that she was also aroused.

That was enough to make Mike’s cock pound.

She removed her raincoat, then folded it and set it aside with the duffel bag. Her movements were graceful but so slow that Mike was sure he couldn’t last. Coming early would certainly be bad. Would she punish him more, then? Would she keep him captive all night? He couldn’t wait to find out.

“And he wasn’t sure whether he should trust me to work on that book with Rex,” Joanna continued. Her lips tightened a little, as if she were disappointed in him.

“He didn’t see Rex’s face when you came to Wicked Ink,” Rafe said. “Everybody saw that it was over then.”

Mike looked to Joanna, hoping it was true. She smiled and nodded. “But still, Rafe, don’t you think a man should trust his fiancée?”

“Absolutely.”

Joanna dropped to all fours and crawled across the floor of the limo, her back arched a little so her butt was high. The lacing down the back of her corset was visible and the tall black boots gleamed. Mike could also see down the front of the corset, to the shadow between her breasts. Her hair shone where it fell over her shoulder, her breasts were pale and ripe and bare, and her mouth glistened like an invitation. Mike didn’t think he’d ever seen a sight so sexy in his life.

“Are you going to prove your trust tonight, Mike?” she demanded in a low hot voice.

Mike nodded quickly and fought against the seat belt, wanting to drill her all night long.

“Not that until tomorrow,” she reminded him, reaching up to slap her gloved hand across his erection. Mike groaned from the depths of his soul.

She bent and touched her lips to the head of his cock, a sweet light caress that made him shudder with desire. “You’re close,” she whispered, even the fan of her breath nearly too much to bear.

Mike moaned again.

“Then maybe I should be kind.” Joanna reached back into the duffle bag Eric had left behind. She pulled out a belt of some kind and Mike watched with fascination as she leaned back and put it around her own waist. He saw then that it was a chastity belt, one that could be fitted with a lock on the front. Mike remembered locking that same chastity belt around her once before, when they’d gone to the party at the art gallery.

Joanna fingered herself, her lips parting as she caressed her own wet puss. She smeared her hand across the end of Mike’s nose, giving him a whiff of her own scent mingled with perfume and leather. He was sure he wouldn’t be able to last with that smell tormenting him.

But Joanna returned to her preparations. As he watched, she fitted the chastity belt around herself, securing her puss with the leather bonds. She locked it over her genitals, then wound the second belt around her hips. She pulled it tight and locked it around herself. She hung the lock on the loop where the belts met over her pubis, then closed it with a decisive click.

The key was on a long black cord. Joanna came to sit beside him, her breast pressed against his upper arm. She kissed his ear, his neck, the corner of his mouth, the silk of her hair against his skin and the aroma of her perfume driving him crazy. She put the cord around his neck and he jumped when the cold key collided with his chest.

“Just so we don’t get carried away,” she whispered in his ear, then licked his earlobe. “I wouldn’t want you to break our agreement.”

Mike moaned agreement, even as her fingertips trailed over his body. His erection was so large and hard that he could only think about release. He felt as if it had been a million years since they’d made love, not just two weeks.

Joanna made his cock harder, touching him firmly and then gently, alternating the rhythm and working him to the point of madness. Mike squeezed his eyes shut as she caressed him, certain he would come too soon. He protested into the gag and her weight shifted.

He opened his eyes to find her leaning across his lap. Her waist was nipped in tightly, right before his eyes, her butt bare and inviting. If he hadn’t been bound, he could have spanked her.

She was due. Her skin was smooth and pale, not pink at all.

Mike could feel the smooth leather of the corset against his thighs and his cock, as well as her tight nipples pressed against one leg. She crossed her ankles as she knelt over him, making him wish he could tie her down and reward her for tempting him so well.

He wondered what exactly she was doing, then he saw the tattoo. Mike couldn’t believe it. The tattoo wasn’t fake or just drawn on. It was real and permanent. It was new enough to still be slightly enflamed, but it was healing well. It was on her right butt cheek, just below her waist, low enough to peek out from beneath the hem of the corset.

She’d gotten it since she left him on the coast, two weeks before.

Mike’s mouth went dry. She was showing him.

It was a chain in a circle, like a brand. The circle was maybe four inches across. In the middle of the circle was bold type, all in caps.

Property of Mike.

Mike stared. It was a permanent acknowledgement that Joanna was his forever.

Mike nearly lost it. He roared and struggled, certain he was going to come at any moment. But Joanna straightened and slapped his cock again with the flat of her gloved hand, her lips drawn into a disapproving line.

That was when Mike saw that she had a cock ring. She must have gotten it out of the duffle bag. The last thing he wanted was to be compelled to last longer. Mike moaned as she reached down to fasten it tightly around the root of his dick. She knelt beside him, clearly proud of herself.

“Don’t even think about coming before you have permission,” she growled. “Be a good groom and you’ll even get some sleep tonight.” She winked. “You’ll need your strength to satisfy me tomorrow night.”

Mike groaned his submission and the sight of her triumphant smile sent another jolt through him. He wasn’t certain what she’d do but he knew she’d test him—and he couldn’t wait.

Joanna slipped to the floor of the limo again. She dropped to her knees before him, crossing her ankles behind her butt again. She braced her gloved hands on his knees and pushed his thighs apart. Mike couldn’t even take a breath, but she smiled at him, then leaned forward to take him in her mouth. Her red red lips closed around him with such familiar surety that he was lost in pleasure.

He wasn’t interested in being found anytime soon.

Chapter Six

Tess was excited.

She got out of the cab before it had completely stopped, looking up at the townhouse in awe. The neighborhood was upscale—close to downtown but quiet. Expensive. The rows of townhouses faced onto a fenced park, which was dark and quiet at this house. The address Athena had given them was for a townhouse right in the middle of a block of five.

“Come on!” she said to Tex, who wasn’t so quick to step out of the cab.

“I wish I was wearing my jeans and boots,” he complained, yet again.

“You look awesome in blue latex,” Tess insisted. “And you needed something new for this party. We’re starting fresh.”

The cab driver was grinning as Tess paid him. “Guess you’ll have to teach him a lesson,” he said, glanced at riding crop on her belt then raised his eyebrows.

Tess smiled. “I guess I will.”

Tex was grumbling. “I like being a cowboy.”

“And you can be one for me anytime.” Tess gave him a kiss on the cheek. “But it’s good to try out new ideas. It keeps things exciting. Think of this as a new identity for you.” She leaned closer to whisper. “I really, really like you in this outfit.”

Tex’s eyes lit. “Yeah?”

Tess smiled at him, then quickly pinched his butt. “I like being able to see all your assets.”

Tex actually blushed as he flicked a glance at the departing cab. “The problem is that everyone else can see them, too.”

Tess put her hand through his elbow. “Which is why we need to get inside. Come on, my little boy toy.” Tess used the end of her riding crop to push the button for the bell, and heard it ring inside.

“You look pretty good, too, you know,” Tex said, casting an admiring glance over her.

Tess smiled. “My tribute to Athena,” she said and spun on the doorstep. She’d invested in a black leather dominatrix outfit, complete with corset and spiked boots that would make Athena proud. She wore long gloves and a dog collar, as well as very red lipstick. Her hair was loose and she wore a domino mask.

Tex was wearing a vivid blue latex bodysuit which showed his physique to advantage and was hooded, too. Tess thought he looked like her personal super hero. He had on high black boots, a black domino mask and a codpiece with a key. Tess had the key on a chain around her neck.

Athena opened the door and smiled in welcome. To Tess’s surprise, Athena wasn’t dressed very flamboyantly. She was wearing a gold jumpsuit with tall boots, which was tight but not up to her usual level of dramatic flair even with the gold domino.

She ushered them into the foyer and Tess was struck that there was no light or noise. When the door to the street was shut behind them and they’d exchanged kisses, Athena opened a pair of doors on the other side of the foyer. The doors were obviously insulated and soundproofed, because the pulsing beat of the music was surprisingly loud. The light was hazy and the big square foyer was filled with people in fetish gear. The decor was all in shades of orange and gold, as if they’d stepped into a fire.

“Welcome to the Phoenix,” Athena said with a smile, and Tess was glad they’d come.

“How many people are here?” Tex asked.

“I think there will be about three hundred,” Athena said mildly.

“In one townhouse?” Tess asked in surprise.

Athena smiled. “Be in the attic at midnight, and all will become clear.”

The doorbell rang again. It was barely audible, even here, but a red light illuminated on the wall at the same time. Athena gave them each another kiss and by the way Tex jumped, Tess guessed he’d had his butt pinched again.

“Party favors!” said a woman in a French maid costume. She was also wearing a domino, but her eyes were shining behind her mask. She fastened an orange cable tie with a black number printed on it to Tess’s wrist, then a black one with an orange number to Tex’s wrist.

“What’s it for?” Tex asked.

“You’ll see.”

“Why are they different colors?” Tess asked, seeing that the maid had a whole basket of numbered cable ties in both orange and black.

“You’ll see at midnight.”

Tess and Tex exchanged a glance as the maid turned to Athena and the new arrivals. Tess noticed that the bands hadn’t been handed out on the basis of gender—it seemed to be random which color any person got. What was Athena’s plan?

“I’m not sure I like being a boy toy,” Tex grumbled.

“Surrender to the moment,” Tess instructed. “If you acknowledge that you’re powerless, you might like it.”

“I’m not powerless...”

“I can fix that.” She pulled a pair of shackles from her bag. Tex’s obvious dismay was thrilling. He took a step backward but she touched the tip of his nose with her riding crop. “You’re my super hero tonight,” she whispered in her darkest voice. “You’re doing to do daring deeds, just for me, and astound me with your stamina and strength.” Tex’s eyes widened and he caught his breath. “Now turn around. I want you tied tight.”

He frowned, as if he might argue, then abruptly turned around. “Just tonight,” he said.

Tess laughed. “That depends on how much I like it. Don’t you want to keep me happy, super hero?”

He cast a glance over his shoulder that said it all. Tess loved how easy Tex was to read. She shackled his hands together behind his back, then wrapped her arms around him. “Surrender to me,” she whispered.

He exhaled. “I surrender to you, Tess.”

“And you’ll be rewarded. Trust me.” Tess kissed him again, then pushed her boy toy into the crowd of familiar faces.

It was going to be a great party, whatever Athena had planned.

* * *

Charlie was thrilled to be in London again. He felt lucky that Rex had picked him as one of the lucky thirteen and was ready to make the most of the opportunity. Not only was the city itself as great as he remembered, but Athena’s new place was fabulous. He loved that all of the decor was in vibrant, fiery colors. It was easy to imagine her here. The people who filled the townhouse were even better. He loved the crush of his own kind in all their finery, the music, the lights, the passion. The atmosphere was so evocative of the Plume that it nearly made him cry for what they’d lost.