Fournicopia (5 page)

Her shoulders slumped. She’d been playing at being a Domme. Obviously, she had no true heart for it. She ought to be wallowing in a pool of self-recrimination over her loss of control. And yet her body had never felt more fulfilled or relaxed. Although she wanted to deny she felt it, this feeling of elation, of wonder and discovery, was what she’d wanted for so long but never quite achieved.

Maybe she was overthinking the whole thing. Maybe tonight was simply super-charged because they’d just met and both been carried away. Perhaps the next time he’d be more willing to trust her and for her to trust her own instincts.

She had a week to get herself back in the groove. She’d set the date and the setting. Rather than jump off the deep end in a date outside the club, she’d had the good sense to draw back.

Reassured she’d done the right thing, she ignored the voice inside her head, the one ranting at her for not seeking him out right this minute for more of his rough brand of loving.

Chapter Four

Early Thursday evening, Gus’s crew assembled at their usual haunt. This night, The Emerald Tavern was hopping.

A favorite among cops and firemen, the dimly lit bar felt like a second home to Gus. Thursday night was the one night of the week his posse’s work schedules allowed them to all meet, outside special events for which they requested time off. They had a ritual—same scarred table, same first round of drinks. They even had their own personal bartender who never let their glasses go empty, but who also made sure to replace beer for water when they’d reached their limit.

Gus glanced toward Marti Kowalski, who was wiping down the bar, and raised a finger to indicate they needed another round. She flashed him a brilliant smile. Then blushed.

Something she didn’t do with anyone else. Marti was tough despite her tiny frame. But she was engaged to his buddy, Jackson, something Gus and the rest of the crew had helped Jackson achieve over the course of one naughty weekend. A weekend no one ever mentioned for Jackson’s peace of mind.

Beau lifted his chin to point toward the pretty bartender with the blue streak in her hair. “Marti looks happy.”

Jackson grunted. “That’s because she is.”

“What’s the matter with you?”

“A little problem regarding expectations.”

Beau grinned, white teeth flashing. “We set the bar too high?”

Jackson rolled his eyes then sat forward. A sure sign he wanted to talk about his pre-marital issues. “She’s looking for new adventures.”

Mondo cleared his throat.

Jackson gave Mondo a searing glare. “I am not takin’ her to La Forge.”

Mondo flashed a quick grin. “Bring her to watch. No more. She might be inspired.”

Jackson sighed. “It’s not like things aren’t great, but sometimes she gets this look in her eyes. Like she’s remembering
it
.”

Soft chuckles circled the table. Gus knew none of them was likely to ever forget the lengths they’d gone to help Marti check off every naughty item on her sexual bucket list.

Jackson cleared his throat. “If I bring her there, would you guys make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble?”

Mondo’s smile stretched. “
Amigo
, we’ll make sure she doesn’t get into any more trouble than she can handle.”

“Not the answer I wanted. But we’re not here to talk about my love life.” Jackson’s head swiveled toward Gus. “I hear you’ve got a new girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend.” Gus bit back the rest of what he’d wanted to say.
Not yet, anyway.
He worried he might have blown it last Friday, breaking too many rules for her to want to bother with his ass again.

Mondo chuckled. “I think things went very well.”

Gus raked a hand through his short-cropped hair. “I think I blew it. I took over.”

“You topped from the bottom?” Mondo shrugged. “There are no hard-and-fast rules when it’s one-on-one and personal, Gus. You followed your instincts.”

“She couldn’t get away fast enough.”

“You surprised her. Now she needs to think about what happened. Process. And she did tell you to be there again tomorrow night. So you didn’t blow it.”

“About that…” Gus grimaced. “What do you think she’s gonna do?”

“My guess is she will punish you as a way to take back control and remind you who’s in charge.”

“Punish me?” Gus’s cheeks heated. Partly embarrassed, and partly because he remembered how deliciously tender his ass had felt for days after their last session.

“If you want her, let her lead. Tomorrow night anyway. She’s new to this as well and has to learn what she can allow and still remain comfortable. Stay herself. It can be unnerving when a Dominant steps outside the protocols and rules.”

Gus sighed. “That’s what I don’t get. Why does she need rules? Why can’t she let whatever’s gonna happen just…well, happen?”

“I can’t answer that for her. Perhaps she needs to be in control and follow the script she’s been taught because it makes her feel safe.”

Gus didn’t like the thought of Aislinn ever being afraid with a man. But he could understand if she had reservations about being with him, given his size and his proven inability not to use his strength to his advantage.

“Let her be in charge,” Mondo said, his voice softening. “Let her push you. You might learn something about yourself too.”

“What if she wants to take this into the main salon?”

Some of his worry must have crept into his voice. The men began to laugh, softly at first, then louder, elbowing each other and slapping the table.

“Glad my little problem’s so entertainin’,” he muttered.

“Just the picture of it,” Craig said, wiping tears from his eyes. “You’re so damn big… Bent over for her to spank your ass. Gotta say, man, I’d pay for admission.”

Gus’s belly did a roll. Tomorrow night, he didn’t have a chance in hell of holding on to his dignity. And by his friends howling laughter, they’d all be there with bells on to witness his humiliation.

A drink was slid in front of him, and he glanced up to meet Marti’s amused blue gaze.

“Someone mention you have a girlfriend?”

“Yeah. Only she’s not. Yet.”

Marti gave him a wink. “Sweetie, you don’t have a worry in the world. Soon as she gets a look at you nekkid she’ll realize she’s one lucky girl.”

“Hey,” Jackson said, his eyebrows lowering in mock-dismay. “You sayin’ Gus has somethin’ the rest of us don’t?”

Marti flung back her head and laughed. “Baby, don’t be jealous. You’ve got plenty to keep me happy. All you boys do. I’m just sayin’ Gus is particularly blessed.”

Gus was never so glad for the dim lighting hiding his blush. The more he thought about seeing Aislinn at the club the next night, the more restless he got. He pushed his beer toward Jackson. “I don’t need another. I have somethin’ I have to do.”

“Somethin’ that involves a certain little redhead?”

Gus didn’t mind the teasing note in his buddy’s voice, didn’t mind the knowing smirks aimed his way from around the table. He rose, gave himself a quick adjustment because he was hard just thinking about her, and left, chuckles following him out the door.

Gus pulled into a space on the street outside the building where Aislinn lived. He knew this because he’d looked her up in the system. The building was an old hotel, refurbed for apartment dwellers. Not far off of Beale, it was within walking distance of the trolley line, prime real estate for middle-to-well-to-do singles.

Maybe he was making a mistake, but the conversation he’d endured at the tavern had him so worked up he had to see her.
Now.

Would she think he was as sick as her stalker following her here? Seeing her before their appointed
date
at the club?

He hoped like hell she’d be okay with it, because he wasn’t turning back. Every day since he’d met her, he’d driven by her doughnut shop, hoping for a glimpse, but too aware he might be crossing a line if he stopped. She’d been firm about seeing him on Friday.

Night after night, he’d lain in his bed wondering what he’d done so wrong that she felt the need to regroup. Hadn’t she felt the strong connection too? Or was he fooling himself?

He glanced to the seat beside him and the flowers peeking out from their tissue paper wrapping. Then, taking a deep breath, he grabbed them, let himself out of the car and hurried inside before he changed his mind.

It wasn’t until he’d rung her doorbell and heard her voice calling through the door that he had second and third thoughts about his plan.

The door swung open. Something inside him sighed. A calm he hadn’t felt in a week wrapped around him. She was lovely, dressed in a soft blue T-shirt and frayed jeans. Her brown eyes widened, landing first on the flowers he held up like a shield.

“Hi.”
Hi?
That’s the best he could manage?

Her lips pursed then settled into a small smile. She leaned against the doorframe. “Hi, yourself? Why are you here?”

Gus shifted on his feet, uncomfortable beneath her steady stare. “I know you wanted to wait until tomorrow…”

“I’m glad you couldn’t wait,” she said softly. She backed away and swung her arm toward the living room behind her. “Won’t you come in?”

Stepping inside, he gave the place a quick glance, surprised it looked so damn normal.

“Yeah, no St. Andrew’s Cross in the living room.”

“Have it in the bedroom?”

She laughed. “I don’t own one at all.” She eyed the flowers again. “Are those for me or do you need them for protection?”

Gus felt his cheeks redden and shoved them toward her. “The lady at the counter said every girl likes roses.”

She reached for them and pulled them toward her chest. “Well, this girl does. They’re beautiful.” Her head dipped and she inhaled.

Just like he’d thought, the pretty peachy-pink blooms looked just right against her pale skin.

“They smell wonderful. I’ll get a vase. Why don’t you have a seat while I get these into some water?”

While she went into the kitchen area which opened off the living room, he took another good look around. The area was large and airy and uncluttered, so he didn’t feel so much like a lumbering giant.

“Nice place,” he murmured, taking in the dark brown sofa and chairs, beige carpet topping an oak floor and sturdy walnut tables.

“Thanks. I like it simple.” She came back with the roses standing in a clear crystal vase, which she placed on a side table. She settled at one end of the long sofa then patted the seat beside her. “Come sit.”

The command held none of her Domme firmness, but nonetheless, he quickly sat beside her.

Gus cleared his throat. “Have you had dinner?”

“I made myself something after I came home from work. Have you eaten?”

He shook his head. “No, but I’m good.”

Her lips pursed in disapproval. “Someone as big as you shouldn’t skip a meal.”

“I didn’t come over for you to make me dinner.”

“Then why did you come?”

Gus looked at the hands clutching his knees and blew out a deep breath. “I couldn’t stay away.” He shot her a glance. “If I’m goin’ too fast, just tell me and I’ll go.”

Her slow smile lit up her face. “Someone told me there aren’t any real rules. So, no, you’re not going too fast.”

Relieved, he let out an exaggerated sigh. “It’s funny. We’ve seen each other naked, but I don’t have a clue how to talk to you.”

“How about I make this easier?” She scooted closer and raised one hand to touch his face.

When she tipped up her chin, he leaned toward her and kissed her. It started sweet. And that’s really all he meant to do, but the hand he wasn’t watching touched his thigh. She trailed her fingers upward, met the hardening ridge of his cock and lingered.

Not breaking the kiss, he cupped her hand and held it against him, tightening his grip to encourage her to explore. “It’s all yours,” he whispered against her mouth before sinking into a deeper kind of kiss.

Tongues met and dueled. Lips suctioned. Before he knew it, she eased over his lap, and he held her still atop his erection, glorying in the feel of her weight wriggling on top of him.

This time, she rose for air. “Think you’d like that bed under my back?”

“Might be less dangerous.”

Her mouth stretched, but that didn’t stop the kiss that followed. He lunged up from the couch, his arms beneath her back and knees. “Point,” he said, then sucked her bottom lip between his teeth.

Aislinn laughed and pointed toward an open doorway. “Through there,” she said, gasping when he nibbled her chin.

Watching out of the corner of his eye, he continued to kiss her, his heartbeat escalating to a steady, insistent throbbing in his ears.

When he was inside the bedroom, he strode straight for the bed and lowered her, not letting her go until he had her under him.

“Might be easier without all these clothes,” she whispered.

He reared up, stripped his shirt over his head and quickly unbuckled his belt.

She scrambled backward, lifting her top, shoving down her jeans, taking her panties with them. When she was nude, it took her pointed stare at his crotch to get him to hurry through the finish, but not before he pulled a condom from his pocket.