The Alexandra Series (81 page)

“No, Reg, not this time. I’m desperate.”

“And desperation breeds lunacy?”

“It was rash, I admit.”

“Though the pictures were a nice touch. They didn’t leave anything out, I hope?”

“Oh, no!”

“Pretty premeditated to even think of them ahead of time—if it was as you say an obsession.”

“I had them taken for you.”

“And if I punish you now is that going to cure you of your woes?”

“I need you, Reggie, as dark as you want to be.”

“As vile as you deserve?”

“As much as that.”

“And that’s the cure?”

“Don’t make me sweat like this, please.”

He snickered as he often did when a woman tried to suggest what he should do. “I like watching you squirm, you should remember that, devious and cunning as I am.”

“My skin’s so hot, I’m wet between my legs and I feel the hunger in my mouth.”

He seemed amused, then bridged what distance there was between them and began running a finger about her lips. She parted them and that finger was inside where she sucked it like a tiny prick. She put her own hand on his crotch, which he pushed away.

“You purchased this for me to use on you?” He held up the slapper for her to see, leather holes and all. Running the cool surface along her cheek and against her mouth, the remembrance of its previous visit on her behind caused her to spasm again. Her face moved against the smooth leather as though it was a lover’s tender hand.

When Reggie pulled back one step, he bent his wife under his arm and held her tightly about the waist. Her short skirt raised once again, he brought the newly purchased slapper down on her behind with defiant and vigorous abandon … no building up the severity, no holding back because of her mournful state, no lessening the blows hearing the wild nature of her spirited cries. He worked her ass, seeing that even in the moonlight it was prone to blush crimson—the color of a righteous discipline. Jocelyn had picked an unmerciful implement. The inherent nature of the slapper was severe, but then she must have known that when she bought it. If he’d slouched in disciplining her the last few months, this was an indication that she required it grim to get over what personal anguish she was living day to day.

Seeing the crimson blush against the white of her back and thighs, he saw justice meted out, her spirit calmed and his own indignation appeased for her unthinking choice. He was sure that nothing but a harsh reprisal would do. Reggie suspected that the brute in the shop had only scratched the surface of his wife’s travail and the needed chastisement she required. It was rare to see his competent wife so battered by life. He’d made every effort to change her stubborn mind about her current troubles, so far nothing had worked. Perhaps this would.

“Ah, Reg, please no more,” the redhead cried, feeling the burn on her backside peak. Though she might have withstood more, there was another part of this session she wanted now. Certainly he’d oblige.

Another few tuneful smacks of the slapper and he slowed to a more erotic pace. Between smacks, he ran the leather over her distressed flesh. An unexpected slap and she bucked hard against his confining arm, then began a sensuous tango with her heated behind. This rhythmic dance made them hunger for the culmination.

“It’s been much too long since I’ve had your ass,” he whispered.

Laying her out over the stool, he moved in behind her for the assault. He found her tense but opening to him. Driving his swollen erection past the tight hole, he sensed her relinquish the last bit of fight she was prone to wage. And yielding to the stroke of his cock he massaged her deep within. That state of obedience to his absolute control over her was—in the instant—complete. Though she didn’t deserve her own orgasm, he nonetheless reached around to take her clitoris in his fingers. The manipulation required was brief. Only because he loved her as deeply as he knew how to love could he justify this breach of a master’s code and let her enjoy a proper climax.

“Ahhhh, yes,” she groaned happily. Such a pleasant wail it was.

Letting his cock respond to her squeezing inner muscles, he grunted as he deposited his cum within her dark channel.

“Easy love,” Reggie murmured as he rescued her from collapsing to the floor.

An old chair by the window—a place where she loved to sit and read when it was storming on the lake—cushioned their exhausted fall. They landed in one big heap on the over-stuffed pillows, with Jocelyn holding tightly to her husband.

“I’m so sorry.” She wept, her face pressed to his warm chest so she could feel his cold heart beat hot.

“I have to remind myself sometimes that you’re as foolish as every other woman I’ve ever known,” he replied.

“I shouldn’t let you say that,” she told him through a sad sob.

“But you do because it’s the truth,” he retorted. Running his fingers through her hair, his touch was magic. So delicate, as soft as rose petals falling to the mossy ground. She gave him tiny kisses on his neck in reply, smelled the scent of him, the mix of cologne and a little brandy he must have had at dinner. And cigars he’d been smoking with his associates on the private jet. And something minty, the after dinner kind of mints they served before the plane landed. That closeness to his virile, masculine neck gave away all his secrets.

“I love you,” she said.

“I know that, darling. And you need to be loved.”

“Isn’t that what you’ve been doing?”

“Not enough apparently. But I’ll remedy that.”

“Oh, please,” she exclaimed finally lifting herself away from his chest.

“Only if you get your head straight about your business, Jocelyn.” The remark was intended to carry a sting.

“Please let’s not fight.”

“No? Not now? Well then, we’ll do it in the morning.”

***

For fifteen minutes Jocelyn watched the figure of her husband, mostly his backside, saunter about the bedroom naked, noting as he did how much she adored his firm sculptured ass, and the way his trim waist flared into powerful shoulders. Jockey shorts on, there was hardly anything hidden, the smooth cotton just accentuated the provocative form and the muscles as he moved from the bath, to the dresser, to the mirror, to the closet—where disappeared returning half dressed with pants on, and a white dress shirt ready to be buttoned. Each movement was part of a carefully orchestrated ritual that turned out the impeccable Reggie Harold every day of this working life. It was hard to live with such perfection, but at the very least Jocelyn could admire the erotic quality of her husband’s careful grooming.

“Well, I suppose I’d better get going,” she exclaimed as she finally charged naked from bed.

A comment he’d ordinarily ignore, Reggie turned to her, his blue eyes biting.

“It’s time for a hiatus,” he said.

“Oh?”

“Time to close down Killian Management for a season, let the furor of Ibercon die down, let yourself heal.” They were wise words.

Jocelyn brushed past him on the way to the bath, though he grabbed a wrist and pulled her back.

“I can’t,” she swore, looking as undaunted and in command as he’d expect of his over-achiever wife.

“You will,” he countered.

“Don’t you pull that dominant trump card on me,” she retorted.

“You had no problem giving in to it last night,” he reminded her.

“Last night was sexual, I missed you.”

“That’s bullshit, Jocelyn, and you know it.”

“Okay, I stupidly let some stranger have my ass,” she conceded.

“It’s all about pride and ego.”

“And those aren’t your watch words?” she said scornfully.

“You know I should blister your ass.” He sounded ruffled, though he muted any anger.

Jocelyn jerked from his grasp and turned about sticking her ass out taunting him. “Go right ahead. It’s not going to change my mind!”

Reggie turned away from her. “It’s not that easy,” he said. “I’m not your dog to perform tricks when you call.”

“Then lay off ordering me around.” She was on her way to the bath again.

“Wait a minute, I’m not finished.”

“But I am.” There were real fireworks going off, prickly ones intended to hurt, and so the hurt began.

“Not until I’ve had my say,” he informed her, having taken her arm in his to hold her near. “You made some bad business moves, got desperate a year ago and flung yourself like a whore at the sleazy jerks at Ibercon, neglecting everything else. It’s ruined your reputation everywhere in town. I couldn’t have you consult for me now even if I thought your advice was the most sound. The scheme’s failed, so let it go. Close Killian down. Travel with me, play the woman of leisure, volunteer at an old folks home, do anything. But let the brouhaha die away. It’s time.”

Staring eye to eye flinging arrows, they all hurt. For a moment, Reggie thought she might give in. It was just that close, Jocelyn on the edge of some supreme decision that would take her into brand new territory. But the instant died, as her green eyes snapped and her nostrils with their Irish temper flared like a dragon’s.

“It’s not time, Reg. Killian Management is not dead. I refused to bury it.” Jerking from his tight hold, he didn’t go after her again.

“Suit yourself,” was his only reply. Coldly turning back to his morning ritual, he buttoned the crisp white shirt and tied his tie in a neat knot at the neck. If Jocelyn wanted him to pursue their argument, she didn’t give him enough clues; and Reggie refused to be baited by any woman, including his obstreperous wife.

Chapter Three

The day that Alexandra Kozak walked into Killian Management was one of the worst Jocelyn had had in weeks, not that any day had been good. There’d been a dozen frustrating ones in a row. Twenty hours a day, the grind was enormous. And everywhere she turned doors were closing before her eyes.

“Maybe it’s fate,” Alex suggested, seeing the warring woman and her weary face, looking nothing like the fresh and vibrant lover she’d at one time enjoyed for erotic rendezvous in downtown hotels. It had been months since they’d made love, and it wasn’t for sex that Alex had breached the tight security Jocelyn now demanded. Even so, Alex came to her friend’s office looking utterly alluring on purpose. Her blonde hair, freshly cut, fell in soft curls around her face, her gentle blue eyes, always intended for a seduction, did their best to lure the redhead into her mood. Sitting with her slender legs crossed at the knee, the powder blue skirt rose high on her thigh, the lacy white tops of her stockings peeking out. And yet, Jocelyn’s eye was drawn to the delectable cleft between Alex’s breasts where she’d often kissed her on lazy summer afternoons.

“What do you mean fate?” Jocelyn said snapping back to reality, practically snarling the despised word, ‘fate’. Alex was about to explain, but the redhead jumped in, “Don’t you dare spout some philosophical drivel. Then I’ll know your sleeping in Reggie’s bed.” That statement wasn’t meant to be literal, but in line with Jocelyn’s belief that both her husband and her female lover were nearly twins—except that one was exceedingly dominant while the other was the epitome of submissive.

“I’m not trying to talk you out of your business, but maybe you’re not seeing the whole picture,” Alex said kindly. “Maybe it’s not fate at all, but Jocelyn Killian wanting another life. Being the high pressured business woman has taken its toll on you, especially since you married Reggie.”

“Maybe it’s Reggie I should get rid of,” Jocelyn snapped.

Alex was startled. “You’re really thinking that?”

“I’m thinking that he’s not supportive of me at all. We argue constantly about ‘my dilemma’ and the only thing that seems to be keeping us together is the best damned sex I’ve ever had. But that’s not enough.”

“Perhaps that’s telling you something.”

“Like what?”

“You should have more sex,” Alex said.

“You’re much more given to sexual solutions that I am,” Jocelyn said. “I need this business.”

“Maybe you just need ‘a’ business. Maybe another one.”

She shook her head. “No, there are just too many possibilities just inches from my grasp. If I dropped out now it would be the most foolish thing I’ve ever done.”

The vibrant blonde sighed, having gotten nowhere. “Well, then let’s have lunch,” she suggested.

“I’d love to, darling, but I’m knee deep in this until at least eight tonight. I’ll call you next week.”

Alex, on her feet now, accepted a gentle kiss to the lips, wishing for more, but knowing that Jocelyn was in no mood for a woman. She was in a hard dick world and that’s where she was likely to remain for a while.

***

Seven o’clock, the halls of Killian Management were dark, except for the night lights. She’d sent the staff home, what remained of it. After declaring her convictions about her business to Alex Kozak earlier that day, everything that could have possibly happened to squash those convictions happened. Those ‘possibilities just inches from her grasp’ were disappearing with such remarkable speed, she had to confess to herself the likelihood that Reg and Alex and all her other advisors were right.

Truth hurt, like the nightmares of her death dreamed almost nightly for several weeks. Hurt, like losing a lover to some mercurial destiny she couldn’t control. Hurt, like having friends once close to her turn their backs and snicker over her misfortune.