Traded for Love (28 page)

“What should I pick?”

“It can be anything, a short word, maybe something like 'pie'.”

She laughed. “Pie?!”

I chuckled. “It doesn't have to be
pie
. Pick something that's easy for us both to remember and is easy to say. It shouldn't be a sexual word, so that it doesn't get mixed up with our … bedroom talk.”

She considered for a moment. “Remember the first time we had sex on our honeymoon, at that hotel in Tahiti?”

“Hm. I think so.” I didn't remember at all, but I wasn't about to tell
her
that.

“Remember when you didn't have any cuffs or tape or anything to tie my wrists?”

Now I remembered. “Oh yeah. We used the ties from the four-poster bed's curtains.”

“They were made of silk. I think that should be it.”

“What, 'silk'?”

“Mm hm.” She gave me another squeeze.

“Whatever you want, honey.” I kissed the top of her head, and rested my cheek there. “Whatever you want.”

Traded for Love

(Emily)

The phone rang just as I put Katherine down for her nap. I rushed out before I could cover the baby. I answered without checking the caller ID.

“Hi!” Kim exclaimed.

“Hey! How's it going?”

“The renovations are going pretty fast. At this rate, the new wing will be done in the next few weeks. How are things in your neck of the woods?”

If only you knew
, I wanted to tell her. “Fine.”

“Is that husband of yours still distant?”

I remembered everything that had transpired in the shower two days before. “He's just busy. But he hasn't been as involved with the work or the campaign lately. He's been coming home early and spending more time with me.”

“Good. I'm glad to hear that.” She chuckled. “You just let me know the minute he steps out of line.”

I laughed nervously. “I'll do that.” I blushed at the idea of Kim finding out the details of our relationship. She had an inkling of what Jack was into—thanks to some of what I'd revealed to her in the beginning, but she couldn't have known how far things had gotten.

“So, one of my vets is doing a show with at a neighborhood theater. Dante and I are going and I was wondering if you guys would be interested in a double-date?”

It was Dante's day off, so Jack had driven himself into work. I checked my phone's clock. “I'm interested, but I'll have to call Jack and ask when he'll be home.”

“Okay. Text me when you find out.”

“Will do.”

“Love you,” Kim sang.

I grinned. “Love you, too.”

I pitched the date to Jack.

Sounds good
.
I'll be home around four
.
Be ready to go
.

(Jack - Later That Day)

Tonight was the night.

I had no idea how I would approach the subject, but I was going to at least
begin
the process of convincing Emily to go with me to the club.

The date would be a nice way to butter her up. All I need was a stolen moment of privacy to plant the seed in her head. There was even a chance I could make it seem like it was
her
idea.

I pulled up to the front of the house and honked the 9-11's horn.

Just as I was about to pick up my phone, she exited the house.

She looked exceptionally pretty. She was decked in pink from head to toe. Her lips were a nice rosy color and her pink sundress was sweet. She'd finished the outfit off with neon-pink heels.

“You look gorgeous, honey,” I remarked as she slid into the passenger seat.

She smiled. “Thanks.”

I set my hand on her thigh and gave it a squeeze. “I love it when you dress up.”

Her cheeks flushed in response. She'd gone back to her old self in a lot of ways. Maybe denying her had eventually become the key to truly owning her. If things went right, I'd be with Chastity sooner rather than later.

As we drove, we made small talk. We both had such different lives. Mine was all campaigning and business. Hers was, for a small part of her day, the activities surrounding being a mother. For the rest of it she waited for me. I didn't know how she stayed sane. For all I knew, she wasn't anymore.

We arrived at the small community center auditorium. The house was packed. Kim was her normal
cheery
self. She'd never been happy to see me. I'd never really been able to
charm
her.

I didn't particularly care. Emily was the one I needed to influence, and she'd always been prone to it. If her devotion to me after I'd cheated and more or less thrown her away wasn't enough proof of that, I didn't know what was.

We seated ourselves in the middle-back. It was a production of
Antony and Cleopatra
. I'd never seen the show, and had never had interest in seeing it. This whole
date
was really just an excuse to bring up
the subject
.

The show progressed and I couldn't help but identify with Antony. The poor guy was constantly torn between the love he had for Cleopatra and his duty to his country and its citizens. While I knew what I felt for Chastity wasn't
love
, it was surely an obsession. It was so strong, that it'd cost me voter confidence.

I'll be smarter than Antony
, I thought.
I won't lose myself in my lust
.
I'll come back from this and regain my footing in the campaign
.
I'll get everything and I want and more
.

I turned to Emily as the crowd stirred. “How about we get some air?”

“Sure.” She was radiant. In the aftermath of the souring of our marriage, I'd almost forgotten how pretty she was. I hoped it kept. I was going to need her in my upcoming public appearances.

We hooked arms and walked outside.

The breeze tousled her hair as we walked into a small grove of trees.

I stopped at a spot where the moonlight shone through the boughs and onto her face.

“You look so amazing tonight,” I cooed.

She blushed. “You look great, too.”

I chuckled. “You've always been so sweet.” I tipped her chin up and brushed her lips with mine. “How have you felt in the past few days—
about us
?”

“It feels a little like it did in the beginning.” She wrapped her arms around me.

“Oh yeah? How's that?” I asked, pulling her close.

“Even though we're going through a rough time, I think I feel more than ever that you know what's best for me.” She laid her head on her shoulder.

I couldn't keep from smirking. “I told you, didn't I? From the very beginning, I told you I could make you happy.”

“I am. Things are best this way. You and I and Katherine can be together.” She squeezed me.

That was strange
.

“Why'd you mention Katherine?” I asked.

“Is it so strange that I want us to be together?” She brought her eyes up to mine.

“You're afraid we
won't
stay together? So, that's why you've been so obedient lately. And here I was stupid enough to believe your heart was in it.” I slid her arms away and stepped back.

“No.” There was a hint of panic in her voice. She closed the gap between us. “Please, Jack. I promise I'm doing it because I want to.”

I took her in my arms again, smoothing my thumb over her flushed cheek. “I told you a long time ago that I demand obedience.”

“Yes. I know.” A tear formed on her lid.

“If you want to prove your obedience, there's something I want you to do.” I swept the tear away from her cheek.

“What is it?”

“I heard about a club where people trade partners. I thought it might be fun to see what it's like. I want you to go with me.”

She seemed taken aback, nevertheless, she squeezed me tight. “It certainly seems interesting.”

“You will obey me, won't you,
my little one
?” I watched as her eyes widened and her breath hitched. I hadn't called her by that pet name since just before the baby was born.

She looked up at me with desperation in her eyes. The poor thing was aching for love, a love I was pretending to shower on her. I stroked her temples, then ran my fingers through her hair.

Her eyes closed as she absorbed the gentle touch. “I'll go. I want to please you.”

“I knew you would. You're a good girl.” I took her mouth in an insistent kiss. The idea of reuniting with Chastity was enthralling. Every part of me woke up with desire and want. If Kim hadn't appeared at the mouth of the path, I might have tried to ease the ache by using Emily to my heart's delight right there in the arboretum.

“Whoa! Didn't mean to interrupt!” Kim ejected.

We broke the kiss and Emily erupted in giggles. “You didn't,” she said with a big grin.

“It's nothing we can't finish later,” I remarked, threading my fingers with my wife's.

“The intermission is over,” Kim said, turning and heading back toward the lit courtyard in front of the theater.

I yanked Emily back as she tried to walk forward, and pulled her into my arms again. “We
will
finish this, won't we?” I grinned and ran a hand down the front of her dress, grazing her hard nipples through the fabric.

She inhaled sharply, her whole body growing warm. “Yes, Master.”

We hooked arms and walked back to the theater.

The members of our party were all seated, except for one.

“Where's Dante?” Emily asked.

“I don't know,” Kim answered, craning her neck so she could see the aisle better. “Maybe he went to the bathroom.

Suddenly the lights came up and a spotlight illuminated Dante. “Thanks for coming tonight everyone.”

There was light applause. Our eyebrows were officially raised.

“I'd like to call Ms. Kim Yates up to the stage, please,” Dante said into the mic.

Kim looked terrified, but stood and walked to the front, up the stage steps and across to the center.

“Say hi,” he said to Kim, aiming the mic head up to her face.

“Um. Hi.” She gave him a questioning glance. “What are you doing?”

“Kim, I love you. I think you know that. One of the reasons I brought you here was to tell
everybody
how much I love you.”

The crowd whooped and whistled. Kim's face flushed bright red. “I also want to ask you … ” He dropped to one knee and brought a ring box around in front of him. “I wanted to ask you if you'll be my wife.”

Kim covered her gaping mouth with her hand. Tears glistened in her eyes as she speechlessly nodded.

We were flabbergasted. Neither Emily nor I had suspected that Dante was ready to make this kind of commitment. Blown away we stood with the rest of the crowd as everyone applauded.

Kim and Dante shared a long kiss and broke it with big smiles on their faces. Holding hands, they left the stage together.

I laughed at the sentimentality of it all. Dante was sure signing up to be with one spitfire of a woman. She wouldn't take any of his shit. She would rule him.

I turned to my subservient, glowing wife, and saw her beaming face and the tears running down her face. I had it much better than Dante. This woman would do anything for me.

I'd make sure of it.

(Drake)

I stepped out of the shower and walked into my bedroom. Once I'd dried off, I threw my towel across a nearby chair.

Just as I began looking through my underwear drawer, my bedroom door opened. My back was turned but it could only be one person.

“Are you ready yet?” Chastity asked.

“Does it
look
like I'm ready?” I asked with a grin, giving my bare ass a little shake.

She laughed. “So charming.” She sat on the edge of the bed. I stepped into a pair of boxer-briefs.

Once I turned, I stopped dead in my tracks to take in the sight of her.

She wore a short leather skirt, black leather bustier and black heels with red outsoles. “You … look nice.”

Her eyebrow rose and her red lips spread into a smile. “You look hard.” Her eyes dropped to my crotch.

“I can't exactly
help it
.” I averted my gaze and tried to concentrate on dressing.

“It's okay to like what you see, you know?” Her voice was rich and velvety.

“Not really.” I pulled out my leather pants and a black t-shirt.

“Why not?”

“Because the minute I start lusting after you … it makes me want things that can never be mine.” I pulled on my clothes. “I thought you'd have guessed that by now.”

I couldn't avoid looking at her as I went to my closet for my belt.

“You can have me,” she said, leaning back on the bedspread. She casually spread her legs so I got a view of her pussy.

Now my erection was painful. “I want to. Believe me … ” My eyes were fixated on the pink bud between her legs. I realized I was holding my belt as though I were ready to strike it. I could have, too, and she would have loved it.

“But?” she asked, interrupting my train of thought.

I swallowed hard and steadied myself. “But it wouldn't mean anything.”

“Does it always have to mean something?” she asked, setting a hand on her hip. “You
do
fuck awfully well, you know.” She stroked the inside of her golden thigh invitingly. “You know all my buttons. You know just how to make me come.”