The bass echo of the song currently playing in Luke’s club was so loud the walls vibrated with each beat. It didn’t help that the place was unusually crowded for a Tuesday night. There were so many people, Lynne momentarily considered telling Simon she wanted to reschedule. She knew he would accommodate the request. In fact, he’d told her they didn’t even have to do the scene.
But she wanted to go ahead with it, and she knew that’s what Simon wanted, too, so if there were more people around than normal, oh well, she’d just have to deal with it. Public play wasn’t one of her most favorite kinks—she typically enjoyed playing in private—but she told herself to view tonight as an opportunity to stretch herself.
Though she had a feeling the scene itself would be able to do that all on its own.
Tonight—finally, Simon would say—they were going to do a single-tail scene. And though he had never said so, she had the impression that her ability to handle it would further cement their relationship.
“You ready?” Abby asked.
Yeah, she thought, it was a bit odd to have the Wests in attendance, but Simon told her Nathaniel needed to see them in a scene together for his own peace of mind. She agreed, because after December, she’d be moving back to New York to start student teaching and would rarely, if ever, run into them at the club. Daniel and Julie were also in the club somewhere. Cole and Sasha were not. Though Sasha said she thought she’d be fine, Cole put his foot down and said absolutely not.
Lynne took a deep breath and looked for Simon. He was standing by the St. Andrew’s Cross they were going to use, talking to Nathaniel and Luke. His black bag sat ominously by his side on the floor. “I am,” she said. “Just waiting for Simon to give me the signal.”
The man in question looked up, as if he’d heard them talking about him. She knew he hadn’t—it was too loud—but he gave her a wink and held up three fingers. She nodded.
“Three minutes,” she told Abby, and the butterflies began to multiply in her belly.
Abby gave her a quick hug. “You’re going to do great.”
Her mouth was suddenly so dry, she couldn’t talk. Giving Abby a smile in reply, she made her way to where Simon waited for her. She was glad he was already there. She feared if he’d had her show up first, the combination of people watching and the St. Andrew’s Cross might have been enough to scare her away.
No, some inner part of her insisted. Old Lynne might have turned away, but not New Lynne. New Lynne was strong and tough and sexy. It’d take more than a few people watching and a piece of BDSM equipment to scare off New Lynne. She straightened her back, held her head up, and said good-bye to Old Lynne forever.
She came to a stop before Simon, moving to her knees in one fluid movement. “Sir.”
He was not her Master. Not yet anyway. And because of that, he only allowed her to call him Sir. Though she hoped that changed one day.
“Lynne,” he said, sliding a hand through her hair. “You look absolutely fabulous tonight.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
“You’re going to show all these people what a good girl you are, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Sir.” Her hands grabbed her knees. A tap on her shoulder reminded her that was not the way he wanted her hands positioned. She released them and turned them so her palms were up.
“Very nice.” His hand tightened in her hair, and she didn’t try to stop the moan, knowing that unless he specifically told her to be quiet, he wanted to hear her sounds. He said it was because he liked to know he was affecting her.
She’d imagined he’d say something to the people watching or perhaps tell her again what they were doing, but he did neither. From the way he focused on her with that intense look in his eyes, she got the feeling the people watching didn’t exist for him. She decided they wouldn’t exist for her either.
“Stand up and strip for me,” he commanded.
For me. With those two words, he reinforced what his actions whispered. There were only the two of them. No one else mattered.
For him, she would strip. She wouldn’t do it because she was an exhibitionist, because she wasn’t. She wouldn’t do it because she enjoyed showing off, as that had never been her style. She did it because he asked her, and if he asked for something and it was in her power to get or do, she’d get or do it. Pleasing him had become like a high, and she needed a hit.
She stood, only mildly surprised that she didn’t tremble. Looking only at him, she quickly removed her clothes, placing them in a pile on the floor.
He stepped around her in a circle, observing what felt like every inch of her. But he did more than just look; he stroked one arm, then teased a nipple. He came close to whipping her body into a frenzy by barely touching her.
“Do you still want me to use a single tail on you?” he asked.
“Yes, Sir.” She was so ready, and her body swayed a bit in anticipation.
“It’s going to hurt,” he warned her.
“Yes, Sir. I want it like that.”
“Should I go easy on you?”
“God, no, Sir. Please.” Where had that even come from? Hell no, she didn’t want him to go easy on her. If anything, she wanted him to go harder on her. She wanted to prove to him, as well as to herself, that she could take anything he gave her and then some.
“Did I insult you with that question?” he asked.
“No, Sir. You just surprised me.”
“Why?”
“I see no reason why you would want or need to go easy on me. That you felt the need to ask me if I thought you should meant you probably thought I’d at least entertained the idea.”
“Hell,” he said. “I have a lot of work to do if you can speak so eloquently while you’re standing naked in front of me.”
She felt her face flush, and there was a faint giggling from those people gathered around to watch. “Yes, Sir. And I look forward to you leaving me speechless.”
He gave her that easygoing smile that always warmed her heart, but she didn’t miss the hint of desire lurking in his eyes. “Go face the cross, you mouthy sub,” he said, smacking her backside.
Any lightheartedness she felt at their exchange left as soon as she stood in front of the giant wooden X. No matter how jovial she felt, something about being tied up waiting for someone to whip her sobered her right up.
Again, he surprised her by not addressing the gathering crowd. Of course, she decided, this wasn’t a demo, and while it wasn’t exactly private, it was a scene just between the two of them.
“Are you okay?” His voice was so soft she was the only one who heard. His fingers brushed across her shoulder blades, easing tension she didn’t know was there.
“Yes, Sir. So ready.”
One at a time, he took her wrists and bound them above her head. He nudged her feet apart and bound them apart as well. She had a brief moment of panic. He’d never tied all four of her limbs before.
The panic didn’t have a chance to grow, not under Simon’s watchful eyes. He must have noted her body tense again, because his hands were back on her. This time, he rubbed both shoulders in an impromptu massage. She closed her eyes; it felt so good, and she wondered what was making the humming noise she heard, until she realized it was her and stopped.
“Don’t be quiet on my account,” Simon said. “I like hearing how I make you feel.” Then, as if to prove his point, he proceeded to place kisses along her spine.
He took a step away, and she braced herself for whatever he had planned. When he brushed her back with the soft tails of two floggers, she decided to give up trying to guess his next move and just enjoy the moment.
He proceeded as if they had all the time in the world, doing nothing for what seemed like forever except running the tails over her body. Little by little it seemed as though her body liquefied under his touch. She was certain the only things holding her upright were the bonds he’d placed her in.
“So beautiful,” he whispered. “So soft and accepting.”
She didn’t answer because he knew he was right just by observing her. The next time he took a step back, she didn’t move at all, but remained in her almost Zen-like trance.
He started with two floggers. She was able to tell that much, but he went easy at first, with movements that brought the tails to her with solid impact, though there was a certain softness to his ministrations. It actually felt like a continuation of the massage.
Daniel had been good with the flogger, but nothing she’d ever experienced felt anywhere as good as what Simon was doing now. She thought it was sort of like how she’d heard you should cook a lobster: gradually turning the heat up by doing it so slowly, the lobster didn’t understand what was happening to him until it was too late.
It had to be similar. The sound of leather hitting skin exactly matched the strikes she felt and she knew they were no longer soft or gentle. Yet her mind was shouting, “Green, green, green.”
“You’ll get more when I’m ready to give it, greedy girl,” he said. Apparently, it hadn’t been only her mind shouting.
“Please, Sir,” she added because she wasn’t above begging.
“Begging for me to whip you? Are you sure?”
She wasn’t sure she’d ever wanted anything more. “Yes, Sir.”
“The massage and the sensual flogging were for you, to prepare your body to take what I’m about to give it.” When he pressed against her, the rough material of his blue jeans provided the friction she craved. Unfortunately, Simon picked up on that very thing and moved so there was no way for her to get relief. She pulled helplessly on her bonds, but they were secured, and she swallowed her groan, knowing it wouldn’t do any good to verbalize how desperately she wanted his jeans, right there, on her swollen clit.
“Not just yet,” he said. “I’m only getting started, and I’m nowhere near close to letting you climax.”
She didn’t even try to swallow her groan at that. She’d been almost certain he’d let her come at least once before he used the whip. Moving quicker than she thought possible, he fisted her hair and pulled her head back in a move that turned her on so much she thought for a second she didn’t need friction. If he kept that up, she’d come simply from him pulling her hair. “Is that a complaint?” he all but growled. “Because if you were good, I thought I might fuck you after, but if you can’t be good . . .”
“I’ll be good,” she babbled. “I promise. I’ll be good.”
He nipped her ear with his teeth and she swore she felt it all the way to her clit. “Sir, you’re going to make me come,” she whined, grateful for the first time that he had tied her legs apart. If he hadn’t, she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she’d be rubbing them together, well on her way to both orgasm and punishment.
“You like it when I pull your hair?” he asked, jerking it back again.
The pull only magnified her need. “Yes, Sir,” she whined.
“Such a wicked girl, aren’t you?”
“Only for you, Sir.”
He chuckled and let go of her hair. “Good answer.”
Her body was on high alert while he moved behind her, but she didn’t tense up this time. She wanted him to whip her, needed the feel of the release that would come with it. Fortunately, he didn’t make her wait. Without any warning, the whip landed on her butt. The sharp pain diffused into warm pleasure, and she heard herself beg for more.
She felt like she was surrounded by a million flying insects, each one biting her, but the pain and the pleasure merged so well, she couldn’t tell which was which. She only knew she wanted more. His strokes increased, and like before, she started to giggle, letting everything inside her bubble up and allowing it to escape with the giggle.
The sound didn’t affect Simon at all. He kept landing stroke after stroke: across her butt, along her inner thighs, and almost delicately on her back. He hadn’t been lying. It hurt, but it was a different type of pain, and it was turning her on.
Just as suddenly as he’d started, he stopped. She didn’t have the opportunity to complain, because he pressed himself up against her. He wrapped his fingers in her hair, and there was nothing gentle about the way he pulled her head back.
“I like to hear your giggle,” he said. “It makes the Dom in me pleased. But the sadist in me needs more. He needs to hear you scream. I’m only going to give you five more, but they’ll be the hardest yet.”
How was it possible to be turned on so much by those words? His lips trailed down the back of her neck, and at the nape, he bit her. She shivered in need. “Yes, Sir. Please.”
He ran a hand down her body, pressing slightly on the lines he’d left with the whip. “Such a good girl.”
Then get to it already, she wanted to yell, but chose instead to pull on her bonds.
She was unaware he’d moved back into place so quickly, and the sting of the whip on her right butt cheek caught her off guard. She could barely process the pain before its twin landed on the left side and she yelped.
“Getting there,” Simon said.
She braced herself for the last three, but they never came. Instead, Simon took a few steps and cupped her pussy.
“Think you can come from my whip alone?” he asked.
Her mind went blank momentarily.
He was going to . . . ? On her . . . ?
She suddenly realized how very, very exposed she was. There was nothing hidden from him, and she was so very vulnerable. “No, Sir. I don’t think . . . that is . . . I’m not sure . . .”
“I didn’t hear a red in there, so unless I do, I owe you three more, and I’m going to see if I can get you to come.”
“Yes, Sir.” She didn’t want to tell him that there was no way on the face of the earth that she could come from a whip. On the other hand, he seemed awfully sure of himself. “It’s just if you want to get me off—”
He still had his hand between her legs, and one of his fingers was getting very, very close. Almost. Almost.
Just a little bit more.
He stepped away. “Trying to tell me how to get you off, girl?”
She could have shouted at him. How could he get her so damn close to release and then leave her like that? But the tail end of the whip stuck her inner thigh, and ohmygod it hurt, but it was a beautiful, hazy kind of a hurt that made her see stars, and she wanted it again.
“Please, Sir,” she said, and was rewarded with the same thing on the other thigh.
Holy hell, she hadn’t ever experienced anything that even remotely felt like that. She wanted more and she wanted him inside her and she wanted to grind against him so he could get as deep as he could. But mostly she just wanted.
She wasn’t exactly sure where the last strike of the tail landed. All she knew was that her release hit her in a wave of white light and a loud squeal, and she knew she’d broken into two million pieces and she just didn’t care, because even if she somehow got put back together, she would never feel anything that amazing again. She laughed because the thoughts were spinning around her head in so many different directions and she had no clue what any of them meant.
“Lynne?” Simon was all around her, everywhere, but she couldn’t hold her eyes open any longer. “Lynne?”
Two million pieces. “More like Humpty Dumpty.”
• • •
Out of all the possible outcomes to the scene, Lynne passing out was not one Simon had ever considered. He quickly unbound her, while yelling for someone to get a blanket. He picked her up in his arms, muttering his thanks when someone dropped a blanket around her.
“Follow me.” It was Luke.
He led them through the crowd to a row of private rooms. He unlocked one, pushed the door open, and followed Simon in.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Luke said as Simon placed Lynne in the middle of the bed and crawled up to curl himself around her and covered them up. “Let me make sure there’s water and chocolate in here.”
Simon watched him locate both and called to him before he left. “Would you mind bringing my bag in here? There are some things in it I need.”
“Sure thing,” Luke said. “Do you need anything else?”
“Just make sure we’re not disturbed.”
“I can do that.” Luke’s eyebrow lifted. “Out of curiosity, what did she say there at the end?”
“Humpty Dumpty, I think.”
Luke nodded. “That’s what I thought I heard. Is that her safe word?”
“No. I’m not exactly sure why she was speaking in nursery rhymes.”
“Subspace is a curious thing,” Luke said, and closed the door behind him.
Simon needed to care for Lynne’s back, but at the moment he simply wanted to hold her. He pulled her closer and smelled her hair, enjoying the light floral scent he’d come to associate with her over the last few weeks. Then, because he couldn’t help it, he kissed the top of her head and sighed. He tried to live in such a way that he didn’t have a lot of regrets. But the one thing he did regret was letting Lynne go the first time. He didn’t plan to ever let that happen again.
He wasn’t going to let her walk away again like he had at the conference either. Nope, if she tried to run, he was going to follow. Not that he regretted letting her do it then. It was something she had to do to work things out in her head. He didn’t begrudge her that time.
But now that they were back together, it wouldn’t be happening again. If she had an issue, they would talk about it together.
She gave a little snore in her sleep, and he smiled. Lord, what he’d ever done to deserve her, he wasn’t sure, but now that he had her, he never planned to let her go. Realizing he had too much energy to stay in bed, he eased out from beside her but left her on her side so he could see her back.
She was sleeping so deeply, she barely stirred as he cared for her back. He was pleased with the way it looked. There would be enough marks to satisfy her inner masochist, but not anything that would mark her permanently. He placed a kiss on her shoulder blades.
It was his own personal kind of hell. Lynne was in bed, naked, and they were alone. But she was sleeping, and he didn’t want to wake her. He had no idea how long she’d be out. She’d never passed out before. At least they had the private room for the night, and she could take her time drifting back to the land of the living.
With her back attended to, he joined her on the bed and pulled her into his arms, finally content to rest beside her.
Surprisingly, she didn’t sleep very long. Less than thirty minutes after he got on the bed with her, she began to stir. Of course, doing so meant that she was wiggling around against his dick. He knew she would probably be out of sorts when she woke up, so he told his dick to stand down, that it wasn’t time for fun just yet.
“Ow, ow, ow,” Lynne mumbled in her half-awake, half-asleep state.
Simon pulled back a bit to give her room and to make sure the ibuprofen and water were nearby. She groaned as she rolled over to look at him, her eyes blinking several times before opening completely.
“Hey,” he said, feeling giddy as a teenager on his first date for some reason.
“Hey,” she answered back. “Where are we?”
He pushed aside a lock of hair that had fallen in her face. “At Luke’s club. One of his private rooms. You passed out after the scene. Do you feel okay?”
“I ache all over and I’m sore everywhere, but interestingly enough, I feel fine.”
He nodded toward the table. “Even so, go ahead and take two.”
She didn’t argue, but sat up and took the tablets. “It’s coming back to me now.”
“The scene?”
“Yes.” She took a sip of water. He loved how she was altogether comfortable being naked around him. “You know, there at the end, when you said you were going to make me scream?”
He grinned. “Like I could forget that.”
“I didn’t know you meant you wanted me to have a screaming orgasm.”
“I couldn’t tell you everything, now, could I? What would be fun about that? Besides, it’s fun to keep you on your toes.”
“I couldn’t get to my toes. Some mean Dom tied me to a cross so I couldn’t move.”
“Is that right?” He ran his knuckles across her shoulder, unable to keep his hands to himself anymore, and leaned forward to kiss her gently when she nodded. “But I think we may have to lay off the screaming orgasms.”
Her forehead crinkled in that delightful way it did when she didn’t understand something. “Why?”
“The screaming orgasm itself is fine. It’s when you pass out and call yourself Humpty Dumpty that I have to draw the line.”
“Humpty Dumpty?”
“Yes, you called yourself that after the scene. Right before you went out.”
“That explains why that rhyme kept repeating in my head.”
He brushed her cheekbone. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I honestly can’t remember a time I felt more okay than I am right now.” She looked around the room for the first time. “Private room, you said? How long do we have it?”
“For as long as we want.”
“Really?” She dropped a hand between them and slowly let it inch up his leg. “That certainly opens up a lot of possibilities.”
He stopped her hand with his own. “Not if you’re too sore or tired.”
“Do I look too sore or tired?”
He slapped her thigh. “Sassy wench. Who do you think has been holding you while you recuperated from the last time we explored possibilities?”
She bit her bottom lip in mock chastisement and dropped her head, but not before he caught her smile. “Thank you for holding me, Sir. I just wanted to let you know that if you wanted to—you know—I’m definitely up for it.”
“First, I enjoyed holding you. Second, we’re not doing anything until you call it what it is instead of ‘you know.’ And third, are you trying to tell me what to do?”
“No, never, Sir.” At his raised eyebrow, she added, “Okay, but just a little and just so you’d know that I was ready, willing, and able . . .”
“Say it.”
“For you to fuck me senseless, Sir,” she said, and he loved how her cheeks flushed when she spoke the words.
“That’s more like it,” he said while devising a plan in his head. He didn’t want her in any sort of strenuous position. Not with how she’d reacted after the single-tail scene. In fact, after that scene, the sadist part of him was sated. Now he just wanted her. “But I think since I whipped you senseless not too long ago, maybe we should take it easy?”
“Not to argue, but you didn’t whip me senseless, Sir.”
“Oh,” he said, wondering how she was going to claim that when she’d just woken up.
“Yes, you see, I think it was the orgasm that rendered me senseless.” She looked so proud of the fact, he couldn’t help but tease her some more.
“In that case, perhaps you shouldn’t have any more orgasms.”
Her mouth dropped open, and then her lips formed the cutest pout.
“Did I render you speechless?” he asked.
“Yes, Sir. The only reply I have for that is no, no, no, no, no, no. But then I remember you are a sadist, so maybe I shouldn’t say that for fear that you’ll use it against me. Then I think you probably know my thoughts on that already, because who would want to never have an orgasm again, right? So I’ll say—”
“Lynne?”
“Yes, Sir?”
“Shut up so I can kiss you.”
She giggled softly but didn’t say anything further. She simply looked at him with those deep blue eyes, and her lips parted. He reminded himself not to go at her like a teenage boy high on lust, but to go slow and to remember she was sore and achy.
He gently cupped her face and gave her the lightest of all kisses, pleased at the soft purring sound she made in her throat and how she inched closer to him.
“There we go,” he whispered. “Look at you, all obedient and quiet. Such a good girl.”
“I wouldn’t count on it lasting long, Sir.” Her eyes fluttered closed, and she lifted her head, silently asking for another kiss.
He didn’t dream of disappointing her. He brought his lips to hers again, but this time his kiss wasn’t as soft. And neither was the noise she made in her throat. Yet even though his erection was still incredibly hard, he was content for the moment just to kiss her.
There was something to say about taking your time and simply kissing someone, when you didn’t view it as a step on the way to something more but took your time and brought your partner to their knees simply with your mouth.
He deepened the kiss and smiled inside at the little whimper that escaped her. He let his fingers brush the top of her shoulder, and when he brushed the side of her breast with his knuckles, she groaned.
“Please, Sir,” she whispered against his lips. “I need you.”
“None of that, my impatient girl. We have all night and I’m not rushing anything.” Then, to show her he was serious, he moved his hand from her breast and ran it through her hair. “I’m going to take my time pleasuring you.”
She didn’t object again, but allowed him to position her however he liked. First, he moved her to her back, granting him access to her breasts. He lavished attention on both, sucking the nipple of one into his mouth while pinching the other between his thumb and forefinger.
“Look at you,” he said. “Look at how turned on you are by a little pain.” He swept his hand low and let it rest between her legs, dipping only the tips of two fingers into her.
She squirmed a bit, but she surprised him by not doing anything to get more of him inside of her.
“So wet and ready for me and my cock, aren’t you?” he asked.
“Yes, Sir,” she replied, but it mostly came out in moans.
He placed his two fingers at her mouth. “Open. Taste how much you want me.”
She sucked his fingers into her mouth, and the feeling was so incredible, he feared he was seconds away from losing his shit.
“That’s it,” he said. “Get them good and clean. Suck them down like you would my cock.”
Holy fuck.
Each time she sucked his finger, it was like a direct pull on his dick, and even though he’d told her they weren’t going to rush anything, he wasn’t sure he would be able to last much longer.
“Damn, Lynne,” he said. “You’re bringing me to the edge.”
“Only seems fair, Sir, seeing as how you keep me there.”
He slapped her thigh. Forget all night. He wanted inside her now. “That’s it. On your stomach.”
She rolled onto her belly, and he had her lift her butt just a bit. “But keep your legs together,” he said. “You won’t believe how tight you’ll be.”
She mumbled something into the pillow that he thought was a curse, and he almost smiled, but then he noticed her body tremble. Normally, he would assume it was because she was excited and eager, but due to how she’d been out of it the last little bit, he wanted to make sure.
“What color are you, Lynne?”
“Green, Sir,” she replied without hesitation.
He ran his hands down her back. “Why are you trembling?”
“Because I need you so badly, Sir.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, Sir.” Her answer was short and clipped. He got the impression she wanted to say more but was probably afraid he’d stop if she became sassy.
“Let’s see if I can fix that,” he said, lining himself up.
He eased the tip of his cock inside her, and her hands fisted in the sheets. He didn’t thrust into her quickly but took his time, going slow and ensuring she felt every inch of him. His eyes damn near rolled to the back of his head.
“Better?” he asked when he was buried all the way inside her.
She wiggled her ass. “Oh, hell, yes, Sir.”
He gave her backside a slap. “I should have brought a plug so I could fuck your ass while I’m enjoying this pussy.”
She mumbled something else into the pillow.
“Enough of that,” he said, with another slap. “If you’re going to say something, say it so I can hear.”
“I said, I’d die of pleasure overdose if you did that, Sir.”
Based on her reaction to the single tail, she’d probably pass out again. “True. We’d better wait on that until I get you acclimated to the appropriate amount of pleasure.”
And speaking of pleasure, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could stay inside her without moving. “Tell me, Lynne, do I feel different in this position? Can you feel how deep I am?”
She strung several four-letter words together.
“Is that a yes?” he asked, but he couldn’t wait for an answer because his control was shot. He pulled back and then rammed into her. Any prior thoughts he’d had of taking things slow went right out the window when she yelped.
“Fuck, Sir. Harder.”
He dropped all pretense of taking all night and started to pound into her the way they both craved. If she wanted him hard and fast, there wasn’t any part of his body that was going to object to a good, hard fuck. Maybe they’d try for slow and easy another time. Like next year.
Being with Lynne always seemed to bring out the possessive caveman in him and at no time had that ever been more obvious to him than in that moment. She was his sub. His. And he’d be damned if he’d give her up again. It didn’t matter if she was a nanny, or a teacher, or the fucking president of the United States. The world could have the sweet, demure Lynne she showed them. Let them think she was little Miss Innocent with her big blue eyes. He knew her inner, true self. She was a wicked, sexy, dirty girl. She loved sex and she loved it raw and real and nasty. And if there was some pain thrown in, all the better. But more than that, she was all his.
• • •
Lynne’s breathing finally returned to normal. She was on top of Simon, which was odd because she’d definitely been under him. Or at least she was the last thing she remembered. She cracked one eye open and saw him watching her.
“Did I pass out again?” she asked. That was almost as embarrassing as giggling while she was in subspace. Almost.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “Unless I did as well. In which case, we’re highly dangerous when we fuck and we probably shouldn’t do it again.”
He said it with a smile, so she was going to assume he was joking. “I think that’s quite possibly the worst idea you’ve ever had.”
He snorted. “I thought you’d say that.”
The room fell silent, but he was rubbing her shoulder, like he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how to start it. She could almost see the wheels spinning in his head. They matched the way he was stroking her.
“I’ve learned it’s best just to come on out and say it,” she eventually said.
“Say what?”
“Whatever it is you’re thinking about saying.”
“That obvious, am I?”
She pushed up on one elbow and looked down on him with a raised eyebrow. Really?
He laughed. “Okay. I guess I am.”
And still he wasn’t saying anything, but he continued rubbing her shoulder. She’d just about given up when he spoke.
“I wasn’t entirely truthful, before,” he said.
For the life of her she couldn’t imagine what he was referring to. “When?”
“When I broke up with you and I said you weren’t a submissive.”
“Why did you say that?” She’d always wondered. “It confused me for the longest time.”
“There’s really no excuse for it. We met online and the attraction was there. But you looked so young and you were so inexperienced. I feared I’d corrupt you if I told you everything I needed in a relationship. Or that I’d change you and you’d end up hating me for it.”
“So you thought lying was better?”
He winced. Yup. She’d nailed it. “In my mind, I was only stretching the truth. Saying I didn’t think you were a submissive was easier than admitting my own predilections were too intense for most submissives.” He squeezed her shoulder. “I’m sorry that my actions led to confusion on your part.”
It would be easy to get angry with him. She could allow herself to be wounded and upset. Or she could be thankful they had a second chance and could look with excitement toward the future they were building. Besides . . .
“I think it worked out for the best that way,” she said.
He cocked an eyebrow. “How’s that?”
“If you’d told me up front what you needed, I probably would have run away. I was too new and scared. But having it happen this way, I’ve learned on my own, without being influenced by anyone or anything, that I am a submissive. And you have to admit, living with Nathaniel and Abby hasn’t hurt either.”
A slow grin came across his face. “No, it probably hasn’t.”
“It’s like it all came together the way it did for a reason.” She gave his cheek a kiss. “So no dwelling on the past, okay? Only today and the future.”
“I can’t think of anything better than dwelling on the future with you. In fact.” He turned and reached into a bag beside the bed. She remembered he’d had it with him before they’d started the scene. He turned back around and held a small black velvet pouch. “I know you’re going to be teaching school, so I didn’t want to get anything that would call attention to itself. Lynne, will you wear my collar?”
Her hand flew to her mouth. His collar? She’d hoped maybe one day he would offer it, but she hadn’t expected it so soon. It wasn’t what she normally thought of when she thought of a collar. It was a thin platinum chain with a puzzle-piece charm.
It was quirky and just a little crazy for a BDSM collar. She loved it.
She threw her arms around him. “Yes!”
He pulled her close, and when his lips touched hers, she could see it so clearly: her future with Simon, todays and tomorrows filled with laughter, love, and dirty, dirty sex.