‘All right,’ Alden said on the ride home. ‘Truce.’
‘What do you mean?’ I asked, trying my best to find a comfortable position on the leather seat. I hadn’t been sure he’d actually give me a ride back with him. Not after I’d disappeared with Johnny for nearly an hour. But he’d been waiting for me at the front of the bar and, as soon as I’d walked back in, he’d insisted we leave.
For the first part of the trip, Alden had remained deathly quiet. So quiet that I thought he might actually stop by the side of the road and force me out. Now he seemed willing to talk. ‘I want a truce,’ he said again.
‘I know what the word means,’ I told him. ‘But what are you actually asking me for?’
‘Look, I was with Sheila again. OK?’
I’d known it was true after seeing her car parked at the station, but I hadn’t actually wanted to believe it.
‘We’ve got a lot of history together. Years of history.’
‘So do me and Johnny.’
‘And I couldn’t stand that.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I couldn’t stand seeing you walk out with him like that. Seeing the way he watched you, the way he knew so much about you. I don’t know what you two did out there, and I don’t want to know. It killed me not to follow you outside.’
‘So what are you saying?’
‘I won’t mess around on you, Charlie, if you won’t do that to me again.’
I tried to believe him, but I found that I couldn’t. If the only thing that made him want to be with me was the fact that someone else also wanted to be with me, then it was as if I were back for one more round with Johnny. Interested if others were looking, backing off when things went smoothly. I squirmed again on the leather seat, trying to find a comfortable position for my well-tanned ass, but Alden didn’t seem to notice.
‘Trust me,’ Alden said. ‘Give me another chance.’
I thought of Johnny, whipping me with his belt over the trunk of his car. What would Alden have thought if he’d seen that? Would it have made him run for cover, or would he have come closer for a more thorough look, wanting to stroke my ass and feel the heat with the palm of his hand? And what had it meant to Cody? I thought of asking Alden to give me what I really craved, since we seemed to be at the barest point of our relationship so far. At a place where we might be able to be really open with one another. And then I chickened out and simply nodded. ‘All right, Alden. Let’s give it another go.’
He sighed with visible relief. But then I suddenly remembered what Mia had said. Alden wanted a woman who would take charge. I couldn’t let him see me naked tonight – and probably not tomorrow night, either, or the next – but I could do something.
‘You want to come in?’ I asked when we pulled into my driveway.
‘You’re serious?’
‘Dead serious.’ I paused just long enough to stare into his eyes. Then I said, ‘Do you still have those cuffs on you?’
He grinned and popped open the glove box. Out came the cuffs.
‘And where’s the key?’
‘On my chain.’
‘Let’s have that, too.’
‘Why do you need it?’
‘Trust me, Alden,’ I said, and took both cuffs and key from his hand and headed towards the house. I was sure that he would follow me, and I was right. His heavy steps trailed after mine, yet he hung back. Usually, he’d be the one to scoop me up in his arms and carry me across the threshold. Instead, he walked slowly behind me, and I could sense that what Mia had told me was the truth. I worked hard to steel myself inside. I knew what I craved from a dominant partner, and I was determined to channel that energy into myself.
‘Head on back to the bedroom,’ I told Alden. ‘I’ll be with you in a minute.’
When I walked into the room, he was sitting on the edge of the mattress, his brow furrowed, as if deep in thought. I wondered whether I was going to be able to pull this off. But then I found a strength within myself. Perhaps getting what I’d needed from Johnny would make me able to give Alden what he needed.
‘Take off your clothes,’ I said, lighting several sandalwood-scented candles on the dresser.
‘What’s got into you?’
‘Maybe it’s the costume –’ I grinned, not about to tell him the real reason behind my actions ‘– but I’m feeling like a different person tonight. Do you have a problem with that?’
‘No,’ he said.
‘No, Mistress Charlene,’ I corrected him evenly.
‘No, Mistress Charlene,’ he responded immediately. I snuck a look at his reflection in the mirror and saw that his cheeks were flushed. He looked younger than usual and unsure of himself.
‘Didn’t I tell you already to take off your clothes?’
Quickly, he obeyed, undoing his shirt then tossing it aside, before pulling off his boots, socks and slacks. He left on his boxers, and I spun around and said, ‘Naked!’
His hands seemed to tremble as he pulled off his blue-and-red boxer shorts, instantly revealing the majestic proportions of his strong, erect cock. I was gratified to see how hard he was, and we were only beginning. Wouldn’t Mia be proud of me? I wiped that thought out of my head, and forced myself to continue in the spirit of my character. I was dressed as a dominatrix; I’d sure as hell be able to act like one. Suddenly, I recalled Alden’s earlier comment about a quirt. Had he meant for his use on me or mine on him? Christ, I wondered if he’d been trying to give me subtle hints this whole time, and I’d failed to catch on to even one of them, focused too intently on my own desires. And then I pushed that thought out of my head as well, and decided to focus on the night ahead.
When Alden was naked and positioned as I requested in the centre of the bed, I brought the handcuffs forwards.
‘You’re really serious about this?’
‘What are you worried about? I have the key.’
‘I’m not worried at all,’ he said, but his voice told me otherwise. He looked embarrassed, as if he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t.
With as much confidence as I could manage, I cuffed one of his wrists, then wound the chain through the brass headboard before attaching the other cuff to his free wrist. Was this why he had the cuffs? For girls to use on him? Did Sheila cuff him to her bed? I remembered how it had felt when he’d done this exact thing to me. But now the atmosphere seemed even more charged between us. There was a palpable electricity flickering from me to him. He leaned up to kiss me as I worked, but I pulled out of his reach.
‘Not until I say so.’
‘Is that right, Mistress Charlie?’
‘Don’t you mess with me, Alden, or I won’t give you what you need.’
‘And what do you think I need?’
Being cuffed apparently brought out his confident streak, because the look of embarrassment had all but faded away. Now he seemed comfortable and incredibly sexy, his strong, muscular arms up over his head, his cock at full-mast. And suddenly I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I climbed between his legs and brought my lips to the head of his erection. As soon as the wetness of my mouth enveloped Alden’s cock, he sighed and the chains rattled out a melody of metal on metal. I could tell from the pull of his body that he wanted to stroke my hair, or touch my face, or do any of those gentle motions that came naturally to him. But now he was unable. And I found that I liked the power that flooded through me. Was I a closet dominatrix as well as being a closet exhibitionist – or does everyone possess a bit of all the different fetishistic desires that exist?
‘Oh, God, that feels good,’ Alden moaned, as I bobbed my head up and down, then used one hand, still encased in the black velvet glove, to cup his balls. Alden shifted his hips on the bed, and when I glanced up at him, I saw that his eyes were shut tight.
‘You like that,’ I murmured.
‘Oh, Charlie.’
‘Mistress Charlene,’ I corrected him instantly.
‘Yes, Mistress Charlene.’
‘Does Sheila do that for you?’
His brown eyes snapped open, and he licked his lower lip but didn’t respond. I could tell he wasn’t angered by my query, only surprised, and that he was searching within himself for the proper answer. I didn’t know what the proper answer was, but I was determined to punish him for his doglike behaviour. Of course, who was I to do or say anything? After my tryst with Johnny we should have been even. But maybe in situations like this, even isn’t what’s most important – getting what you want is.
‘Does she, Alden? Does her mouth feel just like mine on your cock? Warm and wet and willing? If she were with us, taking turns with me, would you be able to shut your eyes and tell whose mouth was whose? Does she know different tricks than I do? Is she dirtier than me?’
He licked his lips again, and then bit the bottom one, but he remained silent, as if knowing that nothing he could say would be the correct answer.
‘What if she were licking your balls while I licked your cock? Would you like that? Or what if she got way down between your thighs, kissing between your cheeks while I deep-throated you? Her tongue inside you. Probing you back there. She’s the dirty one, isn’t she, Alden? Or is she? If we blindfolded you and took turns astride you, would you be able to guess which one of us you were fucking?’
I pushed myself up his body and kissed his lips for him, then slid back down again, pressing my body against his. I could feel his mammoth erection tremble against me, and I made my way back down to it and kissed him there. I worked slowly, taking him into my mouth millimetre by millimetre, intent on sucking him all the way to the root. I relaxed my-throat and closed my eyes, trying to make contact with my lips against his skin.
‘Oh, Jesus,’ Alden murmured as my gloved fingertips stroked his balls. ‘Oh, Charlie.’
‘You didn’t answer, Alden,’ I told him when I took my next breathing break. ‘But really, the question isn’t “could you tell or not?” The real question is: which one of us is better?’
He squirmed and I knew that if his hands had been free he would have pulled me tight to him, slipping my panties aside and driving into me. He was so hard now, so ready, and I could imagine the type of hell he was going through. The sweetest torture of all. But he’d earned it. That’s how I felt. He’d earned every dreamily devastating moment.
I recalled what he’d asked me for in the truck on the ride home, and the thought made me smile. Yeah, maybe we’d agree to a truce. But later. After.
‘Roll over,’ I demanded, pushing away from him. ‘On to your stomach.’
His dark eyes burned into mine. He suddenly looked helpless and confused. I found that I liked the look. It suited him.
‘Don’t test me, Alden. I’m in no fucking mood.’
Slowly, he obeyed me, working his wrists in the cuffs so that the chains criss-crossed but didn’t bite into his skin. He had to move carefully, because of his powerful erection, and as soon as he had turned over, he bucked against the mattress, grinding against it gently, obviously to see if I would let him get away with that.
No way. Not on my watch.
I smacked his ass hard with my open hand and, even though the gloved spank couldn’t possibly have hurt, he stilled the motion of his hips. Then I pulled the leather belt free from his pants and slowly dragged it against his bare skin. Mia had said he wanted this. I knew full well about wanting something you couldn’t have – something you couldn’t ask for. Mia said he needed this. I knew plenty about need as well. I found myself getting even more turned on at the thought of punishing Alden with his own belt. It seemed the perfect antidote for the anger I’d been feeling.
‘How many times have you seen her in the past six weeks?’ I demanded.
‘Oh, Charlie. Don’t –’ He turned to look at me over his shoulder, and his eyes were pleading.
‘Tell me.’
‘I don’t know. I can’t.’
‘Try.’
‘A couple. Come on, Charlie. We have a history together.’
‘You said that before. It means nothing to me. I want a number, Alden.’
He didn’t answer.
‘Fine. We’ll go with ten. I expect you to count each blow.’
I watched the cut lines of the muscles in his back tense and relax. I watched his whole glorious body prepare himself for what I was about to give. I told myself not to retreat. At least for one night, I wanted to be the person Alden needed me to be. I doubled up the belt and snapped it in the air, smiling to myself as I imagined Johnny doing the exact same thing with me bent over the trunk of his car. The leather cracked and Alden’s back tightened again. Oh, but he was handsome. His body looked like a work of art on display, not a spare ounce on him. His muscles gleamed in the candlelight. I let the belt fall against his naked ass, lightly teasing him with the leather, not counting that stroke at all. He tensed again, then relaxed, and, as soon as I sensed he’d accepted the situation, I struck him once for real.
Then a second time.
And then a third.
Alden turned his head to the side on the pillow, and I could see what the pain did to him. The same thing it did to me, I suppose. Opened him up. Relaxed every part of him. I thought of my favourite Chili Peppers song and wondered if it were Alden’s favourite as well: ‘Airplane’, with the line about liking pleasure spiked with pain. That’s how it’s always been for me.
And clearly that’s how it was for Alden.