Chapter Twenty-One

NÜWA SET THE small cafe style table with silverware and napkins. Their plates and water glasses would just fit if they were careful. She glanced at the microwave clock. Seven fifty-five. The salads she had spent too much time plating were chilling. All she would need to do was unwrap them, add the dressing she had made earlier, then toss the croutons on top. Nüwa picked at a bit of lint on the tablecloth. Too much. Or not enough? Julia would be hungry after working all day. Nüwa raked her hand through her hair. Maybe something more filling? A pasta? Or a hearty meat dish? Anxiety clawed at her. Nüwa closed her eyes, placed her hand on her diaphragm, and counted her breaths. It would be fine.

A sharp rap at the door sent her pulse racing. Nüwa strode to the door, peered out of the peephole briefly to reassure herself it was Julia, then opened the door.

“Hi.” Julia held a duffel bag in one hand and her boots in the other. “Where would you like me to leave these? I don’t like to leave them out overnight. I’ve lost more than one boot to stray dogs.”

Nüwa gestured to a brightly woven rag rug near the door. “Here. I made a space for them.”

Julia flushed. The deep shade of red made Nüwa want to scatter kisses over her flushed skin, undress her slowly, and feast on the sweet heat between her thighs, dinner be dammed. “I have dinner ready. Would you like to eat now? Or shower first?”

Julia stepped inside the apartment and placed her boots on the rug. “Shower first, if you’re not too hungry.”

“Not too hungry to wait.” Nüwa wrapped her arm around Julia’s waist and pulled her close. “For dinner.” She kissed Julia, taking her time, savoring the sensation of her plush lips. “I am, however, starving for you.”

Julia dropped the small duffel, gripped Nüwa’s hips, and tilted her face up to meet Nüwa’s kiss. Nüwa sighed with the sensation of Julia’s strong hands as she held her tight. She surrendered to Nüwa’s kisses. Her soft groans of pleasure tested Nüwa’s resolve to eat dinner before indulging in Julia’s delights. Nüwa ended the kiss.

Julia’s eyes were glazed. “Whatever my Mistresses wishes is my wish.”

Nüwa brushed her lips over Julia’s mouth. “Shower, then we’ll eat. You’ll need your strength.”

Julia kissed the hollow between Nüwa’s collarbones. “I’ll be quick, Mistress.” She stepped back, bent over at the waist, and picked up her bag.

The display was too much for Nüwa. She delivered a swat to Julia’s perfect ass. “See that you are.”

Julia straightened. “Yes, Mistress.” A mischievous twinkle glittered in her eyes. “I wouldn’t want to be punished.”

“You’re not fooling me.” Nüwa took a step toward Julia. “Would you like a bit more encouragement?”

Julia took a step back toward the bathroom. “I might need some. It’s been a long time.”

“Sunday. It’s been two days.” Nüwa closed the distance, swept her hand over Julia’s shirt. Julia’s nipple hardened under her palm. “As much as I want to paddle your sweet ass, I’d like to make sure we don’t have to stop for refreshments later.” She closed her fingers over Julia’s nipple and tweaked it. “Go now. Or I’ll make you wait longer for all the devilish things I have planned for you.”

Julia yipped and pulled away. “Yes, Mistress.” She turned and bolted for the bathroom door.

 

JULIA SCRUBBED THE last bit of dirt from under her nails before she stepped into the large shower. The overhead rain style showerhead poured down the perfect temperature of water. The scent of Nüwa’s spiced sandalwood soap filled the shower. Julia inhaled the fragrance as she wet the washcloth and scrubbed it over the bar. After washing her body, she stood under the spay. Julia closed her eyes and tilted her head back as she let the water soak her curls. The click of the bathroom door opening followed by the scrape of the shower door sliding open echoed against the tile.

She swiped a hand over her face, opened her eyes to Nüwa, naked. Her gaze traveled over Julia a split second before she wrapped her arms around her and turned her in the shower. She pressed her body against her back. Nüwa’s hands were everywhere at once as they traveled over her skin. Nüwa pinned Julia against the shower wall. The tile, cool against her back, did nothing to stop the burn of desire between her legs.

Nüwa trailed kisses down Julia’s neck as she cupped her ass. Julia held onto Nüwa’s shoulders to steady herself. She smoothed her hand over Julia’s hips.

Sharp bites and soft kisses rained down over Julia’s body. Nüwa teased her fingers over Julia’s aching clit. Julia spread her legs, let her head fall to the side to give Nüwa access to her neck, as she sank into the delight of Nüwa’s touch.

Nüwa feathered her fingers over Julia’s labia before she slid inside. The heel of her hand pressed against Julia’s clit as she fucked her hard and fast. Nüwa held Julia’s gaze as she rocked into her, relentless and perfect. Julia’s cries and moans surrounded them, echoing in the tiled shower. Each sweep of Nüwa’s fingers over her sweet spot had her bucking her hips for more. The push-pull on her clit drove Julia headlong toward her pleasure. She rode the wave of sensation, higher and higher, until her orgasm was a stroke away.

“Please, Mistress, I need to come. Please let me.”

Nüwa nipped Julia’s skin, then sucked the same spot to soothe it. “So soon?” She stroked deeper, fingers beating a tattoo that made Julia grab onto Nüwa’s forearm to hold her in place, desperate for more.

“Yes. Oh please. I want to come for you. Let me. Please.” Julia begged with her eyes as much as with her words.

Nüwa’s evil chuckle went right through Julia. “No.”

Julia panted, focused on relaxing into the sensations. Drawing on her training, she waited on her Mistress’s command.

“So wet. So slick. I love how hot you are. Spread your legs wider.”

Julia complied. Nüwa straddled Julia’s thigh. She rubbed hard against the thick muscle. The pull and drag of her slick clit on her skin threatened to make Julia come on the spot. Nüwa wrapped an arm under Julia’s shoulders, holding her up as she continued her thrusts. “Hold on to me.”

“Yes. Mistress.” Julia clasped Nüwa’s shoulders and clung to her. Her face was tantalizingly close to Nüwa’s light-brown nipples. Water trailed over the peaks in tiny waterfalls. “Please, Mistress. May I suck your nipples? Please.”

“Yes. Make it good and I’ll let you come.” Nüwa slowed her strokes as Julia teetered on the abyss of pleasure. She kept up a steady rhythm as she rode Julia’s thigh.

Julia greedily sucked Nüwa’s nipple into her mouth. She rolled her tongue over the tip, pursed her lips, and sucked hard. The wet sounds of Nüwa fucking her mixed with the sounds of her sucking Nüwa’s nipples. Shifting from one breast to the other, she clung to Nüwa, desperate to earn her release.

Nüwa’s sounds of satisfaction mixed with her own.

“Come with me, sweet girl. Now. Now.”

Julia gave over to pleasure as Nüwa fucked in time as she rocked against Julia’s thigh. The shouts of mutual pleasure rang off the tile in the shower. Julia closed her eyes and relaxed as the aftershocks coursed through her.

“You are entirely too tempting,” Nüwa murmured against Julia’s mouth.

“Is that a good thing, Mistress?” Julia teased her tongue over Nüwa’s lower lip.

“I haven’t decided yet.” Nüwa nipped Julia’s ear.

 

NÜWA PLACED A folded blanket next to the table. “Kneel here.”

Julia kneeled with her hands together in her lap, palms up.

“Drink.” Nüwa held a glass of water to Julia’s mouth, delighting in the graceful way Julia drank from the tall tumbler. Nüwa watched her face, careful to give her just enough water at a time so she could swallow and not dribble.

Nüwa took the glass away. “Enough?”

“Yes, Mistress.” Julia winced as she shifted on her knees.

The subtle shift alerted Nüwa to the realities of Julia’s very physical day job. “Do your knees hurt?”

Julia flushed and looked away. “Most days, Mistress.”

“Look at me.” Nüwa waited for Julia to shift her gaze to her face. She reached out and cupped her chin. “Do they hurt now?”

“Yes, Mistress.” Julia’s mouth settled into a disconcerted line.

“Is it a good pain, or a bad pain?” Nüwa stroked her cheek with her fingertips.

“Bad pain, Mistress.”

“Fold the blanket, then get the low stool from beside the bed. Be quick.”

Julia stood and folded the blanket neatly. “Where should I put this, Mistress?”

“Place it on the other chair, we’ll deal with it later.”

Julia crossed the room and returned with the stool.

“Place it here and sit.” Nüwa gestured to the floor beside her.

Julia complied with the instructions.

“You will tell me, each and every time you have pain that is not good, understood?” Nüwa speared a bit of lettuce and swirled it in the dressing, forked it into her mouth.

“Yes, Mistress.”

Nüwa gathered a bite of the salad and held it out toward Julia.

Julia held her gaze as she closed her mouth over the greens. The blissful expression that crossed her face as she ate from Nüwa’s hand was confirmation Nüwa had made the right choice for their scene.

Sated, at least for now after enjoying the delights of Julia’s body in the shower, Nüwa could lean into the kind of discipline Julia craved.

Nüwa fed herself and Julia alternately. They ate in comfortable silence. After the salad was eaten, Nüwa wiped her mouth, then took Julia’s napkin and wiped her mouth and chin. She placed the napkin aside. “I’ve a decadent number of strawberries and whipped cream for dessert.”

Julia’s eyebrows lifted. “Should I clear the plates, Mistress?”

“Leave them for now.” She stood and walked to her chair. “I want to have a discussion.”

Julia stood, a bewildered expression on her face. She bent as if to kneel.

“Walk to me. Crawling will not make your knees feel any better.” Nüwa patted her lap. “Come here, now.”

Julia hurried to Nüwa and sat on her lap. “Yes, Mistress.”

“Let’s talk about the type of power exchange you want.”

Julia’s chin rested on her chest. “Too much, Mistress?”

“No. But total power exchange is not something either of us should enter into until we have known each other long enough to know it is a safe and sane thing for us to do.”

Julia trembled in her arms. “I trust you, Mistress.”

“I know. And I cherish your trust.” Nüwa tipped Julia’s chin up and searched her expression. “I trust you too. But we have known each other four months. I’m happy for us to have our time, and to run the scenes and be your Mistress. I want that. But I cannot take over ultimate control of your life. I’m not that type of Mistress.”

Julia’s lip wobbled. “I understand, Mistress.”

Nüwa sensed Julia’s disappointment. “I’m not saying we can’t be together, but I need you to be equal in our relationship. There are days I can’t run my own life, much less take responsibility for yours.”

Julia leaned away from Nüwa’s embrace. “I get it.”

Nüwa caught the lack of an honorific. “What?”

Julia shifted off Nüwa’s lap. She stood with her hands on her hips. “I said, I understand.”

Nüwa stood, used her height advantage to force Julia to look up. “Are you serious? You are going to give up because our relationship can’t be instantly what you want? Or are you deliberately trying to provoke me? I’m being honest with you, Julia. If you are honest with yourself, you’ll admit total power exchange is not really what you want. If it was, you would have stayed with Dominique.”

Julia lifted her shoulders and let them fall. “I don’t know what I want.”

Nüwa gathered her in her arms. “I want you.” She kissed the top of her head. “I want to explore every aspect of what you truly desire in a Mistress. I want to test your limits as a sub, but I don’t want either of us to undertake the kind of relationship you think you desire at this point in time.”

“But maybe later”—Julia’s voice was thick—“Mistress?”

“Yes. As I said.” Nüwa held tight to Julia. “I’m not saying no, I’m saying we can’t go there right now. I would be a terrible Mistress if I let you commit to something not in your best interest.”

Julia snuggled closer. “Thank you, Mistress.”

Nüwa inhaled sharply. “Now that we have that out of the way—” She kissed her way along Julia’s neck. “I’m ready for dessert.”

 

JULIA CLEARED THE table, stacking the plates in the sink as Nüwa had directed. From the refrigerator she took the glass bowl piled high with fresh strawberries and carried them to the table. “Should I make us coffee to go with dessert, Mistress?”

“No. I have a special wine for us, well, not really wine. It’s nonalcoholic, if you would like to try it.”

“You don’t drink, Mistress?” Julia placed the strawberries on the table and settled the bowl of whipped cream next to them.

“No. Alcohol does not play nice with some of my medications.” Nüwa tilted her head toward the stool next to her chair. She opened the bottle with its rose-pink-and-gold label. “It’s made from elderflower and rose extract.” Nüwa poured them each a wineglass.

Julia sat on the low stool. “May I touch you, Mistress?”

Nüwa lifted a perfectly sculpted brow. “Where?”

“Your leg, Mistress.” Julia fixed her gaze on the thickly muscled thigh revealed by the short silk dressing gown Nüwa wore.

“Only there.”

“Thank you, Mistress.” The silk of the dressing gown trailed over the back of Julia’s hands. She rested her palms on the warm soft skin. The firmness of the muscles under her fingers had Julia wanting to kiss every inch of Nüwa’s leg, starting with the delicate arch of her foot, over her sculpted calves and up her thick thighs, until she arrived at the sweet delight between Nüwa’s legs. A waterfall of desire slicked her thighs. Julia licked her lower lip.

Nüwa picked up a strawberry, swirled it in the cream, and brought it to her lips. She bit into the ruby-red ripe fruit. A trickle of juice slid down her chin, then down her throat, until it disappeared into the dim channel between her breasts, hidden by her robe.

Nüwa dipped another berry in the rich cream and held it out to Julia. Julia closed her lips over the sweet cream, then bit down, the tart taste of the fruit exploding over her tongue. Unable to suppress her moan, she greedily finished the rest of the berry.

Nüwa’s tender expression settled into Julia’s heart. Nüwa would keep her safe, even from herself.

Nüwa untied the belt of her robe. The sides fluttered open to reveal her nakedness. Julia raked her greedy gaze over her Mistress’s body. Another strawberry and another trail of juice decorated Nüwa’s skin.

They finished the bowl of berries. The sweet gift of being given access to look her fill of Nüwa’s body had Julia aching to touch, kiss, and lick her everywhere. Nüwa lifted Julia’s wineglass and held it to her mouth. Julia sipped slowly. The dry wine with its floral notes cleared the heavy taste of the cream from her tastebuds.

Nüwa shifted in her chair. Her movement broke their contact and Julia bit back her cry at the disconnection.

Nüwa kicked her pumps off and shifted in her chair to face Julia. She placed a foot in between Julia’s breasts. The angle offered Julia a clear view of all she desired. Nüwa lowered her hand, dipped her fingers inside, held their glistening tips toward Julia. “Would you like a taste?”

Julia groaned as the delicate scent of Nüwa’s desire wrapped around her. “Oh please, yes, Mistress.”

Nüwa touched her fingers to Julia’s lips. “Open.”

Julia opened her mouth and sucked Nüwa’s fingers between her lips. The salt-sweet taste was a tease, leaving Julia desperate for more. Nüwa eased her fingers from Julia’s mouth.

Julia leaned forward, following the movement of Nüwa’s hand. “Please, Mistress. Please, let me lick you.”

Nüwa lowered her foot to the floor, spread her legs wide. “I think you need to clean up.” She gestured to the sticky trails of strawberry juice on her skin. “Bring your stool closer.”

Julia moved to sit between her Mistress’s legs. She lifted her mouth to Nüwa’s chin. With slow sucking kisses Julia followed the sweet trails, taking her time to sip and kiss Nüwa’s skin. The world receded as she drowned in the sensations of serving her Mistress.

Nüwa cupped the back of her head, gently completing the circuit of pleasure. Julia applied herself, taking her time, savoring the sensation of being given free access to Nüwa. Nüwa leaned back in the chair, rested her arms on Julia’s shoulders, their weight and presence grounding as she cared for her Mistress.

The trails disappeared in the close-trimmed thatch of hair between Nüwa’s thighs. Julia nosed at her apex of the triangle, inhaling the delicious sent of Nüwa mixed with the sweet smell of fresh strawberry.

 

A RELAXED HEAT spread through Nüwa. She closed her eyes. The sensations of Julia’s tongue as she expertly cleared every bit of juice from Nüwa's body drew a shiver from her. Julia moved lower. Her mouth on Nüwa’s nipples melted her. The dynamic connection between her nipples and her clit grew taut as Julia worked her lips and tongue over her breasts. Nüwa’s clit ached for attention. If she had not taken time to slake her thirst for Julia in the shower she would have come just from her mouth on her nipples. Julia nipped the tender skin under the curve of Nüwa’s breast. Nüwa didn’t bother to hide her delighted moans.

Julia’s grip on her hips tightened as she moved lower. She paused, tantalizingly close to Nüwa’s clit, her breath tickling Nüwa’s skin. Well trained, she waited for her Mistress’s explicit permission. Julia busied herself driving Nüwa into a frenzy with soft sucking kisses between her legs as she danced her tongue over Nüwa’s tender thighs.

Unable to wait, Nüwa palmed the top of Julia’s head, guided her to her center, knotted her hand in her hair, and tugged. “Lick me.”

Julia moaned in response. “Thank you, Mistress.” Her mouth closed over Nüwa’s clit, lips hot and tongue firm. Julia worked the hood back, teased the tip of her tongue over the bundle of nerves there. Nüwa closed her eyes, held Julia in place, and came all over her handsome face. Nüwa’s hips arched and bucked as Julia kept going, igniting the nerve endings again. Nüwa came a second time, shouting her release.

Julia eased off, licked lower, suckled Nüwa’s labia, humming her satisfaction. The vibrations were soothing as well as teasing. Nüwa closed her eyes against the pleasure, letting Julia play her body like a favorite song, repeatedly, until Nüwa was spent.