“That makes me want to throw up,” Devlin said.
“I agree, but she’s been able to keep her practices pretty tightly under wraps, but cracks are starting to show.”
* * *
I secured the spreader bar to Cherry’s ankles, and leaned over her, running my tongue across her bare pussy, dipping inside of her already slick folds.
“Max,” she panted out, sliding her hands into my hair.
“No touching,” I demanded, and her bottom lip popped out in a perfectly formed pout.
“But—”
“Cherry,” I said, trying to keep my arousal out of my voice. “You need a lesson in self-control, baby. It’s time you learned.”
She cupped her tits and rolled her nipples into tight buds. “Fuck self-control.”
“Not an acceptable answer,” I admonished and slapped my palm against her pussy.
She squeaked and raised her hips in an effort to press against me.
“Jesus,” I hissed, and stood.
She licked her lips and smiled up at me. “You’re so hot when you’re annoyed…” her eyes traveled down my body, landing on my dick, “… and hard.”
I gave her a slow smile, gripping the spreader bar and flipping her onto her stomach. She let out a surprised squeak and I slapped a palm against her ass. “Get that ass up, Cherry. Want to see your pussy.”
She repositioned onto all fours, and her red hair cascaded down her back. I slid it to the side so I had full access to her body, then I flattened my palm against her folds, running a finger along her clit. She was soaked. “You stay like this, baby. Hear? You move, and I’m gonna fuckin’ tie you down, understand?”
Goosebumps whispered across her skin and she nodded. “I understand,” she whispered.
“You do not come until I tell you to come.”
“I don’t know—”
I pulled my hand away. “You do not come until I tell you to come.”
She whimpered, wriggling her ass in the air, before nodding.
I gave her ass a gentle pat, then secured clamps to her nipples, giving the chain a gentle tug. “Too tight?”
She shook her head and I smiled, sliding my hand between her legs and feeling a new rush of wetness. Grabbing the spreader bar, I tugged on it slightly and her legs went out from under her. I guided her legs over the side of the bed, knowing the clamps were pulling on her nipples, but trusted that she’d use our safety word if it was too much.
“Arms out, Cherry.”
She spread her arms wide, fingertips to the edge, and I grabbed her vibrator and squeezed lube over the tip. “We’re gonna try something new. Trust me?”
She nodded, her gorgeous globe of an ass wriggling like it did when she was trying not to come.
“Good girl,” I encouraged.
I placed the tip of the vibrator against her ass. Sliding my dick into her pussy, I guided the vibrator into her tight hole. She whimpered again, pressing back against me and I flipped the toy on. She screamed my name and I sighed.
“I fuckin’ told you not to come,” I ground out.
“Wait,” Devlin said, ceasing her out loud reading and raising her head from the computer. “How often has this chick had something stuck up her ass?”
I shrugged. “Haven’t really gone there, baby. Never?”
She raised an eyebrow. “How many times have you stuck your dick into someone’s ass?”
“Never,” I admitted. She burst out laughing and I crossed my arms. “What the fuck, Devlin?”
“Sorry, sorry,” she said, trying to control her giggles. “No, seriously. It’s good.”
“Yeah, I can tell you think so.”
She set the laptop aside and slid off the bed. “Okay, let’s break this down, because I’m in a bit of a conundrum.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded. “I’m so fucking turned on, but I’m also trying to imagine what it would be like for a woman who’s never had anything stuck up her ass not to react in pain.”
“It’s fantasy, Devlin.”
“I understand that, but there should be some form of reality, don’t you think? If I’m reading fiction, I don’t want to be pulled out of the story if something doesn’t hold true. I also really like this Max guy. I’m kind of wondering how to get you to be more like him in bed.”
His face contorted into an expression of offense. “Excuse me?”
“I’m not complaining,” she rushed to say. “I’m just intrigued.”
“I happen to respect you, Devlin. And we’re new. I wanted to ease you into the kink.”
“Oh, I’m in, honey. Kink works for me, if you’re into it.”
My heart raced and my dick nearly sprang out of my boxers. “What do you suggest?”
She bit her lip and ran her hands down my chest. “I suggest we do some research.”
“Yeah?”
She nodded, pulling her T-shirt off, leaving just her panties. “That treasure chest looked like it had some good stuff in there, let’s take a look.”
I swallowed. “Fuck, seriously?”
Devlin’s hand slid under the waistband of my boxers and her fingers wrapped around my dick. “I’m so unbelievably serious right now, you have no idea.”
I kissed her quickly, then retrieved the chest so she could find her toy of choice. I was so fucking hard, I thought I might burst out of my skin. But when she held up a bright pink vibrator, handed it to me, and slid her panties off, I knew I was going to have to slow my roll or I’d come all over her ass.
She licked her lips. “All fours, right?”
I nodded, my breath coming in short bursts. “Right.”
Devlin knelt on the bed and got onto all fours, her ass in the air as she grinned at me over her shoulder.
I set the vibrator on the bed and stepped out of my boxers, grabbing her hips and running my tongue over her folds. “I swear to God, your pussy gets sweeter every time I taste you.”
“Yeah, yeah, let’s try the vibrator.”
I chuckled, picking up the toy and pressing it inside of her, wetting it with her juices before settling it at the entrance of her ass. I flipped the switch and she pressed back against the vibration.
“Mmm,” she moaned.
“Okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, honey. I promise I’ll tell you if it isn’t working for me, but I want you to play out what you just wrote.”
“So, you want me to LARP.”
“As long as the ‘P’ in LARPing stands for ‘pussy,’ and that vibrator’s in my ass, LARP away.”
“I don’t think Live Action Role Pussy has the same ring to it.”
“How about Lubed Ass and Red Pussy,” I suggested.
“Oh, let me write that down,” I joked.
“Oh my word, Ropes, shove your dick in me right fucking now.”
I did as she demanded and grinned when she cried out in ecstasy as I entered her wet pussy.
“Yes, that’s it,” Devlin cried as I slid the vibrator deeper. She shimmied back and I pushed my cock further inside as I continued working her ass.
“Oh, my…” Devlin rasped.
I held the vibrator steady as I moved, burying myself deeper inside of her, then matching the motion with the vibrator as I fucked her.
It didn’t take long before her walls contracted around me and she screamed my name into the bedding. I dropped the vibrator onto the bed so I could focus on slamming into her, my orgasm hitting me like a freight train as I pumped my seed inside of her. As I worked to catch my breath, all I could think about was putting a baby in her belly and making her mine permanently.
Ropes
I DOWNED MY third cup of coffee and turned my attention back to sorting through my boxes of inventory while Devlin continued to sleep off last night’s debauchery. I don’t know why I’d brought so many books with me. It was likely I’d end up hauling most of them back home with me. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I wondered why I’d ever agreed to this signing anyway. Val W
eston was right. Who the fuck was I? A nobody, that’s who. A greenhorn author with a couple of books under his belt, and a few sales on Amazon. I began pacing the floor of our cramped quarters, and Devlin stirred.
“You okay?” she asked, wiping her eyes.
“Sorry to wake you. Go back to bed, baby. I’ll be quieter.”
She sat up and shook her head. “Tell me. You look freaked.”
“I’m okay, just wondering if I could hotwire one of those lifeboats and sail back to Portland before I make a complete fool of myself.”
“What are you talking about? Everyone loved you last night,” she said.
“I’m sure they were just being nice.”
Devlin sighed. “Can I ask you a serious question?”
“Sure.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“What?” I asked, taken aback by her question.
“I’m serious.” She tapped a temple with her fingers. “Have you ever been tested for a mental defect?”
“Come on, Devlin. This boat is full of legitimate authors. Writers who make their living from what they do. I’m just a biker who’s posing as a writer.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it. You may also be a biker, but you are most certainly a legitimate author. I’ve been reading your books since we got on this tub, and you, sir, can write.”
I shrugged. “Maybe, but that doesn’t guarantee anybody will buy my books today.”
She pushed up to her knees and motioned me closer. “True, great writing doesn’t guarantee book sales, but you obviously felt confident enough to sell this business idea to Minus. You must have some confidence in what you’re doing.”
“I guess.”
I stood in front of her and she slid her hands up my chest. “You must have made some sales since you started publishing.”
“Sure, enough to cover my monthly nut and put a little in the bank,” I revealed.
“That’s amazing, Ropes. Do you know how many artists never see a dime for their efforts, let alone cover their monthly bills?”
“It’s not like my overhead is very high. I live at the Sanctuary, and my bike and truck are paid off. Plus, I’ve made investments and have a little money of my own.”
“Even still, you shouldn’t ignore the fact that you’ve made a positive entrance into the writing world or minimize where all of this could take you. Besides, I heard you talking with some of the other authors last night, and it sounds like everyone on the boat is at various levels of their careers.”
“Maybe, but Ali said she assigned me to a great table.”
“I would think that’s a good thing, but you’re making it sound like a bad thing.”
“I just don’t know why she’d do that.”
Devlin wove her fingers into my hair. “I think maybe you’re overthinking all of this. You’re going to do great. I believe in you and will be right there by your side the whole time.” She leaned in for a kiss, pressing her naked body against mine.
“You keep doing that and we’ll never make it out of our cabin.”
She wrinkled her nose in disappointment. “Then get in the shower, because your public awaits, Mr. Morningwood.”
* * *
Devlin
Ropes pushed my carriage, aka, a wobbly-wheeled luggage cart, through what felt like miles of narrow hallways, up the elevator, and through the maze that was the ship’s casino, until we reached our destination: the Royal Ballroom. The cart was half-filled with boxes of books and swag, and half-filed with Devlin the one-legged assistant. I couldn’t wait to get rid of this stupid boot. It slowed down everything I had to accomplish, and it robbed me of sexy points I desperately needed right now. Some of the women on this cruise were drop-dead-gorgeous and they were looking at my man like he was gonna be their next snack.
“Damn, I’m already a sweaty mess,” he said as the cart rolled to a stop.
“Are you saying I’m heavy?” I asked.
“Oh, shit, baby… I—”
“Sweetie, I’m teasing. Relax, I promise everything’s going to be okay.”
“I’m telling you, this sweat is from nerves. I’ll run back to the cabin and change before the signing.”
“I’ll go and get you a change of clothes,” I said. “I’m afraid you’ll run off and hide in the cabin.”
“With your boot, you’d get back just in time for the after party.”
“Just find your table, Clay.”
He rolled us to the first row of tables and stopped suddenly. “Holy shit!” he exclaimed, his voice booming through the mostly empty ballroom.
“What?” I asked, while giving him the universal hand gesture for ‘lower your fucking voice you lunatic.’
“Baby, they’ve put me on ‘Murderer’s Row.’” Ropes gestured wildly. “Olivia’s table is there, and I’m right between Ali, and D.W.”
“Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said Ali hooked you up with a good spot.”
“I’m gonna throw up.”
“Again, I must remind you this is a good thing.”
“I need to start setting up,” Ropes said, frantically pawing at the stack of boxes.
“It’s okay, babe, you’ve got plenty of time. People are just starting to get set up.”
“I’ve got to do something to keep my mind off all this,” he said, staring forward blankly.
“Tell you what,” I said. “I’m gonna go hobble over to the breakfast bar and get us some real coffee, okay? Whatever that was back in our cabin didn’t get nearly enough caffeine into the bloodstreams of a couple of Portlanders like us, right?”
“Thank you, baby. Coffee sounds great if you think you can manage.”
“You’ve been very sweet, and I’ve been an enormous baby about this boot. I’m perfectly fine, and I’ll be right back with coffee. If you’re lucky, maybe they’ll have donuts.”
“I’d never cheat on Omar.” Ropes smiled, and quickly went back to his inventory. It truly was strange to see him so rattled, so… vulnerable. Ropes was a confident biker, who’d bust a man’s jaw without hesitation. Clay was a sensitive soul, who was terrified of letting his readers down or making a fool of himself in front of the people he respected most.
Of course, in the end I knew both Ropes and Clay Morningwood were both manifestations created by Spencer Kimble, a lost boy in a cruel world. I only hoped I was up to the task of handling all three of them.
I made my way to the breakfast bar and found a beautiful buffet with everything from eggs to Eggos. One of the beautiful curses of a cruise ship, as I would come to find, is the endless supply of food. Everything from gourmet dining to pure junk food. If it could fit in my mouth, apparently, it was on this boat.
I poured two cups of coffee and loaded mine up with non-caloric rat poison. After looking down at my bloated stomach, I also decided to forgo my usual splash of cream. I’d only been on the boat for a night, and I was convinced I’d already gained five pounds. I scanned the buffet for a healthy option for me and something wicked for Ropes. That skinny bastard was gonna match me pound for pound gained while on this tub if it killed me.
“Excuse me,” a quiet voice from behind me said, causing me to jump and spill my coffee a little. “Oh, my gosh. I’m so sorry,” a mousy woman wearing glasses said, handing me a stack of napkins from the silverware station.
“It’s okay, you just scared me a little,” I said, wiping my hands. “Did you need to get by me?”
“Oh, no,” she said, her eyes darting between me and the floor. “I wanted to talk to you. Your name is Devlin, right?”
“That’s right. What’s your name?”
“I’m Norma Pickler.”
“Nice to meet you, Norma.” I extended my hand which she took timidly. I’m not sure what we did could legally be considered a handshake given its extreme brevity, but Norma seemed sweet, and very shy.
She continued, her voice barely above a whisper, “I was at the table last night with Val Weston.” She paused
and gave me an odd smile.
“Oh,” I said, my voice dropping an octave.
“Yeah, well, I just wanted to apologize for how she was treating Clay… and you, last night.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, Norma. If whatever-her-name-is Weston has a problem with Clay, she can bring it up with him. If she has a problem with me, she should keep walking, for her own good.”
“I understand, but I’ve known her for a while now and she’s quite nice once you get to know her. It’s just that sometimes her strong personality gets her into trouble.”
“More like her bitchy resting face coupled with her bitchy waking face.” The words flew out of my mouth before I could contain them.
Norma’s face dropped, and I began to sweat. I had no idea who this woman was, she could be some sort of literary big shot for all I know. I began to spiral. Clay was probably Norma’s favorite author and I just slammed her friend. I stood frozen in fear, watching Norma’s stunned expression for a period that felt longer than the muster station drill. Suddenly, Norma broke the awkward silence by bursting out in laughter. The size of her laughter did not match the size of her body, and I thought she might pass out from her utter lack of inhaling.
“Bitchy… waking… face…” she howled, tears streaming down her face. After a minute, she was able to compose herself enough to continue. “Anyway, I just wanted to say I was sorry for the way Val treated you both. You seem like very nice people. I’ve read all of Clay’s books, and I enjoyed them very much,” she said sweetly before turning away.
“Well, come tell him yourself. Clay is getting everything set up now. Come by table number three in a little bit. I’m sure he’d love to meet you.”
“Oh, I don’t think… no… I don’t want to bother… oh… no,” she said before beating a hasty retreat down the nearest row of tables.
“It was nice meeting… you,” I called out to the timid tornado that was Norma Pickler.
* * *
Ropes
By the time Devlin returned with our breakfast, I’d had time to collect myself. I’d sorted through my thoughts as I sorted books, and by the time my table display was ready, I was excited for the signing to start. That was until I looked around at the behemoth displays the other authors were setting up. They all had trade-show quality banners, runners, and promotional materials. Earlier I was worried that I’d overpacked, and now looking down at my meager display, I had just the opposite fear.
Ropes Page 14