"You really would be all right with it?"
"It's like I told Cora when she was going through this. It's your life, and you have to do what makes you happy. I don't begrudge anyone finding true happiness. Who knows, the day may come when I leave the company. How would you feel if you stay, out of some kind of misguided loyalty to me, only to find I leave, later on?"
"Are you thinking of leaving?" Kayla asked.
"I don't know at this point what the future holds for me. That's yet to be determined. All I'm saying is this. If either of you have the opportunity for something that makes you happy, don't turn it down because you feel like you have to stay with me."
"I've got a lot of thinking to do, but this week is not the week for it. I'm going to get some shuteye. Goodnight, you two." Audrey stood up and stretched as she walked toward the bedroom she shared with Kayla.
"I'm right behind you. Camille, get some rest. We have to be bright and cheery tomorrow night for our authors," Kayla said as she stood up and followed Audrey.
"Goodnight, both of you. I'll be fine."
As Audrey turned out the light, she said to Kayla, "Things are certainly getting complicated, aren't they?"
"I have the feeling we haven't seen the worst of it yet, either."
Chapter 12
The author party was a huge success. Everyone was in high spirits, and the evening was fun for everyone involved. Even Camille seemed to enjoy herself. When it was over and the three women were back in the suite, they talked over a bottle of wine again.
"Camille, what are you going to do?" Kayla asked. "I mean, now that you know the reason for Joe's behavior."
"He admitted to me that he's gay. He wants a quiet divorce, and I'm not going to fight him on it."
"What are your plans after that?" Audrey asked.
"I really don't know. I made a mistake many years ago. Joe was my second choice, and I see now that it was a mistake I never should have made."
"There was someone before him?" Kayla asked.
"Yes, there was. I chose my career over marriage and a family. He later married someone else, and they had four beautiful children together. I've regretted my decision every day since, but it was too late. Joe came along, and we hit it off. I settled. Apparently, I was his last-ditch effort to stay straight, and it didn't work. I don't begrudge him. It is what it is, and I wish him happiness. My only regret is giving up the one man I ever truly loved."
"And now he's married with a family," Kayla said sadly.
"Actually, he's not married now. The friend who lost his wife several months ago, whom I've had dinner with a few times… he's the man I loved," Camille told them, dropping another unexpected bombshell.
"You're kidding, right?" Audrey asked.
"No, I'm not. I went to her funeral, and as a friend I told him to call if there was anything I could do to help. A few weeks later, he called and asked if we could meet for dinner. He needed someone to talk to. I went, and we talked about his wife, the children, and about Joe. We've met several times since, as friends. He needed someone to confide in, and so did I."
"Wow, how ironic," Kayla said. "Do you think anything will develop?"
"I doubt it. He's grieving, and he has four children to care for. Four children who've lost their mother," she said sadly.
"Still, would you be interested?" Audrey asked.
"I'll always love him. But four children who miss their mother would be a lot for any woman to take on. Not that I wouldn't love the chance to mother them, but I don't think they will be ready to accept anyone for a long time."
"At least, you have each other to get through the bad times with. It's just odd that he lost his wife at the same time Joe came out to you."
"Now, enough about my sad state of affairs," Camille said. "Kayla, tell us more about you and your guy. Are wedding bells in the future for the two of you?"
"It's getting serious, but I think we'll most likely move in together, first."
"Just make certain it's the real thing before you tie the knot," Camille advised. "You've been burned before."
"I'm being very cautious, this time around. So far, things are good."
"And that brings us to you, Audrey. Now that the family has met Beau, where do you go from here?"
"I know I can't keep Cora or Beau waiting forever while I make up my mind about staying here or moving to Texas, but with Dad's recovery and now your issues, I just feel my place is still here, at least for now."
"Nonsense," Camille protested. "Are you in love with this cowboy?"
"Yes, but—"
"There is no but. Would you be happy working for Cora?"
"I believe I would. We worked well together in the past. I enjoyed helping her out when I was visiting her."
"Did you like Texas?" Camille asked.
"Well, yes, but I was only visiting."
"So, where's the decision? You love Beau, you work well with Cora and you like Texas. Sounds like a no-brainer to me," Camille pointed out.
"But Dad needs me."
"Your dad has your mother and your sister. He's getting better, and after five or six weeks of radiation, he'll be back in the office. He has already given his approval to a union between you and Cora, and more importantly, to one between you and Beau."
"But I can't leave you in the lurch, with all you have on your plate."
"Young lady, I can take care of myself. As for the company, Kayla is there, so is Jenni, until I find another editor. Don't do what I did. Don't put your life on hold and live to regret it. You're thirty-two years old. You should be living your life the way you want, having babies, being in love."
"How do you know I want babies?" Audrey asked.
"I see how you dote on Cora's two."
Kayla had been listening intently. She spoke up, finally. "She's right, Audrey. If you really want to go to Texas, then go."
"I'm not going anywhere right now, except to bed. I just don't know. It's such a big step."
She went into the bedroom and crawled into bed. Kayla and Camille were apparently having a conversation of their own, because by the time she fell asleep, Kayla still hadn't come into the bedroom.
The next morning, she was up early and out of the suite before the other two. She met Beau in the café for breakfast.
"So, are you ready to fly back with us on Monday?" he asked, only half teasing as he took a sip of his coffee.
"You know if I decide to go, it can't be that soon," she said. "Seriously, I have to stay until Dad is fully recovered and until Camille gets things squared away. You do realize that, don't you?"
"I do, but it just seems like you're always finding a reason to stay here."
"Don't think that way. You promised to give me time, so please, just do that for me. It'll be worth it, in the end."
"I've already said I will, and I'm really not trying to be difficult. I just want to start our future together. Take the time you need. Just don't make it too long. I really want you with me. I'm ready to start a life with you."
"I know. Oh, look at the time. I've got to get to my first workshop. I'll catch you later."
"Sure thing; I've got to meet Cora, anyway," he said as he stood up.
The rest of the day flew by. That night, they all attended a dinner event and called it an early night. The following day would be a hectic one. The conference was coming to a close, and soon Cora, Dale and Beau would be headed back home to Texas.
Audrey accompanied Beau to his room, after dinner. The two snuggled close on his bed and watched a movie.
He nuzzled her neck and said, "I could get used to this every night."
"I think I could too. I need to go back to the suite before it gets very late, though."
"I know," he said with a sigh.
"Honey, I'm really going to miss you when you go home. Even though this week's been filled with work, I've enjoyed our time together."
"So have I, uptown girl, so have I."
He pulled her close and kissed her.
When the movie was over, she found she really didn't want to leave him.
"Oh, I wish I could stay like this all night long," she whispered as she leaned over to kiss him goodnight.
"You can."
"I really should go."
"Come on, then. I'll walk you to the suite. I'm not going to pressure you into staying. When you're ready, you'll let me know."
"Thank you," she said as she reluctantly got up and slipped her shoes back on. At the door, she turned to him and said, "I don't think I'm quite ready to go yet. It's time, Beau."
"Are you sure, babygirl?" he asked as he pulled her close.
She nodded and slipped her shoes back off. She walked toward the bed, and he followed, watching the sway in her sensuous walk as he did. When she reached the bed, she sat down and waited for him to reach her. Wordlessly, he plopped down next to her and took her into his arms again, this time, leaning down so that his face was so near to hers, she could feel his warm breath blowing gently across it. His eyes searched hers, and seeing the answer to his question there, he proceeded to kiss her as his hands reached down to unzip her dress. Removing the silk scarf from around her neck, he pushed the material of her dress down to reveal her creamy shoulders and moved his lips down to kiss one side of her neck and then the bare shoulder. Inching the dress down, she lay back so that he could slide it down her body and off completely. He folded it neatly, placing it on a chair before he returned to her. Now she was clad only in her lacey black bra and panties. He stood back and took in the sight of her beautiful, tall frame and full breasts before removing his own shirt. He threw it on the floor, not bothering to fold it as he had done with her dress.
When he reached for the zipper on his slacks, Audrey inhaled deeply, anticipating seeing him naked for the first time. She wasn't disappointed as he threw them aside and stood before her in only his briefs, his erection poking out the front. He then joined her on the bed as she scooted up so that her whole body was on the mattress. He covered her with his muscular frame and kissed her again. This time, he didn't stop at her shoulder but continued on down until he had lightly kissed and teased every inch of her body except the one that needed him the most. He reached for the scarf he had removed from her earlier and tied it around her eyes.
"Are you all right?" he asked in a husky tone.
"Yes, Sir," she replied breathlessly.
He grabbed her still-tender bottom, from a spanking he'd snuck in on her earlier that day, with both hands and squeezed. Audrey winced behind the scarf. It smarted, but at the same time it excited her. Beau flipped her over quickly, before she could anticipate his next move. Surely, he wasn't going to spank her again! But, no, she soon found out that he had something else in mind. He continued to caress her body and tease her with kisses and licks. She heard him rummaging around for something and then felt his finger rubbing circles around her swollen button from behind. She moaned. She was soaking wet for him by now. He inserted two fingers and began to pump, but when she was close to the edge, he stopped and soon, she felt something cool at her back entrance—lube! What was he doing? She had a pretty good idea, but she was shocked that he would try this their first time at being intimate. She was in for another surprise, though. He didn't try to enter her there. Instead, she felt a foreign object and knew immediately what it was. He had a butt plug! Dear, sweet Beau was embracing his dominant side full force right out of the gate, and Audrey couldn't have been more pleased with this turn of events. He'd certainly been doing his research. She assumed he was testing her, to see how far he could go, this first time. When the plug was fully seated, she gave a sigh of relief. It had been a while since anything had been placed back there, but he had chosen the size well, and now she felt full but not entirely uncomfortable. He rose back up and kissed her neck, whispering in her ear, "Better pick a safeword, babygirl, since I'm not sure yet what your hard limits are."
"New York," she said without thinking.
"Perfect," he responded, kissing her shoulder again.
He flipped her back over, and she felt his body move on top of hers. He kissed her lips. She parted them for him, so that their tongues could dance some more before he moved down to ravage her desperate clit. By now, Audrey was on fire. She had fully expected their first union to be strictly vanilla, but Beau had pleasantly surprised her. As he teased her nearly to oblivion, he stopped just before she exploded, frustrating her once again.
"Beau!" she exclaimed.
"Shhh, who's in charge here?"
She sighed happily. "You are, Sir."
"Then be patient, babygirl." Then, she heard the distinct sounds of something being torn open, and she knew it was a condom. Thank the stars, he was finally getting around to business. She didn't know how much longer she could hold out. She'd been waiting for this man for quite some time now. And when they came together, at long last, it was everything she could have hoped for and more. He thrust his rock-hard cock deep inside her and waited for her to adjust to his size before moving slowly. As she caught up with him, his movements increased in intensity, causing a friction between them that was very nearly her undoing. She needed to come, but he hadn't given her permission. He'd made it quite clear that he was the one in charge, so she didn't dare ask. Just when the volcano inside her was about to erupt, anyway, he said, "Now, babygirl, now."
The bed beneath her began to shake as the full force of her release hit her head on. The combination of his cock and the butt plug, along with his words, caused an avalanche of sensations to overtake her body. She shuddered and moaned for what seemed an eternity, then she noticed that he, too, was shaking and calling out her name.
When they both had recovered, several minutes later, he whispered just before he moved his body to lie beside her, "That was incredible."
"Yes, it was," she agreed.
"Really?" he asked.
"Yes, really, all I could have ever imagined and then some, for our first time together."
"That's good to know. I was a bit worried, you know."
"You have no need to be. I love you, so anytime we are together is special to me, no matter what we're doing."
He reached around to untie the scarf.
As her eyes grew accustomed to the dim light in the room, she squirmed around. With a sore bottom from the earlier spanking and the plug still in place, she was growing uncomfortable.
"What's the matter? Want me to remove the plug?" he asked with a chuckle. "I thought I might make you go back up to the suite with it still in. That is if you are even going back there tonight."
"Beau!" she said. "No, I can't. You have to take it out."
"Oh, I do? Ask nicely."
"Please, Sir. I really must go back to the suite at some point. Please remove it."
"That's much better, little girl. Daddy will take it out, since you asked so nicely."
Little girl? Daddy? This was getting better all the time. Audrey smiled.
"What are you grinning about?" he asked as he flipped her over and began to remove the offending butt plug.
"I like that. The little girl and Daddy part," she admitted shyly.
"Have you had Daddy Doms in the past?" he asked as she heaved a sigh of relief when the plug was finally out.
"No, never," she said. "That would be something new that we could share together."
"We could learn together. I like that idea," he replied. "Want a shower?" he asked.
"Will you join me?" she asked coyly.
"Of course. Daddy will wash his little girl before he takes her back to her room for the night. Stay put. I'll carry you into the bathroom."
She waited while he got up and came around to lift her into his arms. Once they were in the large bathroom, he set her down on her feet and started the shower, checking the temperature. When he was satisfied with it, he lifted her up and placed her in the roomy stall before stepping in with her. He picked up the soap and began to lather her body, but it wasn't long before he was kissing her instead of washing her. He soon had
her backed up against the tile wall, and he lifted her as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He then entered her again, but this time it wasn't long before they were basking in the ecstasy of orgasm once more. They were so in tune with each other that it was hard to contain the fire that burned between them for any length of time. She was glad he hadn't made her wait. Eventually, he got around to washing her, then he cleaned himself quickly, and they both stepped out of the stall. He turned the stream of water off and grabbed a fluffy towel to dry her. He wrapped another one around his own body and, still dripping, made sure she was warm and dry before he finished with himself. He dried and brushed her hair, then took her back into the bedroom and helped her to dress. Only when she was completely ready to go did he dress himself to walk her back to the suite.
"You're positive that you have to go back?" he asked.
"I really should. Camille needs me right now."
"I need you too."
"I know, but please try to understand. She's going through something really horrible right now. All I can tell you is that her marriage is ending."
"I'm so sorry to hear that. You're right. She does need you. I will be understanding and take you back, on the condition that we spend my last few days in the city together, at least as much as we can."
"I promise, and we'll discuss the future, too."
"I couldn't ask for more than that. I think we've finally started to communicate, so I can wait a little longer. After all, your concern for others is part of your charm."
He escorted her to the suite and kissed her goodnight one more time, lingering at the door as long as he could.
After the author signing, the next day, she attended the finale party with Beau and the others. Audrey was sad the week was ending. She made plans to show Beau around the city on his last day in New York. She had one more day with him, and she wanted to make the most of it.
After breakfast on Sunday morning, they decided to take a bus tour for their sightseeing. But not before he informed her that he thought he should give her one last comfort spanking before they were apart again.
Her Texas Dom (Dominant Men Book 4) Page 16