He set his messenger bag on the floor as he sat at his desk. He looked at the phone and saw the blinking light signifying a message waiting for him. The way their phone system worked, client calls were usually routed to Ricardo unless he was away from his desk. But generally, a flashing light meant a direct call from someone who knew his extension. As he punched in his code to listen to the messages, he was ecstatic to hear Janine’s voice.
She called to let him know Kelly was delighted he’d be joining her in New York. There was giddiness to her voice that warmed his heart. As he listened further, she made clear she would be away from her office for the balance of the day. She prattled off her schedule but ended by saying how much she looked forward to talking to him at ten that evening.
Taking a moment to think about her, a broad smile crossed his face. It had already been over two months since they were together at the conference. He missed her terribly even though they talked almost daily. As much as he loved talking with her, the phone calls couldn’t replace being with her. The gleam in her eyes when she giggled, the actual feel of her skin against his or her breath when she whispered lovingly in his ear. He closed his eyes and ran his fingers over his lips. For a brief moment he could have sworn he smelled her, but he knew better.
He opened his eyes and glanced at the clock noting he had a little less than thirty minutes before the final interview with Tanya. Rather than let himself get swept too far into his thoughts, he refocused on the tasks ahead of him. The more he could get off his plate, the better. He’d finally be able to get home at a decent hour and get the good night sleep he needed.
After a long day, he wrapped up a few items and prepared to leave when Ricardo tapped on his door.
“Mike, a package came for you.”
“From who?”
“Doesn’t say—but it’s not ticking,” he chuckled.
“Thanks. You heading home now?”
“Yep. See you in the morning unless you need something else.”
“Nope. Have a good night.”
“You too.”
As Ricardo left, Michael carefully opened the small cardboard box. Inside was a notecard with a purple jewelry box. The card simply read:
Thank you again, M—Spectra.
Opening the jewelry box, he found a stunning pair of platinum cufflinks with a modified Triskele. He could only presume she had the cufflinks custom made because he’d never seen anything quite like them. The black onyx gemstone at its core was pierced in each of the three sections with spokes pointing clockwise. He’d seen the delicate yet subtle symbol on necklaces, rings and earrings before. Very few people outside the “community” knew its symbolism. It was often worn by those who practiced any combination of the three elements of BDSM play. Whether it was Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, or Sadism and Masochism this was some practitioners’ way of identifying each other. As beautiful as the cufflinks were, he couldn’t imagine actually wearing them.
CHAPTER 23
It had been a good week and Michael was far more relaxed than he had been in a while. On nights like this, he usually called Nikita. But he hadn’t seen her in quite a while. The few times she called to check in, he let her know he was too busy to see her. The reality was as much as he liked playing and discovering with her, he felt conflicted. He and Janine were talking again but neither of them professed or planned for a future together. They were still in virtual limbo about the direction of their relationship. But he cared about Nikita and she deserved better from him so he decided to call her.
“Well, hello stranger!” she said. “How may I serve you?”
“How are you?” he asked.
”Oh I’m good, Baby. But I was starting to think you fell off the face of the earth. What’s it been—three weeks since we last talked?” she asked.
“Maybe,” He knew it had likely been longer.
“A Sub with a missing Dom can get into all kinds of trouble! You know that, right?” she teased.
He smiled at the thought. “Are you confessing to me?”
“Well, let’s just say I have been a very bad girl,” she giggled.
“Hmm. Is that so?”
He was enjoying their exchange. He could only imagine the poor soul who tried to seduce or fuck her. The mere thought of it entertained him to no end. The poor man would still be trying to recover. “So you need to be punished?”
“I don’t think you got enough in you to punish me for the shit I’ve done!” She let out a full throaty laugh.
“Taunting your Dom is never a good idea, Nikita.” He was also having fun with her.
“So, should I come over and take my punishment, M?”
As tempting as it was, he said instead, “Why don’t we go get a bite to eat? It’s still early. I need to talk with you.”
She got very quiet, which was rare for her because she always had a quip or thought that kept her talking. “We’re talking now.” She paused again before asking, “Are you releasing me?” Her attitude shifted dramatically.
“We just need to talk through a few things. Can you come out?”
“So, you’re going to take me some place to eat, and release me because you think I’ll behave?”
“I know you better than that. You rarely behave—it’s not in you,” he chuckled.
His laughter seemed to settle her down a bit and she said, “Why don’t you order in and I’ll meet you at your place in about a half hour, okay?” she offered.
It was already seven, and either way they likely wouldn’t eat before eight even if they went to a restaurant.
“Okay. Meet me here in a half hour,” he replied. “I promise to feed you.”
“Uh huh…I can’t wait to see what you wanna put down my throat.”
“You just keep pushing, don’t you?” he chuckled.
“That’s what boundaries are for, Baby!”
“I’ll see you then.”
“I can’t wait.”
Rummaging through his kitchen drawer, he reviewed his takeout menus. Looking through the dozen or so options, nothing looked appealing. He checked his refrigerator to see if there was anything in there he could easily make for dinner. He liked cooking and he was good at it. He found a variety of salad fixings, some meats and cheeses. He pulled out some chicken, unwrapped it and put it in the microwave to thaw. Setting the Parmesan and Colby cheeses on the counter, he began cooking.
When the lobby buzzed letting him know Nikita had arrived, the meal was nearly complete. The counter island was set for dinner. He pulled out a bottle of white wine from the chiller, uncorked it and set it on the counter next to the glasses. The timing was perfect. She tapped on the door as he put the finishing touches on their meal. She was dressed casually without a hint of being geared out. The exception was the small necklace around her neck he’d given her.
“Hi,” he said with a welcoming smile. “Come on in.”
“Hey.” She looked at him with a bit of curiosity as she scanned the kitchen and place settings. It was clear she was trying to figure out exactly what this evening was really about.
“Do you want some wine?” he offered as he took her jacket.
“Sure. What do you have?”
“I pulled a Chardonnay that I think goes nicely with our dinner.” He walked back to the kitchen as she followed. He poured their glasses and handed one to her before sitting at the counter stool beside her.
“Did you cook? ‘Cause it smells like you cooked,” she asked with a look of pure skepticism that amused the hell out him.
“Yes, Nikita. I cooked. I’m quite good at it actually. ”
“Learn something new everyday,” she said as she took the seat next to his. “Well, if you cook as well as you fuck then I’m in for a treat.”
He just laughed saying, “Then I guess you are.”
“So what’s going on, Michael? Just cut to the damn chase because all of this is…well…Damn. I don’t know what to think about all this.”
He di
dn’t answer her right away, but instead took another sip of wine before getting up and heading to the stove. He picked up the pot of fettuccine and began putting it on the plates. He poured the Alfredo sauce with broccoli over the noodles.
“Let’s eat and talk,” he finally said before reaching into the refrigerator, “What kind of salad dressing do you like?”
“Ranch is fine,” she said as she adjusted on the stool turning towards the plates. “This looks really good!”
“Thanks.” He sat back down and said, “Listen, some things are going on with me right now. I need to keep it friendly between us until I work it out.”
“Is this about your journey to the dark side again? Because I thought we dealt with that.”
“No, not at all. I’ve gotten involved with her again,” he said watching her carefully.
“With her who?” she asked taking a bite of her salad.
“The woman I told you about,” he said as he finished off his wine before pouring another glass.
She sat for a minute trying to recall their earlier conversations, “Oh my God! You mean the one that got away?”
It was interesting she chose that descriptor because he never thought of Janine as the one “who got away.” The truth was she was the one who ran away.
“Yes.”
“Oh, wow. Okay. So she’s back in D.C.?”
“No, but we are trying to make it work.”
“So you are releasing me,” she said as she set her fork down.
He could tell she was thinking through it all. There was a twinge of sadness showing on her face.
“I didn’t say anything about releasing you, unless that’s what you want given the circumstances.”
“Well let me ask you something. Does she know about our little arrangement?”
“No. But she knows I haven’t been a hermit.”
“Uh huh. So what are you asking me for?”
“I need you to understand that until I figure this out, I…”
“You want to keep me on lock down until you figure out whether or not you and your girl are going to live happily ever after?” She was getting rightfully indignant.
He sighed heavily, because the way she phrased it was pretty fucked up. Releasing her was absolutely the right thing to do.
“No, I can’t ask you to do that. The choice is yours to make.”
“Is that what you want me to do?”
“I want you to do whatever you’re comfortable with, Nikita.”
She leaned back against the stool and crossed her arms studying him as carefully as he had her. He gave her all the time she needed to process what he said to her. He then shifted his focus back to his food continuing to eat knowing her eyes were still on him. She hadn’t said much as she started in on her Fettuccine Alfredo.
“You haven’t told her about me because you know she won’t like it,” Nikita finally said.
He hadn’t discussed it with Janine simply because he assumed they both had other relationships that would work themselves out as their relationship progressed. Janine told him she hadn’t played with anyone else, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t having sex with someone. Her sexual prowess certainly suggested she hadn’t been a hermit either over the years. He chose not to dwell on it because the thought of another man with her now was unsettling at best. And the truth was Janine wouldn’t be happy with the arrangement he had with Nikita—even if it weren’t “love” in the traditional sense.
“That’s not it at all. But this is really about you and me right now,” he said. He set his fork down and continued. “The truth is, I do need to release you. You’re special to me, but I love her. I’ve always loved her.”
Nikita smiled and said, “Then I’m happy for you. And I’m glad to see you actually let go and just be you.”
“I’m always me.”
“Let just say, the man I started playing with is not the man I know now. I like this dude better. He’s way more fun!”
It was a curious thing for her to say, but he understood the core of her message. He smiled at her and asked, “Do you want some more wine?”
“Sure. So tell me more about this woman.”
“I’m not comfortable with that.”
“Why the hell not? You started this off with “I need to keep things friendly,” she said mockingly. “Then let’s be friendly. Friends talk about shit.”
He smiled delighting in her free spirit and appreciating everything she was. Nikita had certainly become more than his Sub especially over the past few months—she was his friend.
“Even friends respect boundaries,” he said.
CHAPTER 24
The plane made its final approach into JFK Airport. Michael looked out the window onto the New York City skyline. So much about it had changed over the years. Each time he flew, he’d peer out the window trying to see the progress of various construction projects. He loved the City and it would always be among his favorite places in the world, but he couldn’t imagine living there again. He checked his watch noting his flight was landing a little early. Being a seasoned traveller, he knew runway traffic could still cause delays getting to the gate. By taking the early Friday afternoon flight, he hoped to get settled into their Midtown hotel until Janine arrived from LaGuardia Airport.
When the all clear was given by the flight attendant, he grabbed his bag from the under the seat and made his way down the steps. He waited on the tarmac for his garment bag as handlers roughly loaded passenger luggage onto a cart. While others rushed the cart, he simply stood back waiting to retrieve his. He still had about two hours before Janine was expected—assuming her flight left on time. He pulled out his cell phone checking for any messages or emails from her. Since he had none, he assumed everything was still on schedule. She’d get to the hotel around five and together they’d head to Kelly and Jason’s home for dinner at seven.
He caught a taxi to the hotel, got settled and relaxed. For the first time in a long time, he was completely disconnected from his office. He made his intention perfectly clear with Ricardo and Lacy before he left. They both promised no calls from the office to make sure he had a stress-free weekend. He appreciated them both being grateful for this important getaway.
He was feeling good when he heard the ping of his cell phone. The message from Janine let him know she landed and was making her way to baggage claim. He had to chuckle to himself as he read it because for the life of him he couldn’t figure out why a simple weekend trip required full-size checked luggage. He sent her a quick text back giving her their room number.
To kill time, he reached in his bag and pulled out the book he started on the plane. He found it hard to concentrate knowing she’d be arriving within the half hour. The anticipation of actually seeing her and holding her in his arms was getting the best of him.
He grabbed the room key and headed down to the lobby to wait for her. He found a comfortable seat never letting his eyes stray too far from the entrance as he resumed reading. When he saw her being helped by a bellman, he made his way towards her. She came to him with outstretched arms and jubilant smile.
“Michael!” She hugged tightly and kissed him softly before turning to the bellman saying, “Thank you. We can take it from here.”
He took the handle of her suitcase and held her hand as they walked together towards the elevators. “So you had a good flight?”
“Yes! And yours?”
“Good. It’s good to see you,” he said finding it difficult to contain his excitement. With practically everything else in his life he was measured, but with her it seemed his practicality fled him.
“It’s good to see you, too” she said with a seductive breathiness. She reached up to kiss him again as they got on the elevator.
Hand in hand they made their way down the hall as he pulled the suitcase behind him. Neither said much until they got to the room. He swiped the entry key across the door, opened it and let her enter ahead of him.
“You got a suite?
Wow. I wasn’t expecting all this.”
“Well, I figured we’d be here all weekend. We might want a little extra space.”
“Good choice. It’s very nice.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
He took her suitcase to the bedroom before joining her on the couch where she had kicked off her heels and propped her feet on the coffee table.
“There’s some wine. Would you like a glass?” he asked.
“No, I’m good for now. I just want to sit here with you right now.”
He smiled and leaned in, kissing her again. Letting his tongue linger and swirl in her mouth before softly biting her lip he said, “I’m good with that.”
“Mmmm, I missed your kisses more than I realized,” she said as she looked into his eyes.
“Just my kisses?” he toyed.
“Well…” she replied coyly.
It did feel good to just have her leaning against him as he placed his arm over her shoulder and drew her closer to him. He kissed the side of her forehead just relishing the quiet with her.
“Have you thought about what else you’d like to do this weekend? I know the baby shower is tomorrow at two. Do you want to go out to brunch in The Village or see a show tomorrow night? What are you thinking about?”
“I don’t know. What do you want to do?” she replied.
He just grinned while leering at her.
“Okay, other than that, what do you want to do?”
Letting out a hearty, joyful laugh he said, “Baby, whatever you want is fine with me. I’m just glad we’re together this weekend. We can do everything or absolutely nothing.”
“Everything?” she said coquettishly.
“Feeling a little frisky?”
“Maybe.”
“Well I might just have the thing you need. Hold on a sec.” He got up and disappeared into the bedroom. When he came back, his hands were behind his back.
“What do you have?” she asked as she took her feet off the table leaning forward on the couch.
“Close your eyes,” he said in that familiar tone she loved so much. He watched as she slowly closed her eyes and a curious grin crept onto her face. “Now hold out your hands.” She did as he instructed and he placed the device delicately in her palms.
His Pleasures and Pain (Book II) (Allen Trilogy 2) Page 17