ServicesRendered

by Diana Hunter

  Such a simple question. Straightforward. Lauren turned it over in her mind, trying several different answers until she found the only answer that fit.

  “Yes, I do.”

  Dr. Butters smiled at her and for the first time she smiled back. “What do you need to do to smooth it over with him?”

  “I need to apologize.”

  “How will you do that?”

  Lauren sighed. “He’s still at Sharpsburg, I suspect. Jill brought me home. Will can drive the RV home on Monday. John and I had planned to stay until then and come home with them.”

  “You could go back.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “That wouldn’t be wise on so many levels.”

  He grinned. “Good. I’m glad to hear you say that.”

  “I’ll wait until Monday night and call him then. I’ll apologize and…take it from there, I guess.”

  “And about your job search?”

  “I’m still looking. I can’t go into emergency care, that much I know.”

  He nodded and Lauren felt a flush of pride. She’d taken a huge step backward today. But she’d get better. She was determined.

  “Go get a good night’s sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

  The words were cliché, yet Lauren suspected they’d gotten to be that way only because they were true. Nodding, she thanked the doctor and said goodbye. She made it to her car by consciously deciding she wasn’t going to look around. She made it home double-checking the traffic at only every other stoplight. And she made it into her apartment without once looking over her shoulder.

  Life was hard, but she’d live it anyway. She was determined.

  * * * * *

  A knock on her door got her up earlier than she’d intended the next morning. When she didn’t move quickly enough, the knock repeated, louder. “Come on, Lauren, open up or me and Sarah are busting down this door.”

  Lauren threw the lock and unfastened the chain, yanking the door open before the two of them woke the whole building. Not only Beth and Sarah stood there, but Phillip as well, no doubt to be the muscle behind breaking her door in. Lauren poked her head out and, sure enough, Mrs. Boorman stood in her doorway, fists on her hips, looking disapproving.

  “Sorry, Mrs. Boorman,” Lauren called out. She grabbed Beth’s arm. “Get in here before you wake the entire apartment building!”

  Beth looked comfortable in sweatpants and a T-shirt but both Phillip and Sarah were dressed for church. Lauren eyed them a little guiltily. She hadn’t been to church in over a year. God wasn’t on her good side just now.

  “Have a seat and I’ll put on the water.”

  “That’s okay,” Sarah stopped her. “We just needed to make sure you’re okay.”

  Beth gave Lauren a hug. “That news report last night was terrible. Did you really tourniquet his stump?”

  “I did.” Lauren smiled a little, feeling a little proud of herself. She hadn’t allowed herself to relive those moments in the field except with Dr. Butters last night.

  “There’s a YouTube video showing you doing it. You were amazing.” Sarah gave her a hug as well, then stepped aside as Phillip came forward to offer his support.

  “Really? I’m on YouTube?”

  “Our own little star, right here. National TV yesterday, YouTube today, tomorrow…the world!”

  That made Lauren laugh out loud. “Damn, but I love you guys. You know just the right things to say.”

  “Well, we’re not staying,” Sarah informed her. “What I want to know is, how’s John?”

  Lauren shook her head and looked up at Phillip. “You’d probably know better than me. We had quite the argument.”

  “I’m afraid that was also broadcast,” he told her in his gentle voice.

  Lauren shook her head. “After that. Back at the campground. I came home. He stayed.”

  The three exchanged glances. Beth spoke first by what seemed mutual consent. “You want me to stay with you? I’m not going to church this morning and Paul’s looking after the baby, so…”

  Lauren shook her head. “No, I’m okay. Really. I went to see Dr. Butters last night and—”

  “You did?” Sarah interrupted to hug her again. “Oh honey, I’m so proud of you.”

  “Thanks. He just seemed the right person to talk to.”

  “Okay, we’re going to leave you but if you need anything…”

  “I know your number.” Lauren ushered them out the door.

  “I know,” Beth interrupted. “But I’m coming back later this afternoon to check on you anyway.”

  Lauren chuckled. “All right, Mom.”

  They made faces at each other and as Lauren shut the door, she smiled, glad to have friends who cared.

  * * * * *

  John drove home, the rain that had started to fall shortly after daybreak a perfect fit for his mood. He’d stayed the rest of the day but his heart wasn’t here. It had gone home with Lauren. What had possessed him to say such terrible things to her?

  The tent had been borrowed from one of her friends. It would provide the perfect excuse for him to go over to her apartment and apologize. In fact, he wouldn’t even stop at home. He’d go right over there and face the music.

  The resolve stayed with him right up until he entered the city limits. Maybe he should go home and shower first. His stomach growled. And have dinner. Wouldn’t he think better on a full stomach? The clock in the car read four-fifteen. His stomach spoke again and John knew hunger was only part of the reason.

  Chickening out, he pulled into his driveway. Gathering his things, he made a mad dash for the back door as the rain poured down. A shower. That’s what he needed after two days camping. A hot shower in his own bathroom.

  The phone rang almost as soon as the hot water hit his wide shoulders. Flipping off the water, he hurried out of the bath and down the short hall to his bedroom extension. Breathless, he answered, “Hello?”

  The automated voice that clicked in on the other end wasn’t Lauren’s. He hadn’t even realized that’s who he wanted it to be until it wasn’t her. He hung up on the sales pitch and headed back to drown his sorrows in the shower.

  He’d just dressed afterward when the knock sounded on the front door. He opened it to find Phillip standing in the rain.

  “Come in, I didn’t expect you.”

  Phillip stood in the entryway and shook his head. He’d let his hair grow since leaving the service, allowing the ends to touch his ear and collar. Water flew everywhere and John laughingly protested.

  “I just got out of the shower, thank you very much.”

  Phillip grinned. “And I just got off the phone with Will. He told me you’d come back today.”

  “Come on in. Let me take your coat.”

  “No, I’m not here to stay. Sarah’s in the car and we’re…playing tonight.”

  John knew what that meant. He’d been at Phillip’s wedding and had enjoyed seeing Sarah’s naked body spread before them. “I won’t keep you then.”

  “I saw Lauren this morning.”

  John tensed but said nothing.

  “You two belong together. Sarah and I won’t get involved any more than this but you need to know Lauren loves you.”

  “Did she tell you that?”

  “She didn’t need to.”

  John simply nodded, his demeanor still guarded and stiff. “Thanks, Phillip.”

  “We’re here if you need to talk.”

  John shook his head. “Lauren’s the one I need to talk to.”

  Phillip smiled in relief. “I’m glad you understand that. I’ll leave you to it then.” He turned to go out the door.

  “Have fun with Sarah tonight.”

  The grin Phillip gave him held a certain wicked mischievousness. “I intend to, old boy. I intend to.”

  * * * * *

  He didn’t call first, afraid she’d tell him she never wanted to see him again. Instead, John stood nervously at her door, taking several deep breaths before he
raised his hand to knock.

  A door opened behind him and to his left. Glancing over, he wasn’t really surprised when Mrs. Boorman stood in her doorway. Putting on his most charming smile, he bowed in her direction.

  “Not me you have to be making up to,” she scolded, her accent showing traces of her middle European background. “She laid you out good on TV. Had good arguments too.”

  “Yes, she did, Mrs. Boorman. I’m hoping she’ll agree to see me.”

  For the first time, he saw the old lady smile. “She’ll see you. She has any brains, she’ll see you. But you should’a brought flowers.”

  With a sinking heart, John realized she was right. Corny, but right.

  “Is okay. You just have to talk faster. She’s a good girl and I like her. I like you too. You make pretty babies together.”

  He didn’t know about that but he nodded at her just the same and turned back to the door. Straightening his shoulders, he knocked twice. Behind him, the door squeaked closed but he didn’t hear the snick of it shutting. Mrs. Boorman might give them the illusion of privacy but she wasn’t about to miss the show.

  Lauren opened the door with a bounce and a smile that froze in place. “I thought you were Beth.”

  “I’m not. Would you rather I was?”

  She studied him a moment, then answered honestly. “I’m not sure on that one.”

  Lauren didn’t step aside and invite him in and John realized he was going to have to work for this. Conscious of Mrs. Boorman’s eyes staring holes into his back, he took her advice and talked faster.

  “Lauren, I said some stupid things and I want to apologize for them. I was out of line and—”

  “No, you weren’t.”

  He stopped, confused.

  “You said exactly what you needed to say, just as I did.”

  “I hurt you.”

  “Yes, you did.”

  Damn, she wasn’t making this easy on him. “Lauren, I’m sorry. I love you and I want to work this out.”

  Did he just hear a satisfied sigh behind him? If only the woman in front of him would be so understanding.

  Lauren held the door open a little wider. “I love you too, John. Come in.”

  John walked into the apartment, whirling to face her when she burst into laughter.

  “Oh John, I’m sorry. That was just too precious not to play out.”

  “You did that for her…for Mrs. Boorman!”

  She nodded. “Can you forgive me? She needed it.”

  John stood, dumbfounded. “So you’re not mad at me?”

  Lauren sobered and came over to him. “I was furious with you. But mostly I was mad at myself. For losing control.” She slid into his arms. “I love you. Took me awhile to remember that, but I did.”

  He held her close. “And I love you. I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

  She pulled away. “Don’t be. I deserved it. You were right. I was wallowing in my own PTSD. I probably will again. I’ll be okay as long as you’re there to remind me to stop taking myself so seriously.”

  “I will always be there for you, Lauren. I want to be in your life for a very, very long time.”

  Tears formed in her eyes and Lauren made no move to brush them aside. “I think we could arrange that, John McAllen.”

  The force of his love came out through the passion of his kiss. Her arms slipped around his neck. Whatever the future held for them, they would face it together.

  Epilogue

  The flogger landed softly across her raised ass and Lauren dropped her head in submission. The ball gag allowed her to moan softly as the suede thongs caressed her skin. With her arms stretched between her legs and attached to the spreader bar that kept her open, she couldn’t avoid the kiss of the leather and didn’t want to. She buried her face in the pillow on the floor as he carefully landed each stroke.

  There came a pause and she peeked out to see what he did. John had moved to straddle her, changing the angle the thongs landed on her body. Mostly he landed them against her ass and upper thighs but occasionally he let a soft stroke fall between her legs. The supple leather curled under and placed a stinging kiss on her sensitive nether lips. She knew if he did that a few more times, the leather would start to come back stained with the juices that evidenced her arousal.

  “Look at my little slave girl,” John’s voice crooned from above. “Dressed in leather and metal, spread and ready, allowing me to flog her body as I desire.”

  Lauren smiled around the rubber ball. She loved it when he played with her mind, setting the scene for her.

  “No one at school will know you have become my slave when we go home. It’s our little secret.”

  Lauren whimpered in the back of her throat. Getting a job as a school nurse had been the perfect solution for her skills. Dealing with PMS was far easier than dealing with gunshot wounds and blown-off arms. Getting a job in the same school where John worked had been a stroke of luck she still thanked God for.

  “Don’t tell me the slave is ready to come already?”

  A standing joke between them. Lauren was ready to come almost before they started. He had only to mention the toys upstairs in the spare room they’d turned into a dungeon of sorts and she was ready and willing.

  She made a positive noise in the back of her throat to signal that she was ready any time he was. He laughed and doubled both the strength and the speed of the blows against her ass and pussy.

  He loved the whimpers she made when she came while gagged. When he gave her her voice, she didn’t always let go as easily as when she was gagged. Even though little sound would escape this room, she still gave more of herself when she could holler to her heart’s content and not have to worry about the neighbors calling the police.

  So he often gagged her and let her whimper and moan her way to an orgasm. He could always take it out when he wanted to.

  Beneath him, her whimpers turned to grunts of pleasure as she came in time with his flogging. Only when the pitch started to drop did he let up, bringing her down slowly. At last she lay spent, her muscles relaxing once more into her bindings.

  Quickly he unfastened the quick-release catches and helped her to stand with her legs together. He removed the ball gag and she flexed her jaw. Wiping the drool with the back of her hand, she looked at him with contentment. “Thank you,” she murmured with a coquettish glance at the bed.

  “You are such a slut!” he told her as he picked her up and deposited her on the bed.

  “I know. I love it! You’ve made a free woman out of me.”

  He lay down beside her and she put her arms around his neck, the locks on her cuffs jingling in his ear. “And you’ve made a monster out of me.”

  “Eek, I’m so frightened! Is the monster going to get me?”

  He kissed her deeply, running his hands over her hips and feeling the wonderful curves of her body. “This monster is going to take what is rightfully his!” he told her as he pushed her body beneath his, kneeing her legs apart.

  She spread them wide even as she feigned horror. “Oh no!”

  “Oh yes!”

  Her pussy was warm and wet after its recent orgasm, slick and ready for his entrance. He pushed and she raised her hips to help him enter. He’d intended to tease himself with her pussy entrance, but she was so damn warm and inviting.

  “Oh yes,” he repeated, a very different tone in his voice.

  She brought her legs up and wrapped them around his waist. “Ride me, cowboy.”

  He cocked an eye at her. “I thought I was a monster.”

  “You’re monstrous big and you fill me. Now fuck me like the Dom you are.”

  There was no arguing with her logic, not with his cock starting to call the shots. He slid easily in and out, setting up a rhythm that swayed them both. His balls tightened, yet he held on to his control. His voice was rough when he spat out the words he needed to say.

  “I love you, Lauren McAllen.”

  “I love you, John McAllen.”

/>   Her voice sounded equally strangled and it pushed him over the edge. He looked at her as he came, glorying in the power she gave him, basking in the love they shared.

  And as he drifted into asleep afterward, his cock still buried inside her, she kissed the top of his head where it rested on her breasts. He sighed, deciding that lying with Lauren was far preferable to lying on scratchy grass with ants crawling up his sleeve. Her arms rested on his back, her fingers idly drawing small circles over his muscles.

  “Lauren,” he murmured, sounding almost asleep.

  “Yes?”

  Only a soft snore answered her. In the darkness, she smiled and kissed the top of his head once more, deciding it was high time she sent Chuck a thank-you note for stepping in a gopher hole so she could meet the man who made her whole.

  About the Author

  For many years, Diana Hunter confined herself to mainstream writing. Her interest in the world of dominance and submission, dormant for years, bloomed when she met a man who was willing to let her explore the submissive side of her personality. In her academic approach to learning about the lifestyle, she discovered hundreds of short stories that existed on the topic, but none of them seemed to express her view of a D/s relationship. Challenged by a friend to write a better one, she wrote her first BDSM novel, Secret Submission, published by Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

  Diana welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

  Tell Us What You Think

  We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email us at Comments@EllorasCave.com.

  Also by Diana Hunter

  A Devil in Winter

  Cabin Fever

  Diamond in the Snow

  Ellora’s Cavemen: Tales from the Temple III anthology

  Hooked

  Kara’s Captain

  Learning Curve

  Love in the Afternoon

  New York Moment

  Promise for Now

  Remembered Love

  Secret Submission