by Opal Carew
Just as Burton set her on her feet an attendant came in.
“I’ll see you in the soaking tub shortly, okay Solie?”
She must have looked disappointed because then he said, “I told you this was a treat for you. Not service for me. Not right now. Enjoy your shower and the attendant will bring you to me. Oh, and the bathroom is over there. Go and take care of things, but no touching yourself. That’s all mine.”
He gave her a quick kiss, and left. After a quick trip to the bathroom, the evil bullet vibrator was washed and tucked away in her clothing. The attendant already had the water at the perfect temperature when she came out of the restroom. The woman washed her sugar scrub until she was sure her skin glowed.
Ten minutes later, her entire body felt as solid as a wet noodle as she was led to the soaking room.
Her breath lodged in her throat as she caught sight of her man standing there waiting for her. He wore a traditional blue robe and stood next to a bank of windows that looked out over the city. She caught the glint of sun off the deep blue water of the Sound and swore it was close enough to dive into from here.
The tub was huge, more like a big sunken pool rather than a soaking tub. Burt motioned her into the water, shed his robe and stepped down onto the first step. He wore not a stitch. And that was just the way Solie liked him.
“Come over here, Solie.”
She eased into the pool with a sigh. The temperature was perfect—not too hot, not too cool. Solie waded over to him and sat down in a spot that caused the water to level out just below her breasts.
“No, right here.”
He pointed to his lap and the dusky pole of a cock that was almost purple at the head.
Oh my goodness. She’d been turned on high for a good part of the day and even though the shower attendant washed her with not a single indication of horniness, Solie was still on a medium simmer.
If she sat on his lap she wouldn’t last long.
Wait a minute, what in the world was she thinking? Who said she had to last at all? This man wasn’t going to play games with her. He wasn’t going to offer her a lollipop and then snatch it away when she reached for it.
No. That was another life. One that didn’t deserve her emotional attention.
This was her and Burton’s time, and that’s where she would keep her thoughts. Period.
So she eased over to him and sat on his lap. With a gasp, she found herself face down over this lovely thighs, with his cock pressing into her stomach.
“First, let’s get this out of the way, courtesy of your favorite smart ass.”
His palm landed on her ass with a loud schwack. Holy fuck! Her skin was wet from both the shower and the quick trip across the tub, and it caused the mother of all stings when his hand connected with the damp flesh.
By the third whack Solie was ready to float away.
Four.
Five.
She was moaning, gasping his name.
Six.
Seven.
Begging was imminent.
Eight.
Nine.
Ten.
“Oh please. Please, Burton…”
She was so boneless her legs just fell open as she panted in an attempt to catch her breath.
“Mmm, look at that. That pussy is so wet and pretty. You’re ready aren’t you?”
A nod was all she could manage as all the stimulation of the day swirled together and crashed down over her libido like a thunderstorm that had been building in the summer heat.
Just before thick fingers slid into her swelling folds, he stopped. “I’m going to do a wet check, all right?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
And then he was stroking her, slipping the pad of his index finger against the resisting ring of muscle at her entrance. The other hand explored the blushing skin of her ass. Solie found herself quickly moving past want into pure, unmistakable need.
With each dip, her hips wound in a larger and larger circle until she was practically humping his hands.
It didn’t matter that the silken heat of his cock scalded the skin of her stomach. It didn’t matter that he obviously wanted her as much as she wanted him. Burton wouldn’t give her what she craved until she asked for it. Nicely.
“P…Please fuck me. Please.”
“And why should I do that, Solie?”
“Because I need it.”
“And why else?” He pressed two fingers deep into her sex. She almost came on the spot.
“Because I deserve it.”
“Deserve what?”
She knew what he was after. It was a conversation that they’d had on more than one occasion throughout their friendship. And Solie knew it to be true, so she didn’t hesitate.
“I deserve to be loved without conditions. I deserve to be treated like the queen that I am. I deserve to have what I desire. And in a D/s dynamic, I deserve to be rewarded when I have earned it.”
“Good girl. And today, you have definitely earned a reward. You were amazing, kept your sanity long beyond what I expected. And you didn’t come. Not once. So let’s fix that.”
Without another word, Solie found herself in the tub with her chest flat against the cool tiles where Burton had been sitting only moment before.
With an ass cheek in each hand, the man spread her wide, then worked himself inside until he was slick with her juices. Then he was inside, the entire length of him stretched and filled her, until she swore that if she were looking in a mirror she’d see his cock reflected in her eyes.
One hand buried in her hair and the other stroking every inch of flesh he could reach. And it was so good. Each stroke was better than the last, better than every dream she’d ever had about this man. Better than a new pair of sexy strappy high heeled shoes!
And then she was coming, and coming and coming. Making up for each orgasm she’d denied herself earlier. And when she thought she was all wrung out, Burton proved her wrong twice more.
By the time he found his own pleasure deep inside her pussy, Solie was damn near cross eyed and beyond noddle-boned.
It was the best lunch-date-turned-dinner-date EVAH!
* * * * *
Later on that night, Solie woke abruptly. She rolled over and took in the sight of the man next to her. She seldom used the fireplace in her bedroom, but the sunny day had turned into a fog-filled chilly night. The embers glowed just enough to cast the most beautiful light on her best friend.
And grabbed her journal, flipped on a small reading light so as not to wake Burt, and she began to write.
Eight weeks ago she’d been beyond heartbroken, the pain so tangible that when she looked in the mirror it seemed etched into her very skin.
Eight weeks ago, a confidence that had never been in question before had teetered on the ledge of her surety. Why? Because the person that was supposed to love her, treasure her, care for and keep her, had been on the wrong side of everything.
He’d spoken to and about her in a manner that was far beyond unkind.
Had yelled and screamed at her, pushed into her space, gotten in her face. When she’d finally had enough and asked why he treated her in such a manner his response had been, “Because I can.”
If she’d been honest, that was the day she knew it was over. Her heart had known what her mind didn’t want to accept.
Eight weeks ago she’d learned that the man that had lived in her house, slept in her bed, spent time with her family and friends, had also done those same things with countless other women…all at the same time.
She’d given and given and given—her mind, body, soul, money, food, her trust and her time. All he had to do was ask for it, and it had been his.
It was in her nature to give. It was a part of herself that she couldn’t simply turn off, and had no desire to, although at that time she’d wished otherwise, if only to keep some part of herself from being emotionally stomped into the carpet.
Eight weeks ago, she’d tallied up what he’d given
her and it amounted to nothing more than a lovely spanking or two, a broken heart…and an STD.
But that was eight weeks ago. And this was now.
Was she still healing? Sure. But the hurt was barely there. The heartache almost completely healed until the cracks in her heart were now full of love for herself and the man whose arm was thrown over her waist. Gone was the fire-driven anger that had been a companion of sorts. Now, there was only pity and compassion for someone who would never truly know love.
Solie was free. In every way that she needed to be, she was free.
And not so free.
She was in service to Burton Khrys, his companion and lover. And this bondage was a sort that she welcomed any day of the week.
With that, she tucked away her journal, clicked off the reading light and decided to dream of what she would look like in the new red and white bamboo and silk rope Burton had given her after he’d brought her home from a most wondrous and playful afternoon that faded seamlessly into an equally wondrous night.
Chapter Seven
In the early darkness of the morning, Burton woke her up with tender lovemaking that quickly morphed into the rough-and-tumble loving she craved.
After coming three times, they landed in a hot and deliciously sweaty heap with the sheets a tangle around their feet.
Out of the blue, a final remaining dam Solie hadn’t been aware of, broke inside of her.
Burton gathered her into his arms and squeezed tight. “What’s wrong, Solie? What is it?”
“Nothing is wrong. It’s perfect actually. You’ve given me back to myself,” she sobbed.
“No, darlin’, you did that all on your own.”
Her mouth dropped open when he eased her away from his body so he could look into her eyes. A single tear slid down his cheek. His words were solid without a single waver. If she hadn’t been looking at him just now she wouldn’t have believed it.
“Here’s what he didn’t understand, Solie. A Dom isn’t just someone that tells you to strip, bends you over the sofa or his knee and gives you forty whacks. The man was obviously never taught to take care of his things. He didn’t know the difference between rough sex and being a Dominant, baby. Anyone can Dom a doormat, just like anyone can tie up a woman and then tell her not to move. Me, I’d rather place your arm where I want, tell you not to move knowing that you can move it—but won’t.
Anyone can declaw a cat and then feel high and mighty because it can no longer scratch. But honestly, darlin’, I’d rather have you just the way you are, claws and all, knowing that you keep them sheathed just for me.
God, I adore you. You’re strong and I respect that. That guy’s issue had more to do with his character, not yours. I guess for some fucked up reasons he felt that if he could convince you that you were ‘less than’, then it would make him feel ‘more than’.
Solie, you’re an amazing woman. And that fact that you submit to me because you choose to makes me the luckiest bastard alive.
“Thank you, Burt. Thank you so much for that.” Watery smile and all, she leaned up and kissed him. And Burt being Burt, she soon found herself underneath him moaning out her pleasure before slipping back into a peaceful sleep.
* * * * *
Something jerked Solie awake. Suddenly her heart was pumping and a chill traveled up the back of her neck. She felt…watched. Like something or someone was in the room with her. Rather than rolling over and jerking herself out of bed to fight, she stretched, rolled over slowly keeping her eyes in mere slits.
Arms over her head, she peeked toward the door and then wrapped her arms around her pillow and snuggled in with a sleepy sigh. She lay there in the dim light of the new dawn and stilled as if she fell back asleep. Something was wrong. She knew it.
The dog had barked, but as quickly as she’d started up with her deep shepherd voice loud enough to wake the dead, she stopped. Must have been a squirrel outside or something.
Then the bedroom door moved. Slowly. Deliberately. Until it closed with a quiet swish. Maybe it was Burt? Yes, that was it. It was Burt just checking in on her before he left to go get breakfast. No need to be worried, right?
When the tingle wouldn’t go away, Solie forced herself to relax and drift back to sleep. Only, sleep wouldn’t come, damn it.
After half an hour of pretending to snore with no further noise or door movement, she got up and hit the shower. Since she couldn’t sleep, may as well start the day.
A quick shower and a protein shake later, with leash in hand she headed out to walk the dog.
If there were any farms nearby, she was sure she’d beat the chickens awake, it was so quiet out. The dew on the grass as she jogged began to seep into her shoes to make her socks damp. The fog was thick and the humidity felt good on her face. It was the only skin showing since she’d bundled up against the cold.
“Some summer we’re having, right, Mims,” she said to the dog. Then she laughed at herself. What a bundle of contradictions she was, well, sometimes.
“Damn. Time to go back Mims. Sorry, girl. I need to get my day started.”
Around the corner from her house, Solie ducked into the wide, clean alley that separated the townhouses. Almost to her back door she slammed to a halt.
Marcais Dupree, nutball extraordinaire, stood there in the dim light of the dawn watching her.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” she snapped.
“What do you mean what the fuck am I doing here?”
“Why are you near my house?”
“I have a friend in this area. And what’s it to you. I can go wherever the fuck I want to go whenever I feel like it.”
With each word he walked closer, bowing up his chest at her, his words bitten off at the ends as if he wished he could chew her up and spit her out. His body language screamed violence and she hated that her muscles were tensed for fight or flight.
At one time, she would have never been afraid of this man.
But that was then and this was now.
Midori must have picked up her nervousness because she started to growl. The noise drew Marcais’ attention, thankfully.
“Well, have a good day. Come on, Mims.” And she walked on toward her house taking a wide berth around the man who stared daggers at her.
From behind his words punched into her back.
“So you left me for that faggot, Burt, I see.”
Left him for Burt? Was he out of his mind?
Oh yeah. Sociopath, remember? Duh.
“I didn’t leave you for anyone, Marcais. You cheated. You lied. I walked. And I have it on good authority that you’re carrying right on with your mistress; as if she was always your world, rather than your secret. So fuck you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a jog to finish and work to do.”
With that, she forced her legs to jog rather than flee, pulled her key from her sweatpants pocket before she was even close to the door, and ducked inside at record speed.
Heart pumping, she knew that she’d just defused a time bomb. The expression on his face was chilling. The anger. The malice. It didn’t make any sense, given she’d been nothing but good to the man. The fact that he was angry because he thought she’d left him for Burt was more than unsettling given it had no place in reality whatsoever. It didn’t even make any sense.
Sociopath. She had to keep reminding herself. Slipped the leash off of the dog, toed off her damp sneakers and locked every door in the house.
Yep. Time bomb all right. Now if it would just go away so she didn’t have to worry about it detonating anywhere near her.
Mac had used her considerable connections in the Army and learned that Marcais was being reassigned to Germany. Well, Germany couldn’t get here fast enough, damn it.
* * * * *
Shortly after, Burt showed up with coffee and Dunkin’ Donuts.
“Ooh, I think I’m in love,” she mumbled around a bit of carb-loaded perfection. “Timing is perfect.” She took another bite and followed it down with
a gulp of strong coffee. The stuff was so hot it burned all the way down her throat, but it tasted so good she didn’t care.
She sat on the floor between Burt’s legs as they devoured the sugary goodness. As they ate, Solie told of how surprised she was when Marcais appeared like some vengeful spirit out of the fog.
“I don’t like that he’s hanging around here, Solie. You know he’s crazy as shit from his whacked out behavior with you. And if the stories his ex-wife told you are true, this man can be dangerous.”
The doorbell rang. Solie jumped.
“Okay, I really don’t like that you’re wound up so tight, woman. At all.” Burt got up off the couch and walked across the living room to open the door. A few moments later he said, “Solie, come here, darlin’.”
God, she loved when the country-boy came oozing out of his pores. Such a gentleman. Sort of.
At her man’s side, Solie smiled at her neighbor from down the street.
“Hi, Miss Solie. Sorry to disturb you this early in the morning, especially on a Saturday, but I wanted to catch you before I head out to the base.”
“No problem, Grange. What’s up?”
“Well, my wife thinks it’s nothing but I’m not so sure so I’m just gonna tell you. We’ve been seeing a black truck cruising up and down the neighborhood.”
Her stomach hit the floor.
“And it seems to slow down near your house and then keeps going. But a couple of weeks ago I noticed someone coming in and out through your back door when you’re not at home. And sometimes it’s really late at night, like two and three in the morning.
My wife figured it was your boyfriend or something. But after comparing notes, we realized that it’s not the same person.” With that he nodded at Burt.
“So, what does this person look like?” Burt asked. Solie braced herself for the reply.
“Tall, about six foot three. Big, like muscular big, not fat big. Bald. Dark skin.”
“Really?” she asked too brightly. “Well, thanks. I appreciate you looking out for me. But it’s all good. No worries.”
“Good. I was hoping everything was okay.”