Camellia

by Cari Z.

  "Danny," Lucy said, and it wasn't chiding. It was concerned. "Honest communication, remember?"

  "You said it was important during a scene," Danny snapped back, hating herself for it but feeling stupidly fragile right now. "What, are we back in a scene again? Did we ever leave the last one?"

  "Did we … ah, I see." Her expression softened a bit, and she touched Danny's arm. "I should have been clearer last night. Yes, the scene is over. It was over when I suggested you go and shower. I apologize for my lack of precision, I thought the transition was clear enough from my actions. I won't leave you so uncertain again."

  Really? Is that what Lucy thought this was about? Her fucking precision? With an aggravated sigh, Danny tossed the blankets to the side and well away from her. But then she stopped, not really ready to leave the bed, but not completely wanting to be in it either.

  "Did I do something wrong?" Danny asked her, her shoulders slumping forward as she looked across the bed to Lucy.

  Lucy's fine mouth pulled down into a delicate frown. "No, of course not. What gave you that impression?" She moved her hand up Danny's arm to her shoulder and then along her collarbone until she was at her neck, her long fingers caressing the fine hairs at Danny's nape. Lucy's touch, those soothing motions and light pressure, had Danny leaning forward in easy bliss.

  "You didn't want me last night," Danny whispered, her voice coming out somewhere between as sigh and a moan. Though, given what Lucy was doing to her neck, it was probably a lot closer to a moan. She didn't mind.

  Lucy chuckled and Danny turned her head to look at her. "Because I didn't have sex with you?" Not looking away from her, Danny nodded. "My dear, Danny. Last night was about you, about exploring your own desires, not about my own pleasure. I admit, I was tempted. But how could I not be when you were so stunningly laid out for me, ready to be taken?"

  Danny blushed at the compliment. "So ... it wasn't that you aren't attracted to me?"

  Lucy gave her a smile, a real one this time and not the half-assed ones that made Danny think she was missing something completely. "No. Far from it."

  Danny's hands tightened on the sheets as she continued to look over at Lucy. "Do you think that could change? That you could enjoy me as well?" Her cheeks heated even as she said it, but there it was, the words were out, and Danny forced herself to meet Lucy's gaze, determined not to let this drop.

  Lucy moved her hand from the nape of Danny's neck, over the curve of her ear, and along the line of her chin until a single finger lifted her chin, turning her head even more toward Lucy. Just one finger was enough to hold Danny in place, captivated by Lucy even when she was sleep-rumpled and without makeup.

  "I think it's possible," she said at last. "Will that do for now?"

  Danny grinned, feeling like she had won something important. "Sure. For now."

  Lucy released Danny's chin and stood up. "Good. Now, I suggest we start getting ready. We've delayed long enough."

  Resisting the urge to call Lucy "mistress," Danny got to her feet and headed toward the bathroom. She didn't know what the hurry was, since they didn't have a presentation until that afternoon, but she'd get ready all the same because that was what Lucy wanted her to do. There was a certain pleasure in obeying a command, even when the crop wasn't on her. Maybe because Danny figured that if she was good enough, Lucy might give her an encore of last night. Maybe just because she wanted to.

  Half an hour later, Danny emerged from the bathroom in her stolen spa robe, clean, dry, and ready to play dress up. Lucy gave her a little wave of her fingers and pointed at a tray on the table. "Breakfast," she announced before heading into the bathroom.

  Breakfast, excellent. Hopefully it was more than fruit. Danny sat down, lifted the lid off the tray and rolled her eyes. Right on, fruit and yogurt, and a little bowl of granola. At least there was also coffee too. That was like the equivalent of a huge present wrapped with a big red bow from Lucy. Danny sat down and took a bracing sip of caffeine before starting on the health food.

  After Danny was done with breakfast, but before Lucy had reemerged, there was a knock on the door. Once Danny confirmed that it was Natasha and Lillian, Danny let them in.

  "Hey," she said, smiling brightly at them both.

  Natasha gave her a shrewd look and Danny resisted the urge to smirk. What she'd done with Lucy, while awesome, wasn't any of Natasha's business. "Good morning," Natasha said, coming fully into the room. Lillian followed carrying something that was bright purple and silky.

  "Today I thought we'd go a bit more burlesque," Natasha said as she stepped into the middle of the room. "Is Lucy in the shower?"

  Danny nodded and went to see the clothing that Lillian laid down on the messy bed. "Is the purple one for me?" she asked Natasha, knowing Lillian wasn't likely to answer her.

  "Greedy girl, wait your turn," Natasha admonished her. "Hands to yourself."

  Trying very hard not to pout, Danny found a place on the bed and smoothed the robe out over her thighs. "What are we waiting for, then?"

  "Me, I'd imagine," Lucy said, stepping out of the bathroom with her own dressing gown wrapped around her. "You mentioned something about burlesque?" she continued, going to Natasha and touching her shoulder in greeting.

  Danny took advantage of Lucy's distraction to look at her. The robe was huge, damn it, but she still got a good look at some of the skin Lucy had been hiding away. Yesterday's glimpse in the massage room had been a painful tease. Lucy was perfection in smooth muscles and subtle curves. Danny had to remember to close her mouth when Lucy glanced her way.

  "You know how I love burlesque, honey," Natasha said with a grin, and motioned for Lillian to display the outfits for them. The purple one was barely more than a corset attached to an extremely short, poufy skirt, that was freaking gorgeous with all kinds of black lace and silver details. The other was far more refined and nearly all black except for a few small green pinstripes that ran down the corset and ended on gold chains. Danny didn't need to guess to know which one she was going to be wearing, and she got to her feet to make it easier for Lillian to help her into it.

  Danny guessed this was what it felt like to wear a tutu as Lillian helped her out of her robe and then wrapped the gauzy material around her waist. Danny took the opportunity of dressing in the same room as Lucy to try and catch another glimpse of her naked, because honestly, she was starting to feel a little desperate. Each time she glanced over at Lucy and Natasha, though, Lillian would put something new on her, stealing her attention back to what she was doing and away from where Danny wanted it to be. It was jaw-clenchingly frustrating.

  Naturally, Lucy ended up fully dressed while Danny was still being laced into the new corset. Of course, Lucy looked stunning. She always did. It was unnatural for someone to look that good all the time. Danny was slightly jealous, but more than that she wanted to take Lucy into her arms and haul her back to bed. She'd start with kissing her, then she'd slowly undo Lucy's corset, opening those little gold clips on the front. Her breasts would spill out and Danny would—

  "Ouch!" Danny yelped, putting a hand to her ass as she turned to look at Lucy.

  "No more daydreaming," Lucy chided her, the crop swinging from her fingertips. "It's important to stay in the present, to focus on the here and now."

  Danny barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes when she caught sight of the slight curve of Lucy's lips and the crinkling of the lines around her eyes. This felt like foreplay, and Danny was the queen of foreplay. She dipped her chin and looked up at Lucy demurely. "Sorry, it won't happen again. I promise." She wanted to call her Mistress—it was on the tip of her tongue to do so, but it felt too intimate to say in front of Natasha and Lillian in light of what they'd done on that bed last night.

  "Yes, well, very well, then," Lucy said, stepping around the bed toward her. Danny saw the slight blush in her cheeks and felt like cheering. Ha! Danny could get to her. "Lillian, let me do that part."

  What par—oh, wow. Lucy had a gar
ter in her hand. "Which of your thighs would you like this on?" she asked Danny.

  "I can ... I can do it ..." Danny mumbled. It was unfair, so unfair that Lucy had decided to tease back, but to be better at it.

  Lucy shook her head. "No, no. I insist. Take a seat on the bed."

  As if her body no longer obeyed her own wishes, Danny instantly found herself sitting down at the edge of the bed as Lucy stepped in front of her and took Danny's right foot in her hand. Getting it over the foot wasn't so bad, and Danny thought she might have a chance of getting through this without her body betraying her.

  Lucy slowed her progression and kept one hand cupped under Danny's knee as the other slid the bit of black lace up her thigh. Her fingers lingered on Danny's sensitive skin, and Danny couldn't help the blush that covered her face and neck as Lucy's hand stopped high on her inner thigh, only inches from where Danny had wanted her last night.

  "How's this, Danielle?" Lucy whispered into her ear. Her breath was warm, but it wasn't what made heat rise in Danny's belly as she slowly spread her thighs, offering herself up to Lucy.

  "Natasha, I think we're quite good here. We'll see you at the convention," Lucy said without looking away from Danny.

  Within a minute they were alone, and Danny silently begged for the promise of what she saw in Lucy's steady gaze. "You are a temptress," Lucy told her.

  Danny didn't deny it. She knew what she was doing, and apparently so did Lucy. She reached down and covered Lucy's hand with her own on her thigh, pulling her closer to the heat waiting between her legs. "There's time," Danny said breathlessly.

  "There really isn't," Lucy protested.

  Danny was about to lose hope when Lucy moved her free hand behind Danny's neck and tangled it in Danny's hair, taking control of her head and tilting it back. Danny parted her lips, welcoming Lucy's kiss before it ever came. Lucy's hand tightened on Danny's thigh as her tongue slipped between Danny's lips, and Danny hoped that there would be marks there. She wanted proof, something there to remind her that this weekend with Lucy hadn't been some random fluke. Proof that this beautiful, cunning woman actually desired her, too. Danny was used to being wanted, but not cherished, and what Lucy promised in her hot, wet kiss was so much more.

  The kiss was over far too soon, and Lucy straightened up while Danny struggled to catch her breath. "You look radiant like this," Lucy said, taking a step back from her.

  Danny snickered. Jeez, radiant—who said that kind of stuff? "I can't work like this. I'm really needy. Won't you help?"

  Lucy lifted the corner of her mouth into a wicked half-smile that made Danny's heart race. "No, I don't think I will. Instead, I want you to remember this moment, the cusp of pleasure you rest on. Think about my hand in your hair and the tip of my crop against the curve of your bum. Think about it sliding between your legs and resting against your clit."

  Danny didn't have to do much to think about that, and soon she was pressing her thighs together as warmth teased over her core. "And then?" she asked Lucy, her voice hopeful.

  One perfect arched brow rose as Lucy looked down at her. "And then you get a chance to earn your pleasure, Danielle. Rewards don't come for free."

  Danny groaned. "I could just go finish myself off in the bathroom right now."

  Lucy gave her a little shrug and twirled the crop between her fingertips. "I'm sure you could. But what would you prefer—something quick now, or something more like last night?"

  Danny didn't even have to think about the question to know which answer was right. "Last night," she grumbled.

  Lucy nodded. "Good. Come along. There are some presentations today that I think might be interesting." She walked toward the door and Danny followed, trying to keep her thighs from brushing together and tormenting her more.

  "Here, this one could prove worthwhile," Lucy said about ten minutes later as she pulled Danny into a darkened room. They found a place in the back row, well away from the stage. There were people a few rows in front of them, but no one nearby.

  "What's this about?" Danny asked her, leaning forward. She wasn't slouching, the corset wouldn't allow her to, but she could be more comfortable than Lucy's prim posture allowed her to be. Danny noticed a few posters with warning labels on them, but she couldn't make out what they were saying as the lights slowly dimmed. "It's supposed to be a demonstration of discipline with a whip. The idea is the same as what I do with my crop, although the method can be more exacting. I like my crop, though. Don't you?"

  She pressed her lips together before she let everyone in the small room in on just how much she liked that slender bit of wrapped leather hanging from Lucy's hand, as if it was nothing more than an umbrella and not a tool that drove Danny from pleasure to pain and back again. Danny still wasn't sure how the two sensations had blended so seamlessly, becoming something she wanted instead of something she cringed from. She kind of wanted to ask Lucy about it, but right now a man in a leather mask was leading a woman with what looked like tape crisscrossed over her nipples onto the stage. Her hands were tied behind her back, and apart from the tape, all she had on was a thong.

  Danny shifted in her seat, and this time it had nothing to do with pleasure as an uncomfortable feeling bubbled up in her gut. There was just something about this man and the woman, something that seemed … well. Danny knew next to nothing about BDSM, so who was she to judge. Still, it felt off. Uneven, somehow. The woman stood alone in the middle of the platform and the man moved back, his body almost completely hidden by a set of dark curtains that had come down to drape one edge of the stage. After a long, tense minute of waiting that made the woman, and Danny, tremble with anticipation, a whip came out of the darkness and landed squarely across the woman's back. She cried out, and Danny gasped as her hands went to her mouth. That didn't sound good. Even from the distance that she was at, Danny could see the angry red line that marked the woman's pale skin. Nothing comforting was said, not like when Lucy used the crop on her, before the whip came down on the woman again.

  The woman flinched as the whip struck her again, but other than that, she didn't move. Her eyes were open but not focused, and her mouth was pinched shut. Every new blow made her whimper, and she swayed on her feet but managed to stay up. The audience murmured around them, but Danny didn't hear anything they said. She couldn't take her eyes off the woman, who seemed dissociated from what was happening to her. Did she have a word, like Danny had? She had to, wasn't that a rule? Why didn't she say it? Why wouldn't she, how could this in any way be good for her?

  "Breathe, Danielle," she heard Lucy say against her ear. The command, so sharp and clear, worked its way into her head, and Danny shuddered and inhaled. She hadn't even realized she'd been holding her breath. But it was Lucy's fingers around her arm, forcing her to her feet, which really freed her from that moment. "Get up, we're leaving."

  Danny stumbled as she approached the doors, but by the time they cleared them and then walked across the hallway to an empty salon, she was able to walk normally. She hadn't realized how bothered she'd been until Lucy shut the door for privacy, then pulled a chair up behind Danny and made her sit. Her hands were shaking, and she still felt a little light-headed.

  "I don't understand that," Danny said, babbled, really, as Lucy pulled a chair over to sit across from her. "I don't get how that was a good thing, I just don't. Why didn't she say anything? How could he do that do her, why didn't she make him stop?"

  "It was a little more extreme than I had expected," Lucy said, reaching out and cradling Danny's hands in her own. "That level of play between a dominant and submissive can be pleasurable for some people, but it certainly isn't for everyone."

  "You … you don't like it like that, do you?" Danny asked warily. It was something she had to know, because if Lucy wanted that, it didn't matter how sexy she was, Danny was out. Period. "You wouldn't—I mean, to me, you wouldn't want to do that."

  "Not at all," Lucy assured her. "I don't care to go beyond what we've already done, as it p
ertains to pain. My enjoyment is more task-oriented, watching my submissive get pleasure out of obeying me, not out of taking whatever I feel I can dish out. I promise you, though, that there are those who genuinely enjoy a more intense dynamic, and I'm sure that the people demonstrating were both getting what they wanted out of it. Now, take a deep breath, Danielle."

  "I'm fine," Danny protested.

  Lucy shook her head. "Honest communication, remember? Your hands are still shaking, and I can see the whites of your eyes. I can help you relax, if you'll let me. And," she added, "I don't recall making it a question, Danielle." Lucy looked at her expectantly.

  Danny knew she could say no and Lucy wouldn't push it. If she did, though … that might be the end of this, this whatever that was growing between them. Lucy was asking for Danny to trust her, to let her help. And, in the interest of honest communication, Danny did kind of feel like she needed some help. She inhaled, expanding her diaphragm as far as she could, before slowly exhaling.

  Lucy's expression was as composed as ever, but her eyes shined with approval. "Lovely. Again."

  Danny repeated it, over and over, and with each breath Lucy's hands moved further up her arms, squeezing her skin lightly, taking away her goose bumps. It could have been one minute, it could have been ten, but by the time Lucy's hands were squeezing the tension out of Danny's shoulders, her hands were steady as a rock, and she felt the calmest she'd been all morning.

  "Very good, Danielle," Lucy said, removing her hands at last.

  "Thank you, Mistress."

  Lucy smiled and stood up. "I don't think we'll be returning to that particular demonstration. Dalton is at Camellia, I'll have him bring us over a thermos of my ginseng blend." She removed her phone from a hidden pocket of her outfit and sent a quick text.

  "You're gonna ask him to drive all the way over here just to bring us tea?" Danny asked, a little surprised. It seemed like a lot of effort to go to for a drink, and not for the first time she wondered exactly what the deal was between Lucy and Dalton. "We could just get some tea here."