by Liz Andrews
Victor eventually pushed himself up and off her, pulling free from her body. The loss was more intense than any she had ever felt, and she resisted the urge to pull him back to her. Rolling from the bed, he strode into the bathroom, and she could hear the water running. He soon returned to the bedroom with a warm cloth and proceeded to clean her.
Her body felt boneless, as if she were floating on a wave. She realized the intense events of the evening were finally catching up with her and exhaustion was setting in. Victor seemed to sense it as well. He stroked the tendrils of hair from her face and stared down at her with an expression she couldn’t describe. “Go to sleep now.”
She chuckled. “Just because you order it doesn’t mean I’m just going to be able to fall asleep.”
“I see. You’ve received your reward, and now you don’t have to follow my commands anymore.” There was a teasing lilt to his voice.
“Yes, that’s it. I’ve decided to be a bad girl.” The sarcasm was more than evident in her voice.
“A bad girl, huh?” He tossed the washcloth down on the bedside table and rejoined her on the bed. He reminded her of a panther, stalking its prey. She scrambled backward, in a pseudoattempt at escape. The truth, of course, being she didn’t want to escape him at all. “Bad girls are punished.”
“Maybe that’s what I’m looking for.”
He gave a wicked laugh. “Ahh, but your punishment might not be what you expect. Instead of a harsh spanking, I could deny you your collar perhaps.”
She gasped, her hand going to her throat. Although they’d only been playing around about her punishment, the idea that he’d take the collar away from her was one she didn’t want to contemplate. More than ever, she realized, she’d come to think of the collar as more than just another toy in their play. To her, it represented his possession of her, and the idea he might deny that connection between them hurt her more than the idea of receiving a beating.
“No, that’s definitely not what I’m looking for.” The previous teasing pleasure had escaped her voice. So she shouldn’t have been surprised he immediately picked up on her seriousness.
“Hey now, what’s this?” With a finger under her chin, he tilted her head up. “There’s no reason to get upset.”
She moved her head, pulling away from his touch. “I’m not upset, it’s…”
“Before you finish that thought, let me remind you, the truth and consequences game may be over, but you’re never allowed to lie. You tell me the truth at all times, even if you don’t think it’s what I want to hear. Understand?”
“Yes.” Even though she might not like it.
“Now, you can finish that statement.”
She licked her lips. “I know we were only joking, but you were right. I was upset, and I didn’t like how it made me feel.”
“Upset why?”
“I didn’t like the punishment.”
“The point of punishment is not for you to like it, but to learn from it.”
She’d certainly learned something. She wasn’t happy with the knowledge, though. And she had a feeling the rest of the week was going to prove to be just disconcerting.
Chapter Nine
Today was the seventh day, the end of the week, and the experiment was over. And Victor was still no closer to knowing if he had swayed Tanya to consider making their arrangement something more than a temporary situation. Of course, it wasn’t as if he had come right out and asked her. Instead, he’d just enjoyed being with her, ignoring the march of time that continued to pass. The last few days had passed in orgasmic bliss, but now it was coming to an end, and he could bury his head in the sand no longer. He drummed his fingers on the desktop as he wondered what more he could do to earn her trust. He knew it was something she would determine and he would have no say in.
“Hey, guy, just thought I’d stop by to once again remind you, I’m going to be sitting on the beach sipping from a drink with an umbrella while you have the rare opportunity to stay here and work for the next two weeks.” Brandon flashed Victor a shit-eating grin as he finished his little sarcastic summary.
Victor was too intent on obsessing over his issues with Tanya to make a snappy retort. “Have a good time.”
“Whoa, what’s going on with you?”
Victor looked up with a furrowed brow. “Nothing, why?”
“No smart-ass comments about my girlie drink choice. No ’shut the fuck up, asshole, I hate vacations and love to work twenty-four-seven.’ Are you feeling sick?”
“Hardy, har, har.” Victor shook his head with resignation. “I’m nice to you, and you think something is wrong.”
“Hell yeah, I think something is wrong. You’re the iceman. You’re not supposed to be nice.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Brandon snorted. “No problem, dude. Now what is it?”
As much as Victor enjoyed giving Brandon a hard time, they’d been friends for too many years for him to just blow off the other man. “It’s Tanya.”
Brandon shut the door behind him and sat down in the guest chair, then kicked his feet up onto Victor’s desk. “I warned you that might end badly. It’s only been what, a week? That’s a record for you, right?”
Victor knew he didn’t have a good reputation with women, but that’s because he hadn’t found the woman who completed him the way she did. “I don’t need an ’I told you so‘ from you, so just back off.”
“Well, you need something. Tanya’s nice. Why are you messing around with her?”
Victor’s gaze narrowed menacingly. “Do you have some sort of thing for Tanya?”
“Wow, jealous much?”
“Shut the fuck up and answer the question.” And he better do it quick, before I rip his heart out of his chest.
“No, I don’t have a thing for her. But you know what. I ought to consider it. She doesn’t deserve being used and then dumped by you.”
“Well, surprise, surprise. I didn’t use her, and I don’t plan to dump her.” Victor ran a hand through his hair, relieved he wouldn’t be forced to kill his friend. “I love her, Brandon, and I’m not going to let her go.”
“Wha—” Victor’s statement seemed to have struck Brandon dumb for a moment. “Wow, man, I had no idea it was that serious. I thought…well, you know what I thought.”
“Yeah, I know. But she’s it, the one.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“You know what my proclivities are.” They’d been friends since college, and they both had kept each other’s secrets for years. Victor knew he didn’t need to caution Brandon to keep silent and that anything they discussed would go no further.
Brandon nodded with a glum expression. “And she’s not into it?”
Victor sighed. “Actually, she’s the epitome of my perfect submissive, everything I could have hoped for, except for one thing. She’s not ready to make that final commitment to the lifestyle, and to me, because it scares her. Tanya thinks she can play this week and then go back to her staid, vanilla life.”
“This week?”
“Yeah, I made her a proposition to be my submissive for the week. Today is the last day of our agreement.”
Brandon swung his legs off the desk, shaking his head. “You’re both idiots. You for making the offer in the first place and her for agreeing to it. Couldn’t you have just dated like normal people?”
Victor snorted. “What’s normal?”
“So true.” Brandon stood and Victor did as well. “I wish you luck, man. Besides, I don’t want to lose her as the office manager.”
“It’s all about you, isn’t it? Selfish bastard.”
Brandon grinned. “Now there’s the grouchy prick I know and love.”
Victor walked around his desk to the door, then opened it wide. “Go on, get out of here and enjoy your vacation.”
“Thanks, I will. Two weeks in the sun at a no-rules resort, what more could a man want?” Brandon smiled and exited the office as Victor returned to his desk. Victor knew
he only wanted one thing, and that was Tanya. He planned to pull out all the stops tonight to make sure she knew it.
*
Victor sat waiting for Tanya to come into the playroom. He’d given her strict instructions of what to do to prepare for this evening. While she readied herself in the bathroom, he’d set up the room. He wanted to treat Tanya to some sensual play tonight. In the broadest sense, he was being somewhat of a romantic.
“Oh my.” The breathy response from Tanya as she entered the room let him know he’d surprised her yet again. “It’s…beautiful.”
Looking around the room, he had to agree with her. He’d lit several candles and placed them on every available surface throughout the space, which bathed the room in a soft, incandescent glow. There was soft music playing in the background, setting the mood.
“I’m glad you think so.” Victor walked over to where she was standing and trailed his fingers down her bare arm. She was completely nude, just as he’d ordered, and her hair was secured in a high ponytail. The biggest change was that her mound was now completely bare. Although he liked the look of her trimmed bush, bare was definitely needed for what he had planned for the evening. He took the collar he’d been holding, walked behind her, and clasped it around her neck, buckling it securely.
As he stepped back to her side, Victor noticed Tanya’s gaze was riveted on the massage table, once again set up in the middle of the room. He’d placed a plastic drop cloth under the table, and a sheet lay over the top of the table. “What’s happening tonight?”
“I’m not a professional, but I thought you’d like a massage.”
She blinked in obvious surprise. “Um…yeah, I’d love one.”
“Up on the table then, facedown to start.”
As she climbed up on the table and arranged herself, he grabbed the bottle of oil he was going to use. It had a sensual almond scent, and she hummed in appreciation when he drizzled it along her spine. He took his time, massaging her back and shoulders before moving on to her arms and legs. She was practically limp by the time he told her to turn over.
Once she was settled on her back, he added in his next surprise. “I’m going to put the blindfold on you.”
“Oh…okay.” As she gave her assent, he held back the laughter that bubbled up. She seemed to think she had a say in wearing the mask.
The massage took a more seductive turn as he trickled the oil over the front of her body. He started with her arms but quickly traveled to her collarbone and down over her breasts. He spent a concentrated amount of time on both breasts, ending by tweaking each nipple. By the time he started on her belly, Tanya’s breathing had sped up, and she was shifting restlessly on the table.
Victor shifted his attention to her legs, starting with her feet and moving his way up, he spread her legs wider as he progressed. With the hair removed from her mound, he could clearly see the silky flesh of her pussy glistening with her own oils.
Massaging along her inner thighs, he continued to inch closer and closer to her core, without actually ever touching her there. When he released his hold on her and stepped back, she actually gave a whimper of disappointment. He couldn’t wait to surprise her with what he had planned next.
He picked up four paraffin candles, set them up in their holders, and lit them. The candles had no scent but were a variety of colors. Victor was looking forward to seeing her covered in the intricate designs he had planned for her.
“I have a special treat for you.” She turned her head toward him as he spoke. “But you need to do something for me.”
“What?”
“No matter what happens, you need to remain still. I don’t want to hurt you.” He could see her body trembling at the thought of the unknown. “If it’s too much for you, I just need you to let me know, understand?”
She nodded her head with a jerk. “Yes, I’ll let you know.”
“Good girl.”
He picked up the red one first and held the lit candle directly over her body. Tilting it, he dripped the pooled wax over her belly. When the first drop hit her skin, she reacted immediately.
“Ahhh…” Her hands clenched, and her back arched. “Wha—”
“It’s wax,” he explained. “I want to see you dancing under the wax as I paint your body with the colors.”
Picking up the blue candle, he began to draw concentric circles over the flesh of her breasts, moving closer and closer to her nipples. Then, returning to the red one, he dropped the hot wax onto the beaded tips. Tanya groaned, digging her fingers into the edges of the table in her effort to avoid moving.
“Your breasts look so tasty right now, like two frosted cupcakes each topped with a cherry.”
He moved to the end of the table and started to splatter her legs with the green candle. His heart swelled with pleasure when he heard the sweet exhaling sigh from her as he traveled closer to her pussy. This was becoming a tantalizing experience for her.
“It’s… I wasn’t expecting something like this.” He chuckled at the wonder in her voice. She still hadn’t quite reconciled the pleasure-pain factor of her submission, but she didn’t deny it either.
Ready for the last candle, he began to drip the black wax over the mound of her pussy. Her legs slammed together at the sensual contact, and he immediately stilled. “I’m very disappointed in you.”
A stricken look covered her face. “I…I couldn’t help it.”
“Not true. You did what you wanted instead of doing what I told you to do. Your desires overrode mine.”
“No…I mean, I’m sorry.”
“Not good enough.” He knew it might seem harsh, but he wanted her to understand, if she was going to be his submissive, then little rebellions like this wouldn’t be tolerated. “Spread your legs, now.”
With a load of apprehension filling her, Tanya did as he commanded. For the first time since she’d been with him, she was almost afraid of what her punishment was going to be. She had no idea what to expect, and the anticipation of all the things he could do filled her with dread.
Victor cupped her bare mound. “Whose pussy is this?”
“What?” He couldn’t be asking her such an obvious question, could he?
“Wrong answer.” Victor pulled his hand away, only to slap his palm back over the tender flesh.
“Ahhh.” The sting had her body jerking in reaction, and she could feel tears forming. The pain wasn’t the worst she’d ever felt, just so unexpected. He hadn’t meant it as a sensual slap, but a corrective one. The problem was, she didn’t know what the right answer was, and she had a feeling she was running out of time to figure it out.
“Do you want you try your answer again?”
“I don’t know what you want.”
Crack. His hand spanked her pussy again. “You’re really beginning to disappoint me.” Crack, crack. Two more strikes landed in quick succession.
The tears began to seep from her eyes. She could handle the pain. What she couldn’t stomach was his disappointment in her. If only she’d been able to keep her legs apart as he’d wanted, none of this would have been necessary.
…as he wanted.
“It’s your pussy,” she exclaimed with sudden understanding.
“Very good.” Pleasure infused his words. “My pussy, my ass, my breasts, my mouth, my submissive.”
“Yes, yours, all yours.”
“Good. I’m glad you finally understand.”
Tanya could hear him moving around, and she kept her legs spread wide, knowing she would do everything in her power to try and regain his pride in her. When his finger spread her pussy lips and he flicked a fingernail over her exposed clit, she thought she might come right off the table. The hot wax dripping onto the sensitive bundle of nerves had her moaning and taking a shuddering breath. “Oh God.”
“You’re being a very good girl right now. In fact, I think you deserve a bit of a reward.”
Victor stepped away from her, and she lay there aching and in need. Tanya wante
d to come but didn’t expect that he’d willingly allow that after her earlier disobedience. At least not yet. She would have to show more than just a few minutes of compliance. His warm breath caressed her ear as he leaned down close to her head. “You want to prove your submissiveness to me right now, don’t you?”
He seemed to be able to read her thoughts so well. “Yes.”
“Good, it is very, very important that you remain perfectly still.” She heard the distinct snick of metal, almost like a knife being pulled from its sheath. “I’m going to use this blade to remove the wax from your breasts.”
She could feel her body trembling at the thought of a knife scraping over such a sensitive area. But what concerned her more was the wax he’d just dripped onto her clit. Would he want to remove the wax there the same way as well?
The longer he took to start, the more nervous she became. Then she grew angry with herself. He’d never hurt her. Even her punishments hadn’t been truly painful. If she trusted him, everything would be okay. She just needed to do what he said and remain perfectly still. When she finally came to that realization, she could feel her body relaxing.
“Good girl.” He stroked his hand over the curve of her cheek, and she fought the urge to turn into his caress. Perfectly still. It was the one and only overriding thought in her head at the moment.
When the cold knife touched her heated skin, Tanya sucked in a deep breath. She wasn’t sure why the blade was chilled and wet, but the combined sensations of cold metal and hot wax were overwhelming to her senses. This was going to be even more difficult than she’d imagined.
He’d begun on the top of her right breast, scraping over the curve to remove the wax. Then, grasping the red tip, he lifted slightly to run the blade on the underside. Now all that was left to clean off was her nipple. With the most delicate touch, she could feel the metal grazing over the hardened nub.
“You’ve done very well so far.”
Tanya licked her lips and smiled, happy that she’d pleased him.