Salvaged by Love (Thalia Book 3) (The Thalia Series)

by Jennifer Bene

  Brad stepped away and brought over leather cuffs, Lauren was already tense atop the Sybian, her breathing rapid in her excitement. Reaching above her Brad linked a nylon strap to the end of a chain hanging from the high ceiling. In a moment he had the cuffs on Lauren and her arms bound above her head. She wasn’t taut though, and she could lean forward or back easily, but it meant it would be very difficult to dismount without assistance.

  Brad was very fucking creative.

  The look on his face when he turned to Chloe had small moans slipping from between her lips. He stopped in front of her and tilted her chin up sharply, “Ready, darling?” Chloe nodded with a whimper and Brad chuckled. “Good girl. Up for me.” He held his hand out and she stood gracefully.

  Brad dropped into the spanking chair and tugged Chloe across his lap, adjusting her until her ass was turned up for his hand. He nudged her thighs apart and the scent of her arousal was evident. James took a step back to stand by Kalen. With a clink of metal Chloe’s hands were bound to the chair, and she moaned again.

  “Ready girls?” Brad was running his hand over Chloe’s back, and the round of her ass, and she was already squirming. Their tension was incredible, every shift of Lauren’s body had her groaning and tensing her arms against the cuffs. “Girls!” Brad’s voice was sharp for once and the shiver that went through both girls was satisfying for all the Doms in the room.

  “Yes, sir.” They moaned almost simultaneously.

  “Brilliant.” Brad smiled at Kalen, who stepped forward and handed the Sybian remote to him. The cry released from Lauren as the machine started moving inside her, and vibrating against her clit, was all the notice anyone needed to know the game was on. Her moans and whimpers were escalating quickly as her nerves ramped up her sensitivity. Even from James’ angle he could tell that Brad was barely teasing Chloe, his fingers dipping between her lips, brushing lightly over her clit, and making her plead.

  “Please, sir, please touch me. More? Please touch me more?” Chloe’s soft pleas made James’ cock twitch and he wanted to find Thalia. Right now.

  “The name of this game is patience, darling.” Brad slid a finger inside her and Chloe moaned, pushing back against him as much as she could. James’ attention had been distracted from Lauren who suddenly released a loud cry; her head dropping back as her muscles tensed and she came hard. She was biting her lip as she shivered and her eyes snapped to Chloe and Brad. Brad was grinning. “Tsk, tsk, Lauren. Look at that, already a punishment for Chloe.” His hand came back and landed sharply on Chloe’s beautiful skin. She yelped, and he did it four more times until she was wiggling and tugging on the cuffs. Lauren was gasping as she watched Chloe get punished, a hint of need in her own eyes.

  Ah, submissives, no other women could compare.

  Lauren was rocking again, the spanking clearly exciting her which made her grind down on the Sybian. Brad’s gentle touches returned between Chloe’s thighs, but this time he slid two fingers inside her. Lazily stroking her as she begged over and over for more. Kalen nudged James’ shoulder, his cheeks ruddy as he grinned. He nodded at the door and James nodded back. Brad winked at them before turning his eyes back to the writhing Lauren.

  As James and Kalen slipped from the room they could hear Lauren moaning, “Oh God, not yet, not yet, not yet!” Then her voice rose sharply, and a series of spanks followed like thunder after a lightning strike.

  “Ahem, well,” James rocked back on his heels as Kalen shut the door and stopped, “I think Brad may have a handle on them now.”

  “Yeh,” Kalen laughed, “I think the girls are learning the benefits of obeying. On that note, I think I’m going to track down Maggie.”

  “I’m grabbing Thalia before she meets with Ailsa,” James checked his watch and groaned as his cock strained in his pants. Not long enough for too much fun, but he needed her. Fucking craved her.

  “See ye later.” Kalen grinned wickedly and walked away, and James turned the other way to find Thalia.

  Chapter Three

  Thalia was deliciously sore as everyone sat down for dinner. She was smiling and laughing with Julie and it felt easy, natural, normal. The most normal she had felt since her life consisted of a dead-end contract job, a douchebag boss, and an empty apartment and social life. Her mind was wrapping around how drastically her life had changed when she felt James’ hand against hers. The babble of voices effectively hid his words as he leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I want you to know I’m nowhere near done with you for the night, pet.”

  Her pussy flooded with heat, her panties dampening instantly at the anticipation of what he was planning. His devilish smile flashed before he turned his head to respond to something Brad had said, but he linked his fingers with hers on her thigh.

  Thalia licked her lips as she remembered his fierce need for her earlier in the afternoon. The way he had grabbed her from the bathroom where she was drying her hair. Pushed her to her knees in front of him where he barely let her taste him before tugging her onto his lap in a chair. She’d ridden him until they both found their pleasure, and Thalia had muttered a curse realizing she was late for her therapy session.

  Ailsa had only laughed when she’d arrived almost ten minutes late, her cheeks still flushed from their efforts, and a silly grin plastered across her face. They had talked about James’ accident, how Thalia had felt, and then Ailsa had openly asked if she loved James. If she was in love with James. It had surprised her. But then it had been exhilarating to admit it out loud, and in a very untherapist-like way, Ailsa had leaned forward before moving her book to the side. With a conspiratorial grin, like a long lost girlfriend, she had urged Thalia to tell her everything.

  And Thalia had.

  Which is why now, at dinner, Thalia couldn’t hide the blush or the way her pulse picked up at James’ promise. She was tempted to make an excuse to leave when Julie grabbed her other hand, and brought her back to reality.

  “You’ve got that dreamy look on your face again.” Julie tilted her head, her voice all-knowing.

  “Ah, I do?” Thalia laughed, and Julie grinned back at her.

  “Mmhmm, you do. What did James say?” Julie had dropped her voice to a whisper.

  “Just that he has plans for us this evening.” Thalia couldn’t keep eye contact with her as she felt her blush burn in her cheeks. Julie cackled and clapped her hands together.

  “That’s brill! I’m so jealous, Thalia. There isn’t enough phone sex in the universe to match just one night with Antonio.” She groaned and dropped her head back, and Thalia felt terrible for her. A month away from James would be misery, and apparently it happened a few times a year for Julie. The Middle East wasn’t as friendly to women as Antonio would like, and especially not with an exuberant, highly sexual girl like Julie. So she spent that time at Purgatory with Kalen and Maggie so she wasn’t lonely or bored. And Thalia was pretty sure that Antonio sent along suggestions to Kalen just like James had.

  “I’m sorry, Julie, really.” Thalia felt guilty about the blatant displays of affection that Julie was surrounded by at dinner. James’ suggestive comments, Chloe and Lauren’s overt flirtations with Brad, Maggie and Kalen’s sweet whispers and kisses. It must be torture.

  “No, no! I’m used to it, I swear. And he’ll be back soon!” Julie laughed again, her bright smile back, “Plus, the ‘I’ve missed you’ sex is phenomenal!”

  Thalia laughed as well and James leaned over to place a kiss behind her ear. His teeth nipped at her skin and she found her back arching, her breath catching. His grip tightened on hers and she turned into his mouth. James kissed her and it didn’t matter that she could feel everyone looking at them. She wanted to kiss him. She always wanted to kiss him, no matter where they were. James pulled back a bit and smiled against her lips.

  “Oh, now, don’t stop on our accounts! Please continue!” Kalen’s voice boomed across the table and a few chuckles shuffled across the room. When Thalia looked up, Maggie’s eyes were twinkling a
nd Kalen was grinning through his beard.

  “Hmm, maybe later, Master Kalen.” Thalia grinned and Kalen looked surprised for a moment before he let out a loud laugh. Julie’s mouth was in a perfect ‘O’ as she stared at Thalia in shock.

  Had she just said that out loud?

  “Maybe you should consult me before you offer things like that, pet.” James purred in her ear, and she blushed furiously, but he chuckled and pressed a kiss to her hair.

  “Look how cheeky ye are!” Maggie cackled.

  “Quite right!” Kalen slapped the table and some sly smiles spread across the room. Kalen’s voice gentled, “I have to admit I’ve never been quite so glad to hear someone be cheeky. Ye’ve come quite a long way, Thalia.”

  James tightened his grip on her hand and she smiled. “Thank you, Master Kalen. And - “ Thalia took a breath, “- and thanks for letting us stay, it means everything to me.”

  “To us.” James added, running his thumb in a hypnotizing pattern over the back of her hand.

  “Ah, yes, I’m glad ye stayed too. Both of ye.” Kalen’s voice was sincere for a moment, and then he laughed again. “And!” He raised his glass and nodded towards Brad, “We’ve got another success story at the table, don’t we Brad?”

  “Absolutely. Chloe and Lauren had some fantastic realizations today.” Brad smiled and Lauren and Chloe looked at each other.

  “Do tell?” Kalen leaned back in his chair, taking a drink of his scotch. Maggie was toying with her own glass of it, and everyone was waiting for Chloe and Lauren to answer.

  “We need to listen to Brad, to have self-control, to be obedient!” Lauren piped up with a grin.

  “It’s much better when we are.” Chloe added with a gentle correction.

  “More fun for sure.” Lauren winked and everyone laughed.

  “I think my girls enjoyed their session this afternoon.” Brad grinned.

  “We did. It was -” Lauren sighed dreamily, “- amazing.”

  Chloe bit her lip for a moment, shrugging as she leaned against Brad’s shoulder, “Brad is amazing to put up with us.”

  It was Brad’s turn to laugh, “I’m bloody lucky, because both of you girls are my kind of crazy.”

  Everyone laughed, but the side conversations soon took over again. The trio was talking quietly to each other and Lauren crawled into Brad’s lap so she was closer to Chloe as well. Kalen kissed Maggie and left the room on his cell phone, leaving Maggie alone at the end of the table on her phone. But she seemed content as she sipped from her glass and scrolled through something.

  After a few minutes Chloe and Lauren were giggling and it made Thalia smile. They were ridiculous. But from the corner of her eye she caught Marisol rolling her eyes at them. Bitch. Thalia had to bite her tongue to keep from calling her out on it. Luckily, Julie took that moment to pick up their conversation.

  “So, Thalia, I know you and James are leaving in a few days... are you going to keep teaching yoga back home?” Julie asked the question while toying with a fork she hadn’t used.

  “Ailsa and I have talked about it. About ways I can build a life, and, yeah, I’m planning to join the local studio back home.” Thalia shrugged, trying to suppress the excitement that bubbled up inside of her at the idea of it. “And if they have a teacher certification program, I’m going to sign up.”

  “Is that right?” James’ mouth was against her ear, and Julie did a terrible job of hiding her smile. She had known he was listening.

  “Um, yes?” Thalia shifted so she could see James’ expression and his eyes were full of warmth. He was happy. They were both so unbelievably happy. And they had friends. Thalia’s eyes roamed the room. Julie, Chloe, Lauren, Brad, Maggie and Kalen. Analiese and Nick had insisted they’d visit. Even Ethan was funny when he let himself not be so serious.

  “That sounds perfect, baby.” James ran his thumb over her cheek, and the edge of his mouth curved into a smile.

  “Even... if I’m not planning on taking college courses?” Thalia had talked about it a lot with Ailsa, about what she actually wanted to do, and it didn’t require a degree. She’d always been terrible at studying anyway, but she hadn’t even brought it up with James.

  “As long as you’re happy, I would never ask for anything else.” His smile went full-watt bright, and she practically gaped at how gorgeous he looked when he grinned like that. She’d always compared him to some yacht club ad, but no magazine model had ever made her stomach flutter like James did. He kissed her. Then he kissed her again, and she felt his hand sliding up her thigh. Somewhere at the back of her mind was the inkling that Julie was within arm’s reach, that the entire room was likely staring at them, and that the ideas that Thalia’s brain was suggesting were about to give the group one hell of a show.

  Then Julie screamed.

  Thalia and James jerked apart, and she watched as Julie sprinted across the room and leapt onto a very tan, dark haired man who caught her with ease. Julie’s legs were wrapped around him, her arms so tight around his neck that Thalia was a little concerned for the man’s air supply. It could only be Antonio. “Angel! Angel!” His rough voice sounded American as he wrapped his arms around Julie and squeezed her. “Love, I’ve missed you, but you’re going to choke me.”

  “Shut up!” Julie squealed and squeezed him tighter until Antonio made a gurgling sound. His hands reached back to pry her grip from him, and he forced out a laugh.

  “Angel, please?” Antonio leaned her back and she finally relented, relaxing her grip and tilting back on his hips so she could look at him.

  “Antonio, you didn’t even tell me you were coming! You always tell me!” Julie pouted but he pulled her against him and kissed her. They both groaned and Antonio lifted her higher, his hands wrapping around her thighs.

  The entire room was staring and Thalia had a pretty good idea of what hers and James’ audience had been like. Maggie was covering her mouth, and Kalen walked over to wrap his arms around her as they watched Julie and Antonio come home to each other.

  “I love you, angel. I can’t even tell you how miserable every damn day has been without you to wake up to.” Antonio was gruff as he turned and pressed Julie to the wall of the dining room.

  “I love you, too. So much. I’m so glad you’re back.” Julie kissed him again and Maggie almost talked but Kalen covered her mouth, tucking her against him.

  What’s going on?

  “Jules, Julie... slow down, I wanted to tell you something, or ask, well -.” Antonio slid her down his front and pushed himself back from her, taking a breath.

  Then he dropped to one knee.

  Every girl in the room let out the same surprised squeal-gasp, and Julie started crying when Antonio slid a box from his pocket. “Antonio...” Julie whispered. He took a deep breath.

  “Angel, you are everything I’ve ever wanted. You are my sunlight, my joy, the warmth in my life that makes me feel whole, and when I’m not with you I feel empty. Alone, even if I’m surrounded by people. Cold in places that can’t be warmed without you there. You are - you’re perfect to me.” Antonio took another breath and looked up at Julie whose blonde hair was bouncing as she tried to stifle her tears. “I feel like you deserve so much more than me, but I’m a selfish bastard, and... and I’d really like it if you’d agree to marry me.”

  “YES!” Julie cried and half-tackled Antonio. He caught himself on one hand, laughing, but she silenced him with a kiss. He eventually pushed her back and smiled, dark scruff on his tanned cheeks made his white teeth stand out.

  “Don’t you even want to see the ring?” Antonio held the box between them and Julie wrapped her hand around it and kissed him again. He slid a hand into her hair and bowed her back, taking charge as his tongue explored her mouth and she moaned against his lips. He pulled back and held her away from him by her hair. “Look at the damn ring, Jules.” His grin was full of nerves and anticipation.

  She sighed with exasperation, but she obeyed and opened the box. Julie’s ey
es lit up, and Antonio’s low rumbled laugh filled the silence. Julie’s voice rose up, “It’s beautiful, I love it, I love you! You really want to marry me?”

  “I actually thought I might have to beg, so thank you for saving my pride. Because I would have.” Antonio smiled. Julie slapped his shoulder and he rolled her under him to pin her. He sat up, straddling her hips as he tugged the ring from the box. Antonio took her left hand and kissed it before slipping the ring on, and Thalia leaned forward to see. James squeezed her hand as the yellow diamond caught the light.

  “Antonio!” Kalen’s voice boomed, followed by the thunder of his laugh, “Are ye going to let yer new fiancé up so we can congratulate the two of ye? Or do ye want the room to yerselves?”

  Julie giggled, seeming to be perfectly happy under Antonio’s weight. He groaned and kissed her hard, and Julie arched prettily against him. But he slid off her and stood, pulling her up with him. James tugged Thalia to her feet as everyone stood to surround them.