by Lexi Post
He had no choice. He had to finish the Masque. Then…then…
He shook his head and focused. He was still in the third-story hall and he had halted outside Eric’s room. Without hesitation, he turned the knob and entered. It was empty as he expected. Clothes hung on chairs and were piled like cairns in various parts of the room. Books lay scattered across the table, bed and floor, most open, revealing quill ink writing. As he moved farther into the room, his curiosity spurred him to pick up one of the books.
“Bloody hell!” He stared at the page in his hand. It was an incantation to the devil. What the blazes was Eric thinking? The back of Synn’s neck prickled. Grabbing another book, he skimmed the page. Though numerous words were in some other language, there was enough he recognized to reveal the depths Eric had sunk to. The man was attempting to halt his crossing. Synn sat down and perused the open book on the table. It indicated that the portal to the other side could be blocked.
He didn’t understand what it all meant, but it was clearly a threat to his friends. He needed to find the priest and tell the others. Closing the ancient text, he noticed a familiar book beneath it. What was the sex journal doing here? Eric must have gone into Rena’s room! Standing quickly, his leg caught the edge of the journal and it fell to the floor, revealing a hot-pink thong beneath. “Rena.”
His breath stopped as fear shot through his muscles. One of the phrases from the texts made sense now. It said “live soul”. Not questioning his instinct to get to Rena immediately, he dematerialized and floated through the floors until he reached the library.
“Rena.” He was still materializing as he strode toward her.
Her whole body jumped at his voice, and she lifted her face to stare at him. “Shit, Synn, I wish you’d stop doing that. I’d rather not have a heart attack before I open this place.”
For all her bluster, he could see she’d been crying, and not long ago. Without hesitation he lifted her out of her chair and pulled her into his arms. She felt so good against him. He stroked her back as her arms encircled his waist. He rested his chin on her head. “What has you so melancholy, you would cry?”
She pulled her head away from his shoulder and gazed at him. In her eyes was hopelessness. A need formed within him to make whatever it was go away. “Is it Eric?”
Her brows lowered and she shook her head. “No. Why? Did you find him?”
He looked away. “Almost.”
She pulled back farther to stare at him, but he kept his arms around her. “How can you almost find someone?”
“We found his clothes.”
She grinned. “That doesn’t help. The man never wears clothes. Who knows when he’ll come back for them?”
Her smile amidst her reddened eyes had his heart constricting with love and pride. Why did he understand now what it was to love? “True, but they were in the wine cellar.”
She nodded slowly. “And of course he will need to refill that ever-present wine glass of his. Very smart.”
He brought one hand up to move her loose hair away from her face. She was all softness to him and he would protect her. He owed her that. “Will you come to the Black Room tonight?”
She blushed.
“What is it, Rena? Eric won’t be there to humiliate you. That I can promise. Are you afraid to submit to my will completely?”
Her body relaxed before she even spoke. “No, I-I’m curious about it, I admit.”
He took her hand and walked her around the desk so he could sit in the wingback chair opposite. Pulling her into his lap, he settled her comfortably. “What would you like to know? There is no secret to it. I will simply tie you up and have my way with you.”
“In what way?”
He raised his brow. “Any way I want. I may decide to lick your pussy or have a woman suck your nipples, or maybe I will make you lick another woman’s nipples. What would you think about that?”
Her flushed countenance was a much better color on her than red-rimmed eyes. “I would think that I had to because you told me?”
He studied her, her round eyes curtained by her lashes, her small nose begging to be tapped. Yes, her current shy countenance foretold she would make a good submissive. “Very good.”
Rena’s hand played with his shirt, a telltale sign she was still nervous about it. He loved that he could read her so well now. He trailed his fingers along her arm until he reached her hand where he entangled her fingers with his own.
“Or maybe I will bend you over and push my cock into your ass as I play with your clit while your arms and feet remain securely restrained.” He squeezed her hand for emphasis.
Rena’s intake of breath confirmed it. She would be a willing pupil of the Bondage Room. His cock, hard from his thoughts, already begged entrance beneath her. “Can you feel how much I want to go in there?”
She nodded, her breaths short now.
How he wanted to take her right there. She would be wet and ready for him, but that would step over the lines of sex for the Masque and he dared not risk the chance of spoiling it for his friends. With effort, he controlled himself. “Are you ready to be my sexual slave tonight?”
She took a deep breath before she responded. “I’m willing to be with you tonight, but what happens after that?”
His blood stopped flowing to his cock at her question. “What do you mean ‘after’?”
Her fingers played with his shirt again, and he covered her hand with his. “What is it? Are you afraid you will cross over too? Because you won’t. You are full of life and will not be affected when everyone leaves.”
She finally met his gaze and the anguish there curled his gut. “What about you?”
He looked away this time. He didn’t want to think about what would happen after the Abbey was soulless. He couldn’t meet her eyes. “I will remain here. Alone. A prisoner in this abbey by my own design, in structure and in deed.”
Rena’s fingers dug into his chin as she forced him to look at her. “Not completely alone.”
He cupped her face in his hands. “Ah, Rena. Your optimistic spirit is a balm to my tainted soul.” He kissed her gently. He didn’t deserve her, couldn’t keep her. Ending the kiss, he lifted her off his lap and set her on her feet as he moved away.
He stood at the green glass window, separated from the outside light by its color and his past actions. He’d always accepted his guilt and his punishment, but right now he wanted to rail at the heavens and demand to be set free. To watch Rena leave or fall in love with another would be a torture far greater than any he had suffered so far.
Soft arms came around his waist as she pressed herself against his back. Her touch soothed his angst and calmed his heart. As she laid her head against his shoulder blade, he placed his arms on hers, holding her there, letting her soft, tangy scent and gentle touch give him solace…for a moment. He closed his eyes and shut out his prison, focusing on Rena alone. Despite the agony his future held, he would always be grateful for having fallen in love with her.
Rena breathed in the familiar spicy scent of Synn. She finally understood the depths of his anguish. How could she burden him with her own concerns when he was so overburdened with his own? Despite every instinct within her that demanded she tell him how she felt, she stayed silent. She would wait. What happened tonight would change her life forever, in so many ways. She would be patient. In the meantime, she had an exciting experience to look forward to. Her spirits rose at the thought and she squeezed Synn.
He pulled her arms apart and faced her. “I will see you this evening. Wear something sexy for me.”
She gave him a sly smile. “Of course.”
He brought their lips together and she melted into him as he kissed her. It was over too quickly. He released her and strode out the door, her body still warm from the contact.
She grasped her chair and slumped into it. Would he turn to her after the Masque was complete? Could she live the rest of her life only within these walls to be with him? Better to focus o
n the evening’s activities. Where was that sex journal? She glanced over to the space in the bookcase where it should have been returned, but footsteps approaching the room had her watching the archway before Valerie walked in. “Yes?”
Valerie came to a stop at the desk. “I heard the ghosts will leave tonight, forever.”
“Yes.”
“Oh.” Valerie sighed and looked down at her ever-present notepad. “That means we are going to lose all this manpower.”
Rena nodded.
“Shit. I was really getting used to the crew. That Darby is a rascal and Gwen is an absolute sweetheart.”
“Really?” She studied her friend. Valerie hadn’t really wanted to see ghosts. Now she didn’t want them to leave? Rena grinned.
Valerie lifted her hand with the notepad. “What? They have been working so hard for us, and they are good people.”
“I know. I’m going to miss them.” Rena leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.
“Me too. Actually, since you are talking about crossing over, I wanted to ask you about the chapel.”
Rena tensed, a protective instinct kicking into gear. “What about the chapel?”
Valerie shook her head. “Hey, don’t give me that look. I know you, girl. All I need to know is do you want electricity in there? I asked you once before but we got sidetracked. I thought it would be a nice place to get married. Maybe some guests could have small weddings here or elope even.”
Rena relaxed. “That’s a great idea.”
“Good, because Jamie can have his part done this morning and the electrician can get the fuse box in this afternoon when he comes.” Valerie wrote something on her pad and then stood. “Then we start on this side of the downstairs.”
Rena rose too. Emotionally, she was worn out and she wouldn’t be getting much sleep tonight, so a nap was in order. “Great. I’m going to head upstairs. If you need me, just send someone up to get me.”
“Right. As long as we have someone to send.”
Valerie continued into the dining room while Rena went to her room, Valerie’s depressing words echoing in her head. Would she get to say goodbye?
Throwing her clothes on the chair by the fireplace, she climbed into bed naked. It was only two o’clock and she was exhausted. She couldn’t even imagine what tonight would be like.
* * * * *
Rena walked through the colored rooms on Synn’s arm, acutely aware of the stares she received from the ghosts.
Synn chuckled. “I think I have taught you too well. You are enticing every man in this building, including me.”
She beamed. She couldn’t help it. She had a few pieces of clothing with her she had bought just after Bryce called it quits. They were for the “I don’t need you” phase that came right after being dumped, when she had purposely dressed a bit slutty to see who she could attract. However, tonight she’d gone one step further, no underwear. Her tight white tank showed the dark areolas around her nipples and her red miniskirt barely covered her ass. The red ankle-strapped high heels added to the illusion that her legs went on forever. She’d left her hair down and wore a simple white mask. She wanted Synn to be proud of her.
As they stepped through the Delicious Sex Room, he squeezed her arm. “What are you thinking?”
She gazed at him. He wore a loose-fitting white shirt with a deep V neck, black pantaloons, a black mask and his brown hair loose as usual. He was drop-dead gorgeous in a Byronesque way. “I was thinking that I dressed to make you proud. Are you?”
“Damn, woman, more than you know.”
She preened. She couldn’t help it. His desire for her made her feel beautiful, sexy and erotic.
When they reached the Bondage Room, Synn stopped inside the door, letting her take in the view. It was bathed in a glowing red light from the red windows and it wasn’t very bright. Still, she could see a table with straps at four corners and a rack with various whips, feathers, sticks and ropes. There were two metal bars that looked like stripper poles, but with straps on them as well. There were also some strangely bent padded benches with straps. Actually, almost everything in the room had leather straps. She shivered at the implication. When she had asked Bryce to tie her up, she’d meant to the bed. This room said this was serious sexual play and her stomach tingled.
Synn turned her toward him and put his hands on her shoulders. “Are you sure you want this?”
Staring into his eyes and reading his honest concern for her put any residual nervousness to rest. She wanted to experience this. Had for a long time, but even more, she wanted to experience it with him. She gave him a shy smile. “Yes.”
“You will allow me to do whatever I want to you?”
Just his words alone were priming her body for his use. “Yes.”
“While we are in this room, you may instinctually say ‘stop’, ‘no’, or ‘don’t’, but you won’t actually mean them. So I need to give you a phrase that you have to think about before saying. If you use this phrase, I will stop, and we will leave the room, no matter what I’m doing. Do you understand?”
She hadn’t even thought about whether she would want him to stop. She looked over at the whips. Maybe he was right. He was so experienced in this. It would make her feel better to know she could stop him even if she was tied. “Okay. What phrase should I use?”
“I want Bryce.”
Her body cooled instantly in her shock. “I can’t say that. It isn’t true.”
He grinned. “Exactly. I need you to think long and hard before you decide to stop our sexual pleasure. If you want me to stop, you are going to have to say it. In fact, say it now so that it’s clear.”
She pouted. She didn’t want to hurt him and she had no interest in Bryce, but it was clear he would not start unless she did. “All right. I want Bryce.”
He chuckled. “It’s good to hear how unenthusiastic you are about that.”
“Very funny. So what do we do?”
He looked sternly at her. “You do what you are told.”
Tingles raced along her back at his tone and brooding look. “What would you like me to do?”
He nodded. “I want you to sit in that chair.”
Not what she was expecting, but then again, while it didn’t have leather straps, it did have metal restraints. Curious, she sat. It was a simple, hardwood chair with arms. Synn kneeled down and clicked the metal restraints around her wrists. She tested them and sure enough they didn’t move and she couldn’t slip her hands out. Then he clicked her ankles to each chair leg using the metal cuffs.
“I need to show you something.”
Was his voice already growing husky, or was it her imagination? She nodded, sensing his arousal.
“Under your right arm is a latch that will allow you to unhitch your right hand in an emergency. Try it.”
She reached her fingers around the arm of the chair and felt the latch. Stretching a bit, she flicked it and her right wrist was free. “I see, so then I could undo my left and my ankles.”
“Exactly. But I don’t want you to release yourself. Understand?”
She nodded again, anticipation coursing through her as he closed the manacle back around her wrist.
“No, I need to hear you. Do you understand?”
This was easier than she thought. “Yes.”
“Good.” Then he put his hand under the chair. She heard a click and Synn spread her legs as far as was comfortable and locked the chair. It was some kind of hinge beneath her seat. With her short red skirt and her curls but a small bush above her clit, her pussy would be seen easily by anyone who looked. It thrilled her in a strange way and reminded her of when she’d tweaked her breast in the Exhibition Room.
Synn stood, his cock already a solid bulge in his tight pantaloons, making her body heat. “Remember, I don’t want you to release yourself. I have to retrieve a few items from my room, and I want you to stay just as you are. People may come in here and see you, but they won’t touch you as you are not theirs
. Understand?”
“Yes.” Her pulse increased at her helplessness while being exposed. It was completely different than being on exhibition and making men want her, but as she watched Synn walk from the room and she was left alone, she hoped no one would come in. When it came to sexual experiences, she trusted Synn completely, but she’d rather experience this room with him than without him.
But her wish to be unobserved was left unfulfilled. Within minutes, a man walked into the room and saw her. He stopped and stared at her pussy. Instinctually, she tried to close her legs, but the chair kept them spread. She flushed, her blood pounding at her inability to do anything but accept the stranger’s stare. After a few minutes, he turned and left. Her heart started to slow again. What a unique feeling.
Her attention was drawn to the archway as Beth and Byron strolled into the room. Beth wore a corset that held her pert breasts above it. She had on stockings and Victorian lace-up boots, and that was all, but what shocked Rena was the delicate gold chain that led from Beth’s pussy to Byron’s hand.
They stopped as a man, one Rena hadn’t met yet, approached from the other side, materializing out of the wall. As the two men spoke, Beth stood just a bit behind and idly swiveled her hips, pulling the chain taut. How could she have a chain there?
Beth noticed Rena staring and smiled. She pulled over a nearby chair and set one foot up on it. With her hands, she spread her labia so Rena could see. The chain was connected to something that looked like a clip-on earring and it was attached to her clit.
Rena sank back in shock, though her pussy heated at the sight. Wouldn’t that hurt? Beth put her leg back down and turned to face the man who had met them. To Rena’s surprise, Byron handed Beth’s chain to the new man. She saw Beth’s chest fill with air as she passed meekly from one man to the next, and Rena understood why they were in the Bondage Room. This was a type of submission she had never dreamed about. What else could Synn have in store for her? At the thought, her nipples hardened. Where was he?