The Switch

by Diane Whiteside

  “Stay. Please stay just a little while longer,” Sean pleaded, not caring how he sounded. He needed every minute he could get with her.

  Beth hesitated then nodded. “Let me get out of my dress.”

  “You can put on my shirt if you’d like,” Sean offered. She patted his shoulder gently and he closed his eyes.

  A few minutes later, the bed gave under Beth’s weight as she got in on the far side. He immediately turned to her and pulled her into his arms, delighted at her nudity. He cradled her, breathing in her scent, while trying to rebuild his sanity.

  Minutes passed while his breathing returned to normal, echoing the steady rhythm of her heart as her breasts rose and fell against him. She traced an idle circle on his back, while her satin-smooth leg rested between his.

  Sean tried to stay awake, even as his sated body relaxed against her satin skin, so he’d have more to remember later. She was so close to him that he felt the breath moving through her body and into his, until their chests rose and fell in unison.

  “Do you dream about being spanked by a woman, Sean?” Her voice was a soothing thread in the sheltering dark.

  “Yes,” he said hesitantly, trying to find words. Beth rubbed his back, silently urging him on. “After my mother was killed, I lived with foster families until I went to West Point. One lady spanked me. I don’t even remember why; could have been any number of things. But I do remember how hard I was while she did it and how good it felt when I jacked myself off afterwards.”

  The words came easier now; Beth hadn’t shrieked curses at him for perverted thoughts.

  “I was a pretty wild kid until Coach straightened me out, reminded me of my mother and grandfather’s teaching. He wanted me to stay on the wrestling team and go to college. My last year in high school, he got me a job at the Wolcott place, the biggest ranch in town. Mr. Wolcott was quite a man. He had a world championship buckle for bull riding, and a Bronze Star as a Marine in Vietnam.”

  He fell silent, remembering that spread in the Dakota Badlands and the big man who dominated it and the small town nearby. Beth leaned her head against his arm and watched him quietly, her brown eyes soft and curious. “What happened then?”

  “One afternoon early on, I was cleaning out an old tool shed by the house when I saw Mrs. Wolcott and Mr. Wolcott…” Sean stopped, startled by the surge of lust that welled up at the memory. Beth rubbed his nipple then flicked it. He blushed at the reminder that she liked his stories and his arousal.

  “Uh, Mrs. Wolcott was applying a leather belt to Mr. Wolcott’s butt. Lots of blows, lots of force. His ass was red as flame and his cock was rigid enough to dig a well with. Then she made him lie down on the kitchen floor and she rode him like he was a wild bronc.”

  “Go on,” Beth murmured and began to delicately lick his nipple, keeping it erect but not urgent.

  “I’d been with girls before but not much. I’d certainly never seen anything like that. Christ, I damn near came in my pants just from watching. After that, I started spying on them. I can still see her taking his quirt to his back or her fancy high-heeled shoes, if he didn’t lick her just the way she liked. They played games like that a lot.”

  Beth dragged her teeth lightly over him and he croaked the next words.

  “He enjoyed it as much or more than she did, judging by the look of his cock.”

  Beth’s tongue circled him, as she eased off just a bit.

  “I studied and memorized what they did, so I could remember it later. Matters went like that all of my senior year and through graduation. They enjoyed themselves while I spied on them, then played it back in my dreams.”

  “Then what?” Sean pulled his few remaining brains back from the feeling of her suckling slowly and happily on him.

  “Finally came the Saturday night before I left for West Point. My friends gave me a goodbye party but I didn’t stay very late. I went back to the Wolcott ranch to look around for the last time. That’s when Mrs. Wolcott spoke to me.”

  “What did she say, Sean? Please tell me the rest,” Beth urged softly. She watched him from luminous, eager eyes, while still caressing him with one hand. Still interested, still sexual, still unoffended.

  Sean shrugged and went on, biting back fear. He’d said this much so he might as well finish. Maybe she wouldn’t turn away afterwards.

  “She knew that I’d been watching and she wanted to give me a special goodbye present: spend the rest of the night with me, playing the same games she did with her husband. I tried to say no but she countered every argument I had. Her husband was in Fargo and wouldn’t be back until Monday. Hell, he’d even told her to do it!”

  Sean shook his head, still unable to really believe that a man would tell his wife to fool around with somebody else.

  “None of the hands ever came near the main house for chores so nobody would know. And I agreed.

  “We played games that night until my ass was so sore that I couldn’t sit down for days, and riding the bus out of town was hell. She taught me a lot about how to pleasure a woman with my hands and mouth, punishing me hard when I didn’t do things just right. It was every dream I’d had and more. And I loved it and I don’t regret any damn bit.”

  He looked into Beth’s eyes fiercely, willing her to believe the next part. “I didn’t come once though. At least, not inside her cunt. That would have been adultery.”

  “I believe you, Sean, and I’m glad that you had such a good time. Plus…you’re so sexy when you think about past pleasures,” Beth purred, sliding a little closer somehow. “Did you ever see her again?”

  “No, the last time I went there was the following Christmas and the Wolcotts always wintered in Arizona. Tiffany and I, we partied together some and the condom broke. She got pregnant, her family threw her out. We never went back after we married.”

  Sean brooded over the past, seeing Mrs. Wolcott’s serviceable white bra above her tight jeans, that wide leather belt gliding through her hands. Beth traced his jaw with a finger and the old memory vanished.

  “I had a lover too that I’ll always remember,” Beth offered. He looked down at her, startled and curious to hear what she wanted to reveal.

  “I went to Harvard for my MBA, a long way from home and any of my former boyfriends. I went to an alumni reception one Saturday night, just to meet people. I saw Dennis there, talking to a professor that intimidated me to death. But that professor was trying hard to impress Dennis! I was fascinated and kept watching. When Dennis left, he asked me to come with him and I said yes. I was in his bed within an hour.”

  “Did you like him?” Sean tried not to let too much jealousy into his voice.

  “Dennis? Yes, very much. We had a wild affair for the next year before things cooled down, to mostly friendship. Then he started really teaching me, although he’d taught me a lot before. First, he taught me how to submit, which was sweet. And then he taught me how to dominate a man, which I loved.” She held her breath while she waited for his reaction.

  “So he’s the one who taught you how to lead, like you did today?” Sean supposed he should be thankful to this unknown man.

  “He taught me most of what I know. He introduced me to people, other doms and subs who could also teach me. I’ve been involved in the SM scene for about eight years now.” Her voice died away.

  “Do you still see him?”

  Beth looked him straight in the eyes.

  “He died on September eleventh. His office was at the World Trade Center above where the plane hit. He called me to say goodbye, when he knew he wouldn’t make it out.”

  “Oh damn, I’m sorry, baby! I shouldn’t have made you think of that. Please forgive me.”

  “It’s okay, Sean. I’ve got to learn how to talk about him.”

  Still, she buried her face against him, her shoulders shaking slightly.

  Sean caressed her head, letting the silky strands fall through his fingers. He hated bringing grief into anyone else’s life. Slowly the silence became
more comfortable.

  “Fantasies, Sean? Care to talk about fantasies?”

  “Sure thing, Beth.” He tried to think of one that might interest her.

  “In the Army, I used to dream about being a soldier in a fantasy world, full of swords and dragons. Captured by Amazons,” he went on more strongly when Beth smiled up at him. “And then tested to see if I was good enough to serve the Goddess’ priestesses.” His voice trailed away as he tried to phrase another story to make it acceptable to a strong woman like her.

  Beth broke the silence after a few minutes.

  “I’ve got fantasies too, Sean. I think a lot about spending a weekend with a man who’ll do anything and everything I want. I can imagine so many things to do with such a man.”

  Sean’s arms tightened around her. “Oh yes!” he breathed against her hair. His cock twitched slightly against her hip and subsided slowly. Sean cuddled her closer and remembered the fool who had humiliated her. It would be a privilege to show her what cherishing really met.

  “I’ve fantasized about being a Frenchwoman, interrogated by a Resistance leader for collaborating with the Germans. Questioned fiercely. And sensually.” She sighed at the vision, then went on. Sean shivered at the thought of her, tied up but still spitting defiance.

  “And sometimes I dream about being overpowered by a barbarian, just slamming into me. Forcing me…and yet always knowing that he wouldn’t really harm me.”

  Her voice was very soft as she made the last confession. He kissed the top of her head.

  “It’d be an honor to carry out a fantasy of yours, Beth. Maybe take some time and do it up right,” Sean murmured.

  Beth licked his chest in response. “Time? Perhaps a weekend’s worth of fantasy, Sean?”

  “Oh, yeah,” he rumbled, his body warming to the possibility. A few days’ adventures with Beth? “Yeah, I could spend a weekend with you easily.”

  He kissed her cheek, before finding his way to her mouth and a long, sweet kiss. Finally, he lifted his head.

  “Think about it, sweetheart,” he suggested. “Two of us, alone for a couple of days, making some memories to take back to the real world? I’m game, if you are.”

  Beth caressed his cheek, her smile a quiet glow in the dark room. “I’ll think about it, Sean.”

  She relaxed silently back into his arms and he settled her more closely against him, relishing how easily she curved against his body. The only sound was the clock in the other room, its regular beat marking each minute. He fell asleep, thinking about barbarians and Amazons, Beth’s soft hair teasing his throat.

  “Wake up, Sean. I’ve got to leave in a few minutes but we need to talk first.”

  Beth held a coffee mug under Sean’s nose. His eyes opened and he was immediately alert, hearing the cuckoo whistle from the front room. Every detail of the previous night ran through his mind and coalesced into the realization that she was still here with him. A glance at the bedside clock told him how little time she had left before that meeting with the FBI.

  He relaxed and sat up, instinctively pulling the sheet up over his lap to cover his hard-on. Beth put the mug into his hand and then sat down next to him. Fully dressed, damnit.

  The rain whispered against the windows, quieter than the beat of his heart.

  “Yes, I’d like to take you up on your offer of a weekend. As you knew I would,” she teased gently. A small grin tried to form on his mouth but he kept his eyes fixed on her.

  “So, next weekend? From Friday night until Sunday night.”

  It wasn’t really a question but Sean nodded slowly anyway. Mike would be spending that time with the Hemmings’ relatives in Portland. Dudley had an invitation too, earned by his shameless fondness for Mike’s girlfriend.

  “Do you have any limits of what you will or will not do, Sean?”

  “No, ma’am. I’ll do anything you want.” Being with her was unpredictable but ecstatic. He knew a weekend with her was the best offer he’d ever had from a woman or would ever get, no matter what she intended.

  “The excitement for you will be what I want?”

  “Oh yes, ma’am, that’s exactly right.” His cock throbbed at the thought of her pleasure.

  “Physical limitations,” Beth considered. “I broke my foot during a diving meet but it’s healed now. Still, I don’t like to stand for long in very high heels. Do you have any?”

  Sean shook his head immediately. “No, ma’am. I’ve got no problems at all since the doc said my back was healed. I still work out as I did in the Army so I’m up to whatever you want.”

  Beth’s eyes sparkled at his eagerness. “I do yoga every day, Sean, plus swim and hike regularly. So don’t worry about me.” She paused for a moment before going on.

  “Don’t agree so easily, Sean. You have to do some other things before Friday.”

  Sean’s gaze flashed up, caught by her tone.

  “I want you to write down at least one of your most submissive fantasies and one of your most dominant fantasies. You have to give me the complete story, everything that happens and how much you’re turned on. Step by step.”

  Sean gulped at the thought. Write down every detail? Beth chuckled wickedly.

  “Just leave the packet for me at my hotel before Thursday night. I’ve written the address down in the kitchen.” She kissed his shoulder, then nipped him lightly. “And fair is fair. I’ll do the same and send it to your office. Double-wrapped envelope, to protect your privacy.”

  Sean blinked at the idea of seeing her fantasies on paper, something outside any of his previous sexual experiences or imaginings.

  “Now, you’re a generous lover but we both need a little more reality than just saying whatever you want, plus writing a couple of fantasies. So, have you ever heard of a list of things that you can say yes, no, or maybe to? Things like oral sex, bondage, spanking, whatever.”

  Sean thought hard, considering some of the non-fiction books locked in his bedroom. “Are you talking about a negotiation checklist? I’ve seen something like that in several of my books and I’ve read them on-line too.”

  “Excellent. Fill one out, including every activity that you can think of. Also be sure to write down all your needs and desires, what you must have and what you hope to have happen if you’re going to be sexually satisfied this weekend. No guarantees of exactly what will happen, of course, since I choose what goes on.”

  “Okay,” Sean answered slowly. She wanted him to write up that sort of thing? Just so she could be sure he’d be happy? But how could he talk about something that he’d always kept so private?

  “I also left a jazz club’s name in the kitchen. Meet me there on Friday night, ten pm. You’ll be back there forty-eight hours later, on Sunday night. Park your car where it’ll be safe for the entire weekend. Bring only the clothes you stand up in and the scarf, which must be clean. Got that?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he agreed promptly, fascinated by her operations plan.

  “Preparations,” she mused, before snapping out her requirements. “No alcohol or other mind-altering drugs for at least twenty-four hours before Friday night. In addition, and this is not negotiable, no orgasms for any reason whatsoever for twenty-four hours in advance.”

  Sean’s jaw dropped open.

  “Do you agree?” she demanded.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He shut his mouth.

  Beth searched his eyes for a minute and then nodded. She went on briskly.

  “You’ll also need a manicure, pedicure and facial. The facial must occur no later than Thursday. No hair removal except a maintenance hair cut.”

  Sean nodded, storing away the instructions. A facial? Why did she want him to do that? Men don’t need fancy skin treatments, surely. Or maybe they do in her world. Full comprehension would come later, especially after his cock stopped doing the thinking. It stood at full attention right now, more than ready to charge into any battle she commanded.

  “Repeat what you’re supposed to do.”

/>   “Report on Friday night, at twenty-two hundred hours in a sober condition, to the address given. Bring the scarf provided but no other clothing except the street clothes being worn. Complete a manicure, pedicure and facial no later than Thursday, plus routine hair cut.”

  “Very good.” A small smile curved her mouth. “What are your clothes and shoe sizes?”

  Sean rattled them off.

  “Any questions?”

  “No, ma’am,” he replied promptly.

  “Good. I’ll see you Friday night then, Sean.”

  Beth leaned forward and kissed him on the mouth. Sean quickly put his coffee cup on the nightstand and kissed her back. They both gave themselves up to the embrace until Beth finally stopped it and sat up. Sean watched her, enjoying the sight of her swollen mouth and heavy-lidded eyes.

  “Now be sure to show my friend a good time,” she whispered in his ear and her hand squeezed his cock hard and fast. Sean choked and jumped, only to chuckle reluctantly at her grin.

  Sean leaned back with a sigh as the front door closed, sliding the sheet back to fondle himself. The events of the previous evening had astonished him but plans for the coming weekend surprised him even more. He had considered weekend rendezvous before, especially after Mike started going away on trips with his friends, but this was very different. He didn’t have to plan anything, unlike the offers other ladies had hinted at. He would be free to enjoy himself and her.

  He looked down at his cock, rearing red-hot and urgent against his belly. She’d welcomed it as her friend. He shook his head at how comfortable she was with his privates.

  A good time? He remembered one of his most familiar fantasies.

  The guardsmen were at their usual afternoon’s sword practice, their intensity only slightly increased by knowledge that the queen was in residence and possibly watching them from the tower above. She was a hard mistress who demanded the utmost from them and they worked hard to satisfy her. Her implacable standards had been confirmed by battlefield victories time and time again. Now men came from miles around to serve her but only the best survived to serve in her personal guard.