by Mayburn, Ann
While Bryan moved the table and chairs around, Jennifer unfolded her table and put on a small waist apron with bottles of oil in the pockets. Kira stayed out of their way, more confused than ever. If Bryan had gone all lord and Master on her, she would have been able to shore up her emotional defenses. This nice, almost playful man was a side she hadn’t seen from him before.
“Bryan, help your girl up on the table. I’d like her on her stomach first.”
Clearing her throat, Kira tried to hide her flush as she said, “I’m nude.”
Jennifer smiled. “Darling, beneath our clothes we’re all nude. Now up on the table with you. No more dillydallying.”
With some effort, maneuvering, and lots of blushing, she made it up onto the table. Her back seized, and Jennifer instantly placed her hands on Kira’s lower spine. “Easy. Just relax.”
Bryan pulled up a chair so he sat at the head of the table. With a gentle touch, he gathered her hair and swept it over to the side. They began to touch her together, Jennifer soothing her muscles while Bryan ran his fingers through her hair. The scent of apples filled the air, mixed with cinnamon as Jennifer began to rub oil into Kira’s tailbone area. Ever so slowly, the tense muscles around her spine softened, and she let out a grateful sigh. “You know, it’s easy to forget how good feeling normal is.”
Jennifer traced a fingertip down a scar going over Kira’s hip. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman so beat up.”
Before Kira could answer, Bryan spoke. “Kira used to be an actress and one of the best stuntwomen in the world.”
“Wait… Is she Kira Harmony?” When Kira moved to look at Jennifer, the other woman gave her ass a brisk slap. “Stay still. Let your Master answer for you. The only thing you’re responsible for is laying here and enjoying.”
Grinning, Kira did as she was told. If there was any doubt in her mind that Jennifer was a Mistress, that imperious command erased it. Besides, Jennifer had moved on to her legs now and was doing something heavenly to her thigh muscles.
Bryan continued to stroke Kira’s hair, the touch soothing and slightly arousing. She couldn’t help but associate his touch with pleasures of a more carnal nature. “Yes. She got injured on set in a stunt gone wrong. A motorcycle accident.”
Kira tensed at the mention of the accident, memories gaining strength. The pain had been so intense, so all-consuming that she’d thought she would go mad as the emergency response crew worked to stabilize her. Before her accident, she’d never understood how someone could hurt so much that they couldn’t even form words, but now she knew all too well how an injury could be so agonizing that all she could do was moan and beg God to make the excruciating agony go away.
Bryan leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Love, if you don’t snap out of that bad memory, I’m going to ask Jennifer to give you an internal massage that will have you squirting all over the room.”
Kira coughed at the graphic image. “You need therapy.”
He laughed and kissed her cheek.
Jennifer began to work her fingertips around the back of Kira’s knee. “That must be what all this scarring is from. I’m guessing she broke her pelvis, maybe her tailbone as well, along with a couple ribs.” Briefly Jennifer stroked Kira’s left shoulder, tracing over the surgical scars. “This injury looks to be around the same time.”
It was actually rather nice to not have to go through what had happened that terrible day for the billionth time. She would have thought the memories would fade by now, but they remained bright and painful. She could almost feel the agony she’d endured on the ambulance ride to the hospital, her body shattered but her mind still all too aware.
“Shh,” Bryan whispered into her ear, his beard brushing her sensitive skin. “I told you, no bad thoughts. One more time and you’re going to get an anal massage as well. Did I mention Mistress Jennifer’s specialty is fisting? She knows how to make a woman’s muscles relax enough to take her whole hand. I’ve seen her fuck her submissive, Shy, with her fist. Trust me when I say you are not ready for that.”
Kira froze, her ass and pussy tightening until her back twinged.
Jennifer made a tsking sound. “Stop scaring the poor girl. Kira, I assure you, your ass is safe with me. Idiot men.”
“Sometimes I really wish you were a submissive so I could beat you.”
“Ditto.”
Bryan and Jennifer laughed, and the tension eased, allowing Kira to slowly drift back down again. Bryan resumed stroking her hair. She felt so utterly pampered, spoiled even. It had been so long since anyone had shown her so much affection. She was starved for it.
Jennifer switched topics to Wicked, and the two Doms began to talk about mutual friends, who was dating whom, what parties were coming up, and other mundane things that became extraordinary because of the subject. After following their conversation for a bit, Kira began to drift, lulled into relaxation by Bryan’s scent, his touch, his presence. On a primal level, she felt extremely safe around him, despite the fact he’d put her through some pretty harsh shit downstairs.
Harsh and wonderful. Oh my fucking God, had it been good. The memory sent a warm wave of lust through her, and if she wasn’t so relaxed, she would have tried to kiss Bryan, to let him know how much she appreciated his care. And that he’d decided to give her a second chance.
“Kira, darling, let Bryan help you turn over.”
She muttered a sleepy protest but did as they asked, vaguely uneasy about the other woman seeing her breasts and pussy but feeling too good to really give a shit.
“Mmm, I can see why you’re so besotted with her, Bryan. She is lovely. My Shy would adore her.”
Bryan laughed, a deep sound that rubbed over Kira’s skin like fur. “Isn’t she? Such creamy skin and a lush body.” He threaded his fingers through Kira’s hair, gently tugging it from beneath her head. “And so responsive.”
Jennifer traced a spot on the side of Kira’s breast, the touch sensual but not intrusive. “Nice marks.”
“Thank you.”
After that their conversation turned toward politics, then on to mutual friends. Jennifer massaged every inch of Kira’s body, from her forehead all the way down to her toes. By the time the other woman was done, Kira was a big, boneless mass of purring pleasure. Doing anything, even blinking, was beyond her at the moment. She drifted in a dreamy state of relaxation, enhanced by Bryan’s constant soothing touch.
Jennifer saying her name got her attention, and she tuned back in to their conversation.
As the other woman gave Kira a foot rub to die for, Jennifer asked, “Do you think she’d want to play with Shy? I must confess, I would love to work them over together with you.”
“I don’t know. Kira is bisexual, but I don’t think she’s ever done anything with more than one person at a time. Plus, she is very, very new to the scene. I don’t want to push her too fast.”
“Lord Bryan going easy on his submissive? I thought I’d never see the day.”
He chuckled. “Trust me. I’m going easier on her than she does on herself.”
“Mmm.” Jennifer found a tense muscle in the arch of Kira’s foot and began to work on it. “I can believe that, especially for the new subs who are eager to please. They try to go above and beyond what you’re asking of them, not realizing the best way to please is to do as they are told.”
“Exactly. Case in point, the girl that you’re currently working on who crippled herself giving me a blowjob. I owe you for coming out here this late at night.”
Jennifer laughed, a low and husky sound. “No worries. You know it’s only a fifteen-minute drive for me. Besides, Shy is visiting her parents in Maine, and I could use the company. But, if your girl is interested, I would love to do a scene with you and both of them at Wicked when Shy gets back. Just think, the two of them strapped next to each other while you work them over with fire and me with ice.”
Bryan’s fingers briefly tightened before resuming their caress of her throat. When he
spoke, his voice had a delicious rough edge to it. “I’ll speak with her when she’s awake. I don’t know if she’s ever been with more than one person at a time, let alone you and Shy.”
That did make Kira open her eyes, and she cleared her throat. Her voice still came out whisper soft as she said, “I’m interested if my Master is interested. I’ve actually been with two other women at once.”
Bryan stood and moved over next to her, looking down with a bemused expression but a rather lustful gleam in his eye. “Really?”
Enjoying his surprise, she gave him a lazy smile. “Mmm-hmm.”
Jennifer laughed and gave Kira’s nipple a pinch that made her hips twitch. “It’s always the quiet ones that shock you. I think she’s just about done. Kira, do you still hurt?”
Unable to stop the giggle bubbling through her, Kira shook her head. “No. You are magic. Thank you so much.”
“You are most welcome.” She patted Kira’s stomach with a gentle touch. “Bryan, can you have Lawrence return my table to me tomorrow? I want her to rest for a few more minutes. Make sure she drinks lots and lots of water to flush out all the toxins the massage released into her system. And some Tylenol or something before bed should help her sleep through the night and wake up good as new tomorrow.”
“Thanks again for coming out and taking care of my girl, Jennifer.”
“Anytime. I’ll let myself out.”
Letting her eyes close, Kira abandoned herself to the happy warm-and-fuzzy feeling drifting through her limbs. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so well cared for. While being independent by nature was great for helping her achieve her goals in life, it was nice to be the one being taken care of for once. Usually she was the one making sure everyone else was okay, thinking of herself last.
Bryan briefly left the table and came back with the comforter. He bundled it around Kira and gently lifted her into his arms. She wanted to protest that that she was too heavy, but oh God, it felt good to be held by him. Moving to the couch, he put her down and stroked her cheek.
“Think you can stand up for a second?”
When none of her muscles or nerves protested her movements, she stood and sighed. “That was awesome.”
He pulled a thick black robe off the arm of the chair and helped her slide into it. The soft, plush fabric chased away any chill, and she inhaled the scent of his cologne that wafted from it.
“In the future, if you need to take a second to talk about something during a scene, all you have to do is say the word yellow. It’s not your safe word, so I’ll know you don’t want to stop playing altogether, but I will know that you need to talk about something that may be hurting you or something you may have an issue with. Hopefully we can avoid a repeat of the way tonight ended.”
She looked at him through her lashes. “I rather like the way tonight ended.”
Shaking his head, he cupped her cheek and stroked her face with his thumb. “I’m serious. Seeing you hurting like that, knowing I was the cause and could have possibly reinjured you…”
The sadness in his voice sent a pang of guilt through her. “I’m sorry, Bryan, I really am. I promise I’ll use yellow in the future.” She leaned up and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips. “Thank you for tonight. It, and you, were amazing.”
He gave her a brilliant smile that chased the lingering sadness and concern from his gaze. “Come on, love, it’s late. Let’s get you home.”
Stretching her arms above her head, she let him belt the robe around her. “Let me get my stuff and I’ll be off.”
He shook his head and pulled her toward him, tucking her neatly against his body in a hug. “I’ve already had my driver bring the car around. I don’t want you driving this late, especially not after a night like tonight. You seem a little sub drunk to me.”
“I can drive myself home, Bryan. I’m not an invalid. And what about my car?”
“I’ll have your car brought by in the morning. Look, I know you’re a perfectly capable modern woman who can leap tall buildings in a single bound, but indulge me in this. The thought of you driving home alone right now would give me gray hairs.”
“You sound like my father. Every gray hair he had he blamed on me.”
The vibration of his laughter ran through her body like a tuning fork, bringing a pleasant rush of heat to her sex. “That I can believe. Now, let’s get you home.”
Chapter Seven
Just as Kira took her first sip of coffee, the doorbell to her town house rang. Her brain kicked into gear and reminded her she’d promised her sister they would go shopping for their parents’ anniversary gift today. Cursing, she looked down at Bryan’s robe and tugged it closed, hoping her sister wouldn’t notice how the oversize robe dragged across her feet. When Kira woke up this morning, she’d been unable to resist the temptation of wearing Bryan’s clothing and smelling his scent on it.
Bright, late-morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the first level of her home in Georgetown, illuminating the mishmash of art and furniture she’d collected in her travels before her accident. She loved her home, and even though she didn’t really need four bedrooms and three baths, when she’d purchased this place seven years ago, it had been with the dream in mind that someday she’d return home to DC to start a family after she left Hollywood.
Unfortunately sometimes dreams had a way of not coming true.
Shaking off her melancholy, she tapped the security code into the pad next to the red painted door and opened it, revealing her older sister. Impeccably dressed as always, Mary Kate was four years older than Kira but acted like she was her mother. With her red hair upswept into a fashionable coif and her mint-green pantsuit flattering her lean figure, Mary Kate sighed and shook her head.
“You forgot, didn’t you?”
Sticking her tongue out, Kira stepped aside. “Come on in.”
The two women made their way back into the pale silver kitchen with its modern decor, and Mary Kate put her purse on the slate countertop. “So what were you doing last night that had you sleeping until almost noon?”
Using the coffeepot as an excuse to turn her back and hide her furious blush, Kira reached into the cupboard and pulled down a blue ceramic glazed cup for her sister. “I was out…with a guy.”
“Really? Like on a date?”
While Kira didn’t know if she and Bryan were actually dating, she nodded. “Yep.”
After both women had settled at the kitchen island and sipped from their respective cups, Mary Kate leaned closer. “What is that on your neck?”
“What?”
Reaching forward, her sister tugged at the collar of the robe. “Right there. It looks like a terrible bruise. What happened?”
Oh, she knew what happened. That was the spot where Bryan had bitten her. It ached when Mary Kate’s fingers brushed over it. “You know me. I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing and I hit it on an open drawer while putting clothes away.”
Satisfied, Mary cupped her cheek before drawing back. “I swear one of these days I’m going to put you in a giant hamster wheel to keep you safe.”
“Don’t you think it would scare the kids?”
Mary Kate grinned. “No, because I’d put Brad and Lisa into one as well.”
They laughed, and her sister lifted her chin. “So, who did you go out with last night?”
“Oh, a guy I know.” She prayed her sister wouldn’t push it, but Mary Kate pushed everything.
“Come on. Give me some details. I’m an old married woman who has to live vicariously through you. Where did you meet him?”
“Umm, at a club.”
“What does he do?”
Stumped, Kira stared at her sister. She had no idea what Bryan did, other than being a lord. In fact, she didn’t really know anything about him. When they were together, their physical attraction was so intense and all-consuming that she really didn’t think about anything but what he was going to do to her, make her feel. A lump of disquie
t twisted her belly, and she shook her head. “I don’t really know.”
Mary Kate frowned and set her coffee cup down. “Kira, what are you doing staying out all night with a man you barely know?”
“Jeez, Mom. I didn’t know that at twenty-seven years old I’d get the third degree about who I date.”
“Don’t be defensive with me. I’m worried about you.” Mary Kate sighed. “First, you don’t date anyone for two years. Then you start dating only women. That was no big deal because they were all nice girls and they made you happy. Then you started dating what’s his name, the pro-hockey player, but that didn’t work out because he was an ass, followed by a yearlong dry spell. Now you’re dating a guy again, and I get the feeling you’re hiding something from me. Can you at least tell me his name?”
“Bryan Sutherfield.” She took a quick breath and decided to tell Mary Kate his full name in an effort to get her off Kira’s back. “Lord Bryan Sutherfield.”
For a moment Mary Kate stared at Kira, the coffee cup suspended halfway to her mouth. “Really? A lord?”
“Yes, really truly.”
“And you met him at a club?”
“Yes.”
Mary Kate pursed her lips and stared out the kitchen window looking out over the tiny enclosed patio. “That’s going to be a heck of a long-distance relationship.”
“Actually, I think he’s an ex-pat. He has a gorgeous home outside of DC.” She tugged Bryan’s robe tighter around herself.
“Why would a British lord become an ex-pat? Doesn’t he have all kinds of lord stuff to do? Like go to balls and such?”
“I-I don’t know.”
Kira frowned and took her untouched cup back to the coffeepot for an unnecessary refill. Mary Kate’s questions bugged her. What was Bryan doing over here? Would he be returning to England at any point? The thought of him being across the ocean sent a pang of hurt through her heart, and she chided herself for getting so wrapped up in him. Okay, they had amazing sex, but it wasn’t like they were really dating or anything. In a way, he was more like a glorified booty call.