It was already perfectly positioned for her height. Before she could have second thoughts, her wrists were locked into handcuffs that were attached to a bar. She was comfortably hanging over the bench, her toes just barely able to touch the ground, her arms and hands locked in place.
Ray had her leggings and panties down and off her in seconds flat. Her bare legs dangled in the cool air. She was completely exposed to her husband. A thrill ran through her body as she entertained the truth. He could literally do anything he wanted to her. Anything at all.
Jessica felt the trail of leather strands running down the backs of her legs. Goosebumps raised on her skin as she gave a moan of pleasure.
“That’s right, angel, maintenance can be pleasure. For good girls.” The leather came down with a loud whap. The stinging sensation melted her to her core. She wanted more.
“Again, princess?” Ray asked.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Tut, tut. You forgot the magic words.” The leather strands trailed over her skin.
“Yes, please, Daddy.”
With a swish through the air, he brought the cords down with a snap, the feeling more intense than before. She gasped. There was an intense pleasure in the pain. Being bound, being at his mercy, his deep voice. Imagining his tight muscles as he owned her body. It was as if Jessica had just discovered her true desires.
“Again,” she begged.
A loud hard smack from her husband’s paddle like hand came down on her bare skin. She cried out as Ray said, “Naughty, naughty girl. Use your words, young lady.”
“Please, Daddy,” she begged.
Again, the swish through the air and the biting pain.
“You look so beautiful like this, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to punish before I come take you over that bench. All tied up and helpless. Your bottom striped with red.”
His words alone had her moaning and squirming.
“Yes, please, Daddy,” she begged.
Floating on a cloud through her week, Jessica was living for Saturdays. And Buttercup and Jake continued to extend their generosity, buying husband and wife cherished hours to play to their heart’s content in their little studio. If Jessica had found Ray attractive before, she now looked at her husband through the eyes of a hormone stricken teenager, unable to keep her thoughts or hands off him.
Ray had introduced her to all the tools she had once wielded on others. If she had to describe the experience in one word, it would be delicious. Ray had perfected the balance between pleasure and pain, giving and withholding. And his body. My God, that body. Bench-pressing the boys had become his latest hobby and Jessica felt feather light in his strong arms.
Washing up from her meal prep, Jessica hummed to herself, her bottom still burning under her jeans as she watched out the window for her boys to return. Ray had run to the store for vanilla bean ice cream to go with the two homemade apple pies that were cooling on the counter.
The boys always used the backdoor, so Jessica was surprised when the front doorbell rang instead. Glancing at the clock, she mused that it was a few minutes before the whole gang usually returned for the Saturday supper that had become tradition. Deciding the boys were probably early and playing doorbell ditch with her, she jogged down the hall, flinging open the door and yelling, “Gotcha!”
Her face flushed with embarrassment when she saw the confused face of a young male stranger.
His jet-black hair curled down over his ice blue eyes. His skin was pale and there were dark circles under his eyes. But despite his sallow complexion there was no mistaking the fact that the man was gorgeous. He had that distant look of a model in a denim ad, with an air of danger to him.
“Um, hello?” Jessica asked, placing a hand in the pocket of her jeans, looking over the stranger. Poke Town had grown so much in the last ten years, she couldn’t place everyone like she once could. Maybe this was someone new to town, lost up here in their hills.
“Buttercup here?”
The icy gazed flashed at her, as if reading her face, determining if he could trust her answer. His dark brow narrowed, demanding her answer.
“No.” Jessica said simply. “Afraid not. She’s out with her boyfriend.” She wanted to add, her big, strong, jealous butt-kicking boyfriend. There was something she didn’t like about him but as this man held no threat that she knew of, and her husband had raised her to be polite, she held her tongue.
His handsome features darkened, raising a brow at Jessica, he replied, “What boyfriend?”
His rudeness held her manners at bay. She felt her old familiar friend, her temper, come to visit. “Jake. That’s who. Who the heck are you to even ask?”
His eyes locked on hers, the man reached his hand in his pocket. When it reemerged, it held a silver ring with a huge, glittering princess cut diamond. Holding the glittering jewel up to Jessica, he said, “I’m her fiancé.”
Her hands covered her mouth as she gasped, “You’re Tom.” Collecting herself and mentally yelling the words, ‘cool it Jess’, to herself, she put on a poker face. Crossing her arms over her chest, Jessica huffed, “Pretty sure if she was currently engaged to you, she’d be wearing that ring on her left hand and you wouldn’t be carting it around in the pocket of your jeans. Now, wouldn’t she?”
His gaze softened. “Forgive me. I should have said, ex-fiancé. I still can’t wrap my mind around the fact that she left me. There was no note, no explanation.” His blue eyes bore into hers as he said sadly, “I didn’t even get to say goodbye. It’s taken me this long to track her down. I just want to say goodbye.”
Despite her gut reaction, the good looking, if you liked the hot vampire thing, young man was tugging at her heartstrings. Having been left herself once before without a goodbye, she understood the request.
“Couldn’t you have called first? It might have been better to ask if she wanted to see you, don’t you think? How’d you even get out here?” She looked over his shoulder to see if there was a car she had missed.
“I took a cab from my hotel. I would have called but she wouldn’t have spoken to me—I already know she doesn’t want to see me. Otherwise we’d be married by now. Instead, she’s out with…”
“Her boyfriend,” Jessica answered softly.
“Yes. Her boyfriend.”
Looking over Tom’s shoulder, Jessica watched as the white truck turned off the road making its way up the mile-long drive.
“Speak of the devil and he shall appear,” Jessica murmured. “Tell you what, Tom, why don’t you hole up here in the foyer and let me get my boys settled with a movie in the den. Then I can let Buttercup know you are here and ask her if she would like to speak? Okay?”
Tom gave a nod, his dark hair falling over his eye as he did. Following Jessica into the foyer, he gave one look over his shoulder as the truck approached. Jessica quickly shut the heavy oak doors behind her unexpected visitor.
“Sit on down right here. I’ll be back in a jiff.” Making sure Tom was settled down in one of the chairs in the foyer, out of sight from the kitchen and the hall, Jessica hurried to the back door to greet the gang.
Her boys piled in the door like a pack of wild puppies, all talking at once about the horses they had ridden, and the cool tricks Jake had taught them. Once all the stories were out, Jessica told Jake and Buttercup to have a seat in the kitchen.
Jake’s brow raised at her curiously when she told them to sit tight, she needed to talk to them about something. As soon as she got each boy their favorite snack, she led them down the hall to the den, putting on one of their super hero action movies that she knew would hold their attention after such a busy day.
Taking a deep breath, she returned to the kitchen.
At the island, Jake and Buttercup were sitting side by side on barstools. Jake had his arm protectively wrapped around Buttercup’s shoulders. Before Jessica could speak, Jake asked, “Was there someone on the porch when we first pulled up? I didn’t see a car.”
> “Yes. Tom.” Jessica watched as Buttercup’s face paled at the name.
At the mention of his girlfriend’s ex, Jake was up and out of his chair with his hands on his hips, asking, “Where is he now?”
Pointing quietly to the foyer, Jessica put a hand on Jake’s shoulder. “He wants to talk to Buttercup.”
Looking over at Buttercup’s shocked face, she said, “He just wants to tell you goodbye, honey.”
Buttercup looked down to where she once wore the ring, touching the empty finger nervously. She looked over to Jake. The look of uncertainty in Jake’s eyes broke Jessica’s heart for him. She was torn between understanding the need for closure, and the feeling that you might lose your love to someone they once loved.
Jessica, realizing it wasn’t her place to be here, hid in the shadows of her big kitchen.
Sitting back down beside her, his arm returned to its place around her shoulders, Jake said to Buttercup, “You don’t have to if you don’t want to—you know that? Right?”
The shock had now left Buttercup’s face. Jessica watched as Buttercup’s big green eyes looked up to Jake’s. “I owe him at least a goodbye.”
When Jake spoke, his voice was low. “You owe him nothing.”
Buttercup rose. “I want to give him that, Jake. Please, understand.”
Jessica held her breath as Jake’s gaze considered Buttercup’s.
“Okay, but I’ll be right here if you need anything.”
“Okay.”
Jessica returned to the bar, sitting down next to Jake as Buttercup made her way down the hall. She could at least provide emotional support as Jake went through this moment. She had been the one to tell Tom to stay, after all.
Looking out the window, past her, Jake murmured, “Something doesn’t add up. Why would he come all the way out here for a goodbye? She had obviously moved on.”
“He just needs closure.”
“I don’t buy it.” Jake’s jaw set, and that little muscle began to twitch were his clenched teeth met. “Something’s up.
Jessica sat silently. What else could she have done? She hoped Ray would get home, and soon.
Chapter 8
Buttercup’s fingers trembled as she made her way down the long hallway. When she reached the foyer, it was empty. Relief mixed with a bit of disappointment ran over her. It would have been healing to give Tom the closure he had come for. As she turned to leave, a sparkle caught her eye.
On the foyer table was her ring. The ring Tom had given her when he had asked her to marry him and she had said yes. Under the ring was a note.
Buttercup,
I know you don’t owe me anything. But if you would meet me tonight at Cuppa Coffee Shop. I just want to tell you I’m sorry- and goodbye in person. Then I will be out of your life.
Yours, always
Thomas
Quietly, Buttercup slipped the note and the ring into her pocket. Inside the material of her jeans, her fingers wrapped around the only memento of her past. She made her way back to the kitchen.
Jake and Jessica looked up at her expectantly.
Giving a shrug, Buttercup said, “He left.”
“Must have lost his nerve,” Jessica murmured.
Buttercup tried to avoid Jake’s intense gaze.
Still seated, Jake propped the heel of his boot up on the rung of his barstool. Crossing his arms over his chest, his eyes narrowed at Buttercup. “He left, huh? Just like that. Strange.” His gaze darkened as he looked her over.
Giving a fake laugh, Buttercup waved away his concern with her hand. “You must have scared him off, Jake.”
“But he didn’t even meet me.”
“I did tell him she had a boyfriend,” Jessica interjected helpfully.
Buttercup wasn’t lying to Jake, not really. Tom had left. Putting her hand in her pocket, she twirled at the ring anxiously. It wasn’t that she wanted to see Tom again for her sake. She just felt she owed him. After all they had been through, all the years they had been together. Buttercup wanted nothing but Jake. But she wanted to give Tom the gift of a goodbye.
Not able to sit under Jake’s scrutinizing gaze one more minute, she looked down at her boots, mumbling, “I’ll be right back. I just want to change out of these clothes before dinner.”
Without a glance at Jessica or Jake, she hurried down the hall closing her door quickly behind her. Leaning against the door, Buttercup heaved a great sigh. She pulled out the note. The familiar handwriting brought out the feelings that Tom often did in her. Worry, sadness. But also, love.
She knew he was a lost soul and they had been together for so long, though no part of her was in love with him, she did feel love for him. Like one feels for an old friend knowing the friendship isn’t sustainable. And so, one must say goodbye.
Quickly hiding the note and the ring in her nightstand, under the pile of money, Buttercup shut the little drawer. Out of sight out of mind, at least until tonight.
She would have to get through dinner, first, without raising Jake’s concerns. There was no way in the world after what she had told him about her relationship with Tom that he would ever let her go alone to see her ex-fiancé. But with Jake present, there was no way for her to give Tom the closure she had robbed him of when she had left town without a trace.
And so, she would hide the truth and do what she knew was right. She would say goodbye to Tom.
Dinner had been tense, for her at least. Since she had avoided making eye contact with Jake, she hadn’t been able to read his face and see if he was on to her. He spoke jovially as usual, joking with the boys and complimenting Jessica’s cooking. Nothing was amiss.
When he had kissed her goodnight, she had given a huge yawn, faking fatigue from their busy day. “I think I’ll just hit the hay,” she had said, closing the door gently behind him.
Hearing the roar of the engine, Buttercup watched as the lights of his truck headed down the long drive.
Hurrying to her room, she grabbed her coat and purse. She caught a glance of herself in the mirror as she turned to leave. She did not look like the same person who had left the apartment carrying only a purse, manila envelope, and single dress.
Her hair was shiny, the red highlights glittering under the soft lamp light. There were no more dark circles under her eyes. Her cheek bones were still high and prominent as always, but the gaunt look was gone from her face. There was a blush on her cheeks. She looked healthy, happy, and in love. She would meet Tom face to face then permanently close the door on that chapter of her life. Moving forward with Jake.
Bumping into Jessica in the hallway, she asked for the keys to the Lexus. Making up a story about getting her period and needing to hit the drugstore, Jessica had given her the keys, a bar of chocolate, and a bottle of Midol. “Take your time, hon. Do something for yourself—get your nails done.”
“I’ll do that. Great idea.” Grabbing Jessica in a hug, Buttercup was grateful for the ruse knowing it would buy her more time before Jessica and Ray would expect her back.
Climbing into the white Lexus, Buttercup threw her purse onto the seat beside her. Having made up her mind to go ahead with this plan, she ignored the shaking of her fingers as she turned the key in the ignition. Who wouldn’t be nervous when seeing an old boyfriend? There was nothing wrong with what she was doing. Just a favor for an old friend.
As she made her way down the driveway, Jake’s earnest face popped up in her mind’s eye. “What are you doing, Buttercup? Lying, sneaking around, and meeting up alone with someone you once thought to be dangerous?”
Turning on the radio, Buttercup blared the music to drown out the voice of the her subconscious that was lecturing her as if it were Jake. She knew she was doing the right thing. Wasn’t she? She was so wrapped up in her thoughts, she had to slam on her brakes when she almost missed a stop sign.
Her nerves would not settle down as she approached the place Tom had directed her to meet him with his note. Pulling into the shopping center at the
edge of town, she parked the car at Cuppa Coffee House. Flipping down the visor of the car, she double checked her reflection. Despite her loyalty to Jake, she found herself running a lipstick over her mouth. Checking the mirror once more, she fluffed her long hair. Good enough for a man that was no longer in her life.
Grabbing her purse from the seat, she left the car, locking the door behind her.
Entering the coffee shop, Buttercup looked for Tom. When her eyes lay on him in a corner booth, a wave of mixed emotions came crashing down upon her. Much like one of those waves that she had ridden in the ocean. Seeming harmless but then pulling you under, into their strong current.
His dark hair hung over his ice blue eyes. His gaze intensified as it met hers. He stood, waiting for her by the booth. Buttercup was overwhelmed by the sudden urge to run from the shop, go home and pretend Tom had never come to town.
Then he smiled. It was the same, sad, lost puppy smile he had first lured her in with.
Legs weak, walking slowly over to the table, Buttercup was unsure how to greet him after the time that had passed. She was a different woman then she had been when she had left her ring, running from their room, their apartment, their life together.
“Buttercup.” His familiar voice softened her unease. Stepping towards her, Tom wrapped his arms around her, giving her a brief hug before pulling away.
She gave him a soft smile, sitting down in the booth. On the table before her was a black tea with milk. The same drink she had ordered each time they would go to the coffee shop around the corner from their last apartment. Tom’s cup was filled with coffee, black, as he loved to drink it all afternoon into the evening.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d come. Alone.”
Realizing she still had yet to speak, Buttercup stuttered out the word, “No, I mean, yes. I came. Alone.”
Wrapping his hands around his steaming mug, Tom said, “Got a boyfriend, huh?”
She gave a nod, taking a small sip of her tea.
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