A Firm Hand: 2 (Bound to You)

by Blake, Fallon

  “Audrey Hepburn.”

  “Exactly! It’s perfect. God I wish I were skinny enough to wear something like this. Sadly I can’t do backless. My girls need too much support.” Indie emphasized her point by lifting her ample breasts.

  “Oh please. What I wouldn’t give to have curves like you.”

  “You have a great body,” Indie scoffed.

  “I’m built like a twelve-year-old boy.”

  “You are not. Don’t get down on yourself like that. I won’t have it. You have to love what you were born with or no one else will. Got it?”

  She liked this woman more as each minute passed. “Yes ma’am.”

  “Ugh. Please don’t ma’am me. In my book, only mommas and Mistresses deserve to be called ma’am.” Indie wandered back into the bathroom. “Well, come on, girl. Let’s get started on your hair.”

  Gen sat down at the counter and waited.

  “I’m thinking with the vintage dress and length of your hair we’ll go with a sexy Lauren Bacall look. It’s really too bad Brian didn’t call yesterday. I’d have come over last night and set you in pin curls. No worries though. Curling irons are a girl’s best friend. I can fake it and it will only take about fifteen minutes. Do you have any hair pins or barrettes, something sparkly?”

  “All I have is a brooch.” After digging through her toiletry bag, Gen came up with a little box, opened it and handed Indie a rhinestone spider pin.

  “Very cool. I can work with this.” Indie lined up several hair products and went straight to work, brushing out her hair. “I love this color.”

  “Oh thanks. Yours is really great too. Do you do hair for a living?”

  “No, but I used to model. Fetish, pin-up, that sort of thing. It’s actually how I met Banner. I took a job as a naked sushi model for an event at his restaurant, Crave.”

  “Oh wow. You’re braver than me.”

  “It was an interesting experience, that’s for sure. But I don’t model anymore. I quit when he offered me a job as a pastry chef. It was totally a bribe. Like I couldn’t see through that. He didn’t like me taking the kinkier assignments. He’s sort of possessive. I don’t mind though. It’s kind of sexy and I did get my dream job out of it.”

  “So you work for him and you’re in a relationship? That must be hard.” Gen happened to know firsthand just how complicated that type of relationship could be.

  “Not really, although it does have its challenges,” Indie said as she plugged in the curling iron. “Actually, working for him isn’t much different than submitting to him. He gives orders, I follow them. Of course there’s no sex involved at the restaurant. Not that I wouldn’t mind, but business is business. How about you? What do you do for work?”

  Gen cringed, embarrassed. “I’m a bartender.”

  “Nothing wrong with that. I have the utmost respect for anyone employed in the service industry. It’s hard work and you have to put up with a lot of crap. Is that how you met Brian?”

  “He’s sort of my boss, in more ways than one. I’m sure you can relate,” Gen muttered.

  Indie let out a loud, boisterous laugh. “Hon, you said a mouthful. So how’d you end up his submissive, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  The strange thing was Gen didn’t mind. She’d only just met Indie but the woman’s easygoing nature made it easy to talk to her. “Well, I was late for work for the third time in a week and he bent me over his desk and spanked me for it.”

  “He did not!”

  “Yes he did. A few days later he took me out for pie and we negotiated an arrangement. I’ve been his submissive for about two months now.” There was so much more she wanted to say. The words just wouldn’t come. There was too much risk involved. What if what she said got back to Brian? She didn’t know Indie well enough to trust her yet.

  “Ho-ly shit. Talk about throwing you into the deep end. Banner was a little more subtle but not by much. I was lying on the display table in the middle of his restaurant, naked and covered in poisonous fish. I’d known him for maybe half an hour when he dropped this bomb on me. He asked if I wanted to be his submissive for three days and then walked away, leaving me there. Can you believe the nerve? I had another hour and a half before my shift was over. It was torture. Of course I said yes. Three days, a play party at Jared’s, followed by a full-blown fight and we’ve been together ever since. That was almost a year ago and now we’re getting married. Can you believe it?”

  Gen smiled at Indie’s reflection. “That’s quite a story. Tell me about the others. You mentioned Jared?”

  “Jared.” A sly grin slid over Indie’s lips. “Think 300.”

  “The movie about the Spartans?”

  “Mm hm.”

  “Oh really.”

  “Mm hm. He’s tall and bronzed and built like a god. He has this huge house with a dungeon and he trains slaves.” Indie imparted the last phrase as if she were letting Gen in on a secret.

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope. They all wear red collars and cuffs, live at his house and serve all the Doms with blind obedience. It’s kind of creepy in a Stepford sort of way.” Indie’s eyes went wide. “But if you’re into that sort of thing, who am I to judge? Your kink is not my kink—”

  “Indie, I’m not a slave.”

  “Okay, phew. I thought I just stuck my foot in my mouth. Would you mind taking your glasses off? Very geek chic, by the way. I love ’em, but they gotta go if I’m going to do this quickly.”

  “Oh sure.” Gen removed her glasses and set them on the counter.

  “You have pretty eyes. You should wear contacts tonight if you have them.” Indie went to town curling and parting and pinning. She worked fast and talked nonstop. Gen was saddened by the fact that they lived so far away from one another. A friendship with another submissive, especially one as crazy and unique as Indie, would have been nice. Ivy would like her.

  Indie told her that Sophia was not only well-known in the art world, but also in the kink community. Apparently Ms. Adler was a very sought-after Mistress with a fondness for crops and young male submissives. The after party ought to prove very interesting.

  “I think I’m about done,” Indie said as she put the finishing touches on Gen’s makeup. “Oh I almost forgot.” She slid a small clip through the clasp on the brooch and pinned back the side of her hair just above her ear. “Voila.”

  Gen put on her glasses and peered at the mirror. The woman staring back was only vaguely familiar. The waves in her hair were set in such a way they flowed and curled under just above her shoulders. The rhinestone spider was the perfect touch. Her eyes were shaded in smoky hues and finished with a heavy dose of mascara. Berry lip stain completed the glamorous look.

  Indie was a genius.

  “Wow, you are really good. I never could have pulled this off. Thank you, for the makeover and the conversation.” She turned around and gave the woman a big hug.

  “Sweetie, it was my pleasure. I’m going to have to rush off because I need to get ready myself, but I want to leave you my number if that’s okay. You call me anytime you need to talk. I’m serious. Friends aren’t easy to come by, especially kinky ones. The subs around here have a tendency to be territorial and catty.”

  “I believe it,” Gen said with a laugh as she walked her to the door.

  “See you soon. Don’t forget to put on lip gloss before you leave. Men are suckers for kissable lips.” Indie winked.

  * * * * *

  Smiling to himself, Brian set a small gift-wrapped package on the bed next to Genevieve. “Something for you to wear tonight.”

  She looked up as she straightened one of her stockings, a curious glint in her eyes. She picked up the box and turned it over in her hands. “What is it? Can I open it now?”

  He plucked a cufflink from the nightstand and fastened it to his shirt. “Patience, Genevieve. Finish getting dressed then you may open your present.”

  Such a shame she had to put on clothes. Wearing nothing but l
acy panties, a garter and stockings, she was exquisite. Her hair and makeup pristine. He had half a mind to skip Cadeau, tie her up and play with her until her mascara ran and she begged for mercy. Unfortunately people were expecting them.

  She stepped into the garment, slipped her arms into the tiny straps and turned around. Her entire back was bare to the waist. Trailing his fingers lightly along her spine, he changed his mind about the dress. The tease of seeing her naked back all night was going to drive him insane.

  “Zip me, Sir?” she asked.

  He tugged the zipper up, fastened the button at the top then planted a kiss between her shoulder blades. Anxiety hovered on the edges of his mind, but he refused to give in to it. How long had it been since he’d introduced a woman to his friends? He scoured his memory, unable to recall a single instance since…

  Danielle.

  Sorrow, unwelcome and unwanted, sat in his stomach like a sickness. He shoved the feeling away with vehemence. Everything would be fine. He’d just have to make them understand that Genevieve would never be anything more than his submissive. The thought didn’t make him feel any better. Deep down he wanted more. He longed to claim Genevieve as his, once and for all. But losing her… No, he couldn’t go through that again. He wasn’t sure he’d survive it a second time.

  Shaking himself from his reverie, he slid into his jacket. “Now you can open it.”

  Hastily, she untied the ribbon and lifted the lid. Peering into the box, she frowned. He slipped his hand into his pants pocket and depressed a button on the little remote. The box vibrated to life, startling Genevieve.

  She put a hand to her mouth and stifled a laugh, but quickly sobered, catching his gaze with wide, disbelieving eyes. “Something to wear… Tonight? I’m wearing this to Cadeau?”

  “Consider yourself lucky I’m not plugging your ass as well.”

  She blanched. “Thank you, Sir. I’ll just be a minute.” She took out the little silicone egg then deposited the box on the nightstand and went to the bathroom.

  When she returned, he allowed her to slip into her heels before he gave her a jolt. Genevieve’s small gasp was the only indication he had that the toy had indeed worked. Not a whisper from the device itself; a discreet distraction. He’d need it tonight. He expected she would as well.

  “Are you ready?”

  “As I can be.” She gave him a secret smile as she picked up her clutch.

  From the sparkling spider in her perfectly coiffed hair to her blood-spattered shoes, she was stunning. A more polished version of the girl he knew, but still uniquely Genevieve. He loved that she hadn’t sacrificed her personal style for the sake of the event. Even still, he’d meant what he’d said earlier. She could wear a t-shirt and jeans and he’d proudly escort her anywhere. Clothes were merely trappings. It was the girl inside them who mattered to him.

  In the limo, Genevieve repeatedly shifted in her seat and nervously fiddled with the hem of her dress. Her obvious anxiety was catching.

  “Quit fidgeting.”

  “Sorry. I’m just anxious. We’re not even there and I already feel out of place. What if I trip and fall on my face in front of the cameras?”

  He wasn’t too keen on the idea of the media either, but it couldn’t be helped. The opening of Cadeau was an important event for Miami and without a doubt Sophia had made sure it would be highly publicized. “You won’t. You’ll be fine.”

  “I feel like a geeky girl playing dress-up.”

  Feeling guilty for his irritation, he put his arm around her, pulling her closer to him. The tension in her body melted away as she leaned into him. “You really have no idea, do you?”

  She frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “You are so beautiful sometimes it hurts to look at you, geeky girl.”

  The corner of her lips curled into the hint of a smile but she rolled her eyes as if she didn’t quite believe him.

  “Just be yourself and you’ll do fine.”

  The limo came to a stop in front of the gallery. Brian exited first then helped a wide-eyed Genevieve from the car. Cameras clicked and flashes popped. He placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and led the way, shielding her as best he could. He was never one for playing up to the media. She clung to him as though he were a safety net. Reaching into his pocket, he turned the vibrator on the lowest setting. Her steps faltered, but she recovered quickly, squaring her shoulders and grinning from ear to ear.

  He leaned over and whispered, “Whatever you do, don’t come or I’ll punish you severely at Jared’s later. I’ll make everyone watch.”

  “Yes Sir,” she replied, with a laugh.

  “I’m not joking.”

  She sobered a little, a glint of amusement dancing in her eyes. “I understand.”

  “Now smile for the vultures.”

  She pasted on a grin and slid him a little wink. She was going to be just fine.

  The little torture device hummed inside of Gen as Brian led her into the gallery. The media frenzy left her feeling out of sorts. She’d never been exposed to anything like it, but her nervousness had quickly given way to a haze of desire. It settled around her, prickling her skin and tightening her nipples. The sexual stimulation in such a public setting was a strange flux of unease and excitement. Brian was evil. Evil and sadistic and she couldn’t deny that she secretly loved it.

  Cadeau was everything she imagined it would be. The stark white walls, natural gray stone flooring and track lighting were simple yet elegant, giving the true beauty in the room no competition. Soft ambient music provided the perfect soothing background. A low buzz of conversation came from the small crowd that milled about, eating hors d’oeuvres and sipping sparkling wine from crystal flutes.

  Brian steered her around the main room, gently caressing her nape. It was possessive and comforting but distracting as hell. Her pussy buzzed with subtle vibrations, not strong enough to make her come, but enough to fill her with unrelenting need. The paintings and sculptures went by in a fog of lust. She didn’t have the presence of mind to appreciate any of it. Brian and her heightened state of arousal consumed every thought.

  Melodic laughter drew Brian’s attention to the center of the room. Gen turned to see what the fuss was about. Engaged in conversation with a small group of patrons was one of the most striking women Gen had ever seen. She wore a long corset-style skirt that looked restrictive, but molded to her tall, lithe frame as if it had been made for her. The tight vest and silk tie at her throat combined with her plum lipstick made for an elegant mix of masculine and feminine. Her rich brown hair knotted at the back of her head in a tight chignon, accentuating her icy-blue eyes, slashing cheekbones and porcelain skin. Beauty aside, the woman carried herself with a power and grace Gen rarely saw in the female gender.

  Without a doubt, she had to be Sophia Adler.

  The moment she caught sight of Gen and Brian her face lit up. “Brian!” she exclaimed. She disengaged herself from the crowd and approached them with confident strides. The gentle hum of the vibrator ceased. Thank god. Gen wasn’t sure how she’d face this woman without all her wits.

  “Sophia,” Brian said with a careful smile.

  She took both his hands in hers and kissed him on each cheek. “I’m so glad you could come. You’ve kept yourself away for far too long.”

  “Sophia, I’d like you to meet Genevieve Hawthorn.”

  “It’s an honor to meet you.” Gen inclined her head politely.

  Sophia shifted her cool gaze to Gen. There was something in her pale eyes Gen couldn’t quite define—a longing, a hope, an anticipation that seemed strange. “I assure you, the honor is all mine. I’ve heard so much about you I feel as if I know you already. You and I must chat later. We have much to discuss.”

  Brian stiffened. The temperature around him plummeted several degrees, but his expression revealed nothing. “Is Jared here yet?”

  “He’ll be here soon enough, I’m sure,” Sophia replied.

  Brian’s smile w
as sardonic. “You’ll be attending his little soiree then?”

  If Gen hadn’t been paying attention, she’d have missed the fraction of a second Sophia’s eyes narrowed.

  “I wouldn’t miss it,” Sophia answered, enunciating every syllable.

  “Bringing a pet?” Brian asked.

  Sophia didn’t seem deterred in the slightest and met his gaze head-on. “I have so many, I may bring two. Why don’t you both have a look around? There’s plenty of Champagne and little delights to eat. Banner and Indie certainly did a wonderful job with the catering. I need to mingle. I’ll catch up with you in a bit then Genevieve and I can discuss her art.” With that she waltzed into to crowd.

  The air around them seemed to depressurize and Gen took a breath. “She’s beautiful and intense.”

  Brian plucked two glasses of wine from a server’s tray and handed her one. “She likes her games, but she’s a good friend.”

  “How long have you known her?”

  “Since college. Sophia, Jared and I all attended the same school. Banner didn’t come into the picture until after Jared settled in Miami. Jared should be strolling in sometime soon. Don’t let him intimidate you. He’ll try. He likes watching submissives squirm.”

  “Sounds like someone else I know.”As if to prove her point, the vibrator suddenly came to life with an intensity that almost made Gen spill her wine.

  “You were saying?”

  Gen swallowed hard. “Nothing.”

  “If it isn’t the girl with the gorgeous hair,” a feminine voice spoke behind her.

  Gen turned to find Indigo looking pin-up perfect in a midnight-blue wiggle dress and her hair in victory rolls. She knew it probably wasn’t proper etiquette, but greeted Indie with a hug anyway. “Indie.”

  “I’d like you to meet my fiancé, Banner Faust.” The man holding her hand had a warm smile, blue-gray eyes and dimples. He was an inch or two shorter than Brian but similar in build and almost as gorgeous. Not quite, but close.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Faust.” Should she have called him by first name? She was never sure about these things.