Redemption: Darkness Falls

by Ivory Quinn

  She parked the car where she’d found it and headed straight up to her room. To her surprise, Blue was waiting for her.

  “I thought you might find it easier to sleep with someone here.” He shrugged, when she gave him a questioning glance. “Cal said you were a little shaken up.”

  “Thanks Blue.” He was probably right. Lying still and alone, her thoughts would drive her crazy. He shrugged off his jeans and T-shirt as she pulled off her sundress and climbed under the covers in her underwear. He joined her a few moments later, putting his arms around her and pulling her close.

  “How are you doing?” He asked quietly and she sighed.

  “Better now. I’m glad that you’re here.”

  “Me too.” He kissed the soft spot behind her ear and she drifted off to sleep in his arms.

  ***

  Storm came to her room after dinner and they went through her wardrobe to find something to wear. Cal had called Jax and offered the use of the club for their little celebration. The guitarist had been surprised, but had graciously agreed and so they were looking for something suitable for the club. Noelle would have been happy to go in jeans, but she knew her position as a mistress that was being trained at the Manor required something a little more formal.

  “I really like this.” The petite domme held up a lace corset. “I just don’t know if it’ll irritate your tattoo. How’s it healing?”

  “Pretty well.” Noelle pulled her top up to study the mark in the mirror. “It’s healed over now, but it’s still a bit crusty.”

  “It will be for a few more days.” Storm put the corset back in the cupboard and went back to rummaging. “You know, I joke a lot about Blue but he certainly has excellent taste in clothes.” She pulled out a velvet dress, held it up against Noelle and then discarded it, diving back into the wardrobe with aplomb.

  “A year ago I would never have dreamed of wearing this sort of stuff.” Noelle admitted. “I guess it’ll take a while to know what’s appropriate and what isn’t.”

  “It’s what you feel comfortable in.” Storm shrugged, pulling out a forest green, midriff baring halterneck top. “You’re at the top of the food chain, Red. You wear whatever the hell you want to wear and everyone else will follow suit.” She discarded the halterneck and finally pulled out a black mini skirt that had some sort of glitter embedded in the fabric. “This!” She held it up triumphantly. “It’s perfect.”

  “I don’t think I have a top to wear with that one.” Noelle frowned. “Most of my stuff is brown and green.”

  “On a scale of one to ten, how uncomfortable would you be with me manhandling your tits?” Storm gave her a direct look and Noelle flushed scarlet.

  “Um...four?”

  “Then it’s fine. You’re wearing the skirt. Have a shower and whatever you want to do and I’ll be back when you’re ready.” She hung the skirt on the outside of the door and left, leaving Noelle wondering what the hell she was planning.

  A shower and hair-dry later, she was putting her make-up on when Storm reappeared in the doorway wearing a gorgeous royal blue silk dress that barely skimmed her thighs.

  “You look stunning.” She said before she could help herself and Storm grinned.

  “Thanks. Are you nearly ready?”

  “Yes.” She swiped on some mascara and shimmied into the skirt, deciding to go without stockings. She was going to wear her thigh high boots and her legs were bronzed from all the time she’d spent in the sun lately, so she didn’t need them. Feeling awkward, she removed the vest top she’d worn to do her hair in as Storm came towards her wielding a roll of something black and shiny, along with a pair of scissors. “What’s that?” She asked curiously and Storm grinned.

  “Bondage tape. I take it you haven’t seen it before?”

  “Nope.”

  “You don’t have a latex allergy, do you?” She’d peeled the end loose and waited for an answer.

  “Nope.” Noelle eyed it dubiously.

  “Then hold your arms out.” Noelle did as instructed, holding her arms out to the sides. Storm looped the tape behind her neck, making sure it stayed flat and then stuck it to itself beneath her breasts, forming a kind of cradle. She wrapped it around twice, rearranging Noelle’s breasts with clinical detachment, before cutting off the tape and smoothing down the edge. “I wish I had tits like yours.” She sighed, starting beneath Noelle’s arm this time and wrapping the tape in a smooth layer around her body like a boob tube. “They just don’t run in my family. We’re all flat.”

  “Why don’t you get a boob job?” Noelle asked curiously and Storm shrugged.

  “Cal doesn’t believe in cosmetic surgery and family is more important to me than bra size.” Noelle didn’t know what to say to that, so she just stayed silent while Storm finished wrapping her. It didn’t take long and, with the last layer, Storm snipped away the section around Noelle’s neck, leaving a glossy black boob tube with built in support.

  “That’s so clever!” Noelle was impressed, studying it in the mirror. “You’ll have to show me how to use this stuff.”

  “Sure thing. If it irritates your ink, we can always cut it shorter.” She tossed the scissors on the dressing table so Noelle could get undressed later and smiled brightly at her. “Let’s roll!”

  They met the guys downstairs in the hall. Now that they were all going out, they were just going to meet the band at the club. It was pointless them coming to pick Noelle up when there was a car from here going anyway.

  “You look great.” Blue grinned as she came down the last few steps. “Have you ever considered getting a bellybutton piercing?”

  “Um...no.” She really had to stop answering questions with ‘Um’. It wasn’t doing wonders for her confident image. “Should I have?”

  He teasingly poked her bellybutton. “I think it would look hot. I’m going to lick you now.” Before she could process what he’d said, he’d scooped her up into his arms and blown a raspberry into her navel while she shrieked and tried to get away.

  “Put her down, you idiot.” Storm swatted his arm. “You’ll leave marks on her top.”

  “And I’ll be the first to offer to polish them off.” He waggled his eyebrows at her and they all started laughing, even Cal. Blue set her back down on her feet and they headed out to the cars in high spirits.

  The club was heaving but they didn’t have any trouble getting to the bar. Cal had called ahead and arranged to have a couple of tables roped off, so they had somewhere to sit. The band had already arrived and they spent a few minutes doing all the introductions before sitting down to talk. It was a peculiar atmosphere. They were celebrating but it was a sad event in many ways.

  “How’s the ink doing?” Raze asked when conversations broke up into twos and threes. He’d squeezed in between her and Jax, with Blue on her other side.

  “Not bad!” She stood and peeled the edge of the latex up so he could see. Even in the dim lighting, it was clear it had been beautifully done. The script was flowing – delicate without being too flowery.

  “It looks really good.” He grinned up at her and she smiled back, not noticing the unhappy looks Jax was giving them. Over the top of the booth, she caught sight of Thomas in the crowd on the dance floor and waved. He waved back and mouthed how are you? She gave him a thumbs up and he returned it, before being obscured once more by the mass of dancing people.

  “Who was that?” Blue asked and she sat back down.

  “Thomas. He was just asking if I was okay.”

  “He’s very fond of you.” He teased good-naturedly.

  “Fond of me or my twelve inch rubber cock?” She shot back and there was a horrified silence to her right. Blue burst out laughing.

  “I suspect it’s a little of both.” He admitted. “You certainly know what to do with it.”

  “It’s not hard.” She blinked, realising what she’d said. “Well...it is hard. Of course it’s hard. What I meant is that it’s not difficult.” She winked at him. “Guys have
been stuffing cocks into holes for thousands of years without fucking it up too badly. Of course a woman can do it better.”

  “Noelle!” She turned around at the gasp of horror. Raze was trying really hard not to laugh, but Jax was looking at her like he didn’t even know who she was.

  “What?”

  “You can’t...you can’t...” He looked like he was about to have an aneurysm and her eyes narrowed.

  “I can’t what? Fuck a guy up the arse with a twelve inch black rubber cock, or talk about it in public?”

  Raze lost it and roared with laughter at the indignance on Jax’s face. “You’re not helping.” Jax punched his arm in a none too friendly way and the drummer tried to pull himself together.

  “I thought it was funny.” He shrugged. “You should have seen your face.”

  “Why don’t you come and dance?” Storm stepped in, trying to head off the fight that was about to happen. She took Noelle’s hand and they headed out onto the dance floor. “What was that all about?” She had to lean in to be heard over the music and Noelle grimaced.

  “Jax took exception to me joking about pegging.” She moved with the music, but her thoughts were still back at the table. “I love him to bits, but he needs to understand that this is part of my life now.”

  “Give him time.” Storm advised her. “He’ll come around.” Noelle wasn’t so sure, but she let it go and tried to throw herself into the moment.

  They danced and drank until almost midnight. Noelle had one or two glasses of wine and had then switched onto soft drinks, unwilling to repeat any sort of drunken meltdown. She was just returning from the ladies room when she bumped into Thomas.

  “Hey!” She smiled warmly at him. “Are you having a good night?”

  “Yes thanks, Mistress. You?” He beamed at her and she fought the urge to ruffle his hair like a child.

  “I’m having a great time. Are you out with friends?”

  “I was.” His face fell. “They’re downstairs, scening in one of the dungeons.”

  “Oh. Do you want to come and sit with me for a bit until they come back?”

  “Are you sure?” He frowned. “You’re with a lot of people.”

  “It’s fine.” She waved a hand dismissively. “Just don’t stare at anyone.”

  “Yes, Mistress.” He replied respectfully as she led him back towards the table. Her way was blocked about five feet from Blue by a large man, dressed in leather.

  “Mistress, may I serve you?” He asked and she looked up at him.

  “Not tonight. I’m not playing.”

  He glanced at Thomas. “Clearly you are. You have a sub with you. I wish to serve you.”

  “And I’m not interested.” Out of the corner of her eye she could see Raze and Jax on their feet and Blue trying to hold them back.

  “I can give you whatever Thomas can.” He wasn’t backing down and she decided enough was enough. She’d tried to be polite.

  “You listen to me, you worthless piece of scum.” She grasped his nipple through his shirt and twisted it, forcing him to his knees with the pain. Grasping his hair, she yanked his head back so he was looking directly up at her. “I am a Mistress of Master Henway’s House and you will treat me with some fucking respect. I will decide who serves me and I will decide what constitutes play time. I don’t know if you thought you could try it on with me because I’m new or small, but let’s get one thing straight, dickwad. You are nothing to me. Nothing. I will only ever have subs in my dungeon that I respect and you have just blown that out of the water.” She released him with a jerk. “Get out of my sight.”

  He scuttled away and Thomas curled a hand around her wrist. “Can I give you a round of applause, Mistress?” He asked and she was startled into a snigger.

  “No thanks, Thomas, but I appreciate the sentiment.” She patted his hand and continued towards the table.

  “Are you okay?” Cal asked before anyone else had a chance and she nodded.

  “I’m fine. I don’t suppose that’s the last time I’ll have to deal with an aggressive sub. I should get used to it.”

  “It won’t take long for word to spread.” He assured her. “You handled it admirably.”

  “Thanks.” Feeling a small measure of pride, she sat near Storm and shifted slightly so that Thomas could sit at her feet. The sub leaned into her leg as he had before, resting his head on her knee. None of the dominants batted an eyelid, but the band members seemed uncomfortable at the display. Trying to ignore them, she continued the conversation she’d been having with Storm before she’d gone to the bathroom, but it was difficult. They were staring at her like she’d grown an extra head. Eventually, she broke off and stared back at them.

  “Guys, stop staring. This is how Thomas prefers to sit and if it makes him happy, it makes me happy.” Luke, Keys and Raze instantly looked away, mumbling apologies, but Jax couldn’t help himself.

  “This isn’t you, Noelle.” He pleaded. “What the fuck is this? Gabriel never made people sit on the floor.”

  “Because Gabriel never understood the dom/sub dynamic.” She sighed sadly. “I’m not making Thomas sit on the floor, Jax. He’s there of his own accord. It’s what he wants and I’m secure enough in myself to let him take that comfort from me. And this is me. This is all me.” It suddenly struck her that it really was. She, Noelle, had taken down that sub on the dance floor, not Red. Somewhere along the line she had grown into herself. “I am dominant. I am a mistress. It’s not about kinky sex or control. It’s about relationships. It’s about willingly giving yourself up to someone who respects your sacrifice. If you can’t understand that, you will never understand me.”

  “It’s not you.” He insisted, distraught. “You’re sweet and kind and wholesome. You’re not this...this hardass bitch all the time.”

  “I can be all those things and be this too.” She stroked Thomas’ hair. “Am I not a kind Mistress, Thomas?”

  “The kindest I have ever had.” He replied honestly, turning to Jax. “She’s right. I choose to sit here. Not many Mistresses are concerned enough about my wellbeing enough to invite me to sit with them just because they care. She was kind to me in the dungeon too.”

  “It’s just one facet of me, Jax.” Noelle continued sadly. “Don’t judge me by what Gabriel was, because he was wrong.”

  “They were just nightmares.” He shook his head. “This is all wrong, Noelle. It’s just a phase. You’ll grow out of it when you get over Gabriel.”

  Her jaw dropped in disbelief. “I’ll ‘grow out of it’?” Her voice rose. “I am not a child, Jax!”

  “Easy, Red.” Cal finally stepped in. “Let’s not forget why we’re here tonight.” He raised his glass. “To Gabriel. To Justice. To putting the bitch behind bars.” It was a sobering reminder and the argument simmered down as they all raised their glasses.

  “To Gabriel. To Justice. To putting the bitch behind bars!” Noelle drained the last of her juice and set the glass back on the table. Cal waved his hand to the bar staff for another round and she made herself smile as Sean brought their drinks. He looked good in the black and red shirt the bar provided for him.

  “I saw the news.” He murmured quietly into her ear when he’d finished handing out the drinks. “How are you doing?”

  “I’m okay.” She suddenly felt exhausted. “I’m just glad it’s over, you know? It’s another part of my life I can let go of now.”

  “We can talk about it tomorrow if you want.” He nodded to Thomas who had turned around to see who she was talking to.

  “Are we still okay for dinner?” She practically had to whisper it in his ear so that the others couldn’t hear. The last thing she wanted was to hurt Jax even more in the state he was in, however pig headed he was being.

  “Absolutely.” His face lit up with that cheeky spark she knew so well. “I’ve booked a table and everything. Is half seven okay to pick you up?”

  “Half seven is fine.” She smiled and he glanced around quickly before
kissing her cheek.

  “Then I’ll see you tomorrow, unless I catch you later.”

  “I’ll be home before long.” She made an exaggerated yawn. “I’m exhausted.”

  “Okay. Give me a wave when you’re ready to go and I’ll call a car around for you.”

  “Thanks Sean. You’re a treasure.” He smiled brightly at the praise and headed off with a jaunt in his step.

  Noelle managed another half hour before her yawns became real and Cal decided it was time for her to go home and rest. They said their goodbyes to the band members, who were going to stay for a couple more rounds, and Jax stiffly hugged Noelle.

  “I’m coming to see you in the morning.” She said, trying to hide her sadness as she brushed the hair from his face. “We have things to talk about.”

  “Okay. Call when you’re on your way so I’m up.”

  “Will do.” She reached up to kiss his cheek and then turned away before he could see the tears in her eyes. “Bye, Papa Bear.” She gave Raze a big hug and he squeezed her tightly.

  “Get some sleep, Baby Bear. You’re still not on top form.” He frowned down at her. “Don’t make me come and sit on you to get you to rest.”

  “I’ll try not to.” Grateful that he’d made her laugh, she said her goodbyes to Luke and Keys too and then they were heading out into the cool night air. Thomas had stayed behind, so they all fitted into one car to head home.

  She was silent as they drove, watching the city pass through the side window and wondering how badly her conversation with Jax was going to go in the morning. She hoped he would have seen for himself how incompatible they were by now, but she knew that love was blind to so many things. She was going to break his heart.