by Sandy Smyth
Each room in the mansion held vivid memories for her. On their wedding day, Tom had told her that one of his gifts to her, and also his first goal as a married man, was to make love to his wife in every room in the house, closets included. Kate smiled at the memories.
Two or three times a month Tom would choose a “special” room with a specific theme in mind. The theme of each room was a different sexual position, a different sex toy, or a different sexual fantasy. And Tom allowed his imagination to work overtime when it came to pleasuring her. The wine cellar, basement, garage, pool room, library, office, conference room, dining room, bedrooms, hallways, staircases, and of course, closets galore all became their sexual playground. Kate smiled to herself as she recalled some of her favorite rooms.
They would go from rollicking, staggering laughter at some of Tom’s more outrageous sexual scenarios to an intense, overwhelming, emotional, and physical need for each other in the blink of an eye.
Tom had stripped her naked in the conference room and tied her to the table. He’d placed her butt on a pillow at the very edge of the table and tied her widely spread legs securely, so that when he sat in his chair she was spread out in front of him. He used a rope to tie her arms to the other end of the table, stretching and restraining her.
He tormented and teased her unmercifully as she lay like an abundant feast in front of him. That day he made use of several of his favorite toys for her, including a vibrating rabbit and an anal probe. He brought her to four screaming orgasms during her time stretched out on the conference room table.
When she had asked him why he hadn’t come himself, he said something that surprised her. Tom claimed that, for him, sex was not only a physical release, which he admittedly loved, but the mental thrill of planning her pleasure in excruciating detail, then executing his plan and watching her experience the pleasure he created for her. He said it was listening to her moans, listening to her begging for more, and watching her body’s frantic stretching and bucking in release that gave him the greatest pleasure.
But, she remembered with satisfaction, while he may not have climaxed in the conference room that particular day, she made sure that he climaxed several times once they left it. This house was filled with some spectacular memories.
They had almost made it. Tom had been in the process of renovating the attic for what he called his grand finale. He wouldn’t allow her anywhere near the attic while construction was in progress. But at night he’d whisper wildly salacious hints of the sensual pleasures awaiting her when his “palace of sexual wonders” was completed.
The incredible, inventive sex was only one part of their relationship. She missed having his warm, strong arms holding her at night, his body curled around her. She missed the devilish twinkle in his hazel eyes and the way they could communicate with just a glance. She missed the simple warmth of his hand holding hers, and the way his smile could gently warm her soul or light the fires of ravenous sexual desire.
They complemented each other, particularly in their extremely high sex drives. Sex for them wasn’t a once-in-a-while thing, or even once a day, and it certainly wasn’t only the missionary position. They were both open to expressing their love for each other in many, many ways, including using sex toys and fantasies, role-playing and words. Particularly words! Tom had several times made her come without touching her at all, just by his inventive and erotic sex talk.
As she stood looking out of the window, those happier memories flooded her mind, emphasizing the emptiness of her life without Tom. Kate doubled over in pain, one hand over her midsection and the other hand over her mouth to keep herself from screaming aloud her rage and pain at his absence, and at the abrupt and devastating change in their lives.
“Oh, Katie, luv. How can we help you?” Mike asked softly as he and John entered the living room.
Kate quickly turned away from them, placing her forehead against the cold glass of the window. Struggling to regain her composure, she could only stutter, “S–sorry, s–sorry. I…”
Then, like a burst dam, the wracking sobs erupted and she slid to the floor, her head still against the cold glass. Her sobbing became so violent she was almost gagging. She curled into a tight ball on the floor, her body shuddering in spasms as her sobs increased.
Kate was so lost in her misery and pain that she never felt the arms that lifted her from the floor and surrounded her with strength and warmth while she cried. She was barely aware of the cool washcloth wiping her tears away or the tissue wiping her nose. When the hiccupping shudders began, the warm arms around her held her tighter and rocked her gently.
She swore she felt a kiss on her temple and one on her cheek at the same time. Kate vaguely recalled being undressed and having her nightgown pulled over her head before she was put in her bed.
And, on some level, she was aware that she was watched over throughout the night.
The next morning she opened her eyes and, through the pounding in her head, saw that a light snow was falling. She could hear the clinking of dishes and the muted sound of male voices. There was a quick knock, and then her bedroom door was opened.
“Good morning, sunshine. We brought breakfast, as well as a few aspirin.” John smiled as he pushed the tea cart into the room.
“Shouldn’t it be Ms. Rain Storm or maybe Ms. Crybaby?” Kate replied with a wry lift of one eyebrow as she gratefully swallowed the aspirin John held out to her. The emotional overload of last night had left its mark in the dull, throbbing headache this morning.
“Nah,” Mike said as he walked into the room and moved the chair by the window closer to the bed. “You were holding too much inside for too long, and it had to come out. That’s all.”
“Thanks, guys. I appreciate all the help you gave me last night. I’m so sorry…”
“See, John, I told you she was going to be all apologetic and embarrassed this morning.”
“Okay, okay. But at least let me say thanks. I owe you both,” she continued seriously.
“Fine, put it on our tab and let’s eat while it’s hot.” John smiled at her as they set out the breakfast.
Later, finding herself alone and wandering from room to room again, Kate decided to get some fresh air and clear the cobwebs from her head. She dressed warmly in her down-filled coat, boots, woolen scarf, mittens, and a heavy knit cap and stepped out into the frosty air, breathing deeply. She quickly slipped her sunglasses on for protection against the glare of the snow. The snow continued to lightly fall as she made her way down the twisting path through woods to her favorite spot overlooking the lake and sat on the trunk of a fallen tree.
A few minutes later the lightly falling snow quickly changed into heavy, blowing snow mixed with stinging ice crystals as the wind suddenly began whipping around her. She looked back but couldn’t see even a vague outline of their huge house through the trees. Everything was a white blur.
Kate knew she was in serious trouble. She’d lived in the mountains long enough to know that the weather could change in a matter of seconds. It could also get worse, much worse, and stay that way for hours or even days.
She noticed that the increasingly heavy snow and ice had almost obliterated her footprints. There was only a slight indentation to show she’d been through there just minutes before, and even that was filling up quickly. Kate pulled her scarf up over her nose and lower face, leaving only her sunglasses visible.
Indecision had her hesitating. If she tried to get back to the house, she could, and probably would, lose her way and never get back. Her sense of direction sucked! If she stayed here and tried to construct some cover for herself, she might be able to wait out the storm, at least until Mike and John could find her.
Riiiight. Ms. Mountain Girl would have no problem finding some sort of “cover,” or maybe she could make an igloo. Sure she could.
Kate’s mind was going a mile a minute. Then a thought hit her. Hadn’t she read that snow itself could be an insulator? If she could push up mounds of snow
around a small tree or bush, she could get into the center under the foliage and have the brush and snow mounds provide, at the least, a bare minimum of protection from the stinging ice pellets and wind. What the heck. It was worth a try.
She managed three steps before she hit a patch of ice and her feet went out from under her. She didn’t even have a chance to say “oh, shit” before her head impacted a rock hidden by the snow and everything went black.
Kate woke once while Mike and John were carrying her between them back to the house. She awoke a second time when the doctor began his poking and prodding of the painful bump on the back of her head.
Kate awoke the third time to the sound of loud voices.
“Again? What do you mean she passed out, again?” Tom’s agitated voice came through the speakerphone. “Have you called the doctor?”
“It’s a damned lucky thing that we saw her leaving the house and followed her. We saw her feet go out from under her and saw her head bounce off of a rock. Between us, we managed to get her home and call the doctor. We also lucked out when the storm passed through as quickly as it did, or the doctor would never have made it up here. He said her head is fine. The thick cap she was wearing helped to protect her.” John’s voice was rough with emotion.
“As a precaution, Mike and I will check her every few hours tonight to make sure she’s not concussed. But the doc doesn’t think so. He did say that Kate’s emotional meltdown last night could cause her body to require more sleep than normal to restore itself.”
“Emotional meltdown? Last night? Damn it, John! What the hell is going on out there?” Tom shouted.
“Why don’t you come home and find out for yourself what’s going on? Kate needs you here. You know damned well that you can have your physical therapy here. You don’t need to be in the hospital for that,” John shouted back.
“You’re overstepping your bounds, John,” came a deadly quiet voice from the speakerphone.
“Bullshit! We’ve been friends since the three of us were ten years old in the orphanage. We know how your mind works, Tom. You want everything to be perfect, you want to be perfect before you come home. Well, if Kate wanted perfect, she wouldn’t have married you, now would she? Get your ass in gear and get home. She really needs you. Come home.”
Kate heard the phone slam down.
“Well,” said Mike. “That went over pretty well, didn’t it?”
Three weeks later Tom was home and a completely equipped physical therapy room had been constructed next to the pool room, with a therapist who came on a regular basis. The old, creaking elevator had also been updated and could now accommodate Tom’s wheelchair without a problem. That was almost two years ago.
* * * *
“Kate? Are you with us?” Tom asked with a smile.
“Oops, sorry. I was…er…woolgathering, I guess.” She blushed as she looked into his teasing eyes.
Tom’s eyebrows lifted just a fraction as he noted her blush, then he gave her a quick wink and smile, and turned back to the group assembled in front of him. Mike and John stood just behind him. The three musketeers were on the prowl, again. God, they looked good enough to eat, she thought and felt the heat of another blush rise up into her cheeks.
“I’ve called you here because I’m going to be away for at least a month, or possibly longer, and want to make sure you understand that you will be unable to contact me at all during that time. If any of you have anything that needs to be discussed with me before I leave, it had better be done now. I am going to assign one individual to make all decisions on my behalf during the time I am away. That includes all legal issues.” He nodded at Anna.
“It also includes complete banking authority for any and all transactions, to my financial portfolio, and to any decisions regarding Martins Enterprises.”
Tom listened to the murmurs of those in front of him, noting the varying reactions to his news.
Tom continued, “I discussed this matter with Kate—”
“Oh, please,” Scott interrupted, “no disrespect intended, but surely you need someone with more experience in the business and financial world.” His naturally florid face darkened with anger. “Certainly, your wife is a lovely person and can handle the day-to-day household problems that can arise, but she’s not qualified to handle the responsibilities you’ve outlined.”
Scott glared at each person at the table in unspoken challenge as he continued. “With my degree in finance and my experience in running my own business, surely I am the most qualified person to handle the intricate financial and business decisions that will have to be made during your absence.”
“Well, Scott,” Tom said in a cool voice. “Actually, Kate declined my offer for her to run my operations in my absence. She is in the process of finalizing the sale of the business she created years ago. You have heard of IntriKATE Design, Inc. haven’t you?”
Kate watched with satisfaction as the blood drained from Scott’s face and his jaw dropped in shock.
“That’s the business Kate started with just an idea and her own hard work. By herself, she built the company up, step by step, into the multimillion dollar business it is today. So, I’d say Kate is more than qualified for anything she chooses to do,” he finished coldly and turned back to the rest of the group.
“Deciding who would be acting on my behalf was a ‘no-brainer’ for me. But, because I value Kate’s opinion, I asked her who she thought it should be. It didn’t surprise me in the least that Kate came up with the name of the same individual. We do think alike, don’t we, Kate? In more ways than one,” Tom said with satisfaction.
“Therefore, effective the twenty-fifth of next month, all financial and corporate problems should be referred to and decisions will be made by John Givens. Mike Malone will be handling all finances related to the household and the various lake and ranch properties.
Tom carefully watched the varying expressions at his announcement. Only Walker and Anna seemed to assimilate the news and responded with very little outward show of surprise.
“Tom, I can have the necessary papers ready for your signature by the end of this week,” said Anna. “John, Mike, the power of attorney forms you will need will be ready at the same time. You can all come in together, and we’ll finalize and sign everything then. I think I have what I need, so if there is nothing more, I’m going home to George before the storm gets any worse. Tom, anything else I need to know?” she asked as she gathered her notes together and stood.
“No, Anna, you’re free to leave. Give my regards to George when you get home.”
Before Anna could leave the room, Scott Thomasson erupted from his chair with such violence that his chair tipped over behind him.
“You can’t seriously be giving all of that financial authority to your bodyguards? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Even your wife would be better than those nobodies. What experience does either one have in dealing with major financial decisions or running a business, or anything else for that matter? They’re just hired muscle, dime-a-dozen bodyguards, for Christ’s sake.”
Tom’s body stiffened, and his eyes narrowed in anger as he watched Scott.
Anna reached into her purse and took out her hand-held recorder. She placed the recorder on the table in plain sight and then switched it on. She opened her notebook, sat down, and started taking notes.
“Walker,” snarled Scott. “You can’t tell me that you want a bodyguard coming into your office, telling you how to run the company. He’d run the business into the ground within a week.”
Walker looked at Tom, who nodded. “Well, Scott,” Walker drawled coldly, “The fact is, John Givens has been in attendance, with Tom, at virtually all corporate board meetings, strategy meetings, and any other company meetings we’ve held in the last three years. He handled things when Tom was hospitalized and knows exactly what Tom would do in any given situation with regard to the corporation. John and Mike are also the owners of M-G Security, not just employees.<
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“And,” Walker continued, “John has also made several suggestions over the last few years that have resulted in Martins Enterprises saving tens of thousands of dollars a year. I admit I would hire him in a minute as my vice president, if I wasn’t sure he’d have my job within a month, or less.”
Comfortable laughter swelled around the room as John made a slight bow to Walker and turned up the corner of his mouth in a wry smile of acknowledgement.
Tom grinned and said, “Walker, I haven’t had a chance to discuss with you the problems you unearthed on the ranches owned by Martins Enterprises. That was a great investigative job you did. I’d like to leave the resolution of that in your hands and let John handle the day-to-day problems and paperwork at the corporation while I’m gone. You know what’s needed, and I trust that you know exactly how to handle it. Let Mike or John know whatever you need, and they’ll make sure you have it.” Walker gave a satisfied nod of agreement.
“Furthermore, I can assure you that your job is safe from John.”
Walker smiled.
Scott looked wildly around the room. “This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever—”
“Enough!” Kate shouted as she surged to her feet and glared at Scott. “You have no right to question any decisions we make. Tom and I have the utmost confidence and trust in John, Mike, and Walker, and that’s all that matters. Had we wanted your input, we would have asked for it. Now, either sit down and shut up, or get out of here.”
Tom’s chest expanded with pride as he watched his wife. Mike and John exchanged a quick glance before they turned their attention back to Scott.
“I’ll get out of here, you stupid bitch,” Scott mumbled beneath his breath. He started to leave and then turned back to Kate again.
Scott’s face was contorted in rage, and spittle sprayed from his mouth as he screamed, “I know what it is. You’re fucking your bodyguards! That’s what it is. Hubby can’t get it up any more, so you’re screwing the hired help. I heard the three of them used to share their women all the time. Everybody knew it, too. Looks like they’re still sharing! Get out of my way, bitch.” He roughly tried to force Kate to back up as he pushed by her, deliberately hitting her in the stomach with the corner of his briefcase