Shadow Haven

by AJ Schippers

  “Alexandra, please,” Julia breathed out.

  “I think I would quite like it if you would hush for a while.” Alexandra smirked as she grabbed an ice cube and trailed it down Julia’s neck, to her collarbone, and down her chest. Her tongue followed the wet trail. The sounds she was eliciting from Julia’s mouth made her incredibly wet. She rubbed the ice cube around the nipple and watched in fascination as the water trickled down her stomach and Julia jerked involuntarily. When the ice melted completely, she did the same to the other nipple until the second cube was gone.

  “Two down, three to go. I wonder what I should do with them,” Alexandra said as she kissed the pulse point in Julia’s neck. She trailed her way down, leaving hot, openmouthed kisses in her wake until she reached the waistband of Julia’s panties. “I can smell you.” She could hear the huskiness in her own voice. She grabbed another ice cube. “I don’t think you’re wet enough, though.” Another ice cube was pressed against Julia’s panties.

  “Fuck,” Julia groaned as her hips jerked against the ice cube. “God, that’s cold.”

  “Did I say you could speak?” Alexandra said as she stood up. She pulled back the panties and placed the ice cube between Julia’s slick folds and the fabric, then released the elastic with a snap. Alexandra grabbed a fistful of Julia’s hair and yanked it hard until Julia yelped. Her thumb moved to trace Julia’s lower lip.

  “Such a pretty mouth you have. Such a shame you felt the need to use it.” She released Julia’s hair and without much warning pressed her hand against Julia’s core and added pressure by rubbing the ice cube against it.

  “Maybe you’re not ready for this.”

  Chapter 18

  Julia was completely lost in and overwhelmed by the sensations that assaulted her body. The freezing cold from the ice cube that rubbed hard against her core almost made her come undone right there on the spot. Alexandra pressed harder into her, and Julia groaned as water droplets slowly trickled down her legs.

  “But then again, maybe you are ready.” Alexandra grinned.

  Her head fell back as Alexandra gently pushed the last of the ice cube inside her. The finger itself immediately retreated, and she gasped as Alexandra pressed against her and whispered in her ear. “I’m making you a new promise, Julia. I’m going to make you come undone with nothing but my voice. I want you to listen and not say a word.” A finger trailed up Julia’s side, and a small smirk spread over Alexandra’s face as she asked, “Do you understand?”

  She had to fight the instinct to answer her. Throwing out any old response came so naturally to her, but she kept quiet this time, not wanting to risk Alexandra stopping their play again.

  “Good girl,” Alexandra grabbed another ice cube. She gave Julia a small wink before tracing the ice cube over Julia’s lower lip. When Julia’s tongue darted out of her mouth, Alexandra arched an eyebrow and placed the ice cube on top of her tongue. “Don’t drop it.”

  Julia whimpered almost inaudibly as her gaze followed Alexandra’s every movement. Alexandra placed the last ice cube between her lips, and she slowly tortured Julia by trailing it over every inch of bare skin. Water trickled down Julia’s abdomen, and she hissed at the cold sensation.

  As she brought her mouth close to Julia’s ear, Alexandra’s voice was soft, almost a whisper. “I have wanted to do this ever since you set foot on the island. I’m not going to lie. I have dreamed about tying you up. I have reveled in watching you fight your instincts, and I have waited patiently for you to get ready. Now that you are…” Alexandra’s tongue licked along the inner shell of Julia’s ear. “Now that you are, I’m going to show you exactly how much you enjoy BDSM.”

  Julia’s eyes closed as she felt the promise settle deep within her. Every spoken word left its mark on her skin, and every sentence uttered stroked her from the inside. The sultry voice and the soft lips that brushed against her ear were absolutely intoxicating. She had never met anyone like Alexandra before, who could move her with nothing but delicate, softly spoken words.

  “Are you about ready to come for me, Julia? I want you to be good for me, because this one…consider it a present, a gift, from me to you. Because after this one, Julia, you are not going to come for a long time.”

  That promise sounded much more like a threat. Still, she whimpered at the prospect of it. She gave Alexandra a look she hoped was understood as pleading.

  “I’m going to bring you to the edge over and over again, but you will not be allowed to find your release. You will keen and cry as my fingers stroke your clit, until the smallest touch hurts. And when you beg for an orgasm—and you will beg for it—I’m going to deny it to you.” Alexandra laughed softly at the whimpers coming from Julia. “You are going to love it, Julia. This I promise you, and you should know: I never make empty promises.”

  With each spoken word, Julia’s chest rose and fell quickly. There was no doubt in her mind that Alexandra was right. She had already teased Julia like that once before, and it had nearly killed her. The knowledge that this would be her last orgasm for the foreseeable future only made her crave the release more—something she surely would regret later when she would be denied her moment of pleasure.

  She gasped for breath when Alexandra’s finger slipped through her wet folds and teased her entrance. “You are so wet, dear. Do you know what that does to me?” She flicked her index finger against Julia’s clit, then placed her palm against her core and ground into her.

  “That’s all the friction you’re going to get from me. You are in complete control over your own release right now. If you want it to last for hours, you can. If you want your release right now, come and take it. Just remember that after this one, you’re done.”

  Alexandra’s firm voice only made Julia wetter and more turned on as she throbbed against the palm that pressed into her.

  There was no doubt in Julia’s mind that she wanted her orgasm right now. She had waited so patiently and she didn’t want to a minute longer. And with the way Alexandra used her voice to permanently brand every word into her skin, she didn’t have much of a choice. They were words she would never forget, no matter how hard she might try; they were words that licked and teased her as she throbbed. When Alexandra’s teeth finally sank into the warm skin of her neck, Julia reached her climax. She shouted, and her body shuddered and twitched. Alexandra’s hand refused to stop.

  She let her head fall on Alexandra’s shoulder as she panted hard, and her lips curled up in a small smile when Alexandra’s hand moved from between her legs to rub soft circles on her back. “I can’t believe that was my last one,” Julia groaned softly.

  Alexandra smiled. “I thought you would be more impressed with your ability to have an orgasm without being touched, but I suppose you wouldn’t be surprised after that dream you had.” She laughed louder as she pulled back. “I am proud of you, though. You did well.”

  “Thank you.” Julia smiled as she moved her hand, momentarily forgetting that she was bound to the cross. “Shoot. Can you scratch my nose, please?”

  Alexandra grinned and scratched Julia’s nose softly, then kissed her. Her hands wandered over Julia’s body, gently stroking the uncovered skin. “How are you feeling?”

  “Good. That was amazing.”

  “How are your arms feeling? Are you in any pain?” Alexandra asked as she cupped Julia’s cheek.

  “No, all good. I’m sure I’ll be sore in the morning, though, and it helps not to think too much about the position I’m in.”

  “For what it’s worth, this may be my favorite position of yours.” She winked when Julia stuck her tongue out at her. “Are you ready for more?”

  Julia bit her lip and gave her a small nod.

  “Good girl.”

  Julia’s gaze followed Alexandra around the room as she grabbed the flogger that lay on top of the cage. She swallowed thickly. It was one thing for Alexandra to tell her what she wanted to do to her but a whole other for Alexandra to put her words into actions. The
small demonstration Alexandra had given her days ago had excited her. But while she was eager for it to happen, part of her was still apprehensive.

  “Don’t be afraid,” Alexandra said as she let her nails rake down Julia’s chest. “You may speak now, scream if you must, even.” But it was an obvious joke to lighten the mood. “I promise you it won’t hurt. Are you ready to try this, or do you want to wait?”

  Julia looked Alexandra in the eyes, and when she found nothing there but kindness, understanding, and concern, she nodded her consent. Alexandra took a step back and let the flogger swing through the air, far away from Julia’s skin. Julia caught sight of a mischievous grin spread on Alexandra’s face as she took a step forward and let the straps of the flogger drag over Julia’s stomach, then slowly moved it higher up. She brought it down again when she reached Julia’s nipples. “How does that feel?”

  “Like you’re lulling me into a false sense of security,” Julia said, choosing her words carefully. The straps of the flogger felt strange on her skin. She wondered about the bite they would leave behind, and part of her wished Alexandra would just get on with it. But the anticipation also excited her and made her feel alive. “Alexandra?”

  “Yes, dear?”

  “Please don’t hurt me.” Julia’s voice was small and vulnerable for a second before she straightened her back to the best of her abilities. “Not too much, anyway.”

  Alexandra’s eyes sought out Julia’s. “I will never hurt you in a bad way, Julia. Think of the flogger as a tool that leaves a sting, but it won’t bite. The sting might even feel pleasant. What’s your safe word?”

  “Magic.”

  “Remember to use it the instant you do not like what’s happening. Do you want to continue?”

  Julia nodded.

  Alexandra let the flogger fly in a circular motion before bringing it down on the skin. When it first made contact with her stomach, she yelped. The yelp quickly turned into a long moan as the flogger continued to brush against her skin, the sensation actually feeling gentle and blissful. She was transfixed on the movement of Alexandra’s wrist as she wielded the flogger. Her moans intensified when the flogger came down on one of the rigid peaks for a moment.

  Watching Alexandra dominate the flogger enthralled Julia. She looked absolutely focused. Julia almost laughed when the movement of Alexandra’s wrists reminded her of something unexpected. She shook her head when Alexandra looked at her questioningly. “Sorry, you’re reminding me of an orchestra conductor.”

  “I bet the average orchestra member wishes the conductor would use their baton a little bit more creatively,” Alexandra mused.

  Julia snorted and blushed immediately at the action. She loved how they could be completely serious one second and total goofballs the next. It made her feel comfortable and safe, and it took her mind off the embarrassment she felt over loving how the flogger would graze her body.

  The gentle taps on her bare skin felt as if thousands of soft fingers were slowly trailing up and down her skin, and the sound emitting from the flogger reminded her of rain falling on plastic. Alexandra’s voice soothed the ache she felt between her legs, and she pushed the thought of another orgasm to the back of her mind.

  A low groan escaped Julia’s mouth as Alexandra moved the flogger down to her legs, and the soft slap against her thighs made her tremble on her feet. A wicked grin appeared on Alexandra’s face.

  “Spread your legs as wide as you can, please.” Alexandra licked her lower lip.

  With a sharp inhale, Julia spread her legs and looked at Alexandra through narrowed eyes. What did she have next in store for her? She smiled when Alexandra pressed her body into Julia’s and kissed her passionately until Julia was left gasping for air.

  “I do hope you remembered I would tease you.” Alexandra rubbed Julia’s slit through her panties and grinned. “I love it when you whimper. Would you like my fingers inside of you?”

  “Yes, please,” Julia breathed out as she tried to move her hips against the fingers, looking for a less gentle touch, momentarily forgetting that it wouldn’t lead to anything. She gasped when Alexandra rubbed the handle of the flogger against her panties and took a nipple between her thumb and index finger with her free hand.

  “Such a shame you already had your orgasm. I would love to make you come with my mouth.” Alexandra tugged on the nipple and flicked her tongue against it.

  Julia watched in fascination. When Alexandra took the nipple between her teeth and bit down hard, Julia threw her head back and groaned loudly. “Alexandra, please.”

  “Hmm?”

  “I need it.”

  “Need what?”

  “You.”

  Alexandra chuckled. “You have me, dear. I don’t think that’s what you’re craving. Try an honest answer this time.” She pressed the handle of the flogger harder against Julia and grinned when, in response, Julia jerked her hips against it.

  “I want to come.”

  “Look at you: a few days ago you gave me nothing but grief over asking if you could have an orgasm, and here you are, begging for it. My, how the tables have turned!”

  Julia narrowed her eyes as she looked down at Alexandra, whose tongue was still teasing her nipples, alternating between sucking and licking. It hadn’t been a lie; she really did want to have an orgasm, and she wasn’t above begging to achieve her goal. The more pressure Alexandra created by pressing the handle against her, the harder she throbbed, and the more she started to regret the release she had so graciously allowed herself to have earlier.

  Taking a step back, Alexandra flipped the flogger over in her hand and started to gently caress Julia’s skin with it again. “Look how beautiful you are,” she said before leaning in closer and tracing over one of the red welts on Julia’s abdomen with her tongue. “God, it’s like you were made to be lovingly tortured,” Alexandra said.

  Half an hour had passed by the time Alexandra had turned Julia around and reattached the cuffs, only to repeat her actions with the flogger on Julia’s back. Red welts appeared all over Julia’s body, and Alexandra’s tongue eagerly followed the lines across Julia’s back and down to her ass as she pulled down Julia’s panties. She crouched down as she reached up with a finger and, without much warning, entered her. She kissed the small of Julia’s back while adding another finger, the nails of her free hand raking down the back of Julia’s legs.

  “Alexandra, for crying out loud.”

  Alexandra chuckled. “Yes?”

  “I can’t take it anymore.”

  “Yes, you can.”

  “Please, I’ll do anything.”

  Alexandra grinned. “That’s a dangerous statement, dear. What if I were to ask you to chop off your right arm in exchange for an orgasm; would you do it?”

  “Yes!” Julia cried out. “Anything.”

  Alexandra snorted and slapped Julia’s ass with her hand. “Don’t be ridiculous. You wouldn’t. How are you going to pleasure me later if you only have one hand?”

  “People can be very skilled with one hand,” Julia said. “I could use my tongue.” Her lips curled up in a smile when she heard Alexandra moan softly. “If you let me come, I’ll use my tongue on you,” Julia breathed out.

  “Are you trying to bargain with me?”

  Julia nodded. “Is it working?”

  “Not in the slightest.” Alexandra slapped the other cheek, a little harder this time.

  Julia’s muscles clenched together.

  “Such a pretty ass you have, Julia. Do you want another one?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Alexandra alternated soft and hard slaps on Julia’s ass until it turned bright red. She kissed the sting away when Julia’s whimpers turned into small mewls. Her other hand reached around Julia and slowly rubbed her clit until Julia began to tremble. “Are you close?”

  “Yes, Miss.”

  “Good girl,” Alexandra said as she moved her fingers faster inside of Julia. “If you can recite the alphabet in reverse
order, I’ll let you come.”

  “Fuck,” Julia hissed as she rested her head against one of the wooden boards of the cross. “Z.”

  “One down, twenty-five to go,” Alexandra said.

  Julia was quiet for a long time before she muttered a soft “Y.”

  “It’s hard, isn’t it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Sorry.” Alexandra grinned as she applied more pressure against Julia’s clit. “‘Yes’ is not part of the alphabet. Start again.”

  Julia groaned. “Z, Y, X, W…”

  “You’re so wet, Julia.”

  “V, U…”

  “I just want to taste you.”

  “T, S, Q.”

  “That’s a funny alphabet.” Alexandra’s voice lilted with mockery. “Start again—last chance.”

  “Z, Y, X.”

  “Have you ever thought about being taken by a strap-on, Julia?”

  Julia growled. “W, V, U.”

  “Perhaps we would use a feeldoe? I would let you place one side inside of me before I enter you.”

  “T, S, R.”

  “You could make me come without ever touching me, Julia. Think about that.”

  “Q.”

  “I think I would quite like to try that.”

  “P, O, R, N.”

  Alexandra laughed loudly. “I’m going to forgive you for the added ‘R’ just because that was really funny. Continue.”

  “M, L, K.”

  She moved faster against Julia’s clit. “You’re so close.”

  “J, I.”

  “Good girl.”

  “Do you want to come?”

  “H, G.”

  “Oh my, you’re doing better than anyone else I’ve ever made do this.”