“Yeah.” Ethan sucked air in and grimaced as his waist hit the icy water, but didn’t let the frigid cold slow him as he made his way to her. “She was shot a few months ago and hasn’t recovered her range of motion. I imagine the cold water didn’t help.” He reached her side and cupped her cheek. “You okay?”
“Yes, just embarrassed, and a little ticked off. I was looking forward to getting as close to the falls as I dared, with the water thundering down around me.”
She looked at the teen who’d rescued her. “Thank you, and kudos for knowing how to make a smart save. Someone’s taught you how to rescue a swimmer in trouble without allowing them to drag you under.”
He smiled shyly. “You’re welcome. It weren’t nothin’, though. Alls I had to do was pull you to where you could touch.”
She wasn’t fooled by his mountain accent. He was shy and gangly, but his eyes were intelligent. She wanted to ask him how old he was and where he planned to go to college, but she only thanked him again. Ethan submerged his entire body under and came up with a gasp. “No wonder your shoulder seized. Damn!”
He shook his hair. “Climb on my back and I’ll swim you to the falls.”
She started to argue, but knew he was more than capable of giving her a dolphin ride so she wrapped her legs around his waist and held onto his shoulder with her right hand as he swam underwater while staying high enough to keep her head and shoulders in the air. He came above water at the boulders to the right of the falls, latched onto the rocks with one hand, and wrapped his other arm around her to be sure her head stayed above water as he shifted so she sat on his hip instead of his back.
“You didn’t have to bring me here.”
“Of course I didn’t. How close do you want to get?”
She smiled. “Closer than this.”
Sam let Ethan take care of her while they were in the water. Parts of her rebelled and wanted to rebuff his help, but she shut that portion of her personality down. He wasn’t taking care of her out of pity, but because he wanted her near him, and the two were having a marvelous time.
Some of the teens went back to making out, others floated and talked, and they all cut up with each other. Ethan and Sam were included in their loud conversation a few times, but for the most part were left alone to play, cut up, and do a little of their own making out.
Sam was starting to get cold enough her shoulder ached when Ethan said, “I’m hungry. Are you ready to eat?”
She nodded, wrapped her legs around his waist from behind, and he swam them back to the edge near their backpack. She dismounted when she was sure she could touch, but he held her good hand until they were nearly out of the water.
Ethan handed her a towel and she dried off before climbing on a large, flat boulder. She reclined back and let the sun-warmed rock soak heat into her back and shoulders as Ethan gathered their food and sat beside her.
“How’re you doing?”
“I’m okay. It’s funny; icing my shoulder after a workout makes it better, but the cold water made it hurt.”
“You’re holding it still when you ice it, and you have a towel buffering the cold.”
She shrugged and winced, and accepted the peanut butter and peach preserve sandwich he handed her. He reached into one of the backpack’s outer pouches and produced a small bottle of aspirin. “Don’t argue; just hold your hand out, please.”
She glared at him as she held her hand out, popped the pills in her mouth, and accepted the water bottle he handed her.
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Thank you for letting me take care of you. I know how difficult it is for you and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
She shook her head. “I believe it’s normally the person being taken care of who does the thanking. We’re fucked up.”
He laughed. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Eat your sandwich; I have a surprise.”
His surprise was a small cooler in the bottom of the backpack, wrapped in a towel, with several blue freezer things lining the inside, and two bowls of ice cream – one rocky road and the other mint chocolate chip.
The warm rock, the sun beating down around them, and the cold minty ice cream made her heart soar. The blue skies and the thundering sounds of the waterfall came into focus, and she wished she could freeze this moment in time.
“I love you so much. I wouldn’t want to share this with anyone else. Thanks for being here with me.”
He smiled and leaned towards her. Their lips brushed together once, twice, and he sat up. “I was thinking pretty much the same thing.” He looked around, taking in the sky, the waterfall, and the trees. “We need to do this more often.”
“We only stopped because I wasn’t up to it.”
“And now you are.”
They ate their ice cream and lay on the rocks until their bathing suits were dry. With no need to strip to redress, they put their clothes back on and made the short loop to Boardtree Falls before hiking back to the car.
Ethan had managed to get their favorite room at their favorite bed and breakfast, which included a four poster king sized bed, a claw footed tub, a fireplace, and French doors leading to their own private balcony, where he arranged for their dinner to be served.
Sam had moved some extra money from her account into their joint account before they left, but when she checked the balance from her cellphone after dinner, the charges weren’t showing up.
“That’s odd, it doesn’t look like the room charges have hit our account, yet.”
He kept his back turned as fiddled with the faucets on the claw-footed tub. “No, I charged it to my account.”
She started to ask why, but instead took a calming breath and said, “I’ve let you take care of me a lot more than I’m comfortable with. It’s time for you to drop some of your caveman stuff and put this kind of thing on our joint account.”
He continued with the tub, his back to her without responding, so she added, “I appreciate you wanting to do things for me, but I don’t want money to turn into a pissing contest between us. Can we agree I’ll pay if I’m treating you for your birthday, and you’ll pay if you’re treating me for mine, and the rest of the time, anything we do together will come out of our joint account? Please?”
“You’ve had so many medical bills, and time you weren’t working...” He finally turned to look at her, and must have rethought the rest of his sentence when he saw the look on her face.
He took a breath and changed course. “Okay. You’re right. I know how hard it is for you to let me do things for you, and you didn’t complain once about my ferrying you around the swimming hole. I’ll pull funds from the joint account to reimburse myself for half the charges.”
“Thank you. I’ve been thinking about tomorrow. Do you want to do the Grundy Forest Trail to Sycamore Falls and back, or would you rather head towards Sewanee and hike down to Bridal Veil Falls, maybe stop by Natural Bridge, and then hike into Franklin Forest?”
Ethan scrunched his forehead. “I don’t think I’ve been to a Bridal Veil Falls on Monteagle. I’ve been to the one outside of Highlands, NC, and the one in Colorado, and the one in Tallullah Gorge.”
Sam laughed. “It’s a good name for a waterfall, I guess. This one’s way cool; it ends in a sinkhole, so the water disappears underground at the base of the falls.”
He raised his eyebrows. “What kind of a hike to get there?”
“I don’t remember off the top of my head. Seems like it’s around three miles round trip, and I don’t recall it being terribly difficult. It’s on the Sewanee College grounds, and the trailhead isn’t too far from the cross, if you want to stop by there, too.”
“I’ve only seen the cross from a distance.”
“Sounds like we know where we’re headed.” She smiled. “I think it’s only about a four mile loop trail to see Tom Pack Falls in Franklin Forest on the way home, if we want.”
“Let’s do the first and then decide whether to do the second. But, it sounds like a
plan.”
* * * *
Sam had no problems with the hike to Bridal Veil Falls, though she was breathing heavy toward the end while Ethan was not.
He didn’t mention it, but it bothered her a great deal.
They ate at a little deli filled with college kids, and had the most wonderful salads while debating whether to hike to Tom Pack Falls or head home. Ethan was in favor of going home, but Sam didn’t want to call it quits yet.
“Look, you’ve done more this weekend than you have since...”
She was tired of him stopping his sentences before saying it, so she said, “Since I was shot. Yes, I know, and I’m not ready to stop.”
“So let’s do Natural Bridge and take the drive down Jump-off Mountain Road before we get back on the interstate. Maybe I don’t want you too exhausted, so we can play tonight?”
Her heart sped at his words, and she agreed maybe they should skip the second hike.
Chapter Twelve
The drive back to Chattanooga may have only taken a little over an hour, but it felt like three, and Sam wondered what he had in mind the entire time.
However, he went the wrong way as he exited the interstate, and when she looked at him in question he said, “We need to pick up a few supplies.”
“And I’m supposed to play twenty questions to find out what they are, or be quiet and you’ll tell me when you’re ready?”
He smiled. “You’re smart, what do you think?”
“The latter.” She sighed, and he squeezed her leg and pulled into a dollar store.
“You want to wait out here, or come in? I’m just picking up a few things.”
“Are you kidding? Unless you order me to wait, I’m coming.”
“Mmmm, but it’s so much fun to order you to wait when you want to come.”
He smiled and motioned her out of the car, and she rolled her eyes and leaned into him as they walked in the door.
She looked at him in question as he put several cheap tablecloths into their shopping cart, but he only grinned. He made his way to the center of the store, and her heart sped as he removed half a dozen pillar candles from the shelf.
He also collected a large serving spoon, a ladle, and a flat wooden spoon before heading to the checkout counter.
Again, he drove the wrong direction, but she didn’t ask this time. He pulled into a big box store, and she mentioned a few things she needed to pick up while they were here.
As they were making their way from the sporting goods section to the socks, Ethan headed toward housewares. She followed, curious, and everything fell into place when he walked down the row of crock-pots.
As Ethan finally turned the car towards home, Sam said what she’d been wanting to tell him for a week. “I want our dynamic back during scenes. I want rules and consequences. I want to know you own me.”
He glanced at her and then back to the road. “I’ve stayed away from rules because I wasn’t prepared to enforce them. I don’t think you’re up to consequences.”
“Not the kind you gave me before, but surely you can come up with something? I don’t have the stamina or the same pain tolerance, but…” She took a breath. “You need to keep my physical and mental condition in mind, but I don’t think either should stop you from enforcing the rules.”
“Do you really think you can handle the stainless cane? Because I’m not so sure.”
“I’m pretty sure it isn’t fair to make me tell you I’m ready, but I guess it’s the only way you can know what I’m thinking.” Sam sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe you should start with one of the thicker rattan canes, see how I do, and decide where to go from there?”
“You don’t seem to hurt just from movement anymore. I can change lanes, brake, and speed up within reason without worrying about hurting you. I’m still careful about how much I jar you during sex, but you seem to do okay with it?”
Their policy was honesty, but Sam wasn’t sure he needed to hear the truth. Still, she couldn’t lie to him. “Sex might be too much if I wasn’t so horny. I know there’s no damage happening, so I can ignore it and just concentrate on what feels good. But, without the good…”
He glanced at her again, and looked back to the road. “You’ll tell me if the good isn’t enough to outweigh the bad, right? Is there anything I can do to—”
Sam interrupted. “I only told you because you asked, and because I can’t lie to you. Please don’t do anything different, okay? I need the intimacy; I need to belong to you. Don’t you dare go backwards on what little bit of progress we’ve made.”
Their conversation switched to more mundane topics, but as they pulled into the driveway she reiterated, “I need to belong to you. I need to be reminded you own me sexually. I know I can’t make demands, but I’ll beg if it will help.” She took a breath and added, “Master.”
* * * *
Ethan was torn. He’d agreed to be Sam’s Master, but he wasn’t sure he could follow through on a true punishment and was wary of putting himself in the position.
He’d finally managed to find a way to have sex with her, and thought he’d done a good job of pleasuring her, but was fully aware his mentality had been more of a Service Top, instead of Master. Of course Sam had picked up on it, but Ethan wasn’t sure what to do.
“Fake it till you make it,” he grumbled to himself as he pulled their suitcase from the trunk.
Sam unlocked the door and held it for him as he carried their things in.
“Leave the suitcase for now,” he said. “Put a bathing suit on and give yourself some rehab in the pool while I go down and put the wax in the crock pot so it’ll have time to melt. I’ll meet you in the pool when I’m finished.”
Sam’s smile told him he’d guessed correctly, and she said, “Great idea. I need to move my arm, but don’t want to overdo. Swimming in a warm pool is perfect.”
Ethan knew she had trouble with most of her one-piece bathing suits, but decided to go on downstairs and let her undress and dress by herself. Physically, she needed the help, but mentally she needed him to leave her alone so she could fend for herself. Also, she could always wear a two-piece, though she rarely did unless he asked her to.
He went online to double-check the temperature setting, as it’d been a long time since he’d played with wax and a crock pot. He also gave himself a mental pat on the back for his foresight in having an electrical outlet placed in the floor beside the bondage table. He rolled the metal cart to the center of the room, settled the crock pot in the center, turned it on, and chipped two of the large candles into the bowl. He spread a few of the cheap plastic tablecloths on the floor and bondage table, and placed the new ladle on the cart.
Blowing out a breath, he decided on rope, and chose some he wouldn’t mind throwing away, as he planned to get wax pretty much everywhere. His hand went towards the clover clamps, but he decided on the wooden clothespins instead. He checked on the wax, saw it was melting nicely where it touched the side, and made a mental note to bring down a large bowl of ice when it was time to play.
* * * *
Sam thought Ethan looked terribly solemn as he stepped out of the house in his swim trunks. Her big, strong man didn’t know how to proceed when she wasn’t at one hundred percent, and it drove her to want to get better, faster. Unfortunately, her body would only heal so fast, and she was already doing everything she could to speed the process.
She met him in the shallow end, and Ethan reached for her and pulled her into a kiss. At first, she thought it’d just be a peck, but it quickly turned into something more, until his arms were around her and she melted into him, compliant and willing and needy as his mouth claimed her.
When he finally let her up, he kissed her forehead and said, “I’ll grab some noodles and go through some of your exercises with you, if you want.”
No, she wanted him to sit her on his cock and fuck her, but…if he wanted to tease her, she’d comply.
“Thanks. I’ve already gone through the things I
could do solo, but if you can help with the resistance stuff?”
“Of course.”
Ethan didn’t push her or hold her back, he just offered the resistance she needed, and asked her questions so she could better decide when to push, and when to back off.
“If you ever decide on a career change you’d make a great physical therapist.”
“Oh, I don’t think so. I’d be fine if everyone were like you, but the ones who refuse to do anything because it hurts?” He shook his head. “I’m afraid I’d lose patience with them right off the bat.”
He had a point, but, “You sound as if you’re speaking from experience?”
“Have I told you about the summer I decided to take on a second job as a personal trainer at the gym?” His smile told her this was probably going to be good.
She shook her head and he said, “A guy I’d seen around, but didn’t know, asked for me specifically. He drove a Corvette, dressed in the best workout clothes, and I guess wanted the biggest personal trainer.” Ethan shook his head. “He only wanted to look good working out, and he’d stop before he hit true muscle burn. He was totally wasting his time, so I thought I’d push him a little. You know, irritate him enough so he’d do it just to prove something?”
He was silent a few moments and Sam prodded. “And?”
Ethan’s eyes twinkled. “Apparently, calling him a girly-man wasn’t the right way to push him.”
Sam let go of the long noodle and reached for the two short, fat ones. She transitioned to underwater reverse curls as she asked, “What did he do?”
“Took a swing at me, but I caught his fist and told him he wasn’t even man enough to hit me.”
“I’m guessing you didn’t get a tip?”
He shook his head. “No, and I decided to stick to the moving business. Furniture doesn’t talk back.”
“Too bad, really. Maybe if you hadn’t had such an asshole you’d have discovered you loved it.”
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