“Would you like that, Angel? You want to hear me moan and cry out with you?”
“Yeah. That would be… Shit. I have to stop a minute or I’m going to come right now.”
“Then let me catch up with you.” She stroked her hot flesh and worked her clit between her fingers, enjoying the sharp pulses that quivered through her body. “I know my body very well. I can draw out my pleasure with slow, torturous strokes. Or I can make myself come in a matter of minutes.”
“Yeah,” he rasped out. “Minutes. That would be good.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Slow and torturous sure can be fun. I can ride the knife’s edge, hovering right there, for a long time. When I finally do come, it goes on and on forever. One little stroke of my finger will make another spasm tear through me. Over and over. I can do that for an hour at least.”
His loud breathing told her he was stroking himself again, that he was close, so close.
“But you need your rest today, so…” She pinched her clit and tugged on it just enough to push her over the edge. She didn’t hold back the sounds bubbling up out of her throat.
By the ragged groans coming through the phone, Jackson wasn’t holding anything back either. “Shit. I think I just alerted the entire office building that I’m in here jacking off.”
“Mmmm, that was nothing like the sounds you made at the hotel.” She laughed. “I bet you’re safe. This time. I’d certainly rather hear you scream and bellow at the top of your lungs.”
“Next time.” The way his voice rang with intent made her sit up, her heart suddenly pounding like she was on the edge again. “What are you doing this weekend?”
She deliberately waited a few breaths, concentrating on controlling her voice so she could reply evenly. “Hosting my first party in over a year if you can make it back to St. Paul.”
“I’ll make it back.” The same promise echoed in his voice, but weariness made his words slightly fuzzy. “Probably not until Saturday and I’ll have to fly out early again Sunday morning, but I’ll make it. If you want to see me.”
“I want,” she assured him, letting her voice roughen up. “I’ll let Lilly know so we can start planning. Rest, Jackson, and take care of yourself.”
“I’m tired,” he mumbled, but his voice tightened like he was trying to sit up and keep himself awake.
“You trusted me enough to take me to your hotel room on our very first meet. You trusted me with your first submission. You allowed me to punish you. So can you trust me enough to sleep, knowing that I will make sure you get up in time for your dinner plans?”
“What if I don’t hear my phone?”
“You’ll hear it. And if you don’t, I’ll call your firm and make someone come in and get you.”
“I guess I should tuck everything back in then, just in case.”
She laughed softly. “Good idea. What time do you need me to call you?”
“Seven.”
“You got it. Now rest, Angel, and dream of me.”
Chapter Thirteen
Jackson checked his watch and suppressed the urge to curse. He’d hoped to fly in early Saturday afternoon so he’d have time to see Diana before the party she’d promised, but delays, both at the firm and the airport, meant they were going to be late to the party.
“Don’t worry about the time.” Donovan kept his eyes on the road and had pushed his speed up five miles above the speed limit. “This party’s for you, so they’re not going to start without us.”
“You say that like it’s a birthday party or something. This isn’t for me alone.”
Donovan arched a brow and glanced at him quickly. “Yeah, it pretty much is. Diana and Lilly have worked all week planning this. I knew house parties were a lot of work, but evidently a BDSM house party requires even more preparation. Both Chris and Dmitri—Lilly’s favorite dessert chef—are catering an exquisite menu. Diana’s partial to tropical flowers—you might want to make a note of that—so we’ve brought in some incredible leis from Hawaii. Plus I think we’ve bought out the local hardware store’s supply of rope and chain.”
That made Jackson do a double take. “What? Ropes and chains?”
Donovan shrugged. “That’s what I’ve been told.”
“Are you into that kind of shit?”
“I’m into whatever Lilly’s into.”
He said it so calmly and matter-of-factly that Jackson couldn’t doubt his sincerity. “So if she ties your prim ass up in front of everyone, strips you naked, and does God only knows what to you, you’re cool with that? I didn’t think you were so…so…”
“Submissive?” Donovan smiled, a flash of teeth that managed to convey furious alpha male despite his words. “You don’t fully understand what that means yet.”
“I guess not.” He turned and looked out the window, his stomach churning. The week away from Diana had been brutal, but now that he was almost back to see her, he suddenly wasn’t sure it was a good idea. He didn’t say that aloud, but his friend knew him too well.
“You’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. Maybe this lifestyle won’t be for you. Or maybe you’ll absolutely love what she’s got planned for you this weekend. The most important thing you need at this point is trust. Do you trust her?”
“I thought I did,” Jackson muttered, remembering the way she’d called him promptly after their little phone episode. He’d made it to dinner on time and hadn’t resorted to hitting his secret stash.
“Thinking isn’t really part of this. Besides, I was joking about the ropes and chains. I really have no idea what they’re planning.”
“This?”
“Developing a relationship with a Mistress. If that’s what you’re after. Is it? Do you want a relationship with Diana? Or are you just here for a good time, Hollywood?”
“No, it’s not like that. I haven’t been Hollywood for a long time. But a relationship… That’s impossible.”
“I thought so too, but—”
“No,” Jackson broke in. “It was never impossible for you. I’ve always admired your ability to be a successful businessman and still retain your friendships and relationships that mattered to you. You’ve been able to keep your life separate from the business. But for me, my business is my life. I have nothing else.”
Donovan drove in silence for a few minutes, and Jackson didn’t attempt to break it. Donovan wouldn’t be able to make a convincing argument otherwise because they both knew he was right. He’d dedicated his life to the firm, knowingly and without reservation from the very beginning.
“So that’s it, then,” Donovan said quietly.
“Yeah,” Jackson replied just as solemnly.
“Does she know?”
“She knows why I’ve driven myself so hard for so long, so yeah. I haven’t tried to mislead her in any way.”
Donovan turned into the gated driveway that circled in front of a spectacular brightly lit mansion. “After finding Lilly and committing my life to her, I feel like I should at least try and warn you.”
Jackson couldn’t help but laugh. “I already said—”
“Yeah, I know,” Donovan broke in, slapping him on the shoulder. “But here’s a newsflash for you, Hollywood. When you’re dealing with a Mistress, sometimes you don’t even know she’s got her collar and chain on you until it’s too late.”
Every time Diana started to get nervous, either Lilly or Arlene made a joke and broke through her anxiety. She’d been out of the party circuit a long time, which could explain away some of her nerves, but deep down, she knew the truth.
I want to make quite the impression on Jackson. One he’ll never be able to forget, even if I never see him again.
She kept telling herself she was damned lucky he was able to make it back another weekend. Which was true. But she couldn’t help but let her own expectations build with intensity. This whol
e party was for him, a display of her special talents, balanced with careful taste and attention to the subs’ needs. Especially Lilly’s sub, whose hard limit was public displays. That definitely complicated her goals for the night. It was damned hard pulling off a scene for a voyeur, when a crucial member of the party was adamantly against such scenes. Granted Donovan and Lilly weren’t going to participate, but if Donovan chose to leave halfway through the scene, there was a good chance his best friend would go with him. So nothing too sexual, too graphic, while still hopefully satisfying Jackson’s needs.
They’d taken care to keep the guest list short. They were the only three Dominants present, and the only other submissive was a friend of Arlene’s. They often played together, and after talking with him, Diana was assured he’d be discreet.
“Six people hardly makes a proper house party,” she muttered.
Lilly stepped back to give the dining table one last glance and nodded with approval. They’d taken several leaves out of the grand table to make it a more manageable size. Already set with fine china and silver, it looked like royalty was preparing for dinner. “I know it’s small by your standards, but Donovan and I really do appreciate your willingness to work within his limits as much as possible. Plus with subs of their caliber, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If we invite anyone we don’t know and trust, there’s risk that someone will be embarrassed in the media.”
Diana frowned. That hadn’t really occurred to her. Sure Jackson was a big-time lawyer, but would local journalists be interested in a Chicago attorney who happened to be exploring a BDSM lifestyle?
Lilly caught her look of doubt and explained, “Donovan’s last secretary hired a PI to take sneaky pictures of us. His red ass after our first serious whipping session was almost a news event. Jackson might not be local, but he’s still wealthy and powerful. Opening up this side of his life makes him vulnerable.”
He claimed the reason he was working so hard the last few months was his mother’s attempt to take over the management duties of the firm. It wasn’t too big a stretch of Diana’s imagination to realize a few embarrassing pictures of him in a compromising situation could be hugely detrimental to his position. She blew out a sigh and absently touched the crown tattoo on the inside of her wrist. “I never even thought about that. People can be so cruel. I can only imagine how humiliated he’d be if his secrets got out.”
“Exactly,” Lilly said grimly. “So a short list is a good thing. There are still subtle things we can do without a grand production. Once we get through dinner, I’ll make sure Donovan’s displaying his collar. I’ll start reinforcing his submission before everyone else and see how he takes it.”
“Then I’ll start the show,” Arlene said with a sly grin. “Matt doesn’t have any problem stripping down and receiving a little punishment to start us off. Are you sure your plan will work?”
“What plan?” Lilly asked.
“The Priestess will start to play with Matt, a public exhibition like Jackson thinks he wants to see. But I’m really hoping he’ll want to trade places with Arlene’s sub and let me play with him.”
Lilly checked her reflection in the mirror, smoothing her hands over her formfitting dress. She rocked the fifties-style wiggle dresses like no one else. “You think he’s really an exhibitionist? Not just a voyeur?”
Diane resisted the urge to check her own dress. Arlene had helped her select a deceptively simple black cocktail dress with a modest neckline in the front. A long braided belt of silver leather tied loosely around her waist, glittering like a snake against the black material. The real showstopper was the deep V cut in the back all the way down to just above her waist. Black lace framed the roses twining down her spine perfectly. “I’m sure he’d enjoy watching the show, but a few things he’s reacted to when we talked make me think he’d like to participate even more. If not, we’ll still shoot to satisfy his need to watch.”
“Matt’s still not down yet.” Arlene headed for the door. “I’m going to go help him dress. He’s probably never tied a tie before.”
Lilly laid a hand on Diana’s arm, drawing her attention to her solemn face. “I’d never played with a man like Donovan before. He’s proud and arrogant to a fault. He’s used to throwing his money around and getting exactly what he wants. People curry his favor and bend over backwards to give him what he wants before he can even ask for it. So to have a woman like me take the reins… He loves it, but I have to be careful. His pride is a precious, fragile thing. It’s a fine line between giving him the submission he craves without damaging his pride accidentally. He doesn’t want to be humiliated. Just be careful, okay? I don’t know Jackson that well, but he’s Donovan’s best friend and as snooty and rich as he is. If you damage his pride beyond repair, he’ll never be able to submit to you again.”
“I know.” Diana took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to relax. “He’s always perfect, always playing the game. He can’t let anyone see his weaknesses, always going on the attack to put the other party at a disadvantage. I have to break through that, but I know they’re business partners as well as friends. I’m sure that could get…uncomfortable.”
“Exactly. The last thing they’re going to want to do in a meeting with a client is remember how one or the other was humiliated this weekend.” Lilly laughed and squeezed her arm lightly before releasing her. From the front of the house, Donovan called out her name. “They’re here. Show faces!”
Diana hurried over to the doorway and stepped into her stilettos, a glittering silver pair Cinderella would have died to have. Though if Diana tried to wear them all night, she’d end up crippled. She loved pretty shoes but couldn’t wear them more than an hour or two without pain. She could have selected a lower pair, for her own feet’s sake as well as Jackson’s, but she wanted to be clear. She didn’t care if she was taller than him. In fact, the Priestess loved it.
She lifted her chin, squared her shoulders, and followed Lilly out to the main entrance. The two men were dressed to the nines, both in dark, sleek suits and crisp white dress shirts with classic silk ties in deep jewel colors. Jackson’s golden hair gleamed in the light as brightly as his gold watch and the heavy ring on his hand. His high-class attorney armor was fully in place, his smile the reserved, empty mask he must have worn at the firm every day.
But she knew him well enough now to see the tightness around his eyes, which were slightly bloodshot. He was tired, and rightfully so after a long day at work and flying from Chicago, only to then drive up an hour to Donovan’s lake house, all without chemical assistance. He’d probably been on his feet at least fourteen hours, going full speed. She didn’t have to touch him to know that he was wound tight beneath that exquisite suit. Her fallen angel was buried inside, trying to hide every single weakness from the world under his impeccable armor.
From me. She gave him a slow smile full of promise that made his eyes widen slightly. Challenge accepted, Angel.
Chapter Fourteen
Sipping champagne, Jackson tried not to yawn. He’d been to countless business parties like this, with people chatting pleasantly about nothing of any particular importance. Weather, sports, even fashion, the light privileged talk of the rich and bored.
Diana sat beside him on his right, a tall powerful goddess in that simple but elegantly sexy dress. “So what do you think of your first house party?”
“I guess I was expecting less politically correct elements.”
“Latex? Whips and chains? Naked subs in abject states of torture?”
He arched his brows and she laughed softly. “Wishful thinking I guess.”
“We’ll see, Angel. The evening’s just getting started. Besides, we didn’t want to scare you rich blokes away with our freaky kinks too quickly.”
“At least the food’s good.” In fact, the chef had created an exquisite menu that still managed to stay true to his Southern roots. A deliciou
s jicama, mango and beet salad, followed by an incredibly rich gumbo that must have taken hours of simmering to make that thick, tasty broth alone.
“Wait until dessert. Knowing Lilly, it’ll be spectacular.”
He glanced over at his best friend’s fiancée at the head of the table. Or the foot, one could argue, but knowing their relationship, Donovan would have taken the foot of the table. She wore an old-fashioned dress in ruby red that hugged her lush body like a glove.
“Do you still feel anything when you look at her?” Diana whispered in his ear.
“No.” It was true. Now that he had his own Mistress to play with, he didn’t feel tempted to try and step in. A coil of tension deep in his belly loosened, surprising him. He hadn’t realized his unfortunate initial attraction to her had bothered him that much.
“Damn.”
Surprised, he turned his head to look back at Diana. Her eyes sparkled with mischief and she squeezed his thigh under the table.
“That would have given me a reason to beat you again.”
His eyes flared and he almost laughed out loud too. He still had a few faded bruises on his backside and yeah, the thought had crossed his mind on the way down here that maybe he should see about getting them replaced. Maybe. “I didn’t know the Priestess needed a reason to beat her subjects.”
“I don’t,” she purred, squeezing his thigh again. But much to his regret, she removed her hand and turned her attention to the dessert plates delivered in front of her and then him.
“Cherry pie,” Donovan said, his voice so unusually harsh that Jackson looked down the table at him. His friend’s gaze was locked on his fiancée, his eyes dark and intent. “My favorite.”
“Don’t I know it, lover boy.”
Jackson couldn’t help it when his lips twitched but he managed not to snicker out loud. That nickname was going to kill him. Besides, why was Donovan practically panting with lust like a sex-starved fool over a piece of pie? It looked good, sure, but it was just pie. Though that hearty spoonful of whipped cream was slowly melting into rivulets over the still-warm cherries, some as large as his thumb.
The Billionaire's Ink Mistress: Billionaires in Bondage, Book 2 Page 9