KNOTTED: The Manhattan Bound Series, Book Three

by Juliet Braddock

  “I planned to pick up cupcakes today, Sir, but—”

  Fuckballs. Lightning struck in the form of that fucking egg once more. Her own big mouth in trying to explain herself was always her own doom in the Dungeon.

  “What are you not supposed to do, Maxine?” he said, turning the notch higher on the remote control.

  “Ohhh! Make excuses…Sir…”

  Have to pay the deejay’s invoice…and order extra filters for the five-hundred dollar litterboxes…and take that conference call at eight in the morning sharp on Monday…

  “Ah, she answers one correctly this evening!” Drew lowered the intensity of the vibrator to its normal speed, then refocused his attention on his cock, pulling and jerking himself purposely so that Maxine could see. “Seeing you all snuggled up in your cage, Maxine…just makes me so fucking hard…”

  If she had the strength, she would pry those damn bars apart and scurry over to his lap. However, that steady pulse of that stupid egg left her feeling weak. Naturally, to exacerbate her already tense arousal, Drew had to taunt her by playing with his cock.

  “Ohhh, Sirrr…” she groaned.

  Maxine wagered that she had about one minute to bring unsexy back with a vengeance. Emile’s eye drops. Rush hour at Grand Central. Burnt toast…

  No, that just reminded Maxine of Drew in his boxer shorts.

  BEN in his boxer shorts!

  “You’re struggling,” he goaded her.

  “Not gonna come, Sir…” she insisted—hoped.

  “Sure about that?” he smiled that devil-may-care grin and gave himself another tug.

  The intensity from the reverberations left her shaking, but she refused to lose her grip. Her submission was a direct reflection of her Master, and she wanted him to be proud of her in spite of his anger.

  Ben in his boxers. Ben kissing Jeffrey. Ben running around the house naked…

  And Drew slipped the remote to the off position once again and pushed himself up from the chair. “You know what just might make up for this evening, Maxine?”

  “Anything for you, Sir…”

  Bending down to his knees before the cage, he met her at her own level and touched his forehead to the frame. Through the bars, their lips nearly touched. However, all Maxine could concentrate on was the fact that his cock was hanging out of his fucking pants.

  “This is what I want for my birthday, Maxine,” he whispered. “I want you to suck me off…”

  “Oh, Drew!” Maxine couldn’t get through one single blowjob without coming, and he knew it.

  ZAP!

  “Excuse me?”

  Fucking vibrator! She could feel the rumblings all the way into her tummy. If she could just have a little taste of an orgasm, she might be fine, but this procrastination might nearly be her early death. “Oh, Sir…”

  “You know, the French are very big on manners,” Drew continued on. “How are you going to survive our honeymoon?”

  “Need to work harder, Sir,” Maxine whispered, eyes downcast.

  “Much…” Drew gave himself another fierce pull just to accentuate his point. “…harder…”

  Licking her lips, Maxine could feel the roll of her voice deep within her throat. “Ohhh…”

  “You want this, don’t you?”

  “Yes, please, Sir…” No, you don’t, Captain! You’re going to come!

  “You may suck me…”

  Carefully, Drew held himself and slipped through the cage, guiding his cock straight to her open lips. Maxine certainly couldn’t take all of him with the barrier in the way, but she readily wrapped her mouth around him.

  She had to forget about the delicious salty taste of him—about the strength of him that he’d permitted her to take into her mouth. She forced herself to ignore his groans of absolute bliss as she began to suckle, and the steady patter of the vibrator that jolted her entire body with the tease of unfulfilled pleasure.

  Gently, he thrust himself against the cage. Through his half-closed eyes, Drew looked upon her. Hungrily, she worked her lips, manipulating him into that dizzying state where only Maxine could take him.

  She was so damn close, and he wondered if this might be the night that he’d have to punish her twice. However, Maxine was just as intent upon winning this game. She’d managed to curtail her pleasure so far, and she hated to lose—especially when battling sexual wits with Drew.

  “How do we like that egg, Maxine?” he asked as he laced his fingers through the cage to clasp her head. “Over-easy or hard boiled?”

  Two could certainly play this game, Maxine thought and gave him back a taste of his own medicine with a low growl that resounded throughout his cock, prompting a hiss of breath through his gritted teeth. If she could do nothing else that evening, she could at least force him to come first.

  All the while the vibrator continued to buzz, throttling her into an endurance test like none other. While fellatio brought her just as much pleasure as it brought to Drew, Maxine thought she just might combust as she brought him closer to orgasm.

  “Slow and easy, Maxine…” Drew grunted once again. “Lose a drop, and you’ll make up for it…”

  There was nothing like adding stress to an already chaotic situation, and Maxine tightened her lips around him.

  No coming. No dripping. Ignore your clit. Forget the plug in your ass. You can do this, Captain. You’re almost there…

  “Ahh, so fucking good, little one—swallow all of it…”

  Endeavoring to take him as deeply as this cage would allow, Maxine sucked as if she were sipping a milkshake through a straw, her entire body trembling from within. As he stilled, she licked and lapped away to clean him, then ran her tongue over her own lips. Nearly ready to collapse from her own pleasure, she toyed with the idea of reaching between her legs and pulling that damn thing out.

  “Oops,” Drew chuckled softly, his voice gravely in his gratification. “Forgot to turn this off…”

  As he pulled away from her mouth, Drew also shut down that vibrating egg. Overcome by the roller coaster of their play, Maxine wobbled as she sat back on her heels as he undressed.

  Drew returned to his knees, turned the lock and opened the door. “Scoot back, little one…” he whispered tenderly, nudging her toward the back of the cage. Now, he was crawling in with her!

  While he wedged beside her and urged to lie back, the door closed with a squeaking clang that left her in panic.

  “Drew!” Maxine was sure her heart had completely stopped. They were locked inside that cage, and Drew’s phone was stuck in his pocket, too many feet away to grab and call for help!

  “Come here, little one…” In desperation, she clung to him, only to feel his fingers easing between her legs, soothing her now. “Come for me.”

  “Oh, but, Drew…Sir…the door…”

  His lips kissed her then as he murmured again, “Come for me, little one…”

  Fuckballs. If she had to be locked in a metal cage under a bondage bed in their cozy little Dungeon of Doom for all of eternity with anyone, it would be Drew. At least, she knew he’d make their final hours as they starved to death interesting. Hopefully, though, Lou would catch on and find them first.

  It took only seconds before Maxine felt those reckless shocks of delight seize her entire body. He kissed her nipples with such delicacy which only sent her soaring to the heights of her own satisfaction as his long, strong fingers carried her onward and upward.

  “Coming…thank you, Sir…”

  “My pleasure…” he said as his fingers worked quicker between them, encouraging her to release the frustration she’d so gallantly conquered that night. “So proud of you…such a good job…”

  Those were the words she’d been waiting all night to hear. With her test, the reward followed, and Maxine luxuriated in the swiftness of her orgasm as he kissed and stroked and calmed her.

  “Lessons tonight?” he asked her at last.

  “That I need every important date in our lives together tat
tooed on the palm of my hand.” She labored to breathe with every word. “And that patience is indeed a virtue.”

  He twisted her thick auburn hair around his finger, then caressed the strands over her nose. “Ah, but one always needs a little Patience and Fortitude in her life…”

  “Those two are going to haunt me forever, aren’t they?” she wondered out loud. “Right now, though…we have to figure out how the hell we’re getting out of here, Drew. We’re stuck…”

  His gentle laughter continued to roll as he kicked up his bare foot to the lock, amused by the look of absolute relief and surprise on her face as the door so easily popped open.

  “There’s a safety,” Drew said. “Do you really think I’d lock us both together in a bondage cage, Maxine?”

  “James Andrew McKenzie…” she said as she crawled on top of him to rest her chin on his chest.

  “That little heart attack was your real punishment this evening,” he teased. “But really, Maxine, you don’t trust me?”

  “Of course, I do! I’m marrying you, aren’t I?”

  “You better,” he leaned down to kiss her again. “Because I know I’ll never find a love like this one again….”

  “And I love you, my Kindest Birthday Sir,” she said, kissing him back. “Happy birthday, my love…”

  As he deepened their kiss, the cage door slammed shut once again, and Maxine just roared wildly against his lips. For Drew, in spite of everything that night, it was indeed the happiest birthday he’d ever celebrated.

  Chapter Seven

  “You’re not even going to ask?” Drew smiled, his eyes full of incredulity as he snapped the seatbelt across Maxine’s waist.

  And she shook her head, returning that grin. “Nope!”

  It was their collective last day of work before the festivities began. That evening, Maxine saw the show again and met him afterward for a date night. With the wedding only a week away, they knew this might be their last opportunity to spend some time alone.

  And with that, Lou pulled into the post-theater traffic to drive them away from reality. Lately, Drew’s fan following continued to grow. He had quite a crowd that night at the stage door, all wishing him well before his wedding sabbatical from the show, and Maxine found her wait for him getting longer every time.

  “Someone’s getting a Tony…” Maxine cheered, only to have her open lips met by the delicate hush of Drew’s finger.

  He’d already garnered a nomination from the Drama Desk Awards, which served as a prelude to the Tonys, and all bets favored Drew. However, actors were the most superstitious neighbors on the block. “Little one…” his voice warned. “Don’t say that!”

  “Alright then!” Maxine gave his hand a squeeze. “My husband—as of seven days from tomorrow—will never win a Tony Award. Even if that voice has melted the neon lights on Broadway since the show opened…”

  As he puckered his lips and leaned in for a kiss, he murmured, “I so love you, Maxine…”

  “And I love you, my Most Talented Sir…” With a sweet sigh, she dropped her head to his shoulder to be met by the soft caresses of his fingers over her chin and cheek before drifting down to rest upon her knee.

  “You look so beautiful tonight…”

  In truth, she had just stepped right out of the salon at McKenzie’s after having a simple trim for the wedding. She certainly didn’t want to try a new hairstyle with such an important event before them. With just a fitted polka dot dress in black and white, she was ready for any occasion. The ruched waistline and sweetheart dip at her breasts certainly accentuated her curves, which Drew was so very pleased to see. She’d gained just enough weight over the last few months, and so far, she’d maintained.

  “And you always look ravishing,” Maxine said. “Especially when you’re all sweaty after a show…”

  They’re two kids in love, Lou reminded himself. This, too, shall pass. In six months or so, they’ll be sitting as far apart as that damn back seat will allow. Or so Lou thought until he heard the sigh…and the moan…and then caught a glimpse of them in the rearview mirror pawing and panting right behind him.

  “Motherland, here I come…” Lou’s vacation couldn’t start fast enough. After dropping Maxine and Drew off in Paris for their honeymoon, he would continue on to Italy on Air Adam. His own little party could begin once he dropped them on French soil…and he was counting the seconds.

  When at last they’d arrived at their destination—a somewhat darkened, tree-lined block not far from Ben’s place—Lou simply put the car in park…and cleared his throat while he waited.

  “Oh…” Drew said, breathlessly tearing his lips away from Maxine. “Sorry…”

  “Lipstick…” Maxine smudged her thumb over his mouth, erasing away the evidence of their mini-make-out-session.

  Helping her out of the car, Drew directed her attention to the tiny establishment in front of them. It was in an odd location, right next to Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue, sitting right between some very expensive residential real estate. Just above the bay window of the first-floor townhouse, the small, nearly hidden sign read, Intimité.

  “Oooh! Swanky!” Maxine looked around and then lowered her voice. “Wait! This isn’t some crazy S&M joint, is it?”

  “What if it is?” he challenged and took a step back to mind her in the moonlight.

  Sometimes, though, she was hard to shock. Throwing her shoulders back and caution to the wind, Maxine said, “Well, I guess it’s time to play with the big boys…but you would be far too jealous to allow anyone a chance with me.”

  Swinging his arm around Maxine’s waist, he pulled her closer. “Yeah, I can’t fool you, can I, little one?”

  “It’s a rather arduous task to undertake, my sweet Sir.”

  “Intimité means ‘privacy’ in French,” Drew explained.

  “That, I know…”

  “There’s one table, and it’s set for two…” he smiled again. “Just us…”

  Blinking her long lashes in disbelief, she took his hands. “Oh, Drew, this is perfect!” she shouted as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him.

  He placed his hand over hers. “Come…I believe they’re waiting to take our orders.”

  Maxine’s grin only widened when she stepped inside the small room. It was literally the front parlor of an old townhouse that reminded her a bit of the one she shared with Ben. The mahogany wood, inlaid with intricate carvings, reminisced of an era gone by. Beneath a scalloped old mantle, a fire crackled. There was a small bar with two stools and a table right in front of the bay window. Off to the side, a violinist played softly, soothing them both into a romantic evening with all of the chaos temporarily behind them.

  The maître d’ greeted them with a warm welcome and then led Maxine to the bar for a pre-dinner drink. However, she didn’t feel rushed in the least, even though it was nearly midnight.

  Tapping his champagne flute to Maxine’s, Drew said, “To the rest of our lives, little one. May I grow very old with you...”

  “And may we live out our golden years with the same passion we share now, my love,” she toasted in return.

  “I can’t see us both crawling under the bondage bed in the autumn of our lives,” he said with a wink. “But we can still have some fun on top, though…”

  She turned to wrap her arms around his neck. “I never thought I could love this way—with such intensity. You make me so happy, Drew.”

  “So do you, little one,” he kissed her sweetly.

  After another round of bubbly, Drew decided that it was time to have a dance before ordering dinner. In that tiny room, on those creaky hardwood floors, he took her into his arms while the violin played on with “Try to Remember”—the first song he’d ever dedicated to Maxine. Although tears filled her eyes, she never stopped smiling.

  Nearly dizzy from the emotional overload, she had to catch her breath when they sat down at the table. As she reached out, she folded her fingers over his. “Are we ready for this thing calle
d a wedding?”

  “There’s still time to elope,” he teased, prompting Maxine to nearly choke on her sip of champagne. “Oh, your dad and Vicki are on their way in the morning—I would never think of it.”

  They laughed their way through an order of oysters, feeding each other while gazing out into the darkened street as Drew engaged her in some bawdy chatter on the aphrodisiac qualities in their appetizer. Occasionally someone strolled past, taking a dog for one last walk before bedtime or stumbling home from a Friday night at the bar. However, they were both rather oblivious to everything but each other.

  One rainy September evening changed their lives forever.

  Under his spell and unto his heart, she’d fallen hard. Everything about Drew captivated her, from his gentle and protective nature to the slap of his palm on her bare ass. What she adored most, though, is that she could always just be herself with him. He made the time to explore her world beneath the surface, and in that, he also found his own greatest love in Maxine.

  “Seven days, and you’ll be all mine,” Drew whispered, tickling the palm of her hand as they waited for their dessert of crème caramel.

  “I’ve been all yours since that first drop of champagne…”

  Slowly, Drew stood from the table and took her hands in his. “One last dance before I marry you?”

  “I would be honored, Kind Sir….”

  Suddenly, her senses became so acutely aware of his nearness. His breath tickled her neck as he held her close, and Maxine could feel her own heart beating against his, as though they were one.

  Woozy from their drinks, Maxine swayed in his arms. Again, she handed her trust over to Drew and allowed him to lead, guiding her along to that spot where only the two of them existed. He tightened his arms around her. He didn’t want to ever let her go.

  It was well after two in the morning before they’d finished. With the chill of the early morning breeze as they stepped outside, they’d both found their collective second wind as they meandered toward the car where Lou dozed in the front seat.

  “Hey, bud,” Drew roused him.

  With a start, Lou shot up in his seat. “Shit!” he scrambled, then turned around to look at Drew and Maxine in the backseat. “Sorry, kids…got a little sleepy out here.”