KNOTTED: The Manhattan Bound Series, Book Three

by Juliet Braddock

  Naturally, she loved this nearly one-hundred-and-fifty-year-old theater’s connection to literature. With the Palais Garnier as the milieu for Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera, her imagination began to race as her eyes darted from corner to corner, envisioning the ghosts of thespians past who had commanded those boards.

  Perhaps it was just the history that stirred those ominous thoughts filling her head—or her mother’s urban legends about all theaters being haunted—but even as they were escorted to their own private box, she almost felt as if they were being watched from every angle. Doors, archways, hallways…there seemed to be an egress to another section of the building every few steps. Maxine wondered where all of the mazes and tunnels ultimately led.

  The pageantry of the Opera Garnier was indeed grand, with artistry woven into every last detail of the performance—huge sets that paralleled those she’d seen on Broadway, extraordinarily talented performers with voices that soared far beyond the walls of the theater, magnificent costumes that truly brought those characters on the stage to life…

  However, for Maxine, it was the legendary old opera house itself that she found more impressive than the mournful show playing out on its fabled stage.

  With a quick glance at her husband, who appeared to be quite engrossed in the sadness and utter despair of Rodolfo and Mimi as the doomed lovers, she thought that perhaps she should pay closer attention. So she took his hand and snuggled her head against his shoulder, making a desperate but gallant attempt to focus.

  As the house lights brightened at intermission, Maxine hoped he missed her sigh of relief. In fact, she was nearly embarrassed that she’d found her mind wandering throughout this truly amazing spectacle—especially with a love story as powerful as the one in La Bohème. Even the musical Rent had drawn its inspiration from this Puccini classic, and she so desperately wanted to just love the opera. But Maxine struggled to make peace with her boredom.

  “Enjoying the show, little one?” Drew asked, giving her a quick kiss before he settled back in his seat.

  “Yes—yes, I am,” she said with a little too much enthusiasm. At that moment, she knew for sure that Drew had almost certainly figured out that she just wanted to leave.

  Perhaps she could steer her husband’s attention away from the show and engage him in a discussion on the architecture surrounding them. However, Drew seemed to have a few other things on his mind that evening.

  “So, Maxine,” he said rather suddenly. “Seems we have a few minutes to kill here…”

  Uh-oh, she thought to herself with her most sinister of curiosities rising. They were alone in that box. Maxine knew she was in for a treat.

  “Ahh,” Maxine purred in his ear, huddling closer and rubbing her thighs together with her always anxious anticipation. “Mais oui, Monsieur…”

  A smirk spread across his face as he reached into his breast pocket. “I should probably make a consultation with Siri...”

  Wagging her bottom like an excited little puppy, she whispered, “Oh yeah, Sir?”

  “Yes, Maxine…” he said, punctuating his words with the clinch of his hand over her knee.

  Stop considering the possibilities, she warned herself, then gazed up at him with the most innocent regard. “You mean my Naughty—I mean—your Naughty Sassy Maxine application, oh Kindest of Sirs?”

  “Good girl,” he praised and patted her knee accordingly. “Now, let’s see…I’ll try to pick an easy infraction here. It’s taking a while to load—as you’ve been so very bad.”

  As he began to scroll, Maxine drew in a deep breath and held it. This was the moment she’d been anticipating for months, but she’d always expected that he’d render her punishments in the Dungeon…or their bedroom.

  “Sir?” she spoke so very softly.

  “Yes?” Drew didn’t bother to tear his eyes from his phone.

  “Here?” she asked, her voice wavering with both panic and arousal. “Here, Sir? Right in the middle of this…”

  “Ah-ha!” he finally exclaimed. “Tickling my most sensitive spot on my inner thigh while we were out to get our marriage license. Remember that, Maxine?”

  Oh, yes she did. Maxine even smiled as she nodded, thinking back to how she teased him as he drove. And Drew hated to drive. “Yes, I do, Sir.”

  “Let’s see what Naughty Sassy Siri has in store for Naughty Sassy Maxine…”

  Depressing his thumb upon his selection, Drew and Maxine both waited so very impatiently to see what punishment the app would issue. Maxine couldn’t help but ponder the hilarity of the entire concept. It was almost like spinning a wheel in a game of chance at a carnival.

  When at last the screen stopped swirling, Drew exhaled, his breath hissing through his clenched teeth, then rolled his eyes.

  “You know…this is far too easy…” Drew pouted.

  “Five cracks, Sir?” Maxine asked as she read the tiny screen over his shoulder.

  “Fuck, this thing is lame! I need to check the settings—increase the difficulty level,” he continued to mutter, ignoring Maxine’s question. With resignation, he shoved his phone back into his pocket and stood from his seat. “Well, get up. Shit, you know, I just spanked you on Monday. I was hoping for something a little bit more risqué! Someone needs to punish Naughty Sassy Siri!”

  “Five cracks…here…in this opera house…right now…Sir?” she continued to babble, still seated and scooting around upon the velvet cushion cover. This was by far more entertaining than watching the dreary, star-crossed lovers on stage.

  “I am going to tell you again that you need to stand for me…right now, Maxine,” he warned, loosening his tie just a bit. “Do not make me say it a third time…”

  Gripping the arms of the chair, she arose from her seat dutifully and bowed her head.

  “Now, down the stairs,” he ordered. “But I’ll go first. I don’t want you to hurt yourself. And remember your safewords…”

  Taking his hand and his lead, she stepped cautiously behind him. “Yes, Sir…”

  In that little cubby, they were shielded by the locked door which opened into the vestibule and the velvet curtain that hid them from the rest of the audience at the entry to the box. Lighting was dim, at best, with only a very primitive bulb hanging overhead.

  “Give me your panties,” he whispered his command.

  Catching the light silk fabric of her little black dress in her hands, she pulled upward, then smoothed her hands inside the fine lace and allowed them to cascade down her legs. Bending over, she picked them up and handed them to her husband.

  “Here you are, Kind Sir…”

  “Good girl,” he returned and tucked the tiny lacey garment into his pocket. “Now brace your hands against the wall and count…in French…”

  While she put herself into position, Maxine felt as if a fountain gushed between her legs. She wasn’t so much concerned about the spanking as she was about suffering through the second act with this arousal prickling her with its gnawing need.

  “I love you dearly, Maxine,” he said with true tenderness. “And I really do hate to punish you…”

  And then his hand clapped down upon her derriere.

  “Un…”

  “Very good, you bad girl…”

  “Deux…”

  He hadn’t spanked her hard in the least. However, Maxine also knew that he was likely trying to keep the noise level to a minimum.

  “Trois…”

  That raw need between her lower lips never waned.

  “Quatre…”

  Oh, the backside of his hand…now that had an interesting feel to it…

  “Cinq!”

  A little stronger, just for good measure, and just to leave her thoroughly teased.

  Those fingers gingerly massaged over her not-so-sore ass, and Maxine squirmed as she pressed her own hands harder against the wall. Just the filthy concept of where they were and what he’d just done to her aroused her.

  While she wished he’d slip his hand
in front of her just to give her even the tiniest scrap of relief, he stepped closer to move her hair aside and kiss the back of her neck. His breath upon her skin only sent her deeper into desperation.

  “Good job, Maxine…”

  “Thank you…Kind Sir.”

  “You always have me to lean on,” he assured her, and eased her back against him, taking care to make sure that she was aware of the erection raging in those tight trousers. “Oh, little one…you’re really having trouble standing, aren’t you?”

  “Oh, yes, Sir…”

  His nails softly scuffed over her breasts, scratching over her rigid nipples. “Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked, playing her all the while. “Something I can get you, perhaps?”

  Her voice was scantly audible over the orchestra tuning up in the pit, readying for Act Two. “Come, please, Kind Sir?”

  Lifting her chin, he asked, “You need to come?”

  With a woeful nod, she pouted her lips, then said, “Yes, please, Sir…”

  Whipping up the front of her dress, Drew got down on his knees, muttering, “You know, Maxine…you pick the worst times for this sort of stuff. The show’s about to start up again…”

  “I’m sorry, Sir…I….ahhhhhh…”

  That flick of his tongue against her clit was all she needed to draw her into oblivion. As Maxine slunk back against the wall, she filled her lungs with a deep breath of the stale air and dug her fingers into his hair, tearing at his scalp and pulling him as close as she possibly could.

  While the applause resounded in the audience with the beginning of the second act, Maxine willed herself into absolute silence. She concentrated on the sensation of his lips, sucking that swollen and slippery nub, and watched as he fed upon her.

  As pleasure seared throughout her, only her slightest, quickest breaths could be heard between them as she rocked to and fro against his manipulative mouth.

  This, she realized, was another reward for her progress in her training. He trusted her enough to maintain that control which he’d taught her to develop. She’d learned her lessons—mastered them all thus far—and now it was time to take her out into the world and put those crucial skills to task.

  Maxine could simply never have enough of him—his hands, his cock, his mouth. As the final tingles of her passion began to fade, Drew kissed and nibbled at the inside of her thighs, a gentle reminder of why he was punishing her that night in the first place.

  When at last he stood up to meet her face-to-face once again, he told her, “I love you, Maxine. And you’ve made me so exceedingly proud of you this evening.”

  “Mmm… thank you, Kind Sir,” she spoke so very softly. “Have to clean you up now.”

  Dutifully, her tongue lapped at his chin and over his lips that curved into a smile of appreciation, licking away all of the evidence of their little escapade inside that box. The taste of both her own arousal mingled with his aftershave.

  Occasionally, he caught her lips to his for a kiss, requiting her yet again. He’d settled Maxine down for the moment, but he battled with his own dry thirst to have her. There was no way they were going to make it through to the opera’s heartrending finale.

  “Maxine?”

  “Yes, Sir?” she stopped what she was doing to look join in his starry stare.

  “I wasn’t going to suggest this,” he said, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips, “but I need you. Right. Now.”

  “But fuckballs—” Bewildered, she stopped and shook her head. “Sir, what about Mimi and Rodolfo?”

  “Mimi dies, Maxine. And fuck Rodolfo.”

  Maxine recognized that look in her husband’s eyes. His gaze was absent of his usual tease. He was ready. And when Drew sought to do something, nothing held him in reserve, particularly when it concerned matters of his wife.

  “You have no idea how much you’ve already pleased me this evening.” He continued to hold her hand, stroking her fingers and palm so sensually.

  “Thank you again, Kind Sir.”

  Even though they were still technically at play, Maxine adored how he was able to mingle affection with their hardcore appetites. This little scenario seemed to be growing darker and more dangerous by the moment. She almost felt like trouble was about to knock on that door, just like the other evening in that alley…

  But half the fun in being Drew’s wife was the constant element of surprise that always lurked in the background.

  Without warning, Drew jerked at his zipper, pulling it down in one single swipe. Maxine reached out to free him from his boxers, but he was far too quick and took the task upon himself.

  She braced herself, knowing that he was about to take her quickly and managed to stifle the tiny breath that caught in her throat as he thrust upward and then inside her.

  “I just couldn’t wait…” he muttered, his grip on her hip a firm one.

  Fast…that’s how he had to have her. And Maxine knew it wouldn’t take much on either end. She didn’t need him to touch her—didn’t even need him to kiss her. Solace was served in the feel of his thickness, gliding in and out of her.

  Quiet. Just keep breathing…don’t make a fucking sound, she reminded herself. Driving her further, he pressed her up against the wall, her bare bottom nearly slamming against the velvet covering. Sinking deeper into oblivion as the somber music of La Bohème continued to boom in the background, Maxine absorbed the moment as pleasure claimed her soul.

  That final rush of nirvana was so immediate. Encouraged by Drew’s low voice in her ear, she willed herself to leap from the edge of the cliff from which they’d both been clinging. As he shot into her with one last, heavy thrust, he pulled her closer, lost in the contractions of her rapture. Only Maxine could hear the intake of his unsteady sigh, as the show continued to play on.

  He was so quick to ease himself away from her, but he continued to hold her, placing the tiniest of kisses over the top of her head.

  All the while, as their ragged breaths slowed to become one, he held her against that wall, pinioned there, as his mouth returned to hers to seek and to soothe. Hiking her leg around him, Maxine took hold of his lapels and delighted in their closeness.

  “So daringly earth shattering, Maxine,” he whispered. “Fuck, I love you, little one…just love you…”

  “And I love you…” she muttered in return. “But we’re crazy—insane…”

  “Maybe…but it makes me love you all the more,” he said as he stole a quick kiss from her lips. “Fuck…we’ve got a little mess here…”

  Maxine’s gentle laugh rolled softly between them. “Yes, we do, Monsieur…”

  “I sometimes wonder what our dry cleaner thinks to himself,” Drew mused.

  “Oh…now I’m cringing…” she whispered as she buried her head in his jacket. Sometimes even Naughty Sassy Maxine had her limitations.

  Drew knew they had to leave. He was actually eager to begin a second round back at the hotel. But he couldn’t tear himself away from her just quite yet. His mouth took hers once again in pure need, affirming his undying hunger for her.

  “Drew…?”

  “Yeah, little one…?”

  “I fucking hate opera,” she finally admitted.

  Much to Maxine’s surprise, Drew laughed out loud, so raucously that she actually wondered if anyone could hear him. “Like you said—we learn something new about each other every day.”

  “Can we get out of here…?” He could hear the desperation in her whisper.

  “Yes, we sure can,” he said as his thumb tickled the tip of her nose. “Just one little thing…?”

  “Yes?”

  “Put my suit jacket on,” he said, slipping the sleeves from his arms. “And walk in front of me—closely…”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Well, Mare…I guess this is adieu, for now…” Maxine addressed that portrait one last time after she’d zipped up the last of her suitcases that following morning. “Thank you—I mean….merci beaucoup—for putting up
with us for the last few days. Your patience and your confidentiality has been much appreciated.”

  They would be returning to Paris at the end of the trip; however, Maxine harbored these little fantasies about staying at the Plaza Athenée, and of course, Drew couldn’t deny her. The Ritz, though, was the perfect way to begin their honeymoon.

  Drew was still buttoning up his shirt as he stepped out of the bathroom. With a quick kiss to her lips, he wrapped his arms around her. “Aw, poor Marie,” Drew said. “Bet she’ll never meet another couple quite like us…”

  “What’s that, Mare?” Maxine cupped her hand over her ear and leaned toward the former Queen’s portrait. “You filthy whore! Did you say that my husband has a big cock?”

  “No one, Maxine…” He reached around to cup her denim clad bottom. “…has a sense of humor quite like yours…”

  “You think I’m funny, do you, Mack?”

  “Funny…” He pecked her lips, then followed her jawline to her neck. “Sexy…” At the nape, he gave a little suckle, all the while still holding her in his arms. “Smart…” From there, his nose followed the line of her neck to the center of the sweetheart neckline of her hot pink t-shirt. “Delicious…”

  “Whoa!” Maxine’s eyes teased him as she pressed her hand against his forehead and pushed him away. “We’re never gonna get out of this room if you continue…”

  “Shit…you’re right again,” he lamented.

  “I wouldn’t mind one last little—”

  “Maxine…” he warned her. “I won’t have that from you this morning, Sassypants.”

  “Got my butt spanked last night,” she smiled rather proudly, rubbing her hand over the back pocket of her jeans.

  “Yes, but you need to start remembering why I punish you.”

  “Because I dared to diddle with Kind Sir while he was driving,” Maxine was quick to answer.

  “Well, it stuck this time!” Still, Drew just shook his head. “You know, I think we need some rigorous reinforcement training with you, Maxine.”