by Laci Paige
“Lay with me.” He pulled her down to rest her head on his chest. “You need to relax. You and Jonathan are over now, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but—”
“But nothing. Let him go. He can do what he wants, he’s a big boy.” Liam ran his hand through her hair and it felt good, but not good enough to relieve her mind of the images starring Bianca and Jonathan together.
“Sir, I’m in need.” She began to cry.
“I’m sorry, love. There’ll be no play. You have to learn how to deal with this; you can’t go running for pain every time something in your life goes wrong.” He continued to stroke her hair while she sobbed. “This has become a way of coping for you, not something you’ve had to deal with your whole life, and that’s what makes you different from my usual subs. I think you don’t want to be this way, and I’d like to help you.”
“Why are you being so good to me?” Lifting her head she dared look into his eyes. Usually with Liam it was all or nothing with their lifestyle, and she rightly followed his rules. Looking directly at him was a no-no.
He cupped her cheek. “Because, love, you need a friend right now.” She’d never seen him so sincere and with such a soft look on his face. It did her in, and she cried harder than she ever had in her life.
***
Jonathan put the top down on his convertible and jumped in, taking off for parts unknown even to himself, until he found himself at Linda’s house. He sat in his car for a long time before walking to her door and knocking. The home was a large, beautiful Victorian with a wraparound porch and excellent landscaping.
He waited a few minutes after he knocked, and when she didn’t appear to be home, he started to back away from the door.
Suddenly, the door pulled open and a nice looking man in a dark blue terrycloth bathrobe stood in the doorway holding a mug. “Can I help you?”
“Oh, uh, I’m looking for Linda Bellum. I—I must have the wrong address.” Jonathan took a step backward toward his car.
“Linda lives here.” The man took a sip from his cup watching Jonathan carefully.
Stopping his retreat, he looked at the man. Realization hit. He was probably one of her fuck buddies. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I’m sorry. I’ll catch up with her another time.”
“Linda!” Jonathan cringed as the man called for her. Giving in, Jonathan walked back to the door. Stepping aside to allow him entrance, the man offered his hand. “William Starke.”
Accepting is gesture, he said, “Jonathan Montgomery, nice to meet you.”
Linda joined the two men in the entryway. “Jonathan! What a nice surprise. Come in.” She wrapped her arms around him in a meaningful embrace pulling him close and holding him there longer than expected. Then when she finally loosened her grip, she planted a kiss on his lips. “I didn’t know you were coming. Wait! Why are you here? You never come here. What’s wrong?” Jonathan looked over at William and hesitated to speak.
“Oh, don’t let Billy bother you, he’s my bitch.” She laughed carelessly. Jonathan raised an eyebrow in question. “My gay roommate, he’s also a flight attendant. There are four of us who live here. Damian, who is Billy’s boyfriend, and Cindy aren’t here right now. They’re working.”
“Gay?” Jonathan asked. “Sorry, man. You look anything but gay.”
“What exactly does gay look like?” Billy smirked.
“Like Damian,” answered Linda. “Wait until you meet him; he is the stereotypical gay, very feminine and very emotional. It’s horrible when he gets his man-period.”
Linda dragged him into the living room where there was a huge sectional couch and she plopped down pulling Jonathan with her. Billy offered to get drinks for them both and went to retrieve them from the kitchen.
“So tell me, what’s wrong?” she asked, when Billy disappeared out of sight.
“Why does anything have to be wrong?” He leaned back, but didn’t relax. How could he? His life was in shambles, and what the hell was he thinking by showing up unannounced at Linda’s?
“Because you don’t ever visit me and you look…sad.” She touched her fingertip below Jonathan’s eye.
“I am sad, Linda. Roxi basically told me we were over, and not just in the D/s way either. We’re over as friends too.” He shook his head slowly. “It hurts.”
“Shit, Jonathan. I’m sorry. I know how close you guys are, or were, and how far back you go. Are you going to be okay?” She leaned into him and snuggled against his body.
“I don’t know. I just had to get out of there. You know, get away. I didn’t plan on coming by. I just sort of ended up here. Sorry I came without calling first, I know it’s rude. I won’t stay long.” He breathed out a heavy sigh.
“Stay as long as you’d like. You can even use one of the spare rooms. This house is big enough, it’s a six bedroom. You’d just have to kick in for food.” She smiled at him and kissed along his neck. He put thoughts of Roxi on the backburner and felt his body relax as Linda’s soft lips smoothed across his skin.
“I’m glad you’re here.” She purred in his ear and he allowed himself to enjoy the moment.
Grabbing her hair and pulling her head back, Jonathan grinned at the movement in his pants. “I think I am too.”
Billy stood over the two of them, neither noticing him until he cleared his throat, and sang, “Tea for two, and two for tea.”
Jonathan released Linda’s hair to accept his tea cup. “So, gay, huh?”
“Totally,” Billy said. “So, a Dom, huh?”
Linda looked guilty. “Sorry, he’s my best friend. I tell him everything.”
“Everything?” Jonathan asked.
“Almost.” She dropped her gaze to the floor.
“You mean there’s more?” Billy sat in front of them on the ottoman. “Tell me. I want to know it all. I’m intrigued.”
“I never told him about the playroom.” A slow blush spread across her cheeks, and then she tried to bury her head in his armpit.
Jonathan laughed. “But that’s the best part.” He tugged at her chin so she would lift her head and look at him.
“Girl, you best tell me.” Billy rubbed his hands together with a goofy lopsided grin on his face.
“Okay, that sounded gay.” Jonathan couldn’t wrap his head around this masculine man being gay. He didn’t appear to be what a gay man looked like, judging by experience, nor did he carry himself in any kind of feminine manner, and he surely didn’t sound it in the traditional sense. “I’m sorry for being hung up on this. You’re just such a…a good looking male through and through, and I mean that in the most heterosexual way.”
“Thank you for the compliment, but you’re not my type anyway,” he scoffed.
Jonathan, oddly, felt a little offended by that. “And why not?”
Linda giggled. “You’re not feminine enough. Or, well, not feminine at all.”
“Ah, gotcha. So, Linda, tell our friend Billy about the playroom.” He put on his Dom face and smiled at her naughtily. “Tell him everything, and leave nothing out.”
“Or else?” she asked, and waggled her eyebrows.
“Or else!” He pulled her over his lap and smacked her ass through her sweatpants. Linda moaned.
“Mmmm. I see how hot this kind of play can be,” Billy chided. “Teach me, tell me!”
As the day went on, Jonathan’s mind stayed occupied and thoughts of Roxi rarely intruded. Billy had a ton of questions for him about his lifestyle, which he happily answered. It took his mind off Roxi, but as the night neared, he remembered he was on the schedule at Underground Decadence. “Shit. I forgot I have to work at the club tonight. I need to call in. I’d never make it in time anyway.” He excused himself to the next room, and made the call, asking Master Kyle to take him off for the next two weeks and not to mention it to anyone.
“Jonathan, it would seem you’ve forgotten.” Kyle’s voice shot back abrasive. “Do you recall the last conversation we had?”
Jonathan thought fo
r a moment, and Bianca flashed through his mind. “Shit, man! I forgot. I’m sorry. I’m a mess over this bullshit with Roxi. I can’t think straight.” His voice waivered, he slammed his back against the wall in the kitchen, and a breath puffed from his lungs.
“Are you all right?” Kyle’s voice had softened.
“Yeah, sure. I’m with some friends. They’ll keep me grounded.” He sighed.
“You sure? You can come back here and stay with me for a bit if you need to.” Kyle’s voice was sincere, and that helped him relax knowing his boss wasn’t completely pissed off at him.
Jonathan ran his hand through his hair. “No, I’m going to stay here for awhile. Get my head on straight. Please, don’t tell anyone you heard from me. I just can’t deal with that shit right now.”
“Where exactly is here?” Kyle asked.
“I’m about an hour away. So if anyone needs me, give me a call and I’ll head back. Thanks, man. I’ll be in touch. Goodbye.” He hung up before Kyle could ask for more details.
Next call went to his housekeeper, Pilar. He let her know he was out of town for a few days, and to only call him if an emergency of any kind came up, but nothing else. She questioned him about what was going on, but he managed to dodge the topic, and somehow convinced her that he was fine, although she probably knew better.
***
Roxi hadn’t heard from Jonathan all day and she wanted to check in on him. It wasn’t like him to just give up and not fight for her. He always had before, except when she ran away and didn’t give him the opportunity to do so. It wasn’t the norm for him to silently walk away. This was different, and she didn’t like it. It scared her.
She figured a simple text would do: Jonathan, I need to know if you’re okay. No response. She felt a little uneasy about it, but decided things had to be all right. If it wasn’t, surely Jake would know and tell her.
“Go get dressed. I don’t care what you wear tonight. We’re going to Slipknot.” Liam dismissed her from the living room. She ran off to the bedroom half excited and half scared. Before last night, she’d never gone to a local club where she might run into people she knew. The only public BDSM places she went to play were in New York City.
Unable to say no to Liam, she dressed in tight black jeans, a black t-shirt, and black boots. What would happen if she had to play in front of someone she knew? No one knew her secret. She sat on the bed and dropped her face into her hands hoping she would get through the evening.
Not hearing him come in, she saw Liam’s feet through her fingers. “Come on Roxi. We’re going to get out of here and have some fun. We don’t have to play if you don’t want to, but we are going out.” He tugged her arm until she rose from the bed.
At the club, they were carded at the door to check for legal age, but that was it. They didn’t care who you were or why you were there. Signs hung all over the establishment that read “Play At Your Own Risk.” Little stick figures adorned the warning signs. One was on all fours to receive blows from the other stick figure who raised a paddle over the other’s behind.
“I guess we swim in the pool with no lifeguards,” Roxi said to Liam.
“That’s right ma’am.” A large leather-clad biker dude nodded at one of the signs she was so fixated on. “I’m Steel, and this here is my place. Nice to meet you.”
Liam shook Steel’s hand, and then pointed to Roxi. “I’m Liam and this is my Roxi.” The forceful words flew from his mouth.
“Point taken. Do you need an ownership bracelet for her? Since she doesn’t have a collar, a bracelet ensures no one bothers her if you’re not nearby. Although, in this dive, I can’t promise you anything.” He chuckled.
“Yes, please.” Steel led them to the bar and he said something to the hardcore looking bartender. The man wore a sharp-pointed collar, an outfit consisting of only leather, and a colorful spiked mohawk on his head. “Put your arm up here, Roxi, and Spike will give you a bracelet.”
Spike grinned dangerously at Roxi while Steel had Liam’s attention. “You want a real man, come see me later.” He winked and hesitated to put the band on her at first. He played around running his black painted fingernails along the length of her arm and back down again. She shuddered and couldn’t be too sure if she should be terrified or turned on.
“Problem, Spike?” the owner asked.
“Not at all.” Not intimidated by Steel, Spike buckled the band on her wrist, and blew a kiss in her direction.
“Spike, behave. Don’t make me fire you. Remember, you’re still on probation from your last stunt.” The man bared his teeth at his employee.
“Got it Boss.” Spike gave a curt nod and walked away laughing.
“It’s hard to find good help these days.” Steel shook his head looking after Spike. “Well, you kids enjoy yourself. If you need anything, let me know. Be careful, all you need to know is that there’s a two drink maximum for the whole night, no exceptions, you play at your own risk, and you should know who you play with. If anyone bothers you just yell ‘DM’ and a dungeon monitor will come assist you.”
Liam led them to an empty table in the middle of the room. She started to kneel at his feet. “No, not tonight.” He shook his head. “Sit with me.” He settled into a chair and Roxi sat uncomfortably in the one next to him. She’d never been treated as his equal, and it made her feel unworthy. It was always an honor to kneel by his side.
There were poles on one side of the room where the subs and bottoms were tied, and on a wall to the other side of the establishment, chains hung from large metal rings on the wall. A naked sub hung from the chains and writhed her body about begging for attention. Roxi squirmed in her seat, and her breathing picked up as she watched the woman twist around against the wall.
“Roxi, look at me.” She raised her head and met his gaze which held a softness that she’d never seen before.
“We’re not playing tonight. Relax. Breathe. Do you hear the music?”
“Music?” Roxi took a minute to clear her head and really concentrate; finally she heard what she thought was grunge playing overhead. “Oh, yes. Music. I hear it now.” She slowly nodded her head.
Every time she started to feel out of place sitting at the table, Liam would make small talk, or stroke her arm. A few times he ran his fingers through her hair. “You’re lovely.”
“Thank you, Sir.” She lowered her head.
“No formalities are needed tonight, love.”
“Please, you’ve taken away everything else. I feel lost.” Her stomach twisted in knots of anxiety being surrounded by people sceneing, and all she could do was sit and watch.
“I insist. No formalities. Behave and I will reward you later.”
That was music to her ears.
Chapter Fifteen
Liam ordered a scotch on the rocks, and for Roxi some kind of fruity mixed beverage. The server marked the backs of their hands with an “X” in permanent marker to keep track of the alcoholic beverages they ordered.
She’d never had drinks with Liam before. Actually, they never did anything outside of his New York apartment except attend the BDSM club nearby. Drinking with him felt wrong in so many ways, but at his insistence she sat back and relaxed with her drink as much as she could.
A woman screamed, it was the woman who’d made Roxi squirm in her seat earlier. Roxi pressed her thighs tightly together at the sight of her being flogged by a large man. The flogger was one she longed to experience: rubber with barbs. She could easily come, being wound so tightly, and knowing it wouldn’t take much for her panties to be soaked, she pulled her gaze away.
Glancing at Liam she saw his hard stare. She couldn’t make out what his facial expression was, but she realized he was a lot older looking than she thought. Most of the time she spent with him, she looked from his chest down to his feet with only quick glimpses of his face, an attractive man she decided. Very handsome.
“What are you thinking?” His face relaxed a little as she giggled. “Tell me.” He encou
raged as her cheeks pinked up.
“How attractive you are,” she murmured, quietly.
“You’re just saying that to get me to do things to you.” He waggled his eyebrows at her, something she’d never seen him do, and she laughed out loud.
“That’s a nice sound. You should laugh more often.” He grinned. Roxi quieted her laughter. She liked this unseen side of Liam, but wasn’t sure where it was coming from, or how to react.
“Sir—I mean, Liam?” He nodded his approval at the use of his first name. “Why are you doing this with me tonight? I’d like to understand your motive. This…” she waved her hand around her. “…isn’t what we do.”
“No reason, other than wanting to get to know the real you a little better, I’d like nothing more than to take you back to New York with me, but before you decide, I feel this is something we must do. Now, no more questions, just enjoy.” He motioned with his glass toward a scene taking place nearby.
They made small talk for the rest of the night discussing anything other than the lifestyle, which was all sorts of strange since they were at a hardcore BDSM club.
When they arrived back at her apartment, she felt slightly tipsy. “Can we play now?”
“No, love. You’ve had too much to drink. Perhaps another time.”
Confusion set in, he was the one buying her drink after drink. “So what now?” She shrugged.
“Bedtime. Go get ready for bed and I’ll tuck you in.”
She hurried, thinking “bedtime” would involve some sort of play, but it turned out to be nothing more than Liam tucking her in and kissing her forehead before he retreated and closed her door.
Lying there as Liam left her was difficult to do with countless emotions running through her. Normally she would just deal with it and sleep if that’s what He wanted, but they hadn’t been in those kind of roles throughout the evening, so she wasn’t sure if she could rise from the bed or not.