“Either way, I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Alejandro rubbed his hands together in glee. “Trust me. She misses you just as much as you miss her.”
“She’d better. I was a total prick last time we saw one another.”
Alejandro shook his head. “Spank her into submission then apologize when she’s in subspace. Then make sure she doesn’t leave again!”
“Thanks for calling her, man.”
“Hey, no problem, Cyrus.”
Chapter 29
Prue sighed in contentment as she sipped her margarita. She glanced over at the tiny woman sitting in the lounge chair next to her, returning her smile. Prue reached over and clinked her glass against Lulu’s, both women raising them high in the air.
“To second chances.”
Lulu raised an eyebrow. “To as many chances as we need. I think I’m on about forty-five right now.”
Prue giggled, taking a deep drink of the slush. “God it’s good to see you.” She felt her eyes well up for the umpteenth time as she looked at the little woman with a heart so full of affection she thought it would burst.
Lulu reached over and patted her arm. “Hey, no more of that. If I cry anymore today it will dry my eyes out completely.”
Prue nodded, dashing the tears out of her eyes with the back of her hand. They’d cried enough today, that was for sure.
It had been an emotional reunion between Prue and Lulu, even more so than between herself and Alejandro. The big Dom had enfolded her in his arms, murmuring to her in Spanish when she’d burst into tears and clung to him. She’d felt cleansed when she’d pulled away, but her eyes hadn’t had much of a break since then. Alejandro had led her to a room in the club, and Prue had opened the door to find Lulu sitting inside. She’d taken one look at the little blonde and had promptly burst into tears again. Lulu had come running across the room and flung herself at Prue, and the two of them had stood there, hugging and bawling like children. Alejandro had muttered something about subs, dropped Prue’s suitcase off, and promptly left.
Prue had babbled about how sorry she was, how she’d never meant to betray Lulu, and how she didn’t want Lulu to hate her. Lulu had swatted Prue sharply on the butt, startling both of them and causing them to laugh through their tears.
“There,” Lulu had said, “you’ve been punished. Now can we get back to being friends?”
Of course that had made Prue cry even harder, although she was still giggling, and the two of them had laughed and cried right through the room service delivery of margaritas. Now they sat outside in sundresses and floppy hats, and Prue felt like she’d never left.
“Does he know I’m here?” That was the one question that had really been bothering Prue.
Lulu looked at her steadily. “Yes,” she said simply, “he’s wanted to be kept much more informed since the Cruz debacle.”
Prue winced. That stung a little, that Cyrus knew she was at Cuero and didn’t even want to say hi. She forced the thought out and focused on what else Lulu had said.
“Yeah, the Cruz debacle. How did that go down?” Prue was genuinely curious since she’d left Cuero almost immediately after Homeland Security had arrived.
Lulu sighed. “I still can’t believe it, you know? That something so horrible was going on right under our noses.”
Prue smiled sympathetically. “It could have happened anywhere, Lu. People who do those kinds of things are very, very good at not getting caught.”
Lulu’s expression hardened. “I’m glad you caught them.”
Prue shook her head. “I didn’t catch them. It wasn’t just me. It was mostly Olenka and Viktor. Without them I would have had nothing more than guesses.”
Lulu’s expression brightened. “Hey! Did Alejandro tell you they’re both still working here?”
Prue felt her mouth fall open in surprise. “Really?”
Lulu nodded. “They both got so used to living around the lifestyle that going back to Interpol seemed kind of awkward, I guess.” Lulu looked slyly at Prue. “I actually think they found it inspiring when you quit Homeland Security, and they didn’t want to be left out.”
Prue laughed. “That was one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever done.” She considered it for a moment. “Scary, but satisfying.”
Lulu giggled. “I’m glad you told that Andrew person where to go. Boy he was a jerk.”
Prue nodded. “Tell me about it.”
Lulu laughed aloud. “He made the mistake of interrogating Cyrus. I really thought he was going to pee himself when he came out of that room.”
Prue joined in Lulu’s laughter. “I would have paid to see that.”
Lulu became serious. “Really, Prue, the things he said about your mom were horrible. I hope you didn’t let it get to you.”
Prue smiled. “Thanks, Lu. My mom’s an amazing lady. I’d love for you to meet her.”
Lulu beamed. “If this works out, maybe you could both move here from Boston!”
Prue shook her head. “Let’s not go nuts. I won’t be staying permanently, Lulu.”
Lulu tossed her head, taking another drink of margarita. “Well, you never know. Don’t close any doors.”
* * * *
Later that week Prue waited nervously in the green room behind the club’s main stage. She’d totally forgotten that part of her contract involved a performance in the club, and now it was time for her to deliver. She scrutinized herself in the mirror once again, content that the burlesque costume she wore looked perfect. Corset with garters, sky-high heels, and an ostrich tail completed the look, and she’d done her makeup in the style of a Hollywood pinup girl complete with heavy liquid eyeliner and red lips.
As she heard a knock on the door heralding her cue, she closed her eyes briefly and grounded herself. She pretended that Cyrus would be out there watching her. Opening her eyes, Prue felt her inner diva take over and allowed her full sway, embracing her inner siren as she strutted from the green room onto the stage. She didn’t allow herself to look out at the crowd for two reasons. First, she knew Cyrus wouldn’t be present. She hadn’t seen him at all since she’d arrived back at Cuero, and she had no reason to think he’d come to watch her dance. Second, she was still painfully conscious that many of the club members would remember her as Cyrus’s former sub, and that some of them had likely heard through club gossip that she’d been responsible for what had happened with Cruz. She still avoided the censure in people’s eyes, and the couple of times club members had snubbed her had really stung.
Prue banished the melancholy thoughts as she reached the chair positioned in the center of the stage. For burlesque performances, she favored a chair to a pole, and as she heard the first bars of the song begin, she focused solely on the dance. She loved to lose herself in the steps, and since she’d quit Homeland Security, she’d been even more uninhibited, pushing herself farther and incorporating more risqué movements.
As the song started to pick up, Prue strutted daintily to the front of the stage, smiling mentally as she saw Lulu, Alejandro, and Callie watching her from the front row beside the stage. She was gratified to see that no one was sneering at her, and she gained confidence as she danced back to the chair and twirled it around, sitting down on the seat and crossing and uncrossing her legs flirtatiously. She hammed it up, loving the playfulness of the dance and responding to the audience’s enthusiasm.
The back of Prue’s neck prickled in the next instant, and she was stunned to recognize the source of the prickle. Surreptitiously, she glanced around the room as she spun, and sure enough located the reason for the prickle. Cyrus. He’s here.
Prue almost missed a step as confusion reigned in her head, and it was only her training that saved her as she struggled to make sense of what she was feeling. Joy, trepidation, and guilt warred within her, and she made a conscious effort to will the thoughts away for the remainder of her dance. She didn’t know what Cyrus was doing, but her inner diva was growling at her to do somethi
ng. To show him what he was missing, to prove she didn’t miss him, to dance the rest of the dance just for him—her inner diva didn’t give a damn, just wanted her to act.
Prue settled for a combination of options one and three. She turned up the volume of her movements, really letting herself become part of the dance as she poured her heart and soul into the steps. She danced for herself, for her mother, and for Cyrus, knowing that she was awesome.
At the end of the number, when Prue had finished bent over the chair with the ostrich tail up in the air, she turned to curtsey to the crowd and was disappointed for a moment to see that Cyrus had vanished. She raised her chin, smiling gratefully for the applause directed at her. She blew a kiss to the crowd and walked off the stage.
“You were amazing!” Lulu nabbed her as soon as Prue came down off the stage, dragging her over to stand with Callie and Alejandro.
“Thanks!” Prue beamed at all of them, thanking the people around her as they also complimented her act.
“Yeah, that rocked!” Callie was beaming, too.
“So, can I buy you all a drink? I totally feel like celebrating!” Prue’s adrenaline hadn’t worn off yet, and she was so happy with her dance that she wanted the rush to continue.
“Not right now, dear.” Alejandro reached out and held Prue’s hand, making her smile. Lulu was holding her other hand, and she felt happy and secure between them.
“Okay, then at least let me go get out of my costume. I feel silly wearing my feathers out here.” Prue smiled, her smile fading as Alejandro and Lulu held fast to her hands. “Umm, guys? Are we going to hold hands for the whole night?”
Alejandro smiled gently at her. “No dear, just for a little while.”
“Prue?” Lulu sounded serious, making Prue nervous.
“Yes?”
“Don’t forget we love you, okay?”
Now Prue was really getting nervous. “What’s going on?” She tugged at her hands, surprised by how hard Lulu and Alejandro were holding her. “Why won’t you let me go?”
Before either Alejandro or Lulu could respond, the lights in the club dimmed, drawing everyone’s eyes once more to the stage. Prue felt a tingle snake down her spine as she got an inkling of what was about to happen.
Sure enough, as she watched, dumbfounded, Cyrus came out onto the stage. In a repeat of the first time she’d watched him dance, he was wearing a hoodie and his whip. As the music started to pound and he began removing clothes, he was eventually left in nothing but his leathers, his tattoos on display.
Prue felt her breath begin to come faster as she started to panic, remembering back to when she and Lulu had watched Cyrus dance and she’d been thrilled to watch as he’d taken a sub onstage with him. Now, unsure as to what was happening, Prue felt her eyes begin to well as she pictured having to watch him work over another woman. She wondered if this was Lulu and Alejandro’s version of tough love, forcing her to watch Cyrus pleasure someone else. Another thought struck her, but it was so farfetched she dismissed it as pure fantasy.
Alejandro was rubbing the back of her hand. “Don’t worry, chica. Everything will work out.”
Prue turned her tearful gaze to his just as she felt a sharp snap on her upper arm. Looking down, she realized her second, crazy idea had been right after all. She looked in bemused confusion at the whip coiled tightly around her upper arm, glancing up when she felt the whip tug her forward.
Cyrus stood on the stage, looking down at her with a predatory gleam in his baby blue eyes. He tugged his whip once more, this time more insistently, and Prue stumbled forward as Alejandro and Lulu released her hands. Cyrus helped her up onto the stage and stood impassively before her, and before she knew it had happened Prue had sunk to her knees in front of him, palms up and eyes down. She flinched as she recognized what she’d done, although the answering roar from the crowd suggested she hadn’t made a mistake.
Cyrus stepped forward and offered her a hand, helping Prue rise to her feet. She risked a glance up and him and couldn’t tear her eyes away. Cyrus was looking at her like a man starving. He ate her up with his eyes, and Prue felt herself soften in her core, unable to help herself even though she scolded herself for a fool.
“Do you remember your safeword, pet?” Cyrus’s use of the remembered endearment caused tears to sting Prue’s eyes.
“Yes, Sir,” Prue whispered.
“Do you want to use it?”
Prue was surprised. He was willing to let her walk away if she wanted, and with a start she realized she really didn’t want to. She shook her head slowly.
Cyrus relaxed visibly. “Good girl.” He leaned forward and kissed her briefly on the mouth. “I’m going to push you tonight, Prue. There is unfinished business between us.”
Prue bit her lip. She was way out of her league here, but she was gratified that it was Cyrus commanding her. She still responded to him, still trusted him.
Cyrus turned to the expectant crowd, and all conversation ceased, replaced by an excited murmur that buzzed through the audience.
“This is my sub, Prue.”
Prue felt her mouth fall open as the crowd roared.
“She’s been very naughty and needs to be punished. Would you like to watch?”
Chapter 30
Prue could barely believe what was happening. Cyrus was going to punish her in front of a room full of people, and she was going to let him. There was no question that she was going to let him.
Cyrus turned back to her, and Prue followed him as he led her to the St Andrew’s Cross on the stage. He wrapped his whip around himself so as to have both hands free, and ran his big palms up Prue’s arms, making her shiver.
“How have you been, pet?”
Prue decided to go for broke. “I’ve missed you, Sir.”
Cyrus’s eyes warmed. “I’ve missed you, too. Tell me,” he said as he ran a blunt fingertip across the tops of her breasts where they swelled above her corset, “have you forgiven yourself for everything that happened here?”
Prue bit her lip, shaking her head slowly. “Not for keeping secrets from you, Sir.”
Cyrus nodded knowingly. “I suspected as much. You’re too generous for your own good, you know.”
Prue smiled tentatively up at him. “I like making you happy, Sir. I like pleasing you.”
Cyrus’s eyes blazed. “Then you’ll take your punishment like a good girl so we can move on from this.”
Prue blew out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She felt the walls she’d built up around herself start to crumble. She needed this. Needed to be punished and forgiven so that she could forgive herself.
“And, Prue?” Cyrus sounded serious. “When we move on from this, you won’t call me ‘Sir’ anymore. Is that clear?”
Prue felt her eyes well up again. Fair enough. Cyrus would help her reach absolution, but they wouldn’t share a D/s bond after tonight.
“I understand, Sir.” What else was she supposed to say?
“I don’t think you do, pet.” Cyrus cupped her face in his hand, holding her still while he bent his head toward her. When his lips were mere inches from hers, he spoke. “After tonight, you’ll call me Master. You will be my sub permanently, and we will absolutely be getting married.”
Prue looked at him like he’d grown a second head. The hell?
Cyrus grinned evilly before his eyes turned serious. “I’m already looking forward to making up for the last three months. I love you, Prudence.”
Prue didn’t have time to respond as Cyrus reached forward and started unhooking her corset. She pondered what he said, not really aware of anything other than his words. When she finally came back to herself, she was standing before Cyrus in nothing but her garters and heels. She didn’t have time to feel embarrassed as Cyrus drew one hand up and out, shackling her to the St Andrew’s Cross before doing the same to the other. As he secured both of her legs in the same manner Prue felt herself trembling, and she was grateful when Cyrus put a calming ha
nd on her back.
“Prue kept secrets from her Dom. Is this behavior acceptable?” Cyrus’s words were directed to the crowd.
The crowd roared back, clearly enjoying the show.
“I think ten lashes should do it for the secrets.” Cyrus paused, turning back to the crowd, but not before Prue caught the glint in his eyes that told her he was far from finished. “And another ten for everything else.”
The crowd went wild, and Prue was grateful Cyrus didn’t detail her transgressions for everyone watching. He knew everything she’d done, and she knew he’d punish her for all of it. She winced when she realized she’d have to withstand twenty lashes. Her breath caught when Cyrus pressed himself against her naked back and nuzzled her hair behind her ear.
“If it’s too much, pet, use your safeword. And unlike the last time you got to watch, you don’t get to come. I’ll take you home after this, but for now this is punishment, pure and simple. Count for me.”
Prue didn’t have a chance to respond before Cyrus stepped back, and she couldn’t help but cry out as with no further prelude, Cyrus cracked the whip and brought it down on her backside. Damn, this hurts!
Prue hollered the count, and Cyrus didn’t pause before bringing the whip back down time after time. He flogged her all over her back and bottom, occasionally striking her inner thighs and making her tremble. By the count of fifteen Prue was shaking all over, and she was aware of tears running down her face. She realized she wasn’t crying because of the pain, rather she was crying for the compromises she’d made to her integrity by having kept secrets from her friends. She also cried tears of gratitude for the second chance she’d been given, and she felt humbled that she’d found such wonderful people.
Before Prue realized it, she’d gasped the count of twenty. She felt Cyrus untying her, and she slumped down to her knees, the emotional and physical release overwhelming her. When Cyrus came to stand in front of her, she lifted her tear-streaked face up and wrapped her arms around one of his muscular thighs.
Prue's Promises [Submissive Sirens 3] (Siren Publishing Allure) Page 22