Miss Behave

by Wylde, Tara

  “Won’t you be busy cleaning up Tom’s mess ?”

  “Actually, no.” That, now—That won’t be a problem. “What with all the, uh, unethical conduct going on behind the scenes, I’m bringing in a whole new team to go over our results. No one from the original group gets within a mile of that trial, including me. Only way to keep the stink off .”

  Traffic slows as we nose our way up the hill. “So what you’re saying is—it might actually be all right? If they don’t find anything hinky ?”

  “They won’t.” Of that I’m sure. “Couple of those guys were crooked as hell, but there wouldn’t have been anything for them to cash in on, if the trial itself had been compromised.” There are goats all over the street, getting in the way of traffic. We’ll be here forever at this rate. I gesture at the parking lot up ahead. “Hey—why not park here? Walk the rest of the way ?”

  “You up for it ?”

  “I swear—I really am fine.” I pretty much am: had some tremors that didn’t feel like they were going to quit, those first couple of days, but I haven’t noticed any since I got on the plane. And that annoying, low-grade nausea finally wore off this morning. All in all, I feel great .

  Diana pulls over and we start to walk. It’s a nice day for it: warm, but not oppressive, with a slight breeze. It’s tourists as far as the eye can see, all the way to the town center, but we’re in our own little world. Really does feel like a second honeymoon—and without that pall of anxiety lowering over us .

  A man with a horse passes us, coming the other way. “Think that’s the same guy from last time ?”

  Diana checks over her shoulder. “Same horse’s ass, anyway .”

  I laugh, but there’s a charge in the air. Making our way up the hill feels like foreplay. Without the gearshift between us, we can’t keep our hands to ourselves. Feels like we could crawl up inside one another, and still not be close enough .

  “Teach you to run off like that, take your life in your hands....” Her lips brush my ear. Her hand—Oh, God. It’s in my pocket. Creeping up on dangerous ground .

  “If I swear I’ll be good from now on, you think you could go easy ?”

  Her nails dig into my thigh. Guess that’s a no .

  “You’re lucky I don’t drag you into that alley, let the whole town watch you get what’s coming .”

  Wish I’d never tipped my hand on my exhibitionist streak. My cock’s swelling uncomfortably in my pants—feels like everyone can see, and goddamn if that’s not making it worse. “Well, uh... This is a medieval town. Maybe they’re still into all that: public floggings, the stocks—What else did they do ?”

  Diana reaches up to loosen my tie. “Depends how bad you’d been .”

  “The worst.” Shouldn’t encourage her, but ....

  “Parade you naked down the high street ....”

  I gasp, and try to button my jacket strategically over my crotch. Diana bats my hand away .

  “Then they’d display you in the square, with the symbol of your shame around your neck.” She gives me a long, considering look. “Or, in your case, a dunce cap on your head. Idiot .”

  “Your idiot .”

  “Don’t try to sweeten me up .”

  “Mm... You’re already sweet.” I feel giddy, reckless. She’s got me by the scruff of the neck now, marching me up the hill to an unknown fate .

  Inside our hotel room, she doesn’t waste a second. I let her push me on the bed with my shoes still on. Her knees are on my jacket, trapping me against the mattress .

  “Open your mouth.” She pushes a grape between my lips. I bite down, closing my eyes as the juice runs down my throat. It’s sweet, ripe—blissful, after my long, dry journey .

  “Taking care of me, even now ....”

  She slaps my face lightly, forehand and backhand. “Ssh. Be good .”

  I open my mouth for another grape. My cock’s practically bursting out of my pants. The way she’s teasing me, sweeping her thumb over my lips, bending low to let her body graze mine, is setting me on fire .

  “Look at you....” She drags her fingers down my neck, takes hold of my collar, and tugs. The top button comes undone; the next two snap off. “Never make me miss this again .”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it .”

  The rest of my buttons give way, one by one, and she leans down to shower me with kisses, all the way down, popping my fly as she goes. I groan as she jerks my pants and underwear down, the harsh pull of fabric almost too much. I’m already on the edge, bunching the coverlet in my fists to keep some semblance of control .

  And then she’s swallowing me whole. It’s all I can do not to buck into her mouth, abandon myself to the rush of sensation. Her fist curls around the base of my cock, holding me back from my climax. It’s the strangest feeling—my body shudders and stiffens, as burst after burst of ecstasy chases through me, but instead of hitting its peak and tapering off, it only rolls back a little, leaving me panting for air .

  Feels like she’s devouring me, making me part of her. Her nails dig into my thigh as she takes me down her throat. I can feel her tongue undulating against my shaft, like she’s trying to touch me everywhere at once, flood me with so much pleasure I can’t think of anything else .

  I bite my own knuckles, wanting to stave off the inevitable. But the pain only has me writhing, losing myself. She holds me down as I arch my back. Any will I might’ve had to break free is swept away on the tide of her fury .

  Just when I’m hovering on the edge again, she pulls off. I hiss at the sudden chill of the breeze on my cock. Diana laughs, lips glistening, hair floating wild around her shoulders .

  “Get up .”

  I blink. Not sure I can .

  She pinches my thigh hard. “C’mon. You haven’t even started making it up to me .”

  Oh, I’m planning on spending the rest of my life doing that. But for now.... “Mm... Gimme a sec.” I push myself up on my elbows .

  She grabs me by the tie, dragging me the rest of the way to my knees. “Get behind me and fuck me like you mean it .”

  I don’t need a second invitation, especially when she stretches out on hands and knees, skirt rucked up, panties already pushed to one side. She must’ve been playing with herself while she was getting me ready. The thought has my cock throbbing and swelling as I push in hard .

  I give it to her like she wants it, deep and punishing, one hand on her hip, the other in her hair, yanking her head back till she’s practically staring at the ceiling. “This what you’ve been missing ?”

  “Yes!” She pushes back against me, begging for more .

  I bite my lip to hold it together as I pound her hard. She’s making more noise than usual, and so am I. This place might be old, with the thick stone walls of a bygone age, but I’m sure the whole building can hear us, not to mention half the street. The windows are open, curtains billowing in the breeze .

  I slap her on the ass, and she yelps even louder. “Again !”

  Thought I’d be the one getting the spanking, but this is good too. I pull all the way out and slam in again, over and over, punctuating each stroke with a resounding smack .

  I can feel it when her orgasm takes her, and I press my advantage, sliding my hand around to massage her clit, sending her over the edge again and again. I don’t let myself follow till she’s quivering in my arms, panting my name .

  She mutters something that sounds a lot like “I forgive you” after, as I spoon her in a patch of buttery early-evening sun .

  “What was that ?”

  “I forgive you. So much .”

  I run my fingers through her hair. “Knew you would .”

  “Don’t get smug, though. You ever do anything like that again....” She yawns and wriggles, taking the sting out of whatever she was going to say next .

  “I won’t .”

  “I mean it. I’ll drag you to that tattoo parlor you always laugh at, the one with the clown on the door, and get that duncecap stamped right on your a
ss .”

  “Not a bad idea.” I pull her a little closer, making sure to pin her arms in front of her. “Maybe I’ll do that myself. What do you think? Little ink make me into a badass ?”

  Diana’s attempt to elbow me falls flat. I chuckle into the soft hairs at the nape of her neck .

  The sun starts to dip under the horizon, casting everything in shades of orange and pink. Feels right, being here at the end of the day, cuddled up tight as can be. There’ll be a lot to figure out when we get home, but for now, I’d say we’ve earned this .

  24

  Epilogue - Diana

  I still remember the first time I walked into this living room—though it hardly feels like the same room. The tragic floral couch went the way of the dodo last winter, making way for a pillowy red loveseat and chair: far more inviting. The trash-filled knitting basket’s now a toy-filled playpen. Only Percy’s dog bed remains unchanged, right down to Percy himself, sulking in the middle...with a pair of big blue angry eyebrows. Okay, so that’s new .

  “Didn’t come off, huh ?”

  James pokes his head up from behind the couch. Jack pulls himself up, too, trying to peer over the cushions. Another couple of months, he’ll be tall enough to manage it .

  “Uh, depends what you mean by ‘come off’.” James grins. “For example, if you mean ‘leave blue stains all over the bathroom,’ why, yes—it came off just fine.” He holds up mottled hands. “So, in case you’re keeping track, the dog still has eyebrows, our towels are a nice shade of chartreuse, and I got me a set of blueberry fingers .”

  “Nice.” I skirt round the couch and pick up Jack. He babbles and tries to snatch my earring. “He have a good day, apart from that ?”

  “Oh, yeah. Said his first word, ran laps around the playpen. Too bad you missed it !”

  “Jerk.”

  “You gotta stop calling me names, or that’ll be his first word. Instead of Da-da, it’ll be ‘Jerk! Jerk! Jerk!’, round the clock .”

  Jack flaps his little hands. “Eck! Eck !”

  “See? Happening already !”

  Uh-huh. Since I apparently can’t say these things any more, I look over Jack’s little head, and mouth “I hate you .”

  “Love you, too.” James steals a kiss. “What about you, though—first day back? Huh ?”

  “Well, it was....” I try to keep the suspense going, but my smile won’t be stifled. “Incredible! Thought I’d be playing catchup for months, trying to remember everything from my first three years, but it was like I never—Ow! Ow! Jack! Let go !”

  James helps me disengage the baby from my earring. Think it’s time to retire these long, dangly ones. I take them off and drop them into my purse .

  “You get all your textbooks and everything ?”

  “Textbooks, notepads, calculator, pencils, slide rule—oh, and a Brock Badgers onesie for Grabby, here.” Jack scoots off in pursuit of his giraffe, and I lean back against the couch. It was a great day, but it’s nice to be off my feet. Sometimes it feels like I haven’t sat down in ten months .

  “What do you want to do for his birthday ?”

  Can’t believe that’s only two months away. “Bird Kingdom? We could do his birthday and our anniversary in one, and use our actual anniversary to — “

  “—sleep?”

  Yes. Great minds think alike .

  We’re certainly going to need our strength, with James going back to work full-time just as I’m hitting the books. On paper, our new schedule runs like clockwork, neat little alternating blocks of work time, school time, and baby time, but life rarely works out that way. I’m predicting absolute chaos by Christmas .

  “Oh! Almost forgot—I got something!” James digs in his pocket, flips me a phone in a Ziploc bag .

  “An old phone ?”

  “You don’t recognize it ?”

  I tip it out of the bag. It’s just a regular old—“Wait. No way. This is...my phone? From the fashion show? Someone actually turned it in ?”

  He picks up the bag and turns it over. There’s something printed on it, something I can’t quite make out. “Not exactly. My lawyer got the judge to release it, after, ah.... After last month .”

  Tom’s sentencing. He doesn’t like to talk about the fallout from Dovecote—Can’t say I blame him. There ended up being seven defendants and three separate trials, each of which required his testimony. Those were some long, bleak, boring days. He’d come home, sometimes, sink into the couch for hours, staring at the TV without seeing it. Didn’t even bother turning it on half the time .

  I shake off the memory. Those days are over. And I’m curious. “So, what? You’re saying Tom had it, the whole time ?”

  “One of mine, too, and my old computer—the one I thought got a virus.” He crumples up the bag. “Anyway. Screw him. This, though—this was worth petitioning the court for. ‘Cause it’s still got—“ He takes the phone from me, keys in the passcode, and opens the camera app .

  “Our honeymoon pictures !”

  “There’s you, with that hat.” He swipes past several shots of me in a ridiculous pillbox hat, pressed on me by an insistent shop owner, ninety years old if she was a day—Oh! And there she is, posing next to me .

  “Gimme that.” I scroll through till I find what I’m looking for: James on a windswept hilltop, looking out over a lonely olive grove. “You look like one of those old portraits of aristocrats. Like, ‘James Ashby, Ninth Duke of Wherever.’ All you need’s a fancy dog. One of those hunting hounds .”

  “And a musket .”

  It’s good to see him laughing again. Looking forward to the start of his next clinical trial. For a while there, it seemed like all he could do to get out of bed in the morning. Even with the plot exposed, his credibility took a real hit. Add to that the publication delay, while the new research team did its job, and Dovecote was in real danger of folding. If his results hadn’t been as good as they were—well, I’d rather not think about it. All I know is, I never want to see James like that again, dragging himself in for the sake of appearances every day, knowing there was nothing he could do .

  Jack crawls up in my lap, wanting to investigate the photo. I tilt it so he can see. “Yeah? Daddy look handsome? That was us on our honeymoon.” With an angelic smile, he bats the phone out of my hand. “Oh, well. Everyone’s a critic .”

  “Think he’s just hungry. We kind of forgot about lunch, what with Percy needing a hosing and all.” James brightens. “Oh! Speaking of lunch—Guess what Dr. Greenleaf brought today ?”

  “Raw asparagus .”

  “Wha...? That’s not even a food. No !”

  I feel kind of bad making fun of Dr. Greenleaf. He’s pretty much taken over Nasmith’s old job, in addition to being a godsend in the lab. And yet.... “Okay... A Nutella and parsnip sandwich ?”

  “Close: an ancient, stale PB&J—stiff as a board—that he carried around in his pocket all morning .”

  “Gross!” I dance Jack up and down on my knee. “That’s pretty gross, isn’t it? Stale PB&J—eww .”

  He pokes me on the nose. “Eww .”

  “That’s right: ewwwwwww . ”

  We wander through to the kitchen. Looks completely different in here, too: no dust bunnies, no grubby old coffee machine. I plunk Jack into his high chair while James gets out the chicken tenders. Thought the kid was too little to be picky, but every week, lately, we’ve had to rediscover the one thing he’ll deign to eat—usually through a lengthy process of elimination. Last week, it was soft-boiled eggs. Before that, broccoli. Oh, well. At least it’s not junk .

  “We should go on a date soon, ourselves .”

  “Mm?” I look up from tying on Jack’s bib .

  “Just saying, it’s been a while .”

  I open my mouth .

  “And charity events don’t count .”

  “Wasn’t going to say that!” I kind of was. I mess up Jack’s hair. “He looks just like you... By which I mean he needs a haircut .”

 
James slides his arms around my waist. “Way to change the subject. So, about that date ....”

  He’s right—it has been a while. Just over ten months, to be precise. Might’ve got a little paranoid about the idea of letting Jack out of our sight. “Well, he is sleeping through the night. We could get a sitter ....”

  “And a room at the Embassy. And room service .”

  “And sleep ?”

  He laughs. “Eventually.” His arms tighten around my waist. “Might be a few things we could try first ....”

  He really is excited about life again. I turn around and kiss him. Even Jack choosing this moment to yell “Ewwww! ” again doesn’t sour the mood .

  Wish you could bottle days like these, save them up for the tough times .

  After what we’ve been through, of course, I can’t picture the tough time that’d get the best of us. We’re going to run with this dream, make it last forever .