by Livia Grant
“Love you more. Bye.”
Tiff couldn’t stand it. “You do know you’re like the luckiest woman in the entire world. That man is a dream come true. You’d better never screw it up again, Bri. I mean it. I’ll kill you myself.”
“Tiffany, I promise you. There is nothing that could ever make me hurt him again. I know what I did was terrible, but Markus and I have talked about it a lot. In many ways, my cheating is the best thing that could have happened for us. It opened both our eyes and helped us take our relationship so much deeper. He’s everything I could ever want.”
“Well, when you put it that way, I guess I’m glad you cheated, too. If you didn’t, I never would have met Lukus,” Tiff admitted.
“Maybe I should send Jake a thank-you note.”
Tiff couldn’t hold in her snort. “Let’s not get crazy, now.”
Chapter Ten
Lukus
“Thanks, but I’d better not have any more to drink. One of us needs to be able to drive tonight.” Lukus would love to have had another. Maybe it would have settled his uncharacteristic case of nerves.
Markus was playing bartender. “Don’t sweat it. Drink up. I hired a driver for tonight. The car should be here in twenty minutes.”
“Why the hell would you do that?” Even as he questioned his best friend’s motives, Lukus reached to accept the cocktail Markus had mixed for him.
“I just got to thinking. We have a packed schedule tonight. It’s crazy downtown on a Friday night. We won’t have time to dick around with finding parking. Not to mention, I’m planning on getting Bri a bit tipsy so she’s in the right frame of mind for shopping and the ceremony.”
“Just because you want the girls slightly shit-faced doesn’t mean we need to drink. You know the rule, anyway. I never drink much on heavy play nights, and if all goes as planned, tonight is going to be the heaviest play night I’ve had in, well, like a couple weeks.”
“Since you met Tiffany,” Markus said.
“Since I met Tiffany.”
The men had migrated to the seating pit in the great room of Lukus’s loft. It was the best place in the building to watch the city they loved transform from the end of a business week to Friday night lights. Both seemed content to sit in silence, taking a moment of peace to reflect on the big night ahead. It’d been a long time since Lukus looked forward to a night out as much as he was tonight
The ding of an incoming text on Markus’s phone broke the silence. “It’s Bri. They’re stuck on the Eisenhower in a jam. Looks like they’ll be getting here just before the hired car.”
“Damn. I told Tiff she needed to leave earlier.”
“Will you relax, man? You’re acting like you haven’t seen her in days.”
“That’s because I haven’t. I stayed at the office late last night working on the Jake case, and she was too tired to drive down. We decided to take the night off from seeing each other.”
“It was one night.”
“I slept like shit,” Lukus snapped.
“It was one night.”
Hearing Markus repeat it like that reminded Lukus how out of his element he’d been these last few weeks. Master Lukus Mitchell did not obsess over a woman. He dominated women. He punished women. He certainly fucked women. But obsess? Never.
More like never used to.
Learning to obsess was just one of his new talents since meeting Tiffany. Regardless, he had a plan, and so far, he was right on schedule. Tonight was a night he’d been working towards. A night where he got to take their relationship to a new level. Push her a bit further. Check out the nuggets of her deepest desires; the ones he’d worked hard to mine over the last few weeks while they were playing it slow.
Time invested in figuring out what makes her tick.
If all went well, tonight they’d move out of first gear and step on the gas. He was ninety-nine percent sure Tiff was ready. It was that one fucking percent that nagged him. He couldn’t afford to make a wrong move and blow her trust.
“Yo. You need your hearing checked?”
Only now did Lukus suspect Markus had been talking to him as he zoned out. “I guess so. What?”
“I asked how the Jake investigation is going. You said you’d fill me in tonight, and I’d rather not talk about the prick after the girls get here,” Markus said.
“I agree. I haven’t mentioned anything to Tiff. Her nightmares are finally lightening up. I don’t want to risk bringing them back by talking about him in front of the girls.”
“So, what do we know?”
“Well, I’ve been short of investigators this week. I had Cam for a few hours, though, and I’ve been digging myself when I can. So far we know Davenport is living a double life. His day job is with a technology firm that specializes in security equipment; network gear, cameras, recording devices—CIA-caliber shit. The firm is based in Silicon Valley. He has a house out there, but he travels a lot for his job. He’s in corporate sales. It’s what brings him to town so often,” Lukus explained.
“So he’s a traveling salesman?”
“Well, he’s not selling door-to-door. Looks like he helps corporations design secure networks. Not terribly different from what my team does, but he works for the manufacturer of the equipment. I’ve even installed a couple pieces of their gear. Really high-end stuff.”
“So what’s the other job?” Markus asked.
“It’s not a job. It’s a side business. I don’t have all the details yet, but it looks like he might be running a phone and video sex shop using some of the technology he sells during the day.”
“What, like 1-800 number kind of shit?”
“That, and a BDSM interactive web site that features any kind of kink you might be interested in watching. I can send you links to the site. Membership fees are hefty to get past the splash page. It’s not for the faint of heart. Only hardcore players would stay for long.”
Markus scoffed. “What a prince.”
“He may be a dick, but on the surface it looks like he’s making a boat load of money. Anyway, I can’t exactly cast stones his way, considering The Pit dabbles in the same activities live. I haven’t found anything illegal. Yet.”
“Keep digging. There has to be something there.”
“I will. So far I’ve done everything from Chicago. I’m thinking of sending Z out as soon as he gets off the assignment he’s on in Florida,” Lukus said.
“Z as in Zack Zimmerman?”
“None other. He’s the best.”
“I thought he quit.”
“He did. He missed me. He’s back.”
Markus looked conflicted. “Well, shit. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have on this job, but keep him the hell away from Brianna. He scares the shit out of me. She’ll piss her pants if he crosses her path.”
“I hear ya. I wouldn’t want him around Tiff, either.” Lukus looked at his watch for the third time. “Where the hell are they?”
“Relax, will you? Look on the bright side. I told Brianna to be here ten minutes ago. She’s late.” The devious smile on Markus’s face told Lukus he had an idea.
“Tiff, too. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Punctuality is a rule. They did break it.”
Lukus felt the need to dig into this topic before the girls arrived. “So how are we going to play this tonight?”
“What d’ya mean?”
“Don’t be dense. You know exactly what I mean. We’re gonna be watching the hottest women in the city of Chicago try on kink outfits, after which we’re gonna attend a hardcore BDSM collaring ceremony with naked slaves, consummation sex, bondage, piercings, and branding. The chances of us not having sex in front of each other are non-existent. While it’s not a big deal for the two of us, I’m pretty sure the girls might feel differently. Unless you know something I don’t know about exactly how close they are,” Lukus said.
“No. You’re right. Short of that little show Bri and I put on for you guys a few week
s ago, I don’t think they’ve done more than be voyeurs together.”
“So. How far are we willing to take them tonight?”
“Well, you’re not fucking my wife, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Lukus saw the anger flashing in Markus’s eyes. He knew his best friend wasn’t joking, which suited him fine. He was quick to counter. “Fuck you, man and right back at ya. You can look, but no touching.”
“So there’s our answer. We play separately, but in the same space. Test their taste for exhibitionism. I already know Bri is definitely into watching scenes, and I’m guessing Tiff is, too.”
“Hell, yes. We’ve watched two center-stage shows together. You should see how hot she gets. She almost self-combusted before I could get inside her Saturday night. Fuck. I think I’d better go stroke one out in the bathroom before they get here. I’m not gonna make it through dinner with this fucking hard-on.” Lukus rolled his eyes.
Markus was grinning. “Full disclosure. I put my private bathroom at the office to use before I headed over here for the same reason. I canceled my last appointment today because I couldn’t keep my mind on work.”
Lukus had just got up to head to his master bathroom when the elevator dinged. With mixed emotions, he looked up to see Tiff and Brianna exiting the elevator, hand in hand. Still in the dark about where the men were taking them, they’d chosen their dresses carefully. Low cut, but tasteful. Feminine. Classy. Sexy.
Fucking hot.
The seductive smiles on their faces told Lukus they knew how amazing they both looked.
“Holy shit, we might be in trouble.” Markus’s soft expletive told Lukus his best friend was having the same problem he was having.
“Fuck. This is gonna to be a long night.” Lukus couldn’t contain the low groan at the end of his sentence.
Markus tried to convince Lukus to change course under his breath. “Let’s just stay here. They look great the way they are. We can play until it’s time to go down at midnight.”
Lukus hissed back, trying not to let the girls hear him. “No way. As hot as that dress is on her, I’m not missing out on Tiff modeling lingerie.”
“Oh, and that’s gonna make this hard-on so much better?” Markus’s sarcasm was thick.
Lukus looked up at his friend with a pained smile. “Just wait. We haven’t spanked them yet for being late.”
“Christ.”
While the men debated, the girls had slinked their way across the expansive room like models on a runway. Little did they know they’d be modeling for real in just a bit. They stopped a few feet before the men, literally dripping seduction. Even from several feet away, Lukus was sure he caught a whiff of feminine arousal. Taking in the two submissive women, he suspected they were both as ready for tonight as their men.
Maybe Markus is right. Maybe we should order pizza and stay in.
He rejected the idea immediately. “Ladies. Nice of you to join us.”
As if they had practiced, the girls each launched themselves forward into their man’s arms. The second he enveloped Tiff, Lukus felt the tension he’d been carrying since dragging his ass out of bed at six that morning falling away. He never got tired of feeling how perfectly her womanly curves melded into his body. Even with clothes on, they felt right linked together.
“Hi, honey. Boy did I need this hug,” Tiffany purred.
“Me too, Tiff.”
She pulled back far enough to allow him a full inspection. “Wow, you look absolutely yummy, Lukus. I’ve never seen you in a suit before. I didn’t think it was possible for you to look any hotter, but holy moly, I want to jump your bones.”
Chuckling, he pulled her back into his arms. “All in good time, baby.”
As she grinded her body against him, Tiff’s soft laughter warmed his heart until he realized she was laughing at his predicament protruding into her personal space. Time to set the tone for the night.
Taking control, he used his left hand to grasp her long hair, pulling just hard enough to force her to look up into his eyes. At the same time, his right hand connected with her ass in a single sharp spank before wrapping her tightly in his arms. He watched carefully for the reaction he’d been aching to see. Her eyes were so expressive.
He was comforted to see desire and satisfied submission shining back at him from his woman’s eyes. “Good girl. Tonight is going to be a little bit different for us. I’ve asked you before, but I need to ask again. Do you trust me, Tiff?”
“What are we going to do?”
“You don’t need to know that. It’s a surprise. All you need to know is I’ve planned tonight carefully, and I’m going to be there with you every step. But, I do plan on introducing a few new, shall we say, layers to our relationship tonight. So, before we start, I need to know if you trust me enough to turn yourself over to me.”
She didn’t answer right away, making Lukus uneasy. He watched for signs of fear, relieved when he saw none. “Exactly what does that mean? Turn myself over?”
He was pleased. She understood the rules were about to evolve. “It means that, until we go to sleep tonight, I’d like you to be my submissive in all things. It means getting your head into that space you like to go to in the bedroom, only tonight it will be in public. That means leaving sassy Tiffany at home. You’ll be handing over all decisions to me. You’ll go where I tell you. Eat what I give you. You’ll follow all directions without argument.” Lukus paused, making sure she was listening carefully before finishing his thought. “You’ll be punished harshly for mistakes or rules broken.”
He saw the flash in her eyes at the word punished. He’d watched this struggle in her eyes before. The battle between sassy, strong Tiff, and soft, sexually submissive Tiffany. He detected submissive Tiffany winning. Her breath came in short excited gasps. She was ready.
“I need to hear it,” he growled.
“Yes, sir. I trust you.” It was a whisper, but he’d take it.
“Very good. First request. Tiffany, tell me what your safeword is tonight.”
“Snowball, sir.”
“Excellent.” Only now did Lukus take stock of how the forgotten couple in the room was doing. His best friend was pulling his wife towards the long leather couch, then Markus sat at the far end of the couch, draping Brianna across his lap, her head spilling over the armrest. Her hands didn’t quite reach the floor, but her flowing hair had upended, brushing on the carpet. Sensing Lukus was watching, he looked up to silently relay his plan. Lukus liked it.
“Come on, Tiff. Time to get our night started.” Capturing her hand, he turned and headed towards the loveseat, facing their friends. Seeing Brianna’s precarious position brought Tiffany to a dead stop. Lukus turned to address her sternly. “You didn’t even make it thirty seconds.”
“But…”
He held two fingers to her lips to shush her. “It’s simple. You trust me, or you don’t.”
“I trust you, but—”
“No ‘buts.’ Come. Now.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
Tiff’s eyes grew big as Markus lifted his wife’s dress up over her ass. Lukus and Tiffany moved to their own seat while Markus lowered Bri’s lacy panties, revealing her creamy cheeks. Tiffany squeezed Lukus’s hand tightly, as if she were afraid to let him go. When Lukus sat at the end of the loveseat, she instinctively knew what to do without being told. Moving deliberately, she knelt and draped herself over his lap, positioning herself the same way as her best friend— head over the end of the loveseat.
Damn. I’m gonna miss being able to see her eyes like this.
His cock throbbed as she wiggled against his lap. He willed his cock to be patient. Lukus moved methodically, lifting her short dress above her round ass. He massaged her butt through her skimpy underwear before baring her bottom in preparation for her punishment.
Markus filled the girls in. “What time were you ladies supposed to be here?”
Brianna answered for them from her upside-down position. “I know. W
e were fifteen minutes late, but it wasn’t our fault. The traffic was terrible.”
“It doesn’t matter. You should have left earlier.” Markus’s voice was stern, but Lukus noted the humor dancing in his friend’s eyes. Markus was enjoying this fun start to their night as much as he was.
Tiffany jumped in, her voice muffled. “We left as soon as we could.”
“No excuses. You were fifteen minutes late. I think they’ve earned a fifteen-minute spanking? What do you think, Markus?”
Markus replied quickly. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Tiffany squirmed enough that Lukus had to use force to keep her still. “Fifteen minutes? That’s crazy! That’s way too long. Bri texted you to let you know, so you wouldn’t worry. I didn’t text and drive. We did the best we could.”
“Tsk. Tsk. That sounded a lot like sassy Tiffany. I think that calls for additional minutes, don’t you agree, Markus?” The teasing tone in his voice should have calmed her. It didn’t.
“Lukus, please. I changed my mind. I’m not ready.” Her flailing increased, but her struggles were no match for her Dom.
He knew her well. He’d expected this. Her guilt over her kinky desires ran deep. When it came to sex, the conscious Tiff kept wanting to fight against the surrender to her deeper submissive desires. While Markus began a stern, open-handed spanking to his wife’s squirming bottom, Lukus stuck to his plan.
His first volley of a dozen spanks to Tiffany’s bare tush was light, playful. He stopped, slowly dipping his fingers lower, nudging her clenched legs apart in search of her warm center. His left hand hugged her draped body tight against him. His right hand was on a search and rescue mission, looking to make contact with a more personal part of her body.
He knew he was getting close when he heard Tiffany’s surprised sigh as his fingers slid through her wetness, grazing her puffy clit. There was no need to spread her legs further. Tiff took care of that on her own. He couldn’t help but chuckle when her right leg almost fell off the loveseat, opening herself for his very personal inspection.
Just as she began to greedily hump his fingers, Lukus retracted them and returned to the spanking. His slaps came slow and steady. Hard enough to sting, but soft enough to tell her this was no real punishment. Brief massaging caresses followed each swat, barraging Tiff with his own mix of pleasure and pain.