by Ivy Nelson
“Gorgeous,” he murmured as he crossed the room. Darci didn’t notice the small velvet bag in his hand until he was standing in front of her.
“I made a stop on the way home from work,” he said. “We haven’t talked about this particular activity before, so if it turns out to be a hard limit, I won’t push.” He handed her the bag. She loosened the drawstring and turned it upside down. A small silver butt plug fell into her palm. She looked at Bradley with wide eyes.
“You want me to wear this tonight?”
He nodded.
She swallowed.
Anal toys were never high on her list of things to try. Did she want to do this? The look of pure lust in Bradley’s eyes was her answer. She liked turning him on.
“If I hate it can I say no after I try it?” she asked.
“Of course, baby. I respect your boundaries. Have you ever done any anal play?”
She shook her head. “It’s just never been high on my list of things to try, but I want to for you.”
He grinned. “Good girl.” He skimmed his hands over her hips. “Turn around and bend over. Put your hands flat on the bed,” he commanded, plucking the silver toy from her hand.
A thrill raced through Darci’s entire body as she turned to do as he asked. The small plug landed on the bed where she could see it before he opened the top drawer of the nightstand and pulled out a bottle of lube. Placing the bottle beside her left hand, he slid her dress up to reveal her bare ass.
Her body shuddered as he caressed her. This was exciting. His fingers drifted to her pussy, and he growled as his fingers found wetness. “I like that you stay wet for me.”
Suddenly, a sharp smack landed on her left ass cheek, and she jumped. He chuckled. “You have the most spankable ass. I think we might see how red we can make it tonight.” She shifted as a wave of desire swelled and came to a distinct point between her thighs.
He picked up the bottle of lube and flipped it open. A moment later she felt the cold liquid seep into her crack. He took a finger and spread it over the tight bud then he applied pressure with that same finger until it slipped into her ass with a pop. He inched his finger further into her, taking his time, letting her get used to the sensation.
“You doing OK?” he asked.
“Yes, Sir,” she whispered.
His finger worked slowly in and out until she relaxed. Then he pulled his finger from her and picked up the small plug. He drizzled more lube onto the plug and let more flow between her ass cheeks. “Ready?” His voice was low and gravelly. He sounded as turned on as she was.
“Yes, please,” she said despite her nerves.
The cold metal of the plug against her tight hole made her shiver. “Easy baby. I’ll go slow.” She slowed her breathing and did her best to hold still. He applied gentle pressure with the plug and kept his other hand on the small of her back. There was a sharp twinge of pain as the toy slid past the tight ring of her opening, but it sent waves of pleasure to other parts of her anatomy. It was delicious. Mere seconds later, he had the plug fully inside her.
“I like this look on you,” he said into her ear. One hand trailed from the small of her back, over the curve of her ass and down the back of her thigh. She groaned, enjoying his hand on her. He nipped her ear and slapped her ass one more time. “Up you go. We have guests to pick up.” She stood and smoothed her dress down.
When Bradley came out of the bathroom from rinsing lube off his fingers, she looked him up and down and licked her lips. The man looked fucking sexy in his dark jeans and a black button-down shirt, looking every bit the part of a dominant alpha male.
“I feel like you’re eye fucking me, pet,” he said with a gleam in his eye.
“Maybe,” she responded coyly.
“I’d like you to wear something else, but I don’t want to freak you out with it.”
She raised an eyebrow at his words. “What is it?”
He walked to the bedroom door where he had a black bag sitting. He reached inside and pulled out a box. “I need you to understand that I was serious last night when I told you I loved you. I mean it baby. I’m madly in love with you. I get that you have doubts and fears and I’m praying this doesn’t add to it, but I’d like you to wear this tonight.”
With trembling hands, she took the box he held out to her. Without looking, she knew what was inside. She gasped when she opened it. Inside lay a black collar made of gorgeous leather that she could tell was soft. In the center was a small ring, and on either side, two jewels sparkled.
“Bradley it’s beautiful. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll wear it. It doesn’t have to be a permanent thing, though you should know that I intend to collar you someday, just not with this. Consider this a play collar to wear at the club.”
The room became quiet as she tried to process everything he had just said. She was certain she was in love with him, but did she want a collar? With a deep breath, she made a choice.
“I’ll wear it tonight.” His eyes lit up as a smile spread slowly across his handsome face.
“Thank you, pet.”
He took the box from her hands and lifted the collar out. Twirling a finger, he motioned for her to turn around. When her back was to him, he secured it around her neck. Perfect fit. He pressed a kiss to her shoulder and turned her to face him. “You’re beautiful. Let’s go pick up our friends.”
The ride to the club flew as the two couples talked companionably about their days and their pasts. On the way there, she got a message on Facebook Messenger from Elise.
“So sorry I can’t make it to Exposure tonight! Have fun without me.”
It was odd that she would message her on Facebook, but her cellphone might not have a signal for texts. No matter, she was sad her friend wouldn’t be there. Once they arrived, Peter and Carrie were bombarded with hugs from old friends who hadn’t seen them since they moved. They claimed a spot with two fluffy chairs, Peter and Bradley each taking one and instructing their girls to take their places kneeling on the floor. It would soon be time for them to play, and she was nervous.
The last time Darci had played in public was when she was with Damion. Their last scene had been such a disaster it ultimately led to their break-up.
Tonight was also the first time she had been here without Marlie. Darci’s heart ached as she thought of the bubbly woman. She had been a loud presence at the club and you always knew when she entered the room. Shaking the sad thoughts away, she looked up at the man sitting in the chair in front of her. He smiled kindly at her and brushed his hand through her hair. She was lost in his gaze when Peter spoke up.
“Looks like the station we want is free brother. What do you say we show our girls a good time?”
Carrie giggled and Darci swallowed back her nerves as the two men rose and headed toward a large wooden frame in the corner. They instructed the girls to follow.
Bradley had offered to put Darci and Carrie into a double suspension predicament that would allow both Doms to torment their subs. Peter stood against the leg of the frame observing as Bradley put both girls in rope. Soon they found themselves tied together in such a way that if one moved it pulled on the crotch rope of the other.
They were doing their best to be kind to each other, but both men were using floggers, paddles, and other implements to get the girls moving. As the scene wound down, Bradley reached up and separated them so that each man could take their sub to opposite ends of the frame. It wasn’t long before Bradley had Darci screaming in pleasure as he brought her to orgasm. Carrie wasn’t far behind her at the other end of the play station.
Darci’s experience that night at the club was one of the most memorable. Being in the same play space as Peter and Carrie brought back a flood of memories from the past. The two men had conspired to do mean things to their pets and Darci, and Carrie had soaked it up like eager kittens.
At the end of the night, they all hugged and said goodnight and Darci knew they had accepted Brad
ley as one of their own. She road home with Bradley feeling content and loved.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
On Monday, Darci headed into the office feeling lighter than she had in a while. It had been three days since she had divulged the ghosts of her past to Bradley and just two since their wonderful night at Exposure. Her sexy Dominant was out of town again, and she was missing him terribly. The extensive to-do list that sat in front of her was a welcome sight since it would help keep her mind off the fact that she wouldn’t see him for a couple days.
After reviewing her list, she realized that some files she needed were in her apartment. Security could take her to get them later. She called Bradley, but he didn’t answer, so she left a message asking him to call her back. See, she could be good—sometimes.
At four, she still hadn’t heard from him, so she asked the security team if they would mind taking her back to her apartment later. When they objected, she tried calling Bradley again, but he still wasn’t answering.
“Please, you guys. You can inspect the place before I go in. I need some crucial files for work.” The guards begrudgingly agreed to take her when she got off. They were not happy about it at all.
At six o’clock she packed up and headed out of the office. The goon squad drove her to her apartment. As they pulled into the portico, she smiled. Jeff was on duty at the door. She gave him a hug. “It’s good to see you again.”
The doorman blushed. “It’s good to see you too, Miss Sanders. Judging by the security you have with you, I take it they haven’t caught whoever was in your apartment.”
She grimaced. “No, they haven’t. Hopefully soon. I miss my bed!”
Darci led the way to the elevators. When they reached the door, the guards asked her to wait for them while they swept the apartment. Handing them her keys, she stepped back to wait for them. A minute later, she heard one of the men curse, so she tried to push past the one who waited by her door.
“Please don’t come in here ma’am. We need to call the police.”
“Why what is it? What’s wrong?” she asked, still trying to push past the guard standing in her way.
“You don’t want to see this I promise.”
“Damn it let me in. Is the killer in there?” Of course, he wasn’t. Darci wasn’t sure why she asked.
“No, ma’am. Please stay back.”
“Fucking let me in. It’s my apartment.” The guard was not moving, so she kneed him in the groin and ran past him while he doubled over in pain. He was on her again in seconds, but it was too late. Darci paled when she saw what they were trying to keep from her.
Tied to her bed was a very bloody body. The throat was slit, and her bed was covered in blood. It only took Darci a moment to recognize the woman.
“Holy fuck,” Darci whispered.
The last thing she remembered was a guard catching her and then blackness.
The memory of Elise’s bloody corpse would forever remain etched in Darci’s memory. She had lost her lunch before passing out. What was Elise doing in her apartment? How did she get in here? How did the killer get in here? The security team had scooped her out of the apartment and into the car downstairs to wait as soon as they had discovered the body.
Bradley wasn’t answering their calls, meaning he was still busy with the campaign. The police arrived, and everything was a blur of activity around her. They questioned her, but Darci barely heard them. Michael Silas appeared on the scene as the initial officers finished their questions. He said nothing, just wrapped her in his arms.
“Michael, what is happening here? How are we supposed to catch this guy? It’s like he’s invisible.”
“Shh, it’s OK. Where’s Bradley?”
“He had to go out of town with the senator.”
“What were you even doing here?” he demanded.
“I had to get some of my files, so I had the security team escort me. They entered first. They tried to keep me out I promise. Don’t yell at them, they’ll get enough of that from Bradley when he gets home.”
“Lord knows you can be stubborn.”
“I wish I hadn’t been. I can’t get her face out of my head.”
He left her with the security team to check in with the responding officers. One of the guard’s cell phones rang. When he answered, Darci winced as she could hear a furious Bradley on the other line. With a palm out in front of her, she motioned for him to give her his phone. The guard closed his eyes as the voice on the line released another string of obscenities, so she grabbed the phone from him.
“Stop yelling at him Bradley. He didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You mean other than letting you talk them into taking you back to an apartment that’s already been broken into. What the fuck were you thinking Darci? I swear I'm going to make sure you can’t sit for a week when I get home.”
“Don’t yell at me over this, please. I just found the body of one of my best friends. Somebody had to discover her sometime, or she would have just laid there for days decomposing. I know you’re upset, and you’re worried about me, but I promise I didn’t go in alone and I only went because I had to get files for work. I even tried to call you first, but I knew you were busy. Please don’t be angry with me. Not when I did everything I could to be safe.”
He sighed when she finally stopped talking. “I’m sorry, baby girl. You’re right. God, I hate not being there right now. I’m so glad you’re safe.”
“When will you be home?” she asked.
“We’re flying home in just a little while. I’ll have to go to the office for a couple hours when we get in, because Atleigh is leaving again tomorrow, but I’m staying behind this time.”
“I love you, Bradley. Thank you for not being angry with me.”
“I was at first, but you’re right, you did nothing wrong. I’m so sorry about your friend sweetheart. I can’t wait to hold you.”
“Well, I’ll be up. I don’t think I can sleep anytime soon after seeing her like that.” A sob escaped her throat, but she quickly pulled herself together. “I should let you get back to work. I’ll call you when I’m heading home.”
Bradley promised to do the same, and she handed the phone back to the guard.
An hour later the police told her she could leave. Michael broke away from the scene to talk to her. As he was walking her way, she noticed a car pull up.
“Don’t be mad at me Darci,” Michael said when he reached her.
“What shouldn’t I be mad at you for?”
“We’re doubling your security detail. Bradley called me and insisted.”
Darci groaned. “It’s OK, Michael. I’ll live with it for now. Just catch this guy before he really puts twelve guards on me please.”
“I’m doing my best kid. You should let these guys take you home. And from now on if they try to keep you away from somewhere fucking listen to them.” His arms were crossed, and he frowned as he spoke.
“Yes, Sir.” She accompanied her response with a sarcastic salute which only made him glare at her.
“I’m going to tell Bradley to spank you when he gets home.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“I’ll do it myself if you keep putting yourself at risk,” he said with a growl.
“That won’t be necessary because she isn’t going to put herself at risk. Isn’t that right, Kitten?”
Darci whirled around at the sound of Peter’s voice. “What are you doing here?”
Michael stepped away to speak with another officer.
“I’m part of your security detail now. I’m in charge as a matter of fact.” Darci’s eyes grew wide as Peter spoke.
“How? Why? Don’t you have to go back to California?”
“I’m still licensed in D.C. Because I care about you, and no, not right away. I’m sending Carrie back tomorrow though. Does that answer all your questions?” His arms were crossed, and he scowled down at her.
Darci just nodded. Still numb from the events of the evening.
One guard would be stationed downstairs, one outside the apartment door. A driver, and one more guard, would do surveillance outside the building, and the fourth, Peter, would be inside the apartment. Bradley’s office would act as a base for the guards to work out of.
Peter called in a private investigator to do an invasive investigation on Darci to ferret out more names for the police to investigate. The security detail couldn’t officially investigate the murder, but since the police were certain that the killer was someone Darci had met, Michael agreed it was a good idea for the background research to be done. When she tried to argue, Bradley, Peter, and Michael, shut her down with no room for argument. The three men were all in overprotective dominant mode. Any other time she might find it cute. Tonight, it just annoyed her.
Now she sat in the office answering extremely personal questions about herself and anyone she had ever encountered. That was an extensive list considering the number of organizations Darci worked with in D.C.
The questions took her all the way back to her assault in college. It was tense, and she didn’t like revisiting this time in her life.
“Tell me about this Theresa Holden. Are you sure you haven’t had any contact with her since college?” the investigator asked.
“I’m positive,” she insisted. “I don’t know why her name would be on that guest log. Have you asked the people in the apartment she was visiting?”
“We’re looking into that. The resident of that apartment swears they didn’t have any visitors by that name.”
“Isn’t there security footage?”
“We’re having trouble getting a good angle but we’re looking at it. Let’s go through the days and weeks leading up to the first murder.”
She was tired and the invasive interview was exhausting her.