“Yes, Sir.”
Actually, she was. The frame was perfectly padded in all the right places while allowing Rob excellent access to everything he wanted access to.
Including her ass, which he started warming up with a bare-handed spanking. She’d need every bit of a warm-up, too, because having a little one in the house had meant an end to her morning maintenance spankings.
And she really missed those, the few minutes spent together at the start of the day to put and keep her in the right mindset.
He dragged his nails down her flesh, pulling a happy moan from her. Already she felt the start of subspace wanting to creep in, to take her to that fun, floaty place that gave her a brief mental vacation from the world and her responsibilities.
Her dynamic with Rob was gorgeous, perfect. She longed for the relief of letting go, while he longed for the short period of utter control over at least one aspect in his world, something sometimes lacking in his job as a paramedic.
He used a flogger on her, a stiffer one with braided leather falls, not quite stingy but not fluffy, either.
Taking a moment to pause, he walked around the frame and grabbed her by her ponytail. “Who’s my good girl?”
A content sigh escaped her. “Me, Sir.”
“Where are we at?”
“Green, Sir.”
Better than green, right now.
“Good girl.”
Releasing her hair, he returned to her ass and picked up something Laura suspected was a riding crop. He started working her ass and thighs over with it, even landing a few lighter strokes with the flapper on her pussy. He stepped up the impacts on her ass and the backs of her thighs until she was whining, squirming, pulling against the ropes as she tried to escape the blows despite her body loving every second of it.
He paused, stroking his hands up and down her flesh once more. “How are we doing, baby?”
“Green, Sir.”
“Good girl.”
She heard him rummaging through his bag for something. It wasn’t a long wait to figure out what, because she heard the click of the vibrator coming to life just before he slid it inside her wet pussy and started fucking her with it.
She exploded, her pleasure tempered by the pain as he started using the riding crop on her again. Every stroke only made her rolling orgasm feel that much sweeter, until he finally pulled the vibrator away, leaving her weak, limp, trembling on the bench.
He turned off the vibrator and stepped between her legs again. This time, it was his cock he slid inside her, slowly fucking her, holding onto the ropes he used around her waist to bind her to the bench.
“Give me one more like this, baby,” he hoarsely said, the strain of his effort to hold back his own release telegraphed through his voice. “One more.”
At this angle and position, he hit all the right spots inside her. Then he leaned in and reached under her body, finding her nipples and playing with them, tweaking them.
That did it. The climax bubbled through her, not as strong as the ones via the vibrator, but enough to make Rob happy.
He grabbed the ropes again and started fucking her, hard and fast, the whole frame rocking as he pounded his cock into her. When he finally fell still, he started stroking her back again. “I’d buy one of these things if we had a place to put it,” he said.
“Kind of makes me wish I hadn’t sold the condo,” she said. “We could have used it as a playroom.”
He withdrew and walked around to her head, his softening cock still hanging out. “You know what to do, baby.”
Yes, she did. She opened wide, loving this part, too, sucking the mixed taste of his juices and hers off his cock while he stroked her hair and told her what a good girl she was.
After he untied her and they wiped down the bench and got their stuff moved, he led her out to the lanai. There, they stripped and got into the pool, where he cuddled with her.
They didn’t have a pool at the house, even though it was on her wishlist. But Seth and Leah kept their pool at the perfect temperature, and Laura liked nothing better than spending her post-scene cuddle time gently floating in Rob’s arms.
He nuzzled the side of her neck. “Better?”
“Mm-hmm. Much.” Her ass and thighs would be sore as hell tomorrow, marked with bruises she would have a hard time not staring at every time she was in the bathroom.
“Love you, baby,” he whispered.
“Love you too, Sir.” Their life had taken some pretty crazy and dramatic turns in the past to get them to this point—her attack and subsequent amnesia, a psychotic rapist and murderer stalking her, unexpectedly getting pregnant with Molly—but now, other than normal life aggravations, she was content and at peace.
Boring.
And she loved every second of it. She’d gladly take boring over the alternative. The more boring her life, the happier she was. Yes, sometimes juggling Rob’s schedule was a hassle, but he loved what he did, and she loved that he was happy.
She couldn’t ask for anything more than that.
“We really need a pool,” he said. “Or at least a hot tub. Or maybe one of those small lap pools where it has the water jets so you think you’re swimming when you’re really not.”
She reached behind her and touched a finger to his lips. “More floaty, less talky. I’m surfing my subspace high here.”
He laughed. “Sorry, baby.”
Chapter Thirteen
Loren let out a startled squeak, followed by laughter, when Ross snuck up on her in the kitchen and nibbled on the side of her neck.
“Hi, Sir.”
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.”
She turned in his arms. “Looks like another successful party.”
“I certainly think so. Great turnout, lots of fun.”
“And the ass-o-lantern contest was a resounding success.”
“There is that. I think we’ve hit upon a new annual tradition.”
“Maybe Derrick and Kel can start doing them at the club every year.”
“I’ll make the suggestion.” He kissed her. “Feeling like playing?”
“Are you asking me or telling me?”
“Yes,” he said, smiling.
“I’m feeling mellow, if that helps.”
“Tired?”
“No, just…” She shrugged, glancing around as if to make sure no one was within ear shot. “If I say something, will you promise not to laugh?”
“I make no such promises.”
“I’m serious, Ross.”
He frowned. “Okay, what is it?”
“Have you seen that guy tonight?”
A chill washed through Ross. “What guy?”
“I’ve caught a couple of glimpses of him here and there. Haven’t seen him for a while, so maybe he left.” She leaned in closer. “I swear to god, he’s the spitting image of Kaden. I haven’t gotten close enough to talk to him yet though. Maybe I won’t, now, if he’s left already.”
The chill turned to an icy river. “No, haven’t seen him.” He still wasn’t sure what he’d seen in the front yard, if he’d seen anything.
He damn sure wasn’t about to ask his friends and hosts if Kaden’s ghost was flitting around the joint.
“Well, I’m not going to say anything about him to Seth and Leah. I just thought maybe you knew who he was since you handled the RSVPs and invites.”
“Nope. Ed Payne was a plus two. Maybe he came with them.”
“Maybe that’s it. I still wouldn’t feel right asking. If you figure it out—”
“Yeah. I’ll tell you.” He leaned in to kiss her.
As he stepped away, she grabbed his hand. “Didn’t you say something about wanting to play?” She flashed him a sultry grin that usually would have him wanting to toss her over his shoulder and haul her off to bed or the dungeon, whichever happened to be closest at the time.
Right now, the last thing on his mind was play or sex. What he wanted to do was walk around the house again, check the gr
ounds. If the guy was some sort of macabre practical joker, it wasn’t very funny.
Then again, people couldn’t help what they looked like, usually. Maybe it was just a freaky coincidence.
That had to be it.
Had to be.
* * * *
Loren didn’t understand the subtle shift in Ross’ demeanor, but she didn’t like it and wanted to try to bring happy Ross back to the party. She draped her arms around him, pulling him close.
“Maybe Sir would like to take me back to the playroom and put a few cane marks on my ass, hmm?”
She felt his cock twitch through his slacks. Yep, she was getting to him.
“Hmm.”
“Is that a yes, hmm, or a no, hmm?”
“Hmm.” He smiled. “I think you talked me into it.” He swatted her on the ass. “Go grab the bag, please, and meet me back there.”
Fortunately, they had the playroom to themselves. Loren quickly stripped and let Ross tie her down to the bench. Then he started stroking her back, her ass, her legs. “I’m thinking beating and blow job,” he said.
She wiggled her ass at him. “Yes, Sir.”
First he started the fun by firing up the insertable egg vibrator he had for her. He cranked it up to high, which still wasn’t enough to get her off without further assistance, and it easily slid inside her pussy.
She moaned.
“Yep, that’s a hint of things to come.” He pulled a riding crop out of his bag, preferring to start with that rather than a cane. After a few light swats that had her wiggling her ass at him even more, he started taking heavier strokes, pausing between each one to finger her clit.
Every time he did that, it brought her closer to release but without relief.
The longer he did that, the more she begged, until she pleaded with him to use a cane on her.
She knew. If she wanted her relief, she’d have to pay the price, and stepping up to the cane was the fastest way to get it.
He pulled another vibrator out of the bag and turned it on, holding it under her with one hand while with the other he administered several hard cane strokes.
When her orgasm hit, she arched her back, curling her fingers and moaning, making his cock ache to be inside her. He didn’t relent, forcing her to come and take more cane strokes, loving the way her body responded to him, enjoying this, glad to whatever universal forces there were that had brought the two of them together in the first place.
She was perfect for him, perfectly his, and he wouldn’t trade her for anyone or anything in the world.
Only when he knew he’d thoroughly wrung her out did he shut off the second vibrator. Putting the cane aside, he walked around to the front of her and unzipped his slacks. His hard cock was already straining, anticipating, knowing what came next.
Her hot and eager mouth was ready and waiting for him, sucking him down to the root as he let out a moan.
“Perfect, baby,” he said. “Absolutely perfect.” He stroked her hair, sliding his cock back and forth along her tongue, between her lips, trying to hold back and make it last.
But she was too good. She was always too good.
“Get ready,” he said as he felt it boil up from his balls, her happy moan as she tasted him, the way her throat worked as she swallowed him, every drop, still sucking and licking until he finally laughed and tapped her on top of the head.
“Okay, baby. Done.”
He untied her and pulled her into his lap, cradling her against him. “I guess you want that vibrating egg out of you, too, huh?”
“Yes, Sir.” She laughed. “Please?”
“Well, since you asked so nicely.” He reached between her legs and fished it out, then made her suck it clean after he turned it off with the remote control.
“Good?”
She snuggled back into his arms. “Great, Sir. As always. Thank You.”
He kissed her temple. “No, thank you, baby. I’d be nothing without you.”
* * * *
Mallory and Kel were each saying their good-byes to everyone still at the party. Mal found Leah in the living room and gave her a hug.
“I’m sorry again,” she said to Leah.
“No worries. He’s fine, seriously.”
Seth walked in. “Leaving so soon, slugger?” Leah was called back to the kitchen by Tilly, who was asking clean-up related questions.
Mal felt her face redden as Seth started laughing. “I’m kidding, honest!” He pulled her in for a hug. “Seriously, it’s okay. I’m already laughing about it. See? No worries.”
Over his shoulder, hanging on the living room wall, she spotted a large picture she’d seen every time she’d been to their house but had never really noticed before. She recognized the large Tree of Life from Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
That’s not what caught her eye.
The three people in the picture are what caught her attention. Seth, Leah, and another man…
Seth turned and followed her line of sight. “Oh.” He sounded sad, his smile wistful. “That was us and Kaden. He had a great time that trip. Lots of great memories.”
Mallory nodded, numbness creeping through her. “I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s been a couple of years.”
A few minutes later, her numbness remained even as she climbed into the truck with Kel and they headed home.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t ‘nothing’ me. Are you still upset by what happened?”
She swallowed hard and nodded.
Technically, it wasn’t a lie. He hadn’t specified what incident.
“I’ll get over it,” she volunteered. “Seth told me he’s laughing about it now. I’ll be fine.”
He reached across the cab and squeezed her hand.
She couldn’t say it, couldn’t admit what she’d thought she’d seen. It would sound horrible, macabre, wrong.
And the rational part of her mind tried to convince her it was a trick of the light. A conjuring of her subconscious, which had seen and noted that photo every time she’d been to their house, even if she’d never studied it before.
That’s all.
Because if she didn’t talk herself into believing that, she would have to believe that, for a split second, she’d seen Kaden Erikkson’s face in the bathroom mirror.
And that was just damned impossible.
* * * *
Tony stood in the front yard, staring at the Halloween decorations. They’d be leaving soon, because it was almost two in the morning, and he was exhausted.
But…something.
He could have sworn that he’d seen something earlier when they’d arrived.
Shayla had never known Kaden, had never met him in person.
But Kaden had been a good friend of his. He’d know the man anywhere, his face, his walk, his voice.
When they first arrived, he would have sworn on a stack of hundred dollar bills of his own money that he’d seen Kaden walking across the front yard, checking electrical connections.
Just like he did with his Christmas displays when he was alive.
Now, there was nothing but the display, the soft humming of the fan motors on the inflatables, and the usual night noises one heard in this area.
That was all.
No shadows.
No ghosts.
Was it a ghost? Or just a wistful thought?
Or maybe a lot of fucking stress and sleep deprivation and an airplane ride earlier today after killing myself to get home to make this party.
Maybe he didn’t want to know. Maybe it was better not to know, not to seek the scientific answer, the likely answer, that he’d simply experienced a trick of the light, combined with exhaustion.
Maybe it was better to let it silently sit in his brain, a small, unspoken thought that perhaps his friend was still among them in some way other than just their memories and hearts.
Maybe.
After one final look, he forc
ed himself to return inside to finish saying his good-byes and to gather Shayla.
He needed his own bed and a long, uninterrupted night’s sleep.
That’s it.
Chapter Fourteen
Ed waited until Hope had her seat belt buckled before backing his car out of Seth and Leah’s driveway.
“You have a missed call, hon,” she said, holding up his phone.
“Dammit.” He stopped at the street and reached for it, Hope dropping it into his outstretched hand. He’d left it in the center console, not wanting to deal with it that night. He’d just wanted to enjoy himself and get this one last duty to Kaden taken care of.
The last envelope.
Well, the last one he had. No telling if Kaden had given anyone else more to do. If he had, Kaden hadn’t told him.
He didn’t recognize the number, but they’d left a voice mail a little after six that evening. Which would have been about ten minutes or so after they’d arrived.
When he listened, he immediately recognized the voice of the actor he’d hired for the night.
“Hey, Mr. Payne. I’m really sorry about this, but I have to cancel tonight. Some asshole ran a red light and T-boned me on my way down there. Car’s totaled, and right now I’m in the ER at Sarasota Memorial. Looks like my left leg’s broken. Really sorry about this.” In the background, Ed heard what sounded like medical beeps and other voices. If he was faking it, he was doing a damned good job. “Obviously, please don’t send the check. I hope this didn’t screw things up too much for you.”
Ed felt a chill wash over him as he ended the call and stared at his phone.
“What is it?” Hope asked.
He stared at his phone, then glanced in the sideview mirror. He would swear he saw someone Kaden’s height and build and hair color disappearing around the corner of the house.
The same guy he’d been seeing all evening.
The same guy he’d thought had been the one he’d hired.
Then again, it could have been a trick of the light, shadows, the yard decorations.
Or even another partygoer who’d slipped outside for a little peace and quiet to smoke a cigarette. They weren’t the last ones to leave. There were still plenty of people there.