“Oh, yum, oatmeal chocolate chip.” Sinking onto the patio chairs, Krista set the plate of cookies on the table between them then took the cold glass from Alessa’s outstretched hand. “Seriously, Lessa. Give.”
Biting into a cookie, ignoring the calories she knew would go straight to her hips and thighs, Alessa had to conjure up Master Sean’s stern voice and command to get up the nerve to tell Krista what she wanted to know. “Well, you know I saw him at Chains, or rather, he saw me and gave me his card. I decided to make one appointment, just to see if he could steer me in the right direction. In a nutshell, he offered to set me up with the ‘right’ Dom, but the thought of another stranger didn’t appeal, not after… my disappointing experience at Chains.” She still couldn’t bring herself to tell her best friend about the prior visit to Dominion. Two, back to back, poor choices would reveal just how desperate she’d become. “After a few sessions with him, I got up the nerve to ask him to tutor me, he agreed, and we met last night for the first time. That’s it.”
Krista laughed, shook her head and fingered the pretty collar around her neck with its row of sparkling diamonds. “Oh, no, that is not it. Master Sean, I’m sure, had a bigger impact than what you’re letting on.”
Oh, man, did he ever. Alessa blew out a breath and let her gaze wander toward the peaceful canal. A few boats glided by, the low humming of the motors blending with the continuous splash of water against the banks. “He enjoys giving orders, and,” she flipped Krista a cheeky grin, “orgasms.” Giving her the Reader’s Digest version, Alessa related the scene in sparse detail, leaving it up to Krista’s experience and imagination to fill in around the edges.
“Whew!” Krista fanned herself in exaggeration, her response released on a lusty sigh. “Once he gets around to taking you with his cock, you’ve got to tell me how his piercing feels.”
“Piercing?” Oh, wow, just imagining it sent a heated wave of arousal coursing through her veins.
“Yep, right through his crown.” Krista shuddered. “Shit, that must’ve hurt.”
“Worse than your nipples, I imagine.”
“Likely, but as I’ve told you, a few days of discomfort is worth it. I love the creative ways my Master uses my rings to torment me.”
“It’ll take me a while to adjust to Master Sean’s heavy doses of control, but I’ll gladly brag about his pierced cock if it turns out to be as arousing as I’m picturing.” While she was far from ready to reveal her relationship with Sean to the others, it had been nice talking with Krista. Master Sean had known what he was doing when he’d ordered Alessa to call her best friend.
“So, what’s next for you two? Do you know?” Krista asked, reaching for another cookie.
“Just that he mentioned getting together next weekend, maybe on the yacht. I’m not sure I’m ready for that, though.”
“Trust him. Sean will be sure before he does anything.”
SATISFACTION FILLED Sean as he clicked his phone shut and leaned back in the plush chair where he sat in his home office. Krista had been only too happy to let him know Alessa had spoken with her earlier today. He didn’t ask for details, as she needed to be able to confide in her friend without him knowing everything. Checking the calendar on his desk reserved for yacht reservations, he saw the Carlson brothers written in for next Saturday afternoon, leaving the slot open for anyone else who wished to join them. That meant they’d invited an experienced sub to play with, someone who was out for a good time and wouldn’t make demands on either brother. Like him, neither Troy nor Trevor showed any desire to follow in their brothers’ footsteps toward settling down with one woman.
For Sean, his reluctance to travel that path stemmed from knowing that what he would demand from a woman in a committed relationship went beyond the Dom/sub lifestyle they all indulged in for sex. Dax and Krista’s adherence to a twenty-four/seven lifestyle came closest, but he would take it past that to include the full control Alessa thought she yearned for. He knew better than his temporary sub just how difficult it would be for a woman to stick with giving up that much independence. Even though she’d worn the clothing he’d sent, eaten the food he’d insisted on and spoken with Krista as instructed, that had been one evening.
After watching on in helpless futility as his mother slipped further and further into a drug-induced world that led to her death while his father did nothing, he could never give up the clawing need to exert full control over any woman he cared enough for to make a commitment to. Every time he and Alessa had gotten together, he’d grown fonder of her, and her announcement she wanted what he’d craved his entire adult life had tempted him enough to agree to her request. But he wouldn’t allow himself to get sucked into believing this could evolve into something lasting. Odds were, she would start to chafe soon, and realize fantasy wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Until then, he’d keep his emotional distance while devising scenes sure to give her a full education.
Starting with reservations for dinner next weekend, followed by contacting Troy and Trevor to see who’d want to stick around to join him that night. Picking up the phone again, he pressed Dax’s number and swiveled his chair to face the ocean view from his skyscraper loft condo. Located close to his office, the renovated factory sported four lofts, each over three thousand square feet that went for a hefty price. One of the biggest surprises of his life had been learning his mother had named him the sole beneficiary of a large life insurance policy. The fact she’d managed to keep up the payments astounded him as much as the amount. His father had delivered the news and the two million dollars to him on his eighteenth birthday, with instructions to spend it wisely. Other than paying cash for college, then later, for the condo, he’d socked the money away in investments and refrained from touching it.
“What’s up, bro,” Dax answered.
“You, Krista, me and Alessa for dinner next Saturday, then a few hours on the yacht. What do you say?”
“I just heard you were showing her the ropes. Does this mean you’re through pouting?” Dax responded dryly.
“I wasn’t pouting, I was… oh, hell, do you want to get together or not?”
Dax chuckled. “It’s not like you to get flustered, but we’ll let that go for now. Sure, we’ll join you. I like Alessa, aside from her being a great nurse. Where do you want to eat?”
Sean mentioned a popular steak and seafood restaurant near the wharf, a place that was always packed on the weekends. “I’ll make reservations for six-thirty.”
“That works. See you Wednesday, golf?”
“You bet. I need payback for last week. Later, bro.” Sean hung up with a grin tugging at his mouth. He often wondered how their lives would have turned out if the seven of them hadn’t met and bonded at that camp all those years ago. Somehow, he thought none of them would have fared as well as they had.
After making reservations and getting Troy’s acceptance, he snatched his car keys and took the elevator down to the row of garages in the back of the building. Alessa needed a new dress for their date, and he knew just the place to shop for one.
ALESSA SET the watering can down on the patio table and pulled her phone out of her pocket when it rang. Her pulse jumped when she read Sean’s name on the caller I.D. and she sucked in a deep breath to get herself under control. She couldn’t allow that instant response of pleasure to go to her head, or to read anything into it other than delight at seeing a friend calling.
“Hello.”
“That’s hello, Master Sean,” he announced in the same voice that always sent a ripple of anticipation dancing under her skin.
“Master Sean.”
“Saturday, I’ll be by your place about five-thirty. I’ll be bringing a dress for you to wear, so don’t fret over your wardrobe. And remember to shave beforehand.”
The relief from hearing she’d be seeing him again surged through her at such a fast rush she grew lightheaded, but it wasn’t enough to negate the quick spark of irritation at his high-handedness. She took
a moment to remind herself this was what she’d signed on for. Whether it was the two-day notice, being told to wear his choice of attire again or to rid herself of her pubic hair she objected to, she wasn’t sure. It could be the doubts that had returned to plague her during the last five days when she hadn’t heard from him. Her job didn’t make concessions for sleepless nights disturbed by wondering if he was done with her already, if he would turn out to be like everyone else in her life who hadn’t bothered to stick around for the duration.
“Okay, Sir. May I ask where we’re going?”
The silent pause told her he’d caught the hint of defensiveness in her voice and she winced, praying he didn’t change his mind. “Sure.” He rattled off the name of the restaurant then said, “The marina where we moor the yacht is only a few blocks from there. Dax and Krista will be joining us.”
“Oh, good. I’ll be ready.” If he wouldn’t reveal any more details, maybe Krista could fill in the blanks tonight at the gym, that is, if Dax was more forthcoming than Sean.
“See you Saturday, Alessa.”
Saturday dawned cloudy and drizzly, but that didn’t dampen her mood. Even though Krista had known nothing more about the guys’ plans for tonight, Alessa had discovered being surprised built upon the anticipation bubbling inside her for another few hours under Master Sean’s tutelage. She worked at setting aside her pique over the clothes, and after shaving that morning in the shower and experiencing the softness of silk panties brushing against denuded flesh for the first time, she learned why her friends loved going bare. Tingles of awareness tickled her crotch every time she moved, sending a wave of heat up her core. The constant, light stimulation against sensitive nerve endings protected for so long kept her body humming with low-level arousal, adding to her expectancy for the upcoming evening.
Alessa tried not to think about having Dax in the room when they went to the yacht. After breaking the ice with public scenes her two visits to the clubs, it wasn’t the exhibitionism she kept shying away from, but the fact she worked with him at the hospital. They enjoyed a good relationship when she cared for his patients, and she didn’t want that to turn awkward. Krista had sworn Dax wouldn’t allow that to happen, but until Alessa knew for sure, she knew she’d find his presence uncomfortable.
Right before Sean was due to arrive, her phone pealed, and she picked it up to see Charles’ name. Frowning, she couldn’t imagine why the doctor would call her private number again. He hadn’t contacted her away from the hospital since their break-up and she didn’t care for the fact he was doing so now.
“Hello.”
“Alessa, it’s Charles. Say, I didn’t hear from you last week about the OR position and they’re needing to fill it. Did you get your application sent over?”
Alessa’s frown dipped even further and irritation crawled under her skin. She’d decided against the job he’d mentioned mainly because it would put them together a lot more than she would be comfortable with. He was a nice guy, but it had been a mistake to date someone she worked with.
“No, but thanks for offering to put in a word for me. I prefer staying on the floor for now.”
The long silence that followed her reply grated on her nerves. When he spoke, Alessa didn’t care for his clipped tone. “I see. You should’ve let me know sooner.”
“I’m sorry, it’s been a busy week. I have to run. See you at work.” She hung up before he could say anything else and hoped that put an end to it and they could go back to being friendly colleagues. The sudden knock on her door startled her, and she glanced out the window to see Sean’s sporty car parked out front. She’d been so put out with Charles’ call, she hadn’t heard him drive up.
Opening the door, her first thought was he looked as good in dark grey slacks and a black dress shirt as he had in leathers last weekend. “Hi.” Standing back, she held the door open, wincing when she noticed the dark red dress draped over his arm. With the reddish tint to her hair, she avoided wearing that color as certain hues clashed with her coloring.
Sean leaned over and nipped at her lower lip as he entered, the quick, sharp pain there and gone before she realized what he’d done. Pleasure zinged through her then cut off with cold abruptness when he held up the dress. “Hi, yourself. We only have a few minutes, so slip this on right here.”
Alessa shut the door and backed away from his outstretched hand. “No way am I wearing that in public. I doubt I can even squeeze into it.” Since he’d gotten her size right with the pink dress that hadn’t emphasized her round body, she couldn’t figure out how he’d gotten this one so wrong. The sheath was so small and tight; it would showcase every extra pound. Crossing her arms, she hoped her negative stance hid her unease over his thundercloud expression.
“You don’t trust that I believe this will look good on you?” he returned, his voice dripping ice.
Since she didn’t know the answer to that, she said, “I want to wear something I’ll be comfortable in. I’ll just go—” He stopped her in a half turn with one word.
“No.” Stepping closer, Sean backed her against the wall until she was eye level with his strong, tanned throat and she could see the throb of his pulse on the side of his neck. “You’ll wear the dress I want to see you in. Since you can’t trust I know what you’ll look good in, I’ll just have to show you.”
Panic threatened Alessa’s composure. She never wore such body-hugging clothes. Her wardrobe was comprised of loose slacks and full skirts, roomy blouses and jeans and over-sized tee shirts. Fisting her hands, she looked up into his stormy eyes. “I’ve heard enough disparaging remarks about my body to know what I look best in, and something like that is not it. I won’t put it on.”
Oh, shit. She knew from the rigid set of his jaw she’d gone too far in refusing this order. “Since you’ve never heard such a thing from me, you shouldn’t have a problem. This is all part of what you claim you want.” Tossing the dress onto a chair, he snatched her hand, yanked her over to the sofa and pointed to it. “Either say red or bend over for your punishment. Afterward, I’ll expect you to put the dress on. What’ll it be?”
Dismay of a different sort dispelled with her agitation over the dress. Alessa didn’t want this to end, wasn’t ready to see the last of Master Sean or give up finding out what she really wanted and needed to make her feel complete. “I’ll take my punishment.” The light of approval that turned his eyes from gunmetal grey to silver helped calm her nerves as she leaned over and braced her hands on the sofa’s cushion. She shivered when he yanked her jeans down along with her panties. Cool air wafted over her exposed backside, but the first swat replaced the goosebumps with a blistering burn.
Sean kept silent for the first five that covered her entire butt with prickling, heated pain, which increased her tenseness. Praying she hadn’t gone too far, hadn’t alienated him to the point he would end this on his own, she endured both the spanking and his silence with as much stoic acceptance as possible.
A hard smack on one sit spot nearly sent her face down, but his smooth voice helped her maintain her balance. “I’m not happy with you, Alessa.” Whack! Whack! “You should be able to trust me enough by now to know I wouldn’t embarrass you by insisting you wear something that didn’t flatter your figure.” Whack! Whack! “I know we have just gotten started, but I’ve passed all of your tests and you were doing so well getting through mine.”
A cry spilled past her trembling lips when he delivered a rapid volley of smacks centered on her cheeks, his arm coming around her hips to hold her steady for his punishing hand. “I… I’m sorry, Sir,” she whimpered, her buttocks throbbing, fiery heat making it difficult to stay in position. She shifted her feet, tried to shift her butt away from his non-stop descending hand, but he only tightened his arm and pulled her against his side with another admonishment.
“You’ll be still and take what I dish out, understand?” More breath-stealing blows covered her quivering thighs. “This is what you can expect when you defy me instead of
talking out your insecurities. From now on, when I say ‘ass up’, this is the position I want and the treatment you can expect.” Alessa went down on her elbows with the force of the next swats, but that didn’t slow him down. “If there is nothing to brace yourself on, you’ll bend over and grab your ankles. Understood?” He finished by adding strength to the last two spanks before helping her up. “Well?”
Nodding, she got her bearings by leaning into him and sighed in relief when his arms came around her. “Yes, Master Sean,” she whispered against his chest, her body shuddering with the aftereffects of his displeasure. She didn’t know which hurt more; her butt or the disappointment she’d caught in his voice.
“Excellent. Now, get dressed.”
Under Master Sean’s watchful eye, Alessa kicked off her jeans, pulled up her panties and removed her tee shirt. At the twirl of his finger, she discarded her bra then held her breath when he tugged the dress over her head. Much to her surprise, the material stretched with ease and slid into place with little tugging. She refused to look down at herself in the body-hugging sheath clinging to her hips and thighs and stopping a few inches above her knees. Sliding her feet into the black heels she’d left sitting out, she ran her palms down her sides to remove the nerve-induced dampness coating them. Even though the fabric was soft and stretchy, the slight hug around her hips emphasized the tenderness of her well-spanked buttocks. She cringed when she thought of sitting through dinner.
A small grin softened Sean’s face. “Maybe next time you’ll have more faith in my judgment,” he stated steering her toward the door. “You look lovely, sweetheart, and sexy. I’ll be hard-pressed to make it through dinner.”
The compliment warmed her as much as his hard hand, and she stepped outside looking forward to the rest of the evening.
AFTER GIVING the maitre’d his name and being led to their table, Sean was glad they’d arrived at the restaurant before Dax and Krista. Alessa’s adamant refusal to wear the dress had caught him off-guard, as had the extent of his anger and disappointment. He’d thought, hoped, they’d come further than that. The longer this temporary arrangement lasted, the more likely it would be that one or both of them would grow too fond of the other, thus making their inevitable split painful and their future get-togethers awkward when their needs and desires didn’t match up.