by Maya Hughes
"I’m really going to have to do your arms now. Someone has grabby hands," he said, trailing his fingers down my arms and wrapping his hands around my wrists. He placed a gentle kiss on each wrist. It nearly brought tears to my eyes. I hadn't known it could be like this. I'd seen it on my monitors, but I hadn’t been able to get past that block. Get past the fear.
From behind me, he pulled my arms back and worked his way up them with the rope, knotting them every so often. My eyes fluttered and drooped as the sensations of the rope overwhelmed me. Instead of the panic and claustrophobia I'd felt before, I felt a lightness that threatened to make me float away, but every time I was close to drifting off, John's hands were back on me and kept me present. I could feel my heartbeat everywhere. The ropes amplified everything.
And then he was there again in front of me, I lifted my eyes to his and they were ablaze. His breath came out in heavy pants and I could see his cock at full mast in his pants. He licked his lips.
"How are you?" he rasped.
"I'm good," I said, my tongue heavy.
"Are you sure?" he asked, taking his cock out of his pants. It was beautiful. I'd seen it before. Felt it before, but never like this. On my knees, tied up, at his mercy.
"Absolutely." It was my turn to lick my lips as I leaned forward. He chuckled.
"Maybe next time, but I need to be inside you. Now." Yes! I needed that too. The knot on my clit had me on the razor's edge of an orgasm that built with each movement of the rope, but stayed just out of reach. I was on fire and I needed him. He stripped off the rest of his clothes and climbed onto the bed behind me and ran his lips along my shoulders, lifting my hair out of the way. His chest pressed against my back, making the knots running along my spine press into my skin, reminding me they were there.
"Look at yourself," he whispered in my ear and gently turned my head, so I could see myself in the full-length mirror across the room. I trembled in his hold as I took in the bright blue ropes crisscrossing my body. The intricate design he'd done was beautiful, each knot, loop and line showing off my body. Putting me on display for him. His hands traveled down the front of me and tapped on the knot on my clit. I cried out, staring at him. Watching him watch me in the mirror. My thighs trembled and I clenched around him.
Holding onto the ropes on my back, he let me fall forward, supporting me, running his fingers up and down my slit. The ropes pressed into my skin as I sunk into their hold. Into his hold. His control.
"So fucking wet," he growled and plunged his fingers inside. I moaned as his fingers worked a rhythm inside me that threatened to plummet me over the edge of my orgasm. My pussy clenched around his fingers before he took them away and replaced them with his cock in one smooth motion.
"Yes," I screamed as he rammed into me, filling me and undoing me all at once. I was so on edge that the minute he was fully inside, I came in an explosive orgasm that took my breath away. Everything around me dimmed, but he kept going, using the ropes to keep me upright when I would have collapsed.
My skin tingled and hummed as the ropes rubbed all along my body. The slide of them on my skin made every nerve ending come alive, and I came again. The wet slapping sounds of John filling me over and over punctuated each thrust as I cried out again, happy that the rooms were all soundproof. His movements were jerky and rougher behind me. He bent me down deeper and slammed into me one more time as I felt him expand inside me, triggering another explosive orgasm while he filled me up.
My body completely collapsed, and I thought I'd tip over, but he had a hold on me, gently lowering me to the bed on my stomach. We both groaned as he fell free from me. He kissed me on my back and went into the bathroom. Water ran from the tap, and he appeared back in the room with a cloth. He ran it over me, cleaning me up before undoing my bindings.
There was a pang of sadness as the rasp and tension of the ropes fell free from my body. He placed gentle kisses all over my body on the small indentations the ropes left and massaged my sore muscles. There was no numbness. He'd been very careful to make sure there was no restricted blood flow.
I stared at the rope coiled on the nightstand beside the bed before he flipped me around, so I was facing him. He lifted himself up on one arm and hovered over me, checking me over, a hint of worry in his eyes. I reached up and pulled him down on top of me, so our faces were inches apart.
"That was unbelievable. The most amazing thing I've ever felt," I said, looping my arms around his neck.
"I'm glad. I'm glad I could make it good for you."
"It seemed like it was pretty good for you, too," I said, remembering the intense look in his eyes. I held him tighter, toying with the hair at the base of his neck.
"It was better than it's ever been."
"You said you have ropes at home?" I asked, peering up at him.
"I have an entire drawer full of ropes waiting for you."
A thrill traveled up my spine, and he swatted my ass.
"What was that for?" I asked, laughing.
"That look in your eye. You're going to make me tie you up and take you again."
I ducked my head and trailed my finger along his muscled chest.
"I wouldn't be opposed."
"I think I've created a monster. Don't you worry. You'll be getting more than enough time for a proper introduction to my rope collection. But we can't do anything too intense until after the baby arrives. I'm not putting either one of you at risk." He ran his hand over my stomach, which was still flat. No bump there yet.
But now I couldn't wait. Something that had been scary and unexpected turned into something beautiful when I knew John would be by my side. It was because I loved him.
"John," I said, swallowing against the tightness in my throat. "I l--"
"We never got to do our second date," he said, in a playful chastising tone. You promised me three, and I’m not settling for anything less. It will be quiet, and low-key, and something I promised you a long time ago." He said, punctuating his words with kisses along my body. I racked my brain, trying to figure out what the hell he had in mind.
31
John - Now
We drove along the winding road, the tall trees stretching all the way into the sky. The midday sunlight streamed through the leaves as we made it to our destination. I pulled the car up to the spot I'd picked out beforehand. Frankie opened her door and eyed the area skeptically. It was secluded. Away from everyone. I'd found this spot and made sure no one else knew about it.
"Camping. I told you I'd take you camping," I said, resting my hands on the roof of the car.
"You did, didn't you?" she said, resting her hands on the other side, gazing back at me. The slight breeze ruffled her hair and the sun lit her from behind.
We unloaded everything out of the back of the car and got to work putting up the tent.
"Why do they have to make these things so complicated? I can build a brand-new computer and hook up a sound system in under ten minutes flat, but what the hell is this pole for?" she asked standing there with her hands on her hips.
"It's a fishing rod," I said, laughing and sliding the last pole into the tent. She glanced down at the rod in her hand like it had just betrayed her.
"Seriously?"
"Yes, seriously. I'm almost all done here, why don't you go grab some stuff out of the cooler and I'll make a fire?"
"Look at you, Mr. Outdoorsy. I didn't know you were into this stuff."
"Yeah," I swallowed past the tightness in my throat. "My mom and dad used to take me camping when I was little. And it was always a good place to disappear to when I needed it."
Frankie grabbed the s'more ingredients out of the cooler while I built a fire. She laughed at my flaming marshmallow, while hers came out a toasty golden brown.
"I like mine this way," I said, grimacing as the burnt sugar scorched my tongue.
"Sure," she teased, taking another bit of her s'more and leaving a trail of chocolate and marshmallow across her face.
"Yo
u have some chocolate on your face," I said, pointing to the spot on her face. She stuck her tongue out to try to reach it and failed.
"Did I get it?"
"No," I said, and she tried again. Using her other hand, she wiped at her face and managed to smear even more chocolate and marshmallow across her face. I leaned in close and kissed the s'more remnants from her face, as she giggled and tried to push me away. We made dinner and Frankie lamented the fact that she was missing the newest sci-fi series by being out in the wilderness, but the smile on her face let me know she loved every minute.
With an insulated blanket underarm, we made it to a small clearing and laid out under the stars. I felt around on the mat until I found her hand and laced my fingers through hers.
"John?"
"Hmm?"
"What happened back in high school?" she asked, leaning her head over to look at me. Wow. Talk about a gut punch, but if we were doing this, everything needed to be out in the open. We couldn't ever let what happened in the past stop us from what we were building, especially with a baby on the way. Her stomach was still smooth and flat. I couldn't wait to watch it grow every day, as she gave me a gift more precious than anything anyone had ever given me.
"I was trying to play it cool with you the weekend after the dance. I didn't want to freak you out by how much I wanted to see you. So I got to school early to see you. And those guys on the team. Their girlfriends." I searched for the words to make it all better. To reverse time and fix what happened, but there weren't any.
"They'd been on my ass since I got there. Scholarship kid. It sucked, but I knew I couldn't do anything about it because I wasn't going to jeopardize my scholarship to finally knock them down a peg or two. After the dance, they were jealous. Started saying horrible things about you, and I didn't know what to do. I wanted to punch a fist through their faces."
My fist clenched as I thought back to the look on her face when she'd rounded the corner. We looked at the stars for a while in silence, and I thought the conversation was over when Frankie started to talk.
"Monica and the rest of them humiliated me a few years before you got to school. Had a guy invite me to a dance. Kind of like his initiation into their group. I thought it was real. I was stupid, I didn't see what they were up to, but when I got to the dance they were sure to clue me in. They made my life a living hell.
“I checked out after that. It was a small school, and I'd been in classes with them for years. After that, all I needed was my computer and my games." I squeezed her hand to let her know I was there for her.
"And that day in the hallway?" I said.
"I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t handle it. I only had a few months left. Killian was gone. Whatever friendship we’d had was ruined. I needed to get out and not look back. That meant hermit mode and not even letting myself think that what happened with us could have been something real. I liked you, but my confidence was shot," she said, tilting her head to the side. All the uncertainty and fear she felt as a high schooler on the receiving end of some screwed-up bullying showed through. I brought her hand up and kissed the back of it, keeping her tucked against my chest. I ran my free hand over my forehead.
“What about you? You gave up. I saw you with those other girls. There wasn’t a lot of time left in the school year, but there were a lot.” I could hear the sting in her voice, even after all that time passed.
"There was a lot going on with me then. My mom left us years ago, left me and my dad. I'd gone to see her not long before that blow-up in the hall. I hadn't seen her for years, but I turned up at her place, and she pretended like she didn't know me. My little half-brother came to the door, and she sent me away like I was some stranger. She'd upgraded to a rich husband, and I was just a painful reminder of her poor roots. I freaked out about you feeling the same about me. I didn’t have money like your family. Hell, I still don’t."
Frankie made a noise somewhere between disbelief and anger, wrapping her arms around me. She’d never do something like that. Never treat our kid like my mom treated me. I knew that deep in my bones. She’d be an amazing mom.
"I'm so sorry. That I hurt you and made you think I gave a shit about money. I don’t. I didn’t. Never," she said, fiercely. I trailed my hand along her back and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
"So much wasted time. So much lost time, and so much anger, and for what? Stupid high school bullshit," she said, glancing up at me with tears glittering in her eyes. My heart ached as I wiped away the moisture gathered there.
"We have what we have now. That's what matters. It was our path, and it led us here. And we have the rest of our lives to make up for lost time." She slid her hand under my shirt and raked her nails gently down my chest. Goosebumps rose all over my body.
"You're playing with fire," I warned.
“What if I'm looking for a little bit of heat," she said, getting up on her knees and unbuttoning my pants. My cock strained against the zipper.
"I'd say you're in the right place."
I pulled her down on top of me and slid my hand inside her pants, cupping and squeezing her ass. She moaned against my lips and worked on getting my cock out. It was my turn to growl as she wrapped her hand around my head and stroked her hand up and down my shaft. I flipped her over and ripped her pants off, pressing myself into her hot, wet pussy in one hard thrust. She hitched her legs up on my hips as I delved into her.
I'd never get enough of her. Never enough of this. I’d make sure she felt the same every single day.
32
Frankie - Now
The last wall was down between us. The bite of his zipper against my ass made me scream. He never let up, pounding into me. I reveled in his power. Exploring this new side of myself with John was even more than I'd dreamed of. I held on as he lifted me up and bounced me up and down on his cock. I kept my arms around his neck, happy to go along for the ride. The new position rubbed my clit against his stomach and made me come apart in record time with quaking thighs and a yell so loud it probably scared away any animals nearby.
He followed me soon after, groaning and wrapping his arms around me, holding me to his chest as he came. We quietly walked back to the tent, smiling all the way. Within seconds he had me on my hands and knees with his hands wrapped around my stomach, caressing me there and growling into my ear.
"I put our baby in you. From the moment I saw you, I knew I wanted forever with you." His words came out raspy and punctuated by the thrust of his hips.
"Yes, me too," I said, breathlessly. I finally said it out loud. Let myself admit what I'd known since the moment his lips touched mine, standing outside my front door.
"I can't wait to see your stomach grow bigger with our baby. We're going to have to use this position a lot. I'm going to give you everything I have." He grabbed onto my hair. Wrapping it around his fist. His words made my pussy clench around his shaft.
"I've always wanted you. To start our life together."
"We've already started," he said, tapping on my clit and sending me over the edge. I opened my mouth in a silent scream as his weight settled onto my back and wrapped around me.
We didn't get much sleep that night, especially when I found the short length of rope tucked in John's bag. It was just enough to make things interesting, but we came together staring into each other's eyes, riding the waves of our climaxes together before collapsing into a satisfied, sweaty heap.
He brushed the hair plastered to my face out of the way and kissed me once again. I wrapped my hand around his, and he smiled. A smile that warmed my heart and made me feel like there wasn't anything I couldn't do.
"John...Grim...I--"
33
Frankie
"HATE YOU!" I shrieked, lying in the bed in the delivery room as a contraction ripped through me. I squeezed John's hand, trying to transfer a little bit of the pain shooting through my body to his. He grunted, and I slumped back into the bed as the contraction passed.
"That was really
good, Francesca," the doctor said between my legs.
"My name is Frankie," I said, so tired I just wanted to sleep. "Can I please have the epidural now?" Hoping that if I said it sweetly enough they'd change their answer from the last time I asked five minutes ago.
"Yes, please give her the drugs," John said beside me. If he got me the drugs. I'd love him forever. Not that I didn't already, but forever plus one.
"We told you already. You're already at ten centimeters and fully effaced. The baby's practically here. Only a few more contractions and the baby will be out." The doctor said, talking straight into my vagina. I didn't even care. I was too tired.
Another wave began building, and I grabbed onto John's hand. He grunted as I clenched my teeth and tried my best not to scream. John bent at the knees and put his hand on the back of mine.
"You're almost there. On the next contraction, I want you to push. Push really hard," she said, as the nurses came in with even more equipment.
"I don't think I can," I said, rocking my head back and forth. Whoever came up with childbirth is an idiot. This sucked.
"You've got this, Franks. You can do it. Just think about meeting our little girl or guy."
As I laid there and stared into John's eyes, I couldn't believe how much happened over the past eight months. Like a movie on rewind, I flashed back through our check-in at the hospital, back to him talking to my belly night after night, tickling me with his five o'clock shadow. Both of us trying to put together the crib before he finally banished me to baby-clothes-folding duty. John down on one knee with a ring in one hand and a Romano's pizza balanced in the other. How did I ever get so lucky?
But in that moment, I didn't feel lucky as another contraction spiked through me like liquid fire. I wanted to use that beautiful engagement ring to beat him up.
"One more push, Frankie," the doctor said, with her hands practically inside me. I bore down, pushing with all my might, until there was finally a wave of relief, and the pressure and pain disappeared. The cries of a tiny new voice brought tears to my eyes. My chest shook as I cried tears of relief and joy. I closed my eyes, exhaustion threatening to make me pass out. John's warm lips were on my sweat-soaked forehead, and I finally let go of his hand.
