Show Me the Ropes

by Roz Lee

  After a stop to consult with the discreet security team at the back of the theatre, Richard took her hand and led her to the deck. The stiff salt wind took her by surprise. “Why are we going so fast? The ship’s usually practically dead in the water this time of night.”

  “Sean has some idea about the previous ‘accidents’ being related to our shore day. He wanted to change things up to see what would happen, maybe force someone to make a mistake. We’ll be stopping at the island a day early.”

  “Does he think the accidents are the work of someone on the ship?”

  “Maybe. He doesn’t say much, but since we don’t have anywhere else to go, it doesn’t matter which day we stop at the island.”

  “What if nothing happens? What then?”

  “I don’t know. Sean’s the security expert. I’ll let him handle it.”

  “You sound as if you don’t care.”

  “Don’t get me wrong. I care. I don’t want anyone to get hurt. You know how seriously we take security, how strict we are about following every rule, every maritime law. It’s just. . . I don’t know. . . I just don’t have the same enthusiasm for the ship that I had when we built it. I don’t know if Ryan will ever come back to it, and I don’t know if I want to stay if he doesn’t come back.”

  “What changed? I thought you loved this lifestyle.”

  “No. Not for a long time now. The new wore off real quick.”

  “Tell me.”

  He stopped walking and leaned against the rail, drawing her to his side, using his body to block the wind. “You have to understand how Ryan and I came to build the Lothario. You know about R & R Romance Registry, the dating website we created when we were in college? We sold it the day after we graduated, and suddenly we had more money than two twenty-something’s could ever spend, and believe me, we tried to spend it. We were on the cover of magazines all over the world. Women crawled out of the woodwork. We screwed our way around the world, literally.”

  “Yeah, I remember. I’d never heard of you, and then suddenly you and Ryan were everywhere. All the celebrity magazines had stories on you. I was buried in research and writing my dissertation, and I still heard about you.”

  “You heard about me?”

  “I did, and I hardly came up for air in those days.”

  “That’s good to know, that you noticed me even then.”

  “Go on, tell me the rest.”

  “We were half drunk, make that mostly drunk, one day, and we saw a cruise ship from our hotel room window. One of us, we can’t remember which, said we needed our own cruise ship so we could screw all the women we wanted, any way we wanted. It sounded like a good idea at the time. There were women everywhere, most of them wanting to pin us down, mostly for our money. When we sobered up, the idea was still there. We could get away from the women who wanted our money, make them pay for the privilege of perhaps screwing us, and turn them in for a new batch every seven days. What wasn’t to like about the plan?”

  “So what went wrong?”

  “I can’t speak for Ryan. He freaked after the first cruise and practically became a monk.”

  “I remember. You called him that often enough.”

  “He’s happy now. I think he found what he was looking for in Candace, pardon the pun.”

  She punched him on the shoulder. “That was bad. What about you?”

  “You. It was you that did it for me.”

  “What?”

  He couldn’t look at her, couldn’t bear to see the. . . whatever it was that would be in her eyes.

  “What are you saying?”

  “Nothing. Let’s call it a night, okay?” He pushed away from the rail. He’d said too much. Her hand on his arm stopped him.

  “When? How long has this been going on?”

  “Since the day I met you. The day we set sail.”

  “Two years?”

  He couldn’t speak, couldn’t tell her she’d driven him insane for two years. How pathetic was that?

  “And you didn’t say anything?”

  “Say what? You made it plain you wouldn’t compromise your research, wouldn’t get involved with the boss. That’s why you’re not an employee on this cruise.”

  He swept his arm around her waist and led her inside. She allowed him to steer her through the hallways to her cabin without further comment. He’d done it, he’d told her. It wasn’t the whole story, but it was enough. From the frown lines on her face when she shut her cabin door, he’d said too much.

  His hands curled around the opposite edge of the narrow table so he remained mostly upright. Most subjects preferred to lie down, or at least propped on their elbows. It made no difference to me, but his position indicated he would not surrender control to his partner. She didn't seem to notice, and I didn't think it necessary to inform her.

  From the file labeled, 'Subject M5, Richard Wolfe'

  Chapter Five

  His words rang through her brain like a dozen fire alarms in the night. What game was he playing? She’d taken one look at him two years ago and, like the cliché, had fallen in love. Her grandmother had a saying. Looking for love is like searching for a dandelion in a cow pasture. You’d better watch where you step.

  She’d stepped on the proverbial cow turd, Richard Wolfe. Of all the despicable people in the world, she’d fallen for one of the lowest. He admitted to his despicable behavior, had confessed to it a few hours ago out on deck.

  For two years, she’d watched him with women of every description. He’d wined them, dined them and bedded them, and all in front of the woman he now claimed had changed him.

  Changed him? Into what? When? Had she missed something? Sure, he’d changed his tune somewhat. He’d quit pursuing her while he had another woman on his arm. She understood the demands of his job, and eventually he’d come to respect hers, she thought.

  Fallon tossed, trying to find a comfortable position, hoping sleep would find her since she couldn’t find it. The ropes Richard had put on her imprisoned tonight, where this morning they’d freed her. She fingered the key. She could unlock them, return them to Richard with a note explaining she’d changed her mind, or skip the note and let him draw his own conclusions.

  Her hand slipped to her stomach and rested there against the web of ropes. There’d been no nightwear awaiting her this evening. Richard had intended her to sleep in only the ropes. She could have raided her own stash of clothes. As a crew member she was allowed to bring her own clothing to wear when they docked, or in the privacy of her own cabin, but she’d opted not to tonight. She rolled to her back and sighed into the darkness. She was lying to herself. She loved the feel of the ropes, had come to associate them with freedom, rather than submission or dominance.

  Her mind played the sound track of their conversation over and over. If Richard had told her the truth, what could his motives have been for those first six months? She’d tortured herself with the memory of the one session he’d attended, the one he brought that blonde bimbo to. The one where he’d made her watch while the brainless twit sucked his cock. She couldn’t bear to think about what had happened when he’d put his mouth to the clueless creature he’d brought with him. That was a memory best left for another time, when her pussy wasn’t raw from the rasp of his tongue, the bite of his teeth.

  She slipped her hand down to cover her exposed flesh. It was slick with the ointment she’d applied before crawling into bed. Exposed to the air all day, coupled with the vigorous workout he’d given her tissues, she’d needed to take special care of the area. Now her fingers slid easily along the valleys, along the thin ropes spreading her.

  After everything she’d been through today, it seemed impossible she could still want more, but she did. Her tissues were swollen, her vagina weeping, her clit pulsing. She wanted him. There wasn’t any use denying it. He as much as said he’d changed, but he wouldn’t elaborate on the particulars. Until he did, her pussy would just have to make do with what was available. Her middle finger slid
into the heated depths of her body. She flipped to her stomach, seeking the pressure her body craved. She ground her pelvis against the heel of her hand. She mourned the loss of Richard’s restraints, even the gag, as she buried her face into the mattress and choked back the scream she wrenched from her own body. Tears streamed from her eyes, soaking the sheet.

  * * * * *

  Sean sat at Ryan’s desk, surveying the various security cameras onboard. Ryan had an impressive array of monitors, enabling one person to maintain surveillance on the ship’s public areas. In addition, every cabin was equipped with a discreet camera that could be turned on remotely by guest services if a passenger wanted to make their own porn flick, a surprisingly popular occurrence. In addition, the cabin cameras could be viewed from Ryan’s office, a security measure, and one they didn’t abuse, much. Ryan had recently used the cameras to keep tabs on the passenger he’d fallen for. They were now somewhere in the Caribbean onboard Ryan’s private yacht, The Vixen. Richard expected an invitation to their wedding any day now. Ryan, once he found what he was looking for, had fallen hard and fast. Candace hadn’t stood a chance.

  “What’s up, Sean?”

  “Nothing. Other than the orgy in the theatre, it’s business as usual. Thanks for the heads up on that situation, by the way.”

  “No problem. The music was good, better than average, and the beat was intoxicating. When the bass guitarist spewed to the beat, I knew we were going to have a situation. The audience loved it.”

  “He really did? Cum to the beat I mean?”

  “Yeah, it was fucking amazing actually. You should see the show tomorrow night.”

  “I might do that. I imagine it will be standing room only. Maybe we should add another performance to accommodate everyone.”

  “Maybe. I don’t know if the cast is up to it, pardon the pun, more than once a night, but we can ask. It would be worth the extra money to thin out the crowd some.”

  “I’ll see about it tomorrow. How’s the vacation coming?”

  “Okay. Why don’t you take a break? I’ll watch the monitors for a while.”

  Sean rose and stretched. “I won’t argue with you. I’d forgotten how much work this ship really is. I’ll be back in what, an hour?”

  He wasn’t fooling Sean. “Yeah, that should be about right.”

  “See ya, buddy.”

  The codes came back to him easily. He punched in the necessary numbers and watched Sean’s progress down to the lower decks as he passed the security cameras placed along every hallway. Assured he wouldn’t be interrupted, Richard keyed in the code for Fallon’s cabin.

  He had to know if she was okay, had to know if she took the ropes off. He watched as she came out of the shower, tossed tonight’s erotic towel sculpture off the bed, and slipped between the sheets wearing nothing but his ropes. A tiny flame of hope began to burn inside him. His cock rose to the occasion. He slipped a hand under his wrap and adjusted it to ease the discomfort. If he kept on at this rate, he’d be ruined for life.

  He shouldn’t have worried. Fallon tossed and turned, clearly uncomfortable, and his erection withered. He’d done this to her, but she had the key. She could end it anytime she wanted. His heart stopped, his breath caught in his lungs as her fingers closed over the key, then slipped away. Under the covers, he couldn’t see what she was doing, but from the look on her face, he could guess. His cock surged anew, and he bit back the curse that flew to his lips. She flipped to her stomach. Her hips rose and fell under the sheet. Without sound, he could only guess at what she was doing. Her hips bucked one last time and her whole body shook.

  No mistaking her orgasm. He’d seen her body quake like that earlier. His body reacted, and he closed his eyes against the pain. Damn. Why was he doing this to himself? Not to mention, she’d cut his balls off if she knew he was watching her. The knowledge helped, and his erection subsided enough for him to open his eyes again. Her tears soaking the sheet unmanned him.

  By the time Sean returned from his break, Richard knew what he had to do. He’d never intended to hurt her, physically or any other way. That he’d brought her to tears wasn’t acceptable. Tomorrow he would tell her the deal was off. There wasn’t anywhere for her to go, at least not until they dropped anchor at the island. From there he’d have his helicopter take her to Miami, and that would be that. He’d played the game, and lost. He wrapped a hand around his aching shaft, the ropes mocked him. “So much for that, old buddy.”

  “So much for what?” Sean asked. “For heaven’s sake Richard, if you have to play with yourself, do it somewhere else.”

  Richard stood, slipping his cock back inside his sarong. “It’s my cock, and this is my ship. I can play with myself anywhere I want.”

  “She’s got you twisting in the wind doesn’t she?”

  The two men switched places. Sean pulled a disinfectant wipe out of the desk drawer and swiped down everything Richard could have touched.

  “That’s cold, man.”

  Sean eyed him up and down. “How about I come to your office, pull out my dick and wave it around all over your desk. I bet you’d have the wipes out too.”

  Richard ran a hand through his short-cropped hair. “Yeah, I would. Sorry. You’re right. She’s got me so tied up, I can’t think straight.”

  “She put those ropes on you?” Sean tossed the wipe in the wastebasket and pulled out another. Richard’s heart beat against his chest.

  “You noticed?”

  “What can I say? I’m trained to look for details.”

  “It’s none of your business, so I’d appreciate it if you forgot about it, okay?”

  “No problem.” He tossed the second wipe and took his seat at the console. “Must be a bitch going through metal detectors.”

  “Fuck you, Sean.” He thought he heard Sean’s reply as he stormed out of the room, “Not with that on your dick.”

  * * * * *

  She had two choices, and he prepared himself for either one, even though he didn’t hold out much hope she’d choose the next piece of the ensemble over ending the game. When she opened her door, Richard forgot to breathe. She was naked except for the ropes he’d placed on her. He stepped inside and closed the door.

  “Fallon. We need to talk.”

  “Oh? About what?”

  “About this,” he gestured to the ropes criss-crossing her body. “I want you to take them off.”

  “No.”

  “What do you mean no? It’s time to end this. I had no right blackmailing you into submission. Take them off.”

  “No. I don’t want to.”

  “Fine, then. Keep them on, but this game, this thing we’re doing, has to end.”

  “Richard, what are you saying?”

  “I’m trying to tell you you’re free to go. I know you can’t go anywhere today, but tomorrow we’ll be at the island and my helicopter can take you to Miami from there.”

  “I don’t want to go to Miami.”

  “You can get a plane from there to anywhere you want to go. I’ll pay for the flight, you name it, and it’s yours.”

  “Did you bring me another piece of the ensemble? I think I earned another piece, don’t you?”

  “You can have the whole damned thing, Fallon. It’s yours anyway. I had it made for you.”

  “You what?”

  “I had it made for you.”

  “When?”

  “I commissioned it the second week we were at sea. It’s taken that long to complete it. There’s a lot more to it, jewels that were too valuable to display. They’re all yours. You can sell them, or whatever.”

  “Did you bring another piece?”

  He held out his hand. Gold ropes linked with rubies winked from his fist. “Yes. Here, take it. I’ll have the rest put in the Purser’s safe for you.”

  “Put it on me, Richard.” When he made no move to comply, she added, “Please?”

  “But yesterday, last night. . . .”

  “What about last night?”r />
  “You cried.”

  “You saw that?” Anger laced her words with venom.

  “I apologize, again. I had to know if you were okay, so I turned on the security camera in your room. It won’t happen again, I promise.”

  “Richard.” She turned away from him and his heart stopped. The disappointment in her voice made him weak. He dropped the jeweled ropes onto the nearest table.

  “I’m sorry, Fallon. I didn’t mean for you to get hurt, and all I seem to do is hurt you.”

  “No, Richard.” She turned to him again. “I know what you saw last night, but it wasn’t what you think it was. I. . . I needed you. I wanted you so bad I couldn’t stand it, but I couldn’t call you and tell you, so I. . . well, you saw. Anyway, I did cry, but it was because you weren’t there, not because of the ropes, or what you did to me, for me, yesterday.” She drew herself up proudly and he dared to hope. “I like the ropes. I. . . . ” Jesus, was she blushing? “I want you to show me more. There is more, isn’t there? More bondage?”

  His cock rose to the occasion and he turned from her before she saw the flash of pain cross his face.

  “Richard?”

  “Just a minute, sweetheart.” He sucked in a ragged breath and let it out, willing his cock to give him a break. He turned back to her, his hands laced behind his neck in an effort to keep them off her. “There’s more. Much more. I’m not really into the dominance thing, but when it comes to you. . . I don’t know. I just need to bind you so you can be free to feel, to experience it all.”

  “That’s what I want, Richard. Show me.”

  He couldn’t believe his ears, but his eyes confirmed it. She wanted him to bind her. “Okay. I’ll show you more, but you have to promise me you’ll tell me to stop, or use the key. I won’t gag you again. That was wrong. You didn’t have any way to stop me.”

  “I didn’t want to stop you.”