Lighting a Flame [Sequel to Playing with Fire] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More)

by Serenity Snow

  Colton shrugged. “I just meant that with all the long hours you’ve been spending here, Marika must be spending more time with Dallas.”

  “So?”

  “Dallas likes to club.” He shrugged. “Marika might be tempted to see what else is out there.”

  Dallas had taken her to a club the other night. Had she run into Vinessa at that club?

  He wiped a hand through his hair. The stress of the situation tightened his muscles even more. Even if they had met there, he’d been the reason Marika had needed someone else. He’d left her alone too much and spent so little time letting her know she was important to him.

  He’d been the one to bring Vinessa into their lives, as Vinessa had reminded him. He’d noticed Marika’s attraction to Vinessa when they watched Vinessa’s sessions at Fantasy Club. Marika had started to get wet and so turned on that their love-making was heightened.

  Marika hadn’t been the only one of them guilty of lusting after something new. It was just too bad he hadn’t known how to deal with his own interest let alone hers. And he still had no idea how to handle his craving for the two women.

  “Yeah. I better get going.” It was too bad he didn’t have any place to go.

  “Night.”

  Lucas headed out into the evening, his mind heavy and his heart breaking.

  “However, you’re obviously not man enough for me or Marika.”

  Maybe Vinessa was right. He did need to decide what he wanted and go get it.

  Chapter Nine

  “She’s cute,” Connor McFadden said, giving Vinessa a curious look. They were seated at a table in The Raging Fire Grill. The wood and brick combined for a rustic look in the split-level dining spot.

  Vinessa threw a glance to the dance floor where Marika was dancing with Leigh. “Yep.”

  “Yep?” Connor studied her. “She has a boyfriend.”

  “Ex,” she answered. “Recently.”

  “She’s still pining over him?” Connor demanded. “Vinessa, why are you doing this? Get yourself a woman who’s emotionally available.”

  “Marika is as emotionally available as she’s going to get right now,” she murmured. She knew she had a part of Marika that Lucas couldn’t touch, but she also knew it would take time to put Lucas completely behind her. “She wants me and him.”

  “Luc’s been watching you for months,” he said. “He asked me if I thought you were a good Domme to play with his woman. From what I understood, she has a greater love for pain than he can satisfy.”

  “Really?” she gave him a frown. She’d watched Lucas, too, and found him a bit lacking as a Dom, but as a lover and partner, she thought he showed patience and undying affection for Marika.

  Connor nodded. “He’s hot for you, just like I was hot for Kal, but he’s a bit reserved until he gets to know you. I don’t know a lot of men who know what to do with a woman like you.”

  “He doesn’t even know me, but you knew Kal,” she said. “And what do you mean ‘a woman like me’?” she demanded.

  “You’re strong and more dominant than he is,” Connor replied. “That can make you unapproachable.”

  “Oh, please.”

  “He watched a lot of your sessions,” Connor told her. “He’s probably wrestling with the guilt of wanting you as much as he wants Marika.”

  “How do you know he wants me?” she asked, doubt in her mind. He’d run pretty fast a week ago.

  Connor smiled and looked past her to their women returning to the table. “You’re a bigger stud than I ever was,” he teased. “Tell me you don’t know when someone wants you?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Connor, you’re a dick,” she muttered, and he chuckled.

  Marika slipped into the chair next to Vinessa and smiled at her. Vinessa smiled back and leaned over to kiss her jaw and trail kisses to her ear.

  “You’re such a sexy little dancer,” she murmured. Watching Marika dance had her wet and proud to have a lover with such rhythm.

  Marika smiled and rested a hand on Vinessa’s side as she looked into her eyes. Vinessa almost had to catch her breath.

  “Maybe next time you’ll dance with me,” she said, giving Vinessa a seductive smile that warmed her with the heat of emotion.

  “Maybe,” Vinessa agreed and kissed her softly. Marika seemed to see her as a companion, a lover, a Domme who had affection to give her. And she wanted to wrap her up in all the love she’d been saving for just the right woman.

  “Can I get you guys anything else?” their waitress asked stiffly.

  “Not for us,” Connor said. “Vin?”

  “Do you need anything, sweetheart?”

  “I would like a piece of apple pie with ice cream,” Marika said.

  “That sounds good,” Leigh said with a smile.

  “Make that two,” Kal said from behind the waitress, who turned to look at her, slightly annoyed, and Kal gave her a cool stare before sliding into the seat next to Leigh and kissing her.

  “Shit,” the waitress muttered beneath her breath, and Vinessa’s lips quirked.

  “So that’s three pies a la mode, and two coffees,” Vinessa said, giving the waitress a smile.

  “Be right back,” she said coolly.

  “Kal, I didn’t think you were going to make it,” Vinessa said.

  Kal turned amused brown eyes on her that showed more than a hint of tiredness in the shadows around them.

  “Big project,” she said with a sigh. “Designing company stationary and a new logo. I didn’t know it would be this demanding. I mean, I’ve done jobs like this before, and the last clients were so easy to work with.” She winked at Vinessa. “How’s Dani?”

  “She’s fine,” she said. “She’s working on a project herself that’s got her burning some midnight oil.”

  “Got any good toys in the works?” Kal asked.

  “Fleshlight. Nothing you guys would be interested in.” She smiled. “Kal, this is my girl, Marika. Mari, Kal. She’s an old friend.”

  Kal smiled. “Hello, Marika.”

  Marika didn’t meet her gaze head-on as she said, “Hello, Kal.”

  “I’ve seen you at the club with Lucas,” Kal said, and her gaze swiveled to her friend. “I guess he decided to stop looking and go after what he wanted.”

  “Lucas watched Vinessa?” Marika asked with a frown. She looked up at Vinessa.

  “Sometimes. How is he?”

  “I don’t know. We broke up,” she said. “Apparently, we didn’t know each other that well.”

  “He’s probably confused as hell right now,” Connor said as the waitress arrived with the pie. “It’s one thing to lust after two women, but it’s another to actually want them heart-deep.”

  “I’ll be right back with your coffee,” the waitress told them.

  “And it’s still not easy,” he said quietly. “It’s takes time to develop an emotional bond and rhythm.”

  “Yes, it does,” Kal said. “But someone has to take charge.” She met Vinessa’s gaze. “Especially when the heart knows what it wants.”

  The waitress poured their coffee and then said, “Anything else?”

  “You can bring us the ticket while the ladies linger over the pie,” Connor said.

  She nodded and scurried away.

  “And as terrified as you might be, you have to have no fear,” Leigh said. “Know it’s right and go for it.” She caught Marika’s gaze as she said the last.

  Marika frowned but didn’t speak as she dug into her pie.

  “Interesting advice, Leigh,” Vinessa murmured, adding cream to her coffee before taking a sip.

  * * * *

  Lucas turned his head a little to the right to watch the quintet at a table in back. He’d been fascinated by them since the moment he walked in. Off and on, he’d glanced over to see what they were up to and how people were reacting to them.

  He liked Connor, but he’d had no idea the man shared his lover with another woman. He didn’t seem even slightly embarrassed
when the two women kissed and the waitress shot daggers of pure disgust at them.

  Vinessa and Marika seemed so completely at ease with each other to say they’d only been together for a week. It made him angry and jealous to see Marika doing so well without him.

  He turned back to his meal. He’d only eaten half of it while he checked his e-mail and alternately checked out Marika and Vinessa. He should be back there with them having as good a time as the smiles on their faces suggested they were having.

  He should be thinking about fucking them both once they got back to his place or Vinessa’s. Marika could lie back, tied to the bed, while Vinessa and he played with her body first. Or maybe, he’d let them pleasure him first.

  He might even allow Vinessa to top him once in a while. He loved watching her work and imagined how good the whip would feel on him.

  “Can I get you anything else?” the waiter asked, moving behind the counter.

  “Just the ticket,” he said. The light seemed too harsh in here, revealing more than he wanted to see in himself and Marika. He could call Marika, but what would he say?

  He was curious about what a relationship with two women could be like. On the other hand, he was afraid at just how much damage they could both do this his heart if he ended up being just a human dildo to them. He glanced over his shoulder and the group was laughing about something. Vinessa really was gorgeous, and he really did want her as badly as he wanted Marika. He turned back as the waiter spoke to him.

  Lucas dug his wallet from his pants pocket and paid the ticket. “Keep the change.” He grabbed his phone from the smooth, lightly stained counter and headed out into the cool night with slumped shoulders and head lowered.

  * * * *

  Marika climbed into bed a few hours later with a soft sigh. She snuggled against her pillow and listened to the soft sounds of clicking from a computer. Vinessa had said she needed to work before coming to bed. She regretted that, but she liked the idea of having Vinessa so close at night.

  She rolled onto her back and stared up at the popcorn ceiling. She and Vinessa had only shared a bed one other time, and she’d liked waking up to her so much she decided to repeat it. Vinessa was so easy to be with that all she thought of when they weren’t together was seeing her again.

  It had always been the same way with Lucas.

  Her lips curved into a smile, but sadness arced through her. She missed him, and she wished he’d been there with them tonight. She knew this would be a big step for him because he liked being in charge and Vinessa wasn’t the submissive type.

  She could call Lucas and meet with him, but it would be useless. He wouldn’t change his mind. So, she had to accept that. She wanted what Vinessa’s friends seemed to have—happiness and love.

  Chapter Ten

  Marika woke the next morning with Vinessa’s hand on her hip. The early-morning sun was filtering in through the lavender curtains she’d forgotten to close. The sound of birds chirped and the complex slowly came to life as a car door slammed somewhere outside her window.

  Vinessa moved against her, her thigh brushing against the back of Marika’s leg. Her skin was smooth and silky. Vinessa kissed the side of her neck as her hand slithered down to rest against Marika’s stomach. The caress of her body heated her quickly, and her clit began to swell in arousal. She put her hand on Vinessa’s, caressed her fingers as she shivered in anticipation. Her juices flowed, and she wiggled her ass against Vinessa’s pussy.

  “Morning, sunshine,” Vinessa murmured.

  “Hi.”

  Vinessa chuckled and nipped the side of her neck. She slipped her hand beneath the T-shirt Marika wore and found her breast. She pinched the tight nipple and Marika moaned softly as she moved against Vinessa.

  “Stay still,” Vinessa ordered. She pinched her nipple again and Marika squirmed. “I told you to stay still.” Vinessa moved quickly and flipped Marika onto her stomach with brute strength, and she gasped. Her panties were yanked down and a heavy hand landed on her rounded ass.

  Pleasure snaked through her, her heart pumping hard and fast. The second tap was a firmer strike that made her flesh heat and her juices gather between the folds of her pussy.

  Another slap met her already-stinging flesh before Vinessa leaned forward, grasped her hair, and tugged her head back. “When I say stay still, you stay still.” Vinessa’s hand landed on her ass again sharply. “I wanted to play, but I’m going to have to punish you first, Marika,” she said with a hint of regret in her tone. “Five lashes. Count them off.”

  The first of five landed with stinging efficiency, and Marika cried out. “One.”

  “I’ve been too easy with you,” Vinessa said. “I like my girls to behave, Marika. Is that too much for you to handle?” She landed the second tap.

  Marika grimaced. The pain that burned over her butt cheek almost brought tears to her eyes. “Two.”

  Another tap.

  “Three.”

  “Answer me, Marika. Am I asking more than you can give, little sub?” She dropped her hand heavy on Marika’s butt again.

  “Four.” She swallowed tightly. “No, Mistress.”

  Number five was more of a caress. “You have a beautiful ass,” Vinessa said. “Lucas should have spanked you more, then you’d be more obedient.” Vinessa released her hair and gripped one hip as she rubbed against her lover’s ass. “Baby, you’re so sweet. Hurting you isn’t what I want, but you have to be a good girl for me.” She glided her hands over Marika’s stomach. She palmed her breasts and plucked her nipples, drawing a rough moan from Marika.

  “I’ll be your good girl,” Marika said breathlessly.

  “I know you will, because I’m going to teach you to,” Vinessa told her.

  Vinessa straightened and then flipped Marika back onto her back. She pulled her thighs apart after running her hands down Marika’s silky flesh. She gave Marika’s pussy a light slap before running her fingers over the plump lips and slapping them again.

  Marika groaned roughly and Vinessa leaned over her to trail kisses over her cheek to her lips. Their eyes met and Marika saw heat and hunger, and felt flushed.

  Vinessa pushed Marika’s little T-shirt up, revealing tight pink nipples standing at attention on flushed mounds. “Beautiful.” She brushed Marika’s lips with hers before taking a kiss.

  Her lips moved demandingly against the lush curves of Marika’s, and Marika kept her hands pinned to the mattress to keep from getting in trouble again. She didn’t want to disappoint Vinessa by showing such lack of discipline after being punished.

  “Touch me, Mari,” Vinessa ordered. “I want to feel your hands making me hot, lover.”

  Marika stroked her hands down Vinessa’s arms to her hips. She thrust her hips up, brushing her clit against Vinessa’s thigh.

  “Down,” Vinessa ordered.

  Immediately, Marika obeyed, breathing roughly. Vinessa lowered her head and flicked her tongue over a rosy peak. Her skin was so sensitive Marika gasped and arched her chest toward Vinessa’s mouth.

  “Oooo!” Marika pushed her hands beneath Vinessa’s silky cami top and stroked her back. She lightly raked her short nails over her soft skin. “I want you, my Mistress.”

  Vinessa drew the nipple into her mouth and sucked before releasing it with a pop. She turned her attention to the twin while her fingers pinched and plumped the other turgid peak. She nipped at the flesh mound sharply and then licked over the sting before sucking the nipple into her hot mouth.

  Marika scraped her nails harder against Vinessa’s back. “Oh, Mistress, yes!”

  Vinessa gave her nipple one last pull with her lips and pluck with her fingers before kissing a trail down over Marika’s belly.

  Marika’s breathing was harsh, her body an inferno. Her head thrashed on the pillow as her lover’s fingers found her clit and stroked it. “Oh fuck!”

  Vinessa moved between her thighs, pushing them further apart before using the fingers of one hand to part the flushed lips and
run her tongue up Marika’s juicy slit. “Mmm.” Her tongue played around the nubbin of her clit as her fingers worked into Marika’s wet pussy.

  “Oh, Mistress, yes! I want you!”

  Vinessa’s tongue lashed at her clit while her fingers fucked deep and easy inside her. Marika whimpered as the pleasure raged out of control inside her. She pushed one hand into Vinessa’s hair to hold her head closer.

  “Oh, yes!” she cried.

  Vinessa lifted her head and ran her tongue down to the entrance of Marika’s body. She pulled her fingers free and thrust her tongue inside. She used her fingers to work Marika’s swollen clit as she fucked her with her tongue.

  “Mistress! My Mistress!” Marika’s head rolled from side to side as her body turned into an out-of-control blaze. “Oh God! Please.”

  “Fuck my mouth, baby. Show me how much you want me.”

  As soon as Vinessa’s tongue was back inside her, Marika thrust against her lips. She held Vinessa’s head as she ground frantically against her, seeking release. One pinch of her clit and her body was exploding, streaking like a star across the sky.

  Vinessa moved over her, rubbed her swollen clit against Marika’s.

  Marika gasped as pleasure rocked her. Her clit was so sensitive, and Vinessa’s felt swollen, firm. Marika wrapped her arms around her. The feeling was incredible.

  Marika lifted her head from the pillow. Her clit throbbed and pulsed as her own arousal built anew. “Oh, yes. You feel so good, my Mistress.” She arched up and kissed the side of Vinessa’s neck as their clits ground together.

  Marika’s body jerked seconds later as her orgasm washed over her. Her hips bucked and bliss swallowed her whole as Vinessa ground against her hard and fast before her own release came on a low groan.

  Vinessa rolled onto the bed next to her, panting hard, and Marika closed her eyes, savoring the blissful moment.

  “Mari, you’re incredible,” Vinessa said roughly, moments later.

  Marika shifted to rest her head on Vinessa’s shoulder. Her skin was damp from sweat. “I love you.” Her eyes drifted closed. She didn’t really have time for more than a few minutes’ doze before getting ready for work.