‘I understand you, and I’d love to come,’ said Natalie, with a smile.
Rob left the room and Natalie opened her mouth to speak. But Simon flicked his eyes warningly towards the corner of the room, and she guessed that they were probably still being filmed. ‘You can go now,’ she said crisply to him. ‘I’ll put my clothes on, get packed and leave.’
‘I’ll take your bags to the car when you’re ready,’ said Simon. But he managed to sound totally uninterested in her and Natalie hoped that between them they’d thrown Rob off the scent.
By the time Simon came up to her room to collect her bags, Natalie had changed into a light beige linen suit, its long-line jacket draped over a lilac camisole top.
‘I see you’ve got your businesswoman’s armour on again,’ he remarked.
She didn’t like to say that this was because she was trying to forget what had happened downstairs. Somehow she needed to regain control of her life, to rediscover her business persona and – ridiculous as it seemed – the clothes helped. ‘It’s comfortable for travelling in,’ she replied.
He gave a half-smile. ‘Of course. How silly of me to think otherwise. Here, let me carry those.’
In silence they walked out of the room. Natalie glanced back once, and she had a momentary vision of herself balanced over the bar, her fingers clasping her ankles. But she turned away immediately, knowing that it was time to put all that behind her.
Simon didn’t speak until they were crossing the car park. ‘I hope you have a good journey.’
Natalie looked at him in surprise. ‘Is that all you’ve got to say?’
‘I think so.’
‘You look cross. What’s the matter?’
‘Nothing.’ He looked briefly at her but then glanced away again, unable to maintain eye contact.
‘You didn’t like what happened to me earlier, did you?’ asked Natalie.
‘I didn’t mind. I’ve seen it all before. It goes with the territory.’
‘But it upset you, didn’t it?’
‘No.’
‘I don’t believe you.’
‘It doesn’t matter whether you believe me or not.’
‘But it does,’ said Natalie, catching hold of the sleeve of his jacket. ‘It matters to both of us. You know that as well as I do.’
‘Be careful,’ said Simon quietly. ‘Even here it’s possible that we’re being filmed.’
‘Tell me the truth. Did you mind having to watch?’
‘Yes,’ he admitted reluctantly. ‘I minded a lot. I wanted it to be me inside you, me plunging the vibrator into your rectum, me doing all those things that gave you such pleasure.’
‘You were jealous, then?’ She couldn’t keep the delight out of her voice.
‘That pleases you, doesn’t it?’
‘Only because I care.’
He sighed heavily. ‘It’s irrelevant whether you care or not. I’m not going to risk losing this job and we’re never likely to meet again.’
‘But we could,’ she said excitedly.
‘How?’
‘You could come and work for me.’
Simon looked at her incredulously and then laughed. ‘You have got to be joking!’
‘Why?’
‘Do you really think, feeling the way that I do about you, that I’d be willing to sit in an office and take orders from you all day? I don’t think that would do much for our sex life.’
‘Why not? I think it would be exciting. We’d both know that it was a charade, and that once we were alone together you’d be the one in charge.’
‘I’m not sure you’d be able to play that kind of game,’ said Simon. ‘If the truth be told, lots of our clients regress after they’ve been here. In a few months’ time you’ll want control in every aspect of your life again, including the bedroom.’
‘I won’t!’
‘It wouldn’t work.’
‘We’ll never know unless we try. Look, I’m already going to use that piece that you brought me. If you do want to take me up on my offer, then there’ll be a job vacancy starting in four weeks’ time. That’s the last Monday in June. I won’t advertise it and you needn’t make up your mind until the last moment.’
She could tell that he was tempted. But she also knew how difficult it would be for him to take orders from her all day, no matter how much in control he was at night. For her the prospect was incredibly exciting, but for him she guessed that it seemed demeaning. ‘I’d never really be your boss,’ she continued hastily. ‘It would all be a game.’
‘No, it wouldn’t. It’s your magazine. Of course you’d be in charge at work.’
‘But it’s a way for us to get together again. If it didn’t work out in the office then you could look for another job, but at least having had a position on my magazine you’d stand a better chance of getting a good job elsewhere. Being freelance hasn’t exactly opened all the doors for you.’
‘That’s precisely the kind of remark that puts me off the idea,’ said Simon coldly.
‘Please think about it,’ she begged him.
There was a long pause. ‘I’ll let you know,’ agreed Simon at last. ‘Now, here’s a list of members whom you can contact whenever you like.’
‘For what?’
‘Use your imagination. Surely that’s improved while you’ve been here. Ex-clients usually throw dinners for each other, or parties at weekends. Your friend Jan Pearson has had a lot of fun since she spent a weekend with us. Now you’ll be able to join in her parties too. Isn’t that what brought you here, the fact that she’d shut you out of her life?’
Natalie nodded. ‘Yes, it is. I’d forgotten, it seems such a long time ago.’
‘It was a long time ago, and you were a very different person then.’
‘It’s you who changed me,’ whispered Natalie. ‘You can’t abandon me now. You’ve taught me to enjoy dark pleasures, things that I never knew existed. I can’t go back to my old ways. What will become of me if we don’t meet again?’
‘I’ve already told you, that’s what this list is for. It enables you to explore your new-found sexuality with people of similar tastes.’
‘But it’s you I want.’
‘I’m very flattered to hear it,’ said Simon, starting to turn away.
‘Wait!’ called Natalie. ‘What about the job?’
‘I’ve told you, I’ll think about it. Don’t hold your breath, though.’ With that he walked away.
Natalie climbed into the car. She knew that she should feel elated. She’d had a wonderful weekend, done incredible things and received fantastic pleasure. But none of that counted for anything if she was never going to see Simon again.
If he hadn’t been jealous that afternoon then she wouldn’t have been quite so certain that he needed her as badly as she needed him. However, since he’d admitted to it, she knew for certain that they were meant to be together. Ironically, all that she’d learned would count for very little if, because she was still going to be in control at work, she lost the first man she’d ever met who seemed like a soulmate. A man who could play her body like no man she’d ever met before – or was ever likely to meet again.
‘What are you doing this weekend, Natalie?’ asked Grace, as Natalie prepared to leave the office nearly two weeks after her last visit to The Haven.
‘I’m spending the weekend with a friend, Jan Pearson. You probably remember her, she’s a freelance casting director.’
‘Oh, yes. You and she used to see a lot of each other.’
‘Yes, well, she’s been very busy but she’s back in circulation now.’
‘Have a good time, then.’
‘Thanks,’ said Natalie. ‘I’m sure I will.’
Once she got home she threw a few personal items into a small overnight bag and then drove to Jan’s. She was looking forward to the weekend because it was the first party for ex-visitors to The Haven that she’d been to. But there was one drawback. Simon wasn’t going to be there.
&n
bsp; ‘Hi!’ enthused Jan as she opened her front door. ‘Long time no see. God, you look well. Did you enjoy your stay at The Haven?’ she added, with a wicked laugh.
‘I had two weekends there,’ Natalie reminded her. ‘They were brilliant.’
‘Good. You should enjoy yourself this weekend. You may know some of the people.’
‘Where am I sleeping?’ asked Natalie.
‘You’ll probably have a better idea of that after dinner,’ replied Jan. ‘Come through, we’re just about to sit down to eat.’
Natalie didn’t recognise anyone sitting round the table, but as the evening progressed she began to feel excitement building within her. She was particularly attracted to the man on her left, whose dark brown hair was quite long and whose eyes reminded her a little of Simon’s. ‘What’s your speciality?’ he asked, as they were drinking coffee.
‘My magazine caters for single businesswomen,’ replied Natalie.
He looked surprised and then laughed. ‘That’s not quite what I meant. I was referring to your sexual taste.’
‘Oh, I see. I’m sorry, I’m afraid half my mind’s still at the office.’
‘Well, we can’t have that. So, what do you like?’
She felt her stomach tighten and there was an aching heaviness between her thighs. ‘I like to be dominated,’ she confessed in a low voice.
‘Good. How about we get to know each other a little better?’
‘That sounds like a good idea.’
‘You won’t mind if my friend joins us, will you?’ he added. Now Natalie’s heart was thudding against her ribs as a fair-haired man also got up from the table. The three of them headed towards the stairs.
‘Have a nice time,’ called Jan, busy chatting to a tall, heavy-set man who looked more dangerous than Natalie would have cared to risk trying. Jan had said that his name was Richard, and that they’d met at The Haven.
Once upstairs it was obvious that the two men had been there before, because they immediately led her into a small room. Then, before she had time to catch her breath, the dark-haired one, whose name was William, was stripping off her clothes while his friend opened a drawer and drew out a leather outfit which the pair of them then put on her. Within a few minutes Natalie had a studded leather collar round her neck, cuffs on her wrists and ankles, a tight-fitting black leather bra with cut-out holes for her nipples and crotchless black leather panties that they pulled tight so that immediately the pressure deep within her was heightened.
The blond man lay on the bed, his erection already huge. ‘Use your mouth on that,’ said William. ‘And at the same time he’ll use his mouth on you. Do you want to come or not?’ he asked his friend casually.
‘Yes, I think so.’
William turned to Natalie. ‘Right, so use your mouth on him until he comes. The longer you can make him last the better for you, I guess. I’ll just watch: it will be my turn next.’
Natalie was surprised at how frightened she felt. It wasn’t that either of them were threatening her, but the outfit made her feel enslaved, subservient, and there was no one else there to control the situation even though downstairs the party was in full swing.
She hesitated, but then realised that the fear had only increased her desire. She desperately wanted to feel the blond man’s tongue snaking through her crotchless black leather panties, plunging deep within her and caressing her swollen, aching clitoris.
‘Is something the matter?’ asked William. He sounded slightly irritated.
‘Of course not,’ said Natalie hastily. ‘I’m sorry,’ she added, and immediately William smiled. As Natalie positioned herself so that her vulva was over the blond man’s mouth and her own mouth over his straining erection she felt herself trembling with the kind of excitement that she’d previously only known at The Haven.
‘Off you go, then,’ said William. ‘If things don’t look to be going too well, I can always lend a hand.’
Natalie didn’t know what he meant, and she didn’t care because now her mouth was closing hungrily around the blond man’s swollen member. Because Natalie was on top of him he was in the perfect position to give her exquisite pleasure. It was quickly apparent to her that he was an expert at satisfying women in this way. He stroked his tongue gently upwards against the shaft of her clitoris, which produced the most delicious sensations. As she held his penis in one hand and began to lick its sides, so he flicked his tongue inside her vagina for a few seconds before moving the tip of his tongue first against one side of her throbbing nub of pleasure and then against the other.
Very soon her body trembled with her first orgasm of the evening and momentarily she lost her rhythm, forgetting that she was meant to continue pleasuring the man beneath her. She was soon reminded. William tugged on her leather collar, then flicked his fingers hard against the sensitive skin at the curve of her waist, causing her to jerk with surprise. A burning, stinging sensation spread through her. ‘You’re forgetting my friend,’ he said commandingly. Immediately she was reminded of Simon, and the way he’d instructed her at The Haven.
‘I’m sorry,’ Natalie mumbled and then continued stimulating the blond man. Now she flicked her tongue over the underside of his straining erection and his hips twitched with pleasure. In return, he twirled the tip of his tongue very lightly on top of her clitoris. She was immediately flooded with glorious, intense spasms of hot pulsating pleasure that caused her to climax yet again.
Once more she lost her rhythm and this time she felt a stinging blow across her buttocks, just above the line of her tight leather pants – a blow that couldn’t have come simply from William’s fingers. However, she didn’t dare turn her head to see what he’d struck her with because her concentration was now focused on his friend. Despite this, the blond man succeeded in giving her two more orgasms before he himself finally climaxed. His hips pumped as he spilled himself into her mouth, and she sucked greedily on the delicious, viscous hot fluid that spilled out of him.
Immediately he’d finished, the blond man rolled out from beneath Natalie. Now William pushed her roughly on to her back, spreading her arms high above her head as he covered her body with his. Lowering his mouth to her breasts, he used his tongue and teeth on her nipples where they protruded through the opening in the bra, until she was squirming with frantic desire. Then he thrust savagely into her and, although he didn’t bother to stimulate her in any other way, because the coupling was so swift and urgent her body responded with yet another climax and she gave a wild cry of pleasure.
It was only when it was over and William got off her that Natalie felt that something was wrong. ‘Great!’ he enthused. ‘See you around, I hope.’
‘Yes, of course,’ she murmured and the blond man, who had never told her his name, smiled back. Then both men left her. She was still clad in the leather outfit and wearing a collar of subservience. Once they’d gone Natalie felt very lonely. It wasn’t that she hadn’t enjoyed the sex – she had – but she wished that one of them had stayed with her even if it was only to help her undress. Now that the pleasure was over she felt empty and lost.
Taking off the leather outfit, she looked in the next-door bedroom. There she saw a girl tied to the bed while three men had their way with her. The girl was blindfolded and completely helpless, whimpering in frustration as the men played with her, remorselessly toying with her and denying her satisfaction in the same way that the course at The Haven had denied it to Natalie.
She was excited by the sight of the other girl’s taut, moist body but it only made her miss Simon all the more. Suddenly she didn’t want to stay at the party any longer. Physically the activities suited her, but mentally it wasn’t enough. She realised that she needed more – more than simply sexual pleasure. The truth was, she needed Simon too.
She dressed quickly and then went quietly downstairs, taking her overnight bag with her. Jan was coming up the stairs with Richard. ‘You’re not leaving already, are you?’ she asked in surprise. ‘The party’s only
just begun.’
‘I had a call on my mobile,’ lied Natalie. ‘I’m needed at the office tomorrow.’
‘Oh no!’ Jan pulled a face. ‘That’s really rotten luck. I hope you had a good time with William and Lance.’
‘Lance, is that his name?’
‘He’s the blond man, yes.’
‘Well, I suppose it’s nice to know, even if it is a little late.’
‘Names don’t matter,’ laughed Jan. ‘It’s the action that counts. I’ll call you later in the week.’
‘I look forward to it,’ said Natalie. Then she let herself out into the night.
As she drove away she couldn’t help wondering what was going to become of her if she never saw Simon again and spent the rest of her life at parties like these. Parties where her keenly honed body could receive the kind of satisfaction it needed but where, she now knew, she would always be left with a sense of something missing.
Chapter Seventeen
EVENTUALLY IT WAS THE the last Monday in June when, if he was going to accept her invitation, Simon would arrive at the office. Natalie got up in the morning with a feeling of excited anticipation. She looked through her wardrobe with extra care, wondering what she should wear that would look both efficient and attractive. Then, realising what she was doing, she took out the dark blue suit and cream blouse that was almost her work uniform.
‘I’m not going to start changing just for you, Simon Ellis,’ she muttered to herself. ‘At work you’ll have to accept me as I am.’
When she got to the office she asked Grace if there’d been any calls for her, but there hadn’t. Disappointed, Natalie settled herself behind her desk and tried to concentrate on work. She had a meeting at ten and when she left for it there was no sign of Simon. When she returned at twelve-thirty he still hadn’t shown up, and now she began to feel depressed. She’d felt so sure that he would have been missing her that she couldn’t believe he wasn’t going to come.
Afraid of missing him she even delayed her lunch, but at one-thirty she decided that she was being completely ridiculous. Clearly she’d been wrong about everything, and somehow she would have to learn to live with that. ‘I’m going out to lunch,’ she told Grace. ‘I’ll be about an hour.’
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