“That’s good, because last night was one of the most fucking awesome nights of my life.”
Moira finally looked up at that. “Yeah?”
Kara gave her a full-watt smile and squeezed her hand. “Yeah, Moira. It was. Damn good sex too, but hon, you’re my best friend. First, last and always. That makes it mean more.”
“I don’t want it to change things between us. I mean, obviously it changes things. But you’re my oldest and best friend. You’ve seen me through everything, the only one who’s always been there. I can’t lose that.”
“It doesn’t have to change anything that matters. You’re still my friend before everything.”
Moira crumbled into Kara’s arms. “Oh God, thank you. I woke up in the middle of the night, sandwiched between you two, and had a mental breakdown.”
Kara laughed. “As long as you didn’t wake up and have a ‘what the fuck did I do’ moment, we’re all good. I mean, you had fun, right?”
Moira sat up, blushing and grinning. “It was… Wow, Kara. I had no idea.”
“Yeah.” Kara grinned. “As long as you don’t feel like it was a mistake, that’s all that matters.” She paused and then continued. “I’ll admit, I was a little nervous when Adrian approached me. But if you were going to make that jump, I didn’t want it to be with some other girl, one who didn’t know you. I wanted it to be with someone you trusted.”
Moira smiled. “I’m glad.” And she was. In some ways a stranger might have been easier, but a part of her couldn’t imagine such an amazing experience happening with anyone else. “Was it…? I mean, did you…?” She felt flustered, all over again, until Kara’s arms tightened around her.
“Was it good for me? Oh honey. It was amazing. You were amazing. Fucking hottest thing I’ve seen in a long time.”
Moira hugged her back. “God, I love you, Kara. I don’t deserve you.”
“Shut the fuck up. You deserve all the good things. We both do. So don’t you even dare think that.”
Moira laughed. “Yes, ma’am.” She picked her coffee back up and sipped at it, then grimaced. “Ugh. Cold coffee sucks. So, now what?”
Kara stood up and held out her hand. “Now we check the ‘with benefits’ box on our friendship, and go find someplace morbidly expensive to get lunch. My treat. You are playing hooky, after all. We have to do something.” She glanced down at her clothes, the same ones she’d worn to Adrian’s the night before. “After we stop at my place, so I can change.”
“The ‘with benefits’ box, huh? So that means I really can beat your ass anytime I want?”
Kara laughed. “Well, you’ve been threatening to for weeks. It was honestly about time you followed through.” She put her arm around Moira’s shoulders and steered her to her bedroom. “But yes, that’s what it means. Now go get dressed before I decide to beg for another round.”
Chapter Fifteen
The week went by in a blur of school by day and fetish by night. Adrian brought in sub after sub, teaching her to cater to each one’s needs and desires and fantasies. By Friday, Moira’s head was spinning, but she’d only had one nightmare, and that hadn’t even been bad.
Kara met her at school Friday afternoon. “You ready, hon?”
Moira groaned. “I’m exhausted, Kara. I don’t think I can deal with another round.”
Kara looped her arm around Moira’s and tugged her along. “Good. Because you and I have a date with a tub of ice cream and my widescreen TV.”
“God, Kara, I could kiss you.”
Kara grinned. “Promise?”
“If you’re good.” They both laughed and hopped on the streetcar. “Not that I’m complaining—at all—but why the night off suddenly?”
Kara smiled slyly. “Tomorrow’s a big night. He wants you rested up. Besides, I begged him.”
“Begged him, huh? What did that favor cost you?”
“Not too much. He owed me for bringing you in, after all.”
Moira laughed. “So only a few nights of slavery, then?”
Kara looked at her sharply. “You have gotten to know him well.”
She shrugged. “I imagine he’s tired of fighting me to be on top. I have kind of monopolized his time.” Moira wrinkled her nose and stepped off the streetcar with Kara behind her. “Not that I’ve actually had any sex this week.” She shook her head. “Listen to me. Eight years of near celibacy, and now I’m whining about going without for a few days? You two have ruined me.”
Kara laughed as she unlocked her door. “Ruined you? Hardly.”
“Yes, ruined me. When I can’t go a few days without sex, I’m ruined.”
“Oh honey. You know what my response to that is, and Adrian would tell you the same thing.”
Moira laughed. “What, that I should never have to go even one day without sex?”
Kara tapped her nose with a smile. “Would you rather hit Bourbon Street and see who we can pick up?”
Moira collapsed on the couch. “And go through all that work? I’d rather have the ice cream.”
Kara kicked off her heels and tossed her a pint of double chocolate. “You know, there is another solution…” She sat down next to Moira and gave her a meaningful look.
Moira raised an eyebrow. “Are you offering, my little subbie best friend?”
“I might be.”
Leaning forward slowly, Moira set her unopened ice cream on the glass coffee table in front of her. Slowly, she turned back to Kara. Slowly, she drew a finger down Kara’s jaw, and slowly, very slowly, Moira leaned in and whispered in her ear.
“Then I might be accepting.”
They kissed gently, both a little hesitant, until Moira stood and pulled Kara up after her. Kara laughed as they stumbled down the hall. “I was only hoping for a quickie on the couch!”
Moira pushed her down on the bed and grinned. “Shut up, sub.”
Kara laughed. “Yes, Mistress.”
Moira pulled off her blouse and tossed it to the side. Her skirt followed. “Why are you still dressed? I should give you a good spanking for that.”
Kara sat up and shimmied out of her short dress. “You’re always threatening that, but—”
She yelped as Moira shoved her down again, this time on her stomach. “I believe I said something about not talking.” With one hand firmly on Kara’s back, Moira raised her hand and dropped it on her ass with a sharp crack.
Kara yelped and laughed. Moira spanked her again, and then a third time before rolling her back over with a grin.
“Believe me now?”
Kara swallowed and smiled. “Yes, Mistress.”
“Good.” Moira leaned down and kissed her, stretching out until their bodies touched. “Kara,” she whispered.
“Yes, Mistress?”
Moira pulled back a little, hesitating. “Teach me?”
“Teach you what?”
“How to please you?”
Kara reached out, trailing her fingers down the side of Moira’s face. “You already know how.”
Moira kissed her again, hungrier this time. Her hand slid down Kara’s body, pulling her close. They removed each other’s underwear, slowly and tenderly, taking their time. Their hands explored each other, gliding across skin and caressing nipples. Moira straddled Kara, bending her head to suckle at her breasts.
When she rocked her hips against her, they both gasped. Kara’s hands clutched at her until Moira grasped them firmly and pinned them down beside her head. Moira’s mouth found Kara’s again as their hips rocked together with growing intensity. Moira kissed her way down Kara’s jaw, nipping at the skin as Kara moaned.
“Moira… God, please, I need…”
Moira chuckled and rocked her hips harder. She bit at Kara’s neck and collarbone. Her own build was threatening with a fierce need. “Kara…”
“Please, Mistress…”
“Come for me,” she whispered.
Kara came with a sharp intake of breath and an arching back, and Moira rode her harder for
a moment before succumbing to her own body-racking orgasm. She rolled to Kara’s side once it passed, still holding her hands.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to that.”
Kara sighed happily. “Used to what? Fucking another woman? Or fucking your best girlfriend?”
They both laughed, and Moira smiled, kissing Kara’s shoulder. “Either. Both. But I like it.”
“Good.” She yawned. “I think our ice cream is melting.”
Moira pulled her closer. “I don’t think I care. Do you?”
“Not enough to get up.”
“Good.”
Moira spent the night at Kara’s, and most of Saturday. They stayed in and watched movies, had food delivered and relaxed. By three, Moira was starting to get nervous.
“It’s really nothing to worry about, hon.”
Moira sighed and stood up to pace. Spending the day in a T-shirt and panties had been fun, but she envied Kara’s calm. “Can’t you tell me anything?”
Kara shook her head and took another bite of ice cream. “Sorry, hon. Adrian would kill me. Come sit down. I’ll let you lick my spoon.”
Moira crossed her arms and flopped on the couch. “I hate you. And I hate Adrian.”
Kara held out her spoon with a fresh scoop. “No you don’t.”
“I do.”
“Liar.”
Moira took the spoon and sucked on it, savoring the cold chocolate. “Fine. I don’t. I’m still annoyed.”
“You’re nervous. There’s a difference.”
A knock sounded at the door, and Kara jumped up to answer it. Moira didn’t bother to say anything about her lack of pants. She’d tried when the food was delivered, only to have Kara laugh wickedly and retrieve the food from a blushing delivery boy. Moira turned on the couch and looked to see who it was this time.
“Devon, right on time.” Kara practically purred at Adrian’s houseboy. Houseman. He was bigger than both of them, after all. Moira watched as he handed Kara a few things, including something that looked suspiciously like a dress bag. Kara leaned in and whispered in his ear, and then he left.
Moira’s eyebrows pulled together. “Kara, what’s going on?”
Kara grinned. “It’s your things for tonight.”
Sure enough, among the things Devon had brought was Moira’s kit. “He thinks of everything, doesn’t he?”
“Our lovely Maître Lacroix? He is pretty good at it, yes.”
Moira groaned. “I’d ask how he keeps getting into my apartment, but I don’t think I want the answer.” She sighed and pushed herself up. “What did he bring?”
Kara handed her one of the bags. “You’ll see. Right now, you’re going to go shower and put that on.”
“You’re really bossy for a sub, you know that?”
“I’m Adrian’s agent too. Remember? I’m speaking for him, so I get to be as bossy as I want. Now go shower.”
Moira stuck her tongue out at her and went to Kara’s guest room to shower. She took her time, carefully shaving everything, washing her hair twice and rubbing in copious amounts of the lavender lotion she loved. Inside the bag, she found a cobalt blue dress, black bra and panties, and silk stockings, along with her makeup bag and hair things.
There was also a note.
Wear your hair down. ~A
Moira rolled her eyes. “Damn the man.”
Kara came in while she was half-dressed to help her with her hair. Together, they rolled it up and set it. They did each other’s makeup and laughed at themselves.
By five, they were ready to go.
“Stop chewing on your lip.” Kara locked her door and glared at her.
Moira wrinkled her nose. “I can’t help it. I’m nervous, and you won’t tell me anything.” She picked up her kit and adjusted the dress bag on her arm. “Like why I need a dress bag.”
Kara tilted her head and gave her a look. “You should be able to figure that out yourself, you know. Do you really think Adrian’s going to introduce you as his newest Dominatrix wearing a simple blue dress, no matter how hot it looks on you?”
“Okay, so?”
“So this is your traveling dress. And now we’re going to hop on the St. Charles Streetcar.”
Moira rolled her eyes but followed her friend. They climbed on the streetcar and rode it out of the French Quarter in silence. Moira stared out the window, watching the scenery change as they passed through the Central Business District and into the Garden District. Kara nudged her as they approached Washington Avenue.
“This is us.”
Moira walked off the streetcar and stared through the towering oaks at the old architecture. Kara smiled and cocked her head to tell her to follow. They walked down Washington Avenue to an unassuming house tucked back across the road from Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. Two black funeral-type carriages sat in front of the cemetery, complete with black horses and black feather plumes, polished brass lanterns and cloaked drivers. A third pulled up as Moira watched.
“Coming?”
Moira turned away from the cemetery and followed Kara up the drive.
Adrian was waiting inside the door, dressed in a black three-piece suit with a silver shirt and a dark purple tie that matched the embroidery on his vest. He accented the outfit with a silver-topped black cane and a silver pocket watch.
“Ah, mes filles. You look absolutely ravishing. Kara, merci bien for bringing our ange noir.” He kissed Kara and then slapped her rear end hard. “I’ll take her from here. You may go dress.”
Kara smiled and looked down. “Thank you, Master Adrian.”
Moira shook her head. “I can’t get over how fast her behavior changes. It’s giving me whiplash.”
Adrian laughed. “Our Kara, she’s very good at what she does. It’s one of the reasons I can’t understand why she hasn’t been collared yet.”
“Collared?”
“Yes.” He gestured for her to follow him. “In our world, collaring is much like marriage. It means a sub belongs to a Dom, to serve that Dom’s wishes and desires, and to be served. Toutefois, our Kara says she has no interest in being tied down or owned. It is my firm belief that she simply hasn’t found the right Dom for her yet. I haven’t quite forgiven her for turning my offer down.”
Moira choked. “You offered her a collar?”
“Oui, mon ange. And why wouldn’t I? For a while, she wore my collar of protection, but she has always been her own woman. Once everyone knew her, she no longer wanted even that. We compromised when I gave her my color for her tattoo, but that’s the only bit of claiming she has accepted.”
Moira nodded understanding. Kara had never wanted to be tied down, had always been a free spirit. She’d had at least two marriage proposals that Moira knew of and had turned both down with a laugh. So what Adrian said made perfect sense. She let the matter drop and looked around the house. It was bigger than it looked and full of rooms left and right. She heard voices coming from most and the sound of footsteps in other hallways. “What is this place?”
“Les Coulisses. A place to prepare for the evening to come. You’re not the only one with another life. We are a select group.” He opened a door and waved her inside a small room. “Here, those who wish may dress away from those who are…unaware of their underground leanings.”
Moira set her kit down and hung up the dress bag on a handy hook. “So this house is full of, what, changing rooms?”
“Oui.”
“You think of everything, don’t you?”
Adrian smiled. “I try. And it’s time for you to dress for your part in tonight’s soirée.” He made shooing motions at her and turned to sit in one of the room’s two chairs.
Moira took a deep breath and unzipped the dress bag. “Adrian.” She turned to look at him. “This isn’t one of mine.”
He smiled. “Non. I’ve been holding it specially for tonight.”
She pulled out the hanger to better admire the contents. A black corset with deep blue embroidery and intricate lacing
, matching lace panties and stockings. Open-toe platform stilettos with deep blue soles and a lace body. Black lace elbow-length fingerless gloves. On a second hanger hung a long-tailed corset-backed jacket with a high collar and no sleeves. The jacket’s lapels and front tapered sharply to the back, bolero-style, before flaring at the waist, so that her front would be plainly visible. The same deep blue embroidery traced the jacket’s collar and back panel.
“That’s it. You’re doing all my shopping from now on. This is gorgeous.”
He chuckled. “I couldn’t have you looking anything but your best tonight, now, could I?”
Moira shook her head and stripped off her clothes. The corset was lined with black satin that felt amazing against her skin. Adrian stood up behind her and helped with the ties. The thigh-high stockings were elasticized and needed no garter belt. They blended beautifully into the lace of the stilettos. Finally, Adrian helped her shrug on the jacket, kissing her neck before setting the high collar under her hair.
“Almost, mon ange. Just one more thing.” He stepped away to one of the tall cupboards that lined the opposite side of the room. “It needs this.”
Moira grinned. In his hands rested a shiny silk top hat wrapped in thin netting, and accented with a large black feather plume that wound most of the way around the crown. Adrian carefully set it on her head at a slight angle and adjusted the netting.
“Utter perfection. I only wish I had a set of wings for you, mon ange noir. Your feather will have to be enough.” He bent down and kissed each corner of her mouth, and then stood back again. “One final thing for us both.”
Adrian reached into the cupboard again and pulled out two black masquerade masks and hooded cloaks.
Moira laughed. “Really?”
“Bien sûr, mon ange. The mystery is half the fun. Here we are, tucked inside the quaint and tranquille Garden District. Masked, we are mysterious, and everyone wishes they were part of our club. No one suspects the mild teachers and business owners of New Orleans are, in fact, les démons du aborder.”
He fitted a mask on her face, tucking it up under her hat, and draped the cloak around her, leaving the hood down. He then twirled on his own cloak and mask, grabbed his stick and took her arm. Moira bent down for her kit, and once she’d taken a deep breath, they left the room.
Fleur de Nuit: Bourbon Street Bondage, Book 1 Page 13
