Words of Lust

by Lise Horton

  “So, I guess you’ll be bringing Lord Byron to the cocktail party?” Alice fluttered her lashes.

  “Lord Byron?”

  “That’s what we jealous female underlings have dubbed him. Tall, dark, handsome, and eyewitness accounts confirm he has that dangerous-to-know look down.

  The description fit him perfectly. “Funny, that. I’ve always adored Byron.” With a wink she left the secretary grinning like a fool and no doubt warming up her tom tom to pass on the confirmation that Serafina and Nick were indeed an item.

  She arrived at her own tiny office, which, like most other academics’ offices, was cramped and cluttered. Books, reference materials, personal items and the accoutrements of her specialty filled the room. Her first editions of classic erotica rested in a place of honor on her desk, as did her replica statue depicting the rape of Leda by Zeus. Rendering the actual impalement of the Grecian beauty on Zeus’ oversized, turgid member, it never failed to get a shocked blush out of students the first time they laid eyes on the piece of naughty artwork.

  Depositing the materials from the Russian Lit class on one chair, leaving them at hand for the session the next day, she sat down at her desk and pulled out her mail. She hated to let the administrative stuff pile up, so she tried to handle it as soon as she got it. That was why it was so unusual that she’d forgotten the cocktail party invitation. There were a variety of generic Wharton notices and departmental missives, an invitation to another event, her book group’s Lit Chicks Spring Into Summer Soiree, which she stuck in her bag. Their end-of-year celebration took place just after graduation and would guarantee a wild evening of revelry. She was looking forward to it much more so than poor Ralph’s staid department party.

  Her cell buzzed and she pulled it out of her pocket. A new text from Nick had arrived and a delicious zing coursed through her.

  “How daring are you? My bucket list has a new addition—fucking in the fresh air. Think about it and wonder where we’ll be when I bend you over and pull down your panties. HM TOC. Page 6.”

  She reached over and grabbed her dog eared copy of Tropic of Cancer, its pages jammed with notes, and flipped to page six, and her body clenched. How debauched! How delicious. Before the episode at dinner in the quiet restaurant the night before, she would never have entertained the thought of an exhibitionistic interlude but the idea made her wet. Where would he want to expose her? The thought of being witnessed, perhaps through a window, or from a passing car, as he sank his cock deep into her and ordered her to take it hard, made her ravenous. As he made her come, screaming, where might the echoes settle? On the ears of someone dining at an outdoor café? Walking in the park? Or watching them, touching their own private parts in mutual excitement?

  Smiling to herself she decided turnabout was fair play and pulled out her copy of Little Birds. Flipping again through the well-worn volume she found the excerpt she was looking for and composed a text back to Nick.

  “This young woman wishes to express her thanks for kind Sir’s innumerable lessons in lusty pastimes. She hopes to receive high marks from her Master. AN LB pages 140 and 141.” She could see the wicked smile on his face as he read of the debauched sexual initiation of young Jeanette.

  With a deep sigh she fought the sense of arousal and dragged her focus back to the work at hand. Nick was so adept at distraction. But then, she was oh so willing to be distracted by him.

  The last piece of mail was a large manila envelope with her name and the school address sloppily written on the outside, with no return address. It had had been postmarked within the city, so it clearly was not college business. Slicing open the flap she pulled out the contents and upon seeing it, gasped. A picture, obviously torn from a nasty porn magazine, showed a woman bound, blindfolded, held on her knees by one man, while another forced himself down her throat. The inherent brutality in the image was disturbing enough, but something revolting, something dried and filmy, was smeared on the photo. She dropped it immediately. There was no doubt this was Boxer’s sick work. And it didn’t take a high IQ to recognize it as a threat. Shivering, she almost threw it in the trash, until she remembered Nick’s words—that eventually Boxer would do something that did break the law, and get himself caught. If police actually could get DNA the way they depicted on televised police dramas, then Boxer had played right into their hands by providing a nice sample of his own. So with a grimace of distaste she returned the photo to the envelope and hurried down the hall to the faculty bathroom, where she scrubbed her hands three times.

  Taking a moment to try to calm herself, she debated calling Nick. If she did, he’d leave work and come dashing to her side and she didn’t want that. She had to be strong enough to handle this without running to him for help. He’d be angry, but she would gratefully accept his protection later. Now, she had to be able to stand on her own two feet. Cowering behind him would mean Boxer was winning. She decided to be extra cautious going from class to class, and wait until he came to pick her up to tell him about Boxer’s sickening threat. His protective, powerful presence would have quelled the anxiety bubbling up, but for the rest of the afternoon she forced herself to be stoic.

  The only opportunity for distraction from the photo came, ironically enough, from Gia, who wasn’t in the classroom when she arrived. She might have planned to skip the class altogether, but just as the bell rang, slid into the back and took a seat, slouching low and obviously hoping to avoid detection. She deduced Gia didn’t want to speak to her, but at the end of class Serafina made her way to the back of the room and blocked her escape. She was Gia’s professor, so the girl couldn’t exactly hide forever.

  “Gia, we need to talk.”

  “If it’s about class, I’ll make an appointment.”

  “It’s not about class, you silly girl. It’s about you.”

  Gia grimaced and turned as if to push through the door, but she grabbed her hand.

  “Come on. Talk to me. For one thing, I’m on your side, and for another I’ve been worried about you. Everyone’s been worried about you.”

  “Not Nick. He’s just looking to ream me.”

  “Especially Nick. It’s driving him crazy that you won’t sit down and talk with him.”

  “Speak of the devil.”

  She turned to find him leaning casually against the opposite doorway of the classroom. But his stance didn’t fool her. She could tell he was tight with tension and Gia had gone white.

  “Look, we cannot do this here.” She held up her hands, trying to play peacemaker.

  “Let’s go back to my loft.”

  “No. If you’re going to bully me into having this talk, Nick, we go to my apartment.” Gia sounded defiant, but Serafina could see she was barely holding on to her brave front.

  “Trying to play hardball with me, little sister?”

  “Don’t condescend to me or I’ll walk out. You want to talk, fine. Serafina says you’ve been worried about me, but I don’t believe it. I think you’ve just been waiting for a chance to tell me what to do. You’ve always acted as though I am incapable of making my own decisions.”

  The crackling of impending argument made her rub her arms. “Nick?”

  “Fine!” He threw up his hands. Great. No one was happy now.

  She gathered her things as the two siblings squared off. This wasn’t how she’d envisioned her evening going.

  The ride with all three of them crammed in the front seat of Nick’s truck was made in stony silence. She didn’t even try to make conversation, but was thankful Gia lived close by so at least no one blew up before they got there. Her apartment was tiny but neat. Serafina didn’t want to be a part of this, but Gia objected when she said she could go back and wait in the truck.

  “You’re the voice of reason, Serafina. He’ll just yell and order me around if you’re not here.”

  The object of Gia’s scorn just frowned. Serafina edged out of the way a bit, hoping the two could talk civilly.

  “So, you want to talk, tal
k.” Gia wasn’t going to make it easy on her big brother.

  She willed him to calm down. He caught her look, ran his hands through his hair and sat down. She and Gia both relaxed imperceptibly when he did.

  “Look, I’m not pissed. I mean, I am. But I’m fighting it, okay? Gia, you’re my baby sister. I see you with two guys—two—and, I mean, I’m a guy, so I immediately start getting these images.” Palms up, he beseeched her.

  “That’s not my problem.”

  He blew out a frustrated breath. “No, you’re right. It isn’t, but I’m trying to make sure you’re not getting yourself in too deep with some guys who don’t care about you. You’re barely twenty.”

  “I know my own mind. And if you’re wondering, Mom and I had this talk when I was thirteen.”

  “Thirteen!”

  “When did you get laid the first time, huh, big brother?”

  When his ears turned cherry red, Serafina almost smiled. Gia certainly did know how to turn the tables.

  “That’s not really important.”

  “Yes, it is. If your love life is none of my business, then mine isn’t any of yours.”

  “Gia, I think he’s trying to tell you he just wants to make sure you’re okay.” The irony of seeing Nick’s protective instincts directed at his sister rather than her hit home.

  “I’m fine. I’m great, I’m better than fine. Carlos and Forrest are great guys. We just have this...thing. You know, polyamory isn’t all that unusual these days.”

  “Polyamory? I call it a three-way.”

  “You would. But it isn’t just about sex. We all care about each other.”

  He snorted and his sister’s eyes flashed with anger.

  “Nick.” She hoped she could keep him from inciting Gia further. No one was getting anywhere at this rate.

  “Really, what is it you want? Do you want to tell me what I can do? Convince me that I’m somehow perverted so I’ll just say, ‘Oh, gosh, you’re right, big brother, I’d better break up with one of them right now and be a perfectly ordinary girl with just one boyfriend, because boy, what would happen if I loved two guys instead of one? I might go to hell!’ Is that it?”

  He looked pained. “I just don’t get it.”

  “Not my problem.” She looked at her brother with sarcasm written all over her face. “Let’s try this. How about you answer some invasive personal questions? So, big brother, have you ever fantasized about having two women at once?”

  “Well, no, not really. Maybe when I was a teenager.”

  “You haven’t?”

  “No. I’m very focused.” He glanced at her and she felt a flash of heat rip through her.

  “Right. Ever fantasized about sharing a woman with another guy?”

  “Not at all. I don’t share my woman.”

  “How about having a little tie me up, tie me down with a woman? Doing it in public? A spanking scene?”

  He went stone silent. He was clearly burning with embarrassment and she burned right along with him. He cast an apologetic look at her and shifted in his chair. “Okay, yes. Sure. Some of those things.”

  “So there’s a level as to what kind of kinky is acceptable and what’s not? Your kink is okay, but mine is over the top? How about we ask Serafina?”

  “No, dammit!”

  “Nick, I don’t mind.”

  “What?”

  “Look. I don’t mind. Ask away, Gia.”

  “If you had two incredibly hot guys who both loved you and none of you had any issues with sharing, what would you do?”

  “It’s way out of my experience, and my comfort zone, but I think I’d have to say I’d be fine with it. Now, I’m not saying I have any desires whatsoever in that direction, but I don’t have a problem with breaking boundaries. Society is awfully stuffy and it seems if everyone followed all the rules, especially women, we’d never have any fun at all.”

  “Fine. Thank you for your honesty. What about bondage? S and M? Ever wanted Nick to spank you?”

  Now it was her turn to be mortified and she hurried to divert Gia. “Let’s not make this about me and Nick, because that’s just too personal. But yes, I have wondered about some kinky stuff, some of what I’ve read in books I admit is arousing. And I’m open-minded about that lifestyle. What is it they say?”

  “Safe, sane and consensual.” Gia spouted it like it was a golden rule and she had a feeling Nick might want to stop prying before he got more shocks from his baby sister than he could handle.

  “Exactly.” She pasted on a smile and looked from Gia to Nick. “So, we all seem to have agreed? We each get to have our own kinky lifestyles and mind our own business, and if anyone needs to talk, we’re all here for each other, right?”

  He didn’t look happy, but he seemed to know he was getting off easy.

  “That’s all I really wanted to do, Gia, was make sure you were all right. You cut us all off and wouldn’t talk to us.”

  “We’re clear, though, right? I don’t ask you about what you’ve got in your toy chest, and you don’t grill me about my guys.”

  “Can I run a background check on them?” She bristled and he grinned. “Just kidding, baby sister.”

  “Well, in case you thought about it, no. And for God’s sake, don’t tell Berto.”

  “Are you kidding? I give him the idea and the next thing you know, he’ll have a harem. So, you aren’t planning on bringing the boys to Mom and Pop’s anniversary party, I hope?”

  “I just might.”

  “You know Pop will have a stroke.”

  “He’ll get over it. He got over me and Bruno Maccio.”

  “What happened with Bruno Maccio?”

  “Nick.” Gia held up a finger.

  “Yeah, right. No more prying.”

  “If we’re done here, I’ve got a lot of homework to do.”

  The girl had her head on straight. Serafina took hold of Nick’s arm and urged him out. He’d been stalemated and he might as well accept it.

  * * *

  He let out his frustration in the truck. “I still don’t like it. She doesn’t understand it’s different for a girl.” He held up his hand when she started to interrupt. His brief grin had been replaced by a frown. “I know you believe women are equal and all that, but you have to admit people still judge girls differently from guys and Gia’s going to get burned if she keeps flaunting this stuff.”

  “As much as I hate to admit it, you are right. There is an insidious double standard. But it’s her life, Nick, and she’ll have to learn to take the heat for her choices. At least you’ve talked now, and she knows you care.”

  “She did most of the talking.”

  “You might as well face it. She out-argued you, and for what it’s worth, I think she’s absolutely right. You can’t pick who you love, and by the way, where did the rule come from that you can only ever fall in love with one person at a time? I mean, you can love your two parents and your siblings, that’s four more. Grandparents, nieces, nephews. Where is it written that you can love ten or more family members, equally, but only one lover?”

  “I hate it when you make sense. It killed a good mad I had going.”

  “You shouldn’t be mad. Be happy that Gia is happy, and now that you’ve made nice, you can relax knowing she’ll probably come to you if she has a problem.”

  “I still can’t get the images out of my head.”

  The reminder about images suddenly brought back Boxer’s twisted threat. The humor of the Gia situation soured and she lost her focus again. He apparently didn’t pick up on her silent distress, however, because when they reached his loft and got inside and secure, he turned to her with a definite hunger in his eyes.

  “Nick.”

  “I’ve been waiting to get you naked all day.”

  “Listen, we need to talk.”

  He frowned, and she could have kicked herself. Sounding so serious after they’d just patched everything up had given him the wrong idea.

  “It’s about
Boxer.” She set down all her bags and satchel and pulled the envelope out. “I got this at the office today. Be careful with it.”

  He pulled it out by one corner and a series of expressions from disgust to fury flitted across his face before he finally returned the photo to the envelope. Then he looked up and reached for her.

  “Why didn’t you call me right away? You must have been freaked.”

  “Because you would have left the job site, rushed to my office, and then what? What would that have done except get you in trouble with your boss? I wasn’t being stubborn! I decided to be cautious and wait until we got home tonight so we could talk about what to do. This really shocked me, and he obviously means it as a threat. I’m telling you now that we’re here, and safe, and can figure it out. So what do we do?”

  “I’m going to call Mac.”

  “Mac?”

  “Bill MacGregor. He’s the cop friend of mine who told me about what the witnesses said. He also said I should let him know if anything else happens, because if we can document it, we’ll have better luck getting the police to focus on Boxer.” He pulled out his cell phone and scrolled through some numbers until he found the one he was looking for.

  “Hey, Mac. It’s Nick. Listen, this bastard’s mailed a really sick photo to my lady. I don’t even know how the hell he knew where she worked, unless he followed her from her apartment. The doormen at her building say he’s been coming by looking for her there too. I’ve got her with me now, but we’ve got to stop this guy. This thing he sent, man, it’s really nasty. She thinks it’s a definite threat and so do I. Besides, now he knows where she works, it’s only a matter of time until he shows up there. And we know he knows where I live.”

  His expression of agitation calmed a little and he nodded before disconnecting the call. “He’s off in an hour and he’s coming over. I’ll show him the picture, and he’ll give us some ideas of what we can do next.”

  She let go. She’d been holding herself together all day, wanting to be brave, and now he was there, taking charge and helping her decide what to do. He looked at her, and her face must have shown her relief, because he came and took her in his arms. Why had she fought this so long? The world was a scary place and having someone to stand by her side was a precious gift.