Table for Four

by Diana Hunter

  “You think she’s submissive?”

  “I’m not sure. But I’m pretty sure her dominance is just an act.”

  Lissa’s curiosity got the best of her. “Do you want to go to bed with her?”

  David looked down at his wife, her head nestled on his arm. When he did not answer right away, she turned her face upward; he hugged her a little tighter.

  “It’s all right, David, if you do. That’s what tonight was all about, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes, then. I want to have sex with Adora. Are you sure you’re all right with that?”

  Lissa nodded, not trusting her voice. The two of them stood on the cusp of a very important step in their lives; the momentousness of it took her breath.

  “What about Richard? Do you want to have sex with Richard?”

  Her voice squeaked and she had to say the word twice, but she managed her answer. “Yes. Yes, I want to have sex with Richard.”

  “I guess our next step is letting them know that.”

  “How do you do that? I can’t exactly see myself calling Adora and saying, ‘I want your husband to tie me up and fuck my brains out.’ That’s a bit awkward.”

  “Let me talk to Richard and we’ll see where this goes.”

  Chapter 4

  Lissa left the details to David and Richard. The thought of being treated as a piece of property was a tremendously erotic thought. So when David informed her that Saturday night they would be forgoing their normal routine, her acquiescence was swift. And when he further informed her that Adora would be coming to the house and that Lissa would be going to visit Richard alone, her heart started a tattoo that threatened to make her come right there.

  “Are you sure we’re ready for this?”

  “Lissa!” David’s exasperation exploded in that one word. What did the woman want? First she’d been quietly accepting, then edgy, then giddy, now she was back to reluctant. He couldn’t keep up with her moods. Especially not when the spousal switch was to occur in less than half an hour.

  “You don’t need to sound disgusted with me.” She knew her emotions were out of control, and she didn’t like it one bit. Normally she was the calm, rational one. But this situation had her tied in knots like she’d never felt before. When she was with Richard the other night, it had seemed so right. But in the cold light of day, her morality flew up in her face and made her question herself all over again.

  “I’m nervous and I want some understanding, not your anger.” She slammed the brush she was using on her hair down onto her dresser.

  “Lissa, look, I’m not angry.” David left his shirt half unbuttoned and came over to her. Adora would be here any moment and he wanted Lissa gone before she arrived. In the mood Lissa was in right now, his wife might throw the other woman out before she even got her foot in the door.

  “Well, you certainly sounded like you are.” She wasn’t being fair to David and she knew it. But she couldn’t help the petulance in her voice.

  “Do you want to call this whole thing off? Because if you do, this is the time to say so.”

  She turned around and put her arms around his shoulders, apology in her voice. “David, I love you. And I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Are you telling me you’re afraid that you’ll fall in love with Richard?”

  “As you’ve already fallen in love with Adora?”

  He blustered and tried to pull away, but her arms only tightened around his neck. “Lissa, I love you, not her.”

  “David, I am not an idiot. Nor am I blind.” She caressed his cheek. “You have a lot of love to give, I understand that. I don’t mind sharing you, I suppose, but what if I do?”

  David looked confused.

  “What if I do fall in love with Richard? What does that do to us?”

  “Nothing.” He was adamant. “And I’m not in love with Adora. I like her, yes. I want to have sex with her. Nothing more.”

  Lissa smiled sadly. She wanted this night as much as he did, and yet, she already saw consequences neither of them could control. “There’s only one thing I know for certain, David. When the night ends, we will be very different people than we are right now.”

  He kissed her on the top of the head and broke away. “Nonsense, Lissa. One night of sex does not change an entire person.” He paused. “Or are you telling me you think you’ll be changed?”

  “I don’t know. I guess. That’s part of my anxiety. I have a pretty strong self-image, you know.”

  David grinned. “I know.” He went back to his dressing, pulling on his shoes and tucking in his shirt.

  “But will I still, afterward?”

  “Why wouldn’t you? Lissa, you’re strong, independent, and beautiful. Richard is attracted to you. Enjoy the desires you’ve always had. When you come home, I’ll be here.”

  “You’re right. I’m just jumping at ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes.’ Hand me my dress?”

  He held it up for her so she could slip her arms into the light summer sundress. The spaghetti straps fell to her shoulders and she tugged the dress with its tasteful little flower pattern into position. A strapless bra underneath kept her somewhat ample bosom from bouncing around; her naughty side had her once again sporting a thong. Other than that, she was wearing only her fears mixed with desire.

  David kissed her at the door and sent her on her way. Even after she was gone, he felt no nervousness. That surprised him. When he and Lissa first had sex after the wedding, he’d been as nervous as a schoolboy on the very first day of school. Tonight, however, there was a difference. Tonight he knew what he was doing and why.

  Stepping into the guest bedroom, he glanced about to make sure all was ready. That was one thing Lissa had insisted on. “No sex with another woman in my bed. That’s our spot,” she had declared when he first told her the arrangements. He saw her point and agreed. The guest room needed to be cleaned out anyway. Now it was prepared with fresh linens and candles set strategically about. Even the summer night cooperated, sending a warm breeze in through the open window to scent the air with fresh beginnings.

  The sound of a car in the drive gave him a momentary qualm. What if Lissa was right? Could this night change them both? Dismissing the thought, he leapt down the stairs and had the door open just as Adora stepped onto the porch.

  “Resplendent as always.”

  She looked up and smiled at his compliment. If anything, she was more modestly dressed this evening than she had been in their previous encounters. Her sleeveless turtleneck enhanced her long neck and thin torso, tapering over her hips where it just covered the waist of her jean skirt. Buttons along the side of the skirt ran from her waist to just above her knee, although the skirt hung almost to her ankles. Somehow the flash of leg David saw was more erotic than seeing the entire beautiful appendage.

  Adora’s voice, soft and alluring, pulled his attention to her exquisite face. “Thank you. You are looking quite handsome yourself.”

  Tempted though David was to lean forward and kiss her, he held back. No use giving the nosy neighbors something to discuss. Instead he held open the door and waited for her to pass through before closing it quite firmly behind him.

  “May I get you a drink of some sort?” He didn’t need one himself, but to not offer would be rude. Couldn’t very well say, “Well, glad you’re here, let’s go have sex”. In truth, he liked taking it slow. Go too fast and neither party would be satisfied. And if they never even got to the sex part? Well, that would be all right, too. Although he wondered if Adora would be willing to suck his cock. All week long that fantasy had teased him, but after hearing her story last week, he would never push her to such a thing.

  “Thank you. Water would be fine.”

  “Water it is!” David gestured to the living room as he headed into the kitchen to get the drink. He made it to the sink, the glass in one hand, the other hand on the faucet when he felt her hands slide around his waist.

  “We could just get down to business, you know.” Her sultry br
eath tickled his ear as her hands slid downward, caressing his cock through his pants. He felt her body slither along his backside; his cock grew hard immediately.

  “Whoa, Adora. Don’t you want to take some time?” He struggled to turn around at the sink and face her.

  “Why? This is what you want, isn’t it?” Her fingers reached for his belt, pulling the loose end out of the loops and beginning to unfasten it.

  “Stop this. No, this isn’t what I want.” He batted at her hands while trying to find a place to set down the still-empty glass.

  “Yes, it is. I saw it in your eyes the very first night we met. In the diner. I showed you my ass that night, remember?”

  “How could I forget? Of course I remember.” His belt opened and he twisted to the side, trying to angle himself away from the sexy woman.

  “Then let’s have sex. Hot…”

  Adora’s hand squeezed David’s balls through the thin fabric of his pants.

  “Wet….”

  Her breath caressed his neck.

  “Juicy….”

  Her tongue snaked out to flick his earlobe.

  “Sex.”

  She leaned into him, her hands sliding into his waistband and down along his rump to grab his ass cheeks with her fingers as she pressed her pert breasts into his chest.

  David closed his eyes as his head swam. Her scent was wonderful, overpowering; she wanted him. His cock responded, growing uncomfortable in the bindings of his pants. With an effort, he grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands off his ass and out of his pants and held them before her.

  “Adora, stop this now. This isn’t what you want and you know it.”

  Her eyes flashed. “I want to bring you to your knees and make you beg me to let your cock be satisfied. I want to see you crawl on the floor in agony from a cock so hard it hurts.”

  Even as she said the words, there was a flicker in her eyes and David spied the truth Richard had alluded to. It was her husband’s opinion that the forward, dominant woman was just a protective wall Adora hid behind; few were ever privileged enough to even peek at the little girl that cowered inside. Richard had never been able to tame the wilder side of Adora long enough to allow the hidden side of his wife to emerge. But David caught a glimpse of that little girl in the flash of her challenge. Could he bring her out?

  “Adora, no.” He held her wrists firmly, shaking them for emphasis.

  This time anger flashed in her eyes. “Let me go.” She struggled to get her hands free and David immediately released them. She took a step backward and glared at him. “If you do not follow my orders, you do not truly want me.”

  “That’s not true and you know it.” David remembered Richard’s words of warning; this woman had already had her way with several men. He was determined not to be among the “tamed”.

  For answer, Adora turned on her heel and headed out of the kitchen. David debated; was she crying out for him to follow her? Should he remain where he was? He chose the former, moving slowly from the sink into the hall as he zipped his pants.

  Adora stood, her hand on the doorknob of the front door, but it was obvious to him that she was hoping not to open it. She studied him defiantly as he walked down the short hall, but said nothing.

  Neither did David. He simply crossed his arms and leaned against the archway to the living room and watched her. He saw the indecision cross her face, then become resolute. She yanked open the door.

  “If you go home, you’ll only walk in on Richard and Lissa. Or do you intend to call off their affair as well?”

  When she hesitated, a small feeling of gratification tried to bloom in his chest; he ignored it. No victory had been won yet.

  “You’re welcome to stay here, even if I won’t have sex with you on those terms.” She hadn’t fled yet. He took that as a good sign.

  “I suppose you want sex on your terms.” She wasn’t looking at him, her body tense. David realized she still might take flight.

  “If we have sex at all, yes.”

  She cocked her head at him, a puzzled look on her face. But she did not leave.

  “I know in the past you were a dominatrix.” He held up his hand to stave off her protests. “Richard and Lissa both told me.”

  “I am a domina; I have brought men to their knees before.” She slammed the door shut and stood with her chin raised and her eyes flashing.

  “But you do not want to bring me to my knees.” He stood and took a slow step toward her, keeping his hands to his sides.

  “I want to bring all men to their knees.”

  “Not Richard.” He took another step. “And not me.”

  She looked for pity, defiance, or anger in David’s face. All emotions she’d seen in men before. None of them existed in David’s eyes. Only kindness and…understanding? Adora took a step backward in confusion.

  David halted. When he was a child, he had captured a wounded and frightened feral cat that lived in the meadow behind his house. Patience, slow moves, a soft voice were all techniques he used to help him catch the cat and tend to it. But his mother later told him that those were only the externals. The cat had come to him and allowed David to help it only because it had come to trust the honest spirit inside the boy. He wanted Adora to see that honesty now.

  Slowly, he raised his hand, palm up. “Friends first?” He waited. She had to come to him. If she couldn’t make the first step from behind her dominatrix wall, then it was all over.

  Still Adora hesitated. After a long moment, she put her hand in his, her eyes narrowed, watching David’s reactions.

  He was careful to allow no sense of triumph to show in his manner or his eyes. He saw his way now. Adora and the wild cat were one and the same. Never trusting, never allowing anyone to get close. Too used to having to fend for themselves, they built walls of anger and defiance around them. The cat hissed and clawed, Adora retaliated for her past by making men crawl.

  He led her to the dining room table and pulled a chair to the side for her. Her look was again puzzled. Good. Keep her slightly off balance. In truth, he wanted to keep the playing field level for the two of them; the couch afforded a place to snuggle, but she wasn’t ready for that yet. The armchair and stool had too much symbolism. No, the equality of the dining room chairs with a table beside them was much safer. He pulled his chair from the head of the table and placed it before hers, then sat down.

  * * * * *

  Lissa circled the block twice before gathering enough courage to pull into the driveway. Was she really driving to another man’s house for no other reason but to have sex? It seemed so out of character.

  And yet, the steps that had led her here were logical: she wanted to be bound and used, Richard attracted her, he and David had agreed, and here she was. Simple.

  Richard opened the door to greet her and once again his appearance took her breath away. Tall, dark and handsome, just like the fairy tales. His broad chest covered in his habitual black shirt, gave her just a peek at the mat of hair underneath. And that little Superman curl over his forehead didn’t hurt. The goatee gave him a mysterious air, the cut of his clothes attested to his power. Or would that be wealth? She stopped noticing when he took her hand and led her inside.

  The exotic living room, with its throw pillows and pair of armchairs, was no different than her last visit. But Richard stopped her at the entryway, turning her to face him.

  “Melissa, we both know why we’re here tonight. But there is much more groundwork to be laid between the two of us before we have intercourse.”

  “We’re not having sex tonight?” At first shocked by the man’s forthrightness, she then didn’t know if she were more relieved or disappointed.

  Richard’s booming laugh filled the room. “I never said that. I implied we might not have intercourse. There is a great deal of sex we can have before we get that far.”

  She grinned and nodded. There certainly was. Her shoulders relaxed and when he led her into the kitchen to get them drinks, she followed
a little more at ease.

  Richard offered her a soft drink, with an explanation. “We both need our wits about us. I never drink alcohol when I have a sub in my care. And I want your experiences unclouded as well.”

  She accepted the soda and sat at the table when he pulled out a chair for her. The kitchen was non-threatening enough, she decided as she sipped her drink and tried to think of something clever to say. Nothing came.

  “So tell me, Melissa. When did you first learn the word ‘submissive’?”

  She set the glass on the table as she thought over the question. “I’m not sure. I’ve always been intrigued by being tied up during sex. I told that to David both before we were married and afterward. But he saw it as just a game and I didn’t. I guess it was about the time I figured that out that I also realized it wasn’t just the bondage. There was something else I wanted, too.”

  “But at that time you had no name for it?”

  “Right. I don’t know, maybe I read too many romance novels as a teenager.” She assumed a dramatic pose. “Where the hero tears off the woman’s clothes and presses his kiss on her lips despite her protestations.” She dropped the pose and laughed. “Those scenes always struck a chord in me. And I can’t be the only one, look at how many women buy those books!”

  Richard smiled at her antics. “I’m sure you are not alone. So how did you find the right word?”

  “The internet came along. I started looking under the word ‘bondage’ at first, always when I was alone; I didn’t want David to know.”

  “Why not?”

  “I thought he wouldn’t understand. I don’t want to hurt him. I love him very much.”

  “But?”

  “But you already know. He’s vanilla—a word I learned about the same time—and I’m not. I’m submissive.” Somehow she managed not to blush at the admission.

  “Then stand before me, Melissa.”

  Her first real order. Uncertainty suddenly fluttered in her stomach; she disregarded it and rose, coming around the corner of the table to stand before him. Now she could not curb the deep red blush of her cheeks.