The Chronicles of Stella Rice: January

by Adrienne Kama

  Hands on hips, secure in his domination, he gazed down with a huge smile on his face. “You lose, Stella. Admit it.”

  I took in a deep breath then pushed up with all my might, hoping to unseat him.

  Nothing happened.

  “What about class?” I asked. “How are we supposed to behave in class if we go out on a date?”

  “Nobody has to know but us.”

  I raised my head just enough to bring my face within inches of his crotch, stared at the bulge in his pants, and then I looked up at him. He didn’t move, only watching me.

  “I find that happens a lot when I’m around you,” he indicated his hard on.

  I nearly offered myself to him. Instead, I dodged. “You won’t tell anyone if we go out?”

  Could I do this without Katarina knowing? Only if Jake and I both kept quiet about it.

  He shook his head. “If it makes you feel better it’ll be our secret.”

  His jeans were incredibly tight. His cock, solid as a rock, strained against the material. I realized if I leaned far enough up I could touch it with my lips. On the heels of that thought, a sudden desire to kiss it had overcome me. Damn it to hell, I wanted this man in a bad way.

  “So we’re on?”

  I opened my mouth to respond, but didn’t get a chance. My doorbell chimed. Untimely interruption.

  Jake stiffened and I stared up at him, wide-eyed. “Damn!” I glanced at the clock and saw it was nine-thirty. “Damn!”

  “Who is that?”

  “A client. My nine-thirty appointment.”

  “Don’t answer.”

  “I can’t ignore him,” I said, even though nothing would have pleased me more. “I have a large contract with him.”

  The bell chimed again.

  “Get up,” I said, struggling to roll from beneath him.

  “No. First promise me Saturday night.”

  “Get up!”

  Casually, he set his hands on his hips and gazed placidly down at me. “I’m waiting. Tell me what I want to hear.”

  “My client’s gonna leave, I have to answer the door!”

  “I want to see you, Stella. On Saturday.”

  I was about to agree, but remembered I’d—along with Ann and Meagan—promised Katarina to meet her and Jim at Club Blue. “I can’t do Saturday, I have plans.”

  “What plans?”

  The bell chimed, this time more insistently. “I’m going out with my friends.”

  “Where?”

  “Club Blue,” I blurted before thinking better of it. As soon as that knowing smile crossed his face, I knew I’d made a mistake.

  “I knew it,” he said. “You have sub written all over you. You’re not collared are you?”

  “Collared?”

  “Collared, as in, belong to a Dom.” I stared at him a moment, unable to answer. “Don’t play that with me, Stella.”

  “Belong to a Dom? No!”

  “Good. I’ll meet you there then.”

  Panic surged through me as I wondered how I’d explain to Katarina why I was meeting Jake at a fetish club. She’d go through the roof. “No!”

  “Yes.”

  “No!”

  “Yes.” He rose to his feet and offered me his hand.

  I didn’t think I could move let alone stand. Somehow, I managed.

  “No, Jake. I’m only going to be there for a little while anyway.”

  “Good, then we’ll go to my place after. For drinks and maybe a little more wrestling. You’re very weak.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Why are you putting me off when you and I both know how attracted you are to me?”

  My face heated, but he had a point. Still, I didn’t think he’d understand about Paul the Prick and my mini-vacation from men. I’d only just vowed on Monday to stay away from men, and here I was, four days later, already giving in.

  The doorbell chimed again.

  “What do you want from me?” I turned from him and started for the door. I could hear his heavy footfalls close behind.

  When I got to the door and pulled it open it was to look out onto an empty space. “See what you’ve done? I’ve lost a client. That’s four hundred dollars!”

  Jake shoved me aside, moved into the hallway and pointed.

  I stepped over the threshold and glanced down the hallway in time to see the back of David Maxwell’s head bobbing down away. “David!” I called. “Sorry, I was…busy.”

  David turned then started back. “I figured you’d been called away unexpectedly.”

  I stepped aside to allow David in. He gave me a shy smile then made the mistake of turning to look at Jake who was frowning with obvious displeasure at David’s arrival.

  “Go on and wait in the office, David. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  Once David was out of earshot Jake advanced. I retreated until the unyielding surface of the wall stalled any further movement.

  “See you Saturday. Don’t worry. I’ll bring a collar for you.”

  “I won’t wear it. Collars are for dogs, not humans.”

  “We’ll see.”

  Before I could respond to this arrogant statement he bent toward me.

  The kiss was slow and wet, and so good; I knew I’d have collapsed to the floor if he hadn’t been supporting me.

  ~*~

  1:04 p.m.

  I’ve just had lunch with Ann to tell her of my morning with Jake. She seemed very impressed with my ability to attract a sexy, fitness, guru type. Also, she’s looking forward to meeting him.

  We three-way called Meagan from the diner and told her about my coup.

  “What of your vacation?” she wanted to know.

  “I’ve decided I’m on a vacation from my vacation.” And I figured that was all that needed to be said about it.

  Both have promised not to say a word to Katarina but left me to tell her.

  I’m so excited and cannot wait for tomorrow to arrive.

  CHAPTER THREE

  1/15/05 8:37 p.m.

  I walked up Charles Street, heading in the direction of Club Blue. I walked briskly, albeit a little uncomfortably. The latex mini dress I wore was so tight I could barely breathe let alone walk. I’d nearly worn a pair of stiletto heels with the ensemble but decided against it. Instead, I’d donned a pair of stiletto Mary Jane type boots I’d spied this afternoon in a boutique. Now, as I crunched through snow, I was glad I had. The boots were far easier to maneuver around in, plus they supplied the added benefit of covering my calves.

  I didn’t know if Jake would really show tonight, but if he did, I didn’t want to do anything stupid. That’s why I’d gone out tonight without shaving my legs. No way in hell I was having sex with Jake with stubbly legs.

  When I neared the club I could hear some techno rock band singing. Whoever the band was, they were really pissed off. Their music was raucous, and I supposed, appropriate for a fetish club. Beneath the dueling guitars and computer generated bass I couldn’t hear much else.

  At the entrance to the club I flashed my ID at the door and stepped inside, bringing white swirls of wintry powder in with me. After giving the crowd a quick scan for Ann, Katarina, and Meagan and coming up short, I decided the place was too packed to notice any one individual face. Under a festive disco ball, people—all dressed in black—jockeyed for position on the dance floor. Many had given up the effort to actually dance and simply bounced up and down in place on beat. It looked as though every eligible single in Baltimore had fled the snow and sought refuge here.

  Oh well, I thought, slipping my coat off and stepping into the fray.

  Boisterous laughter rose around me as I made my way to the bar. I could feel the clammy skin of the people who brushed by me and smelled cigarette smoke in their clothes. I had to quell a desire to go to the ladies room to wash their sweat off.

  Mentally, I ran down possible drink options in my head, noting that I couldn't have anything too strong. Mixed drinks were out of the question, as was beer
since I couldn't drink just one. How did that joke go? Officer, I've only had one drink. One after another.

  "Well wouldn't you know it," the blonde behind the bar said when I squeezed in. "New blood. What can I do you for, honey?"

  Her eyes were narrowed and she gave me a smile that caused the lines around her mouth to deepen.

  "I’m that obvious?"

  She gave me a smile. "Hell yeah! But we can change that.”

  I scanned the bar for a spare stool.

  "Don't bother,” she advised. “Full house tonight. You're lucky to have what you got, even if it is standing room."

  I gave the bar another look. It wasn't promising. "I think you're right. Hey, I thought this place was a fetish club. It looks like a dance club…a dance club with an all black dress code.”

  "It is a fetish club, honey. Upstairs we dance, downstairs we play.” She grinned. “Know what you want in the drink department? No. I'll catch you next time 'round then, once Bradley throws another good one on," she said, referring to the music. The techno song had ended and a rather large crowd was making an exodus towards the bar. "For now," she eyed the crowd with pleasure, "I've got drinks to serve."

  She did a slow groove to the other side of the bar where a group of leather-clad guys were waving bills in the air, hoping someone would take notice.

  “Stella?”

  The sound of my name spoken gently against my ear sent a shiver of anticipation up my spine.

  He was here.

  I froze for a moment, too startled to move. All day I’d been unable to do anything but think about Jake and yesterday morning in my house. I’d been looking forward to tonight, hoping against hope that he’d show. I promised myself I wouldn’t be too devastated if he blew me off. God knew he didn’t give any indication he was interested in me. At class he was business as usual.

  Slowly, I turned to face him.

  He was dressed in leather. Black leather pants, no shirt, and a Matrix style leather trench coat that hung to his booted ankles. His nipples were the lushest shade of pink I’d ever seen. They were puckered from the cold and looked hard as pebbles. Just looking at them made my mouth water. His sable mane was loose and falling in gleaming waves over his shoulders and down his back. It was the first time I’d ever seen it loose. He looked completely at ease. He absolutely glowed. His honey complexion seemed golden under the flashing lights.

  He was gorgeous.

  And he knew it.

  Worse, he knew I knew it.

  The cold leather of his coat chilled my skin, making me jump when he snaked his arm around my waist. The force he used to propel me forward was gentle but insistent. I found myself gliding a step toward him before I realized what was happening.

  “Hello Stella,” he said against my ear.

  The peach fuzz hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention.

  “You came.”

  “I said I would.”

  I strove for calm though my heart was doing flip-flops in my chest. “I thought you were just being difficult. I didn’t think you were really into this sort of thing.”

  “You have no idea what I’m into.”

  I considered making a caustic remark but decided against it. Instead, I let my body relax against his. His muscles flexed as he wrapped his arms possessively around me, pulling me hard against him.

  He bent to whisper into my ear. “You avoided me in class today,” he said in a sensual voice that aroused me in ways I didn’t want to analyze.

  “Me? You were avoiding me.”

  Instead of answering, he kissed my ear, licking the sensitive area just inside it. Desire made my loins give a reflexive heave as intense need surged with a force strong enough to bring me to my knees. His tongue was moist and wet, and I could smell blueberry wine on his breath.

  “Now look at you.” Saying this, he let his fingers flutter over the exposed skin of my back. “You look incredible tonight.”

  I focused on breathing, and then stiffened in surprise when he nudged the hollow of my throat with his lips. He pressed them against my skin, gentle, but insistent. His free hand began a languid descent over the swell of my breasts.

  I did nothing to stop him. I wanted to feel this, to know his touch and the pleasure he could provide. I’d been fantasizing about it since I’d met him. I’d just have to make sure we didn’t go too far.

  He eased his hand between my thighs and stroked me with the pad of his thumb. My knees went weak, but he held me against him, whispering into my ear things he’d love to do to me, things he would do to me once he had me alone.

  “I’m taking you home with me tonight, Stella,” he said. “When I have you all to myself I’m gonna strip you bare, lay you on my bed, and fuck you senseless.”

  In the span of thirty seconds I’d become so aroused I was actually contemplating going home with him, unshaven legs or not.

  “Would you like that, Stella?” he asked. “Like me to take you home with me and ride you all night long?”

  I moaned despite myself.

  I should’ve been worried of the spectacle we were making, but the club was so crowded, nobody seemed to notice. Plus, I supposed this type of thing went on here all the time.

  “Come home with me,” he insisted.

  “My friends.”

  “They’ll understand.”

  As if bidden by the mention of them, I suddenly heard my name called in a deep, plaintiff voice.

  “Stella! Stella!”

  Argh!

  “Who the hell is that?” Jake asked, irritated.

  I twisted around to see a familiar face. Ann’s boyfriend, Gerard looked as boyishly handsome as ever, despite his forced smile. Still, his eyes said he was genuinely happy to see me. He looked tired though. His blonde hair hung limp at his shoulders, and his gray eyes were rimmed in red. The black jeans and shirt he wore were wrinkled, as if he’d pulled them from the bottom of a hamper and threw them on. His black leather jacket was the only unmarred piece of clothing he had on.

  I leaned into his embrace, noticing how strong the smell of beer clung to him. “Saw you standing here,” he yelled over the music, then eyed Jake with undisguised hostility. “Thought I’d come over.”

  I glanced at Jake who was pointedly staring at Gerard.

  “It’s a mad house in here,” I said. “Are the girls here yet?”

  “Yeah. Everyone’s here. You’re the last.” Still staring at Jake, Gerard motioned in Jake’s general direction and asked, “Who’s this?”

  “This is Jake. My kickboxing instructor.”

  “Her date,” Jake added, unattaching himself from me long enough to offer his hand—the hand he’d been running over my back, not the other one—to Gerard for a shake.

  Gerard studied the proffered hand for a moment, frowning as though he feared touching it would expose him to any number of deadly diseases, then took it in his own and shook.

  “This is Gerard,” I told Jake. “One of my good friends.” No sense in giving Jake the impression that Gerard and I had something going.

  “Come on,” Gerard said. Grabbing my wrist, he hauled me through the crowd behind him.

  Jake, holding tight to my other hand, followed close on my heels.

  I noticed with some surprise that Gerard had his cane with him tonight and was leaning heavily on it. This made our progress through the crowd awkward. I’d rarely seen him use it. Most days he left it at home, but tonight he was looking a little uneasy on his feet, not to mention how unkempt he was.

  I wondered how much he’d had to drink tonight. A drunken Gerard was always a sure sign that Ann had broken things off with him—again. I had to wonder why he was always so surprised when she broke up with him. After so many years of this, how could he be? He was a nice enough guy, very good-looking, but if he wanted to keep Ann’s interest he’d have to learn how to play hard to get. Instead of getting wasted after she dumped him, he should make a point of looking better than ever. Be a little stand-offish; make her que
stion her decision of leaving him. She might wonder if she’d made a mistake if he didn’t make it so obvious that their breakup had devastated him. At the rate Gerard was going, the only thing Ann would think when she caught sight of him was, ‘Thank God, he’s out of my life’.

  A line of booths spanned the wall to my left. I spotted the girls as we reached the end of the row. They were sitting on a rise against a large picture window, the thick panes frosted from the cold. Gerard led us to the circular booth and motioned Jake and I up the stairs.

  “You made it,” Katarina announced to the table at large. Her smile, however, wavered when she saw who was standing next to me. “Jake?” she asked.

  “Katarina,” he said with a nod.

  Katarina’s eyes narrowed with disapproval. I had meant to bring the subject of Jake up with her, but somehow, the time had never seemed right.

  “We were beginning to think you changed your mind.” Meagan eyed Jake and gave me a smile. “So this is the kickboxing instructor. Glad to meet you, Jake. I’m Meagan.”

  “Stella,” Katarina interrupted, “You remember Jim, don’t you?”

  Considering Jim was the reason all of us were here, how could I forget him? I didn’t say this. Instead, I gave Jim a winning smile and scooted into the circular booth.

  “Jim, you already know Jake,” Katarina continued.

  The two men nodded to each other.

  “And this is Peter.” Meagan motioned casually to her drop-dead gorgeous date.

  Peter had the kind of dark good looks that had made Taye Diggs a star—milk chocolate skin, midnight eyes, and a smile that made a woman’s panties get wet. We shook hands. I was a little disappointed I wouldn’t be seeing much of him after tonight. Meagan had a way of scaring off men. So far, no man had been able to deal with the pressures inherent in dating a woman as beautiful as Meagan on a long-term basis.

  Jake eased into the booth next to me. Once we were situated he transferred his hold on my hand to my thigh. This had the direct result of sending a wave of dizzying pleasure through my body. He gave my thigh a squeeze, then with the tips of his fingers, gently stroked my skin, staring hungrily at me the entire time. I can’t say exactly what it was, but there was something about his level, green-eyed stare that made the woman in me yearn for his touch.