Fever

by Jamie K. Schmidt

  “It damn well is going to be enough,” he told her. “You are not walking away from me after a fight and getting involved with another man. I’m not waiting another ten years. We’re solving this problem and then we’re heading toward a future together.” Then Chase seemed to realize something, and his voice got soft and hurt. “That is, if you want one with me.”

  They drove on for a few more exits in silence. He passed the exit for Couture, but she didn’t remind him.

  “I’m changing the rules,” she finally said.

  Chase, for once, had the good sense to keep his mouth shut.

  “Your punishment is abstinence.”

  A muscle in his jaw twitched.

  “If you want out, just fool around with anyone else. I’ll be as faithful to you as you are to me. But if you want something long-term with me, you keep your dick in your pants. Instead of spanking, as a punishment you don’t get to fuck me or come. No masturbation, either—not unless I give you permission.”

  “What’s the length of the punishment?” Chase said eagerly. “How long do I have to go without coming?”

  Colleen was surprised that he didn’t sound angry or resigned. “This time? One day,” she said.

  Some of the tension left his shoulders.

  “I don’t want to see you until the day after tomorrow.” Colleen pulled her hand away. “And then you are to be dressed for the dungeon and waiting for me. I will be securing you to the chair for that session. I’ll be using zip ties, so wear long sleeves and pants so the plastic won’t cut into you. Again, you’ll be an observer. You say one word during the workshop and you’ll be abstaining for another day. You got that?”

  “What’s the catch?”

  “No catch, Chase. The sex is supposed to be thrilling and fun. It’s not something to dread or balk at. If you didn’t want to be spanked, you shouldn’t have offered it.”

  He took a deep breath through his nose and blew it out. “Sorry,” he said. “Now that you’ve explained it to me, I can see I was being an idiot again.”

  Colleen waved away his apology.

  “Was this one of the awful things you were talking about?”

  “It wasn’t very fun,” she countered.

  “Yeah,” he said, slinging his arm around her shoulders and giving her a quick hug and kiss on the head. “You don’t need to protect your heart from me,” he added.

  Colleen stared up at him, wanting to believe.

  “Look at it this way.” He grinned down at her. “We worked this out better than the last time I flaked on you.”

  Colleen couldn’t argue with that. Maybe they were learning. “Chase, this can’t go the distance. You know that, right? This can only be temporary.”

  “Like you said, let’s get through the first week before making any hasty decisions. Okay?”

  Colleen rested her cheek on his shoulder. “Yeah.”

  They drove on like that until Chase’s gas gauge lit up on empty. After he filled up the tank, he brought her back to Couture.

  “Are we good?” He stopped her from getting out of the car with a hand on her arm.

  “I think we’re getting there.”

  “Can I kiss you good night?” he asked.

  She shook her head.

  “I should have bought the fucking paddle.” He gave her a half smile.

  “The night would’ve ended differently.” Colleen got out of the car and closed the door. She forced herself not to look back at him.

  Chapter 11

  Chase watched Angie try to do bicep curls without whacking herself in the tits. He wanted to tell her not to try so hard. The people would be looking at her tank top and hoodie, not evaluating her lifting form.

  “Haven’t you gotten the shot yet?” she whined to Clint.

  “Shut it,” Clint barked at her.

  Max crossed his arms in front of him. “Angie, do we have to take this to the dungeon?”

  “No, Sir,” she said meekly, but Chase could see a sparkle in her eye.

  Here we go again.

  Different strokes. He could see that Angie liked to cause trouble and was deliberately baiting both Clint and Max. Almost as if she was challenging them, daring them to punish her. So she got a kick out of being bossed around. Her nipples were drawn out tight against the sports bra. He noticed, but it didn’t do a thing for him. Not when Colleen was only a floor and a half above him, probably dressed in a Chanel suit with fuck-me lingerie underneath it.

  He had to stop thinking so much. It got him in trouble all the time. He really should just do what Colleen said in the bedroom. He wanted to please her. He wanted to be her man. It was just going to take some getting used to. That was all.

  His phone vibrated on the seat next to him. Checking it, he saw it was from Kevan Lewis, one of his old teammates who hadn’t made it to the fashion show. Catching Max’s attention¸ Chase indicated that he’d be right back, and stepped out into the hallway.

  “Kevan, what’s shakin’?” Chase said, his voice lowered because he’d left the door to the studio ajar just in case they finished with Angie sooner than expected. It looked like he had a few minutes, though. Clint had Angie posing with one knee on the workout bench doing tricep pulls. Angie was wiggling her butt as if daring Clint or Max to whack it.

  “Tell me this shit was Photoshopped,” Kevan said.

  “This shit was Photoshopped,” Chase replied dutifully. “What are we talking about?”

  “I’m sending it to you now.”

  Flicking his finger over the phone, he opened up the attachment Kevan just sent. It was a picture from the pizzeria last night.

  “Tell me that’s another blonde and not the one who broke your balls and married the geezer from Texas.”

  A twinge of annoyance edged into Chase’s voice. “Colleen and I are back together.”

  “Oh man, you’ve got to be kidding me. For how long? Until she finds another sugar daddy?” Kevan’s voice was full of derision.

  “She’s not like that,” Chase broke in, but Kevan just rolled right over him.

  “She’s still hot, though. Can’t say I blame you. I’d go back for a second tap at that ass.”

  “Watch it,” he growled.

  “Easy, killer. Does she still like to play dress-up and play with whips?”

  “None of your business.”

  “She does! Holy shit, that’s hot. She got any friends?”

  Chase had to laugh. “You should come down to Couture the next time you’re playing New England. Her dance club is off the hook.”

  “I’ll take you up on that, man. The boys said it was all swank and sweet young thangs looking for a good time.”

  They don’t know the half of it.

  Because Kevan hadn’t been at the fashion show with the rest of his old teammates, he’d missed seeing Couture and the Hot Spot. At least he had a good excuse: his daughter had graduated from high school.

  “They didn’t tell me you were back with the ice bitch, though.”

  The fact that Kevan would even think of calling Colleen an ice bitch was proof he had no idea what she was like. Still, Chase needed to call him out. “Back off my woman, or I’m going to shove my foot so far up your ass, your breath is going to smell like my gym socks.”

  Kevan guffawed in his ear. “Bring it, gimp.”

  Chase figured it was too much to hope for that they would let this drop. It would probably be better if he said this to all of them in person. While Kevan talked some more good-natured trash, Chase brought up the team’s schedule on his phone. They had the Thursday night game next week at Giants Stadium. “I can be in Jersey for the game. If you guys are free, we can hang out.”

  “Just like old times. I’ll ring you with the hotel information. Bring your arm candy and some of her girlfriends.”

  Chase gave a nervous laugh. “Colleen’s got other plans. But we’ll plan for something with all of us soon.”

  Yeah, that was all he needed. He wouldn’t have sex for a year
if he subjected Colleen to those bozos without warning them off.

  “I get it. Still a bachelor at heart.”

  “It’s not like that.”

  “Don’t worry, dawg, there’s plenty of pussy to go around. Stay for the game. Coach would love to have you on the sidelines.”

  “Wouldn’t miss it.” Chase shook his head as Kevan rang off.

  I’ll be as faithful to you as you are to me.

  His playing days were over—both on the field and off.

  When he came back in the room, it was just Angie. She was changing into another outfit.

  “Shit,” Chase said. “Sorry.”

  Angie turned around. Chase swallowed. A natural redhead. He was pretty sure Max didn’t design women’s underwear, but Angie had decided not to wear any.

  “It’s okay. I like showing off.”

  Chase peeked out the door, hoping for someone, anyone to be there to rescue him. “This isn’t the club,” he said. “Anyone could walk in on you.”

  “I know,” she said. “I like the thrill. Want me to blow you while Master Clint and Master Max are getting the next set ready?”

  “No, thanks. That’s all right.” Chase put one foot in the hallway and desperately searched for the two men.

  “They’ll be another ten minutes or so. The next set is probably going to be in their dojo.”

  “I should go,” he said.

  “You can fuck me. I’m already wet. I’ve got a condom, too, if you’re worried. I like it hard and fast. You can pull my hair and slap my ass.”

  “I need to go. It’s not you. It’s me. I’m in a relationship.” Chase was babbling. If Kevan could see him now, he’d be all over him for being pussy-whipped. But the fact of the matter was he could have all the Angies he wanted. Hell, a few years ago he would’ve been all over the free blow job and the quick bang between takes. As stunning as Angie was—and he checked her out, he wasn’t dead—it wasn’t worth losing this shot with Colleen. Now, if it’d been Colleen naked making those offers, he’d have already come.

  “Thanks, though. I’m flattered.” He started to close the door.

  “Just go.” Angie waved a bored hand at him.

  Colleen did a double take when she walked into the office. Jana was behind Nefertiti’s desk.

  “She wasn’t feeling well,” Jana said by way of greeting. “Master Dante said I should fill in.”

  Looking her over critically, Colleen nodded in approval at the Valentino crepe dress Jana wore. It was cut low in the front, but the colors and style fit Jana’s personality, so it rode the edge of fashion. It was acceptable office wear. At least at Couture.

  “Thank you. Would you page Istvahn and tell him I’d like to see him if he’s not with Nefertiti?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She made a mental note to thank Dante for his quick thinking. A paranoid thought niggled in the back of her brain that this was his way of trying to get control. But the more civilized side of her acknowledged that it was a professional courtesy, and a nice thing to do.

  Colleen sauntered into her office. She had to come up with something for this month’s staff development program, but she had nothing. She had wasted a lot of time on the Chase situation, and she needed to have a plan in place for Friday’s meeting. If it came down to it, Colleen supposed, they could always have an eighties night and do hot-oil wrestling. Groaning, she rested her head on her desk.

  That idea sucked.

  Her intercom buzzed, and she straightened up. “Yeah?”

  “Anya Litton here to see you.”

  “Send her in.”

  Anya breezed in, closing the door behind her.

  “Since when do you need to be announced?” Colleen asked as Anya went over to the bar and grabbed some cherries and fruit slices on a paper napkin.

  “I figured we weren’t friends anymore because you haven’t said a freaking word about your new sex slave to me.” Anya chewed on an orange and slumped into the chair opposite her desk.

  “Chase and I are taking it slow.”

  “I saw homeboy with a ski mask on. Are you going to collar him, too?”

  Colleen rolled her eyes. “Yeah, like that would go over well.”

  “Just flex those Domme muscles of yours.” Anya pumped up and flashed her biceps, nearly spilling a lemon on the floor.

  “Chase is different. He’s new to all of this. It’s kind of refreshing to see everything through a newbie’s perspective. If I wanted absolute obedience, I’d negotiate with Dante for Jake.”

  “So, are you going to dish on what you’ve been doing in the dungeons all this time?”

  “You mean this week?” Had it only been just a few days? She really should cut Chase some slack.

  Anya nodded. “Spill it.”

  “He’s coming along nicely.”

  “Oh, I bet he is,” Anya said, and then sobered. “Are you happy?”

  Colleen fought a smile, and then let it shine through. “It’s been a pretty rough twenty-four hours. But I’m optimistic.”

  “Take it one day at a time, then.”

  “I plan to.”

  “Have you checked your email yet?” Anya switched to the cherries.

  “I just walked in. Is there something I should be aware of?”

  Anya’s lips twitched. “Open it up.”

  “It better not be a link to someone’s sex tape. I get so upset when I know our video production quality is superior.” Colleen called up her email, skimming over the usual spam and notices. But one name caught her attention. She put a hand over her heart that was threatening to beat out of her chest. “That’s the head editor for La Femme Actuelle.”

  “Just the biggest fashion magazine in France. Vogue can suck it.” Anya rubbed her hands together gleefully.

  Colleen’s hands shook a bit as she read the email. “ ‘We would be pleased to showcase the Fierocity line in one of our upcoming features.’ Putain de merde!”

  “It didn’t say that last part.”

  “No, that was all me. They want to interview us and do a photo shoot in Calais.” Colleen’s mouth dropped open.

  “Isn’t that fantastic?” Anya screeched, and slapped a high five on Colleen’s palm.

  “Who are we sending to monitor the shoot? Marisol? Does she speak French?”

  “I’m going, and so are you,” Anya said.

  “I can’t get away right now. I’m worried about Nefertiti. But you go and take Marisol with you. I’ll get you set up with a company credit card, and Jana can make the arrangements for you.”

  “Hot damn!” Anya did a little jig.

  “I need Clint here, though.”

  A little air went out of her sails. “Are you sure?”

  “We need to get Club Inferno’s pay website off the ground.”

  “He can do that from France,” Anya wheedled.

  “I need him here.”

  “Okay,” Anya capitulated. “But it’s going to cost you a Lancel purse.”

  “Deal,” Colleen said.

  “I’ll go pack.” Anya danced out of her office, narrowly missing treading all over Istvahn’s toes.

  “You wanted to see me?” he asked, standing at parade rest in front of her desk.

  “How’s Tee doing?”

  Concern and frustration flashed over his features, and if Colleen hadn’t known him so well, she probably would have missed it completely. “Her blood pressure is elevated. She has a doctor’s appointment later on today. I’m hoping he’ll put her on strict bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy. I don’t like the way her ankles are swelling.”

  “The glucose test came back okay,” she reminded him.

  He gave her a curt nod.

  “You do whatever you have to do,” Colleen said. “Don’t worry about a thing here. I have Chase with me. He can double as a bodyguard if it’s needed.” Seeing Istvahn begin to object, she added quickly, “And it won’t be needed.”

  “He’s still in the catalog shoot,” Istvahn s
aid.

  Colleen looked over at the clock. “That’s going on longer than I expected it to.”

  “From what I gathered, Angie needed to be disciplined, and that set them behind schedule.”

  “Angie?”

  Her voice must have been louder than she had planned, because Istvahn’s eyebrows also rose. “I believe after Max and Clint warned her to stop fooling around, they called in Steve to instruct her on the error of her ways.”

  “What was Chase doing?”

  Istvahn lifted a shoulder. “I think he was playing on his phone.”

  Colleen tried for nonchalant. “Were there a lot of shots with them together?”

  “There was one where he was bench-pressing her.”

  “Really?” Colleen pressed her lips together.

  “You want me to keep him under surveillance?”

  She waved her hand. “No, I’ve got enough things to worry about. If I can’t trust him alone with Angie, I’d better find out now.”

  Istvahn nodded.

  “Still, she’d think he was a challenge and would go all out to get him.”

  Istvahn remained silent.

  “Go check on Tee for me. Tell her I sent you. Bring her some chicken soup from the deli.”

  “And some half-sour pickles,” he said.

  “And some Ben and Jerry’s.”

  “No,” Istvahn said. “I don’t want her to have too much sugar.”

  Colleen smiled at his mother hen attitude. “Keep me updated,” she said.

  “On Tee or Chase?”

  “Both.”

  Istvahn nodded, turned on his heel, and left. Dante sauntered in shortly after.

  It’s like Grand Central station this morning.

  Dante closed the door and locked it behind him.

  This ought to be good.

  “What can you do for me, Dante?” Colleen asked, deliberately playing around with the wording of a typical greeting.

  “I live to serve.” He bowed.

  “I’ll believe that when I see it.”

  “May I sit?”

  Colleen indicated the chair in front of the desk. It was the same one Chase had sat in a few nights earlier. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. Dante lost focus for a moment, staring at her legs. She let the silence stretch, glaring hard at him until he met her eyes again.