Letting Go 2: Stepping Stones [Awakenings 5] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Michele Zurlo

  Though she was easily one of the most attractive women on the planet, Jonas knew better than to argue with her. She required proof, not words. So he narrowed his eyes, took a step closer, and went with a different strategy.

  “Why does it matter what anybody but me thinks?” He didn’t add that he was her husband and her Dom, and his opinion was the only one that counted where she was concerned. There was no need.

  Her eyes widened. Shades of brown swirled as she realized her mistake. She dropped her arms down by her sides and cast her gaze to her feet. “It doesn’t.”

  Threading his fingers, grease and all, through the hair at the nape of her neck, he yanked hard to bring her gaze back to his. Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes, but they were the right kind. Her shoulders relaxed, and she gave herself over to his control.

  “Clearly, it does. You’re refusing to go on a proper honeymoon with me because you think other people might not find you attractive. If you think I’m going to share you, you’re sadly mistaken. I will kill any man who touches you, Sabrina. Make no mistake, my opinion is the only one that matters, and I find you very attractive.”

  “No, I didn’t mean that.” She scrambled to reassure him, and he had to suppress a smirk at how well she responded to his reassuring taunts. “I meant—I—I—Damn it, Jonas. I have stretch marks all over the place.”

  He leaned down, not stopping until his face was inches away. “Each one of them proclaims to one and all that you belong to me. You’re my wife. My submissive. The mother of my children. You will wear them proudly as the badges they are.”

  Perhaps that was pushing things a little far, but truthfully, he didn’t think they stood out. Maybe they would if he held a black light next to her skin, but he had no intention of doing so. From his frequent and close inspections, he knew she had a few on her inner thighs, her ass, and across her stomach, and maybe one or two on her breasts and hips. They were parts of her, and he loved all of her. And he knew better than to tell her about the ones on her ass. She hadn’t yet discovered them.

  She trembled so hard he felt the shockwaves radiating across the small space between them. He knew she wanted him to treat her roughly, to make her forget about everything that was bothering her, but he refused to do that until everything was right between them.

  “I’m just not as confident about this as you are.” She touched his shoulders and traced the line of his muscles over the triceps and biceps. “You’re still very toned and handsome. You can’t possibly know how I feel.”

  The thing about being married to a smart woman was that she changed tactics mid-discussion. He resisted the urge to turn her over his knee. She’d like that too much. He knew she wanted to go. The brief gleam of excitement in her eyes told a different story from her mouth. If this was the only thing holding her back, then nothing was holding them back. He wasn’t going to allow this to derail his plans.

  Instead of responding to her statement—there was no way to win using that avenue—he nodded, indicating that he’d reached an inarguable decision. “I’ve arranged for your mother and my parents to watch the kids. We leave in one week.”

  “Jonas—”

  He set his finger over her lips. “This discussion is over.”

  It was a risky move because Sabrina was only sexually submissive. Otherwise she was strong willed and highly opinionated. She was a brilliant strategist, practical and creative, and she ran a huge division of a marketing company. She commanded respect and obedience from nearly everyone around her. That was the woman he loved, and he wouldn’t change her for the world. If she didn’t want to go on that honeymoon, they wouldn’t be going anywhere.

  Her trembling ceased. She nodded, accepting his pronouncement.

  His heart leaped with joy, but he allowed only the half-curve of a smile to grace his lips.

  Chapter Three

  The tiny plane barely bounced as it touched down on the runway. Sabrina gripped Jonas’s hand out of pure excitement. Though she wasn’t completely sold on being naked in front of strangers, the other delights promised by this exclusive resort located on a private island were high on her list of loves.

  They exited the plane and were herded across the tarmac toward a small building. Sabrina barely had time to appreciate the tropical foliage before they were once again inside. Bright sunlight poured through high windows, but the walls went up too high for her to be able to see anything but sky.

  “Welcome to Elysium.”

  In front of the six passengers from the plane stood a very tall woman. Sabrina looked from their greeter to Jonas and back again, visually measuring the height difference. The woman had to be three or four inches taller, which put her over six feet tall. She wore a colorful island dress with a flowing, uneven hem that fell just past her knees. Her tight black curls were cut short and tied back with a length of fabric that matched the print on her dress. Her wide lips were slick with ruby red gloss, and hoop earrings dangled from her lobes.

  She radiated confidence, and Sabrina detected an edge of danger. The woman was clearly in charge.

  “You may call me Mistress Hera. None of you have been here before, so there’s a brief orientation before you’ll be allowed ground privileges.” She grinned widely. “Elysium was founded in 1947 by a group of people who found their lifestyles not accepted by polite society. They pooled their resources and created this heavenly escape. Everyone here is involved in the BDSM lifestyle somehow. We don’t require anyone to participate in anything, and we don’t expect anyone to assume roles they haven’t chosen.”

  Sabrina listened as Mistress Hera explained that they would find people at Elysium who participated in only the D/s aspects and others who were purely sadists or masochists with no interesting in being Dominant or submissive.

  “There are two important groups to watch out for,” Mistress Hera continued. “Employees of Elysium are not part of the package. They don’t wear uniforms, so look for their badges. They’re required to wear them at all times. They not only monitor public activities, but they’re the people making your food and cleaning up your messes. Please be courteous and polite, but don’t make the mistake of treating them as Dominants or submissives. While some of them identify that way, many of them do not.”

  A quick glance around the small welcome room showed several employees standing patiently near one door. They each wore badges on lanyards around their necks. Despite what Mistress Hera said about not having uniforms, each of the people waiting nearby wore colorful print shirts and khaki shorts. It was sort of a uniform.

  Mistress Hera bestowed a smile on the group that seemed to simultaneously single each of them out. “The second group of people to look out for are the unattached slaves. These are guests who have chosen to come here in order to serve whomever they want in a multitude of capacities. They’re easily distinguishable because they’re either completely or mostly naked. They’ll avert their gaze or drop to their knees if a perceived Dominant is nearby, especially one they wish to serve. If somebody drops to their knees in front of you and you don’t want to play with them, just ignore them.”

  That seemed awfully rude to Sabrina, but she wasn’t here to judge the customs. Jonas squeezed her hand and kissed the corner of her mouth, soothing away her unease.

  “If you want to play with a slave, you may approach them. Observe standard protocol as explained in the releases you all signed, and be clear in stating what you want. Slaves will respond with permission or refusal. Refusals cannot be questioned. Supervised negotiation is required before you can play. All employees are trained to supervise negotiations, so you don’t have to go anywhere special or do anything too complicated. Also if you witness misbehavior by a slave who is here alone, report it to an employee. Do not take it upon yourself to discipline them.”

  It seemed that slaves were well protected whether or not they came with a partner. That made Sabrina feel better. While she didn’t identify as a slave, it made her feel better to know she could move a
round the island and not worry about random Doms or Dommes.

  “If you have questions about protocol, ask an employee. They’re very helpful.” Mistress Hera swept her arm toward the three employees waiting patiently for her to finish her introduction. “I’d like to introduce Zorah, Draco, and Mayabeth. They’ll see you settled and give you a tour if you’d like.”

  The three employees each waved as Mistress Hera spoke their names. Now Mayabeth came forward and extended her hand to Jonas. She was short like Sabrina, but her build was very slight. A strong wind could carry her away. She had dark eyes and long, dark hair that fell almost to her waist.

  “Master Jonas, I’m Mayabeth. If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you and your submissive to your suite. Your bags have already been transported. They’ll be waiting for you there.” Her smile was genuine, and her gaze never left Jonas’s.

  Sabrina narrowed her eyes at the slight. The cute, petite woman wasn’t flirting, but she completely ignored Sabrina.

  Jonas let go of Sabrina’s hand to shake Mayabeth’s. Then he put his arm around Sabrina’s waist. “This is my wife, Sabrina. We’re not formal, and we only assume roles when in a scene.”

  Sabrina realized that Mayabeth’s actions represented a misinterpretation of their roles, not an actual slight.

  Mayabeth turned her smile to Sabrina. “Hello, Sabrina. Welcome to Elysium.”

  Good breeding dictated an appropriate response. “Thank you. It looked beautiful from the plane. I’m looking forward to seeing the island.”

  “It’s incredible,” Mayabeth agreed. “Would you like to freshen up before the tour?”

  She’d rested just fine on the plane. Jonas had as well. He rubbed his hand along her spine. “How about a tour that ends at our suite?”

  “Very good.” Mayabeth nodded. “We can begin at Persephone’s Garden. From there, we’ll proceed to Hades’s Palace, The Fields of Punishment, The River Styx, and then we’ll end up on the Isles of the Blest where your suite is located.”

  By the time they made it to their suite, Sabrina collapsed on the sofa, exhausted.

  “This place is huge.”

  Jonas chuckled. “They’re missing a place of judgment, Charon’s ferry, Asphodel, and Tartarus for the truly wicked.”

  She’d forgotten he taught an ancient studies class. “Charon’s ferry would make for a nice day trip down The River Styx. What about the Furies and the other characters who live in the Underworld?”

  “That would be one interesting masquerade party. I wonder if they do something like that for solstices or on Halloween?” He flopped down next to her on the wide sofa and put a firm hand on her thigh. “I guess this is what happens when the Caribbean meets the Underworld.”

  She leaned her head against his shoulder. Her eyes were heavy, and she struggled to keep them open. Perhaps she wasn’t as well rested as she thought. “A tropical version of Hell?”

  “The place where the distinction between Heaven and Hell blurs.”

  He’d obviously thought it through. He might have said more, but she had fallen asleep.

  A short time later, she woke to find herself in the bedroom. Jonas had drawn gossamer curtains across the wall of windows that overlooked a gorgeous waterfall and the crystalline pool below. The soothing sounds of water penetrated the thick glass, as did copious amounts of sunlight. The curtains cut the glare, nothing more.

  No matter. She didn’t want to sleep the day away. They had five days and four nights to enjoy this vast island paradise. Mayabeth had pointed out paths and named the parts and popular features of Elysium on the way to the room. Sabrina looked forward to taking a closer look.

  She freshened up and went out to the main room to find Jonas on the balcony taking in the view. He rested his forearms on the wrought iron railing and leaned forward to look down. Sabrina joined him. He slung his arm around her waist and pulled her against the hard planes of his body.

  She planted a kiss on his cheek before peering over the edge to see what he was watching. They were on the third floor, which meant they had a great view, but they weren’t far from the action.

  The object captivating his attention was located on the side of the pool’s patio nearest the building. A woman was tied, naked and spread-eagled, to a lounge chair. A man sat between her legs. As he carried on a conversation with another man, he alternated between lazily fingering his submissive and pinching her nipples. The woman’s quiet moans barely made it far enough for Sabrina to hear them.

  In silence, she watched. Occasionally, the man sucked her juices from his fingers, openly savoring the flavor. Time passed. Not once did he speed up his ministrations or show an interest in bringing her to climax.

  The lack of completion wore on Sabrina’s nerves, making her hyperaware of Jonas’s every move. If he inhaled faster, she jumped. When he shifted his position, she stiffened in anticipation.

  But he made no move to touch her intimately. She was wearing a short, strapless sundress with nothing under it, and he never once tried to explore her outfit. At home, no matter what the occasion entailed, he always managed to snake a hand up her skirt or down her blouse before too long. He was a very tactile person.

  She’d also elected to wear her hair up. While she liked to have it off her neck, Jonas preferred when she left it loose, and he frequently pulled the pins and clips from her hair without asking.

  Below them, the scene shifted somewhat. The man standing next to the sitting couple casually conversing with the Dom gestured toward the woman. The sitting Dom nodded, withdrew his finger from her cunt, and stood.

  The second man knelt at the foot of the lounger, stretched his torso over the footrest, and wiggled around until he found a comfortable position. Then he buried his face in the submissive’s pussy. She sucked in a breath, and the volume of her moans increased. The first Dom pulled another lounge chair closer, sat on it, and played with her breasts. He alternated pinching and sucking. She arched her back off the chair, writhing as much as the ropes would allow.

  Sabrina felt her eyes widen at the sight. Sure, she’d seen threesomes before, but the second Dom hadn’t seemed like part of the scene until now.

  Jonas pulled her back a little. “Easy, honey. You’re about to go over. I have plans that don’t include splitting your head open. Other parts of you, maybe, but not your head.” He grinned at his own joke.

  “Do you think they know each other?”

  Jonas shrugged. “Hard to say. Elysium is a safe place to play. Everyone has to be tested for a battery of diseases, and there’s a background check as well. Some people come here to play with strangers.”

  While that didn’t appeal to Sabrina, she didn’t begrudge anyone their kink. Sophia and her husband Drew would probably love it here. They could play with a different submissive every night.

  She turned her back to the railing and cupped Jonas’s erection in her hand. “So what are you planning to do with me today?”

  His gaze remained on the scene playing out next to the pool. “Dinner at Hades’s Banquet Hall. I hear the show is stimulating.”

  She lifted her eyebrow in a flirty, suggestive gesture that was completely lost on him, so she slid her hand down his shorts and pumped his shaft slowly. “How stimulating?”

  His smile grew secretive. “You’ll see. Now turn around. I’m going to fuck you while we watch them finish.”

  Heat pooled between her thighs, and the amount of cream already there doubled as she obeyed. Being watched was his kink, though she certainly didn’t mind. She liked knowing she didn’t have a choice in the matter. If she didn’t willingly turn around, he’d force the issue. She trembled under the force of his power, and he hadn’t done more than give her a command.

  She gripped the rail. He lifted the skirt of her dress and smoothed his hand over her ass. “Bare-assed. Good. You’re not allowed to wear underclothes here unless I specifically tell you to.”

  A response wasn’t expected and too much excitement gripped her anyway.
She kept her gaze focused on the trio below. He nudged her legs farther apart, lined his cock up with her entrance, and plunged deep.

  She expected him to fuck her quickly, but after the initial thrust, he didn’t move. Reaching around in front, he lowered the top of her sundress to expose her breasts. They had attracted a little attention, glances here and there as the spectators witnessing the woman’s pleasure noticed how it inspired others, but nothing constant. That, combined with the distance, reassured Sabrina. Nobody could really see the details.

  Jonas cupped her breasts, kneading and massaging the globes, pinching and rolling the tips. His cock remained motionless inside her, a throbbing, cruel length she wanted to feel sliding in and out. She whimpered a protest and pressed back to urge him into action.

  “What’s wrong, honey? Tell me what you want.” His tone was laced with false sympathy, mocking her with his power to make her say whatever he wanted.

  It only made her need more acute. “I want you to fuck me.” Her whispered admission was caught by the wind and carried away. Even she barely heard it.

  “Nice and loud, Sabrina. You can do it.”

  There was no way out of this. She took a deep breath, concentrated on the way he filled her core, and summoned her best presentation volume. “Please. I need you to fuck me.”

  More people looked in their direction, eager expressions betraying their anticipation. Below them, she watched as a man pushed down his wet swim shorts and another man knelt in front of him. More voices joined the cacophony of needy moans echoing from the stone and concrete courtyard paradise.

  Jonas heeded her wish. He set a moderate pace, but she was already too far gone. She needed more, and she didn’t hesitate to tell him that in the same carrying tone she’d used before.

  “Harder. Please, do it harder.”

  He obliged. “Don’t bite your lip or hold anything in. I want to hear you come.”

  Sabrina hadn’t realized she was biting her lip, but he had, even though he couldn’t see her face. She let the poor, tortured piece of flesh go, along with the rest of the inhibitions Jonas didn’t allow. In seconds, she climaxed. Her long, high-pitched moan carried across the space and blended with the sounds of completion coming from the woman bound to the lounger and the man being sucked off.