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

by Michele Zurlo

  Her Masters loved using the blindfold because it was the only time she couldn’t tell them apart. Well, most of the time. Every now and again, one of them would say or do something to give it away. They liked playing the anonymous twin games, and she liked to let them have their fun.

  A motor whirred to life. Since they hadn’t moved her, she guessed they were lowering the chains directly above her. A collar came around her neck. The soft, brushed leather caressed her skin, and the distinctive scent filled her nose, bringing with it the memory of multiple orgasms.

  Each of her arms was lifted and cuffs were attached. A bar threaded through a ring on one cuff, continued through one on her collar, and ended after it passed through the ring on her other cuff. She heard the click of snaps locking into place and the whir of the motor pulling up the slack in the lines. Because it was hooked through her collar, they wouldn’t force her to stand on tiptoe. Its sole purpose was to provide stability and support, which she would need when they really got going.

  Soft leather encircled both her ankles at the same time. A spreader bar was slid through the rings on those as well. Now she was locked in position with her arms and legs spread wide. Her body was a blank canvas on which they could work their magic.

  Fingers slid between the cuffs and her skin, one final safety check before they began. Other than to give orders, neither of her Masters would say much from now until the blindfold was removed. Sometimes she could tell their voices apart. It wasn’t the sound so much as some of the subtle inflections or the way certain things were phrased. Still, they wouldn’t take unnecessary chances.

  One of them gathered her hair and secured it out of the way. Two sets of hands roamed her body, caressing every surface and exploring every crevice. The invasiveness only served to remind her how completely she belonged to them and how powerless she was in this room.

  Lips nibbled each earlobe, sending shivers down her spine and through her breasts. She moaned and arched her back, searching for more contact, but she found only air. The lips had gone as well.

  She ran her tongue along her lower lip in an attempt to lure one of her Masters close for a kiss. Nobody bit.

  She listened intently, and she was able to discern the sounds of one person moving through the room. That mean the other one had his eyes on her. They wouldn’t leave her alone bound like this, not after she informed them that having a closed circuit camera set up for viewing wasn’t the same thing. The first time they’d punished her in this room, they’d left her bound to a table with a machine forcing her to have orgasm after orgasm. That had been the same night Stef had forced her to use his title. It had been the last night they’d ever done something that reckless.

  Not having been in long-term relationships before, neither of her Masters was well versed in setting limits and boundaries. Communication was one of the areas they were still working on.

  When they had remodeled the media room, the cameras were removed.

  Something soft tickled across the back of her calf. It wasn’t substantial enough to be the falls of a flogger or the flap of a crop. It moved up to the back of her knee. Samantha was ticklish there. Her knee involuntarily jerked, trying to escape the feeling, and she giggled. The tickle changed to a scratch, as if he was dragging the edge of a broken paintbrush over her skin.

  The soft tickling alternated with scratching as the sensation explored around her thighs and ass, up her back, and down her front. He even stroked the soft thing over her freshly waxed pussy lips, something else that had occupied her time that morning at the spa. Thank goodness she healed quickly.

  Because no pattern was followed with the stroking and scratching, she never knew what to expect. Every contact sent her nerves rioting. Breathing became difficult because she kept sucking in her breath. Cream seeped from her pussy with every caress.

  Abruptly the instrument changed. The sound of falls swishing through the air was her only warning. They fell hard against the left side of her ass. She thought her nerves were on edge before, but now she knew they’d tricked her body. The next blow sailed through the air, but she was ready for the sting. Only it never came. The falls were softer than a tap, another caress when she expected pain.

  They established a pattern this time. Soft blows alternated with sharp stings. Her body tingled. Her breasts swelled and her pussy wept. She needed more. They moved around her, aiming with strategy and care. The deerskin stroked her abdomen and breasts while the tougher leather caught her pussy and thighs.

  Just when she thought she couldn’t stand it anymore, she felt the press of bare skin along her back, ass, and thighs. A hard cock lodged against the curve of her ass, and a hand massaged lubrication into her anus. She guessed Stefano, but she had no way of knowing until he started fucking. Stef tended to be a little rougher, not that she was complaining. She liked it rough. She liked it gentle. She liked it fast or slow. Her Masters were good at pretty much everything.

  He placed his cockhead against her tight ring of muscle, and then he gripped her hips with both hands. It was all the warning she was going to get. He thrust hard, burying his cock completely. She exhaled at exactly the right time, relaxing enough to avoid injury. His actions confirmed her assessment. Lex liked to ease his way in. Stef went balls out from the start.

  “Stef.” His name came out as a sigh, a sensual caress that revealed her heart.

  He growled against the nape of her neck. “Vixen.”

  Behind his growl, she heard his smile. He liked that she knew him so well, that no matter how often he tried to act like he was half of a pair, she saw him as an individual.

  His powerful thighs flexed behind hers as he withdrew and thrust again. In front of her, Lex continued alternating the floggers that caressed and stung, though he was careful to center his action on her breasts. Typical Lex, but it also made sure he didn’t accidentally hit Stefano. While her lovers could take a few hits, they didn’t enjoy it the way Sam did.

  A kaleidoscope opened in the darkness behind the blindfold as they worked their magic. Colors burst as heat traveled through her system, but it wasn’t enough. She needed more.

  “Lex.” Another sigh, but this time it was wrapped in a plea. She needed him.

  Stefano halted as the floggers fell away. Soon Alexei’s belly pressed against hers. He guided his cock into her tight pussy, and she finally felt complete. Both of her Masters had claimed her. Sandwiched between them, connected to both her lovers, bliss washed over her and she lost any semblance of control.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Please love me.”

  As they began to move in tandem, Lex pressed a kiss to her lips. “Always, Sammy. Always.”

  Stars exploded. She cried out with the first orgasm and they showed no sign of slowing down.

  Later as she lay in the big soaker tub with her Masters on either side of her, each exploring her body with lazy caresses, Stef brought up the matter of her research.

  “Samantha, what were you looking up so intently that you forgot we were coming home?”

  He didn’t sound upset, though he certainly had that right. Not only did both of them send her a text when they left the office, their secretaries each sent texts when the men actually left the building. Four texts should have been warning enough. It left her time to shower away the paint splatters that inevitably ended up on at least her hands, arms, and face.

  She snuggled into his shoulder and pressed a kiss on his pectoral muscle where it stuck out above the water line. It was too enticing to resist. “Ellen called. Do you remember that place, Elysium, that you guys took me to last year?”

  Stef nodded.

  Lex rubbed her thigh, working his way closer to her pussy. “You want to go back? We can arrange some time off. It might only be a weekend, but I think we can manage.”

  She took a deep breath. “I want to buy it.”

  They both sat up and swiveled to look down at her, twin expressions of confusion marring their identical brows. Their handsomeness made her n
ipples perk up, which was amazing. After they’d taken her down from the chains, they’d moved her to the bed where they’d taken turns holding her down while the other one fucked her.

  Stefano broke the stunned silence first. “You want to run a business?”

  “It’s not for sale. Last I heard, the Mehlbergs were in the middle of a nasty divorce.” Lex frowned. She’d never once shown an interest in wanting to own anything, so his confusion was warranted.

  She sat up and bit her lower lip. Her stance on that hadn’t changed. She didn’t want to be responsible for anything but seeing to her Masters’ pleasure and painting to her heart’s content. She had a perfect life, and nothing could induce her to tamper with that. “Let me rephrase. I want you to buy it. Ellen has talked to Sophie and Drew about investing already. She’s on board. I think that’s what Jonas was calling you about, so I assume he and Sabrina want to buy it as well. If we all invest, then we’ll each own a quarter share.”

  Wheels turned as both men studied her. Finally Stefano cocked his head to one side. “Like Lex said, it’s not for sale. Why does Ellen think they’re suddenly going to change their minds?”

  “Apparently they’ve stopped all cash flow to the island. The manager there can’t even pay her workers. Ellen thinks the Mehlbergs are getting ready to sell at a very cheap price. They live in California, so they’d have to split the assets evenly. Ellen thinks Mr. Mehlberg is trying to devalue it so he doesn’t have to pay his wife so much.”

  “That’s not a reason to sell.” Stefano took her hand between his. She rarely asked for anything but his attention, and she could tell he didn’t want to deny her this thing. “Samantha, I’ll buy you anything you want, but I can’t promise this. I can promise to look into it. We’ll call Jonas and Ellen and get the details. Okay?”

  Samantha reached out her hands and cupped each of her lover’s cheeks. “That’s all I wanted to ask. I can tell you what I found out online, though you probably have contacts that can give you more detailed information.”

  Rolling to her knees, she kissed Stefano. He took over, plunging his tongue into her mouth until she purred with delight. When he broke away, she offered her lips to Alexei. He pulled her so that she straddled him, lifted her as he kissed her, and brought her down on his cock before he released her lips.

  Whatever information she had found out could wait until later.

  Chapter Ten

  If she had an iota of talent in the kitchen, Sabrina had no doubt he would have her preparing their meal on her knees. With as much decorum as she could gather, she sank to the floor wearing only a chastity belt with a remote-controlled bullet vibrator stuck inside her pussy. The bathroom floor was tile, as was the kitchen, but the living area and the bedroom she had to pass through were both finished in bamboo. At least that type of wood would be easier on her knees. The textured tile dug in unevenly, hurting even when she wasn’t moving. No doubt she’d have bruises on more than just her neck to show for tonight.

  He didn’t give her a pillow as he had at Mistress Hera’s. She knelt on the kitchen floor, which thankfully was smooth tile, next to the island with the large marble countertop. She couldn’t see what he was preparing, but that wasn’t a concern. He was a damn good cook. Over the years her palate had evolved to match his favored flavor profiles.

  Every time she sat back on her heels to relieve the pressure on her knees, he had her move. She followed after him, crawling around the kitchen on her hands and knees as he moved between the counter, sink, and refrigerator.

  Every few minutes, he would hit the button on the remote to turn the bullet on. It would buzz away inside her until she was breathing hard, and then it would stop at a predetermined time. She watched the clock on the stove and estimated ninety seconds of torture for each round. It wasn’t enough to do more than tease.

  By the time dinner was ready, she vowed to never use her smug, superior smile and tone on anyone with a title.

  He carried their plates to the table. Sabrina was surprised to see him with two. She thought he would feed her from his as he had done that afternoon.

  Then he pulled out a chair and motioned to her. “Sit. I’ll give your knees a rest while we eat. You’re going to need lots of energy for tonight.”

  Relieved, she climbed into the chair without standing. He hadn’t technically given her permission to stand. She didn’t want to take the chance that he’d find fault with her and decide on another punishment. This was pushing her to the edge.

  It didn’t put her in the mood for conversation.

  “What did you think of the tripod the other night?” Jonas cut into his steak, not even bothering to look at her as he posed the question.

  Sabrina picked up her knife and fork. She had no opinion on the tripod. While she hadn’t disliked it, neither did she feel the need to be suspended in midair again. “It was okay.”

  Now he looked at her. He studied her face as he chewed and swallowed. “That’s not a very specific response.”

  She shrugged. “The harness dug into my legs and compressed my ribs a little uncomfortably.”

  He frowned as he masticated his way through another bite. “You didn’t say anything.”

  He’d asked for her submission. She wasn’t supposed to speak or do anything without his permission. It seemed logical to assume he wasn’t looking to hear complaints or critiques. “I didn’t know I was supposed to.”

  He set his fork on his plate and held a hand out in her direction. She put down her knife and placed her hand in his because it was expected. She wasn’t sure she felt like holding his hand just then.

  “Sabrina, you’re supposed to tell me whenever something is uncomfortable or painful. Sometimes I’ll expect some discomfort, but there’s always a line. I don’t always know what you’re feeling.”

  She looked at her hand in his, at the perfect way they fit together. He surrounded her, cradled her without overwhelming her. Usually that was an accurate way to describe their relationship. She relied on him for so many things, most of them emotional and many of them physical. He was as necessary to her well-being as oxygen.

  And he was pulling the rug right out from under her. She wanted to withdraw her hand, put it in her lap, and hide it in her other hand. Anything to assuage the uncertainty and turmoil within.

  She didn’t always know what she was feeling, but she knew when she was nearing the end of her endurance. It was close. If she could just hold out for one more day. Giving him what he wanted made her happy. Usually that meant getting what she wanted. She had to come to terms with the fact it wouldn’t always be like that.

  “I think I wouldn’t have liked it very much if you hadn’t flogged me. You’re very good at that.”

  He flashed a brief smile. He knew he was accomplished with whips, canes, and floggers. He’d spent years honing his skills.

  She scrambled to give him more of an answer. “I guess it’s like exhibitionism. It doesn’t turn me on, but it doesn’t kill the moment either. I concentrated on you and forgot about the crowd and the fact I was suspended from three pieces of wood tied together at the top.”

  “The tie was for show. They were bolted together. I wouldn’t take that kind of chance with your safety.”

  She opened and closed her mouth, stopping several trains of thought before she settled on a response. “I know that, Jonas. I trust you.” It wasn’t a lie. She trusted him. She just wasn’t sure how much she trusted herself. Before she always had him at her back to push her forward and tell her she was all right. Now he was asking her to remove herself from the equation. Wasn’t he?

  Damn, it was all so difficult to sort out! She hated the way she felt so off-kilter. This was supposed to be a honeymoon and her birthday gift. She’d pictured lazy days at the beach and nights filled with sex. Well, she knew more than just her nights would be filled with sex. Jonas became amorous when she fished down her bra for a stray Cheerio. The sight of her on the beach wearing a bathing suit would definitely give him
ideas.

  Things had started out that way, which just made the progression of the week that much more confusing.

  He gave her a reassuring squeeze. “I wasn’t thinking of getting one for home. I think you enjoyed yourself, but it didn’t add anything new or special. Is that accurate?”

  She nodded. He released her hand and went back to eating. She did the same. Several bites later, he smiled.

  “It wasn’t easy to flog you around all those straps. I prefer to have nothing in the way so I can concentrate on you.”

  That was so like something he would have said before they came to Elysium. Talking through a scene to find out what they’d both enjoyed and what they each felt needed to be changed had been a normal post-coital conversation. But this week, her issues weren’t with the sex. That was as good as ever. Sabrina’s heart swelled at this glimpse of the man she’d married. She returned his smile. “That works for me.”

  The tension broke, and they conversed amiably for the rest of dinner. Afterward he removed her collar, the belt, and the bullet. Then he brought her a shirt for their evening check in with the kids, which he confiscated the moment he closed the laptop.

  He drew her to her feet and slipped his arms around her, pulling her so close she couldn’t tell the difference between them. For the longest time, he held her. She realized how much she missed this simple act of affection and how much internal strength she drew from him. For the first time since that morning, she didn’t feel like the world had changed and left her behind.

  At last he kissed her on the forehead. “Remind me of your safe word.”

  “Onion.” She’d never needed to use it, but this bit of normalcy also served to steady her nerves.

  She expected him to release her, order her to her knees, and make her crawl to the bedroom. But his lips just kept moving across her face. He kissed her eyebrows and her temples. He used his lips to caress her cheeks and her eyelids. By the time he slipped his tongue into her mouth, she was liquid in his arms. He mastered her, taking over her will with just the power of his kiss.