Falling Stars (The B–Side)

by J. L. Brooks

  “You really didn’t have to do this. I don’t know what to say.”

  Walking up to me slowly, he placed lazy kisses across my collarbone, his words hot on my skin.

  “Just say yes.”

  I smiled darkly at Lorenzo while running my fingers along the wooden bench with multiple leather straps and contraptions for restraint. Great pains must have been taken to bring this into the hotel discreetly. His affection towards me could have not been more profound. A great agent knew their client and did everything they could to make them happy, and this made me very happy. I was fully aware of the power he wielded, which was why I chose him to handle my manuscript and prepared for the compensation he might request.

  His penchant for the extraordinary was not lost on this particular item. As much as I tried to keep myself from falling for Grant, this side of me would have revealed itself sooner or later and shattered any preconceived notions he held about us. Lorenzo was one of the few who knew that I not only wrote erotica, but did it well based on firsthand experiences. My trip to the club in Chicago was surprising in that Hunter was the one that took me. Swinging was never one of my higher interests, so I had never explored it. Seeing the bench was something that did intrigue me, and when I included it in the story, Lorenzo instantly cued in on one of my fantasies.

  “You read it?” I asked coyly.

  “Of course, it was brilliant. I don’t think you are quite prepared for what’s coming. Whatever it is that has happened to you in the past two months has made you a much stronger writer. I am very proud of you.”

  I blushed at his remark. Lorenzo did not freely dole out compliments, so I knew it was genuine. “I’m surprised you are okay with this. Do you normally frolic with your clients?”

  “You are not a client, Lila. That is the reason I refused your money. As far as I am concerned, I was doing a favor for a friend—nothing more. You didn’t need me, yet you chose me. I am honored to give this to you. It takes a very strong woman to allow herself to become so vulnerable.”

  I sat in the bench and allowed my body to relax against the stiff wood, closing my eyes and imagining what would take place. “When do we begin?” I asked.

  “Tomorrow night. You need to take tomorrow to process everything and think about this. You don’t play, Lila, you just observe. The idea of doing something and really doing it are completely different. Just know if you want to, I will be here the whole time. Nothing will happen to you that you do not want.”

  I opened my eyes and stood to wrap my arms around Lorenzo’s shoulders. He was the reason I was so successful with Blank Page and now with Rectory House. If not for his adamant refusal to leave the ways of a bachelor, he was the kind of man I had always pictured myself with. Knowing his particular tastes would not be so easily understood by another combined with his grueling work schedule, he accepted things as they were and was happy. I had lost that contentment when I lost my drive.

  Leaning in to kiss him, I bit his lower lip and giggled. “Thank you, love.”

  He growled and pulled away to introduce me to the woman who was standing quietly in the background. As she drew closer, I was able to see her better. She was petite with an olive complexion and fierce dark eyes. Long dark locks fell into perfect waves over one shoulder.

  “Lila, this is Tasha. She is here to brief you on what will happen and will be here the whole time. Tomorrow you will meet her in the morning at the spa and go over everything necessary. Tonight you must rest so you are fully alert for the scene. Do not drink any alcohol, and if you change your mind at any point, notify me immediately.”

  I curtsied to Tasha before reaching out my hand. “Pleasure to meet you, mademoiselle.”

  She curled her lips and assessed me more thoroughly. Despite the fact that she hadn’t said a word since we entered, I could sense she was very intense and methodic in how things took place.

  “The pleasure is mine.”

  I furrowed my brow trying to recognize her accent. “Russian? I know some.”

  Taken aback, she looked to Lorenzo and broke a full smile. “Very good, I am impressed. How is it that you speak Russian?”

  “A man, of course.”

  Her eyes twinkled, yet she spoke no more. Lorenzo dismissed her and took my hand, leading me back to the car. He escorted me as far as the elevator before stopping.

  “Lila, I am serious. Do not feel obligated to do this in any way. I will not be upset if you decline the gift; it is your right. I simply wanted to give you the opportunity in a way I could control to protect you. I know you are scared to play, and I want to remove that fear. Do you trust me?”

  I nodded my head, and he kissed my cheek and rubbed his palm briskly against my arm before squeezing lightly.

  “Well, then perhaps I will see you tomorrow. Until then, sweet dreams.”

  He smiled as he pushed the elevator button for me. It was only a moment before it chimed and the doors opened. Silently I stepped inside and used my keycard to descend to my floor. Stripping out of my clothes, I took another shower and wiped the steam away from the mirror to see my reflection. In less than twenty-four hours, my life had completed another one hundred and eighty degree turn. I was back.

  Thinking I was ready to face what I had been avoiding, I opened my author email to sift through the queries and concerns, yet glanced for a moment and immediately logged back out. Working so hard had left little time to invest into an honest social life. Typically my engagements were prearranged and involved discussions about the industry. Dinah finding the shoebox was the first anyone in New York had heard about my past, including Lorenzo.

  It was always easier to be reclusive, especially since I felt that writing was already giving so much of myself away. But that was before everything happened. I had become a machine that was bound for a breakdown. I couldn’t go back to that, and now I didn’t have to. With a newfound sense of awareness, I had more control and would dictate how much of this life consumed me. Crawling into bed, I ran my fingers across the healing wounds on my leg. It was going to scar, and I had to accept that.

  Thinking about the scene, the offer, Grant, Hunter and everything else, my mind was exhausted trying to process it all. The moment my head hit the pillow, I was gone. When I woke several hours later, screams did not tear through the room as if my subconscious knew that balance had been restored in my universe. I did not dream nor toss about. Only being startled for a moment, forgetting where I was, I quickly settled and laughed to myself. I crawled out of the bed and ripped the drapes open; Las Vegas and its entire splendor were at my feet.

  The clock indicated I had a half hour before I needed to meet Tasha at the spa. There was no way in hell I was backing out of tonight. She was waiting in the elegant entrance, wearing a breezy summer dress and wedge sandals. Her transition from day to night was flawless and to be envied. Looking at her now, you would never guess the kind of woman she really was, which made her that much more dangerous. She arranged for us to spend the day being massaged, waxed and prepared to perfection. I cringed as my feet slipped out of my flip flops and into the tub to soak. I really had let myself go.

  While I looked into the mirror as the stylist was round brushing the final strands of the blow out, feelings of doubt began to creep in about the evening’s plans. Tasha eyed me curiously, yet did not say a word. It clicked why she was there. It wasn’t so much to prepare me, but watch and make sure I truly was ready. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily between us. If I wasn’t ready, this could seriously fuck me up. Was I truly in the mind frame to allow my body to be restrained and violated for pleasure? Lorenzo was right; I did want to play yet was deathly afraid of giving up control. Knowing he would be there made all the difference. I did trust him, completely. Solidifying the decision in my mind, I smiled at Tasha and shimmied a bit in my seat.

  We ate a light meal and headed to the suite to get ready. A gold box with a giant black ribbon tied around it rested on the bed. Tasha handed it to me and indicated it
was another gift. Inside was handcrafted lingerie even more beautiful than the set Hunter purchased for me in Chicago. The lace was a pale blue with gold details. Baby blue ribbons laced the bodice and decorated the garters. Matching crotch-less panties with sheer stockings completed the outfit. Expecting stilettos, I inquired with Tasha about shoes; she informed me that they were not practical for maneuvering around and that an injury could occur.

  I giggled as I slipped on the opulent garments and allowed her to lace me up. She too had changed into an outfit similar to the evening before, slipping into her role and taking charge. She instructed me to rest a bit more before the men arrived. They would be directed to the other bedrooms separately and return to change and exit before my blindfold was removed. The only one I would know was Lorenzo, who had carefully chosen the men that would be present. I would not know their names, see their faces, nor suck their cocks. I made the exception for Lorenzo so that the fantasy would feel complete.

  As I lay on the bed carefully so as to not ruin my makeup or hair, a soft knock on the door indicated that the men had arrived and it was time to begin. Tasha entered with Lorenzo, who kneeled at the edge of the bed with the blindfold in his hands. Seeing me dressed and ready darkened his eyes and changed his whole demeanor.

  “Are you ready?” he asked gravely.

  Unwaveringly I replied, “Yes.”

  He turned to Tasha for confirmation, which she gave with a single nod. Before tying the blindfold, Lorenzo asked Tasha to step out of the room. When the door closed, he held a finger to his mouth, indicating that I should be quiet, and began to unbuckle his belt. Dropping his pants and kicking them to the side, he grabbed my waist and scooted me further onto the bed.

  “I get you first,” he growled as he crawled over me. Leaning down, I greedily took his mouth as his hands encouraged my knees apart. There was no tenderness as he forced his way into my body. Grunting hard, he thrust roughly in and out while pressing my knees to my chest. Trying my best to hold in my moans, it was impossible to stay silent. A few moments later he pulled out and began to pump his cock with his fist and aimed for my thighs, lying thick ropes of semen across them.

  “You bastard! Like a fucking dog marking a tree.” I laughed.

  Kissing me hard, he grinned against my mouth.

  “I’m the only one that gets to mark you or ride you bareback. I will be covered out there; I am just proving a point. Tonight you are mine.”

  Once again I was surprised and conflicted by his actions. He didn’t have to set this up if he wanted me to himself. He said it takes a strong woman to be so vulnerable. I felt it took a strong man to share his toys with another.

  “Just tonight?” I questioned with a wink.

  “Maybe tomorrow if you are a really bad girl. Let’s focus on tonight.”

  Pulling me back into a sitting position, he tied the thick, silky bandana across my eyes and tightened it so I could not see anything. Holding my arms and guiding me to the door, he paused while Tasha took my other arm, and together they led me to the bench. The soft lingerie buffered the coolness of the leather-padded seat. Initially sitting, I observed that the leg pieces were closer together for comfort while being strapped in. Once restrained, a wheel in the back separated them to a desired width. Each turn clicked and locked a different position, giving me a few moments before turns to adjust comfortably. My arms were bound to the side, with small rods to grip for leverage if needed. It was not painful in the least; only my muscles tensed from the restraint.

  I knew that once everything began, my body would pull against the straps and not be as relaxed. Lorenzo gave me one last kiss before Tasha went to summon the other men.

  “Tell me your safe word, Lila.”

  I thoroughly considered the one word I would remember in the moment that I could say easy enough to stop everything.

  “Mercy,” I replied quietly.

  “Are you sure?”

  Turning my head towards his voice, I smiled brightly. “You know for a fact that word will never cross my lips unless I am absolutely sure I cannot take anymore.”

  His fingers stroked my cheeks affectionately. “You will do well. There won’t be a reason for you to say it. I promise.”

  I nodded and relaxed into the seat. Tasha coughed, indicating that the men were ready. I did not know how many were in the room, which only heightened the anticipation. Trusting that everything would go exactly as planned, I readied myself for the first encounter.

  With my thighs open wide and hips jacked up, he was able to enter me easily. To each side of my head was a series of rungs for the men to grip onto. I felt his body shake timidly, being on display before the others. Clumsily he moved in and out, slick against Lorenzo’s seed and failing to get off as quickly as he hoped. Sensing his frustration, I laughed loudly without being able to hold back. He immediately withdrew and mumbled a few curse words as Tasha directed him back to the bedroom to change and be escorted out. A few of the guys snickered at the scene, causing me to grow irritated. Although I was not supposed to speak, this was my scene, and I was in control.

  “Do not be so quick to belittle his performance. I can guarantee almost all of you will fail to please me, so keep that in mind.”

  The room grew quiet as the next man approached the bench for his turn. I could tell he was larger in stature by the way his body hovered over mine. He smelled delicious and was gentle about entering me. Collecting wetness on the tip of his cock, he pressed in short movements to which I was thankful due to his enormous girth. Already sore from Lorenzo’s claiming, this one stretched me more than I had ever been before.

  “Holy fuck,” I breathed while taking him in completely.

  His speed increased, making me wonder if they were instructed they had a certain amount of time to get off. Gripping onto the handles, I struggled not to moan. I felt as if my pelvis was going to shatter, and my thighs burned from being pressed so hard into the bench by his massive frame.

  “Take it, you little bitch,” he growled between thrusts.

  Clenching myself around him, I snarled. “Try harder, big boy.”

  His hand snaked around my back, his hand sliding over my ass. Parting the cheeks with two fingers, he plunged his middle one in and resumed his forceful drive. Squirming in the seat, I fought against the urge to climax and lost. Jerking violently around his cock and finger, the surge of wetness eased his entry. Before he was able to reach his own, Tasha pulled him away before he peaked.

  “Time’s up.”

  He tried to protest and was immediately silenced. As he stalked away into another room, I smiled thinking about how hard the asshole was. Tasha came up to me and released me from the bench, yet did not remove my blindfold. With wobbly legs, I was led back into the bedroom as the remaining men in the group followed. One man was instructed to lie on the bed as Tasha assisted me in straddling him from above. Another man was guided behind me and held my hips gently in place.

  Sinking slowly onto the man’s cock below me, I mused that he felt vastly inadequate compared to the man who had just taken me. From behind, the other was stroking his cock back and forth across my tight bud. Tasha approached again, speaking softly in Russian to indicate she was near and what she was doing. A warm oil coated the cleavage of my rear and allowed the man who was probing to enter a little less painfully. As both men worked in unison, Tasha informed me the man stepping onto the bed was Lorenzo. His hard cock brushed both sides of my cheeks, encouraging me to open wide and take him in my mouth. I could taste myself on him, combined with the saltiness of his expressed seed.

  His hand held the back of my head, gripping the hair and guiding my mouth over his shaft. Holding onto his hips with one arm, I stroked his length with the other. The two men pumped furiously into me, yet I was completely focused on Lorenzo. Knowing it was him changed how my body responded. I no longer wanted the others touching me.

  “Mercy,” I stated firmly.

  Immediately all the men stopped and left the ro
om. Tasha remained to ensure I was okay. As she went to remove my blindfold, I stopped her.

  “No, I am not done. I just want Lorenzo. Please get him for me.”

  She stepped out of the room and did as I asked. He returned and reached for the blindfold, sliding the fabric from my head. A thin stream of tears poured from the corner of my eyes. His face dropped and he pulled me close.

  “Lila, baby, it’s okay.”

  I nodded my head and pulled back. “Tonight I am yours. Do not let me leave this room unsatisfied.”

  Knowing I was disappointed with the fantasy, he removed the garments until I was completely bare. He tied my arms to the bedpost, where I rested on my elbows and knees. With my ass perched in the air, he firmly slapped various areas, never the same spot twice.

  With both cheeks tender and warm, he parted them gently and teased me with the tip of his cock before ramming in forcefully. This wasn’t a stranger. This was someone I knew and I trusted, pushing me to the edge. My limits had been tested, and I now knew where my boundaries lay. I no longer could give myself without including my heart, and that scared the shit out of me. The raw truth decimated the walls I had built up inside, and I fell apart beneath him, screaming loudly as I came. As we lay panting heavily in the darkened room, his hand stroked my side affectionately. I reached out and grabbed it, bringing his palm to my mouth and kissing softly.

  “Thank you, Lorenzo.”

  He exhaled deeply and pulled me close. “For what, Lila?”

  Turning around, I looked into his eyes before kissing his forehead and getting out of the bed. Pulling on my clothes, I stopped at the doorway and smiled. “For setting me free.”

  After walking The Strip until dawn, I caught the first fountain show at the Bellagio. When I returned to the hotel room to gather my things and leave for Phoenix, resting on the desk was a dozen red roses and another gold package with a black ribbon. A handwritten note was scrawled and tucked within the small, velvet jewelry box containing a vintage diamond pendent. Unfolding the half-ripped piece of paper, I smiled at the script that had been jotted down in haste.