Skin Deep

by Trista Jaszczak

  “That’s how it’s supposed to be, princess,” he smiles. “But, I have to ask, dark room?”

  I blush and giggle nervously, I hadn’t meant to let my nickname for his playroom slip out. “My nickname…for your fun room.”

  He laughs, “I like it. Dark room. Very creative. Fun room? Not so much. It makes it sound like a circus. We can call it dark room. Our special name for it.” He cups my face in his hands again. “Are you sure you’re feeling better, princess?”

  I nod. “Yes, Daddy.”

  “It’s just after two, I know you’re the boss, but you really shouldn’t be late. Let me get you inside. Cas probably wants to go home, anyway.”

  I let out a breath and flip the visor down again to check myself in the mirror. “He doesn’t get off until five, but I don’t want him freaking out for no reason.” I tell him.

  He nods and pushes the hair off my shoulder.

  I reach for my purse, reapply a little mascara, dab on a little lip gloss, fluff my hair, and give him the okay. He hops from his truck and greets me at my door to open it, offering me his hand to help me down. I thank him as he walks me inside. Cas is finishing up with one of his return customers based off the “tattoo in progress, be with you soon” sign on the counter. Which means he is back in his little cubby. “Just us, Cas!” I call to him, so he knows it’s not a customer as I head down the hallway to the right and into my office, where I toss my purse into a drawer. I grab my scheduling binder and bring it to the front where River is digging through a few storage drawers. I place my binder on the counter and begin flipping through it. I’m scheduled for two and a half to three hours for a continuation of a back piece. One of my repeat customers. That’s not too bad. If I have time, I can see if he even wants to push it out a little further.

  The phone rings and River is quick to answer for me as I’m still scribbling a few notes here and there.

  “Skin deep, this is River, how can I help you?” He says, cradling the phone between his chin and his chest. “Sure, she’s here. May I tell her who's calling?” There’s a moment of silence as I look up at him. “Kade.” River finally breathes. His eyes meet mine and he gives me a funny look. “One second, Kade. I’ll get her.” He walks over passing me the phone. “Baby, it’s for you.” He says very softly. “It’s Kade.”

  “I heard,” I tell him taking the phone. I place it to my ear and smile. “Kade?”

  “Lo,” his voice is soft and low as I hear him moving on the other end. “Cas said you’d be in later today. I tried your cell, but you didn’t answer.”

  “Shit, Kade I’m sorry, I woke up and had a few appointments. I completely forgot to check my phone. How are you?”

  “I just really miss you, Lo. I miss home. I miss the shop, Cas, and Arch. Arch hates L.A. and you know New York isn’t as great as I thought it would be. I just…I really miss you.”

  I look up at River, who seems to be watching me out of the corner of his eyes. He smiles at me, walking over to rub my shoulders tenderly. “I miss you too, Kade. You know the shop isn’t the same without you.”

  “No place would ever be the same without me, Lo,” he laughs. “Was that the new guy who answered the phone?”

  “Oh, yeah, that was River. He’s closing with me tonight.”

  “You know Lo, I just don’t know about him. I don’t know if you should trust him,” Kade tells me.

  “Kade, I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself you know.” I tell him. “You don’t have to go running background checks on the guy or anything.”

  River gingerly turns me to face him and gives me a funny look. I make a face back and shrug.

  “I just don’t think you should trust the guy, I mean, what do you really know about him?”

  “I know about as much about him as I did about you when I gave you your first shot, Kade,” I snap. “Really, it’s okay. I can take care of myself. Besides, you should see his work.”

  “I heard him call you “baby” Lo, do you wanna explain that one?” Kade interrogates.

  I let out a breath. “Kade, he did not. He just handed me the phone and told me it was you.”

  “I know what I heard Lo, you don’t have to play stupid with me. Now, you mind telling me what’s going on?”

  “Kade, there is nothing going on. I hired a new employee, he rocks at what he does, and that’s about it. He’s closing with me tonight but other than that I’m afraid there aren’t many details about River and me other than he’s an employee.”

  I hear Kade sigh. “God, Lo, I hate that I left. I hate that I left you when I did. I shouldn’t have…” his voice trails softly. “Lo, I should have never left you. Not with the way I felt about you. I still feel the same way.”

  “Kade, what happened when you left, happened really fast and it really shocked me. You were my closest friend. We vented about our pasts and whenever we got down and out about things, we always had each other. Then, you know, that happened and you left for New York.” I tell him. “Then you never said a word to me after that, but the fact of the matter is, you’re my friend Kade. And as much as I don’t want to say it, you and I both know that anything more will ruin the friendship that we have worked so hard to build over all these years.”

  “Lo, please don’t tell me that. Not right now.” He says to me, making a strange noise.

  I let out a sigh and look up at River, who leans down and kisses my forehead. “Kade, you’re my friend. You haven't said a single word about what happened until today. Neither one of us has, and you’ve treated me just like you always did…”

  He lets out a deep sigh. “I just didn’t know what to say, Lo. I didn’t know how to bring it up. It was really fast.”

  “Kade…I really…I can’t do this right now.”

  “I know,” he says, “you’re at work, but Lo I just need to talk to you. I haven’t been able to get a hold of you and you know that sometimes I just need to talk.”

  I let out a huff of air. “I just get the feeling that you want to talk about something other than your past.”

  “Because we have shit we need to talk about, Lo. You and I both know that.”

  “As far as I'm concerned, it has been talked about.” I glance up at River, who is giving me quite the look. I make a little face. “Kade, I really have to go, I have an appointment to prep for.”

  “Do me a favor, Lo, call me later tonight?”

  “Mhm,” I say, “I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  The phone clicks dead and I stare at River, who stares back at me. “Wouldn’t it have been easier to just tell him that you're with me?”

  I look down for a moment. Honestly, it would've been but at the same time I don’t want to hurt him. Kade is still my friend, as far as I'm concerned, has been for years. “I just didn’t want to hurt him,” I admit. “He sounded so down and he brought up what happened and I had just told him that I didn’t see him that way. Telling him that I’m with you would've just made it worse.”

  “And what difference does it really make if you tell him you’re with me, Lola? Have you forgotten what I’ve told you? You’re Mine. Period. End of story. Mine. I won’t stand for him treating you like you’re his or like he can just control you.”

  I take a deep breath. “River, I do understand. If I didn’t understand then I wouldn't have agreed to enter this relationship with you.”

  “Then why not be honest with Kade? Tell Kade and even Cas for that matter that you're with me.” He says, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he crosses his arms in front of his body. I watch close as the muscles in his arms tense up and slowly relax and his forehead wrinkles up.

  “Fine. I'll tell them both that I am with you, but I can't tell them that I am your sub.” I blush. “It’s not that I’m embarrassed by it, I’m not. I just don’t know how the hell to explain something like that yet.”

  “You know as well as I do that Kade wants you. And it sounds like he’s trying to guilt you int
o it by making you feel sorry. He knows that you have a good heart. He knows that you wouldn’t want to hurt him and he'll use that against you, Lola.”

  I shake my head. “Kade wouldn’t do that. He’s not like that. If he says that he’s upset, then he more than likely is.”

  “Oh yeah,” he replies licking his lips, “tell me how you know that?”

  “Well, he’s been my friend for years. He’s never done anything like that to me. He’s been a great friend.”

  “People change Lola. That guy hates me and he’s already telling you that he doesn’t trust me. And I’m pretty sure he has Cas in on it.” River tells me. “How many times now has Cas told you that he doesn’t trust me or there’s something weird about me, Lola?”

  I look down. I don’t know how things escalated into this. All I wanted to do was protect Kade’s feelings because he was already upset and here I stand, in my own shop, getting a stern talking to from my Dom. Cas has told me a few times that Kade doesn’t trust River, that I needed to watch myself around him. Cas suspected there was something weird about River and made sure to tell me. I let out a breath as I try to figure out what to say. I’ve zero clue where River is going with this, but he's right. “River, I’m really sorry. I know you’re right, I should've just told Kade. All I wanted to do was keep from hurting him any more than he already was.”

  He releases a sigh and uncrosses his arms. “And I get that, I really do, but Lola you have got to tell him. Cas, too. You don’t have to say you’re my sub, but it would be wise for you to let them know.”

  I give him a little nod. “May I call Kade tonight and tell him?”

  “That would be a good idea.” He tells me.

  “I don’t want there to be any tension between you three. You have to work with Cas and Kade is still my friend.”

  River makes a sour face as his eyes narrow in on me.

  “As of right now he’s done nothing wrong to me. He’s been a good friend aside from making one bad move before he left.” I tell him as I step closer to him. “Kade is just a friend, and I'm yours...”

  “Whose?”

  “Yours, Daddy.”

  He gives me a little smile. “I still expect you to tell him. It’s alright that you’re friends, but if he does one thing out of turn, I want you to tell me as soon as you can. I need to know. You've said yourself that you're mine, so I intend to keep a close eye on you two.”

  I give him a nod. At this point I’m so new to the lifestyle all I can do is assume that this is normal behavior.

  “I know that you felt bad about hurting him. I could see it in your eyes. He made you uncomfortable and you didn’t want to hurt him further. But, you also can’t lie to him.” River explains. “I'll be nothing but honest with you and I expect the same from you. That goes with other people too.”

  “You’re right,” I tell him. “I'll tell Kade. I should've told him when he asked.”

  “You're learning very quickly, Lola. You’re doing so well and I'm so proud of you.”

  “I still don’t really know what I’m doing and I've already messed up by not telling Kade.”

  “But, you're learning. You’re listening to me, that’s what matters. I’m not going to punish you for that.” He tells me.

  “I swear I need an instruction manual.”

  River chuckles and shakes his head. “It’s only been a few days Lola and look at you. You're listening to me wonderfully. You know how to address me. You knew that outside you could lean on me because you needed support and comforting. You're doing amazing.”

  I feel the heat rush to my cheeks. “Thank you…for saying that.”

  “I'm just being honest with you.”

  I feel my shoulders relax and I smile. “Who knows, maybe you and Kade will be great friends one day.”

  River makes a face. “I doubt that…” He releases a little laugh and pulls me in for a hug. “He is trying to take you from me after all.”

  I make a slight face. They haven’t even met yet and already there’s tension between River and Kade. My Daddy and my best friend. This ought to be interesting when Kade visits.

  One Week Later

  Lola finally bit the bullet and told not only Kade but Cas and Archer as well. While Archer and Cas were a little more…accepting, if you will, Kade had some serious issues. He was more than just upset and yelled at her a few times, for making such a “rash decision.” While I could tell that Lola was fighting off tears, she stood her ground and maintained her choice to date me. Kade hung up on her but called her back some time later to offer an apology. He said that he had just been having a rough time being away from home. Seems he’s not fitting in at the shop in New York City, and a few other things that were causing him to have mood swings. She did accept his apology, but she hasn’t spoken to him in the past week. As many issues as I have with Kade at this point, I do feel badly for Lola, she feels like she's losing her best friend. One who has been there for her, who shared a similar past, and understood the trauma that stemmed from it. I’ve made sure to tell her several times that she can talk to me about anything. She's been slowly telling me more about her mother. The years of mental and physical abuse. But there’s so much to tell even I know it will just take time. Remembering events as emotional as abuse is never an easy task. They’re not exactly memories that people just bring up but given her past there are things that I need to know, as her Dom. Things that I need to avoid, things that could possibly become triggers for her.

  Lola is super quiet as she looks over the books, paying bills for the parlor. I’ve finished cleaning everything that needed it and have been sitting up on the counter next to her watching her carefully. She lets out a little sigh as she signs a check to the utility company.

  I bring a hand down on her shoulder tenderly and give it a little squeeze. She releases a little moan and I can feel that she is tense from being at work all day. “Princess, do you need Daddy?”

  She looks up at me and smiles. “I’m just a little out of sorts, I just hate paying bills, balancing the books, and such. I always triple check myself and even then I manage to find mistakes. It stresses me out.”

  I smile and pet her hair for a moment as I reach for her hand. “Come here.” I move her just in front of me and lay her head on my thigh. She wraps her arms around my waist and lets out another sigh. This one more relaxed. I feel her shoulders drop as I begin petting her hair. In the week that I've been training her, she's surpassed my expectations by leaps and bounds. I couldn’t be prouder of her. I run my fingers through her hair and she closes her eyes.

  “I think it’s time to give it a little break. You’ve been at it for hours.” I tell her. “Is there anything at all that I can do to help?”

  “I actually just finished,” she tells me softly.

  “So that means we can get out of here?”

  “Mhm, it does.” She says as she stands up slowly. “Do we have plans tonight?”

  “Daddy needs a little time in his dark room, princess,” I say touching her face tenderly.

  “Yes, Daddy,” she replies softly as I hop down from the counter.

  “I want to try some more new things with you,” I smile. “I’ve been thinking about it all fucking day.”

  Her cheeks flush a tint of pink that only makes me want to spank her ass even more.

  “Let’s lock up and get out of here,” I say, grabbing for her hand.

  She gives me a little smirk, “Yes, Daddy.”

  Staring at Lola completely naked in front of me and on her knees has to be the highlight of my day. Her beautiful body is lined with incredible ink. A full sleeve, a large thigh piece, her side, most of her back, and her feet. Beautiful skin bursting with color and design, telling stories that only she may know. I yank off my tee shirt and toss it off to the side, leaving me standing in my jeans, barefoot as she looks up at me.

  “Princess, stand up,” I order, “I have plans for you.”

  She stands quickly and looks to me for f
urther instruction. I walk her to the high spanking stand, positioning her feet just right before pushing her down to lean on it. I trace my fingertips down her spine and to her ass where I gently rub her right ass cheek. I squat slowly and begin fastening the cuffs around her ankles. I kiss my way from the back of her knee up to her tight ass where I give it a light slap. She lets out an adorable, pleased whimper as I move to the front, taking each of her wrists and restraining them as well.

  “Such a beautiful fucking sight you are princess,” I tell her, grabbing her hair and moving her head around so that she’s looking at me. “Daddy wants to try some new things with you.” I tell her, letting her head drop as I head to the back wall where I have various tools for whipping. I grab the flogger and make my way back to her on the stand. I trace the leather tendrils gently down her spine. “You have such a glorious fucking ass, it’s only right I get to see that perfect shade of pink.” I bring my hand up rubbing each of her ass cheeks tenderly, letting my fingers slide teasingly into her folds and back out quickly. “Already wet for me, huh princess?” I smirk, dipping my fingers back into her folds, making her let out a soft moan. I smile, pulling the flogger back and let it crack gently on her right ass cheek. She jumps, startled at the new sensation, I slowly slide my finger into her pussy as I lightly flick my wrist, snapping the flogger against her ass again. She wiggles again, this time moaning and tugs at her restraints. I pull my other hand back as I begin working the flogger a little more rapid against her ass, moving the tendrils from her right ass cheek to her left. I move to the side of the stand, alternating the flogger in a graceful flipping movement to her lower back, her upper back, and back down again.

  She releases a soft cry, “Riv…er…”

  I pull the flogger back and let it whip against her ass this time with a little more force behind the flick of my wrist. “I’m sorry. What princess?”

  “Dad…dy…”

  I let it crack against her ass again before drawing back and creating lighter flicks against her skin all the way down her legs and back up to her ass where I crack her a little harder. She jolts and lets out another moan. I draw it back and let it crack against her ass cheek once more, creating a shade of red so beautiful that I can’t resist another hard lick across both of her ass cheeks. She whimpers loudly as I return to the slower, softer movements, this time trailing up her spine and back down as I slip a few fingers inside her soaking wet pussy, but only for a moment. “So fucking perfect.” I growl, retracting my fingers as I slap my hand hard against her ass cheek. She jumps, crying out as I move the tips of the flogger from the base of her neck down her lower back now. I pull back and slash the flogger against her ass again. Her knees seem to bend and she yanks hard at the cuffs around her ankles and wrists as she whimpers.