In the Middle

by Sindra van Yssel

  “How many was that?”

  “Four, Master.” Damn you. “Thank you, Master.”

  “Good girl. And I know what you’re thinking.”

  Uh-oh.

  He moved back behind her. The next blow was hot and heavy, but she didn’t have time to even clench from it before he landed another. Asshole. And then she realized that she was done, that was both of them. “Five! Six, Master. Thank you thank you thank you.”

  Fingers thrust inside her pussy; the rough leather of the crop sawed against her clit. She came like a rocket. Her muscles clenched his fingers and the plug hard. His body pressed against hers, and she could feel his hardness against her sore behind. Was I supposed to ask for permission? There wasn’t time. “Thank you, Master,” she said fervently.

  “You’re very welcome, beautiful.” Deft hands unwrapped the ropes from her wrists, then her thighs, then her ankles. He held her in his strong arms. She wanted more. Spreading her legs around his left thigh, she started to wiggle against it, getting perfect friction against her clit.

  He took control, pushing her against the frame again, spreading her farther by lifting his leg. He moved it back and forth, his torso pressing against the nipple clamps, his cock stiff against her belly.

  “Wanna fuck me, Master?” She didn’t care who was watching anymore.

  He paused for a fraction of a second. I actually threw him off balance. She’d been wondering if it was even possible. But he nodded, took a condom out of his pocket, unzipped his pants, and rolled the condom over his cock. And thank God he didn’t wait any longer than that but lifted her by her aching butt and thrust into her, filling her with one quick stroke. He leaned her against the X frame again, and she wrapped her legs around his ass. She could feel the butt plug and his cock almost sliding against each other, separated by a thin wall, and it confused her senses.

  He didn’t fool around. Each thrust filled her completely, stretching her and pounding her hard against the frame. She grabbed his shoulders and hung on tight. And then she was on the edge again, ready to come, trying to hold back.

  He reached up to her tits. “Come, girl.” He pinched one of the clamps open, and white-hot pain flooded her as the blood rushed back into her nipple. It hurt worse coming off than it did when it was put on, but it pushed her over the edge. She moaned low as she squeezed his shoulders, his ass, his cock, and the butt plug. He jerked up inside her and grunted, and the look in his eyes let her know he was coming too. Then he pulled off the other clamp, and her orgasm started all over again, forcing a scream from her that was pain and ecstasy. They rocked against each other, riding it out for every last moment of bliss. The fire from her tits mixed with the fullness of her ass and pussy to fill her with exquisite pleasure.

  “Oh wow,” was the first thing she said.

  “Yeah, I think that about covers it.” He grinned at her. “Want to cuddle?”

  “I’d like nothing better.”

  “Catch your breath. We need to clean up first, and then we will.”

  He held her until she nodded, and then slid out of her. He took care of the condom, then handed her a squirt bottle and a rag that were sitting next to the St. Andrew’s cross. While he put the toys and rope away, she cleaned the frame thoroughly.

  “One more thing, love.”

  “Hmm?” She didn’t see anything more to do.

  “Bend over, hands on the crotch of the frame,” he directed.

  She blinked but bent over as directed. She was starting to become more aware of the other people in the room, but their attention was mostly on their partners or on the couple doing an intense paddling scene twenty feet away. Perhaps she and Rob had been the center of attention while they were playing and her focus had been more inward; she didn’t know.

  He slipped the plug out of her. The sensation of it coming out was somehow even more intimate than that of it going in. Her pussy shuddered, an echo of the orgasms she’d had a few minutes before, pleasant and short.

  “You okay there, love?” His voice oozed pleasure. “You can get up now. And let’s find a nice rug with two pillows to cuddle on.”

  He’s pleased with me. She straightened and smiled at him, gazing adoringly. It’s a shame he has to go back home. He makes me feel so good, so valued, so right.

  He led her to a rug with two cushions, placed them next to each other, and then lay down next to her. She cuddled up to him, preferring his chest to lay her head on, and he didn’t object.

  He reached over, opened his briefcase, and pulled something out. Whatever it is, I hope it goes in my pussy. She couldn’t believe she still felt horny. But what he brought forth instead was a leather collar, exquisitely made, the three rings that adorned it polished to a mirror shine. He didn’t put it on her but set it on his chest, right where she could see it instead.

  “I want you, Louise. I want all of you. I want you for my very own, and I don’t want to share. I want your friendship, your love, and your submission.”

  But you’re going back to Chicago.

  “I’m going to be here for each of the next few weekends, learning the details of a business I bought. And after that, I’ll be staying here for at least several months. I’ll be buying a house here. And I’d like for you to live with me in it.”

  Me. He wants me. To live with him. The words were hard to make sense out of at first. And wear his collar. He’d told her once online that he thought of a collar as a kind of commitment, the sign of a pact that both Master and slave were expected to follow. A promise of protection, as well as a promise of service.

  She pulled away, wanting to think, and he let her go. She sat at first, half kneeling, her legs angled off to the side, her hand on the rug, supporting her. He sat up too, cross-legged, moving the collar to the space between them. At least he had the good grace not to babble on or try to argue her into it. Or order her.

  What of Daniel? But no, he knew about Daniel, and he’d chosen his words carefully. “I don’t want to share.”

  One or the other. Top or bottom, mistress or slave, Daniel or Rob. How can I choose? They both fulfilled her in such different ways. It wasn’t fair to keep them both waiting for her to make up her mind, and what if she never did? It wasn’t fair to dump one of them, either, to flip a coin and choose who she wanted to be with and what she wanted to be.

  On the cross, Rob had shown her sensations she loved but didn’t understand. She’d never felt anything quite like that before, so intense, so consuming. She wanted to feel that way again. She started to reach out for the collar and stopped. To take it was not just to make a choice; it was to deny who she was when she was a domme. To keep just half of herself and leave the other half behind.

  “No.”

  Their gazes met. She wanted to say more, but he took the collar and put it back in the case he’d brought. She couldn’t read anything from his face, and she knew he wanted it that way.

  She moved, deciding to say with her body what she couldn’t put into words. She knelt, spreading her knees, putting her wrists behind her. Naked, yielding. What am I saying? I want him, but I can’t accept his collar? I’ll submit to him, but I can’t do what he wants? She had to hope he understood.

  “Daniel?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “You won’t be complete with him, Louise.”

  “I wouldn’t be complete without him, either.”

  A smile quirked his face. “Who would think that after all these years I’d finally fall in love with a switch? I can’t let you go without telling you I love you.”

  She nodded. She supposed she knew that already. He wasn’t the sort of man to tell her he wanted her love if he wasn’t going to return it. “I love you too.”

  “Dammit.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  When she saw the hurt in his eyes, she wished she hadn’t said the word “Master.” Maybe I never had the right to, and I should have always used “Sir” or something more neutral. Water over the dam now.

 
; “I’ll get the car for you. Let’s go get your dress.”

  She never thought she’d object to getting to wear clothes in a public place, but she almost did. Instead, she nodded. She didn’t want to be demanding with him. It would spoil part of what was special. He got up, and she waited.

  “Permission to rise, Louise,” he said after a moment.

  She stood up, her heart heavy. He led her back to the door. A few minutes later, she was in a limousine, clothed again. “Aren’t you coming too?” she asked.

  “I’ve got some thinking to do. Tell the driver to go wherever you want to go. I’ll find my own way home.” He smiled as if to tell her everything was going to be all right, but she knew better. He closed the door, and almost immediately the limo moved, taking her away from Rob. Away from the man she wanted. She wondered if she’d made a mistake, if she’d just thrown away the best offer she’d ever get. She sighed. She didn’t want to go anywhere. Tears welled up in her eyes. She pressed the intercom button and told the driver her address. She tried to tell herself that it wasn’t the end, that when Rob said he needed to think, it was just that and not good-bye. But the tears flowed anyway.

  Chapter Eight

  Louise leaned back in her chair and smiled. It had taken time to get used to having a gorgeous naked man around the house much of the time, but she had persevered and managed to adapt. The chair itself was exquisitely comfortable, with a black walnut veneer and wine velvet cushions. Daniel had bought it for her. He was not allowed, nor did he wish to be allowed, to sit in it. A giant cinnamon-scented candle, her favorite, burned in its stand on the dining room table. He’d bought that for her too. He’d have showered her with presents if she would let him, but given that he was paying for the house and almost everything in it, she had kept careful notes of how much he was spending on her and had tried to invest a similar amount of money on things that would please him. Fetish wear mostly, since he so clearly appreciated the effort. Which was why she was wearing thigh-high boots with five-inch spikes and a tight vinyl minidress. She hadn’t quit her job despite his offer. It was tempting, but she didn’t want to be that dependent.

  He was kneeling on a velvet cushion in front of her, naked. She’d taken to having him remove his clothes when he got home. She rather enjoyed the fact that he couldn’t hide even the slightest hint of arousal from her. Ogling his backside when he walked wasn’t bad either. Watching his muscles as he flexed. Saturday mornings, however, she had told him he was allowed to wear what he liked. She had even made a point for the first few of wearing jeans and a T-shirt to try to make him feel comfortable being “off” for a few hours, but he showed up naked anyway. She’d invited him to pull up a chair, as usual on Saturdays, but he declined, also as usual.

  “So, Daniel, do you have anything you wish to bring up? Any difficulties with this week, or changes you’d like to see in the way we do things?” Maybe I should order him to wear clothes and sit on a chair. I want him able to bring things up, not be so deeply into his role as a sub that it’s “yes, Mistress” for everything.

  “I’m having a wonderful time, M—Louise. Thank you. No complaints.” He grinned at her, but she sensed something behind the grin.

  Should I push? “Out with it, Daniel.”

  He blinked.

  “I demand complete truthfulness from my sub at all times,” she said.

  “But as I understand it, I’m not your sub until we finished checking with each other on Saturday mornings?” His eyes danced.

  She laughed. “Very clever. And even then not if we decide to do yard work or something unerotic. What am I to do with you?”

  “Whatever you wish, of course.”

  “Only after we’re finished checking in. Maybe I should insist we continue this discussion throughout the weekend?”

  “As you wish.”

  Good God, he’s perfect. So why am I not completely satisfied? There must be something wrong with me.

  “There is one other thing, Louise.”

  “Ah-ha! I thought so.” She leaned forward. “What’s wrong, love?”

  “You get this look in your eyes sometimes. Like now. Of sadness or wistfulness. Or like you’re forcing it, trying to be the good mistress but not really into it. You know you don’t have to give me attention all the time, don’t you?”

  She nodded. “I do know that.” She was glad he didn’t ask what was bothering her. She was trying to make things work with Daniel, and mostly they were working fine. I’m just greedy. She couldn’t forget the nights with Rob, but she wasn’t interested in finding anyone else to top her. I don’t think anyone else would measure up. And I can’t be what Rob wants me to be.

  “You miss him, don’t you?”

  “Huh? Who?” She was a horrible liar and Daniel was used to ferreting out untruths, but she thought she’d try.

  “Rob. Randall X. Do you?”

  She frowned, hesitating between lying and evading.

  “I demand,” Daniel added, “total honesty from my lover.”

  She stared, trying to remember the last time she’d heard Daniel demand anything. She’d seen him with his staff or in court. He could be plenty demanding. But never with her. Never.

  He stared right back, with no give at all. She turned her head to avoid the heat of his gaze. “Some,” she admitted. “Doesn’t mean I’d choose him over you.”

  He nodded. “You never really chose at all, did you? He chose for you, by insisting you had to make a choice.”

  She made a face. “I don’t want to share,” Rob had said. That was pretty clear. Daniel was awfully close to the truth, but she didn’t want to admit it.

  “Yes, in other words,” said Daniel.

  “You know, I’m not sure I like you bringing your cross-examining skills to bear on me.”

  Daniel nodded. He didn’t move from his position. “I know I don’t like you hiding your desires from me, or your regrets. Even for my own good. How can I serve you if I don’t know what you need?”

  She smiled slightly. “I’ll get by, lover. I have everything a girl could ask for, really. Beautiful house, sexy man. And I’m not going to have you dominating me again. We know that doesn’t work well for us.” She moved her foot to tickle his scrotum with the toe of her boot. “We know what does too, don’t we?”

  Daniel gulped. “Um, yes, we do.”

  “We’re done with check-in, now, Daniel. Time to play.” She ran her toe up his rapidly hardening cock, angling it until her heel spike made contact at the base. “I see your cock agrees.”

  For a moment, she thought Daniel was going to argue with her. She was breaking her own rules, after all, not letting the whole discussion run its course. But then he put his hands behind his back. “Yes, Mistress. It does. Very much.”

  She suspected he was hiding something from the look on his face. It was all too easy. But she wasn’t going back to that conversation if she could avoid it. I really should be satisfied. In any case, some good sex will chase away those doubts. Shall I make use of his talented tongue or his big, thick cock? Or both? Either way, I want him hard.

  “Remember those cock cages in the store we went to, Daniel?” she asked.

  He shuddered almost imperceptibly. “Yes, Mistress.”

  “I don’t really like them much. I mean, I really don’t see the point.” She smiled as he visibly relaxed. He was so easy to tease. And it aroused him when she teased him, which was half the fun. “I mean, they make it hurt to try to get an erection, right? So what, you learn to be soft all the time? That’s not what I like. Now if they had something that made it so you’d be hard all the time, that would be great. Would you like to be hard all the time, Daniel? For me?”

  His eyes shone. “Yes, Mistress. I’ll do my best.”

  “I’m sure you will.” She pressed harder with the spike of her boot, not enough to damage anything but enough to know he’d feel it. “Otherwise there will be consequences.”

  He gazed at her adoringly. “Yes, Mistress.” />
  “Good boy.”

  The interchange was amusing her, arousing her even, but it wasn’t an aching-nipple-sopping-wet-pussy kind of arousal, more of a gentle glow. She wondered if she would enjoy topping him more if there was balance in her sex life, but that avenue was closed to her now. Sex with Daniel would have to be good enough. It was good enough. Not quite mind-blowing, but maybe sex was never meant to stay mind-blowing. He, on the other hand, was plenty hard. She suspected sex was still amazing for him, even when she wouldn’t let him come.

  Fuck the games. I know how to have him get me off. She lifted her skirt and wiggled until she was bare-bottomed on the chair. She’d been keeping her pussy hair trimmed because she kind of liked the feeling of having it bare, but without Rob to insist upon it, it didn’t feel quite the same. She crooked her finger at Daniel, and he moved forward. When his head was almost in her lap, she laced her hands behind it and pushed it down onto her pussy.

  “Eat me, boy,” she said, knowing it was rather redundant. And for a while, his skilled tongue did make her forget what she was missing. His technique kept getting better and better. He really was eager to please.

  “I love you, Daniel,” she murmured and pressed on his head to keep his mouth going at her pussy instead of responding. “I really do. Watching you get off on this stuff makes me want to be the best mistress ever.”

  Except, of course, when I’d really rather be the one kneeling.

  “RANDALL ELECTRONICS.”

  Daniel recognized the voice from the hotel. It was Rob all right. He had given the snippets of information Louise had shared to a private detective who had done jobs for him in the past. Now he knew he had a match. He’d cleared the afternoon for himself by buying Louise some time at an elegant salon and spa five miles away from their house. He put the phone down. Some things were better done in person.