Black Widow (Duet)

by Lena Austin

  “Let’s see. One, you have a sore butt and don’t care. Two, you’re opening up to new things. Three, you haven’t collared Calder…”

  “All right! Your point is made. I’m sunk. Now what?” Kelly couldn’t keep the dread from her voice. “What if he doesn’t feel the same?” She closed her eyes.

  “Girlfriend, are you or are you not the Black Widow?” Angie barked.

  Kelly nodded.

  “Are you going to change who you are to please any man?”

  Shock had Kelly’s eyes flying open. “Fuck, no!”

  “Then he’ll either like what you are, or he’ll go away and you’ll know he wasn’t Prince Charming after all, now won’t you?” Angie put her hands on her hips. “Now you just listen to Mama. Think like Black Widow. He should see all sides of you, shouldn’t he?”

  Calder had only seen Kelly’s softer side. The kind that baked cakes and loved to fuck until both collapsed in a heap. Angie was right. Calder needed to see the bitch that Black Widow was.

  “Uh, yes. Yes, he should!” Kelly got up to pace, trailing cotton balls from between her toes. “He’s going to see the hard side of BDSM tonight. And I must be all Black Widow for the client’s sake. Calder’s only had a glimpse of that.”

  “If he doesn’t run screaming out the door, then maybe there’s a chance for him, right?” Angie steepled her fingers together in front of her lips in a gesture of supreme confidence.

  “Right! This evening, he sees the bad girl.” Kelly got a dreamy look of anticipation on her face. “I wonder how he’s going to react to that?”

  * * *

  Kelly looked up at the clock on the microwave, gasped, and snatched up the remains of their dinner. “Shit! We only have an hour until they arrive. I lost track!”

  Startled, Calder grabbed the last piece of garlic bread, well-softened with spaghetti sauce, from his plate. He watched, amazed, as Kelly efficiently loaded the dishwasher and turned off the burners on the stove. “Where’s Sadie?” he asked.

  Kelly glanced up with an amused grin as she wiped the countertop. “Downstairs. She and Devon will be the demo models tonight.”

  Gulping, Calder assimilated the implications in a nanosecond. “Sadie’s into pain?” He tried very hard to keep his tone casual. He wasn’t sure if he could help cause pain to a friend, and he did count Sadie in that category.

  Kelly came around the island and poured Calder more sweet tea from the pitcher before starting to strip off her jeans. “Yup! It’s part of her pay. She’s not into hardcore S&M, but she likes the release of a beating now and then.” She grunted, and stepped out of the jeans before yanking off her tee shirt. She now stood in a patent leather singlet held up by a jeweled chain that left little to the imagination.

  Calder didn’t need his imagination. He barely kept his tongue from lolling out and howling like a werewolf at the full moon.

  She took one look at his face and shook a finger at Calder. “Nuh-uh, gorgeous.” Folding her clothes, she laid them carefully next to her chair. “I’m Black Widow tonight, and therefore untouchable. You keep your hands to yourself until after the party. If you still want to rumba then, we’ll see if I’m not too tired.”

  Calder noted an aura of reserve, dignity, and… his mind searched for the appropriate word -- well, authority was as close as he came… fall over Kelly.

  “Is it okay if I ask why you wear that little number” -- he gestured to the outfit --”if you’re untouchable?”

  “Simple. Heat. I’m going to work up a sweat very soon. You’ll see.” She sauntered out of the room barefoot and padded to the front door. While she checked to make sure the door was unlocked, by simply opening and shutting the door, she continued. “But first, I need to teach you about wax play and send Devon up to act as doorman. Come on. We don’t have much time.”

  Calder followed BW down the stairs, musing to himself. He noticed even his appellation for Kelly had shifted in his own mind to BW. That alone was an art form.

  “I can appreciate the psychological value of that outfit, as well,” he commented as they made their way down the stairs. “It screams sex, wealth, and power.”

  BW’s hands were busy, pulling her shoulder-length hair into a ponytail and then twisting it into a bun, but she nodded. She barely acknowledged Sadie and the handsome male sub Calder assumed was Devon when they fell to their knees in the main “parlor.” But Sadie was cheeky enough to give Calder a wink.

  Calder followed BW to a room he’d never seen opened before. When she sailed into the brightly lit room, Calder caught the strong scent of candles, that warm, waxy smell with an undertone of herbs. The generously sized room contained a large, long, padded table reminiscent of a doctor’s examination room, a rolling cart, and a table with a candle arrangement.

  “Come here, Calder.” BW’s tone was brisk, just a hair’s breadth below a command.

  “Am I to be your subordinate tonight, BW?” he asked quietly.

  “Actually, your official title will be bodyguard, and that will be your primary duty. The client coming later tonight is a stranger. He has already signed the release papers and they are filed, but a smart Domme never works alone with an unknown male sub. It’s for his protection as much as mine.” BW’s tone was as coldly businesslike as he’d ever heard, and her eyes were imperious.

  “I get it. No chance of any accusations of assault, sexual or otherwise, as long as there’s a witness.” Calder decided to stand a respectful distance away, and assumed a position similar to “parade rest.”

  BW gave him a tight smile and a nod. “Nice, but I need you to experience this.” She waved a hand to a small display of three pillar candles, and then lit them as Calder approached.

  “Calder, which of these candle waxes is safe to use on human skin?”

  Calder examined each pillar minutely. One smelled of beeswax and looked expensive. One was pink and gave off a floral bouquet. The final candle was a cheap white pillar you could buy anywhere.

  “I’m going to eliminate the pink, scented one immediately. It could contain volatile oils that could cause allergic reaction and might make it hotter,” he mused aloud.

  “Correct.” BW picked up the pink pillar and blew the candle out.

  Then a thought struck Calder, just as he was about to choose the expensive beeswax candle. His physical therapist had used paraffin on his right hand after he’d broken his wrist a few years before. Paraffin was cheap. On impulse, Calder pointed to the cheap white candle. “That one, if it’s made of paraffin.”

  If he’d thought BW was icy, then he was wrong. Her whole face lit up and her eyes warmed. “Very good, Calder. You’re right. Stick out a hand.” She picked up the beeswax candle and blew it out.

  Calder trusted her enough now to present his hand, palm down, without a second thought. Kelly dribbled a tiny amount of wax from the white candle on the back of his hand.

  Calder gave his lover a smile as full of promise as he could manage. “It’s warm, and doesn’t hurt at all. And I can well imagine how this would feel on more sensitive areas of someone’s anatomy.” He leered suggestively at the creamy white mounds barely restrained by her bra-like cups.

  Kelly giggled and colored like a schoolgirl. Then her eyes lit with mischief. She reached under the table where the candles had been and pulled out a hollow wax form in the shape of a long mound, with a used wick sticking out the top. Calder stared for a moment, then looked inside and choked back a laugh. There was a clear definition of a penis inside. “Michael?” he asked. He could clearly imagine his own hardened cock getting dribbled with wax until the “candle” was formed. Michael would have had his lit, for the adrenaline rush.

  At BW’s nod, Calder couldn’t contain his laughter any longer. He roared with it until a small “Ahem!” from the door interrupted.

  Sadie held out a bundle of black leather and chains, with a pair of black high heels on top, to BW. Calder nearly slapped himself to keep his jaw from dropping. Sadie, who had always dressed
in a simple pair of khakis and polo shirt, now wore a plain red thong and nothing else. Her smooth café-au-lait complexion was now rosy, and her nipples crinkled in what Calder assumed was high sexual excitement.

  Before Calder could say a word, BW dismissed Sadie with a “Go.” He put the odd “candle” back under the table as Sadie fled the room. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw BW return to that cool icicle that was her public persona by stepping into the shoes Sadie had brought. The shoes added so much height; they would have been nose to nose if they stood facing each other.

  “Calder, I know this is asking a lot, but I’d like you to wear this while you’re my bodyguard. If you like it, consider it a gift.” BW thrust the leather bundle at him, looking serious, even slightly worried.

  Calder took the bundle and unfolded a pair of leather pants with a matching belt. A chain contraption fell to the floor, but Calder was too stunned to care. “BW, this is a very expensive gift.” He held them up to himself, and was surprised to see even the inseam length might actually be long enough. He’d never thought he’d be able to own leather, though he’d looked at the displays in stores plenty of times.

  “I need you to look the part.” BW shrugged, but he could read she was pleased.

  Calder immediately stripped out of his jeans and pulled the pants on. They fit like a second skin, and required some undignified wiggling, but Calder was impressed with the buttery feel. “How did you know my size?”

  Impishly, BW grinned. “You left your jeans on the floor when you showered this morning. The size tag was legible enough. Sadie and I took some educated guesses on the rest of the measurements. The ones used to create this.” She picked up the chain contraption on the floor. “It’s a chain bandolier. Would you mind?”

  He eyed the bandolier dubiously. “Doesn’t wearing chains make me a sub?” He couldn’t even figure out how to put the thing on.

  “Suspicious, suspicious!” BW snickered. “No, Calder. Not necessarily. It is just part of the costume. It will make you look mean.” She made a vicious face. “If I were going to make you look like a sub, I’d put a collar on you. But that would be stupid. You couldn’t act submissive if you tried, right now.” She held the contraption up where two large holes in the chains were revealed. “Here, try it on, at least. I’ll clip the back. If you don’t like it, I won’t make you wear it.”

  Relieved, Calder put his arms through the holes and BW moved behind him. He felt the chains tighten, and then heard a click. He shivered as the weight of the cold chains settled on his skin. “Shit! That’s cold!” he complained.

  “It will warm up in a minute, I promise.” BW moved in front and gave him an assessing look from head to toe. “Yum, yum, Calder. You look good, especially with your nipples all crinkled.” She flicked a nail over one brown nipple.

  “Tease! I’ll get you later for this,” he growled, feeling his crotch tighten.

  “Later,” she promised, and stepped closer, her eyes hot.

  “Mistress,” came a voice from the door. “Whoa!”

  Sadie stood in the open doorway with her mouth hanging open, staring at Calder. She choked for a moment before continuing, “Master Calder, don’t you look fine!”

  She blew out a breath and visibly got hold of herself, much to Calder’s amusement. Maybe this costume wasn’t so bad, especially now that the chains weren’t feeling like they’d just come from the inside of the refrigerator.

  Sadie turned to BW and was immediately deferential. “Mistress, your guests are arriving. Oh, and the gentleman client called. The flight was delayed, so he’ll be a bit late, about an hour.”

  BW looked relieved. “Oh, good. That frees up a little more time for the demo.” She smiled indulgently. “I assume Devon is getting petted as usual upstairs?” At Sadie’s nod, Kelly tapped her chin with one finger. “Okay. Have Calder tie you to the table, then. I’ll greet the ladies and do the hostess thing. Calder can come get me when you’re prepared. Make sure he powders you well.” She swept out the door without another word.

  Calder stared at the empty doorway. What the hell was he supposed to do now?

  Sadie eyed Calder, and then smiled. “Don’t be scared, sugar. This is easy stuff.” She walked over to the table and boosted herself up. Pointing to some ropes dangling from the legs near the head of the table, she urged, “Grab those and put them on my wrists once I’m laying down.” She suited words to action and rested her head on the little pillow.

  Shrugging, Calder picked up the rope nearest him and slipped the loop around Sadie’s outstretched wrist, securing one arm above her head. Cinching the loop tighter around her wrist, he asked, “How’s that?”

  “A little looser. Don’t want to cut off my circulation. Good. Right there.”

  Calder moved around the table and performed the same service to her other wrist and checked the fit. “Now what?”

  Sadie nodded toward the table where the candle set BW had lit earlier resided. The white candle was still lit. “See the baby powder? Sprinkle it generously all over me, from neck to knees, please.”

  Calder spotted the distinctive white plastic bottle and did as he was directed. The room filled with the sweet scent, mixing with the smells of the candles. When Sadie’s dark skin was liberally covered, he put the bottle back. “Now what?”

  “Spread it all out. Make sure I’m covered as evenly as possible, especially my tits, and dump the extra into my bellybutton. Don’t want wax collecting there.”

  Feeling distinctly uncomfortable, Calder began rubbing the baby powder all over Sadie’s body, saving her breasts for last. He was having a hard time with this concept, even while his new pants tightened once more. “What’s the powder for?” he asked, trying to sound like he rubbed baby powder all over a woman’s body every day of his life. He told his hardening cock to shut up. It didn’t have a clue what it wanted.

  Sadie looked at Calder full in the face for the first time since she’d lain on the table. “The powder makes it so the wax doesn’t stick too much. When BW scrapes it off me with those knives over there, it will come off cleanly.”

  “Oh,” was all Calder could think to say. He glanced at the set of knives lying on a tray where a right-handed person could easily reach. Some were standard kitchen knives, and some were incredibly detailed knives with decorated handles. One looked particularly sharp and vicious.

  He scraped the small pile of excess powder toward Sadie’s navel and packed it in. “And the powder here prevents it from collecting in your navel where it can’t be scraped out easily?”

  “Right. I hate picking wax out of my ‘innie’ for days.” She lifted her head and checked his work. “Decent job. A little more on the right nipple, and then you can go call the Mistresses down to play with me.”

  Calder tweaked the right nipple with his powdered hands and watched Sadie’s eyes burn. How odd to touch a woman like this and know she’d get her jollies from something other than him. It was humbling, in a way. “What should I say?”

  “You’re a Dom, sugar.” Her voice was throaty. “Just say, ‘Black Widow, your sub is prepared’ or something. They won’t care. They are all going to be drooling over you and not hearing a word you say anyway.” She lay back on the table and shut her eyes.

  “Well, that’s flattering. I think.” Calder didn’t know what to say about being told so blatantly he was a mere sex object.

  “That’s what you get for being so damn gorgeous. Now go enhance the Mistress’s reputation. I promise they won’t bite.” She paused and her gaze roamed admiringly up and down his leather-clad form. “Well, maybe they will, the way you look.”

  Chapter Seven

  Calder was definitely not used to being eye candy. He’d wedged himself into the waxing room, as he’d termed it, choosing a spot near the door. It didn’t have the best view of BW’s lesson, but he was invisible to most of the women. One of them had had the nerve to pat his butt when they’d all crowded down the stairs! He swore he’d never pat a barmaid�
�s ass ever again.

  The sub Devon wove his way in deftly and positioned himself next to Calder. The generous room was now somewhat more crowded than Calder was comfortable with, but he and Devon were several feet away from the students.

  Kelly started off her lecture in the same vein as what she’d done with him. It amused him that most of the students picked the beeswax candle and paid for it with a minor first-degree burn spot on their skin.

  Devon sniggered quietly, and leaned toward Calder. “Best they learn that now, before they are allowed subs of their own.”

  Calder glanced down at the slightly shorter man. “You mean they are all so new they don’t have subs yet?” He kept his voice low.

  Rolling his eyes, Devon whispered, “Hell, no! They’d hurt someone in their ignorance. Most of them are just practicing on their significant others right now.”

  Sadie seemed to have almost gone to sleep, she was so still. Kelly explained. “As you can see, Sadie has gone into subspace just in anticipation.” BW’s gaze flickered to Calder for a moment before returning to pin her students. “Your subs may not be as experienced. It may be wise to perform the preliminary techniques we discussed in our last lesson to ensure the correct trance state.”

  Calder nodded his head a fraction of an inch. He got it. Kelly, er, BW had defined the term “subspace” to him.

  BW now picked up the white candle and began to dribble wax on Sadie’s sternum, then her belly. BW never paused in her lecture. “As you can see, I started with the less sensitive areas before moving inexorably to more and more sensitive areas. This builds tolerance in the skin up until the wax hits the nipples,” she looked up to grin impartially, “or other temperature-sensitive portions of the anatomy.”

  Calder felt his penis do its best to crawl into his belly with the visual. It was one thing to laugh at Michael’s “candle,” but BW was making it clear it could be done on any male. He wished with all his heart his leather pants were camouflaged to match the walls.

  By the sly glances some of the students shot him over their shoulders, they got the visual, too. Calder stood up straight and returned their eager stares impassively. He was doing his best to say with his body, “Don’t even think about it.” By the sighs and disappointed looks, they got the message loud and clear.