The truth seeped into his bones. Somehow he had to make it right. Lisa deserved no less.
“I’m wrapping up things here and I’ll be at your house in about thirty minutes. I love Brianne’s lasagna. Tell her I need a woman’s opinion on how to fix this.”
Nate laughed. “Brianne will love to tell you what to do. See you in thirty. Drive carefully.”
Conor’s phone went dead, and he tossed it in his briefcase, snapping it shut with force. It was time to man the fuck up. The first step was to have dinner with his kids and listen to them talk about their day, argue with each other, and referee the fights. He didn’t want to control his children. He wanted to love them and be the best father he could. He wanted to share in their lives, no matter how crazy and chaotic.
He stood up from his desk intending to head for the exit when Carrie walked into his office. He stifled his irritation at her interruption. She’d been acting more professionally in the last few weeks.
“Carrie, you’re here late.”
She walked up to his desk and perched on the edge. “Not really. It’s actually early for me. I don’t usually leave before nine. It’s only seven thirty.”
“I’m heading to have dinner with my kids. Can whatever you need wait until tomorrow?”
She gave him a strange look. “You’re leaving early to have dinner with your kids? I heard Naomi say that Lisa was out of town.” She stood up and pressed herself close to him, her hands running over his chest and grasping his shoulders. “I know you and Lisa have been having issues. She doesn’t understand a man like you, that’s easy to see. You’re a winner, Conor. A winner needs room to run. I understand you. I know what you need.”
Holy fuck in the morning. I don’t need this shit.
He grabbed her hands and pulled them from his body, pressing them away from him.
“Is that how you see me? We’re happily married.”
A perfectly shaped eyebrow arched. “That’s how everyone sees you. You don’t act like a happily married man. She may have complained that you work too much, but you still look for reasons to stay late at the office. You keep work you could easily hand off to one of us. It’s your law firm, Conor. You’re the boss, but you work like a junior associate trying to get the boss’s attention. That screams of a man who doesn’t want to go home. Well, I don’t want to go home either. We can have some fun together. I don’t mind that you’re married.”
He shook his head in disbelief, but her words shot arrows into his heart. Apparently, not just family had noticed what a fucking coward he was. He’d managed to convince a member of his staff, and who knows who else, he wasn’t in love with his wife.
“I do mind, Carrie. I mind very much. I love Lisa, and for your information, she understands me better than I understand myself. I’m not going to endanger my marriage for what would be a casual fuck. Honestly, I’m not attracted to you. But you are a good attorney. You don’t need to do this.”
He tried to say the last part as gently as he could. It wasn’t her fault she read him wrong. The responsibility lay firmly with him. He had major changes to make in his life.
Suddenly, he didn’t need Brianne’s advice. He knew exactly what he needed to do to make this up to Lisa. Things were becoming clearer in his mind.
Carrie stepped back, pulling her wrists out of his hands. “You’re an asshole. You led me on.”
“No, Carrie.” He picked up his briefcase and started for the door. “I am an asshole, but I didn’t lead you on. I’ve been nothing but professional in the few interactions I’ve had with you. If working late tells you I want to have an affair, I think you’re reading too much into the situation. You don’t want me anyway. You want to become a partner. This is not the way to go about it.”
He turned and headed out the door not even glancing back. He’d deal with Carrie later. He pulled out his phone and punched in a number.
“Naomi? Shit, I’m sorry to bug you at home. I’m going to be gone for a few days. Hand my cases off to Barry and Tom. I’ll send them e-mails, but I wanted you to know about it. What? No, I’m not sick and Lisa and the kids are fine.”
He walked out of the building and headed for his car, the full moon illuminating the night as if it were still day.
“I’m having dinner with my kids, helping them with their homework, and then I’m going to New York.”
Chapter Ten
Lisa rode down the elevator of the luxurious New York City hotel, heading for the gallery. She didn’t really need to go there again today. Her pieces were all set up and placed, the lighting carefully selected. But if she didn’t go, she was going to have to find some way to fill her day. She just wasn’t in the mood for a trip to Bloomingdale’s or a trip to the top of the Empire State Building. She was brooding for Conor, wishing he could have come with her. She’d talked to him and the kids last night and he’d sounded so damn happy.
He wasn’t supposed to be that happy without her.
The doors slid silently open, and she headed toward the large glass doors that led to the busy street. She pulled her jacket closer around her neck. She’d lived in sunny Florida too long not to feel the autumn chill hovering over the city.
She pulled her phone out of her purse to send a text to Conor saying “good morning” when she ran into a wall of solid muscle that smelled really good. She looked up into the smiling face of her handsome husband.
Conor.
Her jaw dropped, but he only grinned and pulled her into his arms.
“I was just about to send you a text.” She held up her phone, feeling confused, but happy.
He stepped back and pulled out his phone. “Go ahead.”
She threw up her hands. “I was just going to say good morning. What are you doing here? You didn’t say anything about coming when we talked last night.”
He kept grinning. “I didn’t, did I? Are you surprised? I wanted it to be a surprise. I caught the red eye out of TIA.”
She nodded weakly. “I’m surprised. You’re full of surprises lately.”
His hands gripped her arms. “Are you happy I’m here, blondie? I’m sorry I didn’t come until now. Fuck, I’m sorry about a lot of things. I think I understand a whole lot more now. I know what needs to be done.”
She felt happiness bloom inside her, pushing out all the doubt that had taken up residence in the past year. Conor looked happier than she could ever remember seeing him.
“What needs to be done?”
“Well, I’ve already reminded you of how it was in the past. Now I need to show you how it’s going to be in the future.”
She giggled, pressing herself close to him. “A preview, huh? That’s always been my favorite part of the movie.”
He picked up his suitcase with one hand and curled his hand around her elbow with the other, leading her back to the elevator.
“Let’s go back to your room. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
The elevator doors slid shut, and he leaned down and kissed her hard, sending her senses reeling.
“And blondie? Thanks for not giving up on me.”
Her heart was so full of love she thought it might burst.
“I’ll never give up on you. I love you.”
They couldn’t get into her room fast enough, their clothes dropped like a trail of breadcrumbs all the way to the king-sized bed. When he pulled away, she grabbed his shoulders to tug him back.
“I have a couple of surprises for you. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a deer-skin flogger through TSA, but I do have a few things you might like.”
Arousal hummed through her veins, and she reclined back on the pillows, loving the way his muscles moved under his skin as he pulled a long, black strip of fabric from the suitcase. Her pussy gushed cream as she imagined it tied around her head, covering her eyes and keeping her vulnerable and sightless. He rummaged further and brought out long strips of silk rope.
She reached up and started playing with her nipple
s, getting them hard and tight. She’d caught Conor’s attention, and he watched intently. She slid one hand down her stomach, her eyes never leaving his, her finger dipping into her wet cunt. She swirled her fingers around her clit. Conor’s expression was almost feral as she played with herself. Touching herself and getting pleasure from anyone or anything but Conor was expressly forbidden. She was jonesing for a punishment.
Finally, his hand snaked out and wrapped around her wrist, bringing her fingers up to his mouth. He leisurely licked her fingers clean, all except one. He lifted her finger to her lips.
“Your turn.”
She sucked his finger into her mouth, tasting herself. He smiled in approval.
“Good little pet, although you’ve been very naughty. Do you need to write more lines? You seem to be forgetting the rules often these days.”
She shook her head. “Obviously, writing lines isn’t working as a punishment. I need something else to remind me of my place, Master.”
He smoothed her hair back from her face. “I love it when you use my title. I was afraid for a while I would lose it. I only have it because you’ve gifted me with it.”
“I’ll never take that gift back, but you’ve taken one from me.”
His expression was shocked. “What did I take?”
“You don’t call me ‘slave’ anymore.”
Now he looked uncomfortable. “I didn’t think it was right to call you that. We’re not twenty-four seven any longer.”
Lisa smiled. “Looking back on things, I’m not sure we ever were. We had our own style, our own way of doing things. It worked for us, though.” She pressed her palm to his chest. “Please, Master, call me your slave again. When we’re together like this. It helps me.”
He nodded, understanding she needed it to get into the right headspace for these times together.
“You are my good slave. My beautiful, sexy, and very obedient slave.”
She didn’t miss his emphasis. As they’d renegotiated their relationship, she’d pushed the boundaries of his tolerance more than a few times. She missed pleasing him with her submission.
“Yes, Master. I will be obedient.”
He sat back on his heels. “Do you want to be obedient, submissive to me right now?”
She dropped to her knees next to the bed, instinctively knowing exactly the position to move in to. Her knees went wide, her hands behind her back, and her forehead rested on his polished shoes. She felt her entire body relax, her mind growing calmer with each breath.
“Yes, Master. Please let me serve you.”
His fingers stroked her hair, slowly, letting her feel her submission as deeply as possible. She heard the clang from the metal of his belt buckle and the smell of leather wafting through the air. Her cunt dripped honey down her thighs and arousal pooled low in her belly.
His hand came down on the top of her head. “In position, slave. Now.”
She didn’t hesitate at the deep command in his voice, anticipating the kiss of his belt on her eager flesh. She jumped up and positioned herself at the end of the bed, leaning over, palms on the bedspread, ass in the air. She braced her legs far apart and waited in supplication. This was what she loved the most. The dark, sweet domination. The only thing that would make it better would be bondage.
He must have read her mind. He quickly wrapped the strip of black fabric around her eyes, closing off her sight. Her other senses heightened immediately, bringing the brush of his skin and the scent of her own arousal into sharp focus.
She felt the slide of the silk rope over her right wrist, then her left, binding her hands behind her back. Her vulnerable ass was even higher in the air now, her face pressed into the mattress.
“What rule did you break, slave?”
“I touched myself for the purpose of pleasure, Master.”
“Where does your pleasure come from, slave?”
His voice was so deep and compelling it sent a shiver up her spine and tingles straight to her clit.
“Only you, Master.”
“What is the penalty for stealing pleasure, slave?”
“I give up my right to pleasure, Master.”
His hand patted her bottom. “That’s correct, slave. However, you did not steal release, so your penalty will be something different. You’ll take fifteen with the belt, then I’ll play with your body as I please. You’ll accept any pleasure I decide to give you without complaint. Understood?”
“Yes, Master.”
She wasn’t sure exactly what he meant, but he wasn’t going to give her any more details. She had no choice but to submit to his will completely. It felt good to sink into obedience this deeply. It had been so long since she’d felt this way.
She couldn’t see anything, but she heard his soft footfalls on the carpet as he positioned himself behind her.
“You may come whenever you need, as often as you need, slave. What is your safeword, slave?”
“Batman, Master.”
“Use Robin if you need to.”
She swallowed hard. What sounded like good news was probably going to mean he was planning to torture her with pleasure, bringing her to orgasm again and again until she was begging for respite. Begging was out of the question, however. She’d agreed to accept any pleasure he deigned to give her without any complaint.
I am in so much trouble. The good kind.
She heard the belt whistle through the air and then the smack as it landed across her ass cheeks. She went up on her toes and the heat from the strike made her yelp. He waited until her feet were flat on the floor and she was positioned for the next strike.
Each of the next four came down hard and measured. Conor made sure to wait while she felt every moment of the pain turning to delicious heat. After a count of five, she had honey dripping from her thighs and her pussy clenched, needing Conor’s hard cock fucking it.
“Do you need to use your safeword, slave?”
No way.
“No, Master.”
“We’ll continue.”
He gave her five more, a little quicker than the first set. Each time he’d brought the belt down, he’d caught a little of her pussy, and she was panting and moaning by the time he gave her a moment to catch her breath.
“I think you like your punishment, slave.”
Lying was a punishable offense.
“Yes, Master. I do.”
She felt his fingers rub her sore bottom. “Five more. When I’m done, stay in position. You do not have permission to move.”
Instead of giving her the final five, his fingers slid from her ass cheek to delve inside her wet slit. A finger went deep inside her pussy while another brushed her swollen clit, making her body tremble on the edge of release. She almost went over when he pulled his hand away. She whimpered in protest, but he wasn’t swayed in the least.
She heard the backswing of the belt before it landed, drawing a stripe of heat across her already tender flesh. He made her wait for every one, taking his time, drawing out the excruciating anticipation as long as he could. Conor was a master at knowing exactly how much she could take. When to push, when to back off. He played her body and emotions like a maestro. When he was done, her bottom was on fire and her pussy was flooded with moisture. She rubbed her hard nipples against the bedspread in an effort to bring herself off.
“Good girl, pet. I’m proud of you. Come for me. Now.”
His fingers were on her clit, and her orgasm shook her to the very core. If his arm hadn’t been wrapped around her waist, she would be fallen to her knees with the pleasure swamping her senses. He held her until the shaking subsided and she could stand on her own.
She gulped in air in an effort to slow the pounding of her heart. She had almost come down from her climax when she heard the buzzing noise and then the vibrations against her clit. He must have brought the small vibrator shaped like a tube of lipstick from her dresser drawer.
She was on the edge of release again almost instantly, her body primed and
ready. He held the vibrator on her clit as she came again and again, never letting her down from one before climbing for the next.
At some point her knees had given out and she was lying on her stomach, sprawled on the bed, her thighs parted and covered with her honey. She’d floated in and out of clouds of passion, pleasure, and desire. She licked her lips, dry from panting, and sighed in relief as the vibrations ceased. Conor untied her wrists and his hands massaged her shoulders and back. Lisa reached up to push away the blindfold, but Conor’s hands stayed her.
“The blindfold stays on, pet. I’m not done with you yet. There’s more. Much more. Stay there and rest for a few minutes, I’ll be back for you.”
Not knowing what he had in store for her, Lisa let all her muscles relax. She smiled when she heard water running in the bathtub. After all those orgasms, a bath sounded heavenly. She waited until she heard him return, his hands gently guiding her to stand.
“Let me lead you, pet. I don’t want you to run into anything.”
They walked slowly into the bathroom. She could feel the steam rise from the water, hear the jets in the tub making it swirl. He helped her step into the water, and she let out a long, slow breath as the pulsating water enveloped her body. Conor didn’t say a word but went to work with a washcloth and some of her coconut-scented bath gel, washing her starting at her toes.
The rough texture of the cloth woke up every inch of her skin, and she was tingling all over by the time he reached her shoulders. She heard him move away then he was in the tub with her, straddling her body. His hand wrapped around the back of her head.
“Suck, pet.”
Remind Me, Master [The Martinis and Chocolate Book Club 5] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 12
