The aftermath of their sessions was always the same. He’d pull her close, wipe away her tears of hurt or frustration, and give her every bit of comfort and care she desired. Then they would spend the entire night fucking until they were exhausted and truly did want to sleep for a week. It wasn’t long before they were both surprised to discover that fucking was intensifying into lovemaking.
How it happened was a happy but unexpected mystery and one he was prepared to investigate and solve. What was happening to him? Davis had always been level-headed and serious. He had known for years how to dominate his relationships, how to maintain control. He remained committed more to work than anything else and now he was suddenly having one hell of a good time learning to play in the company of an extraordinary woman. He was also falling in love. Imanya was special and he had every intention of making sure she knew it.
Davis took a huge step in that direction the night he handed her a small black velvet box. Originally he’d thought of asking her to help select a collar that meant something only to the two of them but he couldn’t resist when he happened to see the simple but elegant gold chain, with a clasp in the shape of a small, sculpted sea shell. Considering her love of the ocean, was anything more perfect or appropriate? It pleased him when her eyes filled with tears and she said she loved it. It pleased him even more when he knew she was telling the truth because she wore the necklace every day, with unmatched and absolute pride.
The only tension and strain on their relationship was the time she spent caring for Chase. Davis tried to be supportive but every month, as the day approached, it felt as if Imanya was dreading the visits more and more. When, after the two days, she finally returned, the stress and difficulty of the other man’s treatment and care was evident.
He never had any doubt when she said there was nothing going on between her and her former Dominant but he hated how the guy seemed so damned unappreciative of all the time and care she gave him. In truth, Davis was also concerned about himself. How could he not be apprehensive? It almost seemed as though Chase had some kind of hold over Imanya. She said love wasn’t what she and Chase really had but was she being honest with herself? Was she being honest with Davis? Was her dedication actually based on feelings of love she refused to acknowledge?
He attempted to question Imanya regarding her former relationship and the time she spent helping Chase. At first, her reluctance to talk made him suspicious until he realized she needed some of her own recovery time before she was ready to discuss anything. A day or two after her return, after she’d gotten some much needed rest and put her responsibilities out of her mind until the next visit, she would typically be more forthcoming and would always relay a few details about Chase’s responsiveness to his treatments. Davis never pressed for information even though he wanted to hear everything and more, but she seemed to regard her visits as an obligation she wanted to forget until the following month when her assistance would again be needed. It was becoming easier to ignore the other man and his needs during the time Davis had Imanya and her submissive heart, her caring and concern, all to himself. He was curious but did his best not to press for explanations even if he still believed Chase was a damn fool for not being gracious enough to accept Imanya’s gift of kindness with some dignity and gratitude.
Time was passing as Davis sat on the sand but he was used to waiting for her. Not being punctual was her only truly bad habit. He’d sat in this precise spot so many times waiting or watching her walking through the surf, but this day was going to be special because this was the day he was going to ask her to spend the rest of her life with him.
It was just after sunrise and the day was going to be chilly but without a cloud in the sky. “You want to go to the beach now?” It was obvious Davis was full of impatient disagreement with her plan. “I know how difficult it’s been for you to take care of Chase but what about taking care of yourself, Imanya? These sessions are becoming harder. I saw how exhausted you were when you got back here last night and you need some rest.”
Exhausted was a mild description. Depleted and drained was most likely more accurate. He was reading when she arrived an hour later than she’d promised and he’d been worried and angry when she hadn’t called. His first instinct was to insist she submit to punishment but, after seeing the dark circles under her eyes, his only directive was that she undress and kneel silently in front of him for an amount of time equal to the amount of time she was late. After they’d shared a warm bath, he took her straight to bed and held her for a long time. He was very much aware that she remained awake for quite a while before finally falling asleep in his arms.
Davis recalled that the morning light was still shadowy when he opened his eyes to see smoky green watching him. For an instant, he felt as if she was comparing the strength of his body with the diminishing life she had seen in Chase but then he saw her sparkle and forgot everything except that she was exactly where she belonged. The knowledge that she was with him, that she belonged only to him, had already made him hard.
The tiny golden seashell at the base of her throat glimmered as he nuzzled her breasts, licking her nipples, feeling them stiffen under his tongue. He felt her straining to get closer to him, his need growing as he accepted her heated invitation and swept his tongue into her mouth.
His hands moved swiftly, feeling as if he was touching every part of her at the same time; her bare back, her shoulders, her hips, the apex of her thighs. It was wonderful to run his fingertips over the beginnings of the wetness starting to gather in her sensitive folds, knowing he was the source of her arousal and that she desired his touch.
Now she was kissing him with an intensity that was all fiery sensation and he responded by fingering her center, gently pinching her clit and being rewarded with her gasp of pleasure. A moment later his tongue replaced his fingers and he sucked, licked, circled and aroused her to the point of trembling. His fingers moved back, then forward, this time sliding into her swollen wet heat. They belonged together and, after so many months, he knew exactly how and where to touch her to make her entire body tense with passion.
His lips moved back up to hers, then kissed down her neck before finding their way to her breasts. He could feel her clinging to him, feel her attempts to absorb every sensation, feel her pleasure. He pushed her knees up, pulled her legs apart and again found her favorite part. He was back to circling it with his tongue, watching as her body arched to get closer to him.
Caring for her was one of the things he did best and she needed his care. He pulled back, only to feel her reaching out as if reluctant to break their connection, but he rapidly moved between her legs, pushing, filling her, stretching her with heavenly pressure, feeling her tightness squeezing and milking him. Her legs were wrapped completely around his hips. She pulled him closer as waves of release washed over their bodies and they shuddered into a climax.
This was where she needed to be, where he needed her to be. He refused to wish that Chase wouldn’t linger but he wasn’t going to be sorry when the time finally came that allowed Imanya to be free of her obligations. Clearly the hours she was spending with her ex-Dominant were becoming more difficult with each passing month and he wanted to order her not to go but it had been her only condition right from the beginning of their own relationship. He’d given his word and agreed, so how could he possibly go back on it no matter how much he wanted to do exactly that? And now she wanted to go to the beach instead of taking a much needed rest?
“You’re right, Sir, I know I should rest but walking on the beach helps me relax. You’re also right about how difficult it’s been but,” her shoulders seemed to slump as she stared down at the floor, “the truth is, the treatments stopped working a couple of months ago. It was important to keep trying for a while but there really isn’t any hope left. This last time the doctor said it’s only a matter of days.” Imanya looked up, her eyes pleading. “Please, Sir? I promise I won’t stay very long.”
A matter of days? No wond
er she looked so depleted. Her mother had walked out leaving Imanya to shoulder responsibilities no child should have to face and then she’d been the one to care for her father, nursing him through his last hours. Now she was doing the same for Chase.
Davis reached out and pulled her close. “How about if we compromise? I missed you these last couple of days and I’d like us to spend some time together and get your mind on happier thoughts. Why don’t we go to that little coffee place down the street? After that I have a few things to do so I’ll drop you off at the beach and you can have an hour to walk but I want your promise that you’ll be back here no later than ten o’clock. Maybe we can drive up the coast and have lunch at that restaurant by the botanical garden. Agreed?”
Almost immediately the sparkle was back in her eyes. “Agreed! No later than ten. I promise.”
They’d gone to the quirky coffee shop down the street. Imanya had ordered some outlandish drink with an odd name, topped with more whipped cream than anyone should probably consume in one sitting, after which he’d driven to the beach. It was still early so he’d pulled close to the walkway leading to the sand and they’d sat for a few minutes while he kissed whipped cream off the tip of her nose and chatted about their plans for the rest of the day. She was still tired but Davis could see she was feeling more relaxed and, as long as the sparkle was in her eyes, he was content.
She laughed happily when she got out of the car, so excited to get closer to the water that she clumsily dropped her bag on the floor, scattering its contents. He couldn’t help but smile at her exuberance as she gathered her belongings and leaned in for another kiss before heading for the path that led to the sand. He returned her wave before pulling out of the parking area.
Ten o’clock. She promised to be back by ten o’clock so where the hell was she? He’d arrived back at the townhouse just before ten and she was nowhere to be found. At first he wasn’t concerned. She was always losing track of time and running late. Under the circumstances, he was inclined to give her a little leeway but when eleven o’clock came and went without her return, Davis drove to the beach and looked around. The place she always walked was nearly deserted and he didn’t see her anywhere. After a few minutes he drove back hoping she’d returned home in his absence.
He’d called her cell phone from the car, only to hear the familiar ringtone echoing in the vehicle. A quick search and he retrieved her phone from under the seat where it had probably fallen when she dropped her bag. She had been laughing and in such a hurry, she hadn’t even noticed it.
Back at the house he called her name but there was only silence. Where was she? Still holding her phone he tried to be logical. Glenn had no idea she had gone to the beach and he couldn’t have reached her by phone so that seemed to eliminate him. Could she have gotten some news about Chase? The doctor had said there wasn’t any hope left but, if she didn’t have her cell phone, no one could have contacted her. Did she meet someone she knew, started talking and lost track of time? He supposed it was a possibility but he hadn’t seen her when he’d gone to the beach and looked around. Had she forgotten her promise to be back at ten? Also a possibility. Imanya always seemed to be forgetting the time. It was her worst fault; maybe her only real fault.
Could something else have happened? Davis drove to the beach several times, drove along every road leading from his place to the water and back again. Where the hell was she? He paced as he scrolled though the numbers in her phone. He didn’t recognize most of the names, not that there were very many. Should he try calling someone? The one name he was looking for wasn’t there. Odd that he couldn’t find a listing for Chase although there was contact information for Glenn. Could she have gone to her office? Or her apartment? Both were several miles from the water and it was too far to walk but she might have taken a cab or bus. Logic prevailed again. If she was at her office or apartment, she would have called by now.
It was nearly two o’clock when he was both relieved and furious to hear a key turning in the front door lock. A moment later she was standing in front of him, eyes looking submissively downward, most likely afraid to see his rage and obviously aware of her broken promise.
“Sir, I’m so sorry. I wanted to call but I couldn’t find my phone. Please may I explain?”
He might have been relieved but that hadn’t eliminated his anger. “I found your phone on the floor under the seat of my car.” His tone was chilling and he was tempted to throw the phone at her or smash it against the wall. “I’m not interested in explanations. I don’t want to hear one word from you. You made a promise and you broke it. Your word means nothing. Go down to the studio and undress. I’d advise you to prepare yourself to face the consequences of your thoughtlessness.” He turned his back on her and walked out of the entry area, leaving her standing alone.
“Never punish in anger,” Davis repeated the phrase several times as he tried to get his temper under control and decide what he was going to do, how to handle the situation. At the moment, he wasn’t even certain who the true focus of his anger actually was. Was it Imanya? Chase? Himself?
He’d been lenient, not always behaving like a hardcore Dominant, because he knew life hadn’t been good to her and because nearly everything about her was so damned perfect. Imanya did almost all the right things. She said almost all the right things. She knew pretty much everything there was to know about him and he had fallen in love with her … but who did she love? Her unhesitating dedication to caring for her former Dominant seemed wrong somehow. Something about her relationship with Chase wasn’t ringing true but what the hell was it? What kept troubling him?
Determination to learn the complete truth drove him down the stairs. He wasn’t surprised to see her, nude, kneeling in front of his chair with her head bowed. Her clothes were neatly folded on the bench near the door and it was exactly what she was supposed to do. There she was: four hours late, yet, perfect as always. The sight of her, kneeling submissively, infuriated him even more. She knew what he expected but chose to ignore it, chose to put someone else’s needs before his. Never punish in anger. It was a rule he knew not to break but this might be the one time he lost control.
“You made a promise.” It was more of an accusation than a statement. “Never in our time together have I denied you anything. I’ve cared for you, I’ve disciplined you with consideration for your needs and I’ve kept my word about permitting you to care for another man but it was too difficult for you to keep your word. Instead of respecting my wishes, you, again, lost track of time and didn’t call. Did it enter your mind how worried I might be? I can’t even say how often I drove to the beach looking for you, how concerned I was for your well-being, but did you bother to think about that? We’re not in some vast rainforest in Tasmania that makes communication impossible. Even if you didn’t have your phone, there are other phones and you should have called. More than that, you should have been on time.” He took a deep breath. “Bend across the arm of the chair. Now!”
Never punish in anger. In his mind, he repeated the phrase over and over, willing himself to stay calm yet attempting to convince himself that anger was justified. Imanya did as she was told, never making a sound. What else would he expect from his perfect submissive? Was she his submissive or, in her heart, did she still belong to Chase?
Davis reached over and removed an item from where it hung on the wall. “Imanya, I’m using the strap on you. It’s what you deserve and it might teach you to have more consideration. Stretch out your arms and hold on to the edge of the chair. Don’t move or I’ll double your punishment.” He hadn’t even decided on a number of strokes but he didn’t especially care. Let her wonder. Let her feel some of the hurt and confusion he was feeling.
Ten times the strap came down across her ass. He heard ten impacts of leather hitting flesh and he saw ten bright red stripes across her pale, bare skin. She never moved, never made a sound and Davis had the distinct feeling the punishment had impacted him more than her but something told him
it was time to stop. Never punish in anger and that was exactly what he’d done. Furious at her and himself, he flung the strap against one of the walls.
“You have exactly five minutes to get dressed and meet me upstairs,” he was slightly out of breath, “although I’m not yet certain if I’m ready to forget your thoughtless behavior.” As he left the room he saw her drop to her knees, saw her tears. He felt as if he was going to choke with guilt.
Davis bolted up the stairs, knowing he couldn’t stand to watch if she showed any indication of pain. Damn Chase! Was it possible to hate some guy he didn’t even know? Some guy who was dying? The doctor said it was only a matter of days. Was it wrong to hope it was only a matter of hours? And what was going to happen when Chase’s days and hours were over? Was Imanya finally going to be free of her former Dominant or still bound to him on some strange level?
Maybe he should make an attempt to meet with Glenn and talk to him about the relationship between Chase and Imanya. Glenn was the one who had trained her and introduced her to Chase so perhaps he would know if what she was feeling was honest concern or something more. In truth, did he want to know? If he could think clearly enough to be honest with himself, what he wanted was to do what he had been planning: to take her down to the beach and ask her to spend the rest of her life with him. The ring was in his pocket. Earlier in the day, when he had kissed away the whipped cream she had gotten on the tip of her nose from sipping her coffee drink, he was sure she’d say yes. Now he wasn’t sure about anything.
Davis glanced at his watch. Her five minute limit had come and gone. She was only one floor below and she still couldn’t manage to be on time? The little patience he had was rapidly evaporating. He couldn’t hear a sound; there wasn’t anything to indicate she was on her way and he stampeded down the stairs, prepared to demand more than a simple explanation.
Twist (A BDSM & Romantic Erotica Boxed Set) Page 15
