“He’s on one of the committees I’ve had to report to a few times. He seems like a nice enough guy…or as nice as politicians ever get. He’s been straight up with me so far, and I can’t say that for all of them.”
“So, if he and I ever end up talking at a party, and I mentioned your name, would he know who I was talking about?”
“By name? I don’t know. Maybe. He’d recognize a picture for sure, but I can’t tell you what I reported to him about, so it’s probably best not to bring it up.”
“You’re home for another month, right?”
“Yeah. Dad’s doctors say he’ll be fine on his own by then, but if he isn’t I can stay for up to another six weeks, if necessary. Don’t worry about us Viv; we’ll be fine. I’m so happy for you, but...”
Viv knew where he was headed and didn’t make him finish the thought. “The odds of Tyler landing in Chattanooga are pretty much zero. Yeah, I know.”
“That isn’t what I was going to say, actually. I’m here for you if you need to talk, but otherwise it’s probably best for me to stay out of… whatever it is the two of you have going.”
“I’m sorry you’re uncomfortable with this. Maybe it’s best I’m leaving. You’re important to Tyler, and he’s important to you. I don’t want to do anything to come between your friendship.”
“God,” he said, sounding exasperated. “When did we become the family that talks shit out? Get your ass home where it’s safe. I worry about you when I know you aren’t armed.”
Chapter Fifteen
As Viv drove to the rental house the next morning, she knew there was a chance Tyler had found a position in Atlanta or maybe Nashville, but both were a two or three hour drive from Chattanooga. She’d learned from experience that long distance relationships don’t work.
On the one hand, her heart was broken, but she was also glad circumstances had intervened to keep them apart. It would be so easy to fall into a twenty-four/seven arrangement with Tyler, and the mere thought scared her senseless. She grudgingly admitted how not being in control of whether she could empty her bladder turned her on in small doses, but to be under those rules all the time? No. It wasn’t the type of person she was. She was a strong and independent personality, and the submissive parts of her psyche were just an escape. Not to mention, it made sex an incredible experience, but she wouldn’t live under someone else’s rules outside the bedroom.
She’d been seconds away from lying when she called him last night, and saying she had a last minute flight for another interview. However, when he’d said he wanted to spend the majority of the day at the rental house as equals, and he wanted her to start the scene when she was ready, but not until at least after dinner… he’d caught her off guard enough she forgot about trying to escape.
She felt guilty about not being able to give Tyler a list of possible cities, but when they’d made an actual job offer instead of telling her they’d be in touch, she hadn’t wanted to tell them she’d let them know. The job was everything she’d wanted — a well-funded program she’d be in charge of, and a population proud of their streams, rivers, and other natural resources, and willing to do whatever was needed to keep their water, land, and air clean.
Her heart was in her throat as she pulled up to the beautiful beach house and wondered if this might be their last days together. Was this really a good idea? Would it have been easier to let their fantasy date night be the way she remembered him?
* * * *
Tyler wanted to accept the job in Chattanooga. He really liked the people, and the types of jobs they specialized in were exactly what he’d hoped to find; plus their offer was more than double what the government had paid, with tons of perks he’d never have requested.
Was he willing to accept one of the other jobs though, if it meant he could be with Viv? What if he accepted a different offer, and six months from now she freaked about something and ended it? He didn’t know what to do.
He appreciated Kirsten’s insight regarding Viv’s emotional state, and could easily see Viv feeling spooked if she’d caught herself about to ask permission to use the restroom when not in power exchange. So, he’d follow Kirsten’s advice and make sure Viv understood he no longer wanted a twenty-four/seven arrangement. Hopefully, saying he wanted to see her outside of a scene for a good part of the day would go a long way towards convincing her.
When he arrived at the beach house his heart fluttered at the sight of her car in the driveway. God, he had it bad. Part of him wished she was in there naked and waiting for him, but they needed to talk first.
He walked in, took her into his arms, and gave what he hoped was more of an I’ve-missed-you kiss than a Dom kiss.
Veggies were baking in the oven, and steaks were marinating in the fridge. He was touched she’d thought to make the big meal of the day their lunch, and told her so as they walked outside to turn on the gas grill.
While he looked over the grill’s controls, Viv paced — almost as if she was working her nerve up to tell him something. He started to call her on it, but his inner voice cautioned him to wait, so he grabbed the wire brush and cleaned the grill’s cooking surfaces. When she finally stopped and faced him, the look on her face sent a chill to his heart.
“Tyler, I accepted a job. I know we’d planned to give each other a list, but I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to.” She waved her arms as she talked, realized what she was doing, and crossed them over her chest. “The truth is, there were only two real possibilities, and this one’s everything I was hoping for. I’ll be director of their ecology program, and will be responsible for tracking the darter population in a nearby river system and its tributaries. I’ll also be in charge of several projects monitoring mountain streams — watching for changes in the fish, snake, and salamander populations.”
Looking almost apologetic, she continued. “I’ll also be acting liaison to the local university and the county school system, and best of all, I’ll be allowed to create breeding programs for species I consider endangered or at risk, and will have the backing to help convince the government to recognize them as endangered. Not only that, the local government is very proactive about keeping the environment and the river clean, and they want my input as to where the dollars need to be spent to make it happen. I couldn’t have created a better program if I’d written it myself.”
Tyler set the wire brush aside and turned to face her as he patiently waited for her to finish. When he was sure she was done he said, “I’m happy to hear about it, and to see how excited you are, but I don’t want you to feel as if you have to explain yourself.” He wanted to walk to her and take her into his arms, but was afraid she’d rebuff him.
He took a breath as he picked up the wire brush, changed his mind, and put it back down. Finally, he turned to face her, and asked the million-dollar question. “Where is it?”
She shook her head. “Not until I see your list.”
Tyler kissed her forehead and stepped around her, his heart in his stomach as he went into the house to retrieve his list from his laptop case.
The return to the deck felt as if he were walking a gauntlet — like he was living the final moments of life as he knew it. His arm refused to raise, and he had to force it up to hand her the list. Chattanooga was his number one pick, with a variety of large cities around the country listed next.
Viv’s electric blue eyes briefly went wide with panic before she composed herself and looked up to meet his gaze. “I accepted a job with the Tennessee Aquarium. In Chattanooga.”
Tyler’s heart did a huge loop-de-loop. He was ecstatic, but the moment of panic in her eyes had him worried. “When do you start?”
“In ten days. I plan to drive up in the next four or five days, I think. They’re allowing me the use of an apartment across the river for six months. And there’s this awesome pedestrian bridge across the river, so I’ll have less than a five minute bike ride to work. With traffic, it’ll probably be faster to bike than drive.”
Viv didn’t look happy, and he pulled her to him and caressed her cheek. “Now Viv, I need to tell you something I realized the day we went scuba diving. I should’ve told you earlier, but…” He stopped, started again. “I don’t really want a twenty-four/seven relationship with you anymore. I love your spunky parts as much as I love your submissive side. It’s why I wanted time with you this evening before we even thought about a scene, because I’ve missed you. I’ve missed both parts of you, of course, and can’t wait to have you naked and in my complete control, either. But first, I wanted to see you, this part of you.”
“You’re not just saying that?”
“You should know me better than that by now.”
Chapter Sixteen
Viv pulled into the driveway and exhaled, letting the stresses of the day go. She’d been in Chattanooga six months and loved her new job, but it’d been a huge transition. The real world operated on different rules than the academic, and while the change had been refreshing, it hadn’t been easy.
Moving in with Tyler four months ago had been another huge change, but in his own way, Tyler had helped reduce the stress instead of add to it.
She noted the unfamiliar pickup truck in the driveway and her heart turned over, dragging her stomach with it as her pulse increased.
Tuesday nights were always scene nights — assuming they were both in town — and she’d looked forward to the evening all day, as Tyler had promised a special treat. Her mind flashed back a few weeks, when they’d negotiated his right to allow others to play with her at play parties and clubs. He began by insisting no one would fuck her but him, and she added a restriction about giving another man a blowjob, but then asked what — exactly — he had in mind.
“The fantasy is to let someone else flog or cane one part of you, while I’m working over another body part, but I wouldn’t mind watching your face while they hurt you, either.”
Another question on the tip of her tongue, Viv realized she trusted him to not hurt her beyond what she could handle, and this trust included his not letting anyone else do so, either.
The conversation had flipped afterwards, to whether she was okay with him playing with others, and they decided on the same rules — no intercourse and no blowjobs, but he could choose to play with others if invited.
Viv normally went in the front door, but on Tuesday’s she was required to use the back door. She’d thought it silly at first, but now understood it was just another way Tyler helped her get into the right headspace. The rules said she was his property, completely owned and controlled by him until the alarm went off the next morning at the usual time — and owned property doesn’t use the front door.
She undressed on the back porch, folded her clothes, and walked in the door to her office. She settled clothes, purse, and laptop case on her desk, and lifted the handwritten note.
Come downstairs immediately. Sit in the bondage chair, with the phallus in your cunt. You do not have permission to speak.
Under normal circumstances she detested the word cunt, but Tyler had a knack for knowing when she’d be in the right headspace for it to be a turn-on and make her feel even more like property.
Tyler had converted the basement rec room into a playroom, and had spared no expense on bondage furniture and various other implements of pain. The house was situated in the center of five acres of land, with no one close enough to hear her scream.
As she made her way down the stairs she heard the sounds of a flogger and accompanying moans signaling both pain and bliss. Her eyes went to Tyler first, lounging comfortably on the leather sofa and watching an older gentleman flog a woman tied to the St. Andrew’s Cross.
The woman’s back, ass, and legs were marked as if they’d been going at it a while, but Viv didn’t stop to watch. Tyler didn’t look directly at her, but he had amazing peripheral vision and she didn’t want to be punished in front of guests.
The slap of the flogger, followed by the woman’s blissful moan sent heat through Viv’s stomach, and lower, as she walked to the bondage chair. A condom package lay on the seat, and she rolled it onto the metal phallus rising from the chair — grateful the instructions weren’t to sit with it in her ass.
She shivered as the cold metal of the stainless cock sank into her, though she knew it wouldn’t take long to warm in her body. Viv tried to find the most comfortable way to sit, but was quickly reminded of how limited her options were when held in place by her pussy.
Her eyes flew to Tyler as he stood, and she breathed a sigh of relief when he lifted her wrist and ankle cuffs from the bondage table. She didn’t want to have to use her self-control to stay in place.
Tyler didn’t make eye contact as he kneeled to silently buckle her ankle cuffs. When finished with her ankles, he held the first wrist cuff flat and looked at her hand, and she obediently placed her wrist over the supple leather. When he finished buckling the second wrist cuff he finally looked towards her face, but she soon discovered it was only to fit the penis gag in her mouth.
As always when she was gagged, he slid her rainbow ring on her right pointer finger, so she could easily activate it with her thumb.
Her rainbow ring was a small panic button mounted on a ring and connected wirelessly to a buzzer on the wall, or — when they were away from home — to a vibrating button in his pocket.
Viv wished he’d connect her cuffs to the chair; the stainless cock inside her grew more and more uncomfortable, and if she moved too much, he’d punish her.
In the handful of months they’d lived together, they’d negotiated a number of punishments he could dole out without benefit of a safeword: a caning up to fifteen strokes, a belting up to twenty-five strokes, a pussy whipping with one of the cruel rubber floggers up to twelve strokes with her labia held open by clothespins. In all, she’d agreed to around two dozen punishment possibilities she’d have no way to stop.
She jerked in surprise when Tyler finally spoke. “Master James knows your limits. When he finishes with the young lady he’ll lay her on the daybed to rest, and I’ll sit right over there,” he pointed to the sofa, “and watch him hurt you. He’s an expert at dispensing pain.”
Master James? Was this some kind of joke? That’d been Tyler’s name when she’d met him in New Hampshire.
“In the meantime, he’s left instructions for how you should wait. Please stand and come with me.”
Viv stood carefully and suppressed the groan wanting to escape as she rose above the phallus. Now that her pussy was empty, she ached to be filled.
Tyler stood by the new horse, as yet unused. Not only was this one not padded, but the top was a triangle, with a rounded edge at the apex.
“Straddle it.”
The horse was cranked low, so it didn’t touch her…yet. Fear spiked through her veins as he attached her wrists to the chain dangling from the ceiling winch overhead.
Tyler strolled casually to the wall and pushed the button to raise her hands, stopping just before she was forced to rise to her tiptoes.
Viv pulled her tongue from under the penis gag, tried to work her jaw, and gave up.
Fully in Dom mode, Tyler stalked back, leaned down, and began to turn the crank to raise the horse. When the top edge touched her pussy lips he paused, spread her labia in a clinical manner, and turned the crank again until the cruel edge dug into super-sensitive nerve endings.
The top of the triangular beam felt much sharper than it had looked, and Viv adjusted her feet and stood as high on her tiptoes as possible, but it only mitigated t
he worst of the pain as the wooden edge continued digging into her. Tyler walked to the bondage table again, and returned with serrated nipple clamps and a cinch strap.
She wasn’t allowed to ask him not to do something, and even if she were, she didn’t have speaking privileges — but she desperately wanted to beg him not to do what she knew would come next.
The first clamp made her want to scream and beg him to remove it, but she only whimpered as she breathed through the pain. The second was just as bad, and she tried use her eyes to show how much it hurt, but he was too focused on the task at hand, and didn’t see her face at all.
Tyler hastily looped a cinch strap under the horse and over the chain connecting her nipple clamps, buckled it into a single circle, and began cinching it tight. Each click pulled her upper torso closer to the horse, and he kept going until her breasts stretched painfully downward, and the only way to gain relief to her nipples was to come off her tiptoes.
The spreader bar had been leaned against the horse, and Tyler kneeled to attach it to Viv’s ankle cuffs. Mercifully, he didn’t spread her legs far, but she soon realized situating them close had taken away her ability to gain relief by lifting a leg.
When he was satisfied with her predicament, her Master double-checked to be sure her labia rested on either side of the cruel edge, and silently returned to the sofa.
Viv tried to bend at the waist while going up on her toes, but the way her hands were pulled over her head and slightly back — that didn’t really work, either.
She couldn’t see Master James flogging the other woman behind her, but the woman’s noises sounded as if she were close to a huge climax.
As Viv went from tiptoes to flat feet, she hoped they finished soon. Switching positions only changed what hurt the most; she couldn’t get relief and honestly didn’t know how long she’d be able to handle this. Her thumb strayed towards her rainbow ring a few times, but this was the first time they’d brought other people into their play, and she didn’t want to mess up the evening Tyler had planned. Nothing was being damaged or injured; it just hurt. And she was horny, and wanted pain… just not this pain. Her nipples were on fire and she came down off her tiptoes, and groaned in agony as the top of the horse pushed into the side of her clit. Her thumb subconsciously touched the side of her rainbow ring and she pulled it away, determined to take whatever prep the men thought she needed before they began working on her.
Safeword: Rainbow (2013 extended edition) (Safeword Series) Page 20
