by M. C. Cerny
Lorand was talking and I partially listened, a bad habit of mine when I got tripped up in my inner thoughts. “Jude? Jude?”
“Hmm? I’m listening,” and he caught me.
“No, you’re not, not really–but, you shouldn’t even need to use it with me. I always….” He stopped and I wondered if he was going to mention other women to me, but he doesn’t thankfully because I don’t think I could handle that. “Mouse. That’s your safe word.”
“M-mouse.” I say the word testing it out. “Why mouse?”
Lorand leans into me, his breath harsh against my ear. “Because a mouse is a falcon’s prey.” He speaks as if this should be common knowledge and picks me up to the counter in the kitchen depositing me tenderly on the smooth surface which doesn’t match his edgy behavior. I feel like there is more to the explanation, but when his lips smile against my skin I’m lost to the touch he grants me. Sweet, subtle movements meant to distract me and work wonders on my fractured state of mind.
“Now this will be lesson one.”
“Lesson?”
“Topping again?”
“No. Um, sorry?”
“Don’t apologize. Just listen. Disobedient subs get punished; however, I don’t think we’re anywhere near that kind of dynamic….” Isn’t that what I’ve been doing all this time with him? “And you’re barely submissive as it is….” I shut my mouth before I can say anything else that would send him running off and leaving me painfully alone, again. Maybe that’s what he means by punishment? Alone is the last thing I want after tonight, so I let Lorand have his way. He leans me back on the counter and props my legs up and open to him. Exposed as I am, I know he can see everything and we’ve never taken things this far before. His breath hissed and his hands caressed my skin parting me with reverence.
“You are magnificent.” He groaned leaving me mystified at what he’s focused on now. “I wish you could see how pink your lips are down here. Lush, delicate and slick all for me. I bet you taste sweet and tart like your fresh mouth up here.” He’s talking about my pussy and I feel a rush course through me from the neck down. I might be blind but knowing he’s staring at my most private parts leaves my heart and soul defenseless to him. Lorand taps my lips playfully and pushes me down on the counter. His finger pressed my lips open and my teeth part letting him in. He kissed my mouth letting his thick tongue play with mine.
He speaks against my lips. “The first rule is that you don’t get to come until I give you permission. Can you do that?” Open mouthed and panting from his kiss I don’t know what to say, so I nodded yes.
He kisses me again dipping down. I let my fingers touch the base of his skull and with one hand he takes my arms and pushes them above my head holding me still. I should feel claustrophobic. I should feel afraid, but what I feel is an overwhelming sense of being alright after having waited so long for him to take me like this. A part of me locked deep inside acknowledges on some level that this is perfectly acceptable with him. I never wanted this connection with Ella and I lose focus trying to touch the silky fuzz on top of his shaved head.
Laughing between kisses he tells me. “I have a feeling you’re going to be very bad at taking directions.”
“You’ve only figured that out just now?” Our lips meet again aligning perfectly in my dark world and I let myself fall over the edge into the abyss of feelings Lorand conjured within me. I’m safe with him despite how messed up everything else seems.
“So many things I need to tell you, explain to you but not tonight.” I’m nodding because those secrets that might tear us apart can wait. I want him too much to care about anything else.
“Tomorrow.” I say and I feel him nod against me giving me another soul stealing kiss.
“Can I show you what it could be like?”
The fact that he’s asking my permission seals the deal. I would do anything to feel like this as addicted as I as for him. “Yes.” I whisper against his lips that hungrily return to mine seeking more. His large hands cup the arc of my back pulling me closer to him. My breasts to his still clothed chest. Warmth spreads up my spine like a wildfire only he can control and I dare him to do his worst by sneaking touches here and there forcing him to relinquish my hips and toss my arms back over my head.
His kiss is asphyxiating in the best way possible turning my air into his and vice versa. Who needs vision when his touch creates explosions of color? His tongue probed the recesses tickling the back of my throat deeply in long controlled strokes. If I wasn’t following his lead and breathing as he was I’d probably suffocate willingly, tumbling down a path so wicked only he could save me.
“From the moment I saw you, I wanted you. It was wrong then, you were too young, but then as I grew to know you it became impossible to stay away.”
“I didn’t think you’d notice me and by then you were gone.” I was shaking with need so badly he pets me to calm me down.
“I tortured myself visiting you.”
“Why did you?”
“It was my punishment, my penance. No matter where I went, I always came back. No one, nothing could make me forget you. You have the softest skin and the kindest smile, the kind that makes me want to see you wrap your lips around my cock as I brush your hair back. You have this spot right here….” He touches my shoulder and kisses it sucking on the skin. “God, I’d love to brand you, make you mine.” I think about what that means and how it would feel. My flesh altered to be his and it fills that empty space I guess I always saved for him.
He continued saying deliciously wicked things he planned to do to my body the rest of the night and I agreed to all of it as a single finger probes me below parting swollen lips around my core that felt tightly sprung and pulsing with need. He plays between the flesh circling my center and on my begging whimper he penetrates me so slowly, his thumb circling my clit simultaneously as I arc my back greedy for more. I’d hold the brand myself if he just gave me what I wanted.
“Not yet. You only release the spring when I tell you, Jude.” My whimper is more of a cry as his finger leaves me pulling out so slowly I whine petulantly. He pushes inside again, this time with a pair of fingers torturing me.
“Damn it!” I growl into his face and he chuckled resting his head on my stomach.
“I know you have better manners than that. Such a mouth on you. I must put it to better use another time.”
“Give me that cock of yours and I’ll show you.” He hissed and I knew I had him as worked up as I was. He slipped lower and switches his hands letting the one that was inside me touch my mouth. Tracing my lips, tart musk stings my nostrils with my own heady perfume and taste of arousal.
“This cunt must be made of gold to have so many clamoring for it.” Growling, his vulgar words have a bizarre effect on me making me feel even wetter between my legs if that’s possible. The way he says the hard c in cunt is strangely hot with the letter t snapping my attention like a whip on everything he’s doing to my body. I could orgasm with him just repeating that word over and over again.
He speaks trailing kisses down further nipping at my inner thigh. “Let’s have a taste and compare.” Fingers slipped inside my mouth as his tongue pierces me deeply. My harsh cry is muffled by his thick digits filling my mouth. I’m licking my essence from his fingers with smacking kisses greedy for more.
“Like gold honey?” He asks the rhetorical question and my eyes burn. I want to orgasm so badly now, but he’s stopped moving tormenting me to the edge of sanity. I let my lips close around his wet fingers and suck them hard as his tongue laps around my clit, his mouth sucking it as hard as I suck his fingers encouraging me further. When I feel the roll of my inner muscles he stops and takes his hand back to hold me down again.
Lorand returns to me kissing me hard, mouth to mouth. My taste is even more intense with my essence fresh on his tongue. It’s intoxicating and I’m drunk grabbing for his shoulder pulling and clawing him closer to me. “Definitely gold.” He murmurs and resumes finge
r fucking me and kissing me in tandem until the pressure builds and I’m fighting him as much as I’m trying to crawl inside of him. “Let go Jude. Fall for me, my sweet mouse.” With his permission, I let my body go fluttering into release, the spring bouncing and each wave cresting over like a breaking tide. My mind goes blank, buzzing into the void, a butterfly lost on the wind and Lorand scooped me up leaving the kitchen and placing me in my bed. Content I closed my eyes and focused on breathing until I felt him slip in behind me, holding me against his hard chest.
“That, sweet Jude is just the beginning of what it’s like to submit to me.” If I’d known this was what I’d been missing all this time I would have pushed him sooner all those times he visited me in the dark silence to get my reward.
Ten
LORAND
She slept soundly, and for the first time I am content not pacing the floor or my mind crawling the walls to escape confinement. No outstanding job clouds my mind. I don’t think about my obligations waiting for me in Austin or at the house on Lake Huron when daylight emerges. Not even Sorenson’s ultimatum permeates the time with her. There will be time enough for that, the regular shit will still be there, but these precious moments are mine.
“Good morning.” She rolled over into my arms and I tucked her safely underneath me.
“Mmm, hi.”
“You seem well rested.”
“I feel rested except for the soreness.”
“The bruises?” She nods and my anger flared something fierce.
“Do they look bad?” I leaned up rolling her over to face me and turn the bedside lamp on to examine her in decent lighting this time. My jaw clenched seeing the damage to her otherwise pale and flawless skin.
“No, barely noticeable.” I lied and her face puckers in a sour expression.
“You’re a bad liar. I can hear it in your voice.” I’m caught and the realization makes me smile because it means she knows me. It’s an odd and heady feeling, one I like very much.
“They’ll be gone in a week or so, no more. I promise.” I traced the outline of her finely arched eyebrow. It fascinates me and I let my finger linger following a path down to her nipple watching it harden under my gaze. She stiffens and wiggles under me, a flush spreads over her chest mingling with the purple and yellow bruises showing me a rainbow across her skin. I’ll call Tally to see what she can tell me about this man named Ken who hurt her. Confidentiality be damned, I think she’d agree he was no longer worthy of being a member.
“You’re thinking something.” Drawing my attention back she reaches up and pulls me back down to her.
“What makes you say that?”
“I can…feel your body tensing. You’re going to find him aren’t you?”
“Jude.”
“Lorand.”
“Can we not argue?” I would beg her but it’s pointless, she knows I’ll go after the son of a bitch for hurting her. It’s my nature and I have no desire to alter that part of myself.
“Can you answer the question?”
I brushed hair back from her face, lifting her chin and examining her stern expression which makes me smile. Her frustration is stunning. “I’d rather not.” Teasing her is easy.
She clutched my hands with her much smaller, colder ones. “But I prefer you did.”
“Well we don’t always get what we want, now do we?” My goal is to distract her from asking me things I’m not ready to share with her and she’s good at sorting me out, almost too good that I know it’s going to be a problem. I come close to forgetting myself and my objectivity flies right out the window with this girl.
Guilt nipped at me and I know she’ll figure out sooner rather than later that her uncle is also my contact. I have a feeling that this is why he knew I would take this contract whether I wanted it or not. Something ties all of this together in a neat little bowed package that I’m about to tear wide open.
From a distance, I watch the ambulance pull away taking her to the nearest hospital. I will follow them there to check on her after I find my target and finish the job. Behind me I hear a rustling and turn.
“You’re going to owe me, Lorand.” Sorenson is twisting off the silencer on his gun.
“Did you get him? The last target?” I’m worried he might come after Jude.
“No. He’s going to be a problem.” Sorenson pockets his weapon grunting.
“Kendrick Halstad is a dead man walking.” It’s said with conviction and he will be my mission the rest of my life.
“It won’t be easy getting to the senator,” he reprimands me. I know that I failed him, this was my one chance and I blew it, but I will make it up to him. Both of them I vow.
“No matter, there will be other ways to exact revenge.” My hands cramped from clenching them so hard.
“Exactly. The man has a family and if he doesn’t pay, then the sins shall be laid upon the sons.”
“Children?”
“Adults, Lorand. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree with this one and you’d best remember that.”
A tug on my chest causes a spark of pain mixed with pleasure. Jude is trying to command my attention with sharp teeth grazing my nipple. “You seem distracted this morning.” She leaned over to kiss me, teasing.
Brat.
“A bit. I have–some work to finish, but I promise afterwards I’ll be completely at your disposal.” Cupping her face I kissed her breathlessly. I watched her eyelids flutter shut, the lashes like dark crowns on her face and goal one is accomplished.
“Hmmph.”
“Make no mistake, Jude. I want you and I will have you.” Even if it’s only temporary. Her cheeks flushed a sexy shade of pink that I’d like to match on her ass with my handprint someday.
She takes my hand and kisses it tenderly. “Well when you find that asshole, give him my regards.”
It’s unbelievable how she reads me. “Is that where you think I’m going?” She makes me laugh because her intuition is spot on. She’d probably make a snarky comment if she could see my smirk.
“Lorand, it’s not every day I get duped, attacked and saved. You’ve told me virtually nothing about you other than what I would have already known.” It’s her comments though that had me sobering my thoughts. I do have business to take care of and until then I don’t get to enjoy this time with her as I should.
“Do you have a phone?”
“Yes, I do.” Yawning she waved me to the nightstand on my side of the bed and I picked up her phone.
“I’m going to program my number for you.”
“Mmhmm.” She’s half asleep already so I lean down to kiss her coherent enough to listen to me. “I made my number the first contact and shifted everyone else down one.” No response. She’s out and I figured this was easier. Get the work done then get the girl. “I’ll be back after lunch. Don’t put any clothes on and under no circumstances do I want you to leave the house today.” I leaned over her kissing her lips soundly again and she pulled my face back down to hers. Her cloudy eyes rolled as she flopped back down on the bed spooning a pillow, eyes drifting shut and waving me away.
“Please, Jude, don’t leave the house today.” I leaned my forehead against hers hoping it wasn’t for the last time whispering into her riotous dark hair. Slipping out from under the sheets, I headed for the bathroom taking my jacket with me.
Turning on the faucet inside the shower I sat down on the toilet and pulled out the envelope that Sorenson made me take the night before. I crumpled the fine paper threads opening the note.
Kenneth Halstad, a junior member of The Club, frequents the Friday nights once a month. Take care of him and you’ll have fulfilled your debt to me. His father, the senator is aging well, his body riddled with cancer of the balls. A fitting punishment, you agree? He is the one connected to your sister. The son has taken up where the father has left off. Finish this. – S
Rage and despair equally filled me as I crumpled the missive and prepared myself for–work. Watching Ju
de sleep peacefully keeps me in check for now. What I wouldn’t give to wake her and slide between her creamy thighs letting her dew wash over me. The pleasure would wash away the pain for a time.
I don’t have to hazard anymore guesses as to why Sorenson wanted me to take this job. Slipping on my suit and running my fingers over my shaved head puts me back into work mode, my priorities once again aligned. I become the killer I’m trained to be.
I rushed getting out of there hunting my target down. Sitting in my car now, Kenneth, rather Ken Halstad, the son of the man I’ve hated and have been hunting all these years is sitting at the outdoor café free as bird with no cares sipping his fucking coffee in the sunshine. He was going to pay, they all were eventually, but today I was going to begin fulfilling my obligation with this man first.
Eleven
JUDE
Ringing filled the silence as I reached a flopping hand outside the shelter of safe covers to shut it off.
“What?” I answered the phone petulantly but I couldn’t stop smiling either. I finally had my mystery man and he was coming back later today.
“Jude, oh my God!” Her voice instead turned my stomach to more sour and sobering things.
“Ella?” I sit up amongst the pillowed down blankets hand chopping the fluffiness out of the way. Anger coursed through me in nuclear heatwaves.
“I am so sorry. I…”
Agitation coupled with dread fills me to the brink of overflowing. “No. No. We’re not doing this. We are not having this conversation like you didn’t do anything to put my safety in jeopardy last night.” I’m shaking and the cold feeling of being unable to trust is back again.
“Ken, he and I…”
“I trusted you.” There was no amount of apologies that would fix what she did. I fooled around with Ella to forget about the man I didn’t know. I made a number of bad decisions, but you never knew when a bad decision in the moment would put you irrevocably in danger the way mine did. Lorand never forced me into anything I wasn’t comfortable doing. Sure, he played with me, but I consented and I craved having every part of him that he would give me. I would have offered myself up to be his sacrificial lamb without a second thought.
