“You know, keep doing that, and we’ll get along fine.” Natasha sits up in bed and makes a ‘give me’ gesture with her hands.
“Hey, do you know why one of the waiters would be shocked I was staying with you?”
“I told you. I don’t usually have guests here.”
“Well, it’s nice to have that verified. Do you have any plans for today?”
“Not particularly. You?”
“I need to go home and do some work. Later I was going to visit Grandad. Would you like to come with me?”
“I’d like that.”
“What are you working on?” Natasha snuggles back against the covers and closes her eyes.
“A new collection. Maybe you could come over and take a look sometime.”
“Sure.” She replies but doesn’t open her eyes to look at me. I force myself not to feel disappointed. It was clear from our conversation last night that she didn’t hold my career in great stead. I’d prove her wrong. She just needed to have an open mind.
“I would ask if you want to have breakfast, but I think I already know the answer to that.”
Natasha raises her coffee in salute.
“Okay, how about I grab a shower and head off then. I want to get to The Pines around lunchtime.”
“You don’t need to rush off. I just need the caffeine to kick in, and I’ll be much better company.”
“You’re perfect company. But the sooner I get home and finished, the sooner I’ll get to see you later. We should talk about how much time we want to spend together. I’m not suggesting moving in, but I hope you don’t expect me to go home tonight.”
“You’re right. Moving in might be a tad premature. But I want you with me, so how about you use your place to work and have your own space. But mine is our base.”
“Great.”
Less than twenty-four hours and life had pulled a U turn.
On the way to meet Natasha yesterday, I was filled with dread as to what she would say. No matter how relaxed and blase I tried to be, it was crippling to think she might be about to finish things. I made sure I didn’t raise my hopes, but it turned out that I got everything I wanted. Sure, she still has questions to answer, but she loves me. Natasha loves me and is willing to give us a try.
She might still need time and reassurance that she is it for me, but that would come. I just had to prove it. And now she’s given me that.
She loves me.
It’s a feeling like nothing else, filling me with hope. My family has been slipping away from me over the last few years, yet Natasha grounds me and makes me feel like all I need is her.
I park and make my way up to my apartment. My mind still clings to the image of Natasha this morning, lying with her hair splayed out over the pillow, just the hint of her feminine appeal with her exposed shoulder. It would be a great addition to the collection I’ve been creating.
My agent had loved the sketches I’d sent but wanted some original paintings to go with the pencil and preparatory work. He said he could see it as being some of my best work yet. I knew why. The passion and love I had for the subject were only rivalled by the painting itself. A fusion that bleeds onto the canvas. Or at least it would if Natasha would sit for me.
I wrestle with the stupid cage door of the lift and win. One day the owners will get it fixed, or so they say. I dig my keys out of my pocket but notice my door isn’t locked, or even shut. I push it open and take a step inside. The room’s in darkness. The door swings open and thuds back against the wall.
My heartbeat batters my chest as I wait a minute for… something. No one comes running out of the house or screaming at me. There’s no intruder running around stealing my crap. I think about Natasha’s warning about Sarah, but she couldn’t know where I live.
I’m silent, my body still on alert. I can’t remember ever forgetting to lock the door, let alone leave the place open. My feet step over the threshold and into the room. I listen for any sign that someone’s inside, but there’s nothing.
Silence.
My muscles relax as I step further into my home. I peer around and see further inside. Everything is still in place. My easel is still set up with the drawing of Natasha pinned to it.
Just as I let my guard down, I hear the creak of the door and turn around. “What the….”
My body slams to the floor. My vision clouds to black.
Pounding.
My head pounds against my skull in protest. “Urghh.” I try and move my arms to push myself up and get nowhere. The bolt of fear sends adrenalin racing through my body, surging it into action, but I can’t move. At least not my arms.
My mind comes back online, and I feel the rope around my wrists, keeping me in place. I kick out my legs, but they’re bound as well. “What the fuck?” I squirm on the floor like a fish desperate to gain purchase.
“Now, now. I suggest you calm down.” I turn my head and see a woman sitting in one of my chairs in the middle of the room, looking down on me.
“Sarah?”
“At least you recognise me.”
“What do you want? Why have you done this?” I can’t help but continue to struggle, my headache subsiding as worry replaces it.
“I wanted to play a little game. Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you. I would have thought you’d be used to being tied up by now. Miss Natasha certainly enjoys playing with rope.”
“Natasha told me you used to see her at Solace.”
“Is that what she told you?” Sarah’s voice goes squeaky.
“Yes,” I grit out.
“If you were sleeping with a woman and submitting to them on a regular basis for over a year, what would you call it?”
A year? I’ve been seeing Natasha for a matter of weeks and am crazy for her. If Sarah had developed a similar connection during their scenes that I had with Natasha, and then multiplied that for a year, I can see why she’s a little unhinged.
“I’d say you’re probably in love with her. I know I am.”
“Love? You can’t possibly love her. You don’t know her. You’ve seen her for a few weeks, and that’s it. I’ve been her partner for months. When she’s needed to help her friends, she’s turned to me. I’ve been her submissive in every way. There’s a bond between us which you won’t be able to undo.”
“She doesn’t love you.”
“Of course she does.”
Sarah punctuates each word as if she can make me believe what she’s saying. It’s her own truth. But I also know how much I love Natasha.
I have to figure out what Sarah is playing at. “What do you want, Sarah?”
“I want to teach Natasha a lesson. She lied to me. She told me she couldn’t give me what I needed any more. Then palms me off onto another Dom so she can move on to you.”
“It wasn’t like that. I met her at an Alzheimer’s home. She wasn’t looking for a partner.”
“Bullshit.”
I squeeze my eyes shut and battle against the throb in my head. I try and stretch my arms and end up rubbing my wrists raw as the rope bites into my skin and pulls at the top layer.
“You still haven’t told me what you’re going to do with me.”
I push onto my side and twist around so I am facing Sarah. I twist my hands around to see if I can reach the end of the knots.
“Where’s the fun in that? You know, if she hadn’t taken you to Luc and Jess’ engagement I’d have never known. But she couldn’t keep away. That place is in her blood. She comes alive when she steps foot through the door. And she was ready to take me back. The night she came without you, she was mesmerising. I could tell she needed a true submissive. Not someone playing.”
“Is that the night before the funeral? The one you took so much pleasure over announcing at her mother’s wake.” I wouldn’t keep the anger from my voice. She had no respect for Natasha if she could make a move like that on such an important day for her.
“You have to know what she’s really like.”
�
�And what’s that?”
“She’s a predator. She sees what she wants and takes it. She’ll leave you when she’s bored and had her fun. I thought I was special. That maybe things would be different with me. She’s notorious at Solace. I’m doing this to teach her a lesson and to spare you the heartache I’ve been through.”
“You’re talking crap, Sarah. You’re jealous and hurting.”
“Don’t tell me what I am!” She screams, the sound splitting through my head. I grit my teeth and try to relax. I wasn’t going to get out of this by winding her up and sending her off the rails.
Sarah stands and starts to pace around the room. “Does she know what you do?” She looks over the drawings on my easel and scattered on the floor.
“Yes.”
“Huh, I’m surprised. She’s quite a sophisticated woman. She has class and standards. I thought she was an aloof bitch when I first came to Solace. I can see behind that now. She just knows what she likes and won’t compromise. These are quite lovely.”
Her face turns sad as she looks over the likeness of Natasha. I remind myself that right now, she’s a psychotic bitch, and I can’t count on anything.
“What do you do, Sarah?” I curl my body to try and keep my wrists out of sight. I flex and clench my hands, trying to loosen the knots.
“You don’t need to know that. In fact, I’m getting bored. I think it’s time to see just how much Miss Natasha cares for you.”
I didn’t like Aiden leaving me in the hotel. I wanted to take him back home with me. Admitting my feelings and facing them seemed to have a beneficial reaction. I feel more comfortable and at ease than I have in a very long time. It’s a reassurance that I’ve made the right decision.
I drive home and find the new spare key the locksmith left. I want Aiden to have it and feel free to come over whenever he wants. We might have only scraped the surface of how we’d balance the relationship in and outside a sexual context, but I know I want to see him as a very visible part of my life. Not just when we want to play. It’s the biggest shift I’d had since first becoming interested in BDSM back when I was at University.
Several hours later I am ready to meet him at The Pines and to visit Peter. I pack some fresh coffee for George. I am in the fortunate position that I can visit and spend time with Peter without it hindering my job. I want to keep the routine I’d established when Mum was there. I owe it to her, and to Peter.
I pull up and look for Aiden’s car and decide he can find me inside. I’d visit George before checking on Peter.
“Ms Devlin, I wasn’t expecting to see you back.” Maggie looks shocked to see me.
“Well, I thought I’d visit Peter. Aiden will be along shortly. I’m just going to see George.”
“Oh, okay. Splendid. It’s so nice that you’ve come back. Often, we don’t see relatives after their loved ones pass. Peter is a lucky one. Many don’t receive so much company.”
“I noticed.” I think back to the last time I was here.
She bustles away and back into her office.
I cast the sombre thoughts aside and deliver my goods to the kitchen. It’s the first time I’ve been at the Pines when George hasn’t been here to greet me.
“George, hello!” I call, but there is no answer. I go back out toward the entrance.
“Maggie, is George in? He’s not in the kitchen.”
“Really. I’m sure he’s around somewhere. Try back a little later.”
My phone buzzes in my bag, and I dig around to find it. Aiden’s name appears on the screen.
“Hey, I’d have thought you’d be here by now.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I might have delayed Aiden.” Sarah’s voice chirps.
“Sarah? Why are you… where’s Aiden?” My heart drops into my stomach as I realise she must be with him.
“Don’t worry. We’re just having a little talk. I want to make sure he knows exactly who you are.”
“Sarah, listen. Calm down. Tell me where you are, and I can come and talk to you. I can bring Andrew.”
“Andrew? Maybe if I hadn’t spent the last year of my life in love with you, I’d be able to see Andrew for who he really is. That’s on you. Another thing you’ve ruined.”
“Sarah, I’m sorry. Tell me where you are, and we can talk.” I fight to keep my voice calm.
“I just stopped in to pay Aiden a visit. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding us.”
“You went to Aiden’s. Where… Where’s that?” The words stick in my throat as I realise I have no idea where he lives. Shit.
“You throw what we had away over a boy you barely know? You don’t know what he does, where he lives, and I bet he’s not even a submissive. Well, if you do care for him, this will still serve as a lesson to you.”
“Flat 7, Withling…” I hear Aiden call out in the background before the line goes dead.
Address. Where the hell am I going to get his address. I look around as if divine inspiration will hit from nowhere. “Who will know his address?”
I rush into Peter’s room. I slow my approach, aware that I’m panicked and frightened and neither of those emotions will help when talking to Aiden’s grandad.
“Peter? Peter, it’s Natasha.” He sits up in his chair and looks at me.
“Natasha, you say?” He drops his head back down and closes his eyes. No, no, no. Not today. “Peter, look at me. Think. It’s Natasha. I’m a friend of Aiden’s.”
“Yes. All right then.” He smiles but then his head lolls back, and his eyes close.
It isn’t fair to take my frustrations out on Peter. I storm back down the corridor and ring the little bell continuously until Maggie appears from her office.
“Maggie, I need you to look up Aiden’s address. There’s been an accident, and I need to go to check he’s all right.”
“I’m sorry, Ms Devlin, but that’s confidential information. I can’t go handing that out.”
“I understand, I do. But this isn’t a usual circumstance. He phoned me, and I need to call the police to go to his house, but I don’t have his address. Please,” I beg, desperate for her to break the stupid rules. I know they’d have the details. I had to fill out several forms for next of kin information.
“Ms Devlin…”
“Look, Maggie. Either you give me this information, or so help me, I’ll come around and take it myself.” The look I give her would wither any good Dominant, let alone a sweet woman like Maggie.
“Yes… okay, as it’s an emergency.” She scurries away, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I check my watch, distracting myself from the ideas that start to funnel through my mind about what Sarah could be doing.
I grab my phone from my bag and call Luc. As a psychologist he’s the best person to try and deal with this type of scenario.
“Hi, nice to hear from you, Natasha.”
“Luc, it’s Aiden. And Sarah. Or rather Sarah’s flipped her lid and gone around to Aiden’s.”
“Wow, slow down. Has she done anything?”
“I don’t know. But why would Aiden give her his phone? I’m waiting to get Aiden’s address. Meet me there? I have no idea what state of mind she’s in, but she’s not stable.” My feet pace back and forth, unable to remain idle.
“Okay, what’s the address. I can meet you there, and we can handle this together.”
I look towards Maggie’s office. She comes out with a note in her hand. I snatch it from her grasp. “It’s flat 7, Withlington House, Terrance Avenue.”
“Got it. I’m leaving now.” Luc hangs up.
“Thank you, Maggie.” I rush out the door and to my car and frantically tap the address into my phone. I jerk the gear stick into reverse and follow the directions on the screen.
I follow the route on the small screen far too fast. Luckily, I don’t have to fight through town traffic, but all the motorists I must contend with try my patience. I carve up one car and slam on my breaks to prevent hitting another in front of me. Fifteen minutes later I’m fina
lly outside of Withlington House. My heart beat hammers in my chest, and my sweaty palms struggle to keep a grip on the steering wheel.
Where is Luc?
Every part of my body vibrates with the need to act. Aiden is in my care. He is mine, and Sarah has no right to toy with him like this.
A loud rumble distracts me, and I see the black beast of a car Luc drives turn into the end of the road. He pulls up and exits. Appreciation and relief that I have some backup lessens the tension gripping my heart.
“Have you heard from Sarah or Aiden?”
“No, nothing. Luc, what the hell is she playing at?”
“I don’t know, but let’s take things steady. Why don’t we go up and see what the situation is? I’ll hang back. I don’t want to startle her until we know what this is about.”
“If she’s hurt him…”
“There’s no point thinking like that. She’s probably just pulling a stupid stunt because she’s hurting. Come on.”
“She broke into my house.” We walk to the entrance and see a plaque with names and apartments listed.
“What the… seriously?”
“I came home and found her leaving.”
“Did you call the police?”
“No. I didn’t want her to get into trouble for doing something silly.”
We talk as we fight our way into the elevator to take us to the seventh floor.
“And now she’s gone and done something very fucking stupid.”
“I don’t need a lecture, Luc.”
“Well, maybe you do.”
“Just let me handle Sarah. She’ll listen to me.”
“Really?”
“She was my submissive for a long time. She has an ingrained need to serve and obey. If she fights against me, I’ll call her on it. It won’t be pretty, but I don’t care. I’m not going to play by the rules after this.”
“Remember, we don’t know what she’s done, if anything, yet.”
“Yeah, I’m really sure she’s in there having tea with him.” The lift grinds to a creaky halt, and I shove the metal gate back. The door to flat seven is down the hall a few paces.
“Be careful. Try and keep your emotions under wraps. We could be over reacting, you know.”
Finally More: The Evermore Series Book 5 Page 21
