All in good time.
"On your feet," he said, gentling his voice as he offered her a hand. She accepted his help, wincing ever so slightly. "Are you okay?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yes, Sir. My knees just got a little sore. They'll be fine."
He pulled her close, and leaned down to place a kiss on her lips, tasting himself on her tongue. Walking her backwards, he crowded her against the bed. Helping her to sit, he stepped back for a moment, studying the image before him. She would make a wonderful subject, and he knew just where he wanted the painting to hang. Later.
"Lay down on your back, head on the pillows, arms and legs spread. Open yourself for me, slave."
* * *
Brianna opened her legs, spreading them wide for her master's pleasure. She watched as he knelt at the foot of the bed, his eyes raking over her damp pussy, one finger trailing between her nether lips. He'd called her a slave, yet...she didn't feel humiliated or uncomfortable as she had when Drew had used the same term. Perhaps it was the gentle note in his voice, or the desire in his gaze, but it was different with James. She found herself wanting to be owned, wanting to be kept by him for his personal use.
His stare found hers and she looked away, sure he could read her most private thoughts. He pulled his hand away and she looked back, earning a delicious swirl of the thumb on her too-sensitive clit.
She closed her eyes, arching into his touch, but he withheld yet again until her lashes fluttered open. One digit pushed into her pulsing sheath, rewarding her attention. She nodded, holding eye contact as he crooked his finger and massaged her most sensitive spot, his movements winding her higher and higher until she thought she would burst.
"Please Master," she breathed, her hips moving in time to his ministrations. "May I come?"
He watched her for a moment, making her wait. She slowed her motions, worried that he'd deny her. It was what Drew would have done. Had done, for months at a time.
She looked away in defeat.
"You don't trust me yet." His soft words drew her back, and she bit her bottom lip, unsure whether he wanted an answer or not. His finger still moved inside her, stroking, and she shook her head.
"I'm sorry." She started to back away, stopped only when his thumb nestled in her slit, capturing her tightly in his grasp.
"No," he said, reaching up with his other hand to stroke her face even as his thumb circled lazily over her burning flesh. "You've nothing to apologize for." He thrust harder, faster, bringing her back to the brink. "Come, Brianna. Now."
She cried out, her muscles stiffening as a powerful orgasm ripped through her body. Her head fell back, her chest arching as her hips came off the bed. It was like nothing she'd felt in a very long time, maybe not ever, and she struggled to hold on as it carried her away. A finger touched her lips and she opened, drawing it inside to taste her own juices mingled with the flavor of the Master's skin. Greedily she suckled, laving with her tongue and whimpering as he withdrew. The damp digit trailed over her chin and down her neck, stopping just between her tender breasts. Moving to the side, it circled a nipple, then joined another finger to pinch and pull. A sharp nip at her other nipple made her cry out again, and she finally opened her eyes to find him watching her.
"You are beautiful," he said, swirling his tongue around the tip of her breast. "I want to paint you. Just as you are now, your skin glistening and passion in your eyes. But first..." he flicked the tip of a nipple with one finger. "I want to pierce these. I want you to wear my rings."
Brianna shivered. "I'm not sure I can do that," she said, shifting uncomfortably. "Doesn't it hurt a lot? I'm not one of those girls who gets off on a lot of pain." She twitched when James reached over and tweaked one of her nipples again.
"Did that hurt?" he asked, rubbing the palm of his hand over the offended area. "The pain from piercing only lasts a few seconds. It does take some time to heal, but many women enjoy the sensation of something dangling there all the time. And there are chains and charms to wear...I'd get you an exquisite set, of course." He smiled up at her, his finger circling her sensitized skin.
Realizing he hadn't actually hurt her, she shook her head. "No, it didn't hurt - you just surprised me." She started to speak, then stopped, caught in a wave of doubt. Drew had considered the scars he put on her back as his personal mark of ownership along with the collar she'd worn. She knew some Masters branded their slaves, some tattooed, and some used piercing...so did James wanting to pierce her mean he wanted to keep her? He had referred to them as his rings, yet she hadn't seen them on any of the other slaves here. Or was it just another fetish he liked? She feared his answer if he took it the wrong way.
Her skin cooled as he backed away and her cheeks grew warm as she realized her attention had wandered too far. Material rustled as he shed his clothes and crawled up the bed on his hands and knees to settle beside her. Leaning back against the headboard, he drew her close under one arm. She laid her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat as he stroked her shoulder with his other hand.
"Tell me what's on your mind, Brianna. Whatever it is, I want to know, even if you don't think I'll like it." He traced a finger across the raised marks on her back, holding her still when she would have pulled away. "I will never punish you for telling me the truth. Communication between us is vital."
She nodded, deciding it was better to find out whether he was telling the truth now than later.
"If you pierce me, what does that mean, exactly? I mean, do you intend to...keep me, then? Or are they just a way to enhance my body for your temporary enjoyment?"
She felt him lean his head back as his chest moved under her ear. His fingers stroked lightly over her skin, a comforting yet arousing touch. Closing her eyes, she waited, glad to be shielded from that intense stare of his.
"I thought we'd already settled that," he said, his tone mellow. "I asked you to stay, and you agreed, did you not?"
She nodded. "Yes, but I thought that was just for today. For this." She gently ran her hand over his belly to grasp his cock. "I didn't realize you were asking me to stay for good. You barely know me, after all. And I haven't exactly been very nice to you lately..."
He chuckled and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "You've had a lot to deal with lately. Serious stuff. And it's not going to go away overnight. But I want you, Brianna - in my house, and in my bed. I can't say why, but it...this feels right to me. But it's up to you, of course. If you want to leave, I'll take you wherever you want to go."
Chapter 7
As soon as the words left his mouth, James wanted to take them back. Now that he'd felt what it was like to possess Brianna, he wasn't going to give her up without a fight. He wanted to chain her to the foot of his bed, force her to stay with him until she finally gave in. The mere thought of a thick steel manacle locked around her ankle with enough chain to allow her on the bed or the thick cushion on the floor that he would happily provide had him hard in an instant, and her fingers lazily caressed his length.
"Maybe I could be your client," she said, her breasts pressing into his bare ribs. "Like the women who hire you to learn about being submissive. I could start over..."
James shook his head. "That's not what you need," he said, flipping her underneath him in a move she never saw coming. He pinned both of her wrists above her head as he lay between her legs. Her eyes grew wide and there was an appropriate amount of fear, but he saw her excitement too, felt her arousal as she shifted her pelvis to cradle his cock.
"You already know what you need," he growled. "You just don't want to admit it. I think you want me to just make the choice for you - to take control and tell you what to do like your old Master would. That way if you aren't happy here, with me, it's not your fault, isn't that right?"
She turned her head away, refusing to look him in the eye. "No...of course not," she stuttered, but he could feel the lie as she trembled underneath him. "I'm just...not sure I can do this again. I'm sorry."
Jame
s struggled internally, wanting to reach for the bindings, but knowing he had to let her go. The decision to give herself to him, to accept his dominance and willingly submit to him was the most important choice she'd ever make - one she had to make freely if they ever hoped to have a solid, trusting relationship. If she couldn't meet him that far, keeping her with him was meaningless.
It took all of his strength, but he released her arms and got off the bed, retrieving a clean shirt from his closet. His back turned, he focused on getting dressed, all too aware of her eyes on him. When he was finished composing himself, he turned, keeping his expression flat and doing his best to ignore the hurt and anguish in those beautiful eyes.
"Get dressed, and get your things. It's safe now, so I'll arrange for someone to drive you to the apartment Celia set up for you earlier. I understand she set up a job and a bank account as well, so you'll have everything you need to start over on your own."
The tears he expected never came. She got up and gathered her clothes, pulling them on with automatic motions. He went to the door and opened it, turning back for one last look over his shoulder.
"So that's it then," she said, her voice quiet and calm. "You're just going to send me away?"
He hesitated, and then nodded once. "You've made your decision by default. If you change your mind, you know where to find me."
* * *
Brianna held it together as she watched James walk out the door. She didn't cry when she went down the front steps and got into his car, and she even managed to smile when the driver let her out at the small house she hadn't actually seen the inside of that night.
Numb from everything that had happened, she went around back to the apartment door and retrieved the key from beneath the flower pot. She let herself in, locking the door behind her. Standing with her back to the door, she surveyed her new home. It was exactly as Celia had described it - a counter on the far wall that served as a small kitchen, a daybed to the right that doubled as a couch, and a door to the left that she assumed led to the facilities. Hooks on the wall were supposedly for her clothing, along with a small chest of drawers for unmentionables that would also serve as a table.
A far cry from the opulent rooms she'd had at James' house, to be sure. But here, no one was waiting to tell her what to do. No one would get her up if she slept in, no one would tell her when to eat, or what...
Eyeing the refrigerator, she put her purse and keys down on the table, and walked across the room to open the door. There wasn't as much as she’d imagined there would be, but she took the milk carton out and opened it, holding it in front of her nose. Grimacing at the sour smell, she dumped it out, and then went through the rest of the things, tossing most of them in the garbage. Apparently she wouldn't be eating in after all. But the thought of going out was mind-boggling, and she wasn't exactly sure just where the closest grocery was.
Opening the cupboards, she found a box of cereal and a bowl. It had been her favorite before she went to live with Drew, but he wouldn't allow cereal in the house. Too much sugar, too many carbs, he said. Feeling empowered by the ability to make the decision herself, she poured some into the bowl and sat on the daybed, eating it dry as she thought about what she should do next.
She would need a job. Not just any job, and not just for the money, though she did hope to find something that would pay for a better apartment soon. No, she wanted a job she could be happy going to every day, something where she could interact with people, rather than being stuck in a small cubicle. The thought was exhilarating, and it occurred to her that she'd been bored not working when she'd been with Drew. Being in a house all day, everyday, no matter how nice it was, just didn't keep her mind occupied. Drew never would have let her work though - she'd mentioned it once in passing, how it might be nice to get a hobby or maybe a part-time job, and he'd said that her only job was to please him, and she couldn't possibly do that if she was off doing other things.
Setting the bowl aside, she leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes, wondering if James would say the same thing. Not that it mattered now anyway, but she supposed it made sense that someone who willingly agreed to be a slave should want to serve her master at all times. That should be enough for a good submissive, shouldn't it?
If only she could be that person for him. She wrapped her arms around her middle, remembering how it had felt to be held by him, wishing she could be happy losing herself in him. But even though she wanted desperately to be with him, she knew she'd made the right choice, at least for now.
A tear slipped down her cheek, and she angrily brushed it away. No. She wouldn't cry over him. And she wasn't going to cry over who she was. James was in her past, just like Drew, and she was moving on with her life.
She got up and rinsed her bowl in the small bathroom sink. As she was carrying it back to the cupboard, a knock at the door startled her.
Only three people knew where her new apartment was, and with Drew tied up somewhere and James mad at her, that only left one possibility. Still, Brianna hesitated.
Whoever was on the other side knocked again. "Brianna, open up. It's Celia."
Letting out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding, Brianna swung the door wide and smiled. Her grin fell quickly though when she noted the large male figure in shadow behind Celia.
"What's he doing here?"
Celia took her arm and pulled her into the room as James entered behind and locked the door.
"He called and told me you were here, to make sure the job and money I had for you were still available. And they are. But when he told me what happened, I decided we all should talk."
"She means she wants to lecture us both," James said, his sulking voice nearly drawing another smile from Brianna. "I think she's just crabby because of those broken fingers. Let her get it out, and we'll leave you alone."
Somehow, Brianna didn't think it was going to be that easy. But she was surprised to realize that she wasn't really upset either - it was more relief that she felt more than anything. And that realization scared her.
Taking a seat on the daybed, she made room for Celia beside her. James leaned against the wall, his wide shoulder and height making him look all the more imposing as he raised an eyebrow at her friend.
Celia sighed, then turned to take one of Brianna's hands in her good one.
"I'm going to tell you both something no one else knows about me, and you have to promise to keep it a secret." Brianna nodded, noting that James did the same.
"A long time ago, when I first started the club, I met a man - the only man I've ever felt submissive to. Back then, in our community what I was doing - acting as a dominant at the club, and a submissive in my personal life - was frowned on. I kept it a secret as long as I could, but my Dom eventually insisted that I submit to him whenever he came into the club, and I refused. People weren't as accepting back then, and "Switches" like me were generally not taken seriously in the community. It would have killed business if I'd done what he asked, and I just couldn't do it. The club was everything I'd ever wanted in life, and I didn't understand why he'd want to take that from me."
She paused, and Brianna gently squeezed her hand. While it wasn't quite the same as Celia's problem, the basic issue was her biggest fear as well - that as a submissive, she'd loose herself. It may be selfish, but she just didn't want to live her life that way.
"So what did he do?" she asked, leaning forward. "The Wicked Whip is still open, so..."
Celia nodded, letting go of Brianna's hands and laying back against the armrest. "I told him that I couldn't obey that one command. I'd already established myself as a Domme by then, and business was thriving. I wasn't going to jeopardize that, not even for him."
"So he left."
Both women looked up at James' matter-of-fact statement. He shrugged. "I would have done the same thing."
Brianna dropped her gaze. Celia's lover had basically asked her to give up her job, her life dream for him. And if James felt the
same, he wouldn't want his submissive to work either. She looked back at Celia.
"So he didn't really love you," she said, surprised when the other women chuckled.
"Quite the contrary, my dear. He loved me very much. And I loved him. But I didn't trust him enough to give him total control, and that's why he left. As a Dom, he needed me to give him that trust and I just couldn't. He did the only thing he could - anything else would have been unsatisfying for both of us, in the end."
"But he was asking you to give up your dream, your business - your life! I don't see how that could possibly have given you a better outcome."
Celia shook her head. "No, he wasn't. Back then, I saw it the way you do now, but over the years I've come to see the truth. He was asking me to trust him to take care of any problems that might come up due to our relationship. He never asked me to quit working, or sell the club, in fact, he wanted us to run it together. He was asking me to let him be who he is, and also asking me to be true to my own nature. I just...wasn't ready yet."
"And now?" Brianna saw James shift closer, but forced herself to focus on Celia. "If you had to make the same decision?" She watched a host of emotion cross Celia's face as the woman considered the question. Somehow, it felt like Brianna's entire future hinged on the answer.
After several moments, her friend shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not sure," she said, regret lacing her words. "A lot of time has passed, and I've never felt the same way about anyone else, so I don't know if I'd even still feel the same way about him. Or if I'll ever feel that way again." She paused, glancing up at James before she continued.
"The thing is, Brianna...you're in a similar situation now. James is asking for your trust, and you're running scared. And if you truly aren't ready or willing to give yourself to him, I'll support you with whatever you need. But think carefully before you close the door. Because if there's one regret I have in life, it's not trusting the man I loved to have my best interests at heart. I wish I'd given him the chance to show me."
Irish Cream Page 4
