Celebration (3 page)

“Looks like I’ll be living off the sale of T-shirts and garter belts for a while,” Rex said with a smile.

“Living quite well off them, too,” Julius agreed. “But that won’t satisfy you.” He sat back and studied Rex as he sipped his drink. “Have you sold everything here?”

Rex nodded. “I’m ready to move on. I just don’t know where to go.”

Julius nodded, put his glasses back on and considered the menu as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

“Why do I have the sense that you know something I don’t?” Rex asked.

Julius chuckled. “I told you. I don’t have ideas. And even if I’ve heard of one, it’s not mine to share.”

“Now, I’m curious.”

“You look more awake, too. There’s nothing harder for an active person than to have nothing to do, Rex. You need a project to feel alive. You need to be creating to feel alive. It’s just the way you are.” He patted the folders on his side of the table and Rex was suddenly very curious about their contents. “That gallery owner wants to do another show of your work, but I wasn’t very encouraging to him.”

“Why not?” Rex wasn’t particularly interested in another show of his photography at that gallery, but wondered why Julius had been indifferent. It had made money.

“You’ve been there and done that, as they say. You’re a man who needs innovation and change, Rex.”

Rex smiled. “So, maybe it’s good that the Plume went away before I got bored with it?”

“I didn’t say it,” Julius agreed with a smile. They toasted each other and finished their drinks as they checked the menu. The food all looked good, and Rex realized that he hadn’t taken the time to enjoy a meal in a while.

“Another idea for you,” Julius said, offering a business card to Rex after they’d ordered and the wine had been poured.

“Wicked Ink,” Rex read, then looked at the lawyer in confusion. “A tattoo parlor?”

“Amanda dropped off the card yesterday.”

Amanda had been the administrative assistant at the Plume, and was one of the most organized people Rex had ever known. Julius made a gesture with one finger and Rex turned the card over. There was a note written on the back.

“Midnight tomorrow?” he read, still not understanding.

“You’re invited to a private party.” Julius smiled. “I was, as well, but I have another commitment.”

Rex smiled. “Something more fun than a private party at a tattoo parlor?” He couldn’t imagine Julius in such a place, at any time of the day.

Julius smiled. “Much more fun, as you say. I’m flying to England in the morning.”

“I thought we were meeting next week to sign the final documents...”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back. It’s just a quick trip.”

Rex felt his eyebrows rise. Julius taking a weekend trip to England. Athena was in London. There had to be a connection, even if a romantic liaison seemed so out-of-character that he had to tease the older man. “Don’t tell me it’s love.”

“It might very well be,” Julius said calmly, ignoring Rex’s surprise. “It’s certainly passion.” He glanced over Rex’s shoulder and smiled as the waiter entered the private room. “That must be the calamari. I can smell the garlic. It’s very good here, Rex. Don’t let me eat more than my share.” He winked. “I need to stay trim.”

Julius, the master of logic and self-control, was potentially in love and considering the possibility of over-indulging. Rex couldn’t decide which option was more surprising.

But the calamari was very good.

* * *

Mike knew that he could only last two weeks without sex if he and Joanna had one last hot session before she left. He understood what she was saying, but he did know his limitations. He’d only be able to manage those two weeks because of the thousand miles between them.

He’d worry later about surviving the temptations of the stag. The one smart thing he’d done was
not
choose Eric as his best man, and he’d done that mostly because of the stag. If Eric had arranged the stag, it would have offered a tiny sample of the pleasures once available at the Plume. Although that would have been awesome for him and Eric, Mike had figured it would have been a little too much for his more conservative friends, family and co-workers. Most of them had no idea that Mike and Joanna enjoyed BDSM, and he knew life would be easier if they continued to be oblivious.

Even Eric had understood that. He was one of the groomsmen and Mike’s college roommate, Dan—the original straight arrow—was his best man.

He left the apartment and began to go down the stairs to the parking lot as he tugged on his black gloves. He was pretty sure no one was watching, but wasn’t going to take any chances. He snapped his fingers, as if just realizing he’d forgotten something, then turned back to the apartment. He unlocked the door quietly, then pulled on his hood right after he stepped inside. He locked the deadbolt, listening to the sound of Joanna working away in the bedroom.

She loved this game, and he liked it pretty well himself. Sneaking up on her and taking her by surprise, as if he were a burglar, was appealing. He liked overwhelming her and taking her captive, and he liked pretending that he was someone other than he was. He liked how much she liked it. He could be rougher when he was the burglar, and Joanna got her fantasy of being shared without there being another man involved. It was a great solution for both of their fantasies.

He picked up the roll of tape that he’d left behind and eased silently to the bedroom door. He noticed that there were a few more rolls strategically scattered where there hadn’t been any before and wondered if Joanna had guessed his plan. If so, she was playing along. Her complicity made his heart pound with anticipation.

He was so hard, he couldn’t stand it.

Mike paused in the doorway of the bedroom, and peeked around the edge. He saw immediately that the box of towels was open to his immediate right and helped himself to a hand towel. He smiled, halfway certain it wasn’t a coincidence that the box was there and open.

Joanna was making the bed, her back to him, and apparently oblivious to his presence. She was just in the act of flicking the top sheet over the mattress.

Mike moved silently and quickly. He seized her from behind even as he threw his weight against her. He had one hand locked over her mouth and the other around her waist, pinning her arms to her sides. They fell onto the mattress together and she was trapped beneath his weight. She struggled and tried to scream, fighting against his grip and kicking. Her movements made him want to drill her into submission, right then and there.

“Did you think you could escape me, Joanna?” he whispered in her ear, using his most dangerous voice. He felt her shiver from head to toe, proof that she was loving it. “I’ll always know where to find you.”

She moaned into his hand, a delicious sound that made him want her even more.

“Did you tell Mike about us?” he whispered and she shook her head violently. “Of course not. You’d never tell Mike because you like this as much as I do. You want this. You need this. You are very, very bad, Joanna.” She exhaled, then nodded agreement.

“That’s good, Joanna.” He kissed her below the ear and she shivered again. He could feel her pulse against his lips, and it was racing. “Behave yourself and help me tie you up. There are always extra points for good girls.”

Joanna wriggled again and made a noise into his hand, one that hinted that she might fight him harder this time. Mike was thrilled. He ground his hips against her, knowing she’d be able to feel his erection against her butt. “Or would you rather be overcome?” he whispered.

She nodded.

“You’re very bad, Joanna. It’s too bad we have to be quick tonight, before Mike comes back.” Mike straddled her, keeping her arms captive against her waist with his knees, then rolled her to her back. He kept his one hand locked over her mouth and let her have a good look at him in his mask. She kicked and struggled, but couldn’t dislodge his weight. He smiled at her and felt her shudder, even as her eyes started to shine.

“What a naughty puss you are,” he whispered and felt her smile beneath his hand. “No wonder it takes two men to satisfy you.” Joanna bared her teeth beneath his glove as if she’d bite him and Mike moved quickly to take advantage of her move. He lifted his hand from her mouth and shoved the towel between her teeth with the other before she could make a sound. He saw her surprise and heard her attempt to cry out.

He leaned over her and wound the ends of the towel around her head, then secured them with the tape. She struggled against him, shaking her head, making it hard to bind her. Mike had to be quick and rough with the tape. After three rounds of tape encircled her head, each one tighter than the last, she was effectively silenced. She tried to scream into the towel but barely made a sound.

He smiled at her. “We can take it a little rougher in a new city,” he promised her in a whisper. “No more complicity. No more assistance from you. I’ll just come and claim you when I want.”

Joanna shivered at that. Mike eased back slightly and taped her elbows to her sides below her breasts. He kissed her neck and whispered darkly in her ear. “I’ll have to make a last visit to your apartment before you move out here, make sure you don’t get lonely while Mike is here at work.”

Joanna froze for a moment, then struggled again.

“You can help me tie you up that time,” he promised. “Old city rules. I’ll call you and you can be ready for me.” Joanna was breathing quickly, her cheeks flushed. Mike knew she was excited. He taped her wrists together in front of her chest, then secured her arms to her body with more tape.

He eased back, trapping her thighs beneath his weight, and unfastened her jeans. He eased them over her hips along with her panties, then touched her wet puss with his gloved fingertip. She was so wet that he was almost overwhelmed with desire.

Joanna closed her eyes and would have gasped in pleasure if she hadn’t been gagged.

Mike rubbed her clitoris with the seam in the finger of his glove, knowing that she liked that best. He liked being able to smell how aroused she was. He tugged off her jeans and threw them across the room, knowing he had to make this scene last and not sure how he would manage it. He was too excited himself to take it slow.

Maybe taking her fast would be the best way.

Taking her twice.

When her jeans were off and cast aside, he surveyed his captive, taking his time so she’d feel her helplessness. Then he stretched his length over her, crushing her into the bed beneath his weight, and closed one hand over her breast. He worked the nipple with his gloved finger and thumb, feeling her excitement even through the T-shirt.

“You’ll never be rid of me, Joanna,” he whispered into her ear, punctuating his promise with a kiss to that tight nipple. “You might as well be marrying me
and
Mike.”

Joanna’s eyes flashed.

Then he reached back into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a fur-lined blindfold. He saw Joanna’s surprise and knew she hadn’t seen him pluck it out of the box of toys. He fastened it over her head and felt the surrender slide through her body. It was always potent for her to be blindfolded and he wanted to ensure she remembered this night.

It would be their last time together before their wedding night.

Mike slid down the length of her, parted her thighs with his gloved hands and closed his mouth over her pulsing sex. He held her ankles firmly in his hands, keeping her open to him. Joanna moaned and twisted, her clitoris so hard that he knew she’d come quickly if he wasn’t careful. He began to eat her with deliberation, sliding his tongue over her slowly and savoring the way she shuddered.

He built her desire as slowly as he could, trying to make it last. He could feel the heat of her skin and saw the flush that began to spread over her body. He felt her pulse racing and noted the way she shivered, heard her muffled moans. He was harder than hard himself, ready to drive himself home and come big, but Mike still wanted more. He touched her with his teeth, feeling her quick intake and breath, then stepped away from temptation.

He stood up, deliberately giving Joanna a chance to escape, as that was the only way the game could last. He stepped back and kicked off his boots, then unfastened the zipper of his jeans, making the sound as loud as he could.

Joanna understood her opportunity. She squirmed, so that the blindfold rose up on one side and she could see a little. She rolled off the bed, ducked past him, and ran for the living room, as if trying to escape. She had no chance and they both knew it, but Mike loved that she tried.

He pursued her into the living room and caught her up from behind easily. He threw her down on a leather armchair even as she thrashed against him. Joanna was winded, but scrambled to get to her feet. Mike flipped her over the back of the chair and taped one ankle to the back leg. Joanna made a cry of fury, but Mike slapped her butt hard enough to surprise her, then taped down the other ankle.

Joanna was secured to the back of the heavy chair and unable to move. She tried. She growled into her gag as she bucked against the heavy chair. Mike walked around her, taking his time in pulling off his belt. He then kicked off his jeans, letting her see how hard he was. He returned to the box of toys and chose a cock ring with nubs on it, letting her watch him put it on. He folded it in half and slapped it against his gloved palm, noting her sharp intake of breath.