Love Beat (30 page)

“Hi, Cade. Treat to see you. So this is Tunis? Wow.” They lead us through the low, rambling rooms, and I gather this is where we’ll stay.

The interior’s a strange mixture of polished granite, clean modern lines and outrageous pop kitsch. In the largest room, a vast area with a wide stone fireplace and long, low sofas in white leather, I see an original Lichtenstein, the giant comic book face, teardrop and speech bubble a dramatic note in the calm, peaceful room. On the opposite wall stand a couple of garish jukeboxes.

Cades murmurs close to my ear. “Maybe I don’t need to tell you—the décor may have done that already—but this is Izzy’s place. We’re staying here for a couple of nights before we fly south to visit my father.” He turns to the woman with one eyebrow arched. “My usual room?”

“Sure. It’s all ready. You’re still in the Walrus suite. We thought you’d like that. Supper at nine?”

Cade eyes me with the ghost of a wink. “Perfect. I guess we’ll be tied up till then.”

* * * *

Food has been thoughtfully placed in our rooms. After a beer and a sandwich, I’m keen to explore. The rooms all have low ceilings, sleek leather furniture and fabulous views over the low, rocky landscape leading down to the sea. Everywhere there’s a clean, crisp smell of pine and polish.

“Has Izzy always lived here?”

“On and off. The island comes with the Beat Hall estate. It was the holiday retreat of the family who lived there. My mother loved it. She used to come here when she wanted time on her own. Later she brought her hippy friends with her. They founded a commune here and started the craft workshops. When she met Izzy, he used it as a base when he was touring Europe. After she died, he stayed on. Now he manages the workshops and the music studios.”

“A lot goes on here, then? It seems so peaceful.”

He grins. “You’d be surprised. It may have a sleepy feel to it, but this place is a positive powerhouse. We’ll look round tomorrow. Just now I’ve got other plans. Shower first.”

He undresses me slowly, deliberately fondling my tender bottom, his eyes gleaming when I wince. “We’ll go easy on those for a while. Now the shower. Let’s see if I can make up for the indignities of mile-high discipline.”

Once again he soothes and teases with the gel, arouses and torments with the jet until I ache from laughing. When I’ve taken my own revenge with the jet, surprising him with some unusual flicks of the douche, he wraps me in a towel and pulls me into his arms. “Now I want to see you come.”

He lays me down on the bed like a precious object, strips the towel away and spreads my legs wide. “Lean back and grip the bed head. Don’t let go till I tell you.”

Slowly, deliberately, he begins to caress the insides of my thighs, leaving a trail of kisses with tiny touches of his lips. He works his way slowly up my body, lingering on my tender nipples, sucking hard then nipping them with his teeth, laughing against my breasts as I cry out.

“Now for a bit more discipline.” He grins at my outraged expression and his voice lowers to a murmur. “Relax. Good for you.”

From his case he pulls out an object I’ve never seen in real life, but I know what it is and I feel myself go tense.
A butt plug
.

He grins at my horrified expression. “I mean to claim all of you, even your delicious ass. But first we have to prepare it. And it’ll take a while, so we’ll start now.” He produces a canister of lube. “We’ll need plenty of this, but first you can salute it with a polite kiss. Take it in your mouth.”

“Must I?”

I catch a glint of anger.

“Yes, you must.” His voice is low. “It’s okay. It’s clean and new, and it’s the smallest size. Perfect for a beginner. Open.”

I shudder at the thought of the enormity he’s planning. The sheer
wickedness
of it sends a flare of arousal through me. He slides it deep into my mouth, his gaze locked on mine, his expression intent. “Now suck. Keep it in.”

He fondles me as I suckle, his look full of heat, his hand easing into me, pushing deep and making my muscles ripple and haul at his fingers. He warms a handful of lube and smears it around my tight little opening, smiling as I clench. “Hey, relax. It’s going in whether you like it or not.”

His eyes gleam as he slides the plug out of my mouth and pushes the smooth, tapered end of it into me inch by inch.

I whimper as it fills me, part ashamed, part excited. At last it’s in place and the wide base presses snugly against me. I’m filled, invaded and desperately aroused
.

Within minutes his fingers are busy again as he gazes deep into my eyes. As my climax builds, he leans over me, his eyes dark and watchful. “You’re so beautiful, especially like this. Now look at me. I want to watch.”

He moves gently over me, his erection, huge and hard, pressing against his fly and jutting against me. His gaze burns into me, sending tremors through me while his fingers probe and tease. The weight of his hips forces me hard against the unforgiving plug.

Helpless in his grasp, imprisoned by his amused gaze and at the mercy of the unfamiliar pressures down below, I soon peak, tip and cascade into an abyss of pleasure as he captures my mouth, his tongue invading and controlling, filling me with honey and spice all his own.

Chapter Twenty-Three

When we finally make it to supper, the room is crowded and the jukeboxes are busy. Low tables are set out with dishes of food—mostly vegetarian, some with chicken. It smells heavenly. There’s a large tureen of soup, a basket heaped with sourdough breads and piles of clean pottery platters, bowls and spoons.

No knives, I notice, and no formalities like napkins. On another table is an assortment of beer and homemade wine. Life here is casual and relaxed.

“Are you a musician too, Tunis?” “You known Cade long?” Their curious, quiet voices and their slow drawl remind me of Izzy.

The women wear no cosmetics and homespun clothes. All the men have beards. Both men and women wear their hair long, tied back with Indian-style bands or Celtic braids. Their calm air is misleading—their eyes are sharp and their comments witty. After about twenty minutes I’m surprised at how well informed they are about life in the wider world.

Cade mentions I’m on TV. I see no screens here but they exchange looks and the conversation is quietly steered toward what interests me. One of the women knows someone from my time with the ballet. One of the men recently saw Jake’s photographs in an exhibition on a rare trip to the capital.

Cade keeps close, letting me talk but saying little himself.

It’s clear he knows them well.

“Hey, Cade, you taking Tunis on the tour? She ought to see what we do.” The rugged six-footer with a ginger beard who drove us from the airfield is introduced as Barney. He’s delighted to see us again. “I’m free till noon tomorrow. Got a shipment to take to the airfield after that.”

There are murmurs from the others. A regal blonde with wispy golden braids and a bright patchwork skirt lays a thin hand on Cade’s arm. “You must show her round the workshops. We’re just finishing off an order for Italy.”

She’s very attractive. In her late forties, I’d guess. Her voice is low and musical.

Cade gives her a warm smile and I felt a tiny spike of jealousy. I hide it with an unnecessary sip of nettle wine. I’ve had plenty, more than I should. Truth to tell, I’m nervous.

After a while, it tastes delicious.

“Thanks, Aria. We might do just that. The jewelry was partly why I brought her here. She loves the harness.” He turns to me with a casual smile. “Tell them how it feels.”

Whoa
—way too personal. But I smile round at the group. “It’s very…stimulating.”

Aria raises an eyebrow. “You’re telling me. It’s shaping up to be our biggest seller. There’s quite a waiting list.” She tips her head toward Cade and shakes her head with a smile. “He’s a bad boy…with a wicked imagination.” She moves away, sweeping me with a knowing look. “See you tomorrow then. Maybe we’ll fix you up with some more.”

At the other side of the room someone is idly picking out a tune on a guitar. A singer joins in and soon a group gathers to listen. I feel Cade’s hand on my arm and his warm breath on my hair.

“Nearly midnight. Seal time.”

Back in our room, he throws me a sweater. I shrug it on over my skimpy top and jeans while he leans on the doorframe, his look sending tremors through me.

“How’s the plug?”

I pause in the act of tying up my hair. I’d almost forgotten it. Now I blush. What can I say? “Okay, I think.”

He cups my tight, jean-clad rear with his hand, his clasp intimate and fond. “Good. We’ll leave it in a little while longer. And wear some trainers. The path can be rough.”

* * * *

“Cade, they’re beautiful. I’ve never seen seals swimming before.” I give a deep, contented sigh as I gaze out over the moonlit sea. Far below us, at the foot of the cliff, glossy, bobbing heads are playing in the water.

It’s late now, the night calm. The cliff edge is only feet away but I’m tightly clasped in Cade’s arms. To my surprise, even though we’re so high up, I feel almost safe.

Moonlight etches his jaw in silver and glitters in his eyes, turning him into some pagan god, timeless and cruel. He seems to fit in with this strange, primitive place.

“Do you trust me, Tunis?”

He’s lured me up here, knowing I relish a challenge, once more forcing me to face the unknown and reach a new limit. Tethered in a dungeon, it might bring startling new pleasures. Out here it means I must confront yet another fear.

But I understand instinctively that he’ll never knowingly hurt me.

I do trust him.

As the seals splash again, I shiver. He leans close, his lips moving against my ear. “Chilly? We’ll go back now.”

At the sound of our voices, the seals dart away and we walk back hand-in-hand. He talks about the people I’ve met and the workshops they run. It seems they’re all expert craftsmen, specialists in their field. Even bearded Barney is an engineer. He works on the planes.

“And Aria? She knows you well?” What I really mean is
how well do you know her?
She’s very attractive and she designs his bondage jewelry?

Jealousy prickles.

He glances at me, his look opaque. “Most of the people here know me well.”

“She seems a bit…familiar, that’s all.”

“She’s always measuring people up for jewelry. She’s one of our best designers.”

“That’s not what I meant. You try out
all
your ideas on her?” My tone’s sharp for good reason. I’ve worn some of it. I know exactly what it does.

He gives my hand a squeeze. “Hey, relax. I know what you’re thinking, but she’s Izzy’s girl.”

Chastened and relieved, I squeeze him back as we reach the foot of the steep rise up to the house. From here we can just see the croft and its outline of low, rambling roofs. The soft light from the candles in its windows is easily outshone by the brilliance of the moonlight, flooding us with silver.

I hesitate, pulling on his hand as he moves toward the steps. He turns back with a smile. “What? You want to stay out here a while longer?”

“Cade, where were you that night? Why does Mel think it’s such a big deal?”

His jaw stiffens and all at once his look turns to ice. “Why?”

I frown. “That’s no answer. It’s a simple question.”

In the shadow his eyes glitter. “Sure it is. Questions are always simple for rookie presenters with nosey friends. Shall we go in?”

I stare at him, taken aback at his tone. Why can’t he give me a straight answer?

He lets go of my hand and takes the steps at a bound, leaving me to climb up after him. From inside the croft at the top of the steep climb, music and laughter filter out into the night, mingling with the soft murmur of the sea and the cries of the gulls.

At the top he’s waiting for me to catch up, his expression grim.

What have I said? And why does this matter so much? A tiny part of me salutes Mel’s unerring instinct for a story. She’s clearly on to something.

Another part of me wishes she’d back off.

In our room he closes the door softly behind me as I walk in. “I’m not sure you get what this week is about.” He pulls off his jacket, slings it over a chair and reaches over to the side table for a beer.

I shake my head as he offers one to me. He takes a long swig of his own.

“You’re mine for the week. That was the arrangement. You stay with me at all times, and you strive to please me at all times. Even when you’re away from the Hall, you’re bound by your agreements and your contracts. You must understand that I’m taking you into the heart of my family and for the next few days, you’ll be in a position of absolute trust. Is that clear?”

I stare at him. “Of course it’s clear. What do you take me for? I’ve signed everything, I’ve accepted all your crazy terms.” I also recall the vast sum of money he paid for me. “I’m all yours, if that’s what you want.”

His mouth is set into a grim line. “It
is
what I want. Take off your jeans.”

I reach for my zipper but with an impatient gleam, he pushes my hands away and peels my jeans down my thighs. “Bend over.”

“
Again
? Cade, I’m still—”

He fondles me briefly. “Tender? I know.” He kisses me softly on my right flank. “The plug’s coming out.” He eases it out, drops it in the sink and washes his hands. “I’ll show you how to clean it later.”

He folds me in his arms, tilts up my chin and kisses me full on the mouth, his kiss long and deep. When he pulls away, he strokes the wind-blown hair out of my eyes and smiles. “They like you. Don’t be fooled by all the hippy talk and the woollies. They love meeting celebs. Now we’ve got things to do.”

They keep us busy for quite a while.

* * * *

The following morning I wake to the sight of sunlight glowing through a glass of orange juice and the feel of his arms pinning me down as he sits on the bed. “You look beautiful this morning, like you do every morning. Kiss me.”