Playing For Love (39 page)

“Just wondered if you had any plans?” I asked casually.   

“Well, I thought
we'd
go to the gym so we can sleep in tomorrow morning. Figured
we'd
be out late tonight.” His voice was half accusation, half confusion.

“I made plans for today,” I uttered, quietly.

“I don't have anything in my schedule for you today.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket, looking through it.

“I didn't put it in the planner thing.”

He looked up, our eyes meeting; there was a flash of hurt. Then he asked in a hushed tone, “Why?”

“I didn't think about it. It's just a spa treatment and a hair appointment. And a mani-pedi,” I added quietly, but he heard clearly from the hardening look on his face.

“So a
full
day.”

“Just six or seven hours,” I hedged.

“A
full
day,” he repeated. “When did you make these appointments?”

“During the week. Not all at once or anything. I didn't not tell you on purpose. I just don't like taking the time to use that planner when I can remember a few appointments.”

“But I don't know what you're doing if you don't. What if I'd made appointments for you for today?”

“Then I would cancel one of them.”

He half rolled his eyes. “Please, use the planner, Austin. Please.”

“Sor—”

“
Don't
apologize,” he cut me off. “Do you want to eat in here or in bed?”

“Bed I guess. My first appointment is at nine though, so I need to hurry up and get ready.”

“No.” His stern voice caught me off guard. “You're sitting with me and eating. You're not getting ready to go
get
ready
. Now, get your ass back in bed.”

“David—”

“
Now
, Austin. Or I'll carry you. Your choice.” His voice was hard with a warning edge. There was something underlying it, something I didn't want to have to address right now.

I stood up and turned to walk back to the bedroom, feeling chastised. The closer I got to the bedroom, the worse I felt. A small part of me knew I'd done it on purpose. It was my way of keeping my freedom, but it hurt him—I knew that.

And I did it anyway.

I was a bitch. I threw myself back into bed, frustrated that I couldn't seem to get the balance I needed. He gave me everything, bent over backward to make me happy, and I still couldn't shake my need for defiance.

“Austin, sit up,” David commanded as he entered the room.

I obeyed silently, not meeting his eyes as he

placed the breakfast tray over my lap and walked around the bed. I could feel his eyes boring into me. It was unnerving. I knew he was watching for any signs to give away what was going on in my mind. I desperately hoped my expression was devoid.

“You understand why you did it?” he asked as he settled next to me. His tone was kind, but the question made me feel like a child.

“Yes. It's a way for me to keep my freedom,” I reluctantly admitted.   

“Is there some deeper meaning behind the costumes?” He entwined our fingers.

“I don't know.”

“It's okay, sweetheart.” He pressed his lips to my temple. “It's a big change. Going from being independent to this.” He pulled back, forcing me to meet his gaze. “I knew you'd go through this. That's why I have a tracker on your car and phone.” He gently reminded me. “It's fine.
We're
fine. Right?”

“I'm not going anywhere.”

“I know you're not going anywhere.” His voice was so confident, so resolute, all my tension fled. “Are we
okay
?”    

“Yeah, we're okay.”

“Eat. You've got a full day of getting ready for tonight.”

The way he said it made me think he thought I was trying to look good for someone else.  

“I just want to look good for you,” I said softly.

His hand squeezed mine and held on, forcing me to eat with my other hand.

David

I knew she was struggling with the constant togetherness; just like I was struggling to give her space. And obviously she needed more than I was comfortable with. I'd been trying to give her more space, since Fergus was watching her whenever she stepped out of the house. But it felt wrong,
I
felt wrong when she was gone for any real length of time.  

A thought occurred to me, how I could communicate she did have her freedom with me. Freedom to do whatever she wanted with me. To me. And a way to make it interesting while finding out what she needed. Find out if this was just growing pains or something more. 

Once she left, I didn't want to go to the gym, even though I'd told her that's what I was going to do to fill the time. I couldn't bring myself to go up there without her anymore. I threw on a pair of jeans and a white tee, slipped into my boots, and grabbed my phone, wallet, and keys off the closet island. Then I left to run my little errand.

*****

“Holy shit, I didn't realize he was this big.”

“Yeah.”

“Why am I here? You've never had me come over here,” Aaron announced as he walked in the door, maneuvering around Chance.

I'd called Aaron, while running my errand, telling him to come over and help me get some things organized. Normally we handle this sort of thing during a lunch meeting at a restaurant, the rest of our communication was over the phone or through email. 

“Because my wife went to the spa and I can't seem to fucking function without her today,” I barked at the nosy fucker as I shut the door.

“Dude, she has you so messed up. I bet she doesn't have a clue what a pussy you are,” he said, following me to the dining room.  

“Fuck you. Sit your skinny ass down.”

“Give me your phone,
pussy
.”

I tried not to laugh, but Aaron—hundred-and-forty pound, skinny-ass Aaron calling me a pussy was funny.

He was frequently mistaken for my younger brother—my tween-age younger brother. With his size and lack of style, he easily passed for a thirteen-year-old. I hired him when he was nineteen and I was twenty-four. He was mature for his age, even then. Not the type to use his position to get laid. And he was in a relationship, had been the entire time he worked for me. I never asked why he hadn't gotten married, but now that I was, I couldn't help but wonder.

I sat across from him at the dining room table—it was currently the only surface that I hadn't fucked Austin on, which reminded me I needed to rectify that.

Soon.

Aaron told me about times and appointments and potential traveling dates. After thirty minutes, he blurted,

“Okay. What are you so freaked about?”

“She's spending all day at the spa to look good for this fucking Halloween party. And she didn't spend three hours getting ready for our wedding.”

“Special circumstance with the wedding. She probably would've taken all day to get ready if you'd given her an extra day.”

“Maybe,” I reluctantly agreed. 

“You think she's trying to impress someone else. Does she even know who is going to be there?”

“I don't know. She hasn't been texting or calling anyone but her friend and her mom. And Elaine.”

“You're worried about what then? That she secretly hopes Zach will be there?” he pushed.

“I don't know if she's thinking about someone else!” I half shouted, annoyed at his dig about Zach.

“So sext her,” he suggested nonchalantly. 

“What? No. I hated it when chicks did that shit to me. So fucking needy and desperate.”

“You
are
needy and desperate when it comes to her. And she married you, so I think she already knows.”

I grumbled an acknowledgement. She did know, and she had her needy moments too.

“Would you hate it if Austin sexted you?”

“She—” I stopped in my response of 'she's never done it' because I would love it if Austin sent me some hot pics, knowing she was thinking about me, wanting me. “I'd fucking
love
that.”   

“Then do it. She'll definitely be thinking about you. Don't go straight to dick pics, girls don't like that.”

“I know how to seduce my wife, thank you.”

Fucker.

I grabbed my phone and stood.

“Bigger the mirror, the better.” I heard Aaron call behind me as I made my way to the bedroom.

It was weird having Aaron in the house. Really, it was weird anytime anyone beside me and Austin were in the house.

Going into our bathroom, I stood in front of the mirror, pulling my shirt off and unzipping my jeans. I opened the camera on my phone and shoved my left hand inside my open fly, grabbing my cock and took the pic. I typed out a text, attached the pic, and sent it.  

“How many did you send?” Aaron asked as I walked back in, zipping up my jeans.

“One. Why?”

“Oh.” He shrugged. “Just figured you would send a few.”

“One should be enough to get her attention.” He had me second-guessing that theory, though.

“Did you text or snapchat her?”

“Do I have snapchat?” I asked, sitting across from him at the table.

“Not through Elaine. You have to take video or selfies at the time and send them. Do you know if Austin has a snapchat account?”

“She
better
fucking not.”

“I'll set you both up an account and you two can use that. Send her a video, it's more of an attention-getter.” He gave me a knowing look, almost like he was laughing at me.

“You saying I don't know how to get my wife’s attention?”

“
You're
the one who doesn't seem to think you're keeping her attention. Not me.”

Smartass little fucker.

“Fine. Whatever.”

“So is that a yes?” he prodded.    

“Yes,” I answered, getting seriously annoyed with him. And pissed that Austin hadn't responded yet.

“Relax, she's at a spa. She probably silenced her phone,” he muttered as he focused on his task at hand, setting up accounts for me and Austin.

Sometimes having an assistant who knew me so well really got on my nerves. Guess that's what I got for having the same one for six years.

“Does she know how to install apps?” he asked, never looking up.

“I'm sure she can figure it out.” My voice conveyed my displeasure at his implication. 

“Jesus, dude. Did you not get laid today?”

I hadn't gotten that connection I needed from her today—her surrendering to me completely—that was the only way I felt like I had her. And my need for that connection was getting more intense, not less.  

“I'll be right back,” I muttered as I stood and started for our bedroom.

“You're not going to beat it, are you?” Aaron asked, disgusted.

“What the fuck?” I yelled as I walked down the hall. “No, you little freak!”         

I was going to send her pics until I got a response. I grabbed a pair of gray sweats—her weakness—and positioned them low, showing the deep V of muscle she loved.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Austin

I barely got to the spa on time—David was being difficult. It was obvious he wasn't happy about my plans for the day.

I checked-in and went back to the ladies’ room, turned off my phone and stripped. Quickly putting my things away, I grabbed my robe, not bothering to put it on, I went straight to the whirlpool, spending an hour trying to shake off my stress.

David's abandonment issues and my need for independence were colliding. I didn't know how to shake the need, but I knew I didn't want to hurt him. And leaving him wasn't an option that I would consider.

Four hours later, after my massage, facial, and mani-pedi, I went back to the locker room. I had an hour break until my next appointment, so I turned on my phone. I wasn't surprised to find five missed texts from David considering his attitude this morning. I hadn't come up with any solutions, but I wanted to. I didn't want him always being the one to take care of
me
. 

David: Come home, sweet girl.

10:55 AM

It was the picture attached to it that got my attention. I never imagined David would do something like this, but... it was hot. His pecs and defined eight-pack popped in our bathroom lighting. His veins running along his stomach, disappearing into his open jeans. The thick vein running along his bicep... I wanted to lick it, bite it, suck it until he gave me that deep sexy groan that made my core clench.

And I bet that's all it would take to get…

Fuck, I'm wet. Focus!

I opened the next.

David: I skipped the gym. Come

home and give me a

workout.

11:19 AM      

The pic attached made my pussy pulse. He had on gray sweats, pushed low. Obscenely low.

I could see his entire V of muscle and the veins along his hip bones... I swear I could smell his skin, as clearly as if my nose was pressed to that V, a sweet exotic musk that was distinctly David. I wanted to call him, tell him to come up here so I could fuck him in the sauna or whirlpool.

Scratch that... So
he
could fuck
me
.

This might be our problem. Because if he asked me right now, I wouldn't want my independence. I would ask him to tie me up and fuck me whenever he felt like it. Use me.

God
, just a few PG-13 pics from him and I was drowning in a primal, feral need to fuck.

I realized the problem was mostly me—mostly, not entirely. I acted like David was the mercurial one, but I was. Sometimes, I wanted my space. Sometimes, I wanted him to follow my every move. And apparently, I could flip between the two with nothing more than a pair of low hanging sweats. 

David: Come home and ride my cock.

11:46 AM

He was lying down on our bed. Giving me his view down the length of this body. Every ripple of muscle was defined. His hard cock was tenting those gray sweats.

David: I'll do anything you want.

For as long as you want.

12:25 PM

His hand was pushing his sweats low, exposing the base of his cock. I could feel the smooth skin against my lips, taste him on my tongue, salty and sweet, as if I were actually drawing his wide crown into my mouth. My pussy throbbed at the vivid memory.

This wasn't fair. He knew I had a full day.

Deciding, turnabout was fair play, I untied my robe, letting it fall to the floor, and turned around in front of the floor-length mirror, spreading my legs wide, and bent over. I adjusted my position until it looked perfect—pretty, artful and still graphic. I took four pics, adjusting my stance a bit each time. Then I stood, turning sideways. I bent my knee and pushed up on my tiptoes, arching my back enough to exaggerate my curves. I took several until I got the perfect one.

I was exhausted by the time I was done.

Austin: So close…

1:20 PM

I attached the ass shot and sent it.

David: Please come home.

1:23 PM

Austin: Wish you were here, but

this place is really busy

today. I'm sure I can make do.

1:25 PM

I attached the best pic of the next shot.

David: Not fucking funny! Don't

even joke about that.

1:27 PM

David: You better not be in a

co-ed room!

1:29 PM

Payback was a nasty bitch. I turned off my phone and put it in the locker, noticing a few women were watching me. I couldn't help but laugh.

They were boring if they thought that was risqué.

They couldn't handle the shit David and I do.

*****

Several hours later, when I finally pulled into the driveway, I was starving. I hadn't planned on being gone so long. And I hadn't bothered turning my phone back on when I left, afraid David would have sent more distractions. 

Soon as I parked next to the truck, the door to the kitchen opened.

“I've been calling your ass for an hour,” David thundered. “You're lucky Aaron talked me outta coming down there.”

Knowing we had at least one sane person involved in our lives was relief.

“My blow-out took longer than I thought—they thought,” I corrected as I climbed out of the car. 

He looked me over. I could see his anger dissolving. Finally, he said, “I made some dinner.”

“Thank you, babe. I'm starving!” I shut the car door and hauled my tired body over to him.

He wrapped a thick arm around my waist, pulling me into his hard chest.   

“I thought you were supposed to feel amazing after a day at the spa,” he breathed into my hair. I felt his body relax as he held me, the tension leaving him.

“Not when you're starving and sitting in a chair for two and a half hours for hair and makeup.” The spa day would have been amazing had I thought to pre-order a meal, which I hadn't. And cheese and fruit... Just no.

“Well, you look amazing.” He pulled back, looking me over. A sexy smirk formed on his face as our eyes met. Then he growled, “A little dangerous, a
lot
of sexy.”

I bit my lip, trying to stop my grin from taking over my face. “Look who's talking.” I pulled away, grabbing his hand and stepping into the house, easily pulling him behind me—he still had his stitches and I kept forgetting about them, but he never said anything. “And by the way, those pics were mean.” I let go of his hand and went around the island, sitting down. “Getting me all worked up when I couldn't do anything about it.”

“Well, the plan was to get you to blow off the spa and come home.” His tone shifted to accusing. “That didn't happen, though.”

“I should've just done a massage, hair and makeup.”

“Should've just come home. I would've given you a massage.”

“I'm starving. What did you make?” I asked, ignoring his sex voice.

“I cooked mini zucchini frittatas.” At my blank expression, he quickly added, “They'll keep you from bloating tonight.”

He was seriously the perfect husband. Whether he noticed the costume was a corset or he was just that thoughtful, I didn't know. Either way, he was fucking awesome. “I
love
you. Let's try it.”

He pulled open the warming drawer and started dividing them up.

Now that his irritation was gone and my hunger was about to be cured, I finally really took him in. He was wearing those low hanging sweats and nothing else. My eyes devoured that deep V before finally moving up to the powerful, heavy slabs of muscle in his chest and arms, jumping and ticcing with his movements. He served me then turned to start some coffee as if he could read my mind. Though, he probably just noticed my exhaustion.

“I'm going to need an IV of that,” I muttered, watching the hard swells in his back shifting.

He turned to me, smirking. “Thanks for the eye-fuck.”

Feeling my face heat, I responded, “I'm allowed to.”

“You can fuck me anyway you want,” he declared, grabbing waters from the fridge before he came around the island, sitting next to me.   

“Nine to midnight okay with you?” he asked sitting the waters down and pulling his plate over.

I nodded, nibbling at the little pie-looking thing.  The frittatas were good. I ate quickly, not caring that David was seeing me eat like a wild animal.

“Damn, you are hungry,” he laughed, then got up and made our coffees.

Placing mine in front of me as he sat back down, he continued eating.

“Seriously. I think you're the best husband ever,” I said honestly.

“I don't know about that. I'm just trying to take care of you... I've fucked up plenty since we got married, but I'll make you happy if it fucking kills me.”

The fierceness in his voice surprised me.

I realized then that he was more upset than I thought about this morning or just my need for space in general.

We finished eating in silence, mostly because my mouth was full. I wasted no time starting in on my coffee as David started filling me in on his day with Aaron, while Chance bumped into my legs, needing attention. I was still rubbing Chance's big head and playing with his ears when David got up, refilled my coffee, and started a second pot.

“Speaking of those pics.” He looked over at me, his eyebrow raised. “
That
was mean... Both of them. So close? When you know how bad I want in that ass. And I called the spa to find out if there was a co-ed area.”

I laughed, but I wasn't surprised. “That's what you get. You had my pussy chanting for your cock when I couldn't get it.”

“Mmm-hmm.” He shut the lid on the coffee machine and prowled over to me. “You can have it now. In fact, we could stay home, do some role-playing with those costumes.”

“No way. We're going,” I stated as I started on my second oversized cup of coffee. Honestly, his offer sounded perfect, but I wanted to go, it was our first event together and our first invite as a couple.

Who said I'm not sentimental?

“Fine,” he huffed, sitting next to me.

I found myself procrastinating getting ready, not because I didn't want to go but because I was afraid David would freak.

When I noticed it was already seven, I decided,
fuck it.

“I'm going to start getting ready,” I announced as I stood up. I half expected him to follow me into the bedroom to watch me, but he didn't.

I kicked off my flip-flops and undressed quickly. I found my deepest plunge bra and a pair of lace thong panties, grabbed the costume and went into the bathroom, locking the door just in case.

The side zipper made getting dressed much easier. The cups of the corset were covered with white silk dupioni, the underbust to the hip was a distressed brown leather, and the skirt was red silk with a jagged hem—torn and worn looking. And very short. The longest part was eight inches below my panties, the shortest three inches. I could feel my ass peeking out without even looking, but I did anyway.

Yep, ass cheeks are visible.

Quickly, I put the red satin cape on. If I kept it just right, I could hide how short the skirt was until we got to the party. Scooping up the length, I scurried into the closet. I felt like a villain cartoon character with the costume and my skulking around. I quickly grabbed some socks and my dark brown, Jeffery Campbell, lace-up, knee-high boots. Sitting on the bench, I quickly pulled them on, worried David would come in before I could cover my ass. Literally.

Soon as I got them on, I stood, moving in front of the full-length mirror. The boots being four inches high prevented the cape from dragging on the ground, but what really drew my attention was my chest.

Holy shit!

My boobs-of-plenty were more
obscene
in the corset than I remembered, and with the too short skirt... it would definitely have the desired effect. When I chose the costumes, I thought they would be sexy and fun—add a little spice into our public sex routine. But now my intention was to awaken that territorial beast side of my husband. I craved his darkness. He hadn't let me see it since his fight with Zach. We had rough sex, at my request, but he had been in “I love you sex” mode since the nail salon. I wanted aggressive, possessive, angry sex and I was going to get it. 

“Hey, you ready?” David's voice startled me.

I turned and was stunned by what I saw. He was standing in the doorway, wearing the bottom half of the costume. I couldn't respond, shocked by my body’s reaction. I knew it was detailed, but it looked better on him than I had imagined. It was disturbingly sexy. With his size it reminded me of the lycan's on Underworld. My eyes trailed up his defined eight-pack, to the thick, metal collar around his strong neck, the silver of it glinting in the light. He held a thick chain that attached to the large O-ring on the front.