Three-Part Harmony (7 page)

Despite his efforts at reassurance, Dasha’s posture stayed stiff as starch. She still felt amazing against him, her body soft, smooth, tiny, lovely. He pushed on, hoping some regular niceties would relax her, “Darling, I’d like to introduce Madame Laurelle Miri, a dear friend who is going to assist us this evening.”

“Assist us with what?”

So much for niceties. He gave her thigh a small swat. “Manners,” he murmured when she jerked in reaction. “I know you’re nervous, but be nice. I trust Laurelle implicitly. Her discretion is solid; you don’t have to worry. She also happens to be the best at what she does.”

At last, Dasha extended a hand. “Nice to meet you, Laurelle.”

“
Enchanté,
” his friend responded. As they shook, Laurelle also took the chance to openly admire Dasha’s figure.

The extra attention didn’t escape his sub. D pressed back against him in a hurry.

“And what is it…that you’re the best at?”

A thick pause fell. Laurelle jingled a little laugh, and Dasha trembled harder next to him. He admitted a few conflicted sensations of his own. What he’d planned for the next hour…it was definitely going to be one of his more creative fantasies come true; the scene he’d been saving for Dasha alone. But it would also be the litmus test of whether he and D were meant to follow a path into the D/s realm together. If the test failed, he had to be willing to deal with the repercussions, no matter what form they took.

But if it was successful…

Yeah, focus on that. Focus on the sliver of the submissive you unveiled in New York. Concentrate on that awakening you beheld in her eyes, on how gorgeous she was when she climaxed for you. Focus on letting that creature fly free tonight.

No time like now to get started.

He took a steadying breath, then smiled at Laurelle. “Go ahead,” he told his friend. “It’s all right to give our girl a little preview.”

Laurelle smiled back, though this time, the look carried sly feline intent. “Let’s say…I like to play with shiny, sharp things.”

D’s reaction was actually better than he’d anticipated. Other than the extra tension to her spine, she maintained her decorum better than a queen. “With—” She cleared her throat. “I’m not sure I follow. Wh-what do you mean?”

Laurelle’s here-kitty-kitty look went to the dogs. She took a measured step forward. “Little D,” she issued in a tone to match her harder look, “stop the stuttering and answer me a question.” She nodded at him. “Do you trust your Sir?”

Dasha squirmed in his hold, almost as if trying to throw him off. But after just seconds, she snapped, “Yes. Of course.”

David dipped his lips to her nape. “Thank you.”

Laurelle wasn’t so impressed. “
Bien,
” she stated coolly. “Then prove it. Heed his word. Mind your manners. Trust that he has arranged a unique surprise for you. Come along now.”

She cut a model-perfect pivot on her heels, then started down the hallway to the treatment rooms. David already knew D wasn’t “coming along” anywhere with anyone at the moment. But this reaction he could deal with. To be honest, it was better than he expected. That gave him justification to give her a patient regard instead of a reprimanding scowl.

“You have concerns.”

Dasha sighed, though her gaze flashed bronze fire. “Damn right I have concerns. You want to give me a clue about what’s going on here? When I got your invitation, I thought we were meeting here alone to…”

Her blush continued down to the center of both breasts. He let his gaze linger there as he began his response.

“You thought you were coming to begin your journey as my submissive.”

She stared up at him. “Well, yeah.”

He cupped her gorgeous little chin. And couldn’t help a small smile. “And that’s exactly what’s going on, sweetheart.”

She didn’t return his smile. Not that he expected that. What he didn’t expect was the breathtaking sight he witnessed instead, how she didn’t falter in letting him see the rest. The little bite she gave one side of her lip. The fast glance down the hall, at where Laurelle waited. Then the thoroughly tormented look she turned back to him, exposing how she wrestled with the promise she’d made this afternoon versus the reality of paying up tonight.

He waited with all the patience in the world. Because he couldn’t take his gaze off her.

And wondered how he ever would again.

Hell.

He’d called it conflict a few minutes ago. Now the truth broadsided him like a hit from a Hummer. This wasn’t conflict. It was plain, simple, cart-before-the-horse stupidity.

Turn it off.
Now.
Tonight was about showing Dasha where they were going from here,
if
they were going from here. It was about her submission
and
her satisfaction, but it was also about showing her the clear rules of this deal. Going Barry Manilow now, being anything other than her Dominant, feeling anything except the desire to control her and the mission to pleasure her, wasn’t part of that deal. Not now. Not ever.

She swallowed. Then bit the other end of her lip. “I don’t understand.”

“There’s an…appearance that I require in my playmates.” He lowered his hand now, cupping it over the little curls of her mound. “No offense, you understand. This is gorgeous, but I demand direct access to your sweet clit at all times.”

“Oh.” The word flowed from her with warmth now, like the heat in the V where he lingered with the backs of his fingers. He dipped his voice to a possessive growl.

“I don’t want anything in the way of touching you in the deepest ways possible. Of feeling you, all of you, quiver for me.”

Three more seconds passed before their reverie got sliced by D’s comprehension. “Sh-shiny and sharp things,” she blurted. “Oh.
Oh.
So…you’re going to…
Laurelle
is going to…”

“Shave your pussy clean for me.” Saying the words did nothing to improve his composure. He fought the craving to just slide his fingers into her right now. He’d find her wet too; he was sure of it. He could feel the moisture, teasing his fingers even through her pubic hair.

“Wh-why don’t you just do it yourself?”

“Because I want to watch you
.
I want to see every beautiful inch of you…as you enjoy things.”

She didn’t miss his stress on enjoy. “You sound damn sure of that.”

“Because I am.” He met her gaze directly. He wanted her to know how deeply he meant it. Most importantly, he needed her attention for what he said next. “I’ve also requested Laurelle’s expertise…for a second procedure.”

Carefully as he’d couched it, he still couldn’t predict her response to that. All things considered, he thanked fate for her fondness of the royal family impressions tonight. Her step back, seeming to forget her nudity in the wake of indignation, was both adorable and gorgeous.

“Procedure?” She gave the word air quotes. “Listen, Mister. The girl-kissing thing jumped the shark last year. And I’m not sticking around for a pap smear either.”

He let her see the arousal in his face as he lunged and pulled her close again. Like he’d be able to hide it. “No mouth touches yours but mine tonight.” He palmed both her ass cheeks. “And believe me, Laurelle doesn’t do speculums.”

A tiny smile touched her lips too as she wriggled in his hold. His cock lurched in reaction. Fuck. She was so vulnerable, so warm, so naked. It was going to take a miracle for him to last until Laurelle finished the shave, let alone the rest of what he had planned.

“All right, then. What’s your devious plan?”

He forced himself to step back and shifted his hold to her hips. If he stood a chance of making it to the end of this thing, it started with reestablishing roles. On the other hand, a full disclosure would derail the plans before they’d chugged out of the station. Tact was in order. And he sucked at the stuff in the best of situations.

“It pleases me to hear you asking questions and speaking up.” He let his hands slide up her rib cage. “As a matter of fact, you’re fucking gorgeous when you do. Thank you.”

Dasha arched both brows. “That’s your answer?”

He leaned down and bit her bottom lip this time. “Let your Dom finish.” By now, his grip reached her breasts. He reveled in the sweet little intake of her breath as he tugged at both prominent nipples. “I love these,” he said against her mouth. “And I’ve got plans for them. A way of branding them as mine.”

She pushed her face up, begging for deeper contact with him. “Sounds wonderful.”

“Even if…there’s a little pain?”

Her features trembled anew. But she looked him in the eyes with ferocious intent. “If you’ll be there, I’m ready for anything.”

The Manilow tune threatened his blood again, specifically in the region of his heart. For a second, he gave in enough to drop a kiss to her nose. “I’m not going anywhere. Promise.”

After that, it was time to shut off the tenderness faucet once more. David slipped a firm hand into hers and guided her down the hallway. Once they got to the doorway where Laurelle waited, he shifted his hold to Dasha’s waist, a conscious preparation for what would follow when they turned into the room.

He was glad he had that forethought.

Dasha stopped cold. Went stiff as steel. Then backed up by two steps.

The room was clearly one of the spa’s cosmetic procedure areas, with an adjustable treatment table and bright gooseneck lights instead of a candlelit massage setup. Indeed, the table looked almost medical—except for the straps along its length, the fresh plastic sheets, and the modified gynecologist stirrups at its base, each hole sporting a set of padded ankle cuffs. When Laurelle told him she had connections in the city, she wasn’t kidding. He had no idea how she’d gotten the table in here, but he was damn grateful. Just looking at the thing ramped up his blood again, and every inch of his cock flared anew. He couldn’t wait to see Dasha mounted in it.

He just had to melt her down again.

“Uh—okay,” she stammered, “is all this really necessary?”

She tried to back up again, but David had already closed the door with a quiet kick and retightened his hold. “The straps will help hold you,” he explained, “so Laurelle gets exactly what she’s aiming for.” He raised his other hand to her face and pulled her gaze to his again. “You’re gonna be beautiful. And you’re ready for anything, remember?”

Laurelle, however, wasn’t syncing with him in the patience department any more. “
Cherie,
I am accredited and licensed for this procedure in seven countries.” She sharpened the edge on her voice with the dual smacks of her medical gloves, fitting them against her wrists. “You are going to be just fine, D. Come on now, up into your place.”

She patted the table, but Dasha didn’t move. Laurelle arched an elegant brow. David caught the message as if she’d sprayed it on the wall.

He released a sigh. Then looked at his sub. “You need a little motivation, don’t you?”

As he expected, she lifted a hopeful gaze, lips already half pursed.

He didn’t give her that kiss.

Instead, he turned his grip into a full arm-wrap to her waist. He turned her in that grip, shoving her over for a good stare at his foot, with her ass now high and unhindered for him. He used that access at once, dropping one hard
thwack
to each cheek. She matched two startled yelps at the openhanded spanks, and the sounds tugged at him in all the right places. That, and the twin blooms he’d created on her delectable, creamy swells.

“Hmm,” Laurelle crooned. “You have gotten better at that.”

“Better target,” he returned, taking full advantage of the chance to smooth out the pain for D, slowly stroking her skin.

The Domina directed her next comment at his sub. “Have you learned your manners now,
peu soumis
? Or would you like your to Sir deliver a bit more motivation?”

All David’s senses tuned themselves to Dasha’s reaction. He’d seen her bristle at reporters for less attitude than Laurelle’s, but this was a different time and a very
different place. She’d already floored him so much with her courage tonight. Now she did again. Though her breaths came shallow, she went slack in his hold, silently acknowledging his leadership. When he brought her back up, her eyes hung at half-mast. She stepped obediently to the table. As she slid onto it, he watched a multitude of emotions cross her face. Fear…there was still the fear, of course. But he also saw the beginnings of a submissive’s deep peace…and the light of adoration. She gave him a tentative smile.

He returned the smile as Laurelle positioned each of D’s feet into the stirrups. The ankle straps came next, clinking as the Domina locked down on each side. Laurelle moved up, strapping in each of Dasha’s thighs, then securing a strap across her waist. A pair of thinner restraints went above and below her breasts, making those incredible mounds push up and out more. His own chest constricted, clamped again by those sensations he’d had out in the foyer. Those goddamn emotions, taking new pickaxes at the caverns of his heart. He swore inwardly, then dynamited the fuckers again.

“Would you like to have the last honor?” Laurelle held out a pair of leather handcuffs joined by a double-sided latch. She finished by pulling another extension from the table, directly over Dasha’s head, a hearty steel rod with a fastener hook on top.

David grinned, accepting the cuffs. Now this was familiar territory. Dasha’s muscles trembled as he brought up one of her arms, then the other. He knew she wanted to fight him, but he soothed out her rebellion by trailing kisses across her face as he snapped the bonds around her slender wrists. He held her gaze with his as he hooked her into place, exacting her final piece of trust. Words came to his throat. He let them spill out.

“Thank you.”

He brushed her breasts with his knuckles.

“Thank you.”

He ran an open palm down her stomach.

“Thank you.” As he gave it to her the last time, he stepped between the stirrups, spread them wide, and locked them into place.

From just outside the vortex of their bond, Laurelle hummed her approval. Then issued the words that officially began their flight as Dominant and submissive.