A Real Page Turner (2 page)

He had accepted the answer, but she wondered how long it might be before he brought the subject back up again. After all, it had only been six months since they’d started this arrangement. If he got bored with playing slap, without the tickle, then he might leave her in the lurch. If that happened, would she be willing to change the relationship to something more than spanker/spankee?

April supposed it would be best to leave that question for if, or when, it happened.

She placed the towel over Tom’s lap before she lowered herself carefully. She wasn’t a little thing like Virginia was; instead, April was what one of her friends termed bold and beautiful, a larger woman who was curvy, with long flowing dark hair and dark eyes.

As per Tom’s instructions, she always left her hair down when she came to Charlie’s. Right now, she shivered slightly as he brushed it off her back and over her shoulder.

She had to admit that feeling a man’s touch was nice. Hell, it was more than nice. Maybe she should tell Tom she was ready for more than what they had.

Sweep it under the mat, she told herself. Right now enjoy the few slaps he’s going to deliver to your ass, then go home and break out the toys. They will keep you satisfied for a while.

Right now, Tom was rubbing his hand over her ass, pressing hard at times and softer at others, warming her up for the shortened spanking. April enjoyed the attention, letting her mind settle as he caressed her.

The first slap caught her by surprise, and she groaned loudly. Then she said, “Excuse me, Sir, that was one.”

“Your tricks of trying not to count won’t work tonight,” Tom told her.

April sighed. Tom always wanted her to count the strokes, and sometimes she would lose count, always on purpose, and they would have to start over again.

“Tonight you get exactly twenty-five, and if you try any tricks, I’ll take it down to twenty. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Another slap.

April counted two.

By the time they got to five, it was obvious to her that, not only was the spanking going to be shorter, it was not going to have the usual oomph. This was not going to be satisfying at all.

She mentally chided herself for stopping to talk to Virginia. She should have passed right on by, and maybe, just maybe, found a way to bring up the fact that she’d seen her at Charlie’s some other time when Virginia was in the store.

That would have been awkward, though. But it would have been worth it if she’d experienced the crop tonight.

They reached fifteen, and then twenty. By the time Tom had smacked her ass twenty-five times, April was ready to beg for more.

After the twenty-fifth swat, he gave her one final slap on her ass, just like he always did. “Get up,” he ordered.

April obeyed.

“Maybe next time you won’t keep me waiting.”

“No, Sir,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I am very sorry.”

“So am I. I had looked forward to a very enjoyable evening. I guess I’m going to have to find entertainment elsewhere. You can get dressed and go now.”

After he’d dismissed her, April dressed slowly. Tom sat on the couch, and she could feel his gaze on her back, but he didn’t say a word. When she was fully clothed, she turned to him. “I will see you next month?”

“Yes,” he nodded. But as she put her hand on the doorknob, he called her name. “If you feel the need for a spanking before then, call here at the club. They can get hold of me and we’ll make arrangements.”

“Thank you, Sir.” April smiled shyly. She had a feeling she would be taking him up on his offer, since she was feeling very empty right now. She might be calling as soon as next week.

As she moved through the club, April thought about her reason for being late. She looked to the area to the left, where Virginia had been sitting earlier. The woman was still at the table, but this time a man was with her. His back was to April, so she couldn’t see who he was; all she could see was that he wore a denim shirt, and had blond hair.

She thought about going up to her customer, then decided she’d been too nervous earlier when April had shown up. Her reaction now, with a potential Dom at the table, might be worse. It was best if April waited to talk to her friend again.

At the exit, April paused to collect her bag. The clerk gave her a confused look, probably wondering at her short stay, April thought. April just shrugged, and the woman didn’t say anything.

At the front door, the bouncer held up his finger to ask her to wait. She stood off to one side as he checked the IDs on two women, whom he soon let inside. When they were gone, he handed April twenty-five dollars.

“Complements of Sir Tom,” he said with a nod. “He said you had to wait at least a week, but that he hoped he’d see you soon after that.”

“Thanks,” she said in surprise. She tucked the money in her purse as a security guard appeared at her side. He walked her to her car, and April couldn’t help but smile.

Maybe Tom wasn’t such a bad guy after all, and she should consider having more than a spanking relationship with him.

***

A week later, April was feeling pretty upbeat about things. Business had been pretty good, with lots of people coming into A Real Page Turner to buy books. A few came in to trade, but not many. More books went out the door than came in, and she reminded each new customer to bring the book back to trade when they were done.

It wasn’t good not to take in new stock. She might have to spend the weekend trolling yard sales around the Denver area to see what she could find to buy. Lots of times people sold books at a very discounted rate just to get rid of them.

When she did this, she always handed the people her card and told them that they could trade their books instead of selling them for a quarter apiece. “You can get more value with me,” she’d said.

She was in the back of the store Friday afternoon, looking over her stock and thinking to herself that it had been a week since she’d seen Tom. Her deadline had passed, and she could call him and tell him that she wanted a spanking, a real one. This time she wouldn’t make him wait. As a matter of fact, she would be there early,
show him that she should be the one to wait.

She was shelving books, moving them around to make sure they were in the right alphabetical order when the front door dinged. She hurried down the aisle to find Virginia standing at the counter.

The younger woman smiled.

“Hi,” April said happily. “It’s great to see you.”

“You, too,” Virginia said. “I have several boxes of books I’d like to bring in, if that’s okay with you.”

“Perfect,” April said, clapping her hands together. “I was just thinking that I needed someone to come in and trade. You have perfect timing. Do you need help bringing them in?”

Virginia said she did, and the two of them headed to the parking lot. When Virginia lifted the back of her SUV, April was surprised to see six large liquor boxes in the back.

“All of these?”

“Yes,” Virginia said as she grabbed one of them. “They are just gathering dust in my house. If it’s okay with you, I’m going to leave them and you can call me later, say next week some time, and tell me if you want them all, or if you’re going to take just a few. If you don’t want them, though, I would prefer you donate them somewhere rather than give them back to me.”

“Okay.” April grabbed a box. It was heavy, but she was used to moving boxes of books. Together they carried the tomes into the store. Instead of piling them in the front like she usually did, April carried them to the storeroom, which was mostly empty. She thought about asking her friend what had prompted her to clean out her bookshelves. But she didn’t. If Virginia wanted to say anything about bringing in boxes of books, when she’d said she had only a sack, she would.

“I’ll come down on Sunday afternoon and go through them,” she told Virginia after they were all inside. “I have your phone number on file, don’t I?”

They went up front to check and make sure April had the right one. After they confirmed that she did, April leaned toward Virginia. “How did things go for you the other night?” She talked low, even though there was nobody else in the shop at the moment.

“Fine,” Virginia said with a smile. “I think this new guy is nice. We’re in the getting to know each other stage.”

“I wish you luck,” April said.

“Thanks.” Virginia grinned, and April felt a twinge of jealously. As the young woman left the store, April picked up the phone and dialed the club. She was going to call Tom, and this time she would tell him she was ready for a little more to happen between them than just spankings.

Unfortunately, Tom couldn’t see April on Friday, or any time over the weekend. As she’d weeded through Virginia’s books on Sunday, she’d tried not to be too upset. He’d told her to come in on Tuesday, and part of her wondered if it was continued punishment for making him wait the other evening.

Tuesday was a busy day at the shop, and she reminded herself several times that she needed to call Virginia and tell her that she was going to buy all of her books. They would definitely help with April’s inventory. Some of them were newer mysteries, and she’d already put them out on the shelves, only to see them fly out the door with other customers.

She needed to ask Virginia if she wanted trade credit, or cash. April was willing to give her friend either one. When she finally found time to call, it was after the store closed at six. April found Virginia’s card and dialed the number. After four rings the answering machine picked up.

April left her message, and then told Virginia that she would be in the shop all day tomorrow if Virginia wanted to stop by and discuss business.

She left the building around six forty-five, giving her enough time to go home, eat and take a bath before making her way to Charlie’s. Tom had made the appointment for nine-thirty, which was late for a work night, but April didn’t care. She was going to be spanked, and she couldn’t wait.

Tom had promised her the crop. That alone was worth the added days, building the anticipation. She was ready for it.

The time at home felt like it lasted forever. When she finally pulled into the parking lot it was after dark. She parked near the front and waited. Within a few moments, a security guard came to the car and escorted her into the building. It was one of the things she loved about Charlie’s. They had lots of security, especially after dark. Once she had paid her fee, the girl at the desk, a different one this time, told her she would be in the Red Room.

It was all April could do not to squeal with joy; the big Victorian sofa, the crop… they were all in her future. This time she would make sure she didn’t keep Tom waiting. She handed over her purse and hurried through the main room, heading toward the event she’d been looking forward to all day… no, more like all weekend.

Once she was in the room, she was happy to see that Tom wasn’t there yet. That meant she would wait. Hopefully that would appease him just a little after the last time.

April sat down on the sofa, crossing her legs at the ankle. She clasped her hands in her lap and tried not to laugh. She was already aroused at the thought of what was to come.

But she had other things on her mind, too. She’d thought long and hard about Tom in the last week. Maybe she should give in, let him spank her at his home, and then have sex with him. Or maybe she should do it at her house. That would be a little safer, wouldn’t it? That way they would be on her turf, and she could kick him out if she wanted.

Tom was a disciplined Dom, and he wouldn’t stay if she asked him to leave. The more she thought about it, the more she thought that might be the way to go. It was best to meet at her house.

Her body tingled in anticipation, even if it wouldn’t be tonight. It would happen soon, maybe within the week. If she mentioned to Tom that she was ready to start a physical relationship with him, would he come to see her tomorrow? Or would he want to do it tonight?

No, she thought, that was too soon. He wouldn’t jump at the chance. He would make her wait. But sometime in the next few days, Tom would come to her house, and she’d allow herself to open up to another human being.

She needed to tell Misty, who would scream for joy and probably laugh, with the words, “I told you so,” thrown in at some point.

April closed her eyes and wondered what it would feel like to have a man inside her after all this time. She’d felt Tom’s dick when she’d been over his lap, so she knew he was well endowed, much better than the jerky ex. He would fill her completely.

What would happen after the first time, she wondered. Would she want to take things to the next level? Or was he another Dom who really liked it rough? If that was so, she’d have to break it off. A little bondage wouldn’t be bad, but she didn’t want most of the other things associated with a D/s relationship.

That was something they needed to discuss before things happened. If Tom, like her ex,
was into things that she thought off the wall, then she would have to keep it where it was right now. Or maybe he could recommend someone who wasn’t into things like cutting, or other creepy things that made her shudder.

“Cold?” The deep voice pulled April out of her thoughts. She looked toward the door and frowned.

A man stood there, one she’d never seen before. He was average, she thought, in every thing except for his eyes, and the sensual grin on his face. Average height, average weight, average looks, with dark hair cut short.

“Excuse me?”

“You were shivering. I wondered if I needed to turn up the heat. If you’re cold now you’ll really be freezing once you’re naked.”

April shook her head. “No, I’m not cold. Who are you?”

“Titan,” he responded, his eyes flashing. “Tom sent me to redden your ass. Shall we get started? Of course, you’ll have to undress first.”

“Uh, uh, uh,” she stuttered before she finally said, “Uh, no.” April
stood, ready to make a quick get away.

“Tom told me you’d be skittish. He sent you a video.” The man who called himself Titan reached into his pocket and pulled out a smart phone. He pressed a few buttons before he handed her the device. “Just hit play.”

She did as he asked. Tom’s face appeared on the screen. “Hello, April. I’m sorry I can’t make it tonight. Rather than leave you in the lurch, I’ve asked my friend Titan to step in. He’ll give you a sound spanking, and you can trust him. You have my word on that.”

The video stopped, with no goodbye, or mention as to when she would see Tom next. Did that mean that, if she turned down Titan, she wouldn’t be spanked for a while? Tom had never stood her up, and this worried her. Had her refusals finally gotten to him? Had she waited too long?

Here she was thinking she would take him between her legs, and he wasn’t even going to show up tonight.

What a fool she’d been.

“April?” Titan was staring at her, his expression neutral, as if he didn’t care if she said yes or no.

“I’m sorry, I can’t.” She started for the door. Before she left, she turned toward him and handed him the phone.

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t know you,” she said accusingly.

He laughed. “Did you know Tom the first time he took you over his knee?”

“No, but…”
But what, April? She asked herself. You had no idea who Tom was. You just took Misty’s advice that he was a good man and you came here and lowered your pants for him. Now you’re facing the same situation, but you’re doing it with a man recommended by the man who spanks you once a month.

“You were saying?” He cocked his eyebrow just a little, as if he were asking a question.

“I was saying, that I met with him first… I can’t… I mean I just… oh crap.” She started for the door again, but stopped when she put her hand on the knob. She really wanted to be spanked. But there was no way she could allow a total stranger to use a crop on her ass. It had taken a while for her to trust Tom enough to do it.

“Sit and talk with me, April.” She turned to watch him walk toward the sofa. From this direction he seemed anything but average. His shoulders were quite broad, and his hips were narrow in the tight pair of jeans he wore. He sat on one end of the sofa and indicated she should sit on the other.

April stared at the space. How many times had she been spanked on this sofa? Not nearly enough, since she’d expected one more tonight. Anger crept up inside her, not at Titan, but at Tom. Why had he agreed to see her if he was going to back out?

Of course, he might have faced an emergency; those things happened. But why didn’t he call to tell her instead of sending someone in his place? He knew how she felt about things. This really pissed her off, and it reinforced her decision not to sleep with him.

“April, are you going to face the situation, or are you going to run?”

Her anger shot up several notches. “I may be submissive, but I’m not a doormat, and I don’t run from things.”

“Then come and sit with me. Consider it our first meeting, much like you did with Tom before you started your time together. Consider it a blind date. If you want, I’ll have coffee brought in.”

It all sounded so sensible that April couldn’t refuse him. She sat down on the sofa, sitting as close to the opposite end as she could without perching on the couch’s arm.

“No coffee,” she said.

They studied each other for a few moments. It was April who broke the silence. “Is Titan your real name?”

“It will be for you.” He crossed one leg over the other. “Tom told me how much you enjoy being spanked. I’m a little hurt that you rejected me out of hand.”

“I’m not used to—” April shut her mouth. She thought about her last visit to the club, how she’d basically lusted after the women who had Doms. Those women took chances. She’d done it with Tom and it had worked out. Why couldn’t she try it again today?

“I just don’t bare my ass to anyone,” she said. “Would you?”

“I’m not submissive,” he countered. “But I can understand your reservations. Would you like to talk to a few of the women I’ve topped? Try Betsy at the front desk, or Marissa at the bar.” There was a short pause before he continued, “How did you hook up with Tom?”

“First off, I’m not hooked up with him. The only relationship we have is spanking. Second off, my friend Misty introduced us.”

“I know Misty.” He smiled. “She has a lovely bottom that reddens quite nicely. I spanked her one night during a party at Frank Munoz’s house.”

April wasn’t sure what to say to that. If Misty did know him, then it might be okay, but… it was a change, one that she wasn’t sure she wanted. April liked to keep things as they were, with as little change as possible. “I don’t know…”

“Answer a question for me.” He didn’t wait for her to respond. Instead he continued, “Have you ever played with anyone you’ve just met? No one-night stands in your life?”

“No.” She shook her head quickly. “I was a virgin until I was twenty-two, and I only slept with him because we’d been dating for two years. The horrible ex and I dated for almost nine months before I slept with him.”

The shocked expression on his face didn’t surprise her. “That’s a long time in this day and age,” he said.

“Yes, it is. It was hard for me to let Tom spank me. I don’t know if I can…”

One of his eyebrows lifted, and April had the feeling he was laughing at her when he said, “Get a reference.”

“Excuse me?”

“An approval rating, from Misty. You’ve already had a recommendation, from Tom, but talking to someone whom I’ve spanked will give you an idea of whether or not I can be trusted.”

April wanted to smack him for being so logical. Why couldn’t she just get up and leave? There was something about this man that was keeping her in place. Heavens knows it wasn’t this easy with Tom in the beginning. Their first encounter was tense, and it took her a while to relax and enjoy the feel of his hand slapping her ass. But after that first time, she was hooked. A sudden realization coursed through her, and she turned away from Titan.

“What is it?”

What it was, April thought, was the realization that Tom had only spanked her six times. Six. It didn’t seem that many when she thought of it in terms of a number, especially when she considered how long it took her to open up to the horrible ex.

“I gotta go.” She vaulted off the couch, heading for the door.

“April,” he called out. “Stay and do as I suggested. You should call Misty. I’ll call downstairs and have your purse brought up, since I’m sure that’s where your phone is.”

He was right; that’s where it was. Would talking to Misty make her feel better?
More than likely. But she was also pretty sure she knew what her friend would say. Misty was a risk-taker. She enjoyed the rush that came from trying new things, even with men she’d just met.

Titan had asked April about her one-night stands. She’d told him there had been zero. The same couldn’t be said for Misty. Her friend reveled in being with men she’d just met.

“Can we just talk?” April looked to where he sat on the couch. Her gaze was drawn to his hands, large hands that she was sure would deliver powerful slaps on her ass, ones that would make her want more.

“Would you like me to have some tea brought up? Or maybe a soda?”

“Diet soda,” April said. She watched as he put his phone to his ear.

When he was done, he indicated the sofa. “Sit back down.”

He smiled at her as she followed his instructions. April ran her hands down the fabric of her skirt. The palms of her hands were clammy.

“Your nipples are hard,” he observed. “Why is that?”

Because of the way you’re studying me.
“Because I’ve thought about being spanked all day. They’ve been hard since I closed up the shop.”