Cardinal's Rule (26 page)

He looked genuinely confused. “No, why?”

She poked him. “Duh. To give him a night before your biopsy?”

He slowly shook his head. “Why would I do that?”

“Are you screwing with me or deliberately being dense?”

“I mean it. Why?”

She fought the urge to smack him. Keeping her voice low and steady, she said, “Because you

love him.”

“You’re my wife. Why would I sleep with him when I have you?”

“Give me a straight answer.”

He smirked. “I’m sure the pun was unintended. Love, I am giving you a straight answer. I love you. My wife. Mrs. LaCroux. He can fend for himself.”

More guilt. “That’s not fair to him.”

“I never said I was fair. He knows what he signed up for.” He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them. “He’s my slave. He will do what I tell him to and happily accept whatever scraps of 

attention I throw his way.”

Still more guilt. Her cup runneth over. “That’s not what I want to happen. I never meant to take you away from him.”

His expression darkened. “Why not? Give him a taste of what you went through.”

“I thought we weren’t going to torture him past Wednesday.”

“Is it Wednesday yet?”

She rolled her eyes. “So you’re saying you’ll get back to whatever passes for normal between you two on Wednesday?”

He shrugged. “Perhaps. It is too soon to say.” He nuzzled her neck. “I have no complaints about who’s sharing my bed. Let him have a dose of loneliness.”

* * * *

Cris drove while they rode in the backseat. She wasn’t sure she felt comfortable with Cris

wearing his collar and cuffs, but it wasn’t her call. At the clerk’s office, they filed their marriage license and she received her paperwork to take to the tax collector’s office where she changed her driver’s license.

Landry smiled as he looked at her license. “Matil—sorry, love. Tilly Cardinal LaCroux.” He

showed it to Cris. “Has a beautiful ring to it, does it not, slave?”

His eyes flicked her way before he stared at Landry. “Yes, Master,” he softly replied.

Landry returned her license and led her from the office to where Cris had parked the car. Cris trailed close behind. “Let’s go have lunch,” Landry said.

“We just ate,” Tilly reminded him. “You’re hungry already?”

His eyes gleamed in that wicked way she knew meant he had more up his sleeve. “There are

some lovely little shops here in downtown Sarasota that I would like to explore. I’m feeling in the mood to take a walk.” They reached the car and Cris darted around them to grab the door for them, but she stepped into his way, blocking his path.

Her gaze fell on the collar and cuffs Cris wore. She dropped her voice. “What about him?”

“What about him?” Landry asked.

“What he’s wearing.”

He glanced at Cris. “He’s appropriately attired. Why?”

Yes, she had promised not to interfere with what Landry did with Cris, but this was pushing

things just a bit too far. The absolute last thing she wanted to do was get into a battle of wills with Landry over this.

The collar and cuffs were made of brown, hand-tooled leather. Custom made, from the looks of them. No doubt they set Landry back a couple hundred bucks. Very nice and, yes, totally unobtrusive in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or even Miami. “Sarasota is a fairly conservative town despite its artsy atmosphere, Lan.”

He arched an eyebrow at her. “Yes? What are you implying, love?”

Cris waited, watching her. She felt his gaze on her. She refused to look at him.

“What I’m implying is perhaps Cris could leave something in the car while we sightsee.”

“Love, I’m sure they’d want him to wear his shirt in the shops.” His playful smirk dared her to defy him.

She knew damn well he understood what she meant. He wanted her to challenge him. She had

no doubts if she ordered him to make Cris remove at least the cuffs, if not the collar and cuffs, he probably would, but then the point in this game he played would be his.

In this intellectual game of chicken, she would have metaphorically blinked first.

The stubborn dominant streak in her wouldn’t let this go. She’d be damned if she’d outright

order Landry to make Cris remove them. Her pride also wouldn’t let her outright tell him what she wanted. She finally looked to Cris for any hint of how to proceed.

“I don’t mind, Mrs. LaCroux,” he softly said.

No help there.
“What are trying to prove?” she asked Landry.

Wide-eyed innocence. “Prove, love? Whatever are you implying?”

“Innocence doesn’t become you.”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.” He snapped his fingers at Cris, then pointed to the

back door. Cris stepped in to open it.

She stepped in front of Landry to block him again and turned her back to the car. Time to play dirty. She dropped her voice so a couple walking to their car nearby couldn’t hear. “I live in this town.

I’m fairly well-known among certain circles. Some of my former clients frequent this part of town…

professionally, if you get my drift. One of the things I’m known for is my discretion.
Not
drawing 

attention to myself.”

Ball in his court. Landry’s jaw tensed and worked until he finally laughed. “Point to you, love.”

He looked at Cris. “Did you bring the key?”

“Yes, Master.”

“You can remove your cuffs and collar after you get in.” He tipped his head to her. “Well

played, darling.” She stepped out of the way so Cris could open the door. Landry extended his arm, indicating for her to climb in first. “Well played.”

After they were inside the car, she turned to him. “New rule, dude.”

“Ah, I should have guessed.”

She didn’t miss Cris watching in the rear view mirror. “You try to play mind games with me

again, any more pissing contests like this, we’re done. Immediately. Got it?”

He sighed melodramatically. “I suppose, love. If you really wish to take all the fun out of life.”

She goosed his crotch, making him jump. “If getting your brains fucked out isn’t enough fun, then mind fucks are not going to give you any joy. I will shut you down faster than a turd in a public pool. Just try me if you think I’m kidding. Don’t forget Cardinal’s Rules.”

He laughed again before he leaned in to kiss her. “Touché, darling. Touché.”

She didn’t miss Cris’ amused smile reflected in the rear view mirror as he started the car after removing his collar and cuffs.

* * * *

Cris found a parking space. Landry and Tilly walked hand-in-hand down Main Street, heading

toward Five Corners Park across from the Selby library. Cris silently trailed behind them, carrying the things Landry insisted on buying for Tilly. She suspected he mostly bought stuff just to make Cris carry it, not because he really wanted it. Damn sure not because she wanted it. By the time they reached the Calliope Café on Pineapple and Main, Tilly was ready to put an end to the games. Cris looked like a loaded down pack horse.

Tilly took charge and asked the hostess for a table in the corner. Fortunately, they’d arrived on the tail end of the lunch rush and were able to be seated immediately.

Landry smirked after the waitress took their drink order and left them. “I must say, I admire 

you, my love.”

“Why?”

He nodded toward Cris, who silently sat with his gaze on the table and his hands in his lap. She felt like kicking him under the table just to elicit some sort of reaction from him.

“What?” she asked.

He leaned in and dropped his voice. With his lips by her ear, he said, “You feel sorry for him.”

“Uh, duh. Sherpa the pack pony here could use a break, I’m sure. It’s hot today.”

She didn’t miss how Cris’ lips curled in a slight smile.

She also didn’t miss how her heart throbbed at the sight, that she could still make him smile.

How many times had she earned herself a tickling from her snarky comments?

They ordered. Rather, Tilly ordered, and Landry ordered for himself and Cris. It was late

afternoon when they finally returned home. When they walked in the door, Landry scooped her up into his arms again and carried her to their bedroom.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I would think that’s rather obvious.” He laid her on the bed and stood back so he could

unbutton his shirt. “I want to make the most of tonight.”

Her heart throbbed at the sight as he dropped his shirt to the floor. He crawled onto the bed, predatory, stalking her, until he straddled her. “Do you know how utterly beautiful you are?”

“No, but maybe if you hum a few bars.”

He laughed and kissed her. “Oh, sweetheart,
je t’adore
.”

I adore you.

Tilly wrapped her arms around him. “
Moi aussi
,
je t’adore
.”

I adore you, too.

And she did.

She was staring into his eyes when he said, “Just put everything in the closet and close the door on the way out.”

She realized he’d left the bedroom door open. She craned her head around his shoulder and saw that Cris stood there, his arms full. He walked in, put everything in the closet, and left, closing the door behind him.

“Now, where were we, love?”

“How did you know he was there?”

He smiled before leaning in to nip the base of her throat. “I saw his reflection in the vase over there.”

She craned her neck and looked, then started laughing. “I thought maybe you had ESP.”

One eyebrow arched. “Extra sensory perception?”

“Excellent slave positioning.”

He burst out laughing and fell to the bed beside her. “You shall keep me on my toes. I can see it now.” He pulled her on top of him. “What kind of mood are you in tonight, love?”

“That sounds like a loaded question.”

“It most certainly is.” He pulled her to him and kissed her. “Sweet and fun, hot and heavy, or beating the crap out of the cuck?”

“Definitely not door number three.”

He sighed melodramatically. “Spoil sport. You truly have a soft heart, love.”

“Shut up and kiss me.”

He did, soon driving all thoughts over their prior discussion out of her mind as he worked his lips down her jaw to her throat, where he started nibbling. Her blouse and bra soon hit the floor with his shirt. He smiled as he traced his finger around her right nipple. “So you’ve gotten your vengeance out of your system?”

“You want to keep me in the mood, you’ll drop this discussion right now.”

He bent over and licked her nipple. “Consider it dropped.” He repeated the treatment with her left nipple and soon had her squirming under his hands.

Landry worked his way down to her slacks, his lips exploring and teasing. Tilly tangled her

fingers in his hair and tried to urge him to go faster, but he refused to be rushed. By the time he finally had her naked beneath him on the bed, she felt half out of her mind with need. He knelt on the floor beside the bed, pulled her ass to the edge, and pushed her thighs apart.

“This is what I wanted, love. Make as much noise as you want. The more, the better.” With that, he bent his head to her mound and licked.

“Oh!” she gasped. “Fuck yeah!” Her body trembled as his tongue snaked inside her, slowly,

teasing her.

He draped her legs over his shoulders and clamped his hands around her thighs. Like that, she 

couldn’t have escaped his wicked mouth if she’d wanted to.

She most definitely did not want to.

In such a short time he’d learned more than enough about her body to keep her hovering on the edge forever, it felt like. Before long she found herself begging him for release.

He lifted his mouth from her clit. “Louder, love,” he said. “And perhaps I shall.”

Fuck
. She’d give him this one, but they’d talk later when she felt sane and not so desperately in need of coming. “Please, goddammit, make me come!”

He chuckled. “Excellent.” He slid two fingers inside her and it felt like the back of her head exploded as her climax slammed into her brain. He managed to hit her g-spot and her back arched as it felt like the orgasm never would end.

Once she lay limp on the bed, he kissed the insides of her thighs before untangling himself from her. Standing before her, he dropped his slacks, exposing his rigid cock.

“No little blue pills, love,” he teased as he grabbed her legs and pushed them up, sinking deep inside her in one slow thrust. “That’s all for you, because of you.”

There was something about his green eyes that entranced her, held her hostage. He leaned in

and kissed her as he fucked her, his slow, deliberate thrusts stirring more passion inside her. “My beautiful wife. I am a damned lucky man.”

Another moment she wanted to freeze in time, to hold him here with her in this perfection. No Cris, no revenge, no past pain, no future worries over his health. “I consider myself pretty lucky, too.”

A slow smile curved his lips. “Come with me,” he whispered. “I want to feel what I do to you.”

No triggers, no switching to the sure-fire tactic guaranteed to make her explode. Nothing but his eyes, his sweet, sexy smile, and the damn fine feeling of that wonderful cock sliding across her already swollen clit and stroking nerve endings inside her that had laid unused for too long.

He shifted position slightly, leaning forward with her legs over his shoulders. “Show me what I do to you, baby.”

She felt more than her body shattering. This time, it felt like her heart wanted to explode, to latch onto him and never let go.

Landry kissed her, tenderly, slowly. “I’ll never betray your trust, love. I swear it. Let me in.”

She felt her release, stealthy and soft, like a too-large soap bubble giving way to a sudden breeze. And all the sweeter for the simple beauty in that connection with Landry. Tilly gasped as she 

felt it and in two hard thrusts, he joined her.

The tears caught her by surprise. Without withdrawing, he immediately rolled them over, him