Celebration (19 page)

“What if I did want to bite you back?” she demanded in a wicked whisper.

Eric presented his wrist. “White meat or dark?”

She ran a tongue over her lips, the glint in her eyes making him hard. “I’d have to compare to be sure. Sample all over. Maybe swallow you whole.” She flicked a glance at his ass, then reached out to touch it. They were both fully dressed and standing in a room of people in formal attire, her gesture hidden by his jacket and the shadows, but Eric was electrified when she fondled his butt. “Would you be all right with that?”

Oh yes, he would.

The sooner, the better.

A little bit late, Eric recalled where he was and how he should behave. He turned to pretend to watch the dancers again.

She didn’t take the hint and leave. “So, come on, Mr. Mystery, what makes you Mike’s fairy godmother?”

He swallowed, looked down at her and she smiled. She didn’t look so innocent after all. Eric decided to go for it. “I made his fantasy come true. Of course. It’s the business of fairy godmothers everywhere.”

“Even the unlikely ones?”

“Especially the unlikely ones.”

“Don’t tell me you do that by waving your wand?” She looked at his crotch and he laughed.

“Sometimes it works out that way,” he had to admit.

Her delight was clear. “What about other people’s fantasies? Do you make them come true?”

“Depends,” Eric said softly, watching her with care.

She bit her lip again, glanced at the dance floor, then eased closer. “Do fairy godmothers specialize?”

“You could say that.”

“So, what kind of fantasies do you make come true?”

Eric couldn’t stop himself from grinning.

Her eyes danced with pleasure. She leaned close to him, that sultry whisper doing hard and thick things to him. Eric had to lean down to hear her, which ensured that he was surrounded by a cloud of that enticing perfume. He could see the vestige of red lipstick that clung around the perimeter of her lips and he wanted very much to take a nibble.

Now.

“Okay, Joanna told me something once, about how she’d been to that club, you know, The Plume, because she had a fantasy.” She put a hand on his upper arm, her gaze intense. “Do you know the one I’m talking about?”

Eric thought the evening was developing considerable promise. “I know of it.”

She looked him hard in the eye. “
That
kind of fantasy?”

Eric smiled even as his heart thumped. No way. He could
not
be this lucky. Not in a million years. “What would make you think that?”

“Just a guess.” She fixed him with an intent look. “So? Am I right? Do you make
those
kinds of fantasies come true?”

“Among others,” he conceded.

“Excellent!” She stuck out her hand. “It’s time we met officially. I’m Amy and I’m Joanna’s younger sister.”

Eric stared at her in astonishment. Hadn’t he wished that Joanna had a sister? This
was
too good to be true.

“Eric,” he admitted, taking her hand in his and closing his fingers over her own.

Amy grinned. “Turns out I’m in the market for a fairy godmother, Eric. Maybe one just like you. I like mine hot, dangerous and hungry. I think you qualify. What do you think?”

Eric was fascinated by the way her eyes twinkled—she looked sweet, but the glint in her eyes was so wicked that he was sure she knew exactly what she wanted.

And that she would surprise him.

He had to love that.

“I just might be able to make that wish come true.” Eric leaned down and spoke so quietly that only she’d be able to hear. “But you’ll have to tell me all about your fantasy, to ensure I get it right.”

“Oh, that’s easy,” Amy murmured, then stretched up to put her lips directly against his ear. Eric melted at her touch. “I want an education,” she admitted softly, as if she’d read his mind. “As a sex slave.”

She said it so mildly, as if people confessed such things all the time. Eric’s fascination redoubled, and so did his heartbeat. “Do you know what you’re talking about?” he asked, because he had to be sure.

“Of course. I’ve done the research.” Amy seemed to be insulted that he imagined she’d do anything less. “I’m not impulsive or an idiot. I decide what I want, then I figure out how to get it.” Then she cast him a sly smile that made his cock throb. “What I want is to be trained as a submissive, Eric. You look pretty dominant to me. Maybe with a little bit of an unexpected soft side. So, are you going to make my dream come true?”

“Maybe you’ll make mine come true, too.”

Amy laughed again. “That would be perfect.” She clinked her glass to his again, then drained the rest of the Scotch, her gaze locked with his.

“I’ll have to see what I can do,” he said and downed the rest of his drink. “You want to get out of here?”

“Not yet.” Amy put her hand through his elbow and cast him a sparkling glance as she leaned against him. “I do my research, Eric. There’s going to be a contract and there’s going to be a safe word. I’m going to need some references from you...”

“You’re sounding pretty bossy for a submissive.”

She smiled. “I promise to get over that, Eric.”

“That’s Master Eric to you,” he scolded under his breath.

“Master Eric,” Amy said, casting her eyes down demurely. “Unless I get extra lessons for saying it wrong.”

“A submissive has to be obedient.”

“But if I’m obedient all the time, you’ll have no reason to punish me,” Amy countered. “And isn’t that part of the fun?”

Eric looked at her. “With an attitude like that, it’s going to take a long time to get you trained right.”

“Good,” Amy said under her breath, her delight making Eric smile. “I mean—Good, Master Eric.”

“Much better.”

“But first,” she said, lifting a finger. “There’s a test.”

“You are a bossy submissive.”

“Be serious. I’m not going to get tied up by a guy who can’t kiss.”

Eric was intrigued. “Your test is how I kiss?”

Amy nodded, her eyes shining. “It’s not something a guy can fake. It either works or it doesn’t.”

Eric considered the room, making his plan. He respected that she had boundaries and wanted to talk about them first. She was much more sensible than Joanna had been. And if she could manage to be submissive even some of the time, they were going to have a great time. “I tell you what. A friend of mine has been telling me about coatrooms.”

“Coatrooms?”

“He likes them for quick encounters, says he can always find a few belts to truss up a his partner if she’s forgotten to pack supplies.”

“Really.” Amy’s cheeks were pinker and her eyes were bright. “I’ll guess she gets punished for that.”

She could have been reading his mind.

Eric nodded.

Amy bit her lip. “There’s a big one by the exit to the parking lot.”

“Without an attendant, because everyone is already in here.”

“No gag,” Amy decreed.

“How exactly would I kiss you that way?” Eric demanded and she laughed again.

“How about now, Master Eric.”

“It’s not up to you, naughty Amy.”

“Oh, then maybe I’ll have to have two kisses as punishment.”

“That is not the punishment in store for you. Trust me.”

“The funny thing is that I think I do.”

Eric took her elbow, urging her out of the party and toward the coatroom. “Let me tell you a little secret, Amy.”

“Confessions already?”

“A kind of a safe word for you. The only thing that turns me off is fear. So, if you’re afraid, the scene’s done.”

She slanted a look his way. “That’s very revealing information, Master Eric.”

He smiled. “A good master takes care of his submissive.”

“Instead of just taking her.”

“Exactly.” The corridor was empty, so Eric caught her close and bent down so that his lips were almost touching hers. She stared up at him, looking so luscious that he was immediately hard. “Let’s get the test over,” he whispered and she sighed as she closed her eyes.

“Yes, Master Eric.”

When Eric kissed her, he knew everything was going to work out just fine. Amy’s lips softened and parted beneath his, her mouth opening so he could kiss her as deeply as he wanted. She sighed and leaned against him, so pliant and submissive that he thought he might come in his pants.

He’d get her to bind herself.

He’d give her a safe word and ask for her surrender.

And one of these days, she’d willingly walk right into his special apartment for submissives and become his forever.

Eric couldn’t wait. It wasn’t every day that a dream came true, and he was prepared to do whatever was necessary to make this one work.

* * *

Mike and Joanna were in Mike’s car, rice and confetti under their feet. Joanna took off her veil and shook it, setting so much confetti free that it looked like it was snowing in the car.

“Who knows what they did with our luggage,” Mike grumbled, his manner good-natured.

Joanna laughed. “Whatever happened, it serves you right giving the keys to Amy. She’s been planning to get even with me forever.”

“For what?”

“For being born first.”

It was Mike’s turn to laugh. “Well, we have a long drive ahead of us, so you might as well get comfortable.”

“I thought we were stopping at a hotel in town tonight.”

“We were, but I changed my mind. I don’t trust Eric.”

“And I don’t trust Amy.”

“They’re two of a kind.”

Joanna caught her breath. “You don’t think they really are two of a kind, do you?”

Mike scoffed. “Your sister, a submissive? Hardly. She’s one of the mouthiest women I’ve ever known. I don’t think there’s a class for defiants.”

Joanna laughed, but she was remembering a conversation in the university cafeteria—and the look in her baby sister’s eyes.

She was probably imagining things.

“So, where are we going?” she asked.

“Crappy little hotel,” Mike said. “Thin walls, cheap furniture.”

“Sounds romantic.”

“Perfect place to take a kidnap victim,” he said with assurance, then smiled at her. “Or to take a bride who will end up bound with duct tape to the bed. Gagged securely, of course.”

“Will she gag herself?”

“I think she might.” Mike nodded. “Do you think she’s wearing a chastity belt?”

“Oh, I know she is,” Joanna said softly. “Lucky for her, the man of her dreams has the key.”

Mike reached between the studs of his tuxedo shirt and revealed a key on a chain around his neck. Joanna recognized it from the night before. “Think this might be it?”

“I’m pretty sure of it.”

“Are you sure it’s the only key?”

“Well, it has been twenty-four hours.” Joanna pulled another key on a chain from inside her own dress. “Human biology has its limitations.” She gave him the second key and Mike dropped it into his pocket.

“That’s the only other one?”

Joanna did her best to sound submissive. “Of course, Mike.”

“And what did you pack for the honeymoon?”

“All the usual bonds and materials, plus a lace bodysuit, a spreader bar and a couple of rolls of leopard print duct tape.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“They make it in all different patterns now. I saw it at the hardware store.” Joanna smiled. “I have a hard time imagining that the construction market is the targeted customer.”

“I’m having a hard time, period.”

Joanna laughed. “What did you pack for the honeymoon?”

“A leather hood, a pair of leather gloves, a lot of rope, duct tape and cable ties. A few surprises. It’s so much easier that we’re not flying anywhere.”

Joanna was thrilled. “Sounds like you have plans.”

“I do. You: harnessed, hog-tied and helpless, every night and a lot of afternoons for the next thirty days.”

Joanna couldn’t wait. She squirmed a little in her seat. “And after that?”

“Oh, after that, it only gets worse.”

“I can’t wait to get there.”

Mike laughed. “It won’t be long now. Did you remember to bring the top part of the cake?”

“I did. Why?”

“Because I was tempted at the wedding. When we cut the cake, I thought about blindfolding you tight.”

Joanna was startled. “Right in front of everyone?”

“Of course. Then I wanted to bind your arms to your sides with thick rope, and peel down your dress so that your breasts were bare. Let them see those gorgeous nipples, all tight and ready for action.”

Joanna’s voice rose higher. “Right there at the reception?”

“Yes. They’d take pictures.”