Cries of Penance (8 page)
Authors: Roxy Harte
She frowns but relaxes when I lower my mouth to kiss the rounded and pushed up top of her breasts.
68
Cries of Penance – Roxy Harte
I whisper against the swel , “Do you know how beautiful you are?”
I rub my hands down her body to cup her ass then lower to feel where the garter’s snaps attach to the stockings.
“These are very nice. I think you need a different color for every day of the week.”
She relaxes in my arms. “Wel , I’d have felt ridiculous if I’d have ended up at the emergency room today and had to been cut out of my clothes.”
I don’t tel her that if the flower delivery had made it inside the doors there would have been little left of her to take anywhere except a morgue. I push her body down onto the mattress and kiss my way down her spine. I palm her ass, then smack it lightly.
“This is how I like to see you.” I step back from her, looking at her bent over the mattress. “Arch your back, lift your ass for me.”
She complies and I smack her ass again and again. Through the sheer crème colored panty, I see her butt cheeks taking on a faint pink glow. Her bottom grows warm to my touch.
I smack her again, a little harder, increasing the intensity. She fidgets in her high heels, and I know that the last smack stung. I smack her again, and she moans.
I smooth my hand over her spanking-warmed bottom. “You like that, don’t you?”
She shakes her head and I chuckle as I push my fingers between her thighs, feeling her heat, knowing before I even push the flimsy film of panty covering her twat out of the way that I am going to find her pussy slick with her wetness.
69
Cries of Penance – Roxy Harte
“Tel me that you like it when I spank you.” I push my finger inside, finding her very wet. She pushes back with her body, not admitting anything.
I withdraw my fingers and holding her down, give her a spanking she wil remember the rest of the night.
* * * *
She didn’t sit, she didn’t ask him to sit and so they stand nose to nose. I imagine her ass is on fire beneath her skirt, her pussy stil dripping wet.
Going to her side, I know that Bruce doesn’t have a chance in hel of winning this argument, as much because she is irritated by his insistence that she cancel the speech as by the fact that he arrived before I could bring her to completion.
Pul ing my PDA out of my pants pocket, I scrol through emails animating the role of very prepared personal assistant. “The concierge has arranged a car, and it is waiting downstairs.”
She meets my gaze and nods. “Thank you, Lex.”
I am as much Lex as I ever was Thomas or any of my other aliases. Putting on a name is like putting on a suit. I am who I need to be in any given moment.
Bruce gives me a loathing look before directing his attention back to Abigail.
“If you insist on this insanity at least make use of one of the unit’s armored vehicles.”
70
Cries of Penance – Roxy Harte
“It is your prerogative to make the offer of availability, sir.”
The muscle in his jaw twitches. “Consider the offer made.”
“I accept. Thank you,” she says graciously, though her eyes stil hold scathing chal enge as she leaves the room in a hurry, her security detail struggling to keep up.
I chuckle, fol owing close, selecting elevator buttons and opening doors as we reach them.
“Enjoying yourself?” she asks dryly.
“Actual y, I am. Life behind a desk was getting a little boring.” As we step outside into the cool evening air, I stay close and help her into the back seat of a black SUV that screams government vehicle. “I think I would have preferred the taxi.”
“Too late now, I suppose.”
Our gazes meet as the SUV makes its way slowly through the hotel’s parking lot. She’s scared. I don’t know when I’ve ever seen her afraid. “I’m here, and I’m not going to let anyone assassinate you today, Abbie.”
She smiles weakly. “Thank you, Lex.”
Traffic is heavy as we make our way toward the coliseum, and it turns out that Abigail is the reason for most of it. Record numbers have shown up to see hear her first speech, and standing room only tents outfitted with large screen televisions have been set up in the parking lot to accommodate the overflow crowd. The entrance road is lined by people holding signs, Ful er for President on the left and anti-Ful er for President protestors on the right.
“Wow,” she says, and I squeeze her hand for support.
71
Cries of Penance – Roxy Harte
“Are you ready for this?” I ask in a whisper, leaning near.
“I thought I was.”
“You are going to be bril iant,” I say as the SUV comes to a stop and her door is opened. A wal of suits create a barricade between us and them as we are escorted into and through the building.
I watch from the sidelines as she is hurried through the process, wardrobe, makeup, and meeting with a line of ‘very importants’ and then she is taking the stage, standing behind the podium to give her speech. She doesn’t look back.
Now she is in her element. She raises both hands, waving a greeting to the standing ovation crowd. She waits for the commotion to die down before saying jokingly, “And to think, for a moment I was afraid no one would show up.”
The standing ovation begins anew.
72
Cries of Penance – Roxy Harte
“Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!”
Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights
Kit en
Buoyed by Thomas’s cal , I left the office early. I’m hoping to get at least a two hour nap before I have to leave for the club and come home expecting to find the penthouse empty. To my surprise I hear voices coming from the bedroom. I’m immediately on alert, ready to flee, but listening closely I recognize Garrett’s and relax. After the month I’ve had, expecting danger first and normal second is becoming a habit I’m fairly unhappy about.
I guess no nap if Master is home…
I step out of my shoes, lay my jacket over the back of the couch, and stash my purse and briefcase. Unbuttoning my blouse, I start to disrobe but, hearing a second voice traveling through the wal s—a woman’s voice—stops me cold. I can’t ever remember a woman being here. Except for his best friend Jackie, who doesn’t count because she used to be a man and as far as I know stil has a dick and bal s in addition to breasts. No, a woman in the house seems like not a good thing.
I finish unbuttoning my blouse and shrug out of it, letting the material fal to the floor. Similarly, I keep undressing, peeling off skirt, hosiery and garter belt.
Master and the woman-who-shouldn’t-be-in-our-house come into the living room just as I’m taking off my bra. The woman gasps. “Oh! Oh my.”
73
Cries of Penance – Roxy Harte
She seems a little frumpy for Master’s taste.
Master barely gives me a glance as he leads her past the wal of windows overlooking the city and the bay beyond. I realize he is pointing out features.
“You are going to adore the kitchen, Italian marble, Sub-Zero and Wolf Appliances.”
The woman’s gaze stays on me as she walks past. Curious as to what is going on, I drop to my knees and crawl after them. Her eyes widen, and she bumps into Master not realizing he has stopped just inside the doorway.
“Oh! Sorry.”
Seeing me, Master shakes his head and I sit although I am stil some distance away. I can be a good little kitten. When I want to be.
I watch them through the wide threshold between rooms, Master opening and closing doors, displaying virtues. “Side by side refrigerator, a ful freezer, wine cooler, two built-in ovens, gas cooktops, warming drawers.”
The woman can’t take her eyes off me, and I like it that she can’t. To reward her undivided attention, I sit in a sunbeam and proceed to give myself a tongue bath. Her eyes go wide. “Oh my!”
“Yes, it’s a wonderful kitchen. I’l miss it.” Master doesn’t have a clue that she hasn’t heard a word he’s said or even seen a single feature. I think he must be interviewing her to be the new maid, and I chuckle at the fun I could have at her expense. He turns around and sees she is gaping at me. Over her head he glares at me as he clears his throat to get her attention.
She jerks and turns to face him. “You have a lovely home, Mr. Lawrence. We should have little trouble getting top dol ar even in this tough economy.”
74
Cries of Penance – Roxy Harte
What? Top dol ar?
I hear a soft vibration from the general vicinity of Master’s crotch and watch as he retrieves his cel phone, excusing himself from the woman I now realize is a real estate agent.
A real estate agent?
He wouldn’t sel the penthouse! He can’t!
Heart pounding, palms sweating, on the verge of a ful -scale panic attack, I do the only thing I can think of. I create a scene. Lifting my head regal y, I crawl past the agent, swinging my hips and making certain I rub against her leg as I pass.
“Meow-meow”
I circle her ankles, rubbing my naked body against her. Glancing up, I see she has gone from drop-jawed to pale. In my mind, I translate vanil a. Even though I’d bet hard, cold cash that she advertises being scene friendly. First the obstetrician and now her. It angers me that everyone is so wil ing to use the alternative lifestyle angle to gain new clients without any understanding what it real y means to be kink-friendly.
Reaching my kitten bowl, I eat the chocolate puff cereal that is kept waiting for me. I am careful to keep my eyelids lowered, but that doesn’t mean I can’t watch her reaction. I’m thril ed when I see her look of panic. She wants to run, but that wouldn’t be professional.
Sitting back on my haunches, I spread my knees wide. The view of my pussy gets her out the door fast enough. I smile, pleased with my success, but the repercussion is Master’s quick return to the room when he hears the door slam.
75
Cries of Penance – Roxy Harte
Looking unhappy, he announces into his phone, “Let me give you a cal back in five.”
I look at him innocently, thinking bet er make it ten.
“Kitten?”
I look at him blankly.
“What did you do?”
“Meow-meow?” I cock my head to the side and bat my eyelashes. He growls.
“Speak. Why did Ms. Kruegger leave?”
“She didn’t say.”
He shakes his head. “I can only imagine.”
“Please don’t sel the condo.”
“Kitten,” he says patiently, explaining again, “We need more space, we’re having twins.”
“You promised to wait until I’m comfortable with the idea, and babies are tiny.
They take up almost no space. We won’t need more space for years.”
He sits on the sofa and pats his knee. Despite my irritation, I crawl to him and rest my chin on his knee, meeting his gaze.
“I know you don’t think you are ready for suburbia, but it is going to be fine.”
I sit back with a loud pout. “You move to suburbia, I’l stay here with my babies.”
“Kitten, that’s unacceptable and you know it.”
Standing, with extreme confidence and determination, I tower over him, hands on my hips. “I’m not having this argument, I’m not moving.”
76
Cries of Penance – Roxy Harte
He growls and jerks my hands, forcing me to my knees so fast I don’t realize what’s happening until I’m down. “Lower your head. Eyes on the ground. Hands behind your back.”
I obey, too surprised by his show of dominance to do less.
Stil sitting on the sofa, he fingers my col ars, the one he gave me and the one Thomas gave me. I let out a breath I wasn’t even aware I was holding. Very softly he speaks and I have to strain to hear.
“Twins, a ful -time housekeeper and two live-in nannies wil not fit in this penthouse.”
Two nannies? I start to argue that I can take care of my own children and that we won’t require nannies, but I stop myself because he’s right—even if I give up a large portion of my hours at The Darkness and work from a home office in order to be home with my babies that stil leaves the eight to ten hours we are at Lewd Larry’s each night—we’l need help.
He strokes my head. “You have a very unfair advantage, Kitten.”
I rol my gaze up to look at him as his hands descend to my shoulders, kneading them. His fingers slide down my chest to cup my much ful er breasts.
God. Breasts! I have breasts for the very first time, and it seems strange. When I look in a mirror, I don’t recognize my body but I think Master likes the changes.
He squeezes my breasts, testing the ful ness of them. He rol s my nipples then pul s them, stretching them out and making me gasp. They’re so sensitive. I don’t like having my breasts touched, let alone played with, but the look he gives me keeps me from asking him to stop.
77
Cries of Penance – Roxy Harte
“I would do anything to make you happy. You’re servitude pleases me. This pregnancy pleases me.”
Emotion wel s in my throat, and I drop my gaze to the floor as my vision suddenly blurs. I’ve had so many doubts since learning that Master is not the father of my babies and Lord Fyre is. Doubts Master might not love me as much…might not want me any more at al , my religious taboo-laden upbringing warping who I know Garrett Lawrence to be. He—the same man he was when he purchased me to be a sex slave, the professional Dominant who is so utterly mesmerizing that I’ve seen both men and women swoon in his presence, hel , the first time he touched me, I almost fainted, the man who gives lectures across the country on power exchange and polyamory—is not the man who would run away from a relationship just because it got a little hard, a little complicated.
Bending forward, he lifts my breast and takes my nipple into his mouth.
