Hooked (Decadence Nights Book 1) (12 page)

He grunted, dropped onto his back and dragged her on top. His hand went to her behind, which hadn’t felt a single swat all night. She wiggled and pressed against him. His response was a firm squeeze.

“I’m near sighted, pet, so the answer is yes, but I’m usually likened to Harrison Ford in his Professor Jones days not a boy wizard. I’ll go with that, if you don’t mind.”

“All right, Professor Jones.” She grinned, her hand moving over his cheek and jaw, stroking the scruff of beard adorning both places. “I can easily see you in a teaching role, you know.”

He smiled.

“What?”

“It’s funny. That is the room I tried to get for us tonight.”

“A classroom?”

“Yes, I had visions of bending you over my desk and improving your grades.”

“With a cane, no doubt.”

“I’d though to use a stout paddle.” He sat up. “That reminds me.” He rolled onto a hip and reached for something else on the nightstand. “You were such a good girl tonight, I didn't get to use this.”

He held up the paddle with “pet” emblazoned on the end of the blade on one side, a thick covering of red velvet on the other. She eyed it dubiously, imagining the word tattooed on her backside.

“Too bad, Master,” she consoled in a sweet voice, although not one bit sorry. “Maybe next time.”

“Nope. Now. Roll over.”

“But you said I was good.”

“Since when do I need a reason to spank you?”

“Never,” she grumbled, flipping onto her belly.

“Careful, or the few I intended will multiply.” He patted her cheek. “Up on all fours, so I have a good target. I want to put my mark right on the fleshy part.”

“Just what every girl wants to hear from her man, that she has a fleshy ass.”

“I’m a Dom, Livvy. We like fleshy. It gives us so much more to discipline.”

“Joseph.”

The paddle came down swiftly. “Have we ended the session and I didn’t know it?”

“No, Sir.”

“Better, but not quite right.” He rubbed the velvety side where he had struck. “Care to try again?”

“No, the session hasn’t ended, Master.”

“Very good.” Leaning in, he inspected her paddled cheek. “Hm. That one didn’t take. Lean back a bit so your skin is nice and taut as if I had you over a spanking bench with your knees cocked forward.”

She adjusted her position.

“Perfect. Let’s try that again.” Unlike the cane and floggers he preferred, the paddle was silent as it soared through the air. The crack sounded before heat blossomed on her skin.

“Ouch!”

“Livvy, I’ve bare hand spanked you twice as hard as that and you didn’t utter a word.”

“This is different.”

“How so?”

“Never mind.”

Another splat fell on her other cheek. “I asked you a question, pet.”

“It’s different because you’re not angry and I’m not—”

“What? Not aroused? I can certainly fix that.” His hand came between her thighs, two fingers sliding into her wetness as his thumb found her clit. When the paddle fell again, he had it flipped to the padded side and proceeded to give her a half dozen whacks. By the time the sound from the last one abated, Livvy was rocking back to meet his swats, moaning softly.

“I’m thinking you’re aroused now, little one.”

“Yes, Master, it’s your fingers, and when you spank me at the same time—” Abruptly, she stopped, as he added a third finger. After that, all that came out was an unintelligible groan.

“No coming yet, Livvy. Not until we finish your tattoo.”

The lettered side of the paddle fell hard on her unmarked cheek. She rocked back onto his hand, the pleasure-pain bringing her closer to the edge.

Whisper-soft, his fingers traced where he’d swatted. “Gorgeous. The word is as clear as can be. I’m going to see about ordering one of these for home.” His lips brushed over her fiery skin, his breath hot as he whispered, “You can come now, sweet Olivia.”

His fingers drove quickly in and out as his tongue licked over the imprint on her cheek. In seconds, she was there, moaning as she experienced her forth climax of the night.

Afterward, despite water and chocolate, she was hopelessly spent, her legs rubbery like overcooked noodles. So it was, that in the wee hours of the morning, Joseph, having swimmer’s stamina, was able to summon enough strength to carry her upstairs to their borrowed apartment for the night.

Standing impatiently outside Life Time Fitness downtown, she checked her phone for the umpteenth time in the past ten minutes. He was late and she wasn’t about to go into the gym for the very first visit all alone. She sent him a quick message.

Livvy: Are you going to be too much longer? Should we reschedule the gym? Call me, please.

Ten minutes later, she was pacing. Something must be wrong. Joseph was rarely late and when he was, he always called or at least sent her a text. She sent him another one.

Livvy: Joseph, I’m worried. Please call.

As soon as she hit send, she heard her name called. Expecting Joseph, she turned with a welcoming smile, but it wasn’t his sexy tall frame striding toward her. A coldness crept into her flesh as she came face to face with the owner of the voice, someone she’d hoped to never see again. He was exiting the fitness center, his damp hair curling around his ears and at his neck, his handsome face wearing the all too familiar expression of superiority. He eyed her up and down slowly, and as he did so often in the past, frowned as if finding her lacking. Livvy’s stomach clenched.

“Olivia, it’s been a long time.”

“Vaughn.” She barely stopped herself from calling him Sir, or tacking it onto the end. He wasn’t that to her anymore.

“Decided to start working out, eh? Good for you.” His eyes dipped rudely to her breasts, sliding down her belly to her hips. “Maybe if you’d tried while we were together… But that’s water under the bridge.”

That stung. With an hourglass figure like her mother, she had curves and carried a little extra padding around her hips and thighs, but she wasn’t fat. It had taken her a long time and hours of therapy to realize that, but having him point it out made the old insecurities come racing back. In unforgiving yoga pants, she felt every curve was conspicuous. Although she hated herself for doing so, she self-consciously moved her gym bag in front, hiding her hips.

Of course, he noticed. “Those stubborn ten pounds are still dogging you I see. Too bad, dearling, they aged you. Without them, I might have kept you another year, maybe two.”

His derisive words cut and she had to dig deep to maintain her composure. “I’d like to say it was nice to see you, Vaughn, but I prefer not to lie.” Managing an air of indifference, she shrugged coolly and turned away. That was the best she could do on the spur of the moment.

“Still bitter after all this time, I see. That’s sad. If you need help moving on, I have some older friends who might be interested.”

She spun on him. “Are you for real?”

“Olivia, clearly you aren’t over me. You’re still angry.”

“Of course, I’m angry. I spent two years with you and you cut me off at the knees, without warning. And where do you get off offering your ‘older friends’? You’re forty-six, Vaughn. Not a spring chicken in my book.”

A blonde stuck her head out the door behind him. “Mas—uh, Vaughn, Sir. You forgot your wallet.” She tried to cover it, but Livvy caught her slip. She also caught the puppy dog eyes she cast his way and felt nauseous. Had she acted like that? The girl, and she was a girl, no more than twenty by her guess, was at least 5’8” and one hundred pounds at most. If she had breasts or hips, Livvy couldn’t tell.

“Thank you, Felicia.” He accepted his wallet, pinched her chin between his thumb and finger—a hauntingly familiar gesture—then turned, summarily dismissing her. Felicia’s smile slipped a bit as she went back inside.

“What happened to Allison?” That was the girl who’d come after Livvy.

“Allison and I parted ways about a year ago. So, about those friends, John Stanton always found you attractive. I could—”

He really was a bastard. How had she been so blind?

“Didn’t we attend John’s fiftieth birthday party while we were together?”

“I believe we did. He is still a very vibrant man and active in the BDSM community.”

That made him at least fifty-five by her guess. She stared at him for a moment. “You do realize that while she’s buying her first legal drink you’ll be attending your thirtieth high school reunion?”

“Don’t be petty, Olivia. Your number?”

She frowned at him, mystified that she ever found him attractive. “I’m seeing someone.”

“Are you now?” The inflection in his statement said he was doubtful. “Last I heard you were a club girl. I thought I taught you better than that.” He patted his pockets as if searching for a pen. “I’ll put it in my phone.”

No… hell, no! At least that was what she wanted to say, but after years of intimidation, she couldn’t quite muster the balls she needed to do that. So, she repeated coolly, “Again, I’m seeing someone. I have to go.”

Done with the conversation, she moved away, but he grabbed her arm, swinging her back.

“Please, don’t touch me.”

“Olivia, if it helps, you were my favorite.”

“Let me go.” She tugged at her arm, but he held fast.

“So responsive, more than any submissive I’ve had before or since.” He said this as if she hadn’t spoken, but that didn’t surprise her. He often ignored her, preferring to hear himself speak. “But time marches on for all of us,” he continued, oblivious to her attempts to break free, “and things change.”

“You know, I have one big regret.”

Full of pretention, as if he was God’s gift to the submissives of this world, he said smugly, “You loved me, I know. And the way it ended, I—”

She finally snapped, her voice rising to near a shout. “No, you arrogant prick. My regret is ever having met you in the first place.” She yanked her arm from his grasp, which had tightened painfully at her name-calling. “I rue that blackest of days. Do me a favor. If our paths ever cross again, have the courtesy to pretend we never met.”

Proud of herself for not breaking down, she turned and with an air of composure she didn’t feel, managed to make it to her car without looking back. Once inside, she glanced in her rearview mirror and saw him looking after her. From this distance, she could see his anger, evident by the ruddiness in his face. That she’d rattled him with the ugly scene gave her a small sense of satisfaction. With nervous fingers, she started her car and steered it toward home, seeing a large glass of alcohol in her imminent future.

Fifteen minutes later, she was pulling into Joseph’s drive when her phone rang. With a brief glance at the screen, she saw it was him and promptly ignored the call. If he knew she had, he’d be incensed, but she wasn’t poised enough to talk to him yet. After a glass of wine, maybe two, she might be up to it, but not now. Her voice mail alert sounded as she pulled into the garage. A text soon followed.

Joseph: I’m at the gym and you are not. Court went very late and my phone died. My apologies, pet, but I’m glad you didn’t wait. I’m going to swim my laps and will be home directly after.

In a few minutes, after pouring a burgundy glass full to the brim with a sweet red, she sent her reply.

Livvy: Sounds like a stressful day. Enjoy your swim. I have a headache and am going straight to bed. See you in the morning.

She ended it with a heart emoji as always. After a large mouthful of wine, she topped off her glass, carrying it along with the rest of the bottle to the master bath to fill the Jacuzzi tub

*****

A warm body against her back, the gentle glide of a hand over the curve of her hip and the prickle of sunlight against her eyelids pulled her from sleep. Livvy arched into a long morning stretch, but the shooting pain in her head cut it short. Her hand flew to her forehead as she groaned.

“Did you drink the entire bottle?” His voice was gruff from sleep and not overly loud, but it was enough to hurt her alcohol abused brain.

“No,” she whispered back in denial.

“Livvy,” he replied with a skeptical tone. “The empty bottle was on the counter.”

“The last bit I poured down the sink to prevent having another glass in a moment of inebriated weakness.”

“Because I was late? I’m sorry for that, but surely you understand—”

“No.” She twisted to face him. “When you were late, I was worried that something was wrong, but that wasn’t it. I had a really bad day.” Livvy pressed her pounding forehead against his chest. “Today isn’t starting out so great either.”

“A wine hangover is worse than anything. I’ll get you some aspirin and water.” He started to roll away.

“Wait. Hold me a minute first?” She knew she sounded pathetic, but having his arms around her would go farther than aspirin ever could. As his long arms enveloped her, she let slip a ragged sigh.

“Tell me what happened.” His order rumbled in his chest beneath her ear. She’d do anything to avoid talking about it and snuggled deeper into him, nuzzling against the warm smooth skin beneath her cheek. “No stalling,” he warned.

Burying her face in his neck, her voice came out muffled. “I ran into Vaughn Steros at the fitness center.”

He stiffened. “I thought he was teaching in Chicago.”

“So did I, but apparently, he’s back. I’d like to think the co-eds at Northwestern sent him packing. They must have more intelligence than those at UT. He was with a new one who didn’t look old enough to drink yet.”

“He upset you enough to down a bottle of wine. Do you still have feelings for him, Livvy?”

“Yes, anger, disgust, loathing.” She propped her forearm on his chest and looked down at him. “No good feelings, Joseph, I swear. Mostly I’m angry at myself for falling for such a prick—excuse my French—and throwing two years of my life away.”

“What did he say to you?”

“The usual demeaning remarks.”

“He got to you.” His arms tightened.

Her hand rose to push back her tangled mass of hair. Suddenly, he caught her wrist, stretching out her arm. “What the fuck, Livvy! He put his hands on you?”

She followed his eyes to the ring of bruises around her upper arm. Four finger marks and a thumb print were clearly visible. Her fingers came up to probe the discolored skin gently, hissing at an especially tender spot.

“I’m gonna kill the bastard.”

“No, you’re not,” she replied firmly. “Although I appreciate the bloodthirstiness on my behalf, he’s a jerk from my past and you can’t kill them all.” Her hand rose to his cheek. “I met a lot of jerks before I met you, Joseph. Thank you for breaking the streak.”

“I hate that I wasn’t there to beat his ass, at least.”

“I got in a few good licks of my own, a few verbal kicks in the ass, if you will. I was very proud of myself.”

“You stood up to him?”

“Even better, I hit him where it hurts. I called him old.”

“I’m still going to kill him.”

“Joseph, please, he isn’t worth it. Besides, who’d hold me if you’re on death row for murder? This is Texas, you know. That there’s a hangin’ offense in these parts, pardner.”

Her attempt at lightening the mood fell flat as his eyes searched her face intently. He nodded. “All right, because you asked, I won’t kill the bastard. I’ll ruin him instead.”