Queen (Mistress & Master of Restraint) (87 page)

Cort silently screams and his cock pulses rapidly in my fist.

“But you’re sorry,” he whines.

“Not that sorry,” I say with an arch of my brow. I toss my head back and laugh. I’m so high right now that I’m in heaven, but not high enough to forget that Cort wants to fuck me only because he’s riding high too. We’d both regret it later.

“We both have promises to keep and if I fucked you we’d break them. You promised Ezra. You made me promise not to touch him too- remember?”

“Who’d you promise?” His eyes dart to t
he speakerphone and I snicker.

“Yeah,” I snort. “I promised myself,” I say seriously.

I lean forward and kiss the fresh bruises that ring his throat. He whimpers and thrashes in pleasure. I add pain to the mix by squeezing him so brutally that I’m surprised that he doesn’t pop like over-ripened fruit. My nails sink into his flesh as he screams out my name.

I cover his mouth with the palm of my hand as I suck his neck and allow him to cum in my hand. I wait until he comes down from his orgasm and then I wipe m
y hand on his shirt and stand.

“Tuck and zip up, big boy. Accept my apology for nearly killing you. That wasn’t your punishment. That will be in a few minutes. We ha
ve to finish what we started.”

I walk over to Ezra’s computer and bring up a browser and log onto the conversation that I was having with Katya. It was way too long of a wait. She’s probably terrified
about what happened to Kimber.

I lean against the back of Ezra’s chair and allow him to do the typing. I shake my head as I read mistake after mistake that the idiot makes.

KitKat411
: Kimber! Where’d you go? Are you okay?

TheCastrator
: Ah Kitty Kat. I do understand. You can come to me for anything, anytime. Always!

KitKat411
: What, say again?

TheCastrator
: Anytime… Always… I will be here for u!

“You did that on purpose,” I bitch at Ezra and swat him upside the head.
“Do we really want this game to take forever? She’s doing well, but we’re all getting older,” Ezra murmurs.

TheCastrator
: Where u @ KitKat? What’s wrong
?



KitKat411
: White Rook sweeps Black Knight
!
U Mother Fucke
r
How could you? Stalker or not, this breaks some kind of covenant. Worthless piece of shit!

EZTheBoss
: I told you we all censor ourselves to different individuals. This was the only way. My story was real with the exception of the agoraphobia, even the attack. Everything said was true emotions. I mean it, Katya. I will always be here for you. & I know what you’ve been through better than anyone. 

“Bad move, Dr. Lunatic,
” I seethe.

Ezra shocks the hell out of my by twisting my engorged nipple between his index finger and thumb. I scr
eam and tears come to my eyes.

“You and I are going to have a bad fight. Don’t fuck with me, Regina,” he threatens.
“Don’t threaten me, asshole. I’m the only one on your side. Your dad isn’t helping you, and Cort is fucking your woman’s throat like she’s some whore kneeling on the floor of the dungeon. Don’t punish me,” I spit at him.

“Are you always like this?” Cort lazily asks from the so
fa.

“Yes,” we hiss in unison.

“I’m more frightened than before,” he replies.

“Of what?”
Ezra asks in shock.

“Your da
ys are numbered,” he chuckles.

“Huh?” Marc
grunts from the speakerphone.

“I know we were both scared they were fucking,” he speaks to Marc. “They aren’t. Sooner or later they’re going to either kill each other or have an epic fuck… and Regina and Ezra both look extremely frustrated,” Cort laughs at the fact that neither of us has had sex in months. His last encounter was Cort’s mouth, and mine was at the same time as Marc made love to me. Marc and Cort have enjoyed countless mouth fucks since.

“Fuck you, douchebag,” I growl, and Ezra swears, “Stop sucking my dad and see what frustration is, you little fucker!”

“Behave,” Marc breathes from the phone and I shiver. I hide my face in the crook of Ezra’s neck as I cum from just the digitally garbled ve
rsion of Marc’s sensual voice.

I don’t make a sound, but Ezra knows what’s wrong with me. He pats my hair and comforts me while my body reacts to the love of my life- the one who tossed me away like garbage. I stem the flow of tears by biting the inside of my cheek until I taste blood.

“She’s headed our way,” Ezra warns.

I stand and notice Cortez trying to read me and it pisses me off. I purposely stride over to the sofa
and sit next to him and glare.

“Wha
t was that about?” He mumbles.

“Nothing,” I growl.

“What’s going on?” Marc asks even though he has a bird’s eye view of the office. Some things are more obvious in person- thank god! 

“Shut the fuck up or she’ll hear you,” I bark and everyone winces. “She doesn’t know you exist,” I hiss at the Master that can make me tremble from just the sound of his breath and can make me
orgasm with just a word from his throat.

A soft knock draws all of our attention and I wonder how long she was outside the door or what she heard. I sit next to Cort and there is no way I can mask my fury- fury at the whole lot of them.

“Enter,” Ezra’s voice hesitantly warbles.

Kat slowly enters and she glances around at all of us. When she looks at me I see betrayal cross her face. I want to reassure her but this isn’t about me. I bite the inside of my cheek harder and the metallic copper flavor of blood floods my taste buds. My heart aches for my friend.

She stares at us and the three of us gaze back. No doubt Marc is staring at all four of us. I can see the wheels turn in her head as thoughts and emotions fly across her face. She’s trying to figure out which one of them is her Master and what part I play in this.

She looks devastated, pained, heartbroken, and mournful. All those emotions are shadowed by betrayal. It takes everything in me not to stand and embrace her. But she doesn’t know me as I know her. Cort is struggling with guilt, shame, and pain. We grip each other’s hand to hold us back. Ezra looks dead.

Kat steps forward and places a note on Ezra’s desk. She moves slowly and tries to not get within arm’s reach.

“Katya?”
Ezra asks cautiously. His voice always sounds different around her- smoother, softer and filled with affection.

She just
shakes her head and points at her offering.

He picks up the Black Knight and raises his eyebrows
. My mouth pops open when I realize that it’s the play from a few minutes ago. Ezra slowly reads her note. His gray eyes turn stormy and his brows draw together in the center creating an intimidating V above his nose. He’s trying his damnedest not to frighten the woman as fury boils in his veins.

The second she leaves I’m going to have to play referee as he did earlier with me. I’m thankful that Marc’s still on the line. He does hold Ezra’s leash and he will yank it forcefully.
Ezra looks at Katya and his eyes inspect every inch of her body looking for injuries. He can no longer contain his fury and I draw in a breath prepared to intercept him.

Kat turns her back on us and Ezra fists the note in his hand. He smashes the note down on the coffee table in front of Cort and me and growls. He’s so angry he doesn’t hear the click of the door closing as Katya flees the room.

Cort gingerly picks up the note and smoothes it out so we can read it. Ezra leans over us like a furious dragon. He’s breathing so hard that I swear I see the puffs of his breath. I sigh thankfully because it doesn’t contain the fire that Ezra wishes he could incinerate us with.

~Ezra & Cortez ~ Master Ez~

I know there is no backing out of the game.
It’s in motion and will not rest until the final move. I know the rules are ultimately up to you (both?). I have a request. You always say it’s not what I want, but what I need. Well, I need consistency. The Dom/sub relationship is built on consistency and trust. If I do A and I expect B as a result. (You) broke those rules. The Kimber thing was outside the spectrum and that broke my trust. My reward last night breached consistency. (You) hurt me for your own pleasure in the name of reward; for my reward is my Master’s pleasure. I suffer the consequences of such a reward, the torture that keeps giving.

I will play your game under one condition. If I win, I am released as y
our sub.

If I lose, I will stay under duress.

Last night the game changed for me. It’s no longer a journey of self-discovery. It’s for my freedom.

~ Game on, Bastards!

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Ezra, calm down,” I try to comfort and restrain him with my assertive voice. His isn’t a switch like Cort and Katya, but he does heel well.

He pins me with a stormy stare and growls. His fingers bite into my arm. Only the wideni
ng of my eyes betrays my pain.

“This is what we are going to do,” I say forcefully and allow him to take his frustrations out on my forearm. “You are going to punish Cort, and not out of anger, but because he needs to release the guilt and you need to feel in control again. Then you are going to go down to Katya’s office and take care of her. You will make sure she is physically well, and then you will comfort her. You will explain that Cortez didn’t mean to hurt her-”

Cort’s sharp bark of a laugh cuts into my speech. I shake my head at him sadly.

“Do you have a death wish?” I hiss a
t him.

“No,” he says contemplatively. “Sorry, I really am sorry, but I can’t de
ny that I loved every second.”

“I have no doubt about that, Cort. What I meant is for Ezra to explain how you are too jealous and it makes you a fucking idiot. He needs to explain how he was blocking you from seeing her and it’s his fault. He needs to take ownership of it. It isn’t an excuse and it doesn’t take your culpability away. You are responsible for your actions, but he knew what his actions would make you do. You are very predictable in your behavior.”

Cortez grimaces and looks guilty while Ezra squeezes my arm so brutally that I’m sure I have a hairline fracture. I show no weakness. I take it because I’d rather he harm me in anger than the love of his life. He can deal with my pain, but never Cort’s.

“Ezra,” Marc’s voice commands through the speakerphone. M
y eyes drift shut at the sound.

“Release her a
rm. You’re hurting her badly.”

“No, I’m not,” Ezra says in denial, but his grip does lessen some. It’s still painful, but tolerable.

“Son, trust me,” I squeeze my eyes shut in pain. It’s no longer from my hurt arm. The concern in Marcus’ voice is my undoing. A tear escapes the corner of my eye and I swear under my breath.

“I’m sorry,” Ezra mumbles and releases my arm.

His finger catches my tear and it makes me feel worthless. I stand up when he tries to rub my arm better.

“I’m fine. You’ve done no harm,” I smoothly lie.

I bite the inside of my cheek again to redirect the pain- mental and physical. I retreat to the back of the couch and rest my uninjured hand on Cort’s shoulder. I safely tuck the other underneath my breasts against my tummy.

“Did I hurt you?” Ezra’s voice breaks and his eyes shine.

“No, I’m fine,” I lie again.

The only one who would ever be able to tell that I’m lying can only see me from the camera stationed over Ezra’s desk. I’m sure that he can’t pick up enough of my movements to notice my lie. Then again he’s probably forgotten all of
my tells.

“We need the punishment to commence. Katya is injured and in need of your comfort. While you are with her we will discuss your punishment.” I give Ezra a pointed look to distract him from my throbbing arm.

“Okay, what do you propose?” The mention of punishments and injuries has taken the heat out of Ezra’s fury.

“An eye for an eye.
He skullfucked your woman to get back at you and you will do the same to him.” I tighten my grip on Cort’s shoulder when he tenses at my suggestion. No doubt he is preparing to run.

“I…” Ezra is speechless.

“Do it!” I shout. The throbbing is getting worse. I need medical attention- medical attention I can’t get until this is settled. I realize my priorities are skewed. Ezra hurt me, but I refuse to hurt him with the truth.

Ezra’s eyes are huge, and his
hand shakes as he lowers the zipper on his trousers. I know right then that nothing except for brotherly affection has happened between the partners in the last four months.