The Endgame (9 page)

She smoothed the pale blue runner that ran down the centre of the table so that it lay perfectly flat, then arranged candles along it. She was placing an arrangement of white roses in the centre when Mark appeared in the doorway.

He crossed the room and pulled her into his arms. “This looks lovely,’ he said, his eyes scanning the table.

‘Thank you,’ she smiled.

He dropped a kiss on her shoulder. ‘And you look amazing.’

He had insisted on buying her a new outfit for the evening. He had taken her shopping, and chose a short black leather skirt and sheer black chiffon top. It was very daring and sophisticated, the sort of thing an A-list star might wear on the red carpet. The top was completely see-through, and Mark had insisted that wearing anything underneath would completely spoil the effect. She tried not to look as uncomfortable and embarrassed as she felt in the gossamer-thin black blouse that clung to her like a second skin, her naked breasts clearly visible through the filmy material.

‘You’re so beautiful,’ he said now, holding her arms out to the sides while his gaze swept over her. ‘I like you wearing clothes that show off your body.’ There was a hunger in his eyes that once would have set her pulses racing.

‘You look very sexy yourself,’ she said, smiling up at him. He was wearing a beautifully cut black suit with a grey silk shirt open at the neck.

‘You’re in a very good mood,’ he said. ‘Excited about seeing Grayson again?’

She hesitated, her smile faltering. Was it that obvious? She liked Grayson and she
was
looking forward to seeing him, even though she wished she didn’t have to be half naked when she did. But what was the right answer? Did Mark
want
her to be excited about seeing another man or would it make him angry and suspicious?

‘Don’t worry,’ he said with a teasing smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. ‘I won’t be jealous. This was my idea, remember?’

‘I’m only doing this for you, Mark. If it was up to me, I wouldn’t be with anyone but you.’

‘I know. It’s only because I know you feel that way that I can do this. If I felt insecure about you, the thought of you with anyone else would drive me crazy.’ He smoothed her hair, looking into her eyes. ‘You know it’s the same for me, right? You know you have nothing to be jealous of?’

She nodded.

‘This is just a bit of fun ... recreation. It doesn’t mean anything. You’re my life, Lisa.’ He bent and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. ‘But I like to see you letting go of your inhibitions and having fun.’

‘It
is
fun.’

‘See,’ he said, ‘I know what’s best for you.’

‘Always,’ she replied.

‘So, what are we having for dinner?’

‘There’s crab salad to start, then rack of lamb with spring greens and new potatoes–‘

‘No potatoes for you, though,’ he said with a playful tap on her nose.

‘No.’ She maintained her light smile with an effort. ‘And for dessert, we’re having poached pears with iced pear parfait.’

‘Sounds excellent. Everything’s under control then?’

She nodded. ‘Yes.’

‘Good. I have something to give you,’ he said, taking her hand and pulling her from the room.

He led her upstairs to their bedroom. Sitting down on the bed, he pulled her to stand in front of him.

‘You’re stunning,’ he said, his eyes raking over her appraisingly. ‘That top is incredibly sexy. And your legs look fantastic in this skirt.’ He ran a hand up one stockinged leg. ‘I knew they would.’

‘You have great taste,’ she said, resisting the urge to tug at the hem.

‘There’s just one finishing touch I’d like to add,’ he said, his eyes glittering wickedly. ‘An accessory I want you to wear.’

‘Oh?’ Lisa tried to look pleased and curious about the gift.

He opened the top drawer in the nightstand, and took out a small box. Lisa caught a glimpse of something small and silver as he opened the lid and took out whatever was inside – a piece of jewellery, she assumed, but she couldn’t make out what.

Mark curled a hand around her ass and pulled her closer so she was standing between his legs. Then he held the object up to show her. It was small and egg-shaped.

‘I want you to wear this,’ he said.

Lisa peered at it. It looked like a pendant, but there didn’t appear to be a chain. ‘What is it? How do I wear it?’

He smiled crookedly and pulled her closer, sliding one hand between her legs under her skirt. ‘You wear it like this,’ he said, pulling her knickers aside and spreading her open with his fingers. She gasped as he pushed the egg inside her and pressed it against her clit. ‘How does that feel?’

‘O–okay,’ she said faintly, frowning at him in confusion.

He took another small object from the drawer, and to her horror she saw it was a tiny remote control. ‘How does it feel now?’ he asked with a smirk as he pressed a button on the remote. Lisa gasped, her eyes widening as she felt the little egg vibrate inside her. She pressed her thighs together in panic, trying to contain the feeling as the vibrator stimulated her clitoris. ‘G–good,’ she choked out, putting a hand on Mark’s shoulder for support.

To her relief he switched it off, smiling up at her flushed face as she relaxed. ‘I don’t want to get you all wet before our guests come,’ he said as he stood, sliding the remote control into his pocket.

‘You want me to wear this ... now? At dinner?’ she asked faintly, her heart pounding with dread.

‘Yes, I do.’

Was he going to give Grayson the remote control – another toy for him to play with, along with her?

‘I want to know you’ll be thinking of me. Even when you’re with him, you’re mine, Lisa. Only mine.’

‘I don’t need this to remind me,’ she protested. ‘Mark, you know I only agreed to be with Grayson to please you. Please don’t–‘

‘Ssh,’ he said softly, placing a finger on her lips, but his eyes were cold and flinty with warning. ‘You know I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you, don’t you?’

She gulped and nodded.

‘You’re the most precious thing in the world to me, Lisa. I just want to help you to push your boundaries, explore your sexuality. I wouldn’t do anything I didn’t think you could handle. You trust me, don’t you?’

She nodded, blinking back tears.

‘Good girl.’ He placed a soft kiss on her forehead, then smiled down at her, rubbing her arms comfortingly. ‘It’ll be fun, you’ll see. You enjoy yourself when you let go of your inhibitions. You did the last time, didn’t you?’

‘Yes, but – please,’ she begged. ‘I’m not ready for this. It’d be so humiliating–‘

He frowned. ‘You think I want to humiliate you?’ He looked wounded.

‘No,’ she hastened to reassure him. ‘I know that’s not your intention. But that’s how I’ll feel.’

He sighed. ‘Do you think you could try to get past those feelings? For me?’

‘I am trying,’ she said. ‘I just need more time. Please be patient with me.’

He frowned slightly, a dangerous flicker of annoyance in his eyes. ‘Haven’t I been patient?’

‘Yes, you have, and I’m grateful. But this isn’t easy for me. I’m trying to be more sophisticated and uninhibited, I really am. But it’s not easy for me. I need to take it slowly. I was really looking forward to this evening, but I won’t be able to relax and enjoy it.’

‘Baby steps, eh?’ He smiled down at her indulgently and she relaxed a little. She could see he was relenting. ‘Okay. How about a compromise?’ He pulled the remote from his jacket pocket. ‘I’ll leave this here.’ He put it back in the drawer and slid it shut, and Lisa nodded eagerly. ‘But will you do something for me in return?’

‘Yes, anything.’

‘Leave the vibrator in? It will please me just knowing it’s there, and you can get used to the idea of it without worrying about me playing with it in public. It’ll be our secret.’

Lisa hesitated.

‘The remote will be safely shut away in that drawer. You do trust me, don’t you?’

‘Yes, of course,’ she answered hastily.

‘So we have a deal?’

‘Yes.’ She nodded enthusiastically. ‘Thank you.’

‘No problem.’ He drew her into his arms and kissed her. ‘I forget sometimes how shy you are,’ he said, studying her face as he stroked her hair. ‘You need to get over that.’

‘I’m trying, honestly,’ she said with a shaky smile.

‘I know you are, and it means a lot to me that you try for my sake. But we can take it as slow as you like, baby.’

‘Thank you,’ she whispered, sagging with relief.

‘Maybe we can play with that later when we’re alone,’ he said, jerking his head at the drawer.

‘I’d like that.’

‘Come on.’ He held out a hand to her. ‘Let’s go down. Our guests will be here soon.’

‘I just need to touch up my make-up,’ she said. ‘I’ll follow you down in a minute.’

She waited until Mark had left the room, then opened the drawer to reassure herself that the remote was still there before following him downstairs.

When they opened the door to their guests, Lisa was surprised by how happy she was to see Grayson again. He handed her a bunch of flowers as they stepped inside, kissing her on the cheek while Mark took Isabel’s wrap.

‘Thank you – they’re beautiful,’ she said as she took the flowers from him.

‘Not as beautiful as you,’ he said. ‘You look stunning.’

‘Thank you.’ She blushed as his eyes dropped to her breasts before sweeping back up to her face. She felt so exposed, and longed to cover herself up.

Isabel greeted her warmly. ‘You look beautiful,’ she said as she embraced her.

The conversation flowed easily over dinner, and Lisa relaxed as everything went without a hitch, relieved that Mark had no cause for complaint. The food was perfect, and Grayson and Isabel showered her with compliments.

‘Lisa is a very talented cook,’ Mark said, beaming at her with pride.

‘This is a great house,’ Isabel said over dessert. ‘You have some wonderful pieces.’ She nodded to the artwork on the walls.

Mark turned to her and they began discussing art.

‘I’d like to see some of
your
work,’ Grayson said, turning his attention to Lisa. ‘Do you have any here?’

‘Oh, no. My stuff isn’t good enough to put on show. I was just a hack. I don’t do it anymore anyway.’

‘Still, I’d like to see some.’ He looked at her intently, like she was the most fascinating person on the planet and he was trying to figure her out. ‘It’s such a shame you gave up.’

‘You wouldn’t say that if– oh!’ Lisa gasped in shock as she felt a pulsating sensation between her legs. She’d forgotten about it over the course of dinner, but the little egg was vibrating inside her. Yet how could it be? She’d checked the drawer last thing before she came downstairs to make sure the remote was still there, and it had been. She glanced across the table at Mark. He was turned away from her, seemingly engrossed in conversation with Isabel. But one of his hands was in his jacket pocket.

As another wave of sensation rippled through her, she gasped again, grasping the table.

‘Lisa? What’s wrong?’ Grayson frowned in concern.

‘Nothing,’ she said shakily, pressing her thighs together and trying to control her breathing. But her whole body jerked as the vibrations intensified and she bent over, clutching her stomach, trying to absorb the sensations.

‘Are you ill?’ Grayson asked urgently, pulling her hair away from her face. ‘What’s the matter?’

She shook her head, biting hard on her lip and trying desperately to regain control as the ripples of pleasure built deep inside her.

Grayson looked anxiously across at Mark. Mark turned to him finally, a wide smile spreading across his face.

‘She’s fine,’ he said. He pulled the little remote control from his pocket then and held it up for them all to see. ‘I’m just toying with her.’ His eyes glittered with cruel intent, watching Lisa as he pushed a control on the device and the pressure on her clit increased.

‘Mark – please–‘ Lisa gasped, her eyes pleading with him, begging him not to do this. It was his way of bringing her to heel, of showing her she was his. She had been talking about her art and he hated when she talked about her art. She clutched her stomach, praying for it to end. How could he humiliate her like this? ‘Please,’ she whispered.