The Collar, Page 28

  “And how else am I to interpret your hesitation as anything other than objecting?”

  “I don’t know, Sir.”

  “That’s because there is no other way. That’s two. Now, remove the bra.”

  She quickly reached behind her back to unsnap her bra, but my own focus was suddenly shifted to my husband’s two hands, which were unbuttoning my shirt.

  His voice was rough in my ear while his fingers stroked my breasts. “You like watching, don’t you?”

  “Especially with you teasing me like that with your hands, Master.”

  “You like teasing?” he asked.

  I realized what I’d said and how he’d probably interpret my words. “Uh, well …”

  He chuckled. “Too late. I’m going to thoroughly enjoy teasing you tonight, but for right now, watch Master Johnson.”

  In front of us, Cole had bound his submissive for the night with her arms above her head. Two identical floggers sat on top of a bag off to the side of where they were standing. Florentine flogging, I assumed he’d be demonstrating with those.

  Cole went right into the scene with both floggers, warming up the submissive with light and easy strokes. Interesting. Whenever Nathaniel used two floggers, he’d start by warming me up with a single one first. But the technique appeared to be working. The submissive’s expression transformed into a look of complete bliss, and by the time Cole started putting more power behind his swing, she was in subspace.

  I was transfixed by the sight of them. It appeared almost like a choreographed dance, the way his arms moved in time with her side-to-side sway.

  “Very nice,” Cole told her. “I’m going to bring you down. No climax for you tonight since you didn’t follow directions at the beginning of the scene.”

  She started to protest, but he cut her off. “Unless you want me to demo how to properly discipline with two floggers, you’ll keep that comment to yourself.”

  She wisely didn’t say anything else, and Cole’s movements grew slower and slower.

  I jumped when Nathaniel slipped a hand down my skirt.

  “Someone liked watching,” he said.

  I pressed back against him and wiggled my butt across his erection. “Yes, Master.”

  “I’m going to flog that wiggly ass. Let’s go to the garage.”

  The garage was set aside for public play and filled with all sorts of fun toys. Plus there were always people observing the play scenes. It would be our first time being in the garage, and I smiled at the thought of finally being a participant.

  I walked in front of him, nodding and smiling at the people we passed on our way. The party had been going on for about an hour and a half, so the house was filled to capacity. I feared the garage would be too crowded and have no room to play, but I was happy to see there was a free whipping post in a far corner.

  I looked to Nathaniel for instructions, and he nodded toward the free area. “On your knees in front of the post.”

  I crossed the floor and knelt down while I waited. I closed my eyes to focus myself on serving him. I thoroughly enjoyed playing in front of others, but I never wanted my focus to drift from where it was supposed to be.

  “So you like it when I tease you?” he asked.

  “Most of the time, Master.”

  “Whereas I, on the other hand, always enjoy teasing you.” He took a few steps and stood behind me. “And I love to hear you beg. So tonight, I’m going to start a scene, and we’re going to finish it at home. How does that sound?”

  “Like a long ride home, Master.”

  He laughed. “And if you don’t want it to be an even longer night, you’ll behave.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  “Stand up and face the post.”

  I rose to my feet and turned to the post, imagining how I looked to the crowd as I did and positioning myself to please Nathaniel.

  He ran his hands up my back and situated my arms so they were above my head. “You would enjoy this better if you were naked, wouldn’t you?” he asked.

  “Most things involving you are better if I’m naked, Master.”

  He gave my ass a slap. “Someone feels a little sassy tonight, doesn’t she?”

  “Maybe just a little,” I wiggled my butt, hoping he’d spank it again.

  But he didn’t, instead he moved my hands to two grips on on the post. “Don’t let go and no speaking unless I ask a question.”

  He hadn’t brought his toy bag with him, so I couldn’t imagine what he was going to do.

  “I’m going to lift your skirt,” he said. “Are you wearing anything under it?”

  He was the one who had picked out my outfit before we left. He knew the only thing under the skirt was me.

  “No, Master.”

  “Everyone’s going to see your ass. The only thing better would be if everyone saw me spank you.”

  I tried not to think about how much that thought turned me on. He said he was going to tease me, which probably meant he wasn’t going to let me climax at the party.

  He drew my skirt above my waist, and I expected him to continue his upward trail, but instead his fingers slipped behind me and he pinched my butt. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from making a noise.

  “You’re being so good,” he said, keeping one hand on my ass and shifting the other to stroke my breast.

  I relaxed against the post, enjoying the feel of his hands on me, the experience made more erotic by the accompanying sound track of sighs, whimpers, and moans from other couples in the garage. Nathaniel’s hands finally made their way between my legs, and I held my breath, anticipating his touch right where I needed it and reminding myself that no matter how good it felt, I could not make a noise.

  “I’m going to finger-fuck you.” Nathaniel’s warm breath kissed my ear. “You can’t make a noise, and you can’t come. Do either of the two, and I won’t let you come for two weeks.”

  I wasn’t about to let that happen. I took a deep breath and started reciting German in my head, my tried-and-true way of delaying orgasm.

  “Are you doing your German, Abigail?” he said, moving his fingers lightly over my clit and making me rise up on my toes. “Are you?”

  “Yes, Master.”

  “Do you think the German alphabet is going to keep your mind off the fact that I have my fingers inside you?”

  “No, Master. Not entirely. Just enough….” I arched against him as his fingers found that spot inside me that felt so good. “Just enough to help me … be good.”

  “There’s a man in the far corner. He’s in the shadows, so I can’t make out who he is. He’s watching us.”

  I sucked in a breath and almost let out a moan before I remembered I couldn’t make a sound. Fuck. When I knew I was being watched, my skin broke out in delicious shivers, and I became a puddle at Nathaniel’s feet.

  “I know you like that. I know it gets you off.” His fingers moved faster. Deeper. “Too bad he won’t be able to watch you come.”

  He stroked over and over, and my release built within me. I started conjugating German verbs. Translated the preamble to the Constitution into German. Anything. Just when I thought my body was going to fall apart all over him, he slowed his movements.

  He slipped his fingers out and straightened my skirt. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, Master.”

  “You can let go of the straps and stand up.”

  I straightened and turned. He watched me with his intense green gaze.

  “You did very well, Abigail,” he said, and I felt my heart flutter at his praise. “I’m going to have to think of a suitable reward.”

  He dropped his head and gave me a soft kiss, but his lips didn’t linger. Pulling back, he brought his finger to my mouth. Without being told, I sucked it inside and licked, tasting myself and cleaning him.

  When I finished, he kissed me again. “Very nice, Abigail.”

  I sighed and Nathaniel tightened his arms around me. The pounding need to have him inside me
was still there. Yet it was tempered by the knowledge that he would reward me once we were home. Or, more to the point, when we were back at the hotel we were staying in for the weekend.

  A few months ago when we had been in Wilmington, Delaware, for a conference that Nathaniel was speaking at, we fell in love with the area and the people. According to him, the tax rate was wonderful, so we decided to buy a place. Initially, we’d looked at the coast, but we soon discovered that most of our time was spent in Wilmington, and it only made sense to buy there.

  I loved our new house. It was from early in the last century and filled with character. But more than that, it would be the first place we’d live in as a family that Nathaniel and I had bought together. He’d inherited our Hamptons estate from his parents, and our New York City penthouse he’d bought when he was still a bachelor. I owned a chalet in Switzerland, which he had given me as a wedding present, but we only ever visited there. I was excited to have a space that was “ours.”

  Wilmington, Delaware, was also where the Partners in Play BDSM group was. One of the group’s core Doms, Jeff Parks, had rescued me one night from a raunchy nightclub I’d made the mistake of going to with a friend and without Nathaniel. Another Dom, Daniel Covington, was a colleague of Nathaniel’s. That was how we’d met the group. In the last few months, I’d become friends with both of their submissives. Dena was now engaged to Jeff, and Julie had moved in with Daniel a few months ago.

  A phone call from Jeff a week ago had led to our visit tonight. Jeff wanted Nathaniel to attend because there had been trouble within the group lately. Namely with two relatively new Doms.

  Nathaniel took my hand, and we left our little corner of the garage. I was tempted to look around and try to locate the man who had been observing us. Without much thought, I decided not to. Sometimes, the fantasy was better than the real thing.

  Nathaniel squeezed my hand. “Would you like something to drink?”

  “Yes, Master.” And sometimes reality was better than fantasy.

  Nathaniel and I made our way into the kitchen, where we greeted a few people. He took a bottle of water from a cooler, and we walked into the living room.

  He nodded to the floor, and I sat at his feet while he sat on the couch. We were experimenting with different levels of protocol to see what we liked and what worked for us. Sitting at his feet was something we’d been trying lately, and I was surprised to discover I liked it. In that position, I felt protected and secure.

  He opened the bottle and pressed it to my lips.

  “Thank you, Master,” I said when I’d had my fill.

  The door to the room’s left opened, and Cole and the red-headed submissive stepped out. He spoke to her softly and stroked her cheek. She left him with a smile on her face and a spring in her step.

  Cole was still somewhat of an enigma to me. According to Dena, he’d broken up with his long-term girlfriend several months earlier. He usually traveled for his work, and I gathered the breakup was his reason for coming back to Delaware. He was a journalist and a good one; I’d read some of his articles. I wrote for a national news blog, and since he was a writer, I was interested in getting to know him better.

  Cole spotted us and headed our way.

  “Master West,” he said, shaking Nathaniel’s hand.

  “Master Johnson.”

  Cole inclined his head in my direction. “I haven’t been formally introduced to your Abby yet.”

  I wasn’t allowed to interact with Doms at a party unless Nathaniel gave me permission, so I remained where I was.

  “We must correct that.” Nathaniel smiled at me. “Come meet Master Johnson, Abigail.”

  I moved to my feet and waited to be introduced.

  “Master Johnson, this is my Abby.” Nathaniel lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles. “She is my everything.”

  I didn’t miss the subtle lift of Cole’s eyebrows or Nathaniel’s slight nod. Granted permission to touch me, Cole held out his hand.

  “Very nice to meet you finally, Abby.”

  I shook his hand. “The feeling is mutual, Sir.”

  “I understand you’re a writer,” he said.

  “I just write a blog for WNN, Sir,” I said, slightly taken aback that he knew anything about me. It wasn’t a secret, of course. It was just that he was a writer writer.

  “You express yourself through written words. You’re a writer.”

  “And a damn good one,” Nathaniel added.

  The corner of Cole’s mouth lifted in what could only be called a devilish grin. “I know. I’ve read her blog.”

  “You have?” I nearly squeaked and then remembered where I was and composed myself. “I mean, you have, Sir?”

  He chuckled. “Yes.”

  I wanted to return the praise. “I’m really enjoying the series of articles you’re writing based on your time in India, Sir.”

  All traces of joviality left his expression and darkness covered his face. I wasn’t sure what I had said to upset him, but now I wished I hadn’t spoken at all.

  “It was a very unique experience,” he finally said.

  “It’s a very unique county,” I said.

  “Yes. There are parts that are breathtakingly beautiful, and I met some incredible people. But I think—” He looked pained. “I think I won’t be going back.”

  I was momentarily stunned since his articles seemed filled with a real love for India, but fortunately I was saved from any long, awkward silences by the appearance of Jeff and Dena.

  “There you guys are,” Dena said. She was holding hands with Jeff, and they both looked so happy, I couldn’t help but smile along with them. I spared a quick look back at Cole, but whatever had upset him was forgotten. The devilish grin had returned.

  “What’s going on?” Cole asked.

  Dena spotted Daniel and Julie in the hallway and waved them over.

  “What’s happening?” Daniel asked.

  “I’m wondering the same thing,” Cole said.

  Dena looked so excited, I wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d started bouncing up and down. “We set a date!” she finally said.

  “A date for what?” Cole asked, and Dena’s smile temporarily deflated. Nathaniel thumped him on the shoulder. “Just teasing, you guys. Congratulations!”

  “I love weddings,” I said. “Tell us when it is.”

  Jeff replied with a date less than two months away.

  Dena held up her hands as we all started speaking at once. “I know it’s short notice, but it’ll be small. We thought about just having the Justice of the Peace do it, but since our collaring ceremony was private, we thought better of it.”

  Jeff slipped his arm around Dena and kissed her forehead. “I was the one pushing for a private ceremony.”

  “Thank goodness she didn’t go for your idea,” Daniel said. “I’ve been waiting on this day.”

  “But if she had,” Jeff said, “we’d be married already.”

  “There is that,” Daniel said.

  Dena had stayed with us at our Hamptons estate recently. Jeff had been out of town, caring for his terminally ill father, and because she’d been getting threats from a stalker, we’d offered for her to stay with us. She was a prosecutor, and her father was a prominent politician, and no one was sure who was threatening her. That was all in the past now, but Dena and I had become good friends during the weeks she’d stayed with us, and I knew exactly how happy she was to be marrying Jeff.

  I didn’t know Jeff quite as well, but I’d actually met him first, and one of the things I’d picked up on was an underlying sadness about him. There was no sadness now. Only joy and, as he gazed down at the woman who wore both his collar and his engagement ring, love.

  It made me a bit nostalgic for the early days of my relationship with Nathaniel, when everything was so new and we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. Of course, we still didn’t want to, but it was harder to find time to ourselves. I hoped the move to Delaware would mean more time at
home for him and allow us to reconnect.