Give Her Enough Rope Pt. 08

I walked down the stairs from my loft and out onto the sidewalk. It was a gorgeous autumn day -- cool and brisk, but with deep blue endless skies above. Although I was weary from work, I felt invigorated. Fall was my favorite time of year, and the historic part of the city was looking its best. The trees planted at intervals along the wide sidewalks still held on to some of their bright gold leaves, while others eddied around the feet of the passersby out shopping or looking for lunch.

Shop windows held Halloween displays or touted Harvest sales. The In-Town Hardware store was no exception. The usual Fall window displays -- such as leaf blowers, rakes, and wheelbarrows filled with fake leaves -- shared space with Halloween home and yard décor. Pots of orange and burgundy chrysanthemums flanked the doors, together with packages of bulbs for fall planting.

But what caught and held my eyes was the man standing just inside the door, avidly watching my approach. Jake, the owner... who also happened to be my dom and my partner in the first non-vanilla relationship I'd ever been involved in.

Barely a month had passed since we met, but our relationship had been unpredictable in just about every particular, starting with our first interaction here, in this store. I had come in looking for supplies of a very specific kind. I'd scraped up just enough courage to test out some of the kinky longings I'd always harbored, including a desire to be restrained with rope. I had the vague idea that trying it out first on myself might be less dangerous than trusting a stranger to tie me up.

Yet that was almost exactly what had happened. Unbeknownst to me, the store's owner had sensed that I was submissive long before I was aware of him. And on that day when I'd come nervously into the store, an opportunity presented itself for Jake to act on his instincts. For which I hadn't exactly been prepared. My life had been a bit of a whirlwind ever since.

Today I was meeting Jake for lunch. On days when I worked from my apartment, we'd fallen into the habit of lunching together at the nearby deli when we were both free. We could have just met there, but Jake liked to walk with me.

When I reached the store entrance, Jake opened the door for me, drawing me inside with a hand on my arm and just enough possessive fire in his eyes to make me feel about ten degrees warmer. As the door shut behind me with a tinkle of wind chimes, he backed me up against the wall in the narrow entry and kissed me.

He was an immediate assault on my senses. I could see him, feel him, smell him, taste him. Even hear him as he murmured, "Right on time. You look lovely, little bird."

Like the pet name he had given me, I felt a bit fluttery. I buried my nose in his sweater and half-whispered, "I wouldn't dare to be late, Sir. You smell nice."

He pulled back and grinned. "Chopping firewood out back. Hopefully it's the wood and not the sweat you smell." Although I didn't reply, I begged to differ. The musky smell of Jake when he'd worked up a sweat was rather addictive. At least to me.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Dylan, one of Jake's assistants, give a laconic wave. I turned toward him as Jake slid an arm around my waist. Dylan gave us a cursory look, then snorted. "Get a room, you two. It's embarrassing, Jake. And at your age."

Humorous barbs slid right off Jake. He was comfortable in his skin and didn't let what anyone else thought bother him in the least. He made a rude gesture toward Dylan, who was about half his age, and said to the room at large, "We're going to get lunch. Anyone want something from the deli?"

A minute later we were out on the street again. Jake kept that arm around me loosely, his thumb tucked into the waistband of my skirt and pressed against my flesh. I was hyperaware of it, moving up and down on my skin slightly as my hips shifted in a purposeful walk.

In a low voice he said, "Your skin is so soft and warm. I assume you read my text?"

I nodded. He'd texted me an hour ago and told me to wear a skirt and no panties. It turned out that Jake was inordinately fond of skirts. I was going to have to go shopping for more of them.

"Tell me," he said, with a gentle pinch at my waist.

"I'm not wearing any panties, Sir," I said softly, though no one was close enough to overhear. This was an area where I was still struggling to adapt. Jake could so easily switch gears on me -- one minute an affectionate companion and the next a demanding dom. It was sometimes hard to keep up. I suspected that he enjoyed keeping me off balance.

"Good girl," he murmured, his thumb stroking lower. His words resonated inside me, setting up tiny vibrations that were never far away when we were together. Not for the first time, I wondered if my response was specific to Jake or whether I'd feel a similar frisson with any dom. It seemed disloyal even to entertain the thought.

We entered the deli and got in line to order. I didn't look at the menu board; Jake knew what I liked and enjoyed ordering for me. He joked often that having lunch with me was his way of ensuring that I actually ate at least one meal a day. Which was wildly hyperbolic on his part. After all, coffee counted as a meal, didn't it?

While we waited, Jake reminded me that I'd agreed to go with him to the Halloween party at Edge in three days. We hadn't been back to the BDSM/fetish club since my first visit with Jake. My impressions of that night were clouded by the fact that I had been completely overwhelmed by Jake's presence. Still, I remember thinking that it was like an adult amusement park -- with that same exhilarating but scary feeling -- and I was looking forward to a second visit.

We picked up our order and sat down in our favorite booth. I scooched in first, making room for Jake, who sat on the outside. I'd just about learned to keep my legs open, but the tight, black corduroy skirt I'd worn today would only stretch so far. Jake made an unhappy rumble in his throat as his hand slipped down my leg then stopped.

He gave me an aggrieved look. "Am I going to have to go shopping with you, pet? This is unacceptable."

I tried not to smile. I was becoming accustomed to Jake's demands. Some of them were to be instantly obeyed, but others were open to negotiation -- or at least deserved a token protest -- when we weren't in the middle of a scene.

"What would you have me wear, Sir? It's cold and windy outside. If I wore a shorter skirt my legs would be cold. You're always telling me that it's my job to take good care of your property." I smiled a crafty smile and added, "And a looser one might blow up in the wind, showing off your assets to all and sundry."

Jake easily rejected my arguments as his hand determinedly moved up my thigh, pushing my skirt with it. "Yes, we're definitely going shopping. Short and tight. And stretchy. As for being cold, that's what long coats are for." Apparently, he thought the discussion was closed; at any rate, he moved on. "We'll have to shop anyway. You need something to wear for the Halloween event."

I raised my eyebrows. "Is it a costume event? Or... fancy dress?" I was dying to hear more about what Halloween would be like at Edge. So far, Jake had been disappointingly close-lipped with the details.

His dancing eyes studied my face. "A bit of both," he said, purposely vague, then added with a grin, "Maybe I should just shop for you. Surprise you."

I tried not to let my female irritation show. Was this one of those gray areas where I was supposed to simply acquiesce, as his submissive? Or was he just teasing me? Well, two could play that game.

I put my hand on his, gently guided it farther up my thigh and murmured. "But wouldn't it be more fun to go together? Think of the opportunities for me to model the clothes for you, Sir."

He laughed at that, the full hearty Jake laugh that warmed my heart. "You have no idea what you just volunteered yourself for, pet. But I'll take you up on it." His fingers slowly massaged my thigh as I took a bite of my chicken salad. I nearly choked when he continued, "I'm sure I can think of a few ways to make the shopping more... interesting." One finger reached the top of my thigh and teased the crease where it joined my body.

I blushed slightly as he leaned over and whispered, "You're of two minds right now, aren't you, little bird? Part of you wants me to stop. The other part...?" As he spoke, the tip of his finger grazed my labia.

He was right; I looked up at him, letting him decide. After a moment, he slowly moved his hand away and smiled ruefully. "If I play with my toy, you won't eat. How's your work going?"

I'd been kept busy meeting a crucial deadline at work for the past three days, and Jake had been considerate throughout, sending me encouraging texts and dropping off food every day. I'd slept alone, at my own place, for the last three nights, and we were both feeling a bit deprived.

I sighed wearily. "It will be done tonight, even if I have to work until midnight." To keep him from reconsidering his decision not to play with me, I took another large bite of my chicken salad. I even stole a french fry from Jake's plate. He'd ordered the daily special, a Philly cheesesteak, and had already wolfed down half of it. I shook my head in amazement. Well... to be fair, he had been chopping wood for at least part of the morning.

Jake's hand, no longer occupied with my lower half, began massaging my neck. I felt like a pretzel after spending 12-hour days hunched over my keyboard. His fingers dug in, working at the knots. They felt wonderful. His voice, low but firm in my ear, sounded even better.

"Text me when you're done. Doesn't matter what time it is, I'll come over and take care of you."

Those words, holding both a promise and a threat, bounced around in the back of my brain all afternoon and evening, surfacing every time I took a break. It hadn't helped that after lunch, on the way back, Jake had sidetracked me to his closet of an office in the back of the hardware store. There he'd bent me over the papers on his desk, held my wrists behind me in one large hand, and given me a warning spanking for my unsuitable skirt. The man knew damn well that it would leave me sizzling and wanting more.

I found myself working faster to get everything done. My goal was to finish up around the time the hardware store closed. When I finally wrapped everything up and the crucial report was winging its way to my boss, I'd beat my own goal by an hour.

I texted Jake to let him know. A few moments later he replied, telling me to take a long shower and do whatever I needed to do in order to be ready to spend the rest of the evening together.

My heart jumped in my throat, but in a good way. We'd learned a lot about each other in the past four weeks, and so far, he had done nothing that would make me doubt him. In fact, the opposite was true. I smiled; he really did seem to be a model citizen, as he'd claimed.

By 9:00 I was waiting for him in front of my door, kneeling and wearing some new lingerie. I'd already unlocked the door for him and even lit a couple of candles and placed them on the small chest beside me. When he entered, he stopped for a moment. I knew his eyes were tracing over me and I couldn't help straightening my spine just a bit more, spreading my knees a little bit wider.

Jake made a deep, appreciative male sound, then stepped right in front of me. He lifted my chin until I was looking up at him. With a warm smile he said, "Congratulations, little bird. You did it. Not that I doubted you would. Did my spanking make you work faster this afternoon?"

I smiled back and nodded. No point in trying to hide it. I was as eager to play as he was. My eyes traveled down his body from his straight, strong shoulders, across the expanse of his chest, to the taper at his waist. He still wore jeans but had changed into an oxford shirt, the sleeves rolled up to reveal his capable-looking forearms. There was something very sexy about those forearms; I found myself wanting to lean forward and lick their lightly-furred length like a kitten.

I heard a chuckle. Jake lifted me all the way up and said, "Stop drooling, pet. Exercise some self-control. First, we celebrate your success."

I made a little motion with my hand to dismiss his words, but he grasped it and gave me a stern look. "Don't sell yourself short. You did well, and it was a difficult assignment from what you've said. I stopped in the Italian place and got some flatbread and a bottle of prosecco. We're celebrating."

I was inordinately pleased. It was a nice feeling to have someone in my corner. "Thank you, Sir," I said. "I'll get some glasses."

He followed me into the small kitchen space. I got out a platter for the flatbread. While I took down the only two champagne flutes I owned, he cut the flatbread into small pieces and arranged them on the platter. With that done, we headed into the living room. We always seemed to gravitate there, perhaps because my small dining table also served as my home office and was usually strewn with work.

When he sat down on the sofa, I looked at him questioningly, unsure where to place myself. He patted the space next to him. I sat carefully, putting the full glasses on the table. The flatbread looked delicious, topped with tomatoes, onions, basil and black olives. Jake picked up both glasses and handed me one. "Congratulations. Well done. To your success and to me getting my little slave back."

I almost spluttered my mouthful of prosecco. Trust Jake to get right to the point. I swallowed, my eyes sliding away from his. I still wasn't quite sure where things stood between us. That is, I was clear that I was his submissive, but beyond that? He offered me few clues. And I... well, I had no real idea where this was headed. I'd done a little more reading online since we negotiated our initial boundaries, but I was still in the dark.

I'd faced the fact that I was very attracted to Jake. All of our edges seemed to fit together well. And our chemistry was off the charts. But was what I felt just 'sub frenzy'? Or maybe it was simply down to that burst of energy and endorphins most new relationships experience -- whether vanilla or very not-vanilla.

And what about those darker depths to Jake that I sensed from time to time?

Jake prodded my side with his finger. "No drifting off. I want your mind and body focused on the here and now." He put his glass down and lifted a small bite of the flatbread to my mouth, smearing a little of the olive oil that coated it onto my lips. "Eat, baby bird."

I giggled but took a bite. Jake leaned over and licked the olive oil from my bottom lip, then bit it gently before leaning back. "Just a taste of what you'll get if you're a good girl."

I looked at him, provocatively running my own tongue over my lip, feeling the spot where he'd sunk his teeth in. "I'm always a good girl."

He smiled. "So you are. Drink some more of your prosecco. Are you tired?"

I didn't want to admit it, but I hadn't slept that much for the last couple of nights and exhaustion lurked just beyond my excitement at being with Jake. I lowered my eyes, "Not really."

"You're a terrible liar," he informed me, feeding me another bite of flatbread. "I think one glass of prosecco will be it for you, otherwise you'll fall asleep."

His hand moved to my shoulders, kneaded them again. "The shower helped, but your muscles are still tight." He kept up that wonderful massaging while we ate and drank and talked. When I finished my allotted glass and had eaten several squares of flatbread, Jake stood and lifted me to my feet. "Go into the bedroom and take off your bra and panties. Get on the bed, on your stomach, and wait for me."

I couldn't resist looking into his eyes; I loved seeing the fire in them when he said things like that. His gaze traveled from my lips, down the column of my throat, and came to rest on my bra. My nipples, already hard, were visible, pushing through the thin fabric. I was reminded of how I had eyed him earlier. But instead of just wanting, Jake acted. His hands went around me and expertly unhooked my bra as he said, "Let me give you a head start on that."

Fingers skimming my shoulders, he pushed the straps down my arms, then flung the scrap of material onto the sofa. He cupped my breasts, one in each large hand, and slowly teased his thumbs over my nipples until I couldn't stand it. I pressed myself harder against those hands, begging silently for more. And I got it. He cinched my nipples tight, then twisted until I gave a low moan. The sensation went straight to my pussy and was so strong that my legs wobbled, just a bit.

Jake grinned and released me, giving me a healthy slap on the ass to hurry me along. "Go on now. Wait for me. No rubbing yourself on the bed like a little slut."

He left me waiting while he cleaned up the remains of our light dinner. On the one hand, I applauded his consideration. On the other hand, the anticipation of what would happen when he came into the bedroom was making me squirm. I wished he hadn't told me not to rub myself on the bed, because now that was all I wanted to do. And I knew he'd done it on purpose. He was a master in many senses, not least in making sure I was always achingly ready for whatever he had in mind.

Finally I heard his footsteps enter the bedroom. He stood beside the bed for a moment looking at me. I turned my head and had the pleasure of watching him take off his shirt, unbuttoning it and putting it on the dresser. Then he climbed onto the bed. Using the ropes he'd installed on his first visit to my place, he secured my wrists to the headboard but left my ankles free.

The simple act of restraint somehow managed to both relax me and put my body on alert. Feelings that were heightened when he slipped a scarf over my eyes and tied it behind my head. He ran a finger down my spine, causing a delicious shiver. I felt something cool and liquid follow the track of his finger. Lube? No, it was some kind of fragrant oil. Lavender. I recognized the scent. He must have swiped it from my bathroom.

Apparently I was getting a massage. I wiggled my toes in both delight and frustration. Jake spread the oil over my back in sensuous sweeps, then settled himself, his knees bracketing my thighs, and buckled down to do a proper job. When he was done, my back, shoulders, neck, and arms felt boneless and almost too heavy to lift. He released my wrists, and I merely sighed and flexed my hands.

He laughed and lifted me until I was sitting. "Now that I've rendered you helpless," he said, "I can have my wicked way with you."

I made a mock-frightened face and replied with my best repressed-Victorian-lady impression, "Oh please, Sir, go easy on me."

"Hmmm," his breath ruffled my hair as he removed the scarf covering my eyes. "That will depend on how well you serve your Master."

He reached down and picked up a length of rope. Honestly, I was beginning to think rope just trailed after him, wherever he went. While I sat, pliant and relaxed, he created a quick harness around my upper body, wrapping the rope extra times around my breasts so that they felt more constricted than I'd experienced so far.

When he'd completed the harness, Jake ran his hands over the knots and then over my breasts. They already felt slightly warm. He guided me down onto my back again, propping a pillow under my head. "Comfortable?" he asked, brushing my hair back. I nodded, feeling more submissive by the moment. I must have looked puzzled when he adjusted the pillow, because he murmured, "So you can watch."

Watching Jake work, feeling the slow coiling of the rope on my body, kept me in a sort of trance. He knew I found it almost hypnotic. He began working on my legs, bending the right one so that my knee was pointed up and my heel almost touched my buttock. He'd done this wrap before. I remembered him telling me that it was called a futomomo. Again he worked fast, spiraling up the outside of my leg, then the inside. The left leg followed. He restrained my ankles with the ropes at the sides of the mattress and re-attached my wrists to the headboard. I was laid out for him like a trussed animal. The thought sent a delicious shiver through me.

When I pulled at the restraints to test them, Jake's eyes darkened with something that made my breathing speed up. Slowly he leaned over me and ran his tongue over one nipple, then bit down lightly. I moaned at the sensation. Even the slightest touch felt incredible. He looked up and grinned wickedly, saying, "And now I get to play with my captive toy."

He proceeded to do just that, spending an inordinate amount of time teasing my nipples with his mouth, then sitting up and watching my face as he used his hands to knead and squeeze my already swollen breasts until I was panting lightly. Every once in a while, he leaned down to suck on one nipple, then the other. My moans grew progressively louder, punctuated by occasional inarticulate begging sounds. My head went back, neck taut, spine arched, pushing myself toward the cause and source of my aching need for more. He was my captor, and the only one who could release me.

I lost all track of time, but he slowly moved down my body until he finally straightened, resting on his knees between my spread thighs. I knew he could see everything, see how wet and aroused I was as I pulled and strained toward him, wanting more than his eyes on me.

"Patience, little bird," he murmured, making me whine unhappily. Patience was the last thing on my mind.

He laughed. "If that's how you're going to behave, I've got a way to stop that whining." He climbed off the bed and pulled his jeans and boxers off, while I watched hungrily. His cock must have been making him uncomfortable, confined as it had been, because it was already rock hard. Eyeing me, he added another pillow beneath my head and shoulders, then carefully straddled my chest.

"Open for me," he ordered, his voice firm but under tight control. "Show me how much you want your master's cock."

He fed it into my open mouth and we both groaned simultaneously. I swirled my tongue around the broad head as he pushed inside. The positioning wasn't the easiest, but Jake made it clear that he was in control of things, putting a hand behind my head, tangling it in my hair, and lifting me slightly as he thrust in and out of my mouth. I was helpless, able to move only to the extent that he allowed.

Strangely -- or perhaps not -- having his cock in my mouth only increased my awareness of that other place, the one he'd been staring at, and how needy it felt. How empty. He knew how to keep my attention, though, his other hand dipping down to squeeze my nipple. I whimpered and squirmed beneath him, unable to move much but unable to remain still. I arched into his touch, aching for his mouth on that nipple again.

With a last caress, his hand left my breast and reached up to the headboard to brace himself as he thrust harder into my mouth. It was all I could to do stay with him, to breathe when I could, while he used me roughly. At any moment I anticipated he would explode in my mouth.

But Jake was made of sterner stuff. With a muttered curse, he slowed himself, then stopped, climbing over my torso. Taking my chin in one hand, he rubbed his thumb over my swollen, bruised lips and said firmly, "Be good now. No more whining. Are you in control of what's going to happen?"

I was lost in his eyes. Without thought I whispered, "No, Sir. You are."

"That's right," he agreed, letting go of me and moving back between my legs. "You'll stay still and quiet, unless you need to beg my permission to come. And you'd better not come without it."

I wanted to moan but instead exhaled raggedly and nodded. Jake had me in the palm of his hand and we both knew it. That was what took all of this to a level I'd never expected. Whatever I'd read online before I met Jake, it didn't approach the real thing. Not by a country mile. I lay there, still and quiet, as he wanted me. We were both in the zone.

He hadn't removed the extra pillow behind me, so I had a better view of him as he put his hands on the inside of my thighs and pushed them even farther apart, opening me completely. Then his hand rested on my pussy, the heel of his thumb pressing my clit as he said distinctly, "Mine. This is mine." I dragged in another tortuous breath, feeling a trembling start in my thighs. His hand moved slowly. Down, then dragging upward.

As his hand grew wet from my arousal, the feel of it gliding against me was beyond words. I made some half-choked noise, but he merely whispered, "Shhh, quiet now," and I subsided. Only to curl my hands into fists as his fingers worked their way inside my pussy, meeting no resistance to their advance. In fact, it was the opposite: I clamped onto those fingers, and he let out a small chuckle.

"So eager, pet. I like that. Would you like me to fuck you with my fingers?"

His words pushed me higher, but I was in a fevered confusion about how to reply. Because what I really wanted wasn't his fingers but his cock inside me. Should I say it? Was I allowed to beg? Jake had told me to be quiet.

My spinning thoughts were halted by a slap across my pussy, catching my clit hard so that I jerked and cried out. Jake looked down at me from the height of his knees, frowning. "I expect you to answer without hesitation. It's a simple yes or no."

Without thought I blurted out, "I'd rather have your cock, Sir."

He laughed, his good humor restored, and rubbed his hand over the stinging skin he'd just struck. "Poor baby. But you did well to tell me. I always prefer honesty, remember?" He went back to pushing those fingers into me, then he slowly withdrew them and added a third. I felt stretched to my limit, gasping when the knuckle of one of those fingers teased at that sensitive spot inside my pussy.

The tension inside me ratcheted up, along with my breathing. Near desperation, I finally had to speak. "Sir, I'm... ahhh, god... I'm very close. Please, may I come?"

His fingers withdrew slowly. "No, you may not. Not just yet. I'm of a mind to give you what you want, since you've been such a good girl... in all ways." He gave my clit a little pinch, then slid his body over mine, arms braced on either side of my chest. "Tell me how much you'd like that. What a grateful pet you'd be."

He waited there, poised. He knew begging was still difficult for me. For some reason, it was hard to look into those eyes and say the words he wanted to hear. For that matter, the words I wanted to say. They were there, on the tip of my tongue, but so difficult to force out of my mouth.

I started haltingly. "Please... Sir. You know how much I'd like it. How much I'd like... your cock filling me up."

He moved slowly, dragging his cock over my pussy without entering it. "Filling you where?"

"Ahhh... my pussy, Sir. Filling my pussy," I murmured, then moaned as he dragged over me again. It took everything I had not to press back against that delicious friction. The words started to come easier. "Please... I love it when you fuck my pussy, Sir. I love having your cock inside me, filling me. Please... god... I need... I need to come, Sir."

He thrust inside me with one smooth push. I couldn't hold back a cry of triumph mingled with need. "Thank you... ahh... thank you, Sir."

He smiled into my eyes. "Prettily done. I like it when you lose all that self-consciousness and mindlessly beg me for what you want. When you let me see how much you want it, my sweet little bird." His hips continued their slow in-and-out motion, and I marveled again at his control. He hadn't said that I was allowed to move and make noise now, but I was beyond caring. Muscles and nerves stretched taut in a delicate balance between holding back and letting go, and I groaned with the effort.

That seemed to galvanize Jake into thrusting inside me with increasing force and speed. The feeling of my body being restrained and used, of not being able to hold onto anything, even to keep myself in place, made me feel increasingly frantic.

"Sir! I can't... please let me come. I'm going to... oh god. Please, Sir." I wailed, knowing I was about to lose my battle with the rising tide of need.

"You may come for me. Come now," Jake ordered, and I willingly let myself be swept over the edge, hoping the ropes would hold me -- the ropes and Jake's arms, pressed against my ribs even while he battered my pussy, each thrust of his cock like a new explosion inside me. "Ah... ahhh... ahhh," I panted and mewled at each one.

With a struggle, I managed to retain just enough awareness not to scream, mindful of nearby neighbors, but I wasn't exactly quiet. Jake lowered his head and covered my mouth with his, taking all of those little sounds I made into him. Then he was coming inside me, still a rather new and wonderful feeling in itself. Everything felt so good to my overstimulated body and brain that I kept moving under him, little moves, constrained by rope, stretching out the orgasm as long as possible. And then some.

Finally Jake rested his weight on my body, pinning me down and forcing me to be still. "Stop, little bird," he said firmly. "Unless you want me to get out your wand and make you come again. Though I warn you -- if I do that, it won't be just once."

I quickly stilled at that, while he nipped teasingly at the place where my shoulder and neck joined. "You are such a squirmy little thing. I was going to sleep here with you, but I don't know how restful -- "

"Oh, please, Jake! Please stay. That would be so nice...."

He nipped harder and raised an eyebrow. "Please... who?"

I realized my error. "Please, Sir. Forgive me, my mind is still..." I opened my eyes, ready to beg, but then I saw his grin. I sighed with contentment, knowing he was teasing me. Knowing he'd stay. Suddenly I just wanted to put my arms around him. "Can you free my wrists and ankles, please... Sir?"

He instantly looked concerned. "Are you okay? Does it hurt?" His fingers busied themselves releasing my wrists, then he studied them for any sign of redness or damage. I pulled from his grip and flung them around his neck, holding tight.

Jake let me clutch him. "Everything all right, little bird?"

I wasn't sure how he would react to my overwhelming need to be close to him, so I took a deep breath and released my hold slightly. "Yes, Sir. I just... I needed something to hold onto for a moment. Something to... anchor me." It was true enough, if not the complete story.

He made gentle, soothing noises, stayed bent over me while I recovered my equanimity even though it must have been uncomfortable. I breathed in the scent of him -- woody, musky, overlaid with male sweat and a faint smell of my own arousal. It made me feel safe and cared for. Reassured but still somewhat reluctant, I let go.

I was beginning to realize that it wasn't a sin, wasn't a betrayal of all the things I believed about being strong and independent as a woman, to want this. To enjoy it. But my cynical mind was also starting to recover from its sex-induced paralysis, and it whispered: Yes, enjoy it. But for how long?

Jake released my ankles and unwrapped the rope from my legs. I sighed gratefully and straightened them as he rubbed his hands up and down my calves, finishing the massage he'd started earlier. He left the ropes around my breasts, which were beginning to feel uncomfortably constrictive. It fascinated me to see how flushed and full my breasts looked, how large my somewhat small nipples were.

I looked at Jake and saw he was also admiring the view. Finished with my legs, he massaged my breasts until I was whimpering with renewed desire at his touch on the sensitized flesh. At last he undid the rope around my chest and laid me down on the mattress. When I gave him a needy look, he chuckled. "Time for bed, pet. You've had a long day. And I like the idea of you going to sleep a little horny."

I was feeling tired. I subsided and curled up, waiting for him. He was gone only long enough to go to the bathroom, then to the refrigerator to retrieve some water for us. He turned out the lights and checked the front door before rejoining me. A girl could get used to this. I frowned slightly -- was that a good thing or a bad thing?

I didn't have time to follow the thought. Jake slid under the covers and I burrowed into his side, his hand curved over my hip. Just as I was about to fall asleep, the other thing that had been hovering anxiously in my mind returned.

"Sir," I asked sleepily, "Will you tell me about the Halloween party at Edge?"

I heard an exasperated snort, then he replied, "Does your mind ever stop?" He paused a moment, then added, "I know you need to be in your office tomorrow. Let's meet afterwards. I can get off a little early. We'll go shopping for your outfit and have dinner. You can ply me with questions then. And you'll stay at my place."

It was the best I was going to get. I'd hold him to it tomorrow....