Chapter 14

When the call went dead, I stared at my cell phone in disbelief. The man on the other end had been much different than the one I'd been talking to for weeks. There was a coldness in his voice, and I chalked up the whole body shiver of mine to it. I then sighed and looked over at my cousin. Carley and I were actually getting along for the first time in a very long time, and the two of us had made plans to go to dinner and a movie. Hating to even suggest it, I was about to just send Easton a text message, but his final words came rushing back.

"What's the matter, Shelbs?" she asked me.

I looked over at her, then offered her a wry smile. "Would you be terribly mad if I asked for a raincheck tonight?"

"No, of course not." She studied me for a few seconds, then wrinkled her brow. "Is there something wrong?"

"Wrong?" I asked, and not wanting her to worry, I quickly added. "No. Something has come up at work, and I need to meet one of my employees is all."

"Go," she urged as she stood up and walked over to me.

"I am, but I just wanted to make sure we are okay."

"Why wouldn't we be?" she asked.

I shrugged. "I know you've been bored just sitting around this place."

"I had been looking forward to getting out of here, but shit happens."

"Still..." I was about to let it go, but then I thought of something. "You could go ahead without me."

"Are you sure? I'd need to use your car again, and you weren't happy with me after the other day."

I remembered how she had emptied the gas tank and not refueled my car which had set me back about ten extra minutes on a morning I had already been running late. "It was an honest mistake."

It had been, so I didn't want to dwell on it. Besides, I would be too satiated to care about much of anything. Easton always left me in that state and knowing he was so hot for me tonight, I could only imagine how many orgasms he would lead me to. The very thought made my knees buckle slightly, but I managed to hold myself up.

"It really was. I promise to do better this time."

"I know," I assured her.

"Where do you need to go? I could drop you off along the way."

I was about to blurt out Syn, but the last thing I wanted was for Carley to know about the club. It would not only open me up to questions I didn't want to answer, but it would also threaten the privacy of other clubgoers. I only had one car though and Easton wanted me at Syn right away. Hating that I had opened my big mouth and offered up my car, I had to think quickly on my feet.

As I thought about the businesses close enough to Syn to walk, there were not very many. Most of the buildings housed office space and they were closed at this hour. I was about to give up and just take a cab when I remembered a coffee shop a block and a half away.

I spat out the name of the place, then rushed to my room to get myself ready. I made sure to change into some sexier lingerie, and not having been given any specific colors or instructions, I chose something in white. I then debated whether or not to throw on a dress or pair of leather pants, but ultimately decided to just keep the jeans I had on. I did have a silk camisole top that I could pair with it to make myself appear sexier.

I quickly slipped it on, then put on the Carson High School hoodie hanging over the chair. I did switch out my sneakers for a pair of heels. After, I went back to meet my cousin who was already dressed and ready. She turned and noticing my shoes, she arched her brow.

"What?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Nothing. If you're ready, we can go ahead and go. I'd like to make the movie and you know me and this city."

"You'll learn the ins and outs of Denver before too long," I promised her.

"I suppose you're right. Until then, the trusty GPS it is."

We left my condo and I saved her from having to plug the coffee shop into the GPS by giving her directions. Once we made it to the quaint café, I quickly rattled off some directions for her, but she began inputting them into Google Maps anyway. I shook my head.

"Do you need me to come and pick you up?" Carley asked me.

"Ahh, no. I'll have my friend drop me–"

"Friend? I thought she was your employee."

"Can't I be friends with those that I manage?"

"You can, but she is likely a brown noser."

I laughed softly. "I'll keep that in mind. And I'll see you later tonight at home."

"Sounds good, Shelbs. Don't let your friend ruin your mood."

"I won't." I then got out of the car and while Carley went back to her cell phone, I slowly walked toward the entrance of the coffee shop. I hoped my cousin would leave, but she was still there. It made me have to enter the café which I did, but I hovered near the front door until I saw my car finally pull away from the curb. Once it did, I exited the coffee shop.

I went in the opposite direction right after, walking briskly to Syn. I was nearly out of breath and cursing my shoe choice by the time I arrived. I knew I would likely be tied up and off my feet in some sort of way, so I ignored the pain in my soles and scanned my membership fob for Caine.

The man grinned at me, and for a moment, I wondered if he had talked to Easton. I then dismissed it because there was only one reason someone like me would be going inside. It also didn't help that I looked like I was coming from a high school football game instead of going to a sex club. Once I got inside, I removed the hoodie and was at least happy I looked a bit sexier.

Easton had told me he would be in Room 3, so I wasted no further time worrying about my appearance. After all, this was an impromptu hook up. Still, I had butterflies in my belly as I stopped in front of the door. I took a few deep breaths, then knocked firmly on the heavy oak. A few seconds later, the door opened, and I watched as Easton stepped aside so I could enter.

The fact that he hadn't drawn me into his arms hadn't been missed. I also noticed he didn't immediately greet me, either. He looked entirely too tense for a man who had been here planning the entire night out. It dawned on me that he actually looked upset. I couldn't imagine what I could've done to make him mad, but he was eyeing me with an expression I had never seen from him before.

"I'm sorry if I was late. I have company, and I had–"

"You weren't late," he told me, then continued to stare at me with the same blank expression. If I didn't know any better, he was studying me, but why was unknown.

"Is there something wrong? Did I do something to–"

"What could you have possibly done?" he asked me before walking past me. "Go ahead and get out of those clothes. I want you to present yourself to me."

"Yes, Sir."

I didn't dawdle at all. After kicking off my heels, I removed my clothes including my lingerie. Despite his surly mood, just being in his presence made me wet. I noticed the small damp spot on my thong, and I was glad he couldn't see it. When naked, I shivered. The air conditioner was not only running overhead, but he was still displaying the same coldness.

I lowered myself to the floor, then placed my face against the floor while raising my ass. Easton stood there for a few long seconds, then he walked behind me and stopped. I tried not to flinch when he first touched me, but I failed miserably earning a growl from him. His touch was soft which was a direct contradiction to his attitude. Finally, I forced myself to calm down and let him run one hand down my back, then over my ass, before he slipped it between my legs.

His fingers stroked my pussy and I could hear the soft sloshing noise and knew he could tell how wet I already was. Easton didn't say anything, but his murmur of approval was more like the man I'd come to know. It made me relax considerably, even when he reared back and smacked one of my ass cheeks with his free hand. I did moan, though.

"You always present yourself so beautifully to me," he told me, then I heard him rise back to full height after his hand slipped out from between my spread thighs. "You may get up onto your feet now."

I scrambled onto my knees, then stood up. Seconds later, he put his hands on me and spun me around. When face to face with him, I dared to glance up at him. This time, his eyes were blazing with a fire that was more like my Dominant. Peace filled me. He had to have been having a bad day which explained his need to not only see me but also would excuse his frostier mood when I'd first arrived.

He placed one large hand under my chin, then tipped my face up. I was about to ask him if he was okay, but he slammed his mouth down on mine which cut short any questions on my part. His lips moved urgently over mine all while he pulled me closer to him. Easton slipped his tongue between my lips, and as the kiss deepened, I gripped his biceps.

He kissed me for a shorter period than usual, then pulled away and dropped his hand from under my chin. "I want to use a whip on you tonight, Gemini."

It was strange that he would call me by my safeword, but I smiled nervously. "I have to admit to being a bit apprehensive, but I trust you implicitly."

Something flashed in his eyes when I mentioned trust but I ignored it the same way I did the endearment he'd just called me. Easton then started to smirk, and I briefly wondered whether or not I was making a mistake by letting him use a whip on me. I was not one of those pain sluts I'd heard about and seen out front in Syn, but it wasn't something I'd given as a hard limit before.

"Good, let's get you ready."

He then led me to the center of the room. I noticed the large metal hooks hanging from the ceiling, and I immediately shuddered. Attached to them was thick rope which he tied to each of my wrists. I was now standing there with my arms stretched taut above my head. He then nudged the inside of my calf with his foot and I widened my stance without making him have to verbally ask me.

With Easton like this, it was so easy to know what he wanted and/or expected of me. It thrilled me to please him, and being restrained made everything seem more dangerous. It was that adventure that made me even wetter. I was so aroused just doing this that I could actually feel my arousal as it slowly dripped from me.

"What's your safeword?"

"G-Gemini," I responded.

"Don't be nervous," he told me as he wrapped silk around my head to cover my eyes.

Being blindfolded was as much of a turn on as being restrained was, and he knew it. Easton was the type of Dominant who did any and everything to bring me to the edge, but he was sadistic enough to not let me fall over it right away. Delayed orgasms were never something I thought I'd like, but knowing what Easton would deliver made them easier to handle.

"I need to know if you'll be able to stay still like that, or do I need to restrain your ankles, too?"

"I can be still," I swore, even though I wasn't quite so confident.

"Good. Don't disappoint me, Shelby. I've been wanting to get to know you better, and I'd hate to have this scene end prematurely before I can find out everything."

"I won't let you down, Easton."

"Let's hope not," he said, then I heard the heavy sound of his booted feet as he walked away from me.

I had never had a whip used on me, and I didn't know when he planned to introduce it. At least, I didn't until I heard him pick up something. A slight whistling noise pierced the air moments before a streak of fire spread across my ass.

"Fuck," I whispered, all while hoping he wouldn't hear me.