Blue Monday
12
L uckily, Jared was on assignment in Bristol for the day, so she wouldn’t have to face him and his questions about Saturday night.
Brynne slept badly and left the house in a foul mood with an empty stomach. The line at her coffee shop was long, but she couldn’t face the day without an Americano and a warm scone.
Monday passed in a blur. She reviewed four lengthy articles, which had to be submitted before the end of the day. At four forty-five, she finished and sent them to Nigel. Thank god Margaret was out today, so she didn’t have to deal with her.
Tonight, she would have some much-needed time for herself. She had to get groceries, make a decent meal, and work on her manuscript. A perfect, if somewhat boring, night at home.
After heating a pre-made shepherd’s pie, she opened a bottle of wine then sat at her computer. She had some juicy ideas to add to her book that would turn up the heat for her female character. The villain would now drive a tricked-out Range Rover with tinted windows.
Her phone dinged.
Jared: Hey Bree. Finally headed home. Long effing day. How are you?
Brynne: Good. Me too. I’m wiped but trying to do some editing.
Jared: I can’t wait to hear about Saturday. Are you working tomorrow night?
Brynne: No, I’m on the schedule for Thursday. You?
Jared: I’m on Wed and Sat for the big party. Fetish night will give you plenty of juicy stuff for your story.
Brynne: I’m nervous. Haven’t seen the outfit yet… :-o
Jared: You’ll look amazing, don’t worry. Let’s have dinner tomorrow. I’m in the mood for Mexican.
Brynne: Sounds good. I’ll meet you there after work.
Brynne downed half a plate of nachos and a large margarita while waiting for Jared to arrive. She sat in their favorite booth, stealing glances at the door every few minutes and wondered how the hell she was going to tell him what she saw at the club. As the waitress delivered her second cocktail and his mojito, he came through the front door.
They hugged, and he took the seat opposite. He raised his glass and looked at the desecrated plate. “Jesus, girl! When did you get here?”
“I’ve been here about half an hour. You can have the rest. Do you want to split some chicken quesadillas?”
“That sounds good!” Leaning close, he whispered, “Now, tell me everything!”
Brynne waved their server down and ordered their meal, then took a deep breath and told him about the bad girl collar and cuffs and Gage’s threat to make her wear a gag. She rushed through the altercation with Dimitri, almost beating up the handsy customer. Then, skipping the entire dinner party, she went straight to the spanking scene on the third floor.
Her face heated. “I should have hated being objectified, but I didn’t. Was it wrong to bask in their admiration of my bare butt?”
His eyes twinkled. “Not at all, babe. I know how amazing it can be—and impossible to describe to someone how it feels to be an erotic object d’art.”
“To be honest, I felt more attractive than I have in a long time. I’ve always been self-conscious about the size of my butt and thighs, but I overheard people admiring them.” She shook her head and shrugged. “My self-esteem got a boost, and that calmed my nerves.”
Jared tucked into the remaining nachos, his eyes not leaving hers. “Go on.”
“So, there I was, my ass on display, only a thong covering my hoo-ha. The prick took his sweet time strapping me down so I could barely move. And…” Brynne looked down and fiddled with her straw. “I loved it as much as that first time with Mistress Patricia. It was liberating to be restrained. Somehow, it freed me to let go and enjoy. I could have ended it any time, but that never crossed my mind. Besides, not a chance was I going to let that arrogant bastard win.”
He chuckled. “He is testing you—and seeing what you’re made of. How many guests signed up?”
“There were five altogether. Oh, and Dimitri stole someone’s place. He told them the guy had had too much to drink and gave him his spot. Gage asked me if it was okay first. He wasn’t letting him get away with it.”
“And you agreed?” Jared’s eyes widened.
“Hell yes! I don’t want either of them to think I’m a wimp. Especially Gage. And I can’t say for sure, but I think he was a bit impressed.”
Their food arrived, and she was glad to take a breather from the story. Those erotic memories were making her warm and twitchy all over.
He wasn’t about to let up. “What did they use on you? Have you got bruises?”
“Yeah, I have some bruises, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I don’t know what anyone used. Gage chose each one himself, and they all felt very different. Until the last dude on the list came up. He asked to use a cane.”
“What?” Jared’s brows flew up. “Are you serious?”
“Yup. Is that a big deal?” It sure as hell felt like a big deal. The memories were still vivid.
“Uh yeah, it is. It’s the hardest thing to take. Some people say there’s worse, but I haven’t experienced it.”
“Gage knows him, and I heard he’s a pro with the cane…if there is such a thing. Anyway, he lit my ass on fire. The pain was intense, and I lost it. Started bawling like a baby.”
She remembered the tears of release. The anxiety, the shock, and the arousal had gushed out of her like a broken fire hydrant. She felt full and empty, hot and cold, strangely safe and a little afraid.
Jared leaned forward and grabbed her hand. “Bree, I wish I could have been there. You should be so proud of yourself!”
She nodded. “I am. Could have done without losing my shit, though.”
“Sometimes that’s exactly what you need. That’s the ultimate release a Dom can give you. And he knows he brought you there.” He wrinkled his nose. “Well, he watched while others did it. But I bet he wished he’d been the one delivering the blows.”
“You think so?” She played with the stem of her glass, her mouth a little downturned. “I wished it was him, too.”
Brynne shared how he carried her down to his office and put the chilled ointment on her tender bottom and made her drink Gatorade. “Somehow, I fell asleep. When I woke up, I was lying on his couch, and he was looming over me.”
“Well, I’m glad he took care of you after that scene. Not everyone is that thoughtful, believe me.”
“I know. But I just couldn’t stick around. I was conflicted.” She paused. Her hands flew to her temples. “I wanted him, and I hated him. Does that make sense?”
Jared smiled, his eyes drifting off for a moment. “Completely.”
“So, when he left his office, I grabbed my stuff and ran out of there.”
“Oh boy.”
“Yeah.” She giggled. “Look, he was planning on driving me home, J. I couldn’t risk it. I would have…I could have jumped his bones and he probably would have fired me right after that.”
“Maybe. Then again, you might have had the experience of a lifetime!”
“ You are the one who told me to steer clear of him. He’s out of my league, and that hasn’t changed.”
“I guess, but the situation has changed, Bree.”
“You think so? He was pretty pissed that I left. He texted me.”
“Lemme see!”
Brynne fumbled to unlock her phone and searched for the exchange, while he tapped the table impatiently.
She handed it over and gulped the balance of her second margarita with a loud slurp. Jared shushed her as he read the messages. While he focused on the screen, she grabbed a swig of his drink.
He looked up from the phone, eyes wide and glowing. “Oh my, girl. I think you’ve intrigued him.”
Brynne rested her chin in her hands and sighed. “That makes two of us.” Then she sat up suddenly and almost knocked over her water glass. “That’s not the best part. After my Sunday shift, he cornered me and demanded to know why I took off.”
“So, what did you say?”
“I told him the truth…that I would have begged him to take me to bed.”
“Holy hell.”
“Look, it was the best way to get him to back off. And I think it worked. He said he wouldn’t have allowed it to happen, and blah blah blah.”
“You’re playing with fire, Bree. You know that, right?”
Jared asked their server for the check and a to-go box.
“Hey, I wanted another drink.”
He shook his head at her and then nodded at the girl. “Just the check.” When she left, he added, “I’m gonna take you home. You are toast. You can tell me about the rest on the way.”
They split the bill, and he led her outside to the taxi stand. Brynne was tipsy, but she needed liquid courage to ask Jared about his night.
On the ride to her flat, she filled him in on Dimitri’s full court press. “I lied and said I was in a relationship.” She paused for effect. “With a woman.”
Jared snorted. “And you think he believed you?”
“Doesn’t matter. It was the only way to make him back off. Fuck, I might have to produce Mistress Patricia if he doesn’t stop.”
They arrived at her place, and Jared paid for the taxi. Once inside, she plopped down on her couch and kicked off her shoes. She put her legs on his lap when he joined her.
“Now, it’s your turn, J. How was your night?”
Jared looked everywhere but at Brynne. “It was uneventful compared to yours. I would have loved to witness your spanking, but I was working a private party upstairs.”
“What goes on in those rooms?” she asked innocently. Come on J, spill your guts so I don’t have to ask!
He shifted in his seat and pushed his hair back nervously. “Bree, you know I can’t really tell you that. Not until they clear you to work up there.”
“Right, I get it—I wouldn’t want you to breach the NDA.” She pretended it didn’t bother her.
“I’m sure they will let you serve a party sometime soon. But listen, I am exhausted, and we both have to work tomorrow, so I’m off.”
He shifted her legs off his lap and stood. She cursed her weakness; there was no way to bring it up. Not tonight.
She walked him to the door, and they hugged. He grinned. “You’re swimming in the deep end now and I can’t wait to read the revised draft of the book!”
Brynne chuckled. “True. So much juicy material, and I’ve only been there two weeks!”
She locked up her front door and rested her head on the worn wood, lamenting her lack of courage. She didn’t bring up the party, and he didn’t volunteer anything either. So, neither of them was ready to talk about it.