16. Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Lili
My sleep that night is restless, but I find myself dreaming of Victor and our time together before he discovered who I was.
It was a night like nothing I’ve ever experienced. The vivid dreams wake me up with a need that no vibrator could quench, so I go to the bathroom and take a cold shower. And when I doze off again, my dreams are filled with a cherub face and chin length curls on her knees between my thighs. I slept with a number of women in college, but none I’ve found as attractive as Grace. There’s nothing specific I can point to that stirs these feelings, but they are there just the same.
I wake again just as needy and curse my body for finding these people so damn erotic. My eyes land on the door and I remind myself that they’re holding me hostage. These fantasies aren’t going to do me any good, and I need to put a stop to them.
But my body doesn’t seem interested in listening to logical me, so I get up and rummage around in the room just to see what sorts of things get stocked in a sex-club bedroom. In the top drawer of the wardrobe, I find a medium-sized canvas bag with a zipper. A label in bold font says ‘If you use me, take me home’.
I unzip it and laugh. It’s a collection of vibrators and other sex toys that are likely to get bodily fluid on them. I shudder at the sight of the butt plug collection. Phineas has a thing for really rough anal with not enough lubrication, and my thighs are proof that it’s not safe to say no.
I select a small clitoral stimulator and settle back on the bed just hoping to ease some of the ache between my legs.
I close my eyes and find two faces waiting for me. So much for not fantasizing about Grace or Victor. I sigh and give in to my fantasies as I touch the toy to my clit. It’s not hurting anything to imagine them in my bed, is it?
I start the toy on low and press it to my clit. It always takes me a few minutes to relax, but when the stress melts away from my shoulders, I turn up the speed on the toy. Shifting my hips as the orgasm builds.
When I close my eyes, I feel Victor’s nails on my nipples or scratching down my back. I imagine the tender way he kissed the scars on my thighs and the shame that washed over me as he did it. As I let the first orgasm take over my body, Victor’s face is replaced by Grace’s.
Again, she’s between my thighs and my hands are tangled in those cute brown curls. My body trembles as a second orgasm rolls through me.
I could stay like this for hours, fantasizing, imagining what it would be like to have them both here with me. This is some sort of Stockholm syndrome, I don’t know.
I moan through orgasm after orgasm until I can’t take anymore. I’m not sure how long I play. By the time I’m done, my skin is coated with a slick sheen of sweat and I’m sure I’ve left a wet spot on the sheets beneath me, but my body is more relaxed, and my mind is a little clearer.
As I come down from the last orgasm, I toss the toy on the nightstand next to me. As I’m sinking deeper beneath the covers, there’s a knock at the door.
“It’s Grace.”
“I’m awake,” I call back.
Grace steps into the room with a bag of food that smells delicious.
Her eyes go directly to the toy on the dresser and her cheeks turn red.
I sweep it into the top drawer of the nightstand and shrug. “Sorry. I have needs. Especially after everything I saw in the dungeon last night.”
She recovers from her embarrassment and passes me the bag. “I understand. My vibrator stays on the charger next to my bed for that very reason.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You don’t have anyone at the club to take care of those needs for you?”
When her cheeks flame again, I put a hand to my mouth. “Forgive me. Sometimes I ask questions that are entirely too personal.”
Grace laughs. “It’s fine. My role at the club is complicated and I’ve never felt comfortable getting involved with anyone.”
I open the bag and pull out the delicious bagel, not realizing how hungry I am until the food is sitting in front of me. “I’m sorry if my questions are making you uncomfortable,” I say to Grace.
She smiles as she sits in the chair next to the bed, holding on to her own drink and bagel.
“So where did we leave off yesterday?” she asks as she stabs a straw into her cup.
We fall into the same easy conversation from yesterday, and I find it effortless to tell her about my life and the way I ended up in the marriage with Phineas. We talk about her writing, her efforts to buy a car, and my work with various charities around the city.
“Have you heard from Victor since he left us last night?”
She shakes her head. “I sent him a text after I got home, but I know he was working late. He usually pops in sometime after the shop opens, so I’m sure we’ll see him today.”
“Was the party the other night terribly uncomfortable for you? With Victor making you hold my leash that way?”
Grace laughs. “That’s tame for Victor. I’m lucky he didn’t do worse after he came back. He’s known for his… inventive punishments.”
The turn of phrase makes me giggle, and Grace joins in the laughter.
The door flies open startling both of us as Grace is mid-giggle, and Victor fills the door.
“What the fuck is going on, Gracie? You were supposed to open the shop twenty minutes ago and I find you in here playing sleepover with her?”
She jumps up, spilling her drink as she looks at her watch. “Shit! I’m so sorry. I just lost track of time. We were talking.”
Victor steps into the room and motions her out the door. “Go. I’ll clean up the mess.”
But I’m already up and in the bathroom to grab a towel. “I’ve got it.”
“Sit your ass down,” Victor snarls.
I ignore him and throw the towel on the ground as Grace escapes to open the shop.
“Don’t distract her from her work and don’t send her on errands. You can eat from the shop or starve.”
I plop onto the bed when I’m done cleaning up the mess. “Someone’s in a pleasant mood this morning. What crawled up your ass after you let us here yesterday?”
He just scowls, so I fill the silence. “If you must know, I didn’t ask her for anything. She told me that’s where she was stopping on her way to work this morning and asked if I wanted anything before she left last night. It seemed easier to ask her to get me something than have her make me something here. You really shouldn’t involve her in this.”
“Don’t tell me what I should and shouldn’t do.”
I want to slap him or fuck him. Maybe both. The bit of relief the vibrator gave me is long gone. Dammit Lili, get a fucking grip.
“Is there a reason you’re in here other than to ruin a perfectly good breakfast?”
“Your husband isn’t looking for you yet. Why is that?”
I laugh. “Phineas is too self-absorbed to notice me missing. My mother-in-law will, however, miss me at a gala tonight. I’m supposed to introduce her.”
Victor nods and turns on his heel and leaves the room. As if my answer explains everything. His mood is surly, and a complete one-eighty from when he left yesterday. I’m not sure what to make of it. My instinct is to ask Grace if he’s prone to these mood swings the next time I see her, but who knows when that will be.
I stare at the door for a long time after he leaves and try to figure out what my next move should be.
The gala tonight is for the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, a cause that I actually believe in. My mother-in-law thinks it’s ridiculous but knows it’s good for her numbers to act like she gives a shit about homeless people, so she’s giving the keynote. I wanted Trinity Novak, but Phineas threw a fit when I tried to offer it to her instead of his precious mother. The relationship those two have is… odd and toxic. If I’d realized that before I agreed to the marriage, I never would have gone through with it. My mother-in-law controls my life, but we’ve developed a decent relationship over the years. She’s also the reason I haven’t had children with that monster yet, so I’m grateful for small miracles.
I’ve always wanted a large family, but it doesn’t seem to be in the cards for me. As I stare at the closed door, I wonder what is in the cards, and whether it includes me living to see my thirty-seventh birthday.