Chapter 6 Tails of Two Lovers #2
Wires wrap around my heart, squeezing as I watch another tear slide down his face.
I’m unsure why he’s saying this to me, not seeming that shaken this morning.
Not even during our conversation which I knew for him wasn’t easy.
A thought flickers that something happened when he was working in his office.
Or perhaps yesterday is catching up to him.
I set the flogger aside and climb onto Leo’s lap. Straddling him, I wrap my legs around his torso and place his head under my chin. His only response is putting his arms around me as I cradle him in my arms. I hold my husband close, never wanting to let go.
“I love you so fucking much, Leo,” I profess.
“I’ll love you through everything. I’ll go wherever you want or need to go, for honeymoons or business.
It’s alright. You’re not failing me, Leo.
” His arms tighten around me. “I promise to never leave you, my dear husband. And will always help drag you out of that damn, darkened well, as you’ve done for me.
” I kiss his forehead as tears try to escape my eyes next. “My dear Leo.”
We clutch each other in the playroom. The only sound I seem to hear is the beating of my heart against his. One of his hands reaches up, grasping at the nape of my neck as he holds me firmly.
“I love you with everything I am,” he says.
I lean back a little, feebly smiling at him as our eyes meet.
He wipes the tears on my face, and then I do the same for him.
The hand against the back of my neck brings me forward to kiss him.
It’s tender. Our mouths moving over the other in a gentleness that makes my heart ache.
His fingers stroke down the side of my face, cupping my jaw as the kiss becomes deeper.
Peace overwhelms me, finally a quietness calms my mind.
He then lightly bites my bottom lip, causing me to smile at the flirting gesture.
We finally move apart, and he exhales warm breath across my skin. “Yes.”
“Yes?” I ask, quirking a brow in question.
His eyes are clearer, gone are the tears and they’re filled with relief. “Yes, I want you to be my Dom.”
My body goes still. I stare at him, hands starting to shake as it sinks in that he agreed. Anxiety and elation war with each other. “Are you sure?”
“I am. If you’re willing to try.”
“Yes, I want to try…yes.”
“We’ll still have our other dynamic, that’s not going away.
” He runs his hand over my thigh, while mine goes to his chest, moving my fingers gently over his shirt.
“Given how long it’s been for me and you being new, we’ll take it slow.
Should warn you, I’ll likely not need that dynamic as frequently as being your Dom. ”
I nod. “I don’t think I’d want to be a Dom more than a Sub either. For now, I guess.”
“We’ll keep learning together.” We smile at each other, and he places another kiss at the corner of my mouth. He then lets out another long exhale, one of content. “You’ll need to be taught and trained in some areas first.”
“Such as?” I sit back in his lap, grasping his forearms as he grabs my hips.
“Impact play to start.”
I nod, glancing at the flogger on the bed. “So, begin there? Go over list of limits, and then determine what to start training with first?”
“We could or…” he quirks a brow, following my gaze to the flogger, “…could both use the distraction, I think. Start teaching you now. If you’re alright with flogging.”
“As long as I don’t legitimately hurt you.”
“You won’t.” He kisses my cheek, pats my thigh and I get off his lap. He stands, walking over to the dresser and pulls out a few other floggers.
“Good thing I have a trained Dom to teach me.”
I grin as he snorts at my comment.
Leo rolls up his sleeves, and my heart rate picks up at the small movement. I shake off the sudden arousal as he pulls out the velvet blanket, draping it over the St. Andrew’s Cross and grabs clips to keep it from falling.
“First tip is to become more comfortable with every toy or piece of equipment you plan to use. Practice makes perfect, whether it’s on yourself or on an object.
” He gestures toward the blanket after placing the floggers next to the other on the bed.
“Flogging becomes simple once you learn the basics, from there it’s just practicing your aim. ”
“Aim?”
He grabs one of the floggers with the longer tails and shiny wooden handle with a silver knob at the end. “There are spots on the body you need to avoid and be more aware of.”
“Like with rigging?”
“Yes.” He holds up the flogger, twisting his wrist. “Flogging has more to do with your wrist movement than the whole arm. Don’t use your whole strength. It’s easier to hit your target when you act as if the flogger is an extension of your arm, not just as an object.”
Leo steps away, positioning himself before the cross. His arms hang loosely at his sides, relaxed. With his free hand he points to the middle of the cross and says, “Know where you want the tails to land, flick your wrist, then release as you move your arm.”
He shakes out the flogger, then brings it up and moves swiftly as he hits the center of the X.
There’s no loud cracking sound, which I thought would happen, instead it’s a thud that echoes through the room.
My breath hitches as he continues, moving the flogger into a figure-eight pattern to continually hit the middle of the X.
My mouth goes dry as I watch him flog the blanket easily, arm moving in a fluid motion.
A zapping sensation runs down my spine, my body becoming very aware of what he’s doing.
I’m not at all enticed by the idea of being hit in any capacity, in fact I recoil at the idea. Except watching Leo is…exquisite.
I can’t tear my eyes away from him. The controlled power he wields.
Holy crud muffins Alfred, Robin, and Batman. I’m supposed to do that?
He stops, bringing the flogger down and doesn’t appear tired from what he just did. Leo turns towards me as I still stare at him.
“Your turn,” he says.
I don’t move, suddenly unsure as anxiety grips me. I must take too long because Leo walks over and grabs my hand. He gently pulls me to where he was, situating me before the cross. The flogger he used is placed in my hands. It’s a touch heavier than the one I was fiddling with earlier.
I take a deep breath, telling myself I can do this.
He trusts me, which means Leo knows I can do this.
I face the cross more, letting the flogger dangle at my side.
Leo stands close behind me, then leans down to place his hand over mine on the wooden handle.
My breath catches as his brushes over my skin.
He gently instructs, “Don’t grip the handle tight, keep it just loose enough. Start slow, and don’t fight the tails.”
Shivers run down my spine as I try to concentrate. Leo runs his other hand down my back, and I relax a bit more. “It’s just leather, Autumn.”
I nod my head. “Okay.”
Leo steps back, letting go.
I exhale roughly, looking upon where Leo’s hits fell.
The velvet streaks in different directions, showing where the tails had landed.
I shake out the flogger, then bring it up and do as he said—flick my wrist, while slowly swinging my arm.
The leather snaps, most of the tails hitting where I planned.
Quickly, I do it again, finding it easier than I thought.
I keep going, feeling the weight of the flogger as each flick is easier than the next.
After a few more times, I stop and stare at the crisscross streaks on the blanket.
Not as perfect as his, but I hit where I wanted to.
A giggle comes out of me, realizing that was fun.
Leo wraps an arm around my middle from behind and says against my ear, “Good girl.”
I smile, tilting my head back to look up at him. “Show me more.”