Chapter 13 #2
“You’ll have to buy me a few more dinners first.”
Varen rubbed her chin, lost in thought as if she were figuring out a complicated algorithm instead of guessing what to do about Nala. “We could do a bondage show. No actual touching, but you’ll have to make sure you look like you’re getting off. Can you do that?”
Nala nodded. “Tie me up. Whatever. Better than you spanking me.”
“All right. I’ll have to brush up on my bondage knots. I’m a bit rusty.”
Nala almost missed that. “Excuse me? A bit rusty? What, do you tie bondage knots for fun in your spare time?”
She couldn’t imagine it. This cool and collected woman getting off from tying knots, of all things.
Sure, spanking was erotic with the right person.
Calm down, Nala. That was us getting the sexual tension out of our systems.
Explosive chemistry. Yup. Bottled it up too long and then bam! Body fluids everywhere.
Yet Varen did not falter. She held Nala’s gaze, challenging her defiance – if she dared.
“That’s the other thing I wanted to talk about.”
Her voice… how low and gruff it was, devolving into that beastly growl she acquired the other night when she thrust Nala against a dark wall.
Oh, shit. She knew what was coming now. Something she had long suspected ever since that first night when Varen’s strong, commanding grip saved her from herself.
Oh, shit!
Varen stood, hands slapping near either side of Nala’s head, her fingers gripping the back of the couch so tightly that Nala cowered beneath her. Not out of fear. Out of a natural respect that made her think Varen was a woman worthy of shrinking before.
This wasn’t a game to her.
The next few words out of her mouth? Nala expected the first part, but the latter hit her right in the chest. In the heart.
“I’m a Domme, Nala. That’s what makes this infiltration so easy for me to play at. Because I’m not playing. I’m really like those other ‘weirdos’ at those meetings. And let me tell you, Nala…”
Hot breath hit her face, threatening to kiss Nala’s lips if she turned her head back too far.
Oh my God, no! She couldn’t fall for her like this right now.
The other night? That was all hormones. Nala was supposed to be in control of them now. In control!
Varen’s nose traced a line from Nala’s cheek to her throat, catching her words there, her complete and utterly forgotten sanity.
“Let me tell you. From that first night I met you, I’ve wanted to do nothing but take out all my latent frustrations on you. Because you’re making me come undone, Nala. I haven’t felt like this in so long. I didn’t even think I was capable of wanting a woman like that again. It scares me.
It makes me feel like I’m losing my vision. You want to stay focused on your mission of vengeance? Well, so do I, but with you unknowingly seducing me at every turn, I am finding it very, very difficult to stay focused. One minute I’m planning my takedown of Xan Ravenwood,
and the next I’m fantasizing about your body beneath mine, writhing as I use you for my own ends.”
Fingers lightly touched her arms. Even through her thick hoodie, Nala tingled.
Oh. My. God. Her nipples hardened in her bra.
Her thighs heated up in her jeans. No, stop…
no, don’t stop… Her lips lifted toward Varen.
Any other woman and Nala would have made the first move.
This was Varen, though. Nala wanted her to make the move.
“So if we’re going to keep doing this, Nala…”
God, she loved the way Varen’s tongue slipped off the roof of her mouth when she said that name.
Like it was honey she flicked off her precious organ.
This woman could do some serious damage.
“I need you to know where I stand. I want you. I want your body. I want to tame this wild, contrary streak of yours. I need to know that I can trust you, and the only woman I can trust in this venture knows how to follow my directions.”
“I…”
“No.” Varen pushed herself away, slightly.
No longer a danger of kissing Nala but still imposing above her body.
“I’m serious. I’m not looking for love. It’s best if love isn’t even on the table. Let me tell you, though, I’ve gone to bed more than one night since meeting you and thought of nothing but making you my sub.”
Nala’s lips parted, her mouth dry.
“Let’s put it this way. We have to be a Domme/sub couple to be a part of The Aviary. I’m fine with that. I’ll Top you until the end of time – or until that man is either dead or in jail. I’ll fuck you. I’ll tie you up, spank you, and consume your whole body both in private and as a performance.
On my end, it will be real. I’m not acting, Nala. I’m showing both you and Xan Ravenwood who I really am. To that end, I will gain everyone’s trust. What will you do?”
Her hands clasped upon her chest as if her meager barrier was enough to keep this new side of Varen at bay.
No, it’s not new. She’s been this way the whole time.
Kissing Nala. Leading her around. Telling her what they were going to do.
Sending her money. Fucking her like that.
The woman was a Domme through and through.
Nala had been too much in denial, too consumed with her mission to have seen it.
Until now – no, until Friday – she never thought such a thing would turn her on.
“I don’t know anything about that,” she said, meeker than she ever intended. “I’ve never done that. I don’t know how to sub.”
“I’ll teach you. I’ll make it so you’re not lying. Because…” One hand lifted, caressing Nala’s cheek. She looked away, her breaths ragged and her arousal threatening to betray her. “You won’t be lying. You’ll know exactly what to do. And you’ll want it.”
“No… no, I’m not like that.”
“You’re not? You seemed to like it the other night.”
“Varen, you’re scaring me.”
“I’m sorry.” She put more distance between them, but it wasn’t enough. “It’s not about scaring you. It’s about owning you, even for only a few hours a week.”
Owning me? No woman owned her. No woman controlled her. She wasn’t like that. She wasn’t into that. No… no she wasn’t…
Them, in bed, naked, hips thrusting between hers as fingers clawed at flesh…
Them, on this couch, clothes barely off as she was treated to round two of Friday night…
Them, sharing tender moments, because that’s what one did in a relationship.
“Don’t be scared, Nala. I’ll take care of you in ways you’ve never experienced. You won’t want for anything. In return, I’ll trust you wholeheartedly. Without trust, we cannot succeed in our mission.”
She spoke a language of flowers. No, not poetry. Flowers, as in she promised Nala a sunshine-laden meadow as opposed to the muddy valley she trekked through now. Except Nala didn’t rely on anyone but herself. She couldn’t. She didn’t know how.
So, perhaps she would trust her… but would she trust Varen?
“Do you want me, Nala? Do you want to make love to me in the way I want to make love to you?”
Against her instincts, Nala nodded, frightened of herself. Of her body. Of her heart.
“Like I told you, I will teach you how to submit to me convincingly. No one will suspect we’re not a real Domme/sub couple. Because we will be. Do you understand?”
Nala wanted to say no. Then she thought of Tasha, of Desirée, of all people who died because they knew too much or almost did too much good for the world.
Their sacrifice is nothing compared to mine.
Perhaps it was a dangerous way to think.
Nala didn’t care. She would do whatever it took, no matter how much it went against her perceived nature.
“I’ll do it,” she muttered. “Teach me, Varen.” New resolve surged within her, rising to the challenge she now set for herself. “I will submit.”
“Good. We don’t have much time, so we better start tonight.”
Varen’s kiss almost destroyed her.