Chapter 33
CHAPTER 33
SILVER
TWO MONTHS LATER
P hysical therapy was a bitch.
It was helping though, or at least that’s what her therapist said whenever she complained about not seeing any progress. They’d warned her after her surgery that as promising as her initial results were, she might never get back to where she’d been before the attack.
That news had given her more than a few bad moments over the past few weeks. But Ice had been there for every meltdown, every fit of rage, every screaming nightmare she’d woken from in the middle of the night, clawing and fighting her way to safety the way she hadn’t been able to in real life.
Ace was out on bail, because in the American justice system, money and fame were the best legal defense a man could have. The DA here in Charleston had assured her they would do everything they could to see justice done, but she wasn’t holding out hope. Her own lawyers had cautioned her that a plea bargain was more likely, and if he ever actually saw the inside of a prison cell it wouldn’t be for more than a few months.
She tried not to think about that too much. Even if he walked away with nothing more than a slap on the wrist, she consoled herself with the knowledge that his career was just as ruined as her own. The internet had done what it did best and taken him down hard as soon as the news had leaked. And while there were still those dark pockets of the worldwide web where they whispered about what a slut she was, how she’d driven a good man to insanity by spreading her legs for his best friend, for the most part, public opinion was on her side.
“Hey baby.” Ice greeted her with a smile and a glass of wine when she walked through the front door, as he had every day when she’d gotten home from physical therapy for the past two weeks. Once she’d reached the point where her doctors had cleared her to drive, she’d insisted on taking herself to her appointments, which had been the source of a very long fight and more than a few growled threats about the state of her ass.
Threats he’d never actually followed through on.
“How was therapy?”
They were still at the beach house. His long-term rental agreement had been extended indefinitely while they decided what to do. California didn’t hold any appeal for either of them. Too many memories, they’d both decided after her surgery.
Charleston had just as many memories, but it also had something California didn’t. Their friends. Like Holden, who had assigned two guards to watch her room both in South Carolina and in the New York hospital where she’d had her surgery, on the off chance Ace came after her again. And Frankie, who had made it her life’s mission to find the top surgeon for the job, and the best therapists available during her recovery. The fact that she could do both and stay on top of med school made her nothing short of a hero in Silver’s eyes.
Then there were Braden, Lottie, Cordelia, and Ivy who had kept them fed for a full month when she’d been released from the hospital post-surgery. Beckett, who had only been by once to visit much to her disappointment, had arranged for a cleaning service to come in multiple times a week. When Ice had tried to refuse the constant stream of help, Braden had shut him down quickly, telling him in no uncertain terms that his only job was to take care of his babygirl.
Which Ice had been doing, in spades. Right down to wiping her ass for her, much to her utter humiliation, when her hands had been wrapped up tight and she couldn’t risk getting the bandages wet or dirty.
How could she not love a man who wiped her ass for her?
Taking the proffered wine glass in her mostly healed hands, she sipped the dry red wine he’d poured for her. “Therapy was good, I guess. That’s what they’re telling me, anyway.”
“I know it’s frustrating, but you knew it was going to take time, baby.”
“Still sucks.”
Pulling her close, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’ll get there.”
God, she’d needed this. She hadn’t even realized how much until his arms were around her and she was breathing in that woodsy scent that was so him . “Thanks. This helps.” Pulling back a bit, she tilted her head back, letting her lips curl up in invitation. “I bet a good orgasm or two would help even more.”
Disappointment stabbed at her, a wound as old as the ones on her hands, when he stepped back with an apologetic smile. “Not tonight, baby. You should go lie down for a bit. Dinner will be ready soon.”
She didn’t want dinner. She wanted her Daddy back. She wanted to be pinned down and fucked and told what a good little slut she was for taking his cock so well.
All the things he’d been avoiding since the attack.
But she knew from experience that pushing him would just end up with her nose in a corner while he lectured her about taking care of herself and letting herself heal.
“Yeah. I am pretty tired.”
In their bedroom, she flopped down on the bed and kicked off the slip-on sneakers Ice had picked up for her, since even normal shoes had been beyond her capabilities for so long. Forget her boots with all the buckles and straps.
Tears pricked at her eyes as she stared up at the ceiling, feeling sorry for herself. She just wanted to feel normal again, and not like some broken doll, even if it was just for five minutes.
As if on cue, her phone buzzed, and she managed to get it out of her pocket with minimal trouble. There was one place she still felt somewhat normal these days, and that was the group chat with Frankie, Lottie, Ivy, and Cordelia.
Lottie
SOS! Braden just found the receipts from our last shopping trip. My goose is, as they say, cooked.
Cordelia
I told you nobody needed a purse that costs more than a used car.
Lottie
You don’t understand! It was VINTAGE!
Cordelia
Ooooh, that reminds me. I have a vintage school paddle I found at an antique shop a couple weeks ago. I’ve been meaning to ask Braden if he wants it for his office at the club.
Lottie
Don’t. You. DARE.
Ivy
Better you than me. Sorry, Lottie.
Cordelia
Awww, is my poor little blossom feeling neglected? That shouldn’t be a problem after tomorrow night.
Ivy
That is NOT what I said!
Silver
What’s tomorrow night?
Cordelia
Auction night again. I had Braden put some very specific language in Ivy’s contract this time. Judging by her attitude the past week, someone needs a reminder of who she is, and who she belongs to.
Ivy
As if I could ever forget I belong to the most amazing woman ever.
Cordelia
That’s very sweet, blossom. But it’s not going to save you.
Ivy
Sigh. It was worth a try.
Another auction? As the messages poured in, Silver’s brain went into overdrive. Ice would be furious with her if she went through with the plan her mind was busy conjuring up… but maybe that was exactly what they both needed. A way to reconnect, the same way they connected once before. Despite what Ice might think, the only real danger here was to her ass. She’d even asked her physical therapist, though in very ‘beat around the bush’ kind of way. Judging by the glint in Ashley’s eyes, she’d known exactly what she was approving when she’d told Silver she could ‘resume her normal activities’. Now she just had to get Ice to believe it.
Before she could change her mind, she typed out a message to the chat.
Silver
Hey ladies. Who wants to help me piss off The Viking?
Ice
“I’m bored .”
Glancing up from his guitar, Ice couldn’t help but grin at the sight of his sultry goddess of the night draped upside down on the couch, kicking her feet like a little girl. “What do you want to do?”
“I dunno. Nothing.”
Poor baby. Other than her trips to physical therapy, they’d been mostly cooped up in this house for the past few weeks. She hadn’t even gone down to the beach for more than a few minutes here and there because of the cold.
Maybe he should take her out. Nothing wild, just dinner, maybe some shopping. “We could go downtown, have some dinner. Hit up the shops.”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
Well, that was far from the excited response he’d been expecting. “What about a movie?”
“Nothing good is playing. I looked already.”
“Baby, you gotta help me out here. Are you sure there’s nothing you want to do?”
He was watching her close enough to see the little smirk before she bit her bottom lip and looked up at him with doleful eyes. “Well… maybe. But you’re going to say no.”
There it was. Little brat was up to something. “Maybe you should try asking, first.”
“Okay but only if you promise to at least think about it before you say no.”
“Why wouldn’t I at least consider it?”
“Because it’s at the club.”
Ah. That’s why she thought he would shoot her down. They hadn’t been to the club since the attack, not even to watch the others play. “What, exactly, is at the club?”
“They’re doing another auction night. I just thought it would be fun to go and see everybody. I know you don’t think I’m ready to play, even though I am . I just want to have a few drinks and talk to people.”
It wasn’t a horrible idea. And if he was being honest, he was feeling a little restless himself. “Hmm. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to go and watch the action.”
“Really?” Everything about her lit up from the inside and in an instant she was up on her knees, throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“Careful of your hands, baby. And I said we can go and watch . We are not playing tonight. Understood?”
“Totally!” Pulling away with a squeal, she jumped up from the couch. “I’m going to go text the girls and let them know!”
Watching her bounce around the house, getting ready for their outing, he felt a pang of guilt at not taking her out sooner. There was a fine line between being cautious and totally cutting them off from everyone and everything out of fear.
Even if it did make him a little antsy to think about taking her somewhere with that many people. But Club BDE was about the safest place he could think of, so he tried to swallow down the anxiety lodged in his chest.
It was worth the bit of extra worry when she stepped out of the bedroom, in one of those black dresses down to the floor with the slit clear up to her hip, her hair loose and wild around her face.
And that face. God, that face. She was gorgeous without so much as a hint of mascara on, but he couldn’t deny that seeing her in that sultry, ‘Queen of Rock’ makeup just did something for him.
Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to play a little bit tonight. Nothing strenuous. He could put her on his lap and edge her until she begged him to let her come while they watched the bidders play with their new toys. According to her physical therapist, she was cleared to resume ‘normal activities’, so as long as he was mindful of her hands…
With the possibilities playing over in his mind, he held out a hand for hers, grasping her fingers lightly in his own and bringing her knuckles to his lips. “You look stunning, as always, my sweet little goddess.”
Pink blossomed on her cheeks. “I feel stunning. It feels good to get dressed up.”
There was the guilt again, poking at his chest. Lifting his free hand to her face, he cupped her cheek. “I’m sorry if I’ve been smothering you,” he murmured. “I just want you to be safe.”
Something flickered in her eyes, a flash of emotion gone too quickly for him to identify it before she smiled. “I know. You’re such a Daddy.”
Laughter helped to dispel some of the guilt and he leaned in for a kiss. “And you’re a brat. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because I won’t spank you right now, that it means I won’t punish you.” Inspiration struck and he grinned. “As a matter of fact, wait right here. Daddy has something for you.”
He left her standing there, scowling after him as he strode into the bedroom and opened the closet. A quick check of his play bag netted him exactly what he wanted, and he headed back to the living room.
“Bend over the arm of the couch.”
Eyes narrowing slightly, she watched him approach. “Why?”
It shouldn’t have surprised him that she would be testing him. After going so long without a real punishment, her brat was likely itching to get out. “Because your Daddy told you to, little girl. If you’re going to argue, we can just as easily stay in tonight.”
Her bottom lip puffed out into a pout, but she turned and positioned herself over the couch as instructed. The position raised her bottom up without putting too much pressure on her hands, which was what he wanted.
“Good girl.” Gripping the hem of her dress, he slowly pulled it up, exposing the long length of her legs inch by inch. By the time he was staring down at the silk and lace covering her bottom, she was squirming, grinding her hips against the leather arm.
Naughty girl.
A sharp swat to her bottom settled her down. “Have you so quickly forgotten who that pretty pussy belongs to, baby? You only get to come if Daddy says so.”
“That doesn’t seem very fair if we’re not going to play tonight.”
“I said we would watch. I never said you wouldn’t enjoy it. Any other complaints, my bratty little goddess?”
“No, Sir.”
“I didn’t think so.” He tugged her underwear down, exposing the beautiful globes of her ass. “But hopefully this will help you remember who’s in charge tonight.”
She squealed when the lubricant hit her bottom hole, the sound turning to a low moan that was both embarrassment and arousal. “Is this really necessary, Ice?”
Pushing one finger past the tight ring of muscle around her hole, he used his free hand to swat her again. “Who am I?”
“Is this really necessary, Daddy ?”
His title was practically dripping with sarcasm, but he let it pass. For now. “It is necessary. You haven’t been to the club in two months, and I know how you get around your friends. This should help you remember that Daddy is close by and I have ways of punishing a naughty bottom while keeping my babygirl safe.”
“You act like I’ve been in a full-body cast. It’s just my hands.”
“Mmhmm.” He pushed a second finger in alongside the first, earning him a whimper of protest as her bottom clenched around him. “‘Just’ your hands? You mean the hands of one of the greatest drummers of this century? Those hands?”
“Not anymore.”
“That’s what the therapy is for.” Pushing his fingers in further, he spread them apart, forcing her muscles to loosen in preparation for what came next. “Maybe I’m being overly cautious, but it’s only because I love you, Silver, and I would never forgive myself if we moved too fast and ruined your recovery.”
“I know. I just…” She turned her head to the side, and tears shimmered in her eyes when she looked up at him. “I miss you. I miss this .”
“Me too, baby. But even if I can’t strap you down to a bench and paddle your ass red, I have plans for you tonight. Starting with this nice little plug in your bottom.”
More whimpering and squirming ensued as he pushed the silicone plug into her, forcing her bottom hole to open for it. Wider than anything they’d used before, it was likely a struggle for her, and she made her discomfort well known as it stretched her.
When it finally slid into place, her entrance closing around the thinner neck of the plug, she slumped against the couch with a sigh. “It’s so big,” she whined, wiggling her hips. “Did you have to use such a big one?”
“Need I remind you that Daddy’s cock is much bigger than this plug?”
“That’s… very true.”
“Mmhmm. Something to keep in mind if you have any plans to be naughty tonight.”
He didn’t bother to tell her that the size wasn’t the only reason he’d chosen this particular plug. That surprise could wait until they made it to the club.