Finding Jaime (11 page)

“It’s all in the name of fun, Bunny,” Fido says from beside me.
 

I’m surprised to see him with a collar on, gold with silver spiked studs and a ring at the front. A long, gold leather strap is attached and being held by Cerise.

“Hi.” I wave to them and expect them to carry on, but instead Cerise sits next to me.

“Fido, kneel,” she orders, and he gets down on the floor like a bitch, but he’s clearly getting off on it when she reaches over and strokes his cropped blond hair. “Good, boy. I’ll treat you later.”

“Yes, mistress,” he growls and licks her thigh. Cerise laughs, and he does it again when her legs part just an inch and she pulls her bottom lip into her mouth. “I like that kind of treat.”

“Okay.” I lift my hands—showing my palms—in front of me. “I don’t want to see you eating her out here, Fido. I’m pretty sure there’s a room available for you to shove your face between her legs, or whatever it is you do.”

The pair grin like children. “We wouldn’t break the rules, Bunny,” Cerise says. “I’ll lead him away before he misbehaves.”

Thank fuck for that.
 

I continue watching the carefree activities and see a couple with a riding crop like Lily’s. I’m transfixed on the flat end tapping and stroking over the brunette woman’s ass and legs as she’s tied by her ankles and wrists to what looks like a bench from a gym. The red-headed woman with the crop walks around to her front and begins to stroke over the swells of ‘Brunette’s’ bad girls before lightly whacking them.

I wonder how that feels? Fuck it’s hot, and I’m getting wet just from watching.
 

The woman opens her eyes, and I see no hint of pain or fear—only lust.

“Are you enjoying voyeurism?” Fido asks.

“What? I’m not getting off on this, if you must know,” I lie, and look back over to ‘Red’ practicing with her riding crop on ‘Brunette.’ “It’s interesting, though.”

Cerise leans towards me and whispers in my ear. “Come and find me if you want to learn more. I’d be more than happy to show you the ropes.” She pulls back and pumps her eyebrows.
 

I glance down to Fido who’s sitting there with his hand and chin still resting on her knee, expectantly. “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass.”

She brushes off my rejection with a smirk. “Suit yourself.” She stands and wraps the leash around her hand. “But when you get a little more familiar here, I’ll have you tied up in no time.”

“Well, somebody
will
be getting restrained, but it won’t be me with the rope burns,” I reply, expecting a laugh at my comeback, but Cerise’s eyes darken.

“Oh, Bunny, I wouldn’t make jokes like that.” She eyes my chest with a hunger-filled gaze. “Especially in this place where it’s
never
seen as a threat.”

Fido turns his head away, but I see his pursed lips and bright eyes as he’s holding his tongue.

“Yeah, have a good laugh, Fido,” I snap. “But I’m not the one on my knees ready for pegging.” His eyes widen. “Yeah, I know what that is.”

“I like you, Bunny,” Cerise beams. “You’re a hoot.”
 

“What can I say?”
 
I flick the loose underside of my hair back over my shoulder. “I aim to please.” Cerise and Fido both lick their lips, and I get the impression I’m about to be somebody’s dinner.

“So do we,” Fido adds, then he’s led away by a cackling Cerise, shaking her ass with her boobs jiggling about. Fido, with his shiny, black, so-tight-it-should-be-illegal shorts looks over his shoulder, winks, and mouths ‘well done’.

What in the name of dog balls just happened?

I blow out a breath and sit back with my beer, attempting to look casual as I scan the crowd for a purple, half-butterfly mask. I drain the bottle and get up from the seat.

She’s not here.
 

A sinking sensation hits me in the gut, and I head out to the main corridor.

“Bunny!” I turn at hearing my name and see Fuchsia approaching me. “I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to speak to you tonight,” she apologizes. “How did you enjoy your evening?”

Apart from the crazy shit that’s been happening in front of my eyes. Getting irrationally turned on by watching somebody get slapped with a crop. Oh, and Cerise offering to tie me up, it’s been fucking delightful.

“Educational,” I manage, not wanting to snap at her for just checking on me.

“Butterfly didn’t come tonight.” I wait for the ‘because’, but I don’t get one. “Come back soon, Bunny. We’ll get drinks together.”

With a quick hug from the tall goddess, I grab my things from my locker. I hesitate before I shut the door, but I can’t bring myself to change the combination.

I’m trying to block out the chatter of the group as we’re sitting in the coffee shop where we’ve met after work. Sadie’s going on about Mitch—how fabulous he is, and how they’re getting serious. I tap my fingers on the tabletop, waiting for my cappuccino, and Cade begins to talk about Mark…again.

“So, he called me and apologized,” she gushes. “He, um, well he said he couldn’t think of any other word and just blurted out what came to him at the time.”

I turn my head, and she has the stupidest fucking grin on her face.

Two-faced much! Fuck, I’m in such a shitty mood today.

“And?” Sadie leans forwards as Joss comes to sit at the table. She smells like coffee, warm milk, and cookies.
 

“He said he wants to have a serious relationship with me, but got nervous about asking.”

“What about all the cuffs and blindfolds?” I ask with a dry laugh. All eyes turn to me. “What? You can’t get more serious than that.”

Sadie’s dying to laugh, Joss is looking into her glass, but Cade looks as though she’s been sucker punched in the gut.

“Who told you?” she hisses and ice trickles down my spine. “Nobody knew.”

“Told me what?” I ask, my heart pounding.
No, it can’t be Cade. Please don’t let her be Cade.

I freeze, and acid churns inside of me as the thought of Cade behind the mask runs through my mind. Her body shape isn’t the same, and her hair couldn’t be more different.
Push up bras, wigs…
Fuchsia’s hair changes spring to mind, but I throw that away. I would be able to tell, surely.

Oh my God.” She stands up and rushes out of the door, phone in hand. We watch her pace up and down the pavement outside while she talks with her hand cupped around her mouth.

“What the fuck?” Sadie giggles and places her hand on her chest. “Cade’s into kink?”

Cade walks back in, seemingly relaxed. “You’re a bitch, Jai,” she snickers and flicks some water at me out of her glass. “I thought Mark had blabbed about last night.”

We wait for Cade to continue, the other’s expressions eager, though I’m close to having a fucking aneurysm from the stress.

“We, uh, added a little spice last night.”

Sadie claps silently, and Joss’ cheeks turn pink, and I’m so fucking bored I could fall asleep.

“What did you do?” Sadie asks and leans closer.

“I told him I wanted to try a little something, a kind of make-up sex thing.” She squeals behind her hands and continues to tell us that her ‘kink’ was blindfolding him and running ice over his nipples and stomach before riding him.

Snore! Damn, I
am
a bitch today.
“And then what?”

She turns her attention to me. “That’s enough for me,” she blushes and lowers her voice again. “Well, for now, because I’ve never done anything like that before, though I’ve always wanted to try it. How about you?”

“Me?” I place my elbows on the table and rest my chin on top of my interlocked fingers. “No, I’m not into blindfolding guys, or tying them up either.”
The jury’s still out on that one.

Kyle calls out that our drinks are ready, and Joss stands to get them. She places her hands on the back of my chair as she squeezes past, and her fingertips accidentally brush my shoulders. It’s so simple; innocent, but I flinch away.

The cups are on the table within seconds, and I see that my chocolate heart dusting is perfect in the center of my foamed milk. I take my spoon and slice through it while Joss pulls out her seat next to me and sits.

“What’s wrong with it?” she asks quietly, and I see the disappointment written across her face.

I mumble like an insolent teenager. “I’m just not in the mood today, sorry.” I can’t look at her, but I know she’s staring at me. “It’s nothing personal.”

“I feel like it is, Jaime,” she snaps. “You’ve been rude ever since we got here, and I can’t sit here and say nothing anymore.”

Gasps are heard around the table, but I’m the only one not caring that there are other people in the coffee shop.
 

“How have I been rude?” I fire back, and I find myself blurting out things I never meant to say. “How about you? For over a year you’ve been acting all fucking quiet and innocent like you’re the terrified little girl, and I’m the big bad wolf—yet I’ve done absolutely nothing to you at all, but
I’m
the rude one?”—I raise my hands—“Clearly, you’re fucking delusional, Joss, because no matter what mood I’ve been in at any time, I’ve been nothing but nice to you, and I’ve tried to be your friend, but to you that obviously means jack shit!”

Sadie holds her hand out to me and places it on my shoulder. “I know you still don’t want to talk about what’s upset you—I understand that, but whatever it is you don’t have to take it out on us.”

My nostrils flare, and my eyes narrow when the surge of rage threatens to escape. I clench my jaw tight, and my teeth grind. I’m about as calm as a baby goat inside, but I try to keep it together, so I don’t cause a scene.
 

“I may have some things going on with me, Sadie, but don’t you
ever
accuse me of taking my shit out on my friends. You all know that’s one fucking damn thing I would never do.” I stand up and push my cup towards Joss. “Can you fix that, Joss?”
 

She looks down at the mangled heart in the cup and drops her head. I leave the coffee shop without looking back at the girls, and I get in my car to drive home.

Chapter 10

I avoid Sadie for the rest of the evening and stay holed in my bedroom with the door locked. The box containing my order is staring at me on top of my desk, and I stop fighting it and tear open the parcel.

I hold the restraints and the rope in my hands, and the buzz of excitement makes me smile. I unravel the purple rope and sit on my bed. I refer back to my mental notes and attempt to tie my ankle to the small post at the footboard. It’s a lot trickier than I thought, and it’s a little loose, so I try again.

“Whoa!” I did it! I’ve successfully tied my ankle to the post using a prusik shackle.

I undo it and tie one of the lacy cuffs around my ankle and, using the same rope tie, I anchor it to the post again.

My stomach swarms with butterflies as I do the same to the other side, and I’m sitting on my bed, bound and tied by my ankles, and I squirm uncomfortably. My nipples harden against the fabric of my thin tank, and I hold my breasts to soothe them, but it only turns me on further. I can’t close my legs to relieve the aching in my clit, but I don’t want to service myself just yet. I need to wait until later tonight when I get home.

“Fuck, this is amazing,” I whisper out loud.

I try on my new outfits and decide on the cute black corset and rose-red plaid skirt. I look through my closet and pick out my sparkling silver heeled shoes and choose to leave my legs bare. I quickly redo the loose waves in my hair and apply a fresh coat of pink gloss and black cat’s-eye liner. I slip on a pair of jeans and hide my heavy cleavage with a blue sweater. I roll my skirt up and put it into my purse.

“Where are you going?” I look up at hearing Sadie’s voice, and I see Mitch walking into the apartment.
 

“Out,” I reply and pick up my keys.

“Jaime, about before—” she begins, but I cut her off.

“Don’t worry about it, Sade. I’m going out. You two have fun.” With that, I leave the apartment and flag down the first cab I see.

I’m too on edge to sit still, so I head on through the crowd and into the bar area. Drake and Rihanna’s ‘
Work
’ is playing and the dance floor is booming as the other members shake their asses to the music. I find a vacant stool and order a cocktail from another bartender wearing a hot-pink mask with yellow feathers.

“I have something for you,” Fuchsia’s husky voice says from beside me.
 

I turn in my seat and see the now shoulder-blade length hair with straight, thick bangs that suits her face. “Hi.”

She hands me a long thin tube with a pink glitter ribbon tied around the center. “This is from Madame. She said she’s going to catch up with you soon and hopes you like your belated welcome gift.”

I flip the cap off the end of the tube and burst out laughing when a long pink object slides out into my hand. “Wow, my very own crop,” I chuckle.
I’ll add this to my collection.
 
“I love the sparkled wrap around the handle.”

“And it matches your lovely skirt,” she beams and taps the fabric with a long red nail. “How are you finding the club after a few visits?” She makes herself comfortable on the stool next to me and waves the bartender over.