Fire After Dark (22 page)

I bend down over his length, letting my hair drift lightly over his skin. I grasp the shaft in both of my hands, moving the skin gently.

‘You’re so big,’ I say softly.

He says nothing but his lips are parted as he draws a ragged breath.

‘I want to kiss you, take you in my mouth and suck you,’ I say throatily, gazing straight into his eyes and seeing his lust spark up a level as I speak. Then I stoop downwards and breathe lightly on the tip of his penis, its softest, sweetest part. I put my tongue and lick around it, curling my tongue round its head and then I take it between my lips and let the head fill my mouth as far as it can. One hand keeps hold of its hard length, while the other slips underneath him and plays lightly with his balls, my forefinger rubbing at the spot beneath them, the place that makes him gasp when I touch it.

He moans, and his hips buck lightly, pushing his penis deeper into my mouth. For long minutes, I suck and play with him, revelling in the effect I’m having on him, the mounting desire in his eyes, and the way his hard thigh is pressing against my hot, damp sex and stimulating my clitoris.

‘Beth,’ he says huskily, ‘I can’t take much more, I’ll come in your mouth . . .’

Part of me wants him to come, but I’m also greedy for myself. I take my mouth away from him and move so that I can take my knickers off, then I straddle him again, sliding myself further up him. I take my weight on my knees and position myself over him, holding his penis straight up, away from his belly. His eyes are heavy, lidded with anticipation of what I’m going to do, as I bring myself down to his tip, letting it play in the slippery wetness of my sex. I’m hungry for his swollen shaft, everything in me demanding it, but I’m also enjoying this tantalising moment.

Dominic puts his hands out onto my hips, running them around and over my bottom.

‘Do it,’ he says, ‘I need you.’

At his words, I press myself down, plunging him into my depth, engulfing him. He fills me up and for a moment I think he’s pierced something in me, he’s so far and deep inside. I gasp and shake my head, arching my back at the voluptuous sensation. His hands move my hips in time to his movements and we are in perfect synchronisation, my body meeting his thrusts so that we both draw in fierce gasps as he hits a sweet spot inside me.

The power begins to build within me and I can feel Dominic’s speed increase. My long oral worship of his cock has put him in the grip of an explosive orgasm, and he’s pounding towards it. His excitement has an incredible effect on me. Every time he hits home, the feeling grows more intense, a strong, vibrant, an electrical thrill; and then his thighs stiffen underneath me, his face contorts with the intensity of the physical sensation pulsing through him, and his orgasm rocks him, bursting out inside me and instantly I’m tipped over the edge, my climax convulsing me with pleasure and wringing me out, so that I fall onto his chest as it leaves me.

Dominic sighs as he comes back to himself, wraps his arms round me and strokes my hair.

‘That felt like coming home.’

‘I don’t want you to leave me again,’ I say, running my hand over his skin. It’s damp from our exertions. ‘I want to be with you. I’ll do anything. So, will you show me? Will you let me in?’

He clasps my hand tightly in his, and runs his mouth along my shoulder. Then, looking deep into my eyes, he says, ‘Yes, I will. I’ll take you there. I promise.’

A feeling of deep calm fills me, even though I know that I’ve won a battle that may not bring me happiness.

‘Thank you,’ I say softly.

He stares at me with dark, dark eyes, and says nothing.

THE THIRD WEEK

Chapter Fourteen

Beth

Thank you for a wonderful night.

I’m away this weekend on business, but we’ll start on Monday. I’ll collect you after work and we’ll go to dinner.

D x

I find the note on the empty pillow next to me when I wake. I read it several times, then hold it to my chest, staring at the ceiling. Here is the proof that I’ve succeeded in the task I set myself. Dominic is going to take me down that dark path into a place I can’t really imagine. I have no idea what awaits me. I’ve never even been smacked, not seriously. My parents didn’t spank me, and my brothers fought with each other rather than me.

Now I’ve asked the man I want most in the world to do that to me. And I have no concept of what that really means.

I get up and pad towards the bathroom. Until it begins, I have the weekend. James is taking me out, the weather is still hot and sunny, I’m young and it’s summertime. And there’s a delicious man in my life. So all in all, I think as I climb out of bed, life could be considerably worse.

The whole weekend is permeated by the knowledge of what awaits me. Even while I’m enjoying the theatre and the glitzy restaurant, or soaking up the sun and taking a river trip, the sense of dark, excited apprehension is always with me.

James wants to know what’s going on with Dominic – ‘Quite a fiery character, I thought,’ he says, ‘but such a looker! No wonder you’re head over the proverbial heels’ – and although I don’t tell him exactly what’s happening, I hint at it and James is quick to understand.

‘Just be careful, Beth. Don’t forget we can never separate our hearts from our bodies. Your emotions are the strongest part of you. Whatever you think your body can stand . . . well, it’s what you yourself can take.’ I know he’s sincere when he tells me that he’s there for me if I need him.

I just hope I’m not going to.

Monday comes, and with it, the feeling of fearful anticipation grows. I can hardly keep my mind on my work at all during the day, and I have to have a good talk with myself in the lavatory mirror.

As I face my reflection, I look different somehow. Perhaps it’s the stark quality of my work outfit of crisp white shirt, black skirt and belted, black cardigan, and the way my hair is pulled back into a tight and glossy ponytail, but I know I seem older and wiser than I did just a few weeks ago. A little more ready to be brave, perhaps.

‘Now come on, Beth,’ I say firmly to myself in the mirror. ‘He’s not going to say hello, pull out a whip and start laying into you. It’s not going to be like that.’

Whatever I might fear, I have confidence that Dominic will be a good and gentle guide. I have to relax and put my trust in him. I need to put myself entirely in his hands.

Perhaps that’s what it’s all about. Have I already agreed to surrender and given him the control he loves?

I’m struck by the paradox that it’s taken my strength of will and determination to bring me to a place where I yield it up entirely to another person. But I realise that I trust Dominic to protect me, and that feeling is deeply comforting.

And I’ll know more tonight.

My eyes have a shining quality. I know I’m excited by this strange turn things have taken. And there are only a few hours left to wait.

Dominic arrives promptly as James is putting the closed sign up in the gallery. I feel a rush of pride as he walks in, so tall and handsome and so beautifully turned out in a dark grey suit and gold silk tie. As ever he looks immaculate, but his expression turns to astonishment when he sees James and recognises him from The Asylum.

‘Charming to see you again,’ James says, imperturbable as ever. ‘Have a lovely evening, you two.’

‘Thanks, James, goodnight,’ I say, picking up my bag and joining Dominic by the door.

‘He’s your
boss
?’ Dominic says as he drops a kiss on my lips.

I nod, smiling a little mischievously. ‘We bonded very quickly.’

We walk out of the gallery together and on to the street. Dominic frowns and I can see a flicker of jealousy in his eyes. ‘Not too closely, I hope. Was he really going to have some kind of relationship with you?’

‘I’ll tell you a secret,’ I say, pulling him down so that my mouth is close to his ear. ‘He’s gay.’

Dominic looks a little mollified but he still growls, ‘That doesn’t necessarily mean anything in my world, I can tell you that. You’d be surprised what can happen when all the barriers come down.’

‘Where are we going?’ I ask, slipping my arm under his and snuggling close to him as we walk. For some reason, I feel more affectionate with him than ever, longing to touch and hug him. For a moment, I wonder if I can call this all off and we can just go home and cuddle on the sofa. Then I think:
Dominic’s not a simple cuddle-on-the-sofa guy, remember? It’s this way – or not at all.

‘We’re going to The Asylum,’ he replies. He seems a little distracted but perhaps it’s just the desire to be off the busy after-work streets.

‘Oh.’ I feel obscurely disappointed. I’d imagined some new ground but perhaps it makes sense. It is a place that seems to feature large in Dominic’s life, so I’m going to have to get to know it.

We are soon making our way down the metal staircase to the door. It’s so early that the place has a deserted feel to it. The desk at the entrance is deserted, but Dominic leads me confidently inside. The tattooed man is behind the bar, writing something on a clipboard, and he looks up as we enter.

‘Evening, Dominic,’ he says in a friendly way, quite at odds with his aggressive appearance.

‘Hi, Bob,’ responds Dominic. ‘Is she here?’

‘Upstairs. I’ll just buzz her down.’ The tattooed man reaches for a telephone and makes a quick muttered call.

‘He’s called
Bob
?’ I say quietly but incredulously. I giggle.

‘Yes. What’s so strange about that?’

‘Well . . . he doesn’t look like a Bob, that’s all.’

‘Mmm, I suppose he does look quite odd,’ Dominic admits, smiling. ‘I’m used to him, I guess.’

‘Bob,’ I say again, and laugh.

I’m looking about the empty bar and thinking about how different a place can be with no one in it, its character quite changed, when a door towards the back of the bar opens and in strides Vanessa.

She looks amazing in a scarlet trouser suit, ice-white silk shirt and high heels. Her lips are painted to match her suit, and her short wavy hair is loose, softening the look. Her eyes, though, are not exactly welcoming as she approaches.

‘Darling,’ she says brightly, smiling at Dominic as she kisses him on the cheek. Then she turns to me with an altogether colder look. ‘Hello. We meet again. It’s an unexpected pleasure.’

I nod, shy suddenly. She seems so far away from anything I could ever be.

‘We’ll go to my apartment,’ she says, turning back the way she came. ‘Follow me.’

So this is it. I’m being taken beyond the safe zone.

I follow her, Dominic close behind, and we go through a dark baize door and into the most private part of the club. At first, there’s nothing to see. A corridor, a staircase, closed doors. We ascend to the first floor and Vanessa turns to Dominic.

‘Would she like to see any of the chambers?’

‘Why don’t you ask her,’ Dominic says quietly. ‘She’s right here.’

Vanessa turns her cold gaze to me. ‘Would you?’

I take a deep breath.
Why not?’
Yes. Please.’

‘Right.’ Vanessa strides to the nearest door and opens it. ‘We’re quiet tonight. This one is empty. It’s part of the nursery wing.’ She stands back so that I can step inside, and I venture in a few steps and look around.

It looks like the archetypal baby’s bedroom from years gone by, with blue and pink gingham everywhere, a white chest of drawers decorated with cute bunnies, a toy box and a cot with ruffled bedding, except that everything is on a massive scale. The cot is big enough for an adult male; a giant potty with a ruffled skirt concealing its base sits in one corner. A large table that can accommodate an adult lying flat also holds supplies of baby wipes, talcum powder and a basket full of enormous disposable nappies. On a shelf, along with teddies, rattles and baby books, is a tray of dummies and a selection of baby bottles.

I look around in astonishment. So this really happens. People actually want to enact this fantasy.

‘The nursery is very popular,’ Vanessa remarks. ‘Our other room is in use at the moment and I’m afraid that from the sounds of it, baby is being very naughty indeed. Shall we go on?’

I follow her out, seized for a moment by a wild desire to laugh. But I also find something strangely comforting in the idea that if someone truly is seized by the need to return to the nursery like this, then here is a perfect place to come.

‘You may as well see this too,’ Vanessa says, and leads me to a door on the opposite side. She opens it and we both look in. It’s a vintage schoolroom, with a blackboard, old-fashioned desks and chairs, a bookshelf with text books and exercise books, pots of pens and pencils, an old tin globe and so on. But also very present are the instruments of correction: a dunce’s hat, a long cane, a large paddle hanging up by a leather loop, and a leather strap. There is also a wooden device that looks a little like a tunic, which I guess is another tool for punishment.

‘Very popular. Extremely popular,’ remarks Vanessa. ‘My real problem is getting enough governesses. Well-trained ones are worth their weight in gold.’

She closes the door and we go on. I look at Dominic with a questioning look but he shakes his head with a smile and I understand: all this is interesting but it’s nothing to do with us.

‘I think the other chambers are in use,’ she says. ‘We’ll go straight to my place.’

We climb another flight of stairs and come to the very top of the house. Vanessa stops outside a green door, unlocks it and we go inside. Here is something else altogether: a neat and beautiful living space, a penthouse apartment with breath-taking views over the city rooftops. She leads us in and gestures that we should sit down, while she goes to get some drinks.

‘Why are we here?’ I whisper to Dominic as we sit down on the dark green velvet chesterfield sofa.

‘I want Vanessa to accept you. And there are questions you’ll want to ask her too. She knows more about this from a woman’s point of view.’ Dominic lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses it, gazing at me with a sweet warmth in his eyes. ‘I want to do this right, Beth. This seems like a way in.’