House Rules (29 page)

Richard continued the slow, steady arousal.

Suddenly Ingrid’s eyes flew open, widening in surprise. If she had not been gagged, she would have screamed in ecstasy. Her whole body stiffened, and then she began to shudder as wave after wave swept over and through her. Her back was arched like a bow, her hips straining upward and her belly taut. The muscles in her arms and legs stood out as she strained against the ropes that bound her to her bed. Ingrid held herself like that for an eternity before slumping back against the pillows, breathing raggedly and moaning softly.

This time Richard let her rest. He rose and sat on the bed beside her, one hand on her stomach, while he brushed the damp tendrils of hair from her face and caressed her eyes, neck and mouth with the other.

Ingrid seemed to be sleeping, her breathing becoming slower and steadier. Her taut muscles relaxed, though now and again a small shudder passed through her.

Outside the night passed slowly by. The village was quiet as only small towns can be. Even the traffic seemed to have gone elsewhere. Richard looked at Ingrid’s face and body as she lay sleeping. He could easily see why he was so attracted to her. Why any man would be. It would not be easy to leave her when the time came to go back to England with Helena. If that time ever came, he reminded himself. There was still the matter of avoiding Margaret, who would try to keep him captive. And the matter of stealing the evidence from the safe in Margaret’s house. And he knew that he would miss Margaret too: her dominating presence, giving him pleasure even while she forced him to do her bidding with the whip. He realised, too, that his own inclinations would conspire to keep him here where he had discovered the other side to his sexuality. But he couldn’t stay here.

Finally it was time to make the next move. Gently, he lifted Ingrid’s head and unstrapped her gag. She woke at his touch, and waited while he extracted the rubber balloon from her mouth. He made no attempt to untie her, for he knew he would have to leave her as he had found her. But in the meantime they had to talk.

‘What is the time, Richard?’ Ingrid asked, as soon as she could speak. ‘Margaret told me that Hans would be here shortly after dawn. She told me to sleep if I could, and that my awakening would be a wonderful surprise. She always tells me that when she leaves me here for him. But she could not know that I would have a wonderful surprise before he arrived.’

‘It’s nearly three in the morning, Ingrid,’ Richard told her.

‘Then there is no hurry. But where have you been this last week? I – we – expected you to return after making the delivery. When you did not come back, Helena thought you had decided to leave. She was very unhappy. So was I,’ she added.

‘Margaret didn’t tell you, then?’ Richard asked.

‘Tell me what?’

‘That she had given me to her friend Frau Bern in Basle,’ he said.

Ingrid looked shocked. ‘She did what?’

‘Margaret sent a letter to Hannelore Bern along with the money. It was in the case I carried, but of course I didn’t know about it because I never opened it. In the letter she gave instructions for the disposal of the cash, and of me. I was to stay in Basle. I imagine Margaret didn’t like my involvement with Helena. She must have guessed how things were between us. We made no secret of it. It may have been jealousy: not so much that I had chosen Helena, but rather that she was left out.’

‘If that is the case,’ Ingrid said, ‘it is her own fault. She has always been afraid to let go – to give anything of herself to another. She sees a loss of power, of status, in such a gesture. Perhaps also a weakness she is determined to resist.’

Richard nodded. ‘Perhaps you’re right. She’s a very attractive woman, but distant. It won’t get any easier for her as she gets older. Not like you,’ he said.

Ingrid smiled softly. ‘I am glad you came to me tonight. Glad you came to me at any time. You have taught me not to fear growing older, and to trust people more. It is a great gift you have given me.’

Ingrid did not speak of love or ties: she was clearly allowing Richard to remain free.

‘I am glad I found you, Ingrid. You will never grow old.’ He too avoided the L word, knowing that he could not stay here, and that she was unlikely to leave.

‘The keys you need have been made,’ she told him, changing the subject and steering away from the embarrassing moment. ‘They are in the top drawer of the bureau over there.’ Ingrid nodded her head at the bureau across the room. ‘Go and get them.’

Richard crossed the room and opened the top drawer, searching among her lacy underwear and smooth pairs of tights until he encountered something hard among all the softness. It was a small jewellery box. It rattled as he picked it up. He carried it to the bed and sat down beside Ingrid once more.

‘Take them with you when you go. I believe they will do the job. You are lucky: Margaret is away for a day or so, and Helena is at the house. You will be able to take the evidence and get away. Then Helena – both of you, really – will be free to begin a new life.’

Ingrid seemed wistful as she said these last words, but then she smiled. ‘And I can come to visit you from time to time.’ Seeing his expression, half happy and half doubtful, she continued, ‘I have spoken to Helena. She would like that very much. She is not possessive, or jealous of her old foster mother. She will make you a good companion, and I will be happy for you both. And one day you will come home and find me tied to your bed, just like this. And I will not be plugged as I am now. You will be able to take me in any way you choose. Helena knows what I like. Indeed, I suspect she got her own inclinations from me, though how I cannot tell. It cannot be genetic, because she is not related to me. So it must have been something in the atmosphere in which she was raised: something between Margaret and me. From Margaret she has learnt domination, and from me, submission. She can be both for you. A happy combination.’

Richard leant down and kissed Ingrid’s lips. It was a long kiss, combining gratitude, respect and relief. And love.

When he drew back, Ingrid lay for a long time with her eyes closed. Richard thought she might be going back to sleep. But suddenly she looked at him, smiling, and he too felt glad. Glad he had found her, and relieved that he would not have to leave her for ever. Visits. Yes, they would have visits. They could continue to give themselves that pleasure.

‘Now it is time for you to go, Richard. Use my telephone to call Helena. She will come to pick you up, and you can get the papers from Margaret’s safe. Go to Helena and get her away from here. And be happy. Kiss me once more, and then replace the gag. I will lie here for a few more hours and then have another surprise awakening.’

Richard bent down once more to kiss her lips. She thrust herself up as far as her bonds would allow, holding herself against him. At length they both drew back. Richard replaced the gag and buckled the Straps tightly behind Ingrid’s head, leaving her bound and helpless as he had found her. He felt a moment’s envy of Hans, whom he had never met, because this was how he too would find her in a few hours. And they would share their own lovemaking, she bound and gagged, but insatiable. He hoped they would enjoy one another.

He closed the door quietly and moved across the sitting room to the telephone. He dialled the number of Margaret’s country house. There was no way of knowing who would answer it, particularly at this hour of the morning. It rang and rang. Finally it was answered. He thought he recognised Heidi’s sleepy voice. At least it was not Margaret.

‘Heidi? It’s Richard. Sorry to wake you. Is Helena there?’

Heidi gave a gasp of surprise. ‘I thought you were staying in Basle. Madame said you wouldn’t be back.’

‘I escaped. I’ll tell you about it when I see you, but I need to talk to Helena now, if she’s there.’

Richard waited for what seemed like an eternity before Helena came on the line. She too expressed surprise. And pleasure, he was glad to hear.

‘I did not think you would stay in Basle. Margaret said you had gone for good, but I knew you would come back for me. I am so glad to hear your voice.’

It sounded as if she was crying, but he couldn’t ask. He said instead, ‘I’m at your mother’s house in the village. Can you come and pick me up?’

‘Yes,’ Helena said, happily. ‘Ten minutes. Wait for me!’ She put the phone down.

Richard hung up too and crossed to the bedroom once more. He opened the door quietly. Ingrid lay with her eyes closed, the light from the bedside lamp falling softly on her naked body, making highlights and dark shadows. He closed the door again and went silently down the stairs. He locked the door behind him. It wouldn’t do to leave it open with Ingrid lying bound and gagged in the bedroom. He stood in the shadows waiting for Helena. The night was clear and cold, the air moving around his legs. He wondered if women were always as aware of their exposed legs as he was. The tights did not provide much warmth. He would have to get used to that.

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This book is a work of fiction.

In real life, make sure you practise safe sex.

First published in 1999 by
Nexus
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Copyright © G.C. Scott 1999

The right of G.C. Scott to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

ISBN 0 352 33441 X

All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental
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