Love Lies Dying (42 page)

And you would do them again.

Gotta work out a way to get out of here.

You’d do her again if you got half the chance.

Zoe’s forehead furrowed.

John held his breath as he watched her. He didn’t know if she was asleep or not. But if she was, he didn’t want to wake her. It could be his only chance to think clearly about what he had to do.

She smiled again then, and he looked at her full, round lips.

A white crusty stain sat in the corner of her mouth.

He reached over and slowly peeled it from her skin.

He lifted the dried film over the side of the table and let it fall to the ground.

And then he thought back.

He had started by only whipping her lightly, but she complained that it wasn’t hard enough.

So he had hit her harder. The sound of the whip on her skin had echoed around the walls of the church.

When she began to yelp and the marks on her arse turned blood red, he would ease up.

Eventually, she stopped telling him to do it harder.

Instead, she began to bite his cock.

“If you slow down again,” she’d said. “I’ll bite down hard, comprehendo?”

John had nodded.

She only had to bite into the base of his shaft twice before he realised she meant it. He had kept the whippings fast and furious then, no matter how she whimpered or bucked.

And the more she sucked and massaged him, the more he whipped her. And the more excited he became.

And after a short time, John was peaking again, shooting himself deep into her mouth once more. Enjoying his second orgasm as much, if not more, than the first. It felt different this time, she was doing different things to him. But it was wonderful no matter what, having her lick and suck it all out of him.

And he laid back on the table, exhausted.

His right arm was stiff from the strain of whipping her and his balls were aching with a dull ecstasy.

He closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

She’s great,
he had to admit it.
She’s absolutely wonderful.

He could feel her as her soft oiled hands continued to massage his cock. The tip of her tongue licking up any last drop of his juices.

After a while, she changed positions and started crawling up over his body again.

She was all soft and so oily, he didn’t want her to stop.

Her nose nuzzled his and her hot lips landed on his own.

He opened his mouth and she opened hers.

The warm flood of his semen spilled between them and into his mouth.

At first, he didn’t know what it was. It was hot and heavy, sticky and tasted foul.

And then he realised.

He went to close his mouth, but she was quicker.

Her mouth clamped down on his and her tongue danced with his through the thick hot fluid.

She kissed him hard, their tongues sticky and wet. Semen spilled from the sides of their lips, slowly rolling down his cheek and into his hair.

But he didn’t care.

Not now.

She pulled back slightly and he opened his eyes.

Her tongue slurped from his mouth and ran over his top lip and up his nose. He could smell his own semen now, strong and nutty. She brought her tongue away from his face and into the air, a long thin stream of semen connecting them still, until it broke and fell across his cheek.

She smiled at him and licked at the spilled liquid, spreading it over his cheek and chin, down his throat and to his chest.

He looked down at the top of her head, watching her tongue eagerly lap at his white fluid. More hair had escaped her ponytail now, some of the strands stuck together in clumps of his juices.

She looked up at him and stared straight into his eyes.

They locked on again.

“Swallow it,” she whispered. “Swallow it all.”

He did so, without a second thought.

And she smiled at him.

“Good boy,” she had said.

He had smiled back.

“You’re a hard man to break, Johnny,” she’d said as she crawled closer towards him and rested by his side. “You’re strong too. Stronger than I thought.”

She had rested her head on his arm.

“But I got you,” she said as she closed her eyes. “I got you.”

John’s stomach rumbled louder as he turned to look at the half-heart pendant lying to one side of Zoe’s neck.

If only she weren’t wearing that pendant,
he thought.
This would be a lot easier.

Why? Conscience starting to prick you?

Shut up!

Why should it start now, after all this time?

SHUT UP!

Why don’t you just admit you
enjoyed
it!

“Stop it,” John whispered.

“Stop what?” she said, without opening her eyes.

It shocked him to find she was actually awake.

“Nothing,” he replied quickly, running his hand along her shoulder.

His stomach rumbled again.

“My, you
are
hungry!” she said as she smiled. “I’ll have to fix that for you.”

John saw his chance.

“If you let me up, maybe we could go down to that bar in Hepburn Lakes for dinner.”

Her smile grew bigger.

“That’s a great idea, Johnny,” she agreed as she opened her eyes.

Yes! I’ve done it!

“But you’re not going anywhere,” her eyes cut through to his soul.

And with those words, John looked past her to the windows of the church.

He watched as the sun set and the last rays of light died away.

Died away.

Just like his hopes of escape.

Thirty-nine

“I’m not being a good host, though,” she said as she climbed off him. “I’ve got no food for you, and that’s rude of me.”

His eyes watched her back as she slid off the table and walked away from him towards the spiral staircase. Her arse cheeks were still red from the whipping he had given her and he noticed the bandage on her left buttock had slipped slightly.

“I promise I’ll feed you in the morning, Johnny.”

“But I’m hungry now,” he replied.

She stopped walking as she reached the stairs.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be hungry in the morning too.” She turned and smiled at him. “Much hungrier. Anyway, there’s just too much to do.”

He let his head drop back to the table and he closed his eyes.

The morning? Am I going to be tied to this table until then?
he wondered.
I can’t. I won’t let it happen. I’ve got to get out of here somehow!

He heard her stilettoed heels ring out on the metal of the staircase and echo around the church. He opened his eyes and tilted his head back.

She came into his view as she reached the lectern, upside down now because of the way John was looking at her.

“Lucky you didn’t manage to open this access hatch earlier,” she smiled down at him. “It would’ve ruined your surprise.”

Hatch?
For a second John didn’t know what she was talking about. Then he remembered the locked access hatch in the base of the cross on the wall behind the lectern. The one he had tried to open on Saturday night, but couldn’t because it was locked.

Zoe bent down and disappeared from John’s sight.

He heard the sound of keys jangling and then the hatch squeaking open.

She had the keys to the hatch all the time?

With Zoe out of sight, John looked around quickly, trying to spy anything that could help him get out of the ropes that held him to the table. But there was nothing within reach.

His right arm was still free and he tried to slacken the ropes around his chest by pulling at them. But they were still too tight. He wished he had the use of his left arm to help with the struggle. He looked down at it once more and traced his eyes along the puffy ridge of his wound. It looked red and ugly, but the stitches were holding firm. For the first time, he flexed the fingers on his left hand. He readied himself for the pain, but he was surprised that there wasn’t as much as he thought there would be.

Maybe there’s a chance.

He flexed his fingers again.

At least they work.

Preparing for any sudden stab of pain, he slowly lifted his left shoulder, trying to drag his left arm out from under the ropes.

The dull pulsing pain began to spread through his body, but he thought he could live with that if it meant he could escape.

He lifted his shoulder more.

His arm began to shift under the ropes.

That’s it! Come on, a little bit at a time.

The sound of the access hatch slamming shut cut through the silence.

John dropped his shoulder and returned to his lying position.

Damn!

Zoe’s footsteps sounded louder than before as she walked down the staircase and back to his side.

She smiled down at him.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hi,” he said back.

“You’re bored, aren’t you?” she smiled at him.

“Huh?”

“Sick of lying there on that uncomfortable table?”

John stared at her.

Could it be this easy?

It can’t be!

Just play her game and be ready for any chance of escape!

“Yes,” he replied. “As a matter of fact, I am.”

She nodded, “I thought so. It’s time I let you up.”

He smiled at her, “Thanks.”

“No problem. You deserve it. You’ve been a very good boy so far.”

So far?

John’s feeling of unease was steadily growing.

What sort of game is this?

She squatted down and reached under the table. John stared at the top of her head. Her hair was all combed back into her ponytail again. He could feel the ropes move slightly across his chest as she began to loosen the knots.

Keep her talking… Keep her mind on the important things to her.

“We really should be getting after Fox,” John said.

“I know,” she replied from under the table. “But there’s plenty of time for that. We’re not finished here yet.”

Dread washed over John. He didn’t want this to continue.

“Zoe, look,” he began. “I’ve had a lot of fun, really I have, but I think we need to get after Fox while we still can.”

The ropes began to grow tight across his chest once more. Tighter than before.

John fell silent.

Don’t ruin your best shot! Shut up! Play the game her way, you’re almost free. Don’t anger her now!

The silence continued.

The ropes stayed tight.

Zoe didn’t stand up.

Don’t lose it now!

“But you’d be the best person to know what to do,” he said finally. “And when to do it. So I’m in your hands. Whatever you want to do, we’ll do.”

The silence continued for a while longer.

And the ropes began to loosen again.

“I’m glad you said that, Johnny,” she said as she appeared from under the table. “You know I only want what’s best for you.”

He nodded his head, “I do.”

Damn!

“And for me.”

“I understand that now,” he smiled at her, reached up with his right hand and ran a finger around the leather strap that circled her left breast. “I really do. I’ll do anything you want, Zoe. You’re in control.”

Her face beamed in excitement.

What are you doing?

I have to play it her way.

No, you don’t!

Yes, it’s the only way!

You’re enjoying it!

No, I’m not.

“Really?” she asked.

He was spellbound by her beauty once more.

“Of course,” he replied.

You
are
enjoying it!

I have to play the game her way!

She leaned forward and kissed him full on the lips. Her breath was hard and fast, her lips soft and warm.

So nice…

“I knew you would, Johnny,” she said. “I just knew you would. You understand now, don’t you?”

He nodded.

“Yes, I do,” he whispered.

Sadness flashed across her face, quickly followed by joy. She looked happier than he’d ever seen her.

“I’m glad,” she said as she reached down underneath the table. “It’ll be so much easier for us now, Johnny.”

She straightened up, her eyes falling to her hands.

“And so much more fun.”

She unbuckled the leather dog collar she was holding and connected the black leash to it.

What?

“You had your chance the easy way,” she said as her eyes met his once more. “But the hard way is
so much
more fun.”

John’s eyes dropped to the dog collar. The leather was black and covered with large spiked polished studs. On one end of the collar was a large silver buckle with a padlock attached. The leash wrapped around a small hook at the side of the collar and its loops coiled around Zoe’s right arm.

She reached out with the dog collar.

John pulled back away from her, “Are you
serious?
”

I’ve gone too far!

I’ve pushed her too far!

A crack appeared in her smile. For a moment, she looked as if she was unsure of herself. But then her resolve returned.

“Johnny,” she replied. “Don’t fight it.”

He had no choice. He wanted to yell at her, to scream, to talk sense into her, but he knew that wouldn’t help him get out of this situation and escape. He
had
to play her game, he kept reminding himself. He needed her to help him track down Fox. She was the only one who knew where he was, what he looked like, what he could do. He needed her –
no matter what!

He smiled at her.

This is crazy!

He leaned forward again, looked deep into her eyes.

I can’t believe I’m doing this!

Will it help?

I don’t know…

“Please put it on me,” he whispered.

Her smile grew and she went to say something, but stopped herself. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes and she bit down on her bottom lip.

In total silence, she leaned forward and wrapped the dog collar around his neck.

The leather was stiff and rough and cut into his throat as she tightened the buckle, but he didn’t complain. The padlock snapped loudly in place around the buckle and she tugged softly on the leash, testing it. John looked on passively, letting her do as she wished, his eyes cast low, concentrating on her belly button and the diamond that rested inside.

“Good,” she said softly. John wasn’t sure whether she was talking to him or to herself. He lifted his eyes and stared at her, a small smile on his face.

She took a step back and looked at him.

“How does that feel?” she asked him.

“Nice,” he lied.

“
Really?
” she seemed unsure.

“I like it,” he replied. “I could get used to it.”

She smiled back at him again. She looked happier than ever.

That’s it, pal,
John told himself.
Keep it nice and calm and play along with her. Look for an opening, a weakness. Eventually she’ll let something slip.

Zoe tugged on the leash. John’s neck and head moved quickly towards her.

“You ready?” she asked.

“For anything, Zoe,” John replied.

She leaned forward and reached under the table again. Within a few seconds, the ropes across his chest were loose and he was able to push them off with his right hand.

He sat up.

His head swam slightly as he did so, and the pain in his left arm continued a dull throb. He looked down at the stitches. They were holding nicely. He flexed his fingers again without any problem.

Zoe walked down the side of the table and reached underneath it again, unravelling more of the leash as she did so.

As John slowly bent his left arm at the elbow, testing to make sure the stitches wouldn’t break, Zoe undid the ropes around his hips and legs.

She leaned forward and unbuckled the leather straps holding the long metal bar between his feet as well.

When he was free, she turned to watch him as he gently tested his arm.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “The fishing wire will hold. It’s strong stuff.”

The pain in his arm grew stronger, but after almost two days of different types of pain, John knew he could put up with it.

His left shoulder was sore now, but the gauze still covered the stab wound.

He looked at her as he rotated his right shoulder, testing that out for any soreness too. It wasn’t as bad as it had been.

She walked back towards him, letting the end of the leash run up his legs, over his groin and up his chest.

“How do you feel?” she asked.

“I’m feeling good,” he replied.

She nodded, “Care to go for a walk?”

Almost there,
he told himself.
Take it easy, play it carefully, and you’ll get out of this…

He nodded his head, “That would be great.”

She smiled again and reached back under the table.

John heard the clatter of the metal before he saw it.

He tilted his head and looked at Zoe.

Her eyes met his and her face fell.

“Only for a little while,” she pouted.

John sighed deeply.

“I promise,” she said. “Be good and I’ll take them off. I promise.”

He nodded.

Zoe stood back up with the handcuffs in her hands.

She reached forward and began to place them around his wrists.

Now’s your chance! Grab her!

John thought about it, but didn’t act.