Safe Word (10 page)

So she simply sat there on the cold tiled bathroom floor and allowed Zane to take care of her. 

When Melody woke up, it was with a start.  She felt something wet and sticky in her hair and for one horrified moment, she thought it was vomit.  But then she realized it was saliva.  She had been drooling in her sleep.  It was still gross, but to a lesser extent.

She rolled over to find the other side of the bed empty.  She was relieved Zane wasn’t in her bed.  If she looked anything like she felt then she didn’t want him seeing her like that. 

Suddenly the previous night’s events came back to her in a flash.  She remembered the way she had thrown herself at Zane repeatedly, undeterred every time he politely refused her advances.  At the time it had seemed like a good idea.  But now that she was in a clearer state of mind, the memory was making Melody cringe big time.

“You are a mess,” she whispered to herself as she sat up.  Then she clutched her head.  “Ouch.”

Melody walked out to the kitchen, her bare feet slapping lightly on the hardwood floor.  As she got a glass out of the cupboard and filled it with water, she looked down and noticed she was wearing one of her nightgowns. 

Had she put it on last night? 

She couldn’t remember. 

As she gulped down her water, Melody glanced over in the direction of Zane’s bedroom.  His door was open.  He normally slept with the door shut.  She tiptoed over and peered in.  He wasn’t there.  Evidently he wasn’t home. 

What did that mean?  Was he so disgusted with her that he couldn’t stand to be in the same room as her, or even the same condo?  Melody hoped not, but if that was the case she supposed she couldn’t blame him.  She had made an utter fool of herself.  Filled with regret, she wished she could take it all back.

Suddenly her phone rang.

“Shit!” she hollered, jumping and then once again clutching her head.  She grabbed the phone without even looking at the number, picking up hastily so she wouldn’t have to hear it ring a second time.  “Hello?” she said with a twinge of irritation in her voice.

“Good morning,” Zane’s deep voice greeted her.  “I wasn’t sure if you’d be up yet.”

“Barely,” she replied.  “I’m never drinking that much ever again.  And I’m sorry for last night.”

“Think nothing of it,” he said dismissively.  “How are you feeling?”

“Rough,” she admitted.  “But I totally deserve it.  Where are you?”

“I’m at my parents’ place,” he told her.  “I didn’t want to just leave while you were sleeping but they always expect me at the same time and I didn’t know when you were going to wake up...”

“Don’t worry about it,” she assured him.

“I don’t know about you, but I always crave something greasy and delicious when I have a hangover,” Zane said.  “I’m about to head home – do you want me to swing by a drive thru and pick something up for you?”

“That’s really nice of you but don’t go out of your way,” Melody told him, even as her mouth watered at the thought of cheesy fries. 

“I don’t mind at all,” Zane assured her.  “See you in a bit.”

Though Melody felt foolish for doing it, she spent the next little while hurriedly trying to make herself look halfway presentable.  She showered, put on clean clothes and even dabbed a bit of concealer under her eyes to hide the dark circles.  Then she added some bright pink blush and lip gloss.  After all that – and a painkiller for her headache – she felt and looked halfway decent.

When Zane arrived back, brown paper fast food bag in hand, he even commented on it.

“Damn, other women must hate you,” he grinned as he handed over the food.

“What do you mean?” Melody asked as she eagerly inspected the contents of the bag:  cheesy fries, two burgers, breaded chicken nuggets with plum sauce and onion rings.  Apparently Zane was trying to make her fat!

“You look twice as good hung over as other women do on a good day,” he explained.

Melody reddened.  “Oh I do not,” she mumbled, secretly thrilled by the unexpected compliment.  Then, to take the attention off of herself, she asked, “So you were at your parents’ place today?”

“Yeah, I was.”

“It’s been years since I’ve seen them.  I remember your mom used to make amazing chocolate chip cookies.  Every time your sister invited me over we’d have them.  Oh my God, those cookies were
so
good.  They had chunks of fudge baked right into them along with –”

“White chocolate chips,” Zane chimed in, nodding.  “I love them too.  She still makes them all the time...probably because I eat them all every time I’m over there so she constantly has to bake more.  I’ll bring you some.”

“Yummy!” Melody exclaimed, licking her lips.  Then she asked, “How are your parents?”

“They’re alright,” he replied.  “They’re getting older but we all are, right?”

“Unfortunately,” Melody nodded.

“My mom’s boss offered her early retirement so she could be at home with me after my accident,” Zane said.  “I think now that I’m better and don’t need her helping me out around the clock she doesn’t quite know what to do with herself.  So she bakes a lot...and spends a lot of time nagging my dad,” he chuckled.

“Oh dear,” Melody groaned.

“He brings it on himself,” Zane assured her. 

“Does he?”

“He retired last year so now he spends all his time puttering around the house.  His new thing is constantly trying to do home improvements.  It drives my mom crazy!  I go over there most days to help him out with whatever his latest project happens to be.  Usually his ideas are a bit too ambitious for one person to tackle.”

“That’s where you spend all your time?” Melody asked, secretly relieved to find out for sure that when he was away he wasn’t out on dates – or hookups – with other women.  Even though she’d had no reason to suspect it, the mere possibility of it had bothered her.

“If I’m not at home with you or at the gym, I’m at my parents’ place,” Zane replied. 

“That’s nice of you.”

“What else am I going to do with my time?” he reasoned, seemingly unwilling to accept any praise.  “Besides, my parents miss my sister a lot.  I figure they should at least have one kid nearby, you know?”

“Aww, that’s so sweet,” Melody gushed, unable to help herself.

“No it’s not.  Don’t look at me like that,” he complained.  “I’m still a colossal screw up, promise.  But anyway, my parents are probably a big part of why I’m still here in this boring little town.  Though I must say it’s been a lot less boring ever since you and I reconnected...”

“I’m glad we did.”

“So am I.”             

“By the way, I don’t think I said thanks for picking this up for me,” Melody told him, gesturing to the deep fried feast Zane had hand delivered to her.  “It’s exactly what I needed, although maybe not what my
thighs
need.  Anyway, what do I owe you?”

“Don’t be silly.”

“I don’t expect you to buy stuff for me!”

“I know, but I want to.  It’s really no big deal, promise.”

“Have some,” Melody ordered, pushing the cheesy fries closer to him.

“I already polished off an entire order of cheesy fries and a burger on the drive home,” he told her with a sheepish, lopsided grin.  “I probably swing by that place way more often than I should admit.  I guess that’s why I have to hit up the gym so much!”

“Well whatever you do, it works.  I haven’t seen the inside of a gym since college,” Melody confided, wincing a little as she made the realization.

“You wouldn’t know it,” Zane replied at once.  “You’re gorgeous.  Your body is gorgeous.”

Suddenly the conversation had taken a very sharp turn.  Melody still struggled to reconcile how her best friend could also be a sexually dominant, incredibly hot BDSM god.  It made no sense.  Zane seemed startled too, because as his words hung heavy in the air he cleared his throat uncomfortably and then went to the fridge to grab a beer.

“You want one?” he asked with a knowing twinkle in his eye.

“Ugh, no,” Melody groaned, making a face.  “After last night, I’m never drinking again.”

“Smart woman,” Zane replied, cracking his beer open and taking a sip.  “I wish I was half as smart as you are.”  Then, before Melody could question what he meant by that, he asked, “What are you up to today?”

“Working,” she replied.  “I have a tight deadline to meet for a client.”

“Oh.  How’s the freelancing going?” Zane asked, leaning against the kitchen counter and folding his arms.  His biceps bulged when he did that, and between that and the way his hair was falling in his eyes, he looked like a hunky underwear model.  Now all he needed was to strip down...

“It’s alright,” Melody shrugged as she tried her best not to imagine Zane in his underwear.  “Sometimes the work can be a bit sporadic...nothing for a long time and then everything at once.  But I guess that’s just how it goes.  Maybe I’ll keep looking for something else, I don’t know.”

“You don’t have to, you know.”

“What do you mean?”

Zane grinned.  “I mean you can just hang out with me all day instead, if you want.”

“Ha, I wish!  Some people have to work for a living, you know,” she teased.

“Yeah, but you don’t have to.  Not if you don’t want to.”

Assuming he was making a joke, Melody threw back her head and laughed at that.  But as she did so, she couldn’t help but noticed that Zane wasn’t joining in.  Instead, he was looking at her with a strange expression on her face that she couldn’t quite identify. 

What did that mean?  Had he actually meant what he’d said? 

“Well I guess I’d better get to work,” Melody said, crumpling up the fast food wrappers that littered the kitchen counter and tossing them in the trash.  “Thank you again for the food.  Next time it’s on me.”

“I know it’s not the weekend but do you maybe want to play later?” Zane blurted out as she was about to leave the kitchen.  He was staring at her like he hated to see her go but loved to watch her leave.

“I uh...yeah,” Melody replied, surprising herself.  “Yeah, I do.” 

“Great.  Go get to work,” he urged, clearly excited by the prospect of getting her naked and doing whatever he wanted with her.  “The sooner you’re done the sooner I get to have my way with you.  Don’t keep me waiting.”

Melody certainly didn’t have to be told twice.  She wasn’t quite sure if continuing her kinky, unconventional and very confusing pseudo-relationship with Zane was a good idea.  Actually, she was pretty sure it was an awful idea, kind of like juggling with knives.  Sooner or later, something was bound to go wrong, wasn’t it?   But God, the adrenaline rush was addictive.

Just the thought of getting to play with Zane already had Melody’s panties soaked.

“Have you been good?”

Swallowing hard, Melody asked, “What do you mean?”  She was sitting on chair in the kitchen as Zane slowly walked around her, his hands clasped behind his back.  She wasn’t naked yet, but she nonetheless felt exposed.  And now Zane wanted to know if she had been good.

“Have you played with yourself without my permission?” he asked.

“Oh,” Melody replied, blushing at the question.  She wasn’t sure why she was so flustered.  She supposed it was because it felt strange to discuss something so intimate.  That seemed silly considering the things she had already allowed Zane to do to her, but it was what it was.

“So, have you?  I know you.  I’ll know if you’re not being truthful,” he cautioned, eyeing her jeans like he owned what was beneath them.  In a way, she supposed he kind of did.

“No, I haven’t.  And I’m telling the truth,” Melody insisted.

“Good.  Stand up.”

She stood up.

“Take off your clothes.”

No matter how many times Zane gave her that order Melody didn’t think she would ever get used to hearing it.  It made her feel vulnerable to just stand there and strip down while Zane watched, especially when he remained fully clothed.  It also made her feel wonderfully submissive, instantly reminding her of her position within their sex games.

“Stop,” Zane ordered when Melody was standing there in her bra and panties.

She quit undressing herself and stood there as still as a statue, her hands at her sides.  He took a step closer, his eyes glued to her curves.  Then he slipped a hand into her panties.  Melody shuddered in excitement and closed her eyes, barely able to resist the urge to thrust her hips toward him in search of more stimulation.

Zane pulled his hand out of her panties looking pleased to have found her wet.  “Taste yourself,” he ordered, pressing his finger to her lips.

“What?  No!” she protested, turning her head to the side.

“Did you really just tell me no?” he asked, sounding stern and amused all at once.

“No!  I mean yes, but I didn’t mean to!” she gasped, her eyes wide. 

Wordlessly, Zane walked over to the kitchen cupboard and retrieved a bottle of olive oil.  Then, without offering any explanation, he set it on the table.  Then he sat down.

“Take off your underwear.  Then get over my knee,” he ordered.

Melody knew exactly what that implied. 

She hesitated, unsure of what it would be like to let her best friend spank her.  The thought of it was humiliating...and yet her entire body was tingling from head to foot.  Perhaps the most shocking thing in all of this was her realization that she
wanted
to be punished.  Part of her even felt like she needed it on some deep emotional level.

So she obediently shed the rest of her clothing right there in the middle of the kitchen.  Then she took a step forward and carefully draped herself across Zane’s lap. 

Melody’s hands were flat on floor in front of her, and her toes barely touched the ground.  The majority of her weight was supported by her midsection, her stomach pressed into Zane’s legs.  The longer she stayed like that, the more blood rushed to her head. 

Although her position was somewhat precarious, she wasn’t afraid of losing her balance and taking a tumble.  As soon as Zane slipped an arm around her midsection to steady her, she knew he wouldn’t let her fall.

The spanking didn’t start immediately.  Melody waited patiently for it to begin, and then she waited impatiently.  It was only when she snuck a peek up at Zane to see what was causing the delay that she realized what was going on.

He was staring at her naked backside unhurriedly, admiring it.

Melody’s cheeks turned bright red.

And then he set to work turning her
other
cheeks bright red.

When the first blow landed and her brain processed the unexpected sting, Melody wasn’t sure how to react.  And she didn’t have time to decide before the second spank was delivered.  It was quickly followed by several more, which were delivered in rapid succession.  Zane wasn’t easing her in to this particular activity.  No, he was going all out! 

Instinct set in.

Melody tried to get up, to get away...but there was only so much she could do in the position she was in.  Struggling too much would probably cause her to topple right onto the floor.  But that was only if she could dislodge herself from Zane’s powerful grip to begin with. 

She was sure her bottom had to be bright red by now.  Every smack stung at first and then added to the dull burning sensation that had set in.  Each blow caused her to jump and flinch, moaning and whimpering her displeasure. 

When a particularly sharp thwack caused Melody to involuntarily curse under her breath, she heard Zane pause and chuckle quietly to himself.  Then he resumed the spanking, every blow carefully meted out, measured and deliberate.

He was always in full control.  He always knew what he was doing. 

Just when Melody was beginning to wonder if she should use her safe word, the spanking stopped.  But Zane’s hand stayed on her bottom right where it had landed when it had delivered that final smack.  Then it began to rub.

It felt good to have her tenderized backside massaged.  Actually, it felt wonderful.  Zane’s hand was cool and soothing on her hot flesh.  After some time of simply rubbing, his inquisitive fingers slid lower, to the puffy wet valley between her stinging, clenching thighs.  Just like that, a switch was flipped in her brain and the pain didn’t seem so severe after all.

One digit brushed over her slick entrance and she jumped, nearly crying out in pleasure.

“Looks like somebody enjoys getting spanked,” Zane observed mischievously.  “That’s good, because it just so happens I love the way your butt looks after I’ve turned it red.”  With that, he poured a small amount of olive oil into Melody’s hot flesh and set to work massaging it in.

Every minute or two, his fingers would stray, returning to her tight entrance.  They would run over that highly sensitive, slick flesh, circling but never actually penetrating.  They took their sweet time, teasing and arousing and torturing in the most delightful – and frustrating – way. 

Melody thought she had died and gone to heaven.  Or was it hell?  No, it was definitely heaven.

How had she not known she needed this?  How had she not realized she craved it?  Now that she’d had a taste of kink, Melody couldn’t imagine going without it ever again.  And with any luck, she wouldn’t have to.

Zane’s fingers moved back up to her mouth.  They ran across her lips.  This time Melody didn’t protest.  He didn’t try to make her lick them off, and part of her was disappointed by it.  She would have.  Even though she had protested and refused only moments earlier, this time she totally would have obliged.

Maybe it was due to her horniness or maybe it was due to the fact that after her spanking, she was feeling particularly submissive and eager to please Zane.  Melody wasn’t sure, but what she did know was that in that moment, she would do anything for him.

But Zane wasn’t interested in having her do things for him right then.  It seemed he was far more interested in doing things for her.  He helped her to her feet and then picked her up even though she was perfectly capable of walking.  He carried her into his bedroom, much like a groom would carry his bride across the threshold on their wedding night.

Gently, Zane spread Melody out on his king sized bed.  She didn’t even try to close her legs or cover herself in any way.  Screw modesty.  Screw shame.  All she could focus on was the delicious warmth that had spread over her ass and the throbbing of an entirely different kind between her legs.

Gazing up at Zane though heavy lidded eyes, Melody smiled contentedly.  She was positive that tonight was going to be the night.  They were finally going to have sex, the one thing that they, oddly enough, hadn’t done yet. 

It was perfect.  In a way, Melody was glad they had waited to be intimate in the traditional sense.  It had made this moment and the whole experience even more special.

Except when Zane crawled onto the bed between her thighs, he still had his clothes on.  She sat up and reached for his belt, thinking maybe he had forgotten to get undressed, but he pushed her hand away.  She should have known better.  Everything he did was deliberate.

“Lie back down,” he ordered, making it very clear that he was still in charge.

Obediently, Melody did as he said. 

With his hands on the tender insides of her upper thighs, Zane pushed Melody’s legs even further apart.  She’d never felt so exposed and she was embarrassed to think of the very up close and personal view he was getting.

And yet she
wanted
him to look.  She wanted him to see how soaked she was, and how desperately she wanted him.  She wanted him to see the effect he had on her, and to position and touch and use her body however he saw fit.  She wanted to be his.

“Mmm,” Zane murmured, sounding like a starving man who was about to enjoy a feast.  Glancing up at her momentarily, he informed her, “Melody, you are absolutely amazing.”  That was the last thing he said for a long time, mostly because he was unable to speak for quite a while after that.  His mouth was busy doing...other things.

No man had ever gone down on Melody the way Zane did.  In fact, one of her previous boyfriends had flat out refused to do it.  Another one had done so only on the rarest of occasions and usually only when he wanted something from her or was trying to apologize for screwing up.

With Zane, it was different. 

He took his time.  He was gentle and attentive and passionate, clearly loving every second that he got to spend between Melody’s thighs.  He swirled his tongue around and around in slow, teasing circles until her back was arched and she could hardly stand it.  When she felt the gentle tug of his lips followed by the insistent flicking of his tongue, she went wild.

Unable to communicate how fantastic it felt, Melody threw her head back and screamed.

And once she started screaming, she couldn’t stop.

It was the best oral sex Melody had ever experienced in her entire life, hands down.  In fact, she’d had no idea it could feel so good or that she could climax so hard.  When she came, she saw stars.  And she nearly broke Zane’s jaw, thrusting her hips against his face so violently that he finally had to fight her off, pinning her down and lying on top of her as she rode out wave after blissful wave of pleasure.

“Sorry!” she managed to gasp when she was finally able to speak – and think – again. 

“Don’t be,” he said, still lying on top of her.  He stroked her hair, brushing it out of her eyes.  If he noticed her sweat drenched skin was getting him all wet, he mustn’t have cared because he made no move to get off her.  Instead, he smiled and said, “I think I’d better tie you down next time we do that.”

“Mmm, yes please,” she murmured.

He leaned down and kissed her on the lips. 

Melody closed her eyes and kissed back for all she was worth.  Who would have ever thought that stolen kiss at the Halloween party all those years ago would turn into
this
?  Who would have imagined that her childhood friend’s obnoxious older brother would not only grow up to be her best friend, but would also give her the best sex of her entire life?

Suddenly Melody’s mood changed ever so slightly as that little voice in her head corrected her. 

They still hadn’t had actual sex.  And even though she loved what she and Zane
were
doing, she wanted to experience absolutely everything with him.  She imagined sex with him had the potential to be incredibly intimate, and she desperately yearned for that. 

“What’s the matter?” Zane asked, sensing the change in her.  Then, misinterpreting it, he said, “Oh, am I squashing you?  Oops.”  He rolled off of her and laid beside her, propping himself up on his elbow as he gazed down at her.

“What about you?” Melody asked.

“What do you mean?”

She looked at the big bulge he was sporting knowingly.  He was rock hard.  He was turned on by what they had been doing – and thank God for that!  But he hadn’t had any relief.  Taking a deep breath, Melody pointed out, “I got mine, but you...”

“Oh!  Oh,” he said as understanding set in.

“Can I return the favor?” she asked eagerly, wanting nothing more than to make him feel as good as he had made her feel.  He deserved it.  He was the most incredible man she’d ever been with and she wanted to do everything in her power to let him know it.  She wanted to blow his mind.  And she also wanted to blow...well...you get the idea.

“Ah, no, I’m fine,” he told her.

“You are?”

“I like being in control,” he tried to explain.

Melody raised an eyebrow and looked at him inquisitively, not understanding.  “Okay but the last time I checked even control freaks like getting oral –”

“I’m fine,” he interrupted her sharply.

“Oh.” 

“You look exhausted,” he told her, his tone gentler now.  Maybe there was even a touch of guilt in his voice after having snapped at her.  “Why don’t you spend the night in here with me?  I sleep better when you’re next to me anyway.”