“I agreed.”
“You agreed?”
Candice sighed and placed her glass on the table. “You have to understand something. After everything that happened I was a total wreck. There was no adequate way to describe what I was feeling. I couldn’t talk to anyone about it, not entirely.” She looked up and met Lacey’s confused stare. “Not even you.”
The honesty hurt, preventing Lacey from responding. Ever since she and Candice had met, at the first student assembly, they’d shared everything with each other.
Or so she’d thought.
“It’s not about you, if that’s what you’re thinking. It’s about something you couldn’t understand, and it’s something I wouldn’t want you to understand.”
She managed to keep her voice neutral. “Then try explaining it to me.”
“I was introduced to other women who had been used, hurt or taken advantage of by men. They shared their stories, asked about mine and allowed me to realize that I never had to be placed in that position again.”
“So it was a support group?”
Candice seemed extremely nervous and uncomfortable. “Not exactly.”
“Then what was it?”
Candice looked Lacey in the eye again, as if steeling herself not to look away when she answered. “They were all Dommes. Female dominants.”
“Say what?”
“You heard me.”
Yes, she had, but her mind didn’t want to accept it. Female dominants. Dommes.
Holy shit.
She gazed from side to side, unable to come up with anything to say. Her best friend, a woman she had known for years, was involved with Dommes.
Unbelievable.
Reading her as she was so prone to, Candice said, “Say something.”
“I’m thinking.”
“Think harder.”
Lacey laughed. “I’m drawing a blank.”
“That’s obvious.”
“So you’re a Domme?”
“Does that surprise you?”
Hell yes, it surprised her. But when Lacey really thought about it, the revelation made sense. Candice was always in control—
always
. With her job, she was the boss. She decided what stories she would or wouldn’t take, and she didn’t like to be told what to do.
“It’s unexpected but not shocking.” Lacey recalled how knowledgeable Candice was when it came to Michael’s sexual activities. “I suppose I should have seen it before now.”
“I didn’t want you to.” Candice gave a weak smile when she saw Lacey’s hurt expression. “What I do behind closed doors isn’t anyone’s business, no offense.”
“You could have trusted me. I would have understood.”
“Is that so? Because I’m not all that sure. You understand now because you’re in a relationship with a Dom. Before Mike, I don’t know if you would have approached it in the same way.”
She wanted to argue but didn’t dare. Candice could be right or wrong. Lacey had always considered herself an open-minded person but then again, she’d also run from Michael like he was an incarnation of the devil the minute she learned about his sexual preferences. It had taken time for her to grasp the implications of D/s play, both in and out of the bedroom, and it was something she was still attempting to fully comprehend.
“So…” Lacey couldn’t believe she was about to have this kind of conversation with Candice. Talk about growing up and expanding your horizons. Once they’d gushed over John Hughes films. It figured their innocent lusts would blossom to Doms, Dommes and all things fetish. “Do you go to clubs?”
“Look at you, blushing and excited,” Candice snickered. “No wonder Mike was a goner.” She reached for her glass. “I go to a club in Atlanta when the mood strikes. That’s why I needed an invitation to Fantasia. I never mix my personal life with pleasure, so it’s necessary to travel to a location where no one knows me or asks questions. Besides, most of the time I’m too busy working to find time to play.”
“That’s all it is for you? Work and play?”
“I don’t want a serious relationship, Lace.” Candice wasn’t smiling anymore. “After college I made the decision to keep all of my romantic involvements strictly sexual. I have a job I enjoy, a home I’m proud of and I don’t feel the need to add anything else to it.”
“Doesn’t that get, you know…
lonely
?”
“I’m sure it might be to some people. It works just fine for me.”
“So the cop who came to your apartment,” Lacey noticed now it was Candice who appeared uncomfortable, “was he strictly a sexual partner? Because he didn’t look like he was into casual.”
“He was something that never should have happened.”
“Why not?”
Candice planted her glass on the table, causing tea to slosh over the top. “I was on the job. I never should have let anyone or anything distract me. He just happened to rescue me from a needy sub who was drawing unwanted attention, and I took advantage of the situation. In retrospect, it was sloppy and foolish on my part.”
“What are you going to do?”
“About?”
“Tall, dark and handsome officer.”
“He knows I’m not interested.”
“You told him?”
“I did.” Candice rose from the table and collected her plate. “He wasn’t happy about it but he’ll adjust.”
It was probably stupid to ask but it was obvious Candy wasn’t telling her everything. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Will you adjust?”
Candice turned. The sadness in her eyes was almost as heartbreaking as her resolve. “I adjusted a long time ago, Lace. This is who I am.”
Lacey remained seated as her friend walked into the kitchen. It had been years since she’d seen Candy express any interest in a man, much less lose her cool over one, and Candice Bradshaw was definitely not her usual self when it came to Brady Stone.
No matter how much she might deny it.
Chapter Thirteen
Lacey had opened her door to walk Candice outside when she saw the strange car in her driveway. Michael was passed out behind the wheel, his head resting against the seat.
“It seems like I’m leaving just in time.” Candice chuckled and gave her a hug.
Hugging back, she muttered, “He knows he’s in the doghouse.”
“Don’t be too hard on him.” Candice pulled away and looked at the car. “It looks like he’s had a rough night.”
Jealousy reared its ugly head again. She could only imagine how rough his night with Aly had been. “I’m sure he has.”
As Candice walked to her car, Lacey strode over to Michael. When she got closer, and got a decent look at his face, her insecurities and anger faded. It looked like he’d gotten the shit beaten out of him. His nose was swollen and bruised and his lower lip was cracked right down the middle.
“Michael?” She knocked softly on the window and he opened his eyes.
He blinked several times and gazed at her. The moment recognition struck he opened the door. He seemed primed to go another round, gazing in the direction of the unknown vehicle in the driveway until he saw her visitor was Candice. The tension around his eyes softened. He waved at Candice, gazed away from her friend and gave her his undivided attention.
She reached out before she could stop herself and touched his lip. “What happened?”
“I had to break up a fight and managed to get caught in the middle of it.”
She stepped back as he climbed from the car. “You didn’t say anything about fighting. I thought you were going to the club.”
“Brian and Conner had issues to sort through.”
“So they used you as a punching bag?”
His chuckle sent a shiver down her spine. “Not exactly.”
“Are you okay?”
“I am now.”
She gasped as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his chest. He’d recently showered. She could detect the lingering fragrance of Dial soap. Gazing up, she noticed the bristle forming along his jaw. The dark shadow added to the bruises and cuts on his face, giving him the appearance of a street brawler.
“So how’s Aly?” She wanted to cringe at the cattiness in her voice.
“You’d have to ask Brian and Trevor. I was there for moral support, not for Aly.”
“That’s not how it seemed last night.”
Michael’s face hardened. “I’m not going to apologize for helping my friends.” He glanced at Candice’s car as it vanished from the driveway. “Would you say no to yours?”
Her airway became tight. Talk about feeling lower than the low.
She hadn’t really thought about it like that.
“No, I wouldn’t.” She rested her hands on his arms. “It’s just been a rough night.”
“I second that.” He kissed her lightly, brushing his lips over hers. “I should tan your little ass for hanging up on me earlier.”
“Consider it payback for leaving me high and dry.”
“Payback, huh?” He pulled away, and the heat in his eyes made her instantly wet.
“You had it coming.” Was that her voice? Jesus, she sounded like a cigarette-smoking phone sex operator.
“That’s where you’re wrong. I haven’t come all night.” He cupped her face and ran his thumb along her cheek. “Are you ready to learn how I punish a naughty sub who hangs up on her concerned Dom?”
“Yes.” She looked down, unable to bear the intensity of his gaze. He wouldn’t allow it, lifting her chin with his fingers.
“Yes what?”
“Yes Sir.” Her body was already trembling in anticipation. Being angry flew out the window. In the presence of this man, she couldn’t think about anything else.
“Good, because I’ve had hours to think of the things I’m going to do to you. You weren’t the only one who was robbed last night. So was I.”
He lowered his arms and started walking to her home, leaving her to follow behind him. Her heart hammered inside her chest, the pulsing drum of blood pounding in her ears. She had no idea how long he’d been waiting outside but if what he said was true, she could only imagine what to expect.
He opened her door, waited until she came inside, closed it and turned the lock.
“Strip.”
The sweet man with the battered face was gone, replaced by pure Dom. She started removing her clothes and he addressed her in the same tone. “I’m going to have you get on your knees and suck my cock. Would you prefer a condom? Or do you trust me when I tell you I’m clean?”
Holy Mother.
Her shaking fingers made it difficult to undo her bra. “I trust you, Sir.”
“That makes me a happy man, darlin’.” He unzipped his fly and pulled his fully erect length free. “I didn’t want latex to prevent me from feeling every inch of your sweet little mouth when I fuck it. Come here.”
She walked to him on wobbly legs and went to her knees when he put his hands on her shoulders and applied pressure, bringing her face to his cock. There was no way in hell she could take the entire length into her mouth. He was too long and wide. She reached out to grasp him at the base when he stopped her.
“No hands, just your mouth.”
Unsure of how to start, she ran her tongue along the mushroom-shaped tip and tasted him for the first time. He was a mixture of musk and soap, the semen at the tip slightly salty and bitter. Opening her mouth, she took the head of his cock inside. He was so wide he stretched her lips.
“Rub your tongue on the underside.” She did and he groaned. “That’s right. Just like that. Now suck me. Hollow your cheeks and take me as far as you can.”
She only made it a quarter of the way down his length before her gag reflex kicked in. She pulled away before she choked, afraid of embarrassing herself. The next pass was easier but she wasn’t able to do much more than suck and rub her tongue along the head.
“Relax your throat and breathe through your nose.”
Taking a deep breath, she tried to do as he instructed. Each nudge of his cock against the back of her mouth had her worried she’d gag. Fortunately, as he eased into a rhythm, she discovered he was right. While she couldn’t take all of him, she was able to go a lot farther down his shaft than before.
“Look at me.” She lifted her gaze and he was staring down at her. “You have such a sweet mouth.” He wrapped his hands in her hair and warned, “I’m about to fuck those luscious lips of yours. Keep your throat relaxed and don’t forget to breathe. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Then he was moving, going deeper and deeper. Her saliva combined with his pre-come-coated his cock, allowing him to glide in and out of her mouth smoothly. She focused on inhaling and exhaling through her nose as she sucked, forcing the muscles in her throat to relax.
“That’s it.” He continued rocking his hips. “
Just
.” He thrust deeper into her mouth. “
Like
.” He slammed home another time. “
That
.”
She moaned, so wet she could feel the moisture seeping from her cleft. He hissed and placed his fingers in her hair, forming a fist. The tugs against her scalp were painful but they turned her on. Michael might think he was in charge, but with his cock in her mouth she felt in control.