Radiance (28 page)

Especially when he crouched and licked her from pussy to clit.  “There.  All clean.” 

He and Harper quickly showered, slicked back their hair, and got out.  Cabinets on either side of the shower gave up the towels.  She watched them dry efficiently and found herself fascinated at how rough they were on their own skin. 

The way they dried
her
skin was far different.  Almost delicately, they took their time removing every drop of water.  Then Harper rang out her hair and led her to the counter. 

“It’s so long.  Let’s bring your beautiful curls back.  I miss them.” 

Removing a hair dryer from the vanity drawers, he started drying her hair by playing heat over the tresses and running his fingers through it. 

Elijah squirted her favorite lotion in his palm.  Rubbing it between his hands, he worked it into her skin until she was trembling from their combined attention.

At her ear, Harper murmured, “I’ve never seen a woman soak up physical attention like you do.” 

“I
really
want to earn that granola bar.  I hear you guys have chocolate chip and I’m a sucker for chocolate chip.” 

Such a sentence shouldn’t have held breathless sexuality but they had her entire body tingling.  They kissed her gently.

In the bedroom, Elijah pulled brown leather pants over his lower body but didn’t button them.  Harper dressed in thin cotton sleep pants. 

Not offered clothes, Brie didn’t ask for them. 

Elijah held out his hand and she placed hers in it.  Leading her to the rear wall, he stared at her for a long moment. 

She returned his gaze in silence. 

Then he reached above her, pressed the wall, and watched her face as the door slid away. 

Expecting dark and almost paranormal like most of the BDSM playrooms she’d seen, Brie smiled at the choice of a pale apricot paint on the walls.  The floor was terracotta tile and much of the ceiling was open to the sky above. 

Recessed lights every few feet lit enclosed glass displays similar to the ones Hudson and Natalia possessed in their recreation room.  Walking around the large room, she ran her fingers over everything and couldn’t look at all of it fast enough. 

There were a few pieces of small furniture she didn’t recognize.  Other pieces she’d seen in random internet searches and felt her heart speed up at the prospects they represented.  There was a huge bed in one corner and a professional massage table in the other. 

Walking to the center of the room, she looked up, closed her eyes, and absorbed the late-afternoon sunshine that slanted into the space from overhead. 

Lowering her gaze, Brie relaxed her arms at her sides and inhaled deeply.  Harper looked tense about her possible reaction.  Elijah stood still and unblinking. 

Staring into Elijah’s green eyes with a smile, she said, “I’m yours to command.” 

One side of Elijah’s mouth lifted in a smile. 

Harper exhaled roughly. 

Brie didn’t move or speak.  The time for silliness and verbal quips was over. 

Now began the exploration. 

The silence dragged out for more than a minute but she’d learned from the best about what was expected.  Utterly still, silent, and relaxed, she waited for the man she loved with all of herself to explain what he wanted from her. 

She trusted Elijah.  She trusted Harper by association.  Naked to them, scars and all, filled her with anticipation rather than self-consciousness. 

For her night of decadence and education, she would always be grateful to Hudson and Natalia.  Skills they taught, questions they answered without reservation, and the confidence they helped her find would benefit these men. 

One minute turned to three and then to five but she liked the waiting, the building excitement, and did nothing but hold the gaze of beautiful green eyes. 

“You are
magnificent
, Brie.”  Unable to hold back her blush, she was careful not to respond. 

They approached her slowly and she kept her eyes still as they circled her.  Stopping behind her, she felt one of them gather her hair carefully into a ponytail and tie it with something. 

Warm hands settled on her shoulders.  “What’s your safe word, Brie?” 

“Whale.” 

“When should you use it?” 

“Real pain or fear.” 

“Specifically explain what I want you to pay attention to.” 

Swallowing carefully, she replied, “My bones, joints, and other areas that sustained injury.” 

“If you feel something isn’t right, it stops instantly.  If I suspect you’re lying to me about your pain, I’ll forbid you to come in any way for a
month
.  Do you understand?” 

“Yes.  I understand.” 

His hands massaged the muscles of her neck and shoulders before smoothing down to her hands. 

“You aren’t to come until I give you permission.” 

“I understand.” 

Four hands moved slowly over her skin, smoothing oil over every inch of her body from her neck to her feet.  It smelled of almonds and prickled slightly.  They smoothed extra into the crease of her ass and through her folds. 

Focusing on a glass figurine in one of the displays, she walked herself through meditation to calm her breathing and ease a body that already throbbed for them. 

Their hands disappeared and she remained still another minute, staring at the glass. 

Elijah appeared in front of her and she met his eyes happily. 

“I like you in the sun.”  From above, she listened to the quiet slide of metal on metal.  “Give me your hands.” 

She held them out to him without hesitation.  He skillfully wrapped each of her wrists with supple leather.  His thumbs smoothed over her pads and there was the distinctive sound of metal clicking into place. 

As her arms rose over her head in a V, he stared at her face with clear tension.  The restraints tightened enough to draw her completely erect on the balls of her feet without forcing her to her tiptoes.  Most of the stress was in her upper back and arms. 

“Brie.” 

“I’m okay.”  He reached out to cup her jaw.  “I won’t lie to you, Elijah.  I’m okay.  I swear it.” 

Harper appeared beside him.  “You look stunning, Gabriella.”  She looked at him but didn’t speak.  He gave her a slow smile.  “I tried to trick you.  You’re better at this than I was.  Took me
years
to behave.” 

She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. 

“You’ve been suspended before.”  It wasn’t a question but she met Elijah’s eyes as he stepped closer to her.  “Something tells me you embraced it then as well.”  He raised his hand to hers and slipped over the inside of her arm and down her side.  “You’re so relaxed.” 

“I was
never
relaxed, Gabriella.” 

Elijah stared at her.  “What Harper
wants
and what he
allows
himself to have are often in discord.  Why do you think that is, Brie?” 

“Despite the fact that the need causes no harm and he’s always safe with someone he trusts, he doesn’t think he’s
allowed
to have what he wants.  Primarily because he’s male.” 

“Explain.” 

“Society wants, even demands that
women
be submissive to the will of
all
men.  Throughout history, we’ve been broken and abused to obtain it.  No matter the situation, we’re expected to obey, to bow, to take what we’re given without question.  Submission that’s forced is abuse and that’s
wrong
.” 

She wrapped her fingers around the leather that bound her.  “The expectations for men are different but
also
wrong.  It’s harder as a submissive.  Acting
like a girl
is apparently the worst fucking thing a male can do because they have to follow the fucking
be a man
mantra at all times.”  Growling, she added, “Fuck
all
that shit.  Let’s do what we want.” 

Closing her eyes, Brie took several deep breaths to calm down.  When she opened them, they stared at her in shock. 

“Sorry,” she whispered.

“Don’t you
dare
apologize for an eloquent rant on human rights, Gabriella.” 

Silver eyes stared into hers and she could see his inner struggle.  Drawing a heavy breath, he didn’t look away from her as he held out his wrists. 

In silence, Elijah bound Harper in matching restraints.  Moments later, he was drawn taut less than a foot in front of her body.  Placing his hand in the middle of the darker man’s chest, Elijah murmured at his ear. 

Brie panicked.  She started to speak when Harper shook his head over the other man’s shoulder. 

Moving behind her, Elijah placed her on a block of some sort before drawing the ceiling restraints snugly. 

She found herself eye to eye with Harper. 

The first lash on her back made her rock forward with a sharp inhale.  Allowing the sting to flow through her, she relaxed her body and let herself process.  The second across the cheeks of her ass made her pant softly.  Her nipples pebbled sharply on the fifth.  By the tenth, she
wanted
friction on her clit but stepped out slightly to prevent it. 

Then she lost count of how many times the whip landed.  Breathing through parted lips, she stared into silver eyes and allowed her mind to drift. 

She imagined Harper looked at her with love, the way she so desperately wanted him to look at her.  She pretended he wanted her to be
his
as much as she wanted him to be
hers
.

Her entire body hummed and it was unlike how it had been with Hudson and Natalia because it wasn’t one night and she didn’t have to protect herself from love. 

It’s different because I already love them.
 

Elijah was the man who nurtured her light and fed a darkness she’d sampled and found fascinating.  Harper was the man who shared her darkness, her need to be the
center
for another person sexually. 

That it wasn’t
her
was okay.  Elijah was more than worthy. 

She wondered what it would feel like when they took her together.  Both of her brief encounters with ménage featured a woman and a man.  She wanted to know the joy of two men,
these
men, taking her because she loved them. 

Love them, want them, need them. 

“Brie.” 

Eyes opening, she took in the brilliant colors of twilight through the skylight above her.  Bringing her head forward, Elijah stood there, his hands on her face.

Such a beautiful man.

“Brie.”

“Elijah.  Will you kiss me?” 

Exhaling roughly, he cupped the back of her head and claimed her mouth until she was moaning.  Supporting her weight on her good leg, she wrapped the other around his hip. 

Breaking the kiss, he asked, “Would you like to come, Brie?” 

“I’ll wait for Harper.” 

“You’re a remarkable woman.” 

“More please.” 

Elijah smoothed more oil on the back of her body.  It made her skin warm pleasantly. 

Then a different leather connected and made her moan. 

She regained her focus on Harper’s eyes and thought about the stress he was under and how hard it must be to have so much depending on you.  To have so many people looking to you for answers and money and results. 

You want to just be but you don’t think you’re allowed. 

The lashes were softer material.  They laid over the original design Elijah placed on her back and ass.  She wondered how it would feel during sex. 

Slight bite while you fuck me…worth it. 

“Brie.” 

I love the way you smell, Elijah.  I love the way you taste.  I love the way you touch me.  Touch me, touch me, touch me.

“Brie, what’s your safe word?” 

“I’m not telling you.” 

Staring at the darkening sky, a few stars were out.  Then he brought her head forward from where it had fallen back on her shoulders. 

“I love you more than the sky.” 

“Safe word, Brie.” 

“I will
not
.” 

“Why?”

“Harper needs it.” 

“Needs what, Brie?” 

“He’ll take the same lashes…”

“Brie!”

“I know that’s what you told him.  He doesn’t take what he
needs
.  Now he
has
to take it.” 

“Take her down. 
Take her down
, Elijah.” 

“No…” 

Elijah freed her arms and held her on the step.  Slipping one arm around Harper’s waist, the other up to cup the back of his skull, she rested her head on the inside of his arm. 

“Gabriella.”

“Take what you need, Harper.  Feed the darkness.”

“Stay with me.”  She nodded against him. 

“Brie.”  She blinked and found Elijah’s eyes.  “You can’t stand up.  Let me help you.” 

He slipped a silken strap over her head and around her ribs while he supported her with one arm.  It ran up between her body and Harper’s, where it looped around the back of his neck. 

“He’ll be okay like this?” 

“Yes.”  Elijah stroked his palm over her head.  Behind Harper, he removed the lightweight pants. 

She petted Harper’s face.  “Give him what he needs.  Show him how much you love him, Elijah.” 

Then he was gone and Harper kissed her temple as the first lash landed on the back of his body. 

She felt him tense but it left him by the ninth strike of the whip. 

Brie played with silken black hair and pressed her cheek to Harper’s so she could be near without him having to look at her as he took the same lashes she’d taken. 

Zoning out, she allowed her mind to wander. 

You’re a good man, worthy of love. 

As it darkened outside, it dimmed inside their sanctuary.  Her eyes adjusted to the golden glow of the displays. 

Every time the whip landed, he pressed against her and she welcomed him, accepted him, loved him. 

I’m proud to love you.  I love you, love you, love you.

She rode the lashes with him, knowing how badly he needed them but ashamed of the need.  It had always been
Harper
who warred with the dual sides of himself.  Elijah was the only person he trusted enough to help him, to purge him. 

Trust in his love for you.  Let him take it all away. 

The stars moved across the skylight and she held him as hard as she could until the last stroke fell.

When his hands were free, Harper would have fallen if Elijah hadn’t caught them both, leading them to the bed in the corner. 

“On your stomachs, that’s it.  I’ll be back.” 

Flat on the bed, their faces turned to one another, Harper whispered, “Thank you, Gabriella.” 

Slipping his hand over the satin, he wrapped it around hers. 

She told him, “It’s no hardship to love you, no sacrifice.  It’s an honor.”

“You’re beautiful.” 

“So are you, Harper.” 

She had no idea how long Elijah rubbed them down with oils that smelled wonderful and tingled warmly.  Sleep drifted up to take her and she embraced it.