She snickered at that. “Thank you, Sir.”
“No, thank you, pet. That was a lot of fun.” He kissed the top of her head. She tipped her face to his and wished he’d kiss her, really kiss her, but instead his eyes met hers. “I hope you still like me tomorrow.”
“I’m sure I will, Sir.”
“You say that now. I apologize in advance for the marks if they freak you out.”
“They won’t freak me out.” In fact, she was curious to see what they would look like in the morning. She was used to always having bruises somewhere on her body. First growing up and roughhousing with her older brother, then as puberty hit and she grew congenitally klutzy. If she didn’t bang into something at least once a day, it was a miracle.
It took another twenty minutes for the brain fuzz to dissipate enough she felt ready to talk to her friends. But she still wanted to stay nestled against Tony’s side on the couch.
He waved to the three women. They hurried over, smiles on their faces.
“Well?” all three of them asked at once.
Shayla laughed. “I’m okay.”
“Did you have fun?” Loren asked.
She smiled up at Tony. “That would be a definite yes.”
They chatted for a few minutes until an unexpected yawn hit her.
Tony chuckled. “And I think that signals the beginning of the end of our evening.”
Come to think of it, she was really tired.
He stood and held out a hand to her. He helped her up, making sure she was steady on her feet. “Are you going to be okay driving home?” he asked.
She nodded. “I think so, Sir. I’m okay.”
She followed him over to his things, where he dug the vibrator out. He’d wrapped it in a towel and stuck it in a side pocket of the bag. “I’ll be right back. Going to go wash this off.”
While he was gone, she folded the throw and placed it on the bag. She wasn’t sure where he wanted it. He returned a few minutes later. After saying their good-nights to everyone, they went out to the parking lot. He locked his things in the trunk and then walked her over to her car.
“You’re sure you’re okay to drive?”
She nodded. “Yes, Sir.”
“Do you want me to follow you home?”
“I’ll be okay, Sir.”
He motioned for her wrists. He unbuckled the leather cuffs and then engulfed her in a hug she never wanted to end. “I had fun tonight, pet. I hope you did, too.” He placed a kiss on the top of her head.
“I did, Sir. Thank you.”
“Wear the collar home. And text me as soon as you get home so I don’t worry.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Don’t forget to text me when you wake up tomorrow and let me know how you are.”
“I won’t forget, Sir.”
“What’s your afternoon look like tomorrow? Any plans?”
“No, Sir.”
“Then wear your collar while you’re at home. Unless you’re in the shower or go out or something like that.”
“Yes, Sir.” He took her keys from her and unlocked her door, holding it open for her and waiting until she was safely inside and had found her glasses.
“Drive safe, pet. And good night.”
“Good night, Sir.”
He closed the door and watched her drive away.
It wasn’t until she was halfway home she realized he still had her thong. She giggled at the thought, her hand going up to the collar. When she got home, another large yawn hit her as she tried to unlock her door.
Realizing she wasn’t long for the land of the conscious, she quickly texted him that she’d made it home. She pulled off her dress and crawled into bed, crashing almost immediately into sleep before her head hit the pillow.
Chapter Eighteen
Shayla awoke from a sleep of the dead a little after three o’clock Sunday afternoon. When she rolled over, she groaned at the aches in her muscles. When she sat up, her bruised ass caught her attention.
She also felt a not-unpleasant ache in her pussy from where Tony had used the vibrator on her.
Wow. If last night was even a fraction of what other submissives felt on a regular basis, she could easily understand why they did it. Hell, she’d readily volunteer to do that again anytime.
As long as it was with Tony.
She still wasn’t sure she could wrap her mind around why the heavy masochists did what they did, but Tony had clearly driven home the point that not all pain was painful…some of it was damn pleasurable.
And subspace was a blessed place to escape from reality.
With another groan she stood and headed to the bathroom. When she walked in she caught sight of herself in the mirror. The leather collar was still buckled around her neck.
I forgot to take it off.
Then she stopped that thought. No, she hadn’t forgotten. Tony had instructed her to wear it at home unless she needed to take a shower or go out for errands. Her fingers stroked the leather, remembering how it felt the night before when he’d hooked a finger through the D-ring on the front and pulled her head up so he could look into her eyes.
A hot flush ran through her body. She’d had the best orgasms of her life last night, in front of a room full of mostly strangers, with a man she barely knew who hadn’t even taken off his clothes.
Wow.
She knew she’d do it again in a heartbeat, and not for any story, either.
She’d loved it.
Turning, she looked at her ass in the mirror. Instead of chiding herself for her weight, she marveled at the marks there. The imprint of a riding crop was clearly visible in several places, as were his handprints, and several stripy cane marks. She imagined the round, isolated marks were from the wicked silicone spoon. The marks ranged in color from pinkish red to beautiful shades of purple and blue.
A smile curled her lips.
She ran her fingers over the welts and remembered how he had skillfully mixed pain and pleasure, taking her up the scale to a point where she’d thought she’d have to code before he applied the pleasure of the vibrator.
By the time he’d finished with her, she knew she wouldn’t safeword unless he absolutely didn’t stop the pain. The reward for holding out each time was too great.
Snickering, she remembered his playful warning to her the other night in the restaurant, of how easy it was to rewire a brain to scramble pain and pleasure together.
He got that right.
She finally used the bathroom and went to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. As it brewed, she had a thought and retrieved her cell phone.
Good morning, Sir, she texted him.
She was curled on the couch with her coffee and her laptop ten minutes later when he replied. Good morning, pet. How’s the ass?
She giggled. Pleasantly sore, Sir.
Still wearing your collar?
She’d pulled on a T-shirt, but yes, the collar was still buckled around her neck. Yes, Sir.
Good girl. I just woke up. I want you to meet Me here at My house at five. I’m cooking dinner.
Her heart raced. It wasn’t like she had anything else better to do.
Yes, Sir.
After a few minutes, his reply. :) Good girl. Wear your collar.
Another thrill ran through her. Would she ever get sick of that feeling?
Probably not. Not anytime soon, at least. Yes, Sir, she texted back.
She caught up on her e-mail and was heading back to the kitchen for her second cup of coffee when her cell phone rang. Part of her hoped it was Tony, but her throat dried when she saw it was her parents’ home line.