Badass (22 page)

“You sit on my cock, with your back to my front and my hands can play with your breasts or rub your clit. Does that sound like something you’d like to try?” Thank goodness it was dark. Isaac was setting himself up. He could feel Avery trembling in his arms. She was turned on, but he was as hard as a rock. And there was no way they could leave the party – not yet.

“Yeah, I want to try that,” her breath hitched with erotic anticipation. “I want to try everything with you – sex standing up, against the wall, from behind, 69 – I want you to tie me up and spank me and . . .”

“Hush!” Isaac hugged her harder than ever. “You’re killing me.” He humped up against her, rubbing his dick on her softness. “I promise you, we’ll do it all. Just as soon as we can, we’re outta here. I’ll take you back to the bar and show you my playroom.”

“When can we leave?” she whispered.

Was she real? “Soon, after we eat and after Joseph and Cady make their talks. Don’t worry; we won’t stay one moment longer than necessary. I set all this up. Jacob or Noah can help take it down.”

The music came to a stop and Aron called for everybody to take their seats. Avery admired how beautiful everything looked and couldn’t help but be pleased that the centerpieces of mums and other fresh flowers made everything perfect. “If everyone will make themselves comfortable and begin to help themselves to the food. We’ve got four buffet tables to serve you. You’ll find roast pork, brisket, chickens – potato salad, baked beans – all the trimmings. And the best banana puddin’ that you’ve ever wrapped your lips around. We’ve got a lot to celebrate tonight, so have a good time.”

The crowd began to file to the four corners of the pavilion where the food was spread out. “Would you like me to fix your plate?” Avery asked as Isaac escorted her to a spot at the head table.

“No, you aren’t my slave. I want you to be my partner, my friend, my lover – only in the bedroom do I want control.” He was whispering, but he did look around to see if anyone could hear them. It hadn’t escaped his notice that several people had been surprised to see them together; there had been whispers and sly glances.

“Mom always filled Dad’s plate for him and I don’t think they were into BDSM.”

“Thank you, love. But we’ll go together, how’s that?” She followed him through the food line, filling their plates with fragrant BBQ and sides. Isaac stopped by the bar and Doris handed him a longneck with a knowing smile. “What do you want, Avery?”

“A diet Coke, please.” Beer didn’t appeal to her and she wanted to keep a clear head to enjoy every moment of the night with Isaac. He escorted her back to the table and they sat between Cady and Noah. It was a bit nerve wracking to look out in the crowd and see so many curious eyes watching her. She didn’t know what they were thinking about – the photo in the paper or how unsuited she was for him. Isaac dwelled on his supposed faults, but she couldn’t forget how awkward and unsophisticated she was. Her hair was plain, no designer cuts, and her clothes did not bear a fancy brand. Face it, she was rubbing shoulders with society and her background would be woefully lacking in their eyes.

“Stop it,” Cady nudged her. “I can hear your thoughts as plain as day. Look at me. Do I look like I fit in with these people? I’m an ugly duckling in the midst of a bunch of swans – yet, I belong. Do you know why? Because, Joseph loves me. I’m not blind, I can see with two sets of eyes – physical and spiritual. And I can tell you; you have nothing to worry about. Isaac is totally into you, and from what I have heard, he has been for a long time.”

Pushing her food from one side of the plate to another, Avery listened and marveled at what Joseph’s fiancé said to her. “What are you talking about? You are gorgeous. And as for me and Isaac, I pray to God that your insight is correct.”

“What are you two talking about?”

“Girl-talk,” she informed Isaac with a smile.

Noah lowered his voice and looked around. “I heard that she was over there at the Longbranch and after Ronny Joe and his men had finished branding they all got drunk. The story is that she pulled down her jeans and demanded he put his brand on her – and he did. They say she won’t be able to sit down for a month. Can you believe that?”

Isaac chuckled. “So, that’s why she’s standing up to eat.”

“They’re here?” Noah craned his neck. “Hell, I didn’t know Joseph had invited him. What do they have in common, or do I want to know?”

“Quit being so damn judgmental,” Isaac gently chided his brother. “You need to learn how to enjoy life. Not everybody is as straight-laced as you are.”

“I’m not straight-laced.”

“You’re tied up in a knot half the time. Enjoy life, man. It’s too short not to.” Noah stiffened. “If there’s something on your mind - just say it,” Isaac challenged him.

“Nothing – it’s just your reference to being tied up. Harper’s into that shit and I hate it. We could have had a relationship, but she wallows in that sick, twisted lifestyle and I can’t understand it.”

Isaac didn’t know what to say. But, he had to say something. “Don’t judge her too harshly. Food is good, but gluttony is bad. Beer is good, but an alcoholic’s life is miserable. The relationship between two people that enjoy a power exchange may be more beautiful than you realize, but even that can have its dark side. Any form of addiction or extreme overuse can be dangerous. Harper may not be able to control her craving for domination, that doesn’t mean she’s beyond help.” Noah was looking at him so closely that he wondered if he had said too much. Keeping his involvement in the BDSM world from his brothers hadn’t been easy. Often he had wondered if it wouldn’t have all been easier if he had just been honest. Hiding the truth from them had taken a heck of a lot of energy and needless subterfuge.

“I want to thank all of you for coming and helping to celebrate the love of two people who have found one another in the midst of a miracle. To stand here before you and know that he is happy is worth more to me than I can tell you. Joseph, Cady – if you will come up here, I have a little gift for you. They joined him at the podium and he picked up an object about the size of a computer monitor. Setting it on the table in front of them, he removed the veil. Cady’s gasp could be heard over the whole room. “I call it The Guardian.”

“Aron, I don’t know what to say.” Joseph’s voice was hoarse with emotion and Cady threw her arms around Aron and hugged him for all she was worth.

“I love it and I love you,” she whispered, but her voice carried easily through the microphone. Joseph held the statue up so everyone could see it. There were two figures – one was a proud stallion, his mane waving in the wind and he was galloping freely, his head thrown up and his neck arched powerfully. Hovering over the stallion was a winged angel, a beautiful woman with the most perfect look of love on her face.

“You’re the stallion, Joseph.” Aron didn’t have to explain, but he did for the benefit of all the people who looked on. “That was the name you were given in college when you so proudly played for The University of Texas. You have always had the same proud, wild spirit of a stallion. And Cady is your angel – looking over you, looking out for you – always loving you.” The audience had no idea how true to the mark he was. Cady was Joseph’s angel – in every way that counted.

“May I say something, brother?” Joseph asked. Aron sat down, giving the podium over to Joseph. Cady looked at him with adoration on her face. “My Cady asked me to speak for both of us, to tell you what it means that you have chosen to spend these happy moments with us. But, I want to speak – not only to you – but also to her. Tonight, I celebrate the best thing that has ever happened to me. Those of you who have known me might think that the blue ribbons, the championship rings – the gold purses are the best things that have happened to me, but you’d be wrong. When I was paralyzed, I thought that if I could just run again, hell – walk again – if I could race again, drive again – play football again – I would be happy. I prayed for a miracle, ladies and gentlemen, and God sent me an angel, my Cady. And she and her family gave me back my health – my ability to function. They gave me back my life. Now, you might think that is what I celebrate tonight. While this has been one of the greatest blessings I could ever hope to experience, it is not the best thing. The best thing – my miracle – is Cady. She is my reason for living, she is,” he took her by the hand and drew her close, “the one that I love above all things.”

When Joseph finished his speech there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Scores of people got up and approached the head table. Many of them had gifts of their own. People continued eating and some got up to dance. Isaac touched Avery’s arm, “are you ready to run off with me?”

“Now?”

“No better time than the present. I can’t wait to get you alone.” There was something in his voice – a predatory quality – that made Avery’s nipples throb.

“Let’s go. I want to be alone with you, too.”

****

Noah’s cell phone vibrated in his pants pocket, so he slipped away from the table to stand under a lamppost to better see who was calling. It was Harper. Torn, he hesitated – then finally, “Hello.”

“Noah, I need you,” she cried. Huge wracking sobs tore through the receiver. “Please, please, I don’t have anyone else to call.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m at a gas station just outside of Luckenbach. I’m hurt.”

“Why haven’t you called an ambulance?” her voice was scaring the shit out of him. He wasn’t in love with Harper any longer, but he couldn’t stand for anything bad to happen to her either. They shared too much history for him to turn his back on her completely.

The bar was dark when Isaac let him and Avery in the back. Only the security lights were on. He had disabled the burglar alarm. Holding her by the hand, he was well aware that she was trembling – and it wasn’t all from excitement. Stopping, he decided to alleviate any reservations she might have. “Honey, hold up.”

“No, I’m ready. I want to do this more than anything. Are we going to your apartment?”

“No, I have a special room built for such a time as this,” he kissed her on her forehead, and then sought to reassure her. “Nothing will happen unless you wish it. All power will be yours.”

“But, I thought. . . .” she began.

“Many believe as you do, and that is a misconception. The submissive is the one with the power and the Dom seeks only to give pleasure and in so doing, they receive pleasure themselves. When we go behind these doors, I will take control of your very being – your movements, your joy, and your orgasms – they will belong to me. But when you place them into my hands, I commit myself to you. Your pleasure and well-being is my greatest concern.”

This was what she wanted. So much. The only thing that was giving her pause was his previous experience. “Have you done this with many women?”

“Oh, honey.” He pulled her close and enveloped her in a hug. “There are a lot of things in my life I regret. But I can tell you this. From the moment that I realized how I felt about you, I have not had sex with a woman – I couldn’t do it.” Admitting that gave Isaac such freedom. “Before that, I participated in safe, consenting scenes. I served as the Dom and I trained subs and other Doms. Rarely, did I have a relationship, but when I did it was handled with respect.”

Avery pressed her face to his chest and kissed him through his shirt. “I trust you. Show me what it means to belong to you.” Now, it was Isaac who trembled. The depth of his responsibility was not lost on him. Taking her by the hand he led her to his sanctuary and opened the door.

Avery’s eyes had a hard time adjusting to the darkness and when he flipped on the light, she stared – eyes wide and jaw dropped. “My stars and garters!”

“Intimidating, isn’t it?” He sounded a bit contrite. “Don’t be. There’s not a thing in this place that I would allow to cause you one moment of pain – unless you wanted it.” She looked around at him and he smiled. “Avery, my love, nothing awaits you here but multiple orgasms.” And love. But, he didn’t say that part out loud.

As she entered his domain, there were a dozen different things that drew her attention. “I don’t know what any of this stuff is even for – it looks medieval.” And exciting. There were tables with restraints, a circular object that reminded her of a miniature Ferris wheel and devices on the walls that looked like places to chain people up, but when she got close enough, she saw the cuffs were made for comfort. That eased her mind somewhat. One thing that drew her eye was a hood and a cape. Seeing her confusion, Isaac explained. “Sometimes we take part in scenes, and I have been known to wear a hood and a cape and gloves – it makes it rather medieval. Except, if you look closely – there is the McCoy brand in the middle of the forehead.” They walked on. She was interested in seeing all of it. On the walls were cabinets – filled with – who knows what and there were mirrors everywhere. Speakers and TV screens blanketed one wall and there was a bar with a mini fridge and a full array of wine and glasses. It was, at the same time, elegant and mysterious – edgy. But the most amazing thing was the way her body was reacting. Avery was wet.