Subfrenzy (the Subfrenzied Series) (26 page)

“
I'm so sorry, Sir.”

“
Without them, I'm set back... two years? Worst case, four.” He laughed suddenly. “It can't take that long. I have the endurance for two, maybe three. After that, I'll have to seriously start worrying about my finances.”

“
How long until you need to decide?”

“
Once Tony wins the property, I'll have to have my answer for them. A month. A few weeks. If I do what I'm hoping to, I don't have to consider their offer anymore. So long as it all goes to plan...”

“
That's a
lot
you've had going on.”

He
shrugged, looking more alert. “Are you still okay? Doesn't your boss want to retire soon?”

“
Work's been okay. Ben wants to retire in a couple years. A few years, if I'm lucky.”

“
What happens to you, then?”

“
I'm not worried about that yet. Any number of things could happen, just this year.”

He
nodded. “You live in the moment.”

“
There are a couple of companies around that'll hire me. Definitely, with Ben's recommendation letter. I know he'll write me a really nice one.”

“
Do you ever work in Manhattan?”

“
If we need to meet someone in the city, or impress clients that live there. It's not far, only forty minutes or so from where I work. Do you have a lot of clients there?”

“
Some, yes.” Then there was a long pause. “I might actually be moving to New York. Manhattan.”

“
... why?” The jolt I felt almost had me gasp aloud, but Manhattan wasn't Rochester. “I'm sorry. I mean, um... why?”

He
laughed when I rested my forehead against his shoulder. “To look for new corporations and clients, that's where I'll have to be. It'll help me build my client list more quickly. Time, is really the deciding factor.”

“
How do you do that?”

“
Research, mostly. Then it's just a lot of talking to people. Each new client is worth travel time and however many hours they're going to want out of my day. I'll sign them if their time is worth my time. Does that make sense?”

“
Yes,” I said, taking refuge in business-mode. “That's what we do, sort-of.”

“
In a normal week, three days are already accounted for, just with the phones. That leaves me four to manage clients, network, and sign more of them. Three,” Quinn relented. “I'll need to catch up on sleep Sunday.”

“
Ouch.”
I could feel how deeply it frustrated him, being set back so far.

“
I didn't mean-- I'm sorry. I'm not thinking all that clearly.”

“
You're sorry? What, Sir?” 

“
You said
ouch
, so-- Why-?”

“
I'm sorry you don't feel more secure.” His eyes went bright with dominance and I watched Sasha prowl around instead.”             

“
I'm okay.” I moved closer when he put his arm around my shoulder. “Thank you, Clara.”

I
tried to let the quiet settle, but there was one question I couldn't ignore. It started as a whisper, with the slightest rush of worry. He had said
years?
When it grew to a roar, I hugged him harder, terrified of what he might say.

“
It's a terrible thing to ask, especially after all you've told me. I'm sorry, Sir, but... Do you still want to be my Dominant?”

“
Yes. I'm not sure how busy I'm going to be,” he warned gently. “Or where I'm going to be if I move. I won't be moving right away. I'm sure about that much.”

“
If you need to focus on work, I understand, but... um, let me know what Roy and Tony decide to do. And you?”

“
I'll keep you updated.”

“
Thank you, Sir.” The relief was overwhelming. I glanced up at him and knew it would happen anyway. “I'm sorry again.”

“
Why?”

I
straddled his waist and breathed him in. My nails dug into the couch instead of his shoulders. Quinn held me slumped against him, relaxing when he realized all I wanted was to be on top of him instead of next to him.                           

“
Your hair's always so soft,” he said, his hand moving to the back of my head. “Never cut your hair, baby.”

“
Yes, Sir.” He pulled my head back and kissed me before I could say anything else. By the time he leaned back, my body burned with warm, pulsing heat.

“
Yes, I still want to be your Dominant. With all I've got going on, you want to stay my submissive?”

“
Yes, Sir. So long as you're sure.”

“
I'm very sure.”

“
I
am
your submissive, and I really don't want that to change, but, um... what does that mean? Overall.”

“
It means you'll-” He paused, looking very Dominant and very warm at the same time. “What does that mean, for you?”

“
It means that I'll only submit for you, take pain from you.”

“
Those aren't already rules?” he asked gently.

“
I want to please you as a submissive, whenever you want me to. And when you can't, I... understand why.” I forced myself to finish.
If that's what he needed, how could I offer less?
It would be easier, I told myself, without the worry that he'd let me go.

“
Is that all?”

“
Until I learn what else you want, Sir. What else
do
you want?”

“
That's more than I-- You really just---” He laughed quietly. “You know, five seconds ago I was ready to pass out for the night.”

“
Do you want to, Sir?”

“
Not yet.”

Submission
took over. He watched me as I knelt in front of him. I kissed the side of his chest, following the bare skin that was exposed as he moved his boxers out of the way. Time ceased to matter until I felt the restless edge to his energy again. I smoothly took his cock into my mouth and poured all of my submission into making him come.

“
You've never made me come like that before.”

“
I've missed doing that for you.” I laughed, feeling warm with submission, satisfied because he really was. “I'm happy it pleased you, Sir?”

“
You have no idea...” He pulled me up and laid me back on the couch. “You might, actually. You're going to be really happy in a minute, too.”

“
Thank you, Sir!” I stroked my hands over his shoulders and moaned when he roughly moved my legs apart.

His
lips brushed against my inner thigh. “After that? Come when you can, Clara.”

* * *

“
I
owe you some edge-play,” Quinn had said before I left.

“
As it pleases you, Sir,” I hugged him and ignored the tearing feeling that echoed inside of me. Submission receded and I saved the energy, knowing it would burn when he saw me again.

“
Thank you.” He kissed me long and hard, groaning quietly before he leaned back. “I'll see you soon. Definitely soon.”

Two
weeks passed, but subfrenzy stayed securely in check. Time had his energy fade until only my own protected me. Power clung to him, channeled however he wanted to use it, but I hated that he was being challenged in so many ways. That he had me over when he so desperately needed sleep... I didn't know what the emotion I felt was. Nor had I known that pain could echo so strongly inside me for someone. It made me want to take it, physically, which was complicated to navigate.

When
I focused on what I wanted, the ache in my body raged, demanding smooth vibration and a long s/m video of hard pain-play. After four minutes of hearing a paddle hit a gorgeous, heavily tattooed, goth submissive, I laid back on the bed and closed my eyes. I stared at the toy, knowing how fast I'd come... and how much I didn't want to yet. My hips moved restlessly as I fast-forwarded to where the Top used a cat o'nine tails. I remembered Quinn using the floggers, how much heat they brought to my skin, and how sharp the pain had been-! What I liked more was feeling his strength, what he held back and how much he used. My masochistic side burned whenever I felt his control slip. The toy rolled further away from me and I reached for it. I was beyond using videos. Memories would suffice.

I
nearly knocked my laptop onto the floor when I heard his ring tone

“
Hello, Sir-”

“
Hi, my sexy submissive. I'm glad you're still awake.”

While
I'd saved the laptop, my toy rolled onto the floor. It vibrated on high, very loudly. I struggled to turn it off, rolling over the side of my bed because I'd lost my grip on the covers.

“
Uh, hi! How have you been, Sir?”

“
Better. You okay, baby?”

“
Yeah? Sorry. I mean, yes, Sir.” Kneeling next to my bed, I buried it safely under my pillow and collapsed back onto the floor. “The same for work. Thank you, Sir.”

His
groan made desire coil tight in my lower body. “I haven't forgotten that I owe you some pain.”

“
You don't
owe
me-”

“
You're such a good submissive,” he interrupted gently. “You're ready to have me be more dominant. You do still want edge-play?”

“
More
dominant?” I felt my pulse race. “Yes please, Sir?”

“
What do you like about edge-play?”

“
I like being afraid without actually being afraid... I'm not sure how to explain.”

“
How you felt when I used the floggers on you at
Rack's
, and when I used that knife?”

“
Yes, Sir.”

“
What were you doing when you first picked up? What was that weird sound I heard?”

“
... ...What?”

Quinn
chuckled dominantly. “You heard me.”

“
I was... I'm sorry. I was using one of my toys with a video.”

“
Did you come?”

“
No, I didn't-”

“
Good. Don't. I'll see you in half an hour.”

I threw my jacket over one of his living room chairs. Quinn unbuttoned my business-type shirt, the sleeves left unfastened. He blinked twice, understanding why I was wearing a short pinstriped skirt. It matched the lingerie-like, zippered corset.              

Leaning
against him, my legs tangled between his, I went still when he grabbed my chin. My eyes met his for the briefest of seconds. Shock curled around me the smack thudded lightly over the right side of my face. The second hit registered, though surprise numbed me to the prickling pain. His hands grasped my hair so he could kiss me hard, then he kissed my cheek where he'd hit me. Before my nerves settled back into submission, he tested the limits and smacked me again. I exhaled sharply, barely holding the growl of surprise back. He pulled me against him. I brought my head around, trying to see him through blurred vision. My face was tingling where his fingers had hit hardest. I couldn't tell if it actually hurt or not.

“
Are you glaring at me?”
He jerked my head up, having me stand straight.

“
No, Sir!” I gasped, still trying to piece together what had happened.
'No'
should have been,
'Yes?'
I couldn't remember what had happened when I lost those few seconds of reality.

“
Do you mean that?”

“
... I'm sorry, Sir?”

He
laughed shortly, the sound dark with the promise of punishment.

My
eyes widened when I saw the back of his hand.
Quinn wouldn't.
I brought my arms behind my back in a strict submissive pose, my nails digging into my forearms. He didn't backhand me. Or hit me at all. Adrenaline burned brighter, making me shake as I let the tension slide away. My chin lowered, no longer braced for the pain that hadn't come.

“
That was... That was really good,” he said, staring at me.

“
Thank you, Sir,” I replied, my lips feeling numb.

He
kissed both sides of my face. I let go of my wrists when he gently pulled my arms apart. “So you wouldn't hit me?”