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We’ll talk later.

What the fuck Elizabeth?

Just stop.  Later.

He’s calling me, I can’t talk to him now, not until he sees everything so I let the call go to voicemail. 

I hate it when you do this Elizabeth!  I’m coming over.

I’ve got three hours before I meet John but I can’t stay here. 

I call Elsie, she’s closest.

“Elsie, are you busy, I need to hang there for a couple of hours.”

“Yeah, girl, of course, come on over.  Is everything ok?”

“I’ll tell you when I get there, I just got to get out of my place right now before Marco gets here.  I’m on my way,” I’m already out the door before I even hang up.

I decide to leave my car here so he can’t see it wherever I’m at.  I need this talk with him to be on my terms when I’m ready, not his.

Elsie has the mismatched antique tea set out and ready when I get there.  She could tell I’m upset and the familiarity of our tea time will help calm me, she knew this and I love her for that.  But before I even get seated she’s on me.

“What the fuck is going on, Liz?”

So much for keeping me calm.

I settle into her gypsy couch and pour myself a coup of the Earl Grey tea I smell in the little porcelain pot.

Taking in a deep breath I tell her what I found and what I did.

“Now I’m going to meet John for lunch in a couple of hours so that, hopefully, he can give me some insight to that type of lifestyle so I can determine if that is what Marco has been setting me up for.”

Elsie lets out a whooshing breath before she says, “Girl, holy shit, did you freak?”

“Yeah, I freaked!  But I’m calm now and I don’t want to talk to Marco until I have all of the information I need.  And I don’t want to get it from him.”

She shakes her head, “I don’t know much about it except from what I’ve read but watching Marco with you, he is totally in to you, he practically worships the ground you walk on.  The way he watches you, Elizabeth?  I don’t think that kind of relationship is what this thing is with you two.”

I look up into her face, “El, one of the women in those portraits was the redhead that was with Marco at the party, she works with him.”

The bomb has officially dropped along with Elsie’s face.

“Fuck!”  If there could be a silent shout that was it.

I’m already at The Little Dipper waiting when John arrives.  The hostess knows that I’m meeting a big sexy Indian looking man so I’m sure she’ll have no trouble finding me when he arrives, and there is no way she’ll miss John.  My nerves are a little wound up, and I couldn’t sit in that little apartment with Elsie any longer, there wasn’t any more I could tell her other than what I already had and I didn’t want to dissect everything again.

Marco’s called me about 10 times and has sent just as many text messages and they’re all about the same as the one I just got.

Elizabeth, let me explain, where are you?  Don’t do this.

He’s obviously gotten home and has seen my little redesigning and then went directly to my place.

Marco

Brian and I finally finished up what we had to discuss.  Between what he’s heard and what I was told, it is very evident which direction the trail points to regarding who’s responsible for trying to sabotage me and my company.  Sabotage.  That’s exactly what it is and I’m not going to let it happen.  I’m torn between wanting to fucking kill the person responsible for it and wanting to say everything’s good.  I know who it is, but because of who it is I have to put it in other hands.

Fortunately it’s Sunday.  These types of communications, as I’ve learned throughout the years having dealt with quite a diverse variety of contacts, are most often best handled in a more relaxed informal way. 

I called the councilman while we were at Port City Java and he joined us for some coffee.  Having money does have its advantages and knowing when best to use it is a talent.  As it turned out, the councilman had a little information of his own.  It looks like he has a promising career ahead of him.  It’s so good having friends in high places.

By the time I get back to the condo I know something is very wrong before I even get off the elevator.  I can hear the fucking music blaring as I was coming up from the lower levels.  Whatever it is, Elizabeth is pissed.

I open the door to Jared Leto screaming at me in Bury Me, “I am finished with you!” and I enter hesitantly wondering what the fuck I did.  On my way to the bedroom I stop short when I see them.  How did she find them?  She must have been looking for hers and looked a little further in the closet. 

Elizabeth hung all the portraits of my former subs from the canopy of my bed, dangling as if the bed was a shrine to them.  And there in the middle hanging from the top of the bed in the center is hers.  But she’s done some work to it.  I slowly step closer, cringing at the sight of it as I do. 

She’s painted a clown face over hers with big red lips and a bright red nose, and makeup around the eyes exaggerating her eyelashes.  She’s written across the front of it, “I will not be your latest toy!”

I’m shocked she could even think that’s how I feel about her, I wasn’t the only one there each time we were together.  I have never treated her like that, never gave her any reason to question where she stands with me, where we stand together.  Yes, it’s fucked up I have these in my apartment after I had one made of her, but it’s not the same kind at all, it’s obvious just looking at them.  Those were purely for the image of kink.  I did Elizabeth’s because I wanted to look at her all the time in the throes of our passion, our lovemaking.  It makes my soul sing gazing at her in that moment, just like I told her when I took the pictures. 

She won’t answer my calls or my texts.  Her car’s at her apartment and it’s cold which tells me she hasn’t driven it.  So she’s either with someone or she’s close because she’s walking. 

The one thing that keeps me sane is the fact that Elizabeth is a mature and reasonable woman, I know she’ll let me explain when she’s ready…I hope.

My phone vibrates and I pull it out of my pocket.  It’s John.

I’m having lunch with Elizabeth.

What the fuck?! 

Why?

She called me.

The images of her body responding to his closeness fill my already blazing mind.  And my imagination begins to see her writhing under him as he fucks her.  Oh, God, no!

Elizabeth

“Hi John, thanks for meeting me on such short notice.” 

I’m a little nervous regardless of how he makes me feel comfortable.  He has a kind and gentle face beneath all of that strength and the hints of the shadows of past pains and demons.

He slides into the booth across from me wearing camo pants and a white thermal, the man is a walking sex god, there is nothing he can do to hide it.  Every woman in this place turns to look at him regardless of they are 20 or 70, if they’re with their family or friends, it’s inevitable.

“Hey Elizabeth, it sounded pretty serious.  Are you ok?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, I just needed an opinion from someone like you.  Let’s order first then we can talk.”

After the poor waitress takes our order, she could barely speak with so much man in front of her, I take a deep breath and dive in.

“I need you to tell me from a man’s, preferably a Dom’s, perspective the logistics of a Dom/sub relationship.”  If that isn’t matter of fact, I’m Little Bunny Froo Froo.

His eyes shoot open in shock at my request but he quickly regains composure.  Good for him

“Well, typically in that type of relationship it’s entered into from the beginning with both partners knowing that is the type of relationship it will be, the expectations would be gone over right from the start as well, such as if there will be bondage, pain, what types, sharing, multiple partners, and if it’s just sexual.  Sometimes there isn’t even sex, some people look for someone to tie them up or whip them because that’s all they want.”

He pauses and studies my face for a moment as I’m taking this in and weighing the information to see where Marco and I would fit into this scenario.

I bring my face closer to his across the table.

“So, correct me if I’m wrong, but if a Dom is looking for a sub, or has found someone who he would like to begin that type of relationship with, they would discuss it almost like a business transaction with all of the details before they even start?”

“Yes, most often time it’s just like that, if that is what the relationship is going to be.  Never will a good Dom seduce a woman then change the relationship into a slave/sub thing.  It would be misleading and would be too messy, there are too many other factors to concentrate on in that situation.”

I sit quietly turning this over in my mind and everything John’s saying is not fitting what Marco and I have.  But I have to ask the million dollar question.

“John, I need you to be honest with me, and you can ask me anything you’d like to determine your answer but I need your opinion.”

“Ok..,” his expression is tentative.

“Do you think that Marco intends for this thing between he and I to be a Dom/sub relationship?”

“First of all, you should be asking him that…”

“I know and I will but I want to ask you as a Dom, and as a friend.”

“Second, why do you ask that?”

I begin to blush, averting my eyes to look down at the table.

“Well, we have played in the bedroom, toys, bondage, that sort of thing.”

“That doesn’t mean anything Elizabeth, it’s just exactly that, going beyond the traditional vanilla sex, adding a little kink for pleasure.”  He pauses for a moment.  “Look at me, Elizabeth.”

Another controlling assertive man that commands control.  I look into his eyes.

“Just looking at the facts, the way Marco is with you, he has an emotional investment.  Meaning he cares about you.  If what he wants with you is a Dom/sub relationship, yes, he would be concerned about your wellbeing, but it would be more just physical.”  Another pause as he searches my face.  “Elizabeth, the guy is fucking crazy about you, how could he not be?  That day with Santino, he was a madman thinking you’d been hurt.  That should tell you what you need to know.”  He sits back waiting for me to say something.

The waitress comes to the table with our fondue pot and dippers.

“Let’s eat, John, I bet this is just gonna be a snack for a big guy like you.” 

He laughs at my remark about his appetite and his hugeness. 

My mood is much lighter, I feel like the dark clouds have cleared.  But I know I still have to clean up the mess after that storm waiting for me at Marco’s.

My phone continued to vibrate in my bag the whole time John and I were at lunch.  I feel a little bad for avoiding him the way I have, I just needed time and information.  I’m ready to face him now.

Marco

She won’t answer my calls, she won’t return my texts, I have got to get her to let me explain.  Even if she never wants to see me again because of my fucked-upness I can’t let her leave me thinking that’s all she was to me, a play thing.  I have not had feelings for a woman in years, and even then I don’t think I felt about them the way I do about Elizabeth.  Elizabeth makes me feel that I can be happy, fully, completely and totally happy, not just with her but with life, with me, with tomorrow and forever.  She makes me feel that anything and everything is possible.  And if I’ve hurt her, I know that I’ve hurt her, but if I can at least make her see that she is so much more, that she has made life worth living for me I’ll understand if she has to walk away from someone like me but I can’t let her go until I make her understand. 

And knowing she could be with John right now and the things they could be doing is hell.  The waiting is killing, each minute is torturous, going on and on and on.  Every time my phone dings or every time I think I hear something outside my door I practically jump out of my skin.  I want to kick myself for unpacking those damn pictures, why the fuck did I do that? 

Chapter 14

Elizabeth

I know this man.  He has entered into places within me, places I thought were irreparable, broken and destroyed.  He’s healed me and brought me back to life.  It’s because of this I know what I am to him, what he needs me to be.  It’s time for me to face him and give myself to him. 

I let myself into his condo with the keys he gave me.  Marco jumps up when I enter.  He’s so beautiful he intoxicates me, seeing him always makes my heart jump.  He’s wearing black jeans and a black T, probably the same thing he had on this morning when he left to meet Brian.  It should be illegal to look this good but he looks disheveled and a little unkempt.  He was sitting on the couch reading the paper when I came in and now he’s standing nervously waiting for me to say something.  We’re quietly looking at each other, the other nervous about what’s going to be said or what we’re going to do.  The expression on his face is full of pain and worry but he doesn’t say anything, he’s waiting for me.

Finally he breaks the silence, “Elizabeth...,” the word is so low, choked almost.

I raise my hand to stop him from saying anything more and his eyes widen, pleading.