The Plume: The First Anthology (34 page)

Joanna knew that Rex liked the visual appearance of a bound slave and she took care to cross the ribbon frequently to make it look better. It gleamed nicely in the light. She wanted Louise to be the perfect gift. She also added a lot of knots at regular intervals, remembering how he had bound her, and ensuring that Louise was securely captive.

When she stepped back, Louise wriggled and could barely move. "Wow. You were thorough. How am I going to tie you up?"

"Don't worry about it. One last step. Open your mouth." There was a red velvet gag in the package Mike had brought, one edged in that same white fur. Louise's eyes widened when Joanna put it in her mouth, then secured it behind her head. She wrapped ribbon tightly around it, then tied a big bow to rest just in front of Louise's ear.

The key turned in the lock of the apartment door and Joanna smiled at the sight of Mike. He winked at her before Louise could see him, then tugged on his black hood. He was dressed all in black leather and carrying that black duffle bag again. He left it in the foyer, then marched into the room, seizing her and holding her arms captive against her body. Joanna wriggled but he swept her up into his arms and locked his other arm around her knees.

"Have you been good tonight, beautiful?" he growled and kissed her deeply.

Joanna reveled in his touch. She couldn't wait to celebrate their plan after Louise was delivered. When Mike lifted his head, she knew she was flushed and a bit breathless. "I've tried, master," she whispered. "I followed your orders."

Mike surveyed Louise, who was trying to wriggle, and put Joanna on her feet. He kept hold of Joanna's wrists, as if he really were a burglar, and walked around Louise, assessing the wrapping. "Well done," he said to Joanna. "But there's one thing missing." He released Joanna and lifted Louise in his arms, placing her on the bed. She was mostly on her back, her hips twisted so that her wet sex was displayed to him.

Mike smiled at her, then tugged a small vial from his pocket. He opened it, ran a gloved finger around the glistening interior, then spread whatever it was on Louise's labia. She writhed and moaned within her bonds.

"A little something from the Plume," Mike said to Joanna as he wiped his glove. "It keeps the motor running." Louise's hips were twitching. Joanna knew that it must be the stimulant Rex and Annette had smeared beneath her vibrator when she'd been captive in the Dungeon. That stuff could drive a person wild.

Mike wrapped another length of ribbon around Louise's waist, crossing it beneath her as if she were a parcel. He then brought one end beneath her so that the wide ribbon covered her puss. The other end came over her shoulder to meet the first at her waist. He crossed the ends and repeated the wrapping so that there were two layers of ribbon over her genitals and one over each shoulder. Then he indicated to Joanna to tie a big bow over Louise's belly. He had a card addressed to Rex and tucked it under the ribbon.

Louise looked both astonished and delighted.

Then Mike beckoned to Joanna with a fingertip. "Come on, beautiful. Open wide for your reward."

Joanna froze in surprise.

"Do I have to tie you down already?" Mike muttered in that low rough voice. "Or do you want to be spanked?"

Joanna moved immediately to sit on the edge of the bed. She leaned back and opened her legs to him. Mike stood between her knees and grabbed her ankles, bracing one on each elbow so that she couldn't move. He took a larger dollop of the cream on his gloved thumb then held her gaze as he smeared it deliberately over her labia.

It tingled immediately, just as Joanna remembered. It also warmed the skin, making her sex wetter and hotter. She was instantly itching for him, her desire multiplied a hundred times with just one touch. Mike smiled and smoothed the cream over her with slow gestures, working it over every bit of her puss. It was all Joanna could do to not touch herself, or grind herself against the bed.

Or jump his bones.

And Mike knew it. "Now you'll be ready for me, all night long," he murmured. He put the lid on the vial and tucked it back into his pocket, shaking a finger at her. "Don't move. I want to see that wet snatch dripping for me when I come back."

Joanna nodded. She heard Louise swallow and saw her friend's excitement.

Mike returned almost immediately with the duffle bag. He lifted Louise – much to her surprise – and placed her inside it with care. "So, informed consent is part of the game," he said in his normal voice. "Nod if you want to go to the Plume."

Louise nodded with enthusiasm.

"Careful what you wish for," Mike advised, then drew up the zipper so that Louise was enclosed inside. He tugged off the hood and gave Joanna another deep kiss. "Get your coat, beautiful," he murmured, using the voice for Louise's benefit. "We're all going for a little ride." Then he whispered in Joanna's ear. "I've got the perfect Christmas surprise for you, by the way."

"But," Joanna started to protest, but Mike laid a fingertip against her lips to silence her.

"You don't have to shop for me," he whispered, his eyes shining. "You've already given me exactly what I want this year." He kissed her again, then hefted the bag holding Louise to his shoulder.

Joanna grabbed her coat and hurried after him. She only wished she could see Rex's face when he discovered his gift.

* * *

Rex lived in a condo in a new high rise building, with lots of glass and stainless steel. It also seemed to have a lot of security. Joanna wondered how they'd get in, but she should have anticipated that Mike would remember every detail. He knew the access codes for the elevator and for the door to Rex's condo.

They were inside in record time.

She wondered about his past, and how she could find out more about it.

The condo was decorated in an urban and modern style, all stainless and mirrors and black leather. It was crisp and clean, aesthetically pleasing if a bit cold. There was a Christmas tree in the corner and Joanna was surprised that it was not only real but lavishly decorated in red and gold.

Mike removed Louise from the duffle bag and placed her beneath the tree. "An hour at most," he murmured to her and she nodded. She ground her hips against the thick white rug and Mike grinned. "Don't worry. It'll be worth the wait. Rex founded the Plume." Louise rolled her eyes and must have been trying to smile.

Joanna arranged her roommate, fluffing her hair and pinching her nipples, making sure she looked as luscious and well-posed as possible. Then she waved to her roommate, confident that Louise wouldn't be disappointed.

Even though Joanna was curious about Rex's home, Mike was in no mood to linger. Once Louise was arranged to Joanna's satisfaction, he hurried her back toward the door. He kept her hand firmly clasped in his as he strode down the hall and pressed the elevator call button.

It hadn't left the floor so the doors opened instantly.

Joanna was glad. She couldn't wait to be alone with Mike.

When they were in the elevator, he heaved a sigh of satisfaction and smiled at her. "Nothing like giving to put a person in the festive spirit," he said, then tugged her close for a quick kiss. His eyes were twinkling after he lifted his head. "Maybe worth celebrating. Got anything in your purse?" he murmured and Joanna's heart leapt.

He meant the bonds he'd given her.

"Everything," she admitted, casting a glance at the lens of the security camera. "But..."

Mike grinned and squeezed her fingers. "Don't worry. I have a better idea, and there will be no pictures."

"Thank God," Joanna murmured with heat, remembering the pictures Rex had taken of her at the Plume. Their existence still worried her, but she didn't know what she could do about it. Mike didn't seem to notice the vehemence of her response.

They walked through the lobby together, hand in hand, then back to Mike's parked car. To Joanna's surprise, he opened the back door for her, his expression expectant. "I have a surprise for you."

"And it's in the back seat?"

He nodded and smiled. Joanna got into the back seat, but there was nothing there as far as she could see. She thought about that ride in the limo and wondered if he meant to park the car and have his way with her.

She was excited by the idea.

Mike got in the front seat and started the car, talking as he pulled away from the curb. "You're going to take everything off, except the boots and corset. You'll need a blindfold and the cuffs from your purse. Everything else you'll put in the duffle bag."

"That's my surprise?"

"It's only the beginning." He flicked a look at her in the rear view mirror. "Hurry up, or I'll have to park the car and take charge."

Although that was tempting, Joanna decided to play along. She tugged off her coat and folded it, jamming it into the duffle bag. She added her elf costume and the white fishnet stockings. She zipped the bag up and pushed it into the front seat.

It felt sinful to be in the back seat wearing only her leather boots and corset, but she knew that was Mike's plan. She fastened the travel restraints around her wrists and tugged the fur-lined hood out of her purse. She put her purse on top of the duffle bag. She would have fastened the seat belt and put on her hood, but Mike stopped her.

"Look in the map pocket on the back of my seat," he instructed.

Joanna realized there was something in there. She reached in and pulled out a hank of glossy red rope. It was about as wide as her thumb and from the weight of the hank, there was a lot of it there.

She looked at Mike and swallowed.

"Bind your ankles together. Keep them together, not crossed, and be sure to go under the sole. Knot the rope frequently. It's slippery. I want each end of the rope to be a couple of yards long when you're done, but use all the rest."

Joanna's heart pounded in anticipation. She set to work, tying her own ankles together as he instructed. She was keenly aware of the lights outside the car windows and the passing traffic, the striking contrast with the world beyond the tinted windows and the secrets inside. The shiny red rope was striking against the black leather, especially as there ended up being many rounds of it.

She felt very naked, very naughty – and very excited.

Her sex throbbed with yearning.

When she was done, she looked at Mike.

"On your knees, with your back to me," he said. "I'll have to finish you up when we get to a red light. In the meantime, put on your hood, then hold your wrists together behind your back."

Joanna caught her breath. The hood was silky soft inside, enclosing her in a warm cocoon. The sounds of the city were dulled by it and she found it soothing.

Everything was all out of her control.

She wasn't in charge.

She could relax and savor the pleasure.

Joanna felt the car stop and heard Mike turn. He used the ends of the rope and the loops on the restraints to bind her wrists together and simultaneously secure them to her ankles. She was bound tightly in a kneeling position, her feet pulled up so that the spike heels of her boots were beneath her bare butt.

He pushed her on to the back seat so that she was lying on her side. "Nice view," he said, then started to drive again. "Why don't you struggle?" he asked lightly. "That way, we both know how helpless you are."

Mike was right. It was exciting to test the bonds and find them tight. Joanna struggled and it made no difference. A part of her panicked and she flailed, but there was nothing she could do. That was when the sweet feeling of inevitability flooded through her once more.

"I could scream," she said.

"And who would hear you?" Mike scoffed. "You'd just make me angry, then I'd have to punish you."

"Maybe that wouldn't be so bad. I like when you spank me." It felt wicked to talk to him while she was bound in his backseat, and thrilling, too.

"Do you? I'll have to remember that. Maybe you're going to get punished anyway." Mike paused and the car turned a corner. "Isn't that what you'd want for Christmas, if you had the chance to choose?"

"That sounds like I don't get the chance to choose."

"Of course you don't." Mike chuckled. "I'm choosing for you, as every good master should choose for his slave." The car turned again. "I'm pretty sure you're going to like your gift."

"And what's yours?"

Mike laughed. "You just wrapped yourself up for me in shiny red rope. That's the best present I could imagine."

Joanna knew there was nothing she'd rather give Mike.

Over and over again.

Wherever they were going, she hoped they arrived there soon. Her sex was wet and hungry, burning for what only Mike could give.

* * *

Louise had time to think she'd go crazy with the edge of that ribbon rubbing against her engorged clitoris when she heard the door to the apartment open again. She froze, certain the pounding of her heart must be audible throughout the condo.

The new arrival paused in the foyer, as if aware that something was different.

Could it be Rex? The founder of the Plume? Louise's mouth went dry.

She heard the sound of a footfall on the thick carpet and shivered in anticipation. She saw his boots and his jeans, then let her gaze slide upward – both desperate to know and terrified to see.

He was black, his skin the hue of ebony. His hair was cut so short that it was practically shaved. His cheekbones were sculpted and his shoulders were broad.

He was beautiful.

And he had eyes of striking pale green.

He crouched down beside her, a smile playing over his lips. His lips quirked a bit more when he read the card, then he met her gaze again. "Blink if you agreed to this," he said. His voice was deep and melodic.

Louise blinked.

He reached out a fingertip as if he couldn't believe the sight of her, and gently touched her hair, rubbing it between his fingers. "You look like an angel," he murmured with an awe that made Louise want to get down to it. His grin flashed. "Maybe a fallen angel. Isn't there supposed to be an angel on the top of the tree?"

Louise nodded and wriggled, trying to show him what she wanted.