SATED: #3 in the Fit Trilogy Read online

  “Do you want me to stop?”

  She shook her head no, even though tears were leaking from her eyes. Daniel knew that feeling. She’d found her space, the sub space they called it. There were all sorts of psychological ways of explaining it, but Daniel knew it as the point where he could finally let go, the moment where he found his safety wrapped in euphoria and it was no longer necessary for him to keep up the barriers and walls necessary to keep him safe in everyday life. Keira was there with him. She’d succumbed to all the sensations. She’d given in to the act of submission and now all she had to do was sit back and enjoy. Daniel had everything in hand, quite literally.

  His thumb was the last to enter her warm cunt. He held still for a moment as she swirled her hips, feeling her muscles squeeze down on his fingers before they relaxed then tensed again.

  Daniel moved his hand, his whole arm, with deep, pumping thrusts. His right arm, with its healed scars, traced over the skin of her breasts and nipples. Keira met him at every beat, harder and harder as her strength came back to her, until she climaxed again. It was different this time, not one hard explosion, but a series of mini eruptions. She lay trembling on her side as liquid leaked from between her thighs and onto the sheets. The sight of it, the watery proof of her pleasure, almost made Daniel come in his jeans.

  Eventually he slid his fingers free. He went to the kitchen and, when he returned with a bottle of water, he quickly unwrapped the tape from Keira’s mouth and cut the tape from her wrists and ankles. He wiped her face with a damp cloth he had waiting, then pulled her onto his lap and helped her take a sip of the water.

  She looked up at him, the tears flowing more freely. It had been an intense hour.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked.

  “No small talk. Where’s the ice cream?”

  “Yes small talk. That’s how this works. How are you feeling?”

  Keira looked down and grabbed onto his t-shirt. “Is it okay if I can’t put it into words? I feel a lot, or I felt a lot, but I don’t know how to explain it.”

  “Yeah, that’s very okay. Are you hurt anywhere?” She’d be sore in the morning just from struggling against the bindings, but he needed to know if he’d hurt her.

  Keira took another sip of water then settled against his body. “I feel great. My brain is like pudding, but my body feels… I can’t explain it.”

  “I get it.”

  “Good. Now ice cream. I need it.”

  “If I didn’t love you so much I’d drop your ass on the floor right now.”

  “I know it’s tough,” Keira said, playing off his ill-timed declaration. “I love me too.”

  Daniel rolled his eyes, but gently moved her over to the pillows. He’d think about what he’d just let slip later. Much later. Way after ice cream.

  ✶

  “Daniel. Daniel.”

  He knew he wasn’t alone. In fact he knew he’d fallen asleep with this perfect woman resting in his arms. Daniel just wasn’t sure if he was dreaming or if Keira was really saying his name. He felt a little nudge to his ribs. “Dan.”

  “Yeah, babe.”

  “Do you have any condoms?”

  “Yeah, I—”

  She interrupted his sleepy groan. “I want to have sex with you.”

  He was still half asleep, but that was all his body needed to hear. He stood up and found the condoms in his dresser with his eyes nearly closed. Slid one on in an automatic motion. He was between her thighs next, feeling his way in the dark until his cock was exactly where in it needed to be. Keira bore down on him with a whimper, taking his whole length at once. He groaned in kind. She was so warm. Welcoming. There was no rush to come, just the slow, lazy motion of their bodies moving together. Daniel wanted it to last forever. He buried his face in the curve of her neck, praying it would.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Daniel set his menu down the moment he saw Mistress Evelyn glide into the restaurant. As she got closer he did what he been taught to do for the last ten years. He stood and pulled out her chair. She smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

  “Hello, sweetheart. It’s good to finally see you.”

  “Likewise.” It had only been three weeks, but that was a long time when it came to being away from The Club and The Family.

  Daniel took his seat, feeling his face heat for a few different reasons. It was always something to be around Evelyn. And Philip. But his Mistress definitely had a way about her that made you aware of everything. It was her voice, the light and smooth, delicate way of it, and the fact that she was easily six feet tall. She was over sixty, but black women age in that way that had most people convinced she wasn’t a day over forty. She was beautiful, with her salt-and-pepper hair shaved close to her head. And all Daniel could think of was Keira. He looked down at his glass of water.

  “Do we bother with the pleasantries or should we just talk?”

  Daniel smiled. She knew him too well. “Whatever pleases you.”

  “Oh stop it. Tell me about her.”

  “I don’t think I can.” That was the only way to put it. Talking to Mistress Evelyn was always an easy thing to do. She’d been with him since the beginning. Seen him through rehab and physical therapy. She’d flown his mother down so she could be there when he was fitted for his first prosthesis. If he could confide in anyone, it was Mistress Evelyn Baker. But there was some sort of block when it came to Keira. He didn’t like talking about her to anyone. It had nothing to do with shame. He loved her. He had admitted that to himself days ago. It was something closer to privacy. Something inside of him just didn’t want to go there. But Mistress Evelyn wasn’t giving up. She reached out and took Daniel’s hand.

  “Try. I want to know about this woman who’s kept you away from us for so long.”

  Daniel gave up and pulled out his phone, going right to one of the many, many pictures of Keira he now had on it. A selfie she’d taken of them together the night before when she was sitting on his lap, live tweeting Galaxis. He handed his phone over.

  “I thought you would have met her before at one of Grant or Armando’s things, but I’m sure you would both remember each other.”

  “You told her about me?”

  “Not exactly.” More like not at all.

  Mistress Evelyn just laughed. She was a stern, challenging Dominant, but also a kind, lighthearted, wonderful friend and Daniel was being an ass.

  “Oh, she’s beautiful. Such a sweet face, but I want to know, what’s got you scared?” she asked. Their server appeared then and Mistress Evelyn ordered for them both without glancing at the menu. Again, his mind flashed to Keira.

  “She doesn’t know the extent…of all this,” he said, once their server was gone.

  “But clearly she’s giving you what you need or you’d have come running back to The Club already.”

  She wasn’t wrong. They’d been taking turns Topping and bottoming, kind of. He topped her and she sorted through various fantasies she had stored in her imagination. And Daniel followed through with those fantasies, no matter how ridiculous. The nights they’d spent at his place she’d been okay with, and then enthusiastic about him moving from bare hand spankings to the flogger. She didn’t care much for the paddles. There was regular vanilla sex. Lots of that; more than Daniel was used to, but he couldn’t bring himself to mind. He felt himself getting hard thinking about it. Sometimes after a long day at work, retreating to her apartment and falling into her bed, just to make love to her, was the best part of his day.

  “I don’t think she’s ready for The Club.”

  “Or you’re not ready to bring her to The Club. Which is it?

  “Possibly a little bit of both. How long before I’m banned?”

  Daniel smiled again at Evelyn’s laugh. He knew he sounded ridiculous, but he was only half joking. How long could he stay away, self-marooned on the Isle of Keira before his Friends-in-Kink stopped sending lifeboats? There had been texts from Marcos, calls from Meegan. Philip had even sent him
an invite to a kink exposé in San Francisco at the start of the New Year. People had expectations of him. At some point he was going to have to show up.

  “We would never ban you. Ever. We were hoping The Club would be yours one day, if you want me to be completely honest.” Mistress Evelyn said the words so casually it made Daniel blink.

  “I—excuse me?”

  “You don’t think Philip and I have talked about it?”

  “Well I don’t particularly like thinking about you two not being around for The Club not to be yours.”

  “It’s going to happen one day, sweetheart. And even before then we’d like to retire from everything. Well, from the responsibility. We want to be around to see the place given into the right hands.”

  “But I couldn’t even afford the space and everything else—”

  “That’s what the membership is for.”

  Daniel had almost forgotten. Membership to the club came with several caveats, one being that you paid a sum to be invited to one of the most exclusive bondage establishments on this side of the country, but Daniel had never paid a dime. Master Philip wouldn’t let him.

  “I’m flattered, but what about Meegan, or Shane, or the boys?” Wouldn’t their sons want dibs on such a valuable piece of downtown LA real estate?

  “Meegan’s not right for it. Jordy and Ray have their trust. You don’t think we’re making the right decision?”

  “No. I just…I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say you’ll think about it. Say you’ll consider it a gift from us to you.”

  “And Keira? You want to know how serious I am about her? How she plays into all this?”

  Evelyn frowned. “No. Why would you think that? I just want to know more about this girl who has you so wrapped up. Nothing beyond that.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that—”

  “Sweetheart, if you’re still working things out with her, take your time. Relationships develop and play out in the way they’re meant to. No matter what happens, we’re here for you, and Keira for that matter. If she needs us.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

  “Can you bring her to the Christmas party? It’ll be more cookies and punch than kink anyway. She’ll have a great time.”

  Daniel didn’t doubt that for a minute, but still…

  “Give me more news. How are things at the fireworks factory? How’s Mama?”

  The change of subject actually helped. Work and family Daniel could talk about with ease. He wasn’t exactly sure what his problem was when it came to Keira and The Club, but he needed to figure it out.

  ✶

  Keira’s glance flicked to the clock at the top of her computer screen. Daniel would be there any moment. She was still sitting on her bed, forcing herself to breathe. Everything was going to be fine.

  ItsKeiraTime: I’m going to chicken out.

  LoriNLynn+Twins: don’t you dare. you said he said he loved you. you’ve been hanging out AND sleeping together for weeks!

  ItsKeiraTime: but it was a like a post sex buddy-buddy “i love you, buddy” kind of i love you.

  LoriNLynn+Twins: whatever. guys dont accidentally say i love you. nobody does.

  Keira wasn’t exactly sure she believed that, considering Daniel hadn’t said it again since that night at his place, but she knew there was something serious between them. They spent all their free time together and when they weren’t together they were texting each other.

  LoriNLynn+Twins: just ask him and if he says no then you know where you stand with him.

  ItsKeiraTime: no you’re right.

  As Keira hit ‘send’, her doorbell rang.

  ItsKeiraTime: he’s here. gotta jet.

  LoriNLynn+Twins: Good luck! Lynn says good luck too!

  Keira sent two kissy faces and an XOXO before signing out of her email. Part of her plan included her laptop, but she didn’t want chat boxes and alerts popping up while she was trying to focus. She set down her computer and went to the door. Daniel was there, looking all perfectly handsome and beautiful and hot. He’d just gotten a haircut, the sides of his head practically buzzed clean. Keira actually bit her lip as she looked at him. God, please let him say yes.

  He held up the bag in his hand. “Chicken fried rice and just chicken fried rice.”

  “You kept asking what else I wanted. I just wanted the rice. But thank you. Come in.”

  He slid by her, kissing her forehead as he headed toward the couch. “You okay?” Was it that obvious? Her nerves were so twisted up she was practically vibrating.

  “Yeah I’m fine,” she said, even though her voice nearly cracked. She watched Daniel as he made himself comfortable and he watched her as she stood by the door like it wasn’t her apartment, like they hadn’t made plans that involved them actually being on the same side of the room.

  “Actually, no. Well yeah. I wanted to ask you something.”

  “Okay…” He slowly eased back into the couch cushions, a look of dread clouding his face.

  “Gosh, I should have just said ‘Daniel, we need to talk.’”

  “Yeah, that’s how it sounds.”

  “It’s not bad. I swear. Okay.” Keira rushed over to the couch and made a space on the coffee table in front of him. “So tonight I had two plans, but one plan depends on what you say to the thing I have to ask you. Okay?”

  “Okay, shoot.”

  “I really like you and I really like all the time we’ve been spending together and I love that you will watch Galaxis with me and cartoons, and all the other silly stuff I like. And you indulge my weirdly specific food requests. You’re awesome. I like you. But I also know that we’re kinda different. I’m more traditional, you could say, and I thought about it, being a hip woman, keeping up with the times who can be with someone and sleep with someone who’s seeing other people, but I’m not really. Not that I think you’re seeing other people. I don’t know when you’d find the time, but yeah. I was wondering what you thought about possibly being exclusive. Like you being my boyfriend.”

  “You’re asking me if I want to be your boyfriend?”

  Keira wanted to throw up. “Yeah.”

  Daniel looked at her for a moment, his expression completely blank. The silence would be perfectly filled with the sound of her barfing. And it would be if he didn’t say or do something soon.

  “You can say no. I mean of course you know you can say no. But if you said no I would understand. I’m a weirdo fangirl sci-fi geek who talks too much. I’m not sure I’d want to date me either. I just thought I’d ask.”

  Daniel slid forward and took her hand. His fingers were so warm. She thought of how they felt trailing down her back as she fell asleep in his arms and she wondered if that was over. If he was soothing her one last time before he walked out of her life.

  “You know you might be my first real girlfriend since high school?”

  “Really?”

  “Yup. You know me, living that wild bachelor life.”

  “Oh, I just figured… You’re so hot though.”

  Daniel’s laugh made Keira bite the inside of her lip again. “Well not quite as beautiful as you, but I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “Can I take the fact that you didn’t just jump out my window as a sign that you’re saying yes?”

  “Yes, baby. I’m saying yes.”

  Keira let out a huge sigh, letting her whole body sag forward. But that was just the first part.

  “What sort of plans for the evening come with a yes?” Daniel asked.

  “Well, you can pick. One second.”

  Keira jumped up and ran to her room. She’d prepared everything she needed and put it into a Melrose Fitness tote for easy transport to the other end of her apartment. Daniel hadn’t made a break for it while she was gone, confirming that the yes still stood.

  “So there’s a Twilight Zone marathon on tonight and I thought we could play a combination drinking/stripping game to the repetitive themes. Or
… I was hoping you’d let me try that edging thing you told me about.”

  Daniel’s eyebrow went up. “What’s in the bag?”

  Keira reached down and started pulling out the pieces of plan B. “I got this ball gag cause you said you wanted to be gagged. And then I was going to get handcuffs, but no—’cause, duh. I did some research and this rope was highly recommended. The store only had this length in neon green. I hope that’s okay.”

  “Green’s fine.”

  “Then I got this oil that shouldn’t stain the couch or clothes, and then I got this. The man at the store said this was the best one, besides a full kit.” She handed Daniel the box enema. When she looked up, his expression had gone from pleasantly surprised to pure shock.

  “Is this too much? You can tell me if I’m doing it wrong. All the edging stuff I looked up seemed to be better for the guy if some prostate stimulation was involved. I got these cool black rubber gloves too. He said some people like them. They look sexy, I guess,” she added with a shrug. They were pretty neat.

  “No, this isn’t too much at all. Why don’t we throw on the Twilight Zone and then we’ll put all this into play.”

  “Great. I did a lot of reading. I’m kinda aching to apply my knowledge.”

  “I bet you are. Come here,” Daniel said as he slid even farther to the edge of the couch. Keira met him halfway, brushing her lips against his until he leaned in a little more. Then his arms were around her and they were both standing, lost in the kiss. She was so glad she hadn’t chickened out. If she had, she wouldn’t be the proud, new owner of this awesome boyfriend who also happened to be the best kisser on Earth. She couldn’t wait to tell Lori.