Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 93751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
She was the one who had suggested Hannah go to the club to witness genuine BDSM scenes in progress. With Andy’s blessing, Hannah had accepted Charlotte’s invitation. She had gaped in jealous awe as she watched submissives flogged, whipped and sexually teased. Her skin had tingled with longing as she watched a Shibari Master wrap a woman from head to toe in confining rope and then suspend her by her long hair from the ceiling. She couldn’t help but imagine herself bound to that St. Andrew’s cross, or chained to the whipping post while a gorgeous Dom dressed in black leather had his way with her.
By the time she left the place, her panties had been literally soaked, her nipples throbbing so painfully she’d had to squeeze them as she drove herself home. She’d jumped Andy’s bones that first night, practically raping him in her lust. He hadn’t seemed to mind. After that, he’d been happy for her to hang out there, delighted to reap the benefits of her frustrated libido.
“Oh, I miss you, baby,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes.
No.
She was not going there. Not now.
Climbing out of the shower, she dried off and went into her closet. She rummaged through her clothing rack, eventually selecting a pretty floral sundress that still had its tags. She’d bought it just days before Andy’s diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer had upended their world.
She slipped the dress over her head and returned to the bathroom. As she blew her hair dry she made a mental note to make a hair appointment for later in the week. Glancing at the small travel clock that still sat on Andy’s side of the counter, she quickly applied moisturizer and makeup.
“You’ll do,” she said to her reflection.
When Hannah arrived at the café, Charlotte was already seated at a table for two near the door. Two years younger than Hannah, Charlotte was a slender woman with short, dark hair that framed a fox-shaped face with a pointed chin. She had large, dark eyes and a ready smile.
“Hey, there,” Charlotte called, getting to her feet as Hannah approached. “It’s so good to see you again.” They embraced and took their seats. Two large menus and two glasses of ice water were already on the table.
A young waiter appeared almost immediately with the restaurant’s free signature buttermilk biscuits, along with butter and a pot of honey. “Can I get y’all coffee? Juice? You know what you want to order yet?”
Charlotte ordered coffee, Hannah some orange juice.
“I don’t get why they do this,” Charlotte said as she cut into one of the biscuits and slathered it with butter and honey. “Give us breakfast before we order breakfast.”
“I know, right?” Hannah agreed, preparing her own biscuit. “I guess it works as a business model, though. People still order an obscene amount of food here.” She glanced around at nearby tables, where other patrons were tucking into huge platters of eggs, sausage, grits, waffles and pancakes. Hannah took a bite of the hot buttermilk biscuit. It was good, but not as good as her own.
Andy had loved her biscuits.
Stop it.
When the waiter returned with their coffee and juice, Charlotte ordered a side of grits while Hannah chose the fried green tomatoes.
“Okay,” Hannah said, once he’d gone. “The suspense is killing me. I can’t wait another second. What’s your big news?”
Charlotte’s face suffused with pleasure. “Jim and I are getting married.” She held out her hand, displaying a stunning emerald-cut diamond on her left ring finger.
“Oh, Charlotte,” Hannah cried, thrilled for her friend. “That’s such great news. Congratulations. When’s the wedding?”
“We don’t have an exact date yet, but probably sometime next spring. He’s never been married before, so he wants the whole shebang—big church wedding, me in a white wedding gown, a three-tiered cake, and his little nephew as ring bearer.”
She snorted. “I’d just as soon elope and save the money to build a first-rate dungeon in our basement. But I don’t want to deprive Jim of his big day,” she added with a grin.
She leaned forward, lowering her voice conspiratorially as she added, “The ceremony I’m looking forward to will involve collars and chains and very little clothing. We’re going to formalize our BDSM relationship of Master and slave. It’s happening this Friday night. Master Jim is going to pierce my nipples as part of the ceremony.”
Hannah sucked in a breath of shocked excitement. She briefly tried to visualize herself in such a scenario—and failed. “That’s so brave of you, Charlotte. And so exciting.”
While Hannah couldn’t imagine allowing someone to poke a needle through her nipple, or any other of her body parts, she did love the look of body jewelry and appreciated its D/s significance. Many of her characters underwent piercings as symbols of ownership or as part of intense erotic play. That was one of the cool things about her characters—they did everything she’d never had the opportunity or the nerve to try.