“Thank you,” Lily said.
The doctor gave her a sympathetic look, another avuncular pat on the shoulder, and nodded. “Someone will be out shortly.”
Lily turned and hugged Tom. She saw Jake and Derek right behind them.
“We heard,” Derek said before either could repeat the story. He was smiling broadly. “Thank God she’s okay.”
Both Lily and Tom sat heavily on the couch.
“Hey, do you guys want something to drink?” Derek asked.
“I’d love something cold,” Lily said. She rested her head on her brother’s shoulder. She felt completely shell-shocked.
“Me, too,” Tom said. He looked at his friends. “Thanks for being here.”
“Of course,” Jake answered. Then he motioned to the soda machine in the corner of the waiting room and said to Derek, “I’ll go with you.”
Lily watched Jake and Derek head over to the machine and closed her eyes, tired, but relieved.
* * * *
Jake fed a dollar into the soda machine and looked over his shoulder at the siblings sitting on the couch. “I’ll take care of Lily. You take care of Tom,” Jake said.
Derek looked concerned as he reached into the machine to pull out a cola. “You know what Lily is going to need tonight, right?”
Jake took a deep breath but never took his eyes from Lily. “Yeah, I know. I’ve been researching.”
Derek stepped into the line of vision and made Jake look at him. “You know there are two of you in this. If you don’t want what she does, there are other outlets for her fear and pain. You don’t have to do it.”
“I know. I couldn’t live my life this way, you know, in the lifestyle. I’m no Dom. I have no desire to have Lily kneeling at my feet every time I see her. I also don’t get off on causing her pain.” Jake put another dollar in and shifted his suddenly hard package.
Derek reached for the second soda, flicked a look at Jake’s obvious erection, and raised an eyebrow, clearly doubting Jake’s assertion that causing her pain didn’t get him off.
Jake looked quickly over Derek’s shoulder to make sure that no one had come up behind them. Assured of privacy, Jake reiterated, “It’s not the pain that gets me off. It’s her reaction to it.”
Jake rubbed his face and closed his eyes. “I’ll tell you this. I’ve never fucked a woman who was more wild or hotter than Lily after a spanking. Her pupils were dilated, her breath panting out, and her pussy soaking and on fire. All it took was one stroke of her clit and...”
“Enough,” Derek said, his voice strained. “I get it.”
Jake’s eyes popped open to see Derek briefly press a hand over his crotch before he closed his own eyes and took a deep breath.
“Sorry,” Jake said, sheepish. “What I was getting at is that it isn’t the pain that does it for me; it’s her reaction.”
“So you’re saying it’s about Lily and not the act of inflicting pain or dominating.” Derek paused. “I don’t like pain, per se, but I’ve always loved playing domination games. Like you, I wouldn’t want it as a lifestyle but as a game...” Derek shrugged and gave Jake a sheepish grin.
Jake chuckled, amused at Derek’s honesty and his embarrassment. “Are you a Dom or a sub?”
“I can top or bottom,” Derek said, not realizing how revealing his use of gay sexual terms was. “When I’m with a woman, I prefer dominant, but...” Derek cut himself off and looked at Jake sharply. “I mean when I’m with some women, I like dominant, but with others, I like submissive.”
“Uh-huh.” This wasn’t the first time Jake suspected that Derek wasn’t being honest with them about his sexuality. Jake considered not saying anything, but he couldn’t leave it like this. “Derek, you know that I’m your friend, right?”
Derek looked at the floor and nodded. Jake continued, “And you know that I’m your friend no matter what, right?”
Derek nodded again.
“Lily and I are heading home right after we check in on Mom.” Jake heard Tom’s voice from behind Derek. He had a puzzled look on his face. “Now that she’s out of danger, I figured we both needed some rest.”
Derek turned to the siblings without meeting Jake’s eyes. “Look, we figured that we’d follow you guys home, maybe hang out a bit.”
Tom started to shake his head, and Derek cut him off. “Jake will go home with Lily, and I can go with you. Or if you’d rather, we can hang out at my place and watch a movie or something.” Derek looked at Tom. “You know you don’t want to be alone right now.”
When Tom nodded in acknowledgement, Lily turned to him. “That sounds good to me. Why don’t you go hang out with Derek for a while? You know you’re never going to sleep anyhow.”
“Unlike you, all I want is to grab a bite to eat and go to bed.” She turned to Jake, “I know my couch is small, but would you mind spending the night at my house?”
Jake was amused at her audacity. She hadn’t lied. Her couch was small, and he would spend the night at her house. She never said he’d be sleeping on the small couch. She very conveniently worked it out that he could park his truck at her house all night. “Sure, sugar. I just need to swing by my place for a change of clothes.”
Lily turned back to Tom. “There you go then,” she said.
Lily turned back to the couch to gather up her things. “Thanks, man,” Tom said to Jake. “I don’t want her to be alone. You’ll take care of her?”
Jake thought about what he was planning to do with Lily. “Sure,” he said, feeling like a worm.
* * * *
Although Lily had planned to stay with her mother for a little while before leaving, it was clear as soon as she got in there that the doctor had been right. Her mother was barely awake, but she was trying to reassure everyone and be sociable. Lily knew, if she stayed, her mother would fight the sleep she desperately needed.
After fifteen minutes, she and Tom said good-bye and headed out to the waiting room where Derek and Jake were sitting and talking quietly.
Tom ran his hand over his face and said wearily, “Time to head out.”
Derek and Jake both stood. They wore nearly identical expressions of concern and anticipation. Lily had no doubt Derek was looking forward to his evening with Tom.
Lily turned into Tom’s arms and gave him a hug. He kissed the top of her head and said, “Go home, eat something, and relax, Lil. If you need me, give me a call, okay?”
Lily tightened her arms around his sturdy waist then let go. “Thanks, Tom. You relax, too. If you don’t want to be alone tonight, just sleep at Derek’s apartment. I’m sure he won’t mind.”
She wanted to chuckle at the expression on Tom’s face. She didn’t understand how everyone else didn’t notice the chemistry between the men and, likewise, the panic in Tom. She wished she could ask him about his feelings, but she didn’t want to reveal Derek’s secret. Clearly, Tom wasn’t ready to consciously face what was happening.
She was surprised to see that Jake also saw what she did on Tom’s face. He didn’t say anything as they left the hospital.
When she reached her car, Jake said. “How about we drop your car off then head out for a bite? I also need to swing by my apartment and pick up some things.”
Lily smiled. “That sounds perfect.”
On the drive to her house, Lily thought about the evening ahead. Although she felt like it was wrong and made her some sort of a freak, she knew what she wanted from Jake. She just didn’t know how to ask for it.
After dropping Lily’s car off at her house, Jake and Lily headed to a local sub shop. Neither wanted a formal dinner. They just wanted some sustenance to get them through the night ahead.
After ordering their turkey and roast beef subs, sans onions on both, they sat down in a booth to eat. Lily was trying to think of how to ask for what she needed. After a beat of silence, she started, saying tentatively, “Jake, I don’t know how to say this.”
Jake had a mouth full of sub. “Hmmm” was all he could manage.
“I need…”
Jake swallowed. “I know what you need tonight, Lily,” he said softly. “I’m going to take care of you.” He hesitated for a moment. “Listen, I’m going to push the boundaries a little tonight. I want you to have a safe word you can use to stop me if I go too far.”
Lily was panting slightly, her food forgotten. “A safe word?” Her mind was caught on the phrase “push the boundaries.”
“Yes, something you wouldn’t say accidentally. If you want me to stop, you say the word, and I stop. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable, but part of the game is you being able to say no and stop and me pushing you past that. The safe word is a way for you to say stop and mean it.”
Lily thought about it. “Zebra,” she said. “I can’t imagine saying zebra by accident.”
“Perfect,” Jake said. He gestured to her forgotten sandwich. “You need to eat.”
Lily looked down at the sub like it was some alien thing.
“Eat,” Jake reiterated.
Lily picked up the sub and put it down again. “I’m too excited to eat,” she said baldly.
Jake sucked in a quick breath. “You have to keep up your strength. How about we talk about something else?”
Lily nodded and took a small bite. “What do you want to talk about?”
Jake had finished his sandwich and was working on his chips. “What’s up with Tom and Derek?”
Lily almost choked on her bite. “I wish I could tell you. It’s not really my place.” She took a long sip of her drink and a bigger bite of her sandwich.
“Is Derek gay or bi?”
Lily hesitated then said, “I don’t think it’s my place to tell you this stuff.”
Jake sighed. “All right, then let me tell you what I think. You can either tell me I’m way off or just don’t say anything.”
Lily thought about the tacit agreement that came with that arrangement. She decided to go along with it. “Okay, but I’m not going to confirm anything. It’s not my place, and I love Derek too much to tell his secrets.”
Jake was silent for a moment, then he said, “Derek is either gay or bisexual. He’s attracted to or in love with Tom. Tom doesn’t have a clue.”
Lily was impressed with how close Jake was to the truth.
Jake continued, “They used to share women all the time. They stopped that about six months ago. They had an opportunity a few weeks ago, but they didn’t take it. It sounds to me like one or both of them did something or are afraid they’re going to do something physical together.”
Lily could feel herself gaping. She had no idea how he could have figured all this out.
“I’ll tell you one more thing,” Jake said, leaning forward a little. “Tom is more than a little attracted himself. I’m not entirely sure of what has happened between them, but Tom is fighting his feelings. If he weren’t, he wouldn’t be so convinced that you and Derek are having an affair. All the signs have been there that we are, and he’s totally missed them.”
It occurred to Lily that, not only had Jake figured it all out, he’d taken it a step further than she had.
“I’m astounded,” Lily said briefly. “I’m not going to reveal what Derek has told me in confidence, but I will say I agree with that last part. I don’t think Derek has a clue of it though.”
“I guess all we can do is to be there for them while this whole thing unfolds. I can’t imagine they’ll be able to resist it forever.” Jake sounded solemn. “I just hope it doesn’t ruin their friendship.”
Lily sighed and balled up the wax paper with what was left of her sandwich. “I hear ya,” she said. “I’m worried, too.”
* * * *
Back in Jake’s truck, thoughts of Tom and Derek’s drama were replaced by his plans for the night at Lily’s. When they got to his apartment, Jake left Lily in the truck and ran in to grab a few things. He had a bag packed for a few days with the play things for that night. He didn’t know when they were going to need then, if ever, but he had wanted to be prepared. He threw a change of clothes and some basic toiletries on top then detoured to the refrigerator before dashing back outside. He wasn’t gone more than five minutes.
When they pulled into Lily’s driveway, Jake turned to her. “Once we step inside the door, it starts. I am going to be in complete control. If you need to stop the game, use your safe word.”
Jake could tell Lily was excited again. Her nipples were beaded through her blouse, and her breathing was a little choppy.
“What’s your safe word, Lily?” Jake asked.
“Zebra,” she said.
Jake opened the door. “Let’s go.”
* * * *
Lily couldn’t believe how excited she was just at the thought of what was coming. Maybe it was because she really didn’t know what was coming. As soon as the stepped into the house, Jake said in an almost casual tone, “Get in the bedroom and take your clothes off. If you have to use the bathroom, do it then. I want you kneeling in the middle of the floor when I come in. Don’t touch yourself, don’t speak, don’t move. Do you understand?”
Lily whispered, “Yes,” and started for the door.
Jake grabbed her arm firmly. “Yes, what?”
Lily looked dumbfounded for a moment. “Yes, please?” she said.
Jake shook his head.
“Yes, sir?” she tried again.
Jake pinched her nipple hard. Lily gasped.
“Sir is acceptable, but I prefer master.”
He gave the other nipple a hard pinch as well.
Lily dropped her eyes and said, “Yes, Master.”
Jake stepped back. “Very good. Now go do as you were told.”
“Yes, Master.”
Lily dashed into the bedroom. Hands shaking, she went to the bathroom, washed her face, and brushed her teeth. She then took her clothes off and knelt in the middle of the floor where he’d see her as soon as he walked into the room. Then she waited.
* * * *
Jake knew Lily would be ready, but he had carefully researched what to do. This part of the game was the buildup. He wanted this night to be perfect for Lily. And for himself. He was already hard as a rock.
After ten minutes, Jake entered the bedroom. Lily was kneeling in the middle of the floor, head bowed. Jake brought the bag in the room with him and began to unpack what he needed. He didn’t touch her or even acknowledge her. When he was done unpacking, he walked around her slowly. His jeaned leg brushed her naked back, and she shivered. He stopped in front of her and flicked her nipples, hard.