Tested by Her Web Master (Web Master #2) (13 page)

It was a Merry Christmas indeed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The brunch the next morning with my parents went well.

Truly, I couldn’t have asked for anything better. My boyfriend (because I wasn’t about to call him my Master to my family) and I had a lovely time making nice with them, but we were even happier when it was over so we could go back to my house and get into more naughty trouble together.

“
I think my father likes you,” I said on the drive from my parents’ house to mine.

Quentin grinned. “I like him, too.”

“
I think he’s starved for the chance to have another guy in the family. More testosterone to keep him from being outnumbered by Bunny and me.”

“
I can see that.”

I tucked my hand under his arm and hugged him to me. “It’s really nice—you spending all this time with my family over the holidays.”

“
For me, too.”

I didn’t want to think of what Quentin would be doing if spending time with me and my family wasn’t a possibility. Would he have just worked through the holiday, acting as if it were any other day?

When we got to the house he made slow, leisurely love to me on a blanket in front of the Christmas tree. No hitting, spanking, caning, flogging. Nothing but simple, vanilla, white bread sex and as I looked into his eyes, it was perfect.

Our mouths on each other. Me opening my legs to accept him. Hands caressing each other’s skin. Him entering me and pulsing inside me with leisurely strokes that built slowly to a fire that could only be quenched by our love as we clung tightly to each other, wringing the pleasure from our bodies.

Because all we needed was each other. We needed to join our bodies, to move together as one, but the most essential thing was being together.

There would be plenty of time for him to play most creative Dom of the year. Plenty of time for him to impress me, and do new and exciting things to me. But that afternoon I didn’t miss his inventive scenes and his magic tricks.

All I wanted was his soul.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Shelby’s face had that cat-that-ate-the-canary look and I could tell she was about to bust open with her news. It was the middle of January and she and Bryan had asked me to brunch. Always a sucker for a mimosa, I was happy to join them, and now it felt like the meal was turning into an occasion of sorts.

“
What is it?” I asked, feeling the corners of my mouth turning up already. My friend’s happiness was infectious.

Her left hand shot out toward me, and the enormous hunk of ice on her ring finger threatened to blind me.

“
Shelby, it’s gorgeous!”

“
Isn’t it?” When she finished admiring the pear-shaped bling-fest, she tucked her hand back in the crook of Bryan’s arm.

“
I’m so happy for you.” I leaned over to hug them both. Neither of them could stop beaming. The pair were shooting out rays of sunshine almost as bright as that ring. Was this what Spencer and I had looked like at one time? It seemed impossible.

“
We wanted you to be one of the first to know.” Shelby tilted her head to Bryan, then back to me. “After my mom of course. We told her last night.”

“
And is she happy?”

“
Thrilled! She loves Bryan.”

“
That’s great. I’ll bet she’s hoping for some grandbabies.” As soon as I said the words, I wished I could take them back. Though she’d never mentioned it, I knew Shelby had probably dealt with the whole “all my friends have babies except me” thing that plagued girls in their late twenties in our circle. When Spencer and I’d been married, I’d grown tired of being the only married woman without kids. Having to listen to people say “it’ll be your turn soon” and the like got on my nerves. I was sure Shelby felt the same way, and now here I was sounding just like one of those baby-pushers. What was wrong with me?

But Shelby just shrugged and grinned sheepishly at Bryan. “She is!”

“
Oh my God! You’re not pregnant already are you?” My stomach clenched. I seemed intent on stepping in it.

“
No, silly. But maybe one day.” Shelby’s entire demeanor was different. My wild, party girl chum appeared the picture of placid domesticity. Could Bryan actually have tamed Shelby Carr? It didn’t seem possible. Perhaps her new state would only be temporary. But for her sake I hoped the insane happiness I was observing would last.

“
And,” she tugged at my arm, “we want you to be my matron of honor!”

“
Really?”

“
Yes, and we’re getting married in Hawaii!”

“
Hawaii? Sign me up! When?”

“
June. Bryan has a break in his racing schedule so we’re taking a few days to go down there. It will be a quick honeymoon, but we’re looking forward to it.”

“
I can imagine. It sounds wonderful, Shelby. Anything you need, let me know. I’ll be happy to help.”

For the rest of the brunch I basked in the glow of Shelby and her new fiancé. I was happy for her, I truly was.

But as I drove home, I felt lonelier than I had since Spencer and I divorced.

A gray mood stayed with me the rest of the day, despite my friend’s news and the fact that it was a lovely January day outside—crisp but not too cold. I walked Felix, hoping the nice sweater weather would buoy my spirits, but that tactic proved unsuccessful.

When I returned home I went to my default setting, which was logged into the internet. Occasionally I considered the fact that I probably needed more of a life than the online one I had, but I always pushed those concerns aside. I had friends…

One who’s about to get married,
a niggling voice in the back of my head hissed. I volunteered at the library during the summer helping adults learn to read. I spent a reasonable amount of time with my parents. Our weekly dinners might be too much time in fact. But I worked all week, and I flew to Seattle to see Quentin a couple of weekends a month. Or he came to visit me. I didn’t have time for much else, did I?

But I hadn’t seen Quentin since Christmas three weeks ago and even though I was supposed to visit him the following weekend, if I was honest with myself sometimes it felt like we were drifting apart.

My head felt heavy from the drinks I’d had celebrating that morning with Shelby and Bryan, so I decided to take a nap after I checked my email. I brought my laptop with me into the bedroom and lay down on the bed.

A chat message popped up from BA.

This made me prop up on one elbow.

BA: Hey, what are you doing?

Sophie: Nothing. Just got back from lunch. Was about to take a nap.

BA: Want to fool around?

This made me smile. And I typed my response lazily with one hand.

Sophie: Not really in the mood.

BA: What? Is that how a sub is supposed to respond to her Master?

Sophie: Lol. You asked me a question. I answered.

BA: Good point. Why aren’t you in the mood? That doesn’t sound like you.

Sophie: True. I dunno. Just a little bummed.

BA: What’s wrong?

Sophie: A friend of mine is getting married.

BA: Isn’t that a good thing?

Sophie: You would think.

BA: ???

Sophie: I am happy for her. Actually, it’s my friend who was held hostage that time. Remember?

BA: Yeah, I remember. Now she’s getting married. Wow!

Sophie: Yeah. I guess that near-death experience really did a number on her.

BA: Sounds like it.

Sophie: I mean, whenever you almost lose something, it makes you feel like you need to guard it. Protect it. Appreciate it. You know?

BA: Yeah, I do. I’ve heard of that happening to people. You know, they almost lost something so they vow to do whatever they can not to let that happen.

Sophie: The whole “life’s too short” thing.

BA: Yeah. So what is it about her getting engaged that bothers you?

Sophie: I guess I’m jealous.
As soon as I typed the words, I wished I could have them back. Instead I added:

Don’t say anything to MC.

BA: I won’t. But you want him to propose to you?

Sophie: I’m not sure I’m ready for that, but I want him to want to. You know?

BA: We all want to be wanted, Sophie. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Sophie: It feels wrong. I think my feelings are stronger than his, and I’m not sure he will ever catch up.

BA: You may be wrong about that. Anyway, you’re human. There’s nothing wrong with having those feelings.

Sophie: The thing is— I’m not even sure I want to get married again. My first marriage was such a disaster. I wasn’t smart in who I picked. I don’t want to make that same mistake again.

BA: I understand.

Sophie: What about you? Are you worried you’ll pick the wrong person again?

BA: Lol. I don’t think I could possibly do as bad a job choosing a partner as I did last time.

Sophie: But when we picked those people we thought they were right. How could we have been so wrong?

BA: That’s a good question.

Sophie: It’s depressing.

BA: It doesn’t have to be.

Sophie: How’s that?

BA: You could view it as an opportunity to do it right the next time.

Sophie: Ah, so you’re a glass-half-full kinda guy?

BA: Maybe. I just know that Quentin cares a lot about you. Maybe you’re just not to that place in your relationship yet. You said yourself you weren’t sure if you wanted to get married. It doesn’t sound like you’re one hundred percent ready for that step.

I sighed. He had a point.

Sophie: You’re probably right.

BA: Of course I am.

Sophie: Lol. Thanks for talking me down from the ledge.

BA: Anytime.

Sophie: But what about you? Have you started dating anyone?

There was a long pause before he responded.

BA: Not yet, but I plan to soon.

Sophie: What are you waiting for?

BA: My confidence to come back.

Sophie: How’s that going?

BA: It’s improving, working with you. That helps. Makes me feel worthy of a good woman, I guess.

Sophie: Awww. That’s sweet. Thanks!

BA: No. I should be thanking you. Why don’t you let me thank you? I can walk you through a pleasure session.

I didn’t know how to respond. I’d already said I didn’t want to, but now there seemed no real reason to say no. Why not? He just said I was helping build his confidence.

Sophie: Okay.

BA: Go get your favorite vibe, a pair of clothespins, and a spatula.

I retrieved the items he requested.

Sophie: Got it.

BA: Now I want you to get naked. Play with those ample breasts of yours until your nipples are hard and aching. Then I want you to clamp those hard little titties with those clothespins.

Sophie: Ouch. Yes, Sir.

BA: Now I want you to spread those legs wide. You may play with your pussy with your fingers until I say stop, starting NOW!