The Exposure (17 page)

Now it's time for you to go to bed.

But what about,
she started typing. Before she could finish her sentence, he wrote back.

Do not come. Do not ask. Go straight to bed.

Her fingers hovered over the a. Ass, she wanted to write. She decided not to, though, thinking maybe he would change his mind if she followed directions.

Yes, Sir,
she wrote instead.

Good night, Meagan.

Good night.

Though she had been tired before texting with Luke, she found after they ended their conversation she wasn't tired at all. Not only that, but she needed release badly. She debated what she should do. Going to sleep would be her best option. That didn't seem likely, though. She could get herself off, even though he told her not to. Yes, she decided, that was actually the best option. After all, how would he know?

She lay back on the bed, letting her knees fall open wide. Her fingers drifted to exactly where she wanted them. This time she didn't think of Luke. How could she, when she was doing what he commanded her not to? With her eyes shut tight, she quickly brought herself to completion. And though she felt relief, it was not a satisfactory orgasm.

Afterward, she was wide-awake. Eventually, she heard Abby and Nathaniel in the hallway. There were soft murmurs at the opening and closing of a door and finally, silence.

Sleep didn't come easily, and it was well after one a.m. before she drifted off.

She still felt guilty the next morning. It wasn't like her. Guilt was a new emotion. The last time she remembered feeling guilty was the debacle with Abby at the club. She was glad she wouldn't see Luke today, because she didn't think she could hide what she'd done the night before.

Nathaniel cooked breakfast for everybody. Apparently, this was not a common weekend occurrence. Meagan remembered Abby had told her once that she normally wore his collar on the weekends. She supposed that meant Abby normally cooked. But this morning, Abby's neck was bare.

Abby and Nathaniel's two children, Elizabeth and Henry, joined them for breakfast. They were both precious. Meagan had never spent too much time with them, but they were so much fun to be around. In fact, they had her rethinking her stance on being childless. Perhaps, maybe, she did want children one day.

Lynne came down to the kitchen right as Nathaniel was plating the French toast. He wished her good morning and made her a plate as well. Once again, Meagan thought Abby was a very lucky woman.

“How did you sleep?” Abby asked.

Meagan decided to be honest. “Not too well, but I blame that on Luke.”

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. “Luke?”

“We sent some texts back and forth last night.”

“Ah, texts,” Abby said. “Done that before.”

“And it wasn't the most relaxing ending.” Meagan didn't want to say any more, since there were children present. Hopefully, the adults would understand what she was trying to say.

Nathaniel chuckled in understanding. “Done that before,” he said, copying his wife.

“Done what, Daddy?” Elizabeth asked.

“Teased your mother,” he said.

“Not nice, Daddy,” Henry said.

Nathaniel ruffled his hair. “I know. And your mother was quick to tell me the same thing.”

“That I was,” Abby said. “For all the good it did me.”

Nathaniel winked at her.

Yes, Meagan thought. Abby was a fortunate woman.

*   *   *

W
hen they pulled up to the Parkses' house a few hours later, Meagan was surprised to see a familiar car. What the fuck was Luke doing here?

“I didn't know Luke was invited.” She asked Abby, “Since when do men come to baby showers?”

“I know Nathaniel was invited to this one,” Abby said. “But since Lynne was also coming, he decided to stay home with the kids.”

“Okay, but since when do Luke and Jeff know each other?”

“I think Jeff is working with Luke on security.”

Right. Luke had mentioned hiring someone to revamp the security system at the club. And, while she knew Jeff was into security, she had no idea he knew Luke. This could be trouble.

But there was nothing she could do about it now. She would
just try to act normal, like nothing happened last night, and most certainly that she did not have an orgasm without his permission.

Her resolve lasted as long as it took to open the door, step into the house, and take one look at Luke. Because the truth was, she couldn't actually look at Luke. She looked everywhere except Luke: the couch, the exposed wooden beams of the ceiling, the wrapped baby presents on the table.

“Meagan?” Luke asked. “How are you? Sleep well?”

“No, I didn't actually,” Meagan said. “I just had the same conversation at Nathaniel and Abby's house.”

“And what was the general consensus?”

“That Nathaniel was a meanie to tease Abby.”

Luke gave her a knowing smile. With slow measured footsteps, he kept her in his sights, as he walked toward her. Once again, Meagan found she couldn't look him in the eye.

When he finally stood before her, he lowered his head toward her ear, and whispered so that only she could hear, “You came last night, didn't you?”

She didn't answer the question; instead she asked, “What makes you say that?”

“Avoiding the question, I see.”

“Not necessarily.”

“Look me in the eye, Meagan.” Luke's voice was very serious. “And tell me you didn't come.”

She looked him in the eye, but she knew she couldn't lie to him. “I came.”

“Someone was a very bad girl.”

“I'm sorry, Sir.”

“Be that as it may, sorry just isn't good enough.”

“I don't see what the big deal is,” Meagan said. “I mean, you're not actually my Dom.”

“Oh, Meagan, Meagan, Meagan.” Luke pulled back, took her chin in his hands, and forced her to look him in the eyes. “It would have been much better had you not said that.”

She figured as much, but that didn't stop her from saying it. “It's the truth.”

“No, the truth is, I gave you a command last night. To which you replied,
Yes, Sir
.”

“But that doesn't mean—”

“Hush. The best thing you can do right now is be quiet.”

Why did his forcefulness turn her on so much? His hands were not gentle against her skin. There was a strength he rarely showed in his touch and that strength made her shiver.

“Good girl,” he said when she didn't argue any further. “Now tell me, am I right?”

She couldn't very well deny that he had acted as her Dom last night, especially with what he probably saw in her eyes, and the way she reacted to his touch, as well as his command.

“Yes, Sir,” she whispered.

“Here's what we're going to do,” Luke said. “After the shower, we go by the Wests' house to get your car. Then we're going to my house, because it's closer than yours. We won't have a photography session, but I will deal with your disobedience then. Any questions?”

“No, Sir.”

“Good girl.” He dropped his hands from her chin. “Now, let's get this party started.”

Meagan couldn't relax for the entire duration of the shower. Fortunately, she believed only Luke was aware of that. Every so often she would happen to glance behind her and she would see
him staring at her. Each time their eyes met, he would smile slightly as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.

He probably did.

*   *   *

L
uke kept his eye on Meagan the entire baby shower. It was funny—when Jeff first asked him to attend, he almost turned him down. After some quick thinking, and the realization that Meagan would be there, he had accepted.

And now, he was glad he did. It was so much fun to tease and torment Meagan. When he gave her his command the night before, he knew there was a good chance she would disobey. And he knew as soon as she walked through the door and saw him that she had. Crazy how easy it was to read her.

Of course, that didn't mean he was going easy on her. She had disobeyed, after all. And since she was a sub, she was well aware of the consequences such an act carried. So aware, in fact, that it didn't appear she thought of anything else during the entire shower.

He wondered if she would try to prolong her departure from the shower. Or did the thought of his discipline turn her on? He knew Jeff had a playroom, and he was very tempted to take her into it. But what he had in mind required a bit more privacy.

When Dena had opened all the presents, all the food had been eaten, and the first few people left, Meagan looked his way. He nodded. It was time to go.

Meagan hastily said her good-byes, hugging all of the women, and whispering something he couldn't hear to Abby. He thought about asking her if she was ready, but she moved so expeditiously, he didn't have to.

Meagan had accepted pleasure from his hands. Now he would see how well she handled correction.

Two hours after the end of the shower, they pulled into the driveway of his house. Though she'd seemed eager to leave the party, he could sense a tiny bit of trepidation when she got out of her car.

Instead of moving into the house, he stood in the driveway, arms crossed, watching her. She looked even more uncomfortable. Good. She needed to know that his commands were to be obeyed.

“Does it feel like I'm your Dom now?” he asked.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good. I want you in the bedroom, naked, kneeling in the middle of the room. You will wait for me. Any questions?”

She shook her head.

“Words, Meagan.”

“No, Sir. I have no questions.”

He nodded his head in acknowledgment and unlocked the front door, holding it open for her to pass. He didn't tell her how long it would be before he entered the bedroom. He didn't want her to know. He wanted her to anticipate it. Think about it. He wanted her body and soul to hum in anticipation of what he was going to do.

She made her way down the hall and disappeared into his bedroom. Leaving her with her thoughts for now, he went to the kitchen and got a glass of water. While he drank it, he checked his voice messages and his e-mail. He decided to leave his clothes on for now. Glancing at the clock, he saw that about twenty minutes had passed. Plenty of time for Meagan's mind to be in a tailspin.

He entered his bedroom quietly, and was pleased to find her
waiting the way he had asked. Though she was not facing him, she knew the minute he walked in the door. Her body tensed slightly and her breathing hitched, just a bit.

“Why are you here this afternoon, Meagan?”

“I disobeyed you last night, Sir.”

“How?”

Yes, he thought, answering the question in her head. I'm going to make you say it.

Her hands fisted. This wasn't a position she was used to, nor was it one she liked. Neither of which mattered to him at the moment. Today was a lesson. One she would not forget. He would see to it.

But she still didn't answer. “Tell me, Meagan. Now. Your delay will only make things worse.”

“I disobeyed you, Sir. You told me not to come and I did.”

“I wonder,” he said, “what you would do in this situation, to one of your subs. How would you handle it?”

“So far, Sir, the exact way you are.”

“I don't issue commands lightly. And I don't think I give too many of them. However, I do expect that when I give one, it is obeyed. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Tell me what you should have done last night.” This was something he normally did before he disciplined a sub. To reiterate the wrongdoing as well as the expected behavior.

“After we said our good-byes”—she spoke softer than normal, perhaps a little worried now that she was in his bedroom—“I should have gone straight to bed and not touched myself. And I most definitely should not have made myself come.”

“I don't enjoy this part of play,” Luke said, which was the truth. There were those Doms who did, but he was not one of
them. However, it was necessary on occasion. “I would much rather you be here for pleasure. And I'm sure you feel the same.”

He didn't pose it as a question and she didn't answer. He waited a few more minutes, letting the silence and the gravity of the situation sink further into her consciousness. And to allow them both time to get into the needed headspace.

“I want you to stand and bend over the bed.”

She moved quickly and got into position. He half expected some smart-ass comment and the fact there was none spoke volumes. Good. She was taking this seriously.

When she was in position, he came up behind her. He lightly stroked her bottom and was surprised that she didn't flinch. “We'll start with my hand and go from there. No need to count.”

Her faint nod was all he got in acknowledgment. Frankly, it was all he expected, since he hadn't asked her a question.

She was tense; it was obvious in the way she held herself, the way she didn't move under his touch. “This will be easier if you relax,” he said. Which she knew, of course, being a switch and having played both roles.

She took a deep breath and her muscles relaxed slightly. Without waiting for her to do more, he started to spank her. Lightly at first, just warming up her skin. It would almost be pleasurable, if she didn't know what was coming next. But of course she did, and her body anticipated it.

He slipped his hand between her legs, feeling the wetness there. So she wasn't completely scared; her body betrayed her. There was a part of her that liked this.

“Such a naughty girl,” he whispered. He gave her butt a pinch. “This turns you on, doesn't it?”

“I think that much is obvious, Sir.”

He chuckled. “Still a bit cheeky, I see.”

“Sorry, Sir. I can't help it. It just comes out.”