Unraveled (16 page)

But Knox caught her around the waist halfway down the hall. “Where you going?”

“I need to get dressed and call the car service for a ride.”

“Why?”

“Because your sisters are here.”

He looked confused. “So?”

“So they want to spend time with you, not me.”

“They want to spend time at the mall. I want to spend time with you, so you’re coming
with us.”

“I only have my walk-of-shame clothes here, remember?”

“I don’t know what your deal is. You looked fantastic last night, nowhere near slutty.
What you wore is fine even in the light of day. Better than fine. Come with us.”

“All right.” Her eyes searched his. “And if we run into anyone we know?”

His eyes cooled. “I don’t like this sneaking-around shit. Part of me gets why we have
to, but a larger part of me wants to say fuck it.” He traced the deep V of the shirt.
“We’re together. People can deal with that.” His unspoken,
You can deal with it too,
hung between them.

“Would you be so willing to tell people you’re my submissive?”

“Apples and oranges, kitten.” He gave her a lingering kiss and returned to the kitchen.

Shiori made herself as presentable as she could.

Knox walked in, threw on jeans, a button-down shirt, and ran his hand through his
hair. Ready and looking delectable in less than two minutes.

“Why are you scowling at me?”

“Never mind. By the way, I used your toothbrush.”

“No worries. But you might wanna think about keeping some of your stuff over here.”

Why that annoyed her—she had no idea. “Maybe you should consider keeping some of your
stuff at my place.”

He smiled. “Whatever works. You ready to go?”

“Where are we going?”

“Cherry Creek Mall.”

*   *   *

SHOPPING
with Knox’s sisters yanked her out of her sour mood. She’d not spent any time with
teenagers since she was a teen, and she didn’t remember her friends being so funny.
Probably because they were trying so hard to be cool.

Vivie and Zara didn’t care about being cool, and she had to credit their upbringing
for making them want to be true to themselves since Knox was the same way.

The dressing-room door opened and Vivie sashayed out in dress number ten.

“Dear god,” Zara said, “that is hideous. Are those . . .
mushrooms
in the floral pattern? Because from here they look like dozens of dicks of all sizes.”

“Dammit, Zara, can’t you keep your voice down?”

She looked at Knox. “That
was
my quiet voice.”

“Shiori? What do you think?”

She shook her head. “Too high fashion.”

“Not to mention the slit goes up so high I can see your underwear,” Knox added.

Vivie stormed back toward the dressing room. “At this rate I’ll never find a dress.”

The saleslady returned with four more dresses and whisked the discarded ones away.

Five full minutes passed before Zara got up and pounded on the door. “Hurry up.”

“I can’t reach the zipper on this one because it’s so low.”

“I’m saying strike one for that dress without even seeing it,” Knox muttered.

Zara stepped inside to help her.

A lot of squealing ensued.

Then Zara opened the door. “Ta-da! This is one of those dresses you make an entrance
in.”

Vivie strolled out in a pale blue satin and tulle dress. The style was modest in the
front: cap sleeves, shirred satin panel on the bodice, a nipped-in waist, and a full
skirt.

“Isn’t this dress to die for?” Zara exclaimed.

“Yes, you look stunning, Vivie,” Shiori said.

“It’s weird because I’ve never thought about it before, but this dress makes me feel
like a princess.” She twirled and giggled.

Knox smiled softly. “You look awesome, brat.”

Vivie stuck her tongue out.

“But I’ve gotta be the voice of reason and ask to see the price tag.”

“But it’s perfect!”

“It’s not the only dress in the world. And Mom and Rick don’t have an unlimited budget
to spend on one dress, sweetie. You know that.”

She fussed and adjusted the dress in the big mirror. “Okay, I looked at the price
tag and it’s way more than I can spend. Even the babysitting money I have saved up
can’t make up the difference.”

Shiori started to open her mouth to say she’d cover the
difference because Vivie deserved that dress. But she felt Knox’s gaze burning into
her as a warning.

Zara held her hand down to Vivie and said, “Low five.”

“No doubt.” She sighed and spun in the dress one more time. “Now I’m done shopping.
Maybe I’ll sell my blood for extra cash.” She smirked at Knox in the mirror. “Or my
body.”

“That’ll earn you five bucks,” Zara said.

Vivie smacked her. “Fine. I’ll put it back on the hanger. But I need to wallow in
ice cream.”

“And French fries,” Zara added.

Knox sighed. “Ditch the dress and we’ll go to the food court.”

AFTER
they’d been in the food court twenty minutes, Shiori said, “Where are the restrooms?”

“Back behind the taco place,” Vivie said.

“Thanks. Excuse me.”

Knox couldn’t help but watch Shiori walk away. As his eyes tracked her calves to those
fuck-me shoes she wore, he wondered how they’d line up if he fucked her against a
wall.

Zara snapped her fingers in front of his face.

He looked at her. “What?”

“You’ve got it bad for her. But watching you mentally stripping her in front of us
is sorta gross, so can you tone it down?”

“I’ll try.”

“So Mom will be super-stoked you’ve got a girlfriend.”

His gaze moved to Vivie, who was dipping her French fries in her chocolate shake.
“We’re keeping this quiet, remember?”

“Even from Mom? That’s bullshit. She worries about you, and this would make her so
happy.”

“Why would Mom worry about me?”

“Because you’re thirty-six and you’ve never been married.”

“That’s not that unusual,” Knox said, trying not to get defensive. “I was engaged
once.”

“That doesn’t count. You were, like, what? Twenty?”

“I think it’s fine if you don’t want to get tied down,” Zara said.

“Thank you, Zara.”

“But don’t you want to find your soul mate? And let everyone share in your love and
happiness by having a big wedding?” Vivie said with a dreamy sigh.

“I think the princess gown infected you with the happily-ever-after virus.”

Zara snickered.

But Vivie wouldn’t let it go. “You don’t wanna have babies?”

“Not especially.”

“What?” Zara and Vivie exclaimed simultaneously. Then Vivie demanded, “Why not?”

“Babies are loud and smelly and demanding. They suck every ounce of fun and free time
from your life. So no, I don’t see myself strapping on a diaper bag anytime soon.”
He grinned. “Besides, I’m old, remember? Wouldn’t want people mistaking my kid for
my grandkid.”

Shiori returned. “What did I miss?”

“Nothing,” Knox said sharply, mostly to his sisters so they’d keep their opinions
about brides and babies to themselves.

“We should probably get going,” Vivie said. “Dad is cooking supper tonight.”

Knox pointed to their snacks. “Better not tell him you already ate.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll be hungry by the time we get home,” Zara said with a grin.

In the mall parking lot, he slipped Vivie twenty bucks for gas and watched his sisters
drive away.

Shiori wrapped her arms around him. “They’re great.”

“They keep my life interesting.” He gazed into her face. “What do you want to do now?”

“Is go home and sleep an option?”

He shook his head.

“What do you want to do?”

“Curl up with you on the couch and watch a movie.”

“And if I fall asleep?”

“I’d let you sleep.” He pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. “I don’t care as long
as I get to be with you.” And just so she didn’t think he was clingy, he added, “But
if you have other plans, that’s fine.”

“I’d planned on working out at the dojo today.”

“Me too.” He grinned. “But I’m sure you can come up with a way to get us both hot,
sweating, and breathing hard—without a treadmill.”

Shiori fisted her hand in his shirt and dragged his mouth to hers.

Her kiss damn near had him dropping to his knees in the parking lot.

She released his mouth, nipping his bottom lip before she backed off. “I’ll watch
a movie with you, but Mistress rules apply. And we have to load up on junk food, because
I require Junior Mints and black licorice with my popcorn.”

“Whatever it takes to make you happy, ma’am.”

“And I get to pick the movie.”

Knox shook his head. “No can do. My TV, my movie.”

“No horror.”

“Agreed.”

“No movies with car chases and explosions.”

“Now you’re just wrecking my fun, She-Cat. But we ain’t watching a chick flick, either.”

“As if I like that kind of mushy stuff.”

He brushed his lips across hers. “Such a little liar you are. I’ll bet you’ve seen
just about every romantic comedy released in the last ten years.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Just because I saw them once doesn’t mean I need to watch
them again and again.”

He laughed. “Gotcha.”

“How about sci-fi?”

“Not a big fan.”

“No martial arts,” they said at the same time.

“It might be fun. Every time the stunt double does some impossible maneuver, whoever
spots it first can make the other one remove an article of clothing.”

Shiori poked him in the chest. “Then you’ll be naked pretty damn fast since you’ll
only be wearing athletic shorts.”

“True. We’re running out of choices. I’m not an art-house-film guy.”

She nodded. “Movies based on real history are usually boring.”

“Agreed. So that leaves us with animated or my old standby for movies.”

“We are not watching porn.”

“Don’t need to watch porn when I’ve got you in my bed,” he growled.

“What movie?”

“Pale Rider.”

“Is that a . . . ?”

“Western,” he supplied, “starring none other than the man himself, Clint Eastwood.”

“I’ve never seen any of his films.”

“Then it’s past time for you to behold the glory.”

“All right.” She smiled at him—the devious smile that didn’t bode well. “But next
time I get to pick.”

“Nothing with subtitles,” he warned.

Shiori tugged on his hand. “Snacks await.”

When they reached the checkout at CVS, Shiori pulled out her credit card and he had
to muscle her aside to keep her from paying.

Back at his house, she changed into the casual clothes she’d picked up at the mall.
He liked the slim fit of the designer sweatpants, but why any woman wanted to advertise
Juicy on her ass escaped him. He stripped down to his boxer briefs since all his workout
clothes were dirty.

They’d settled in with bowls of popcorn, sodas, and candy, ready to watch Clint wreak
havoc, when his phone rang. He quickly glanced at the caller ID, then wondered why
Merrick would be calling him on a Sunday.

“Hello?”

“Knox. It’s Merrick. I hope you’re having a good weekend. We missed you last night.”

“I wasn’t supposed to be there, was I?”

Shiori looked at him, and he mouthed,
Merrick
.

“No. I’m calling to ask if you’ll be around next weekend.”

“I hadn’t planned that far ahead. Why?”

“Master Mike has requested an hour of your time.”

“You need to know now?”

“Yes. Those private rooms fill up fast.”

Knox opened his mouth to say yes—until he remembered Shiori’s demand to be present
during the scenes he participated in. “Hang on a second.” He hit mute and faced her.

“What?”

He explained the situation and felt resentful when she demanded to talk to Merrick.
Jesus. He hated how this felt like Shiori was his mommy.

You willingly signed on for this.

Reluctantly, he handed the phone over.

Shiori unmuted the call. “Merrick. It’s Mistress B. I’m fine, thank you.” She sent
Knox a hot look. “So far he’s done very well.”

Why did her praise take the sting out of needing her permission to do what he’d been
doing at the club for years?

Because you are submissive. Try to accept it and quit fucking whining.

“As far as Master Mike? Are he and his sub good with me observing? Yes, I’d appreciate
it if you’d get confirmation on that. And from now on? As long as Knox is with me,
he won’t be doing solo scenes with couples.” She laughed softly. “Very fit to be tied.
But he agreed to the terms.” She paused. “No. We’re not to that stage. Thank you.
Let Knox know what Master Mike decides.” She groaned. “Your Japanese sucks. Stick
to English, Master Merrick. Goodbye.” She ended the call and handed his phone back.
“Does Merrick always ask your permission about scenes?”

“I told you I have a say in whose scenes I help out with.”

“That makes me happy.” Then Shiori set both of their popcorn bowls aside and straddled
him.

Instant erection.

“But you know what makes me really happy?”

“What?”

“That you deferred the situation to me.” She swept her thumb across his bottom lip.
“If I punish you when you’ve broken a rule, then I should reward you when you uphold
one.”

“Okay. What’s my reward?”

“You can either have my mouth on your nipples while I jack you off. Or your mouth
on
my
nipples while I jack you off. Choose.”

“I want my mouth on you.”

That catlike smile curled her lips. “Excellent choice.” She stood and whipped off
her shirt. “Ditch the underwear.”

Knox had them on the floor in no time.

She perched her ass on his thighs and circled her hand around the base. “You want
lube?”

“Just your hand.”

“Can you reach me?”

He tipped his head down and sucked on her nipple.

“Guess that answers that,” she murmured.

She hadn’t indicated he couldn’t use his hands, so he cupped her tits and drew circles
beneath one nipple as he sucked on the other one.

“Let’s test your stamina.”

Fuck.

Knox suspected
test his stamina
was code for cock and ball torture.

Shiori stroked him so fast he wondered if he’d have friction burns on his shaft. Right
when his balls were about to spew, she made her fingers into a cock ring and stopped
him from coming. How she’d known the exact moment boggled his mind.

Not that he was thinking clearly. His chest heaved, his jaw was tight, and he had
to drop his face from her view or she’d see his frustration.

Next she took his mouth in a sweet kiss he’d almost believe was somewhat apologetic
if he hadn’t feared this
reward
was a double-edged sword.

When she returned to sitting beside him and said, “Start the movie,” he wanted to
ask,
What the fuck? What about that hand job?

Fifteen minutes later, after his cock had gone soft and he’d become invested in the
movie, Shiori trailed her fingers down his chest to his groin and toyed with his flaccid
cock. Which didn’t stay flaccid for long when she expertly started to work him over
with those magic fucking fingers.

At least she hadn’t gotten him close to orgasm that time before she stopped.

He couldn’t even focus on the movie because she’d set her hand on the inside of his
leg and he’d think,
Here she goes again
. But she’d just gently stroke his skin, not caring that his cock rallied for her
attention at the slightest sign she might touch him.

They didn’t speak beyond Shiori asking him to put his arm around her. At least he
had that as a distraction, drawing circles on
the ball of her shoulder or twining a section of her hair around his fingers.

The next time she slipped her fingers between his legs, she just played with his balls.
Rolling them, tugging on them, squeezing them, teasing them with a featherlight touch.
Yeah, his dick had gotten hard. Mess with the berries and the twig wants in on the
action. But again she left him hanging.

The fourth go-around was exactly like the first.

At that point it took every ounce of his control not to just walk to the bathroom
and take care of matters himself. The whipping with the switch hadn’t been that bad.
A few hard swats on his ass would be worth it if he could alleviate this ache.

The fifth time she touched him, he let his head fall back against the cushion in total
defeat.

Then her lips were on his ear. “This time I’ll let you pick if you want to come or
not.”

“And if I choose to come, what happens then?”

“Neither of us will have the satisfaction of knowing how long you could’ve lasted.”

Of course she was challenging him. “I won’t come.”

“Good man. Watch my hand jacking you. See how hot it looks.”

He lifted his head and peeled his eyes open. His cock was an angry red, the head nearly
purple. And her hand looked delicate wrapped around his girth.

She pumped his meat in her tight fist faster and faster. Again her soft lips brushed
his ear, sending goose bumps down the left side of his body. “You tell me when to
stop. But don’t flinch, my beautiful sub. Let me get you right to the very edge, where
you’re balancing on one foot and windmilling your arms to keep from plunging over . . .
and then pull back.”

Christ. He held out until that moment right before his balls lifted and he said hoarsely,
“Stop. Just stop.”

Once again her fingers became a cock ring.

Maybe he had a sense of accomplishment when she murmured, “I’m impressed.”

Knox tried to level his breathing. And while he did that, he tried to get his cock
to stand down.

She patted his leg and resumed crunching popcorn as if she weren’t turning him inside
out.

“It makes me wet,” she said nonchalantly, “seeing you with such iron control, knowing
you’re doing it for me because I asked.”

He growled at her admission and grabbed a handful of hair at the back of her head
to get at her mouth. Taking the kiss, the contact he needed. Besides, what worse punishment
could she give him?

Shiori allowed the kiss, but when she lightly bit down on his tongue, he backed off.

The next time her hand crept between his legs, he didn’t bother to try to keep his
body from reacting to her touch.

“How are you liking your reward?”

“This doesn’t exactly feel like a reward, Mistress.”

“It will.” She blew in his ear, and he felt it all the way in his balls. “Relax and
let all your tension go.”

“I’m trying.”

She smacked his leg. “Loosen up.”

Knox inhaled a deep breath and focused on the tension leaving his body the same time
as the air in his lungs.

That’s when a strange sense of peace flowed through him. He felt her hand working
him and the tightness in his balls. He wanted that rush of release, ached for it,
but he trusted her to get him there.