Chapter 22

“So, what’s your plan?” While whispering into the phone, Gina sat in a crowded café. When a tremor rippled through her, she wriggled in the chair, pulling the tight leather skirt taut over dark stockings. Amid ephemeral winding flames, his desire was squeezing her own. “Oh, God, Aiden. Mmm, master. I need to see you again. With you playing with that damned thing ... Jesus, it’s ... My whole body is on fire.”

“Is Kendra coming?”

As white cloth-covered metal tables wavered around her, blurring into a reddish haze, she squinted towards the entrance. At a brief glimpse of Kendra’s coal black face in a cluster of waiting patrons, her nipples tightened beneath the thin ivory blouse. But after a shake of her head, she sighed; it was only a mirage. Another dark-skinned woman disappeared into the milling crowd.

“Um-hmm. Yes, she’s still on the way. But why? Why not have her come up to visit you? We both could”—her tongue zipped around her shaky lips—”uh, stay with you. Like old times.”

Even as she quieted, her chest froze at the image of Kim’s soft smile. The last visage she’d seen. As a wave of sadness pulsed from Aiden into her, her squirming ceased. But she quivered when more surges drove into her. One after another, three forceful waves drove the air from her lungs as if she’d been punched.

“Oh. Oh, wow,” she forced out between gulps. “That’s right. You’ve, uh, done well. All three, huh?”

“Yes.” Though it was a single word, it rode a wave of anxiety.

“It’s alright, Aiden, remember? We’ve discussed this. I don’t mind. And”—air hissed from her shaking lips as the recent images from him solidified in her mind—”they, um, seem to enjoy you as much as you enjoy them.” At his soft chuckle, she let a smile drift onto her face. “Besides, none of them will ever be as special as me.”

Even as the words left her, her chest tensed. A fragmentary vision. His fear. The ring’s tendrils—sharpened—piercing somebody. A shadowy form.

“Oh, God. What are you planning?” As she spoke, one fist tightened on the phone while the nails of her other hand sank into a thigh. “That’s why you wanted me—us—to hear?”

“Yes.” Again, it was only a single word, but the enormous surge of twisting emotions rocked her back in the chair. With the roaring of her pulse in her ears, she almost missed the rest of his words. “ ... both need to understand the risk. To me. And perhaps to you.”

Just as she was about to reply, motion drew her gaze to the entrance. No mirage. Unmistakable, Kendra carved through the crowd, whisking away a hostess with a slight flick of her long, gold-tipped fingers. As soon as she caught sight of Gina, a bright, toothy smile broadened on her dark, regal face.

With a thick glossy sable mane bobbing around her bare shoulders, Kendra marched closer in a skintight dark brown alligator hide dress. Over the hubbub of the crowded room, the resounding clicks on the tile of her approaching shiny ebon heels sent pulses through Gina’s body. For a brief instant, everything blurred but for a thin shiny black collar. In its center, a tiny golden ring bounced with each forceful step.

“Hello, Gina,” she said after halting.

No sooner had Kendra bent to press her full, soft lips against Gina’s than she froze at the quick thrust of the sleek woman’s tongue. Kendra’s dark eyes twinkled. As Gina’s muffled moan erupted, a powerful ripple shook her frame.

Despite stares from a neighboring couple, she ran her shaking outstretched nails upwards to skim the alligator scales taut to Kendra’s flank. In the suddenly empty, silent, dark room, time slowed. They groaned together until Kendra’s lips moved away.

After straightening, Kendra ran the glittery tip of her tongue over her glossy lips while glancing at the table. Instead of sitting across from her, Kendra shifted the other place setting and settled into a chair beside her. While lifting a menu, the dark woman chuckled.

“Nice to see you as well.” Though low, Kendra’s husky voice cut deep into her shuddering soul. “Missed me, I see.”

At Kendra’s nod to her chest, the ache in her tight nipples pulsed. All she could do was nod as Kendra shifted to cross her long, toned legs. With waves of the dark queen’s body heat inundating her, she struggled to breathe. When Kendra gestured to the phone in her hand, she quickly cleared her head and sighed.

“Yes, he’s listening,” she said while raising the device.

“Hello, master.” As Kendra spoke, she hooked one gold-nail into the ring at her throat.

“Slut.” Though Aiden’s voice was curt, Gina writhed as a wave sliced through her. With a gulp, she met Kendra’s softening dark pools. She’d felt the same pulse of desire.

“Is it my turn to visit, master?” Kendra fell silent as the server arrived to take their orders. But as soon as he departed, she sank her teeth into her lower lip and flashed her dark eyes at Gina. With an impish grin, she continued. “Or maybe both of us? I can smell Gina from here. She’s leaking all over her chair. The little toy requires a good rough fucking.”

Just as Gina opened her mouth to retort, she froze when Kendra’s fingers settled on her stockinged thigh. While the grinning woman leaned closer to the phone, her hand shoved under Gina’s skirt.

“Oh, my. Hmm, you should feel the heat.” Kendra’s hot breath sluiced over her warming cheeks. “She definitely needs you, master.”

At Aiden’s soft chuckle and a pulse of—love, Gina’s frame quivered. Kendra’s slowly gouging fingernails on her inner thigh stoked the ever-rising flames searing her core. When Kendra looked at her, one perfect eyebrow arching, she only nodded before clearing her throat.

“Um, he’s got something ... Oh, mmm.” After holding a moan at Kendra’s firm squeeze, Gina again coughed under her breath. “He, um, needs to tell us both, Ken—mistress.”

As Gina was about to continue, the server returned with their sandwiches and two tall glasses of red wine. Even as she smiled up at him, Kendra continued the slow squeezing of her warm hand. Each rhythmic press sent the flames in her core higher. And increased the spinning of the blurring café. Although Gina remained still, as soon as he’d left, she shoved into Kendra’s kneading hand.

“Oh, really?” Kendra said while ignoring her and holding the tensing leg in place. “What’s the big secret?”

“The ring.” Even as his low voice carried the words to them, a vision slithered into Gina. By the sudden widening of Kendra’s eyes, it had slipped into her as well. While her lips formed a silent “o,” Kendra’s soft, warm digits froze in mid-squeeze. Through the pounding of blood in her ears, Gina caught the rest. “It needs me. Somebody’s coming who used to own it. There’s going to be a ... I guess a showdown, of sorts. I’m not certain. But, whatever happens, the ring may be at risk. Me, as well.”

“And us?” Although Kendra whispered, the link tying them transformed her fearful words into a shout. While gulping, Gina swayed before sighing and tightening her grip on the phone.

“Perhaps. I’m not sure. If I lose the ring or ... Or if something happens to me, I’ve no idea what may happen to those ... Well, anyone with whom I’m linked.”

From beneath rising eyebrows, Kendra shot Gina a wide-eyed expression. Despite a sudden wave of calm from Kendra, Gina’s heart drummed. Everything but Kendra’s face and the soft squeeze of her fingers disappeared into a whirling haze. It took several long seconds for Gina to realize Kendra’s lips were moving. Sound rushed back.

“ ... is the only one you’ve touched while wearing it. I mean, some that you’ve been with, you can’t even sense anymore, correct? They’d be fine. And me. I mean, you were already embodying the ring when we first met.”

“Yes, I think so. But I’ve no idea how any of this works. Other than its changed. At least for me. And the ring ... Well, it’s been awfully cryptic about the whole thing. Half the time, I believe it’s just as shocked as I am at my capabilities. Powers. As if I’m not supposed to be able to do the things I’m doing.”

“Oh,” is all Kendra said as her digits shook on Gina’s inner thigh.

“Yeah. Oh, indeed,” he replied before emitting a low laugh. “Look until whatever happens, happens, just take care of each other, and Kitten. Please.”