Image: Your temperature is dropping by C. Kennedy Garrett
After a whopping break between episodes (was it really November that I posted part fourteen of Garden?!), Nick and Grace are finally back. Sorry it’s taken me this long to crack on with their story; I got kind of sidetracked.
I’m 99.9% sure that those who’ve been following this serial have completely forgotten where we left things after such a lengthy break, so to refresh memories, here’s a quick re-cap …
Last time we saw Grace, she was at Nick’s place. She didn’t have her clothes on. And she was caught between a two delightful instruments: a feather and a crop. Oh, and Caelan was there lending a helping hand, too. All in all, things were going a lot more smoothly than they were the first time those three were in the same room together. So is it plain sailing from here?
Maybe.
This episode is pretty tame. But don’t worry; I fully intended to increase the heat level in the next few chapters. The next one will be posted this Friday.
Haven’t read Garden before? Start here.
THE GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS – PART FIFTEEN
The sound of sharp, incessant beeping gradually permeated Grace’s sleep-fogged brain, dragging her out of the deep slumber that’d swallowed her the moment her head had hit the pillow.
She slapped at the offending alarm clock with her hand and groaned in relief when her fingers finally made contact with the Snooze button, plunging the room into blissful silence.
Arm resting across her forehead, Grace yawned and rolled onto her side, bunching her pillow under her neck as she did so. Despite being roused, her body was reluctant to wake up, so she snoozed on and off, her brain drifting languidly in a sea of pleasant nothingness. But, eventually, as she drifted closer and closer to full awareness, memories of the previous evening began to crowd into her head, a kaleidoscope of tantalising images that caused her to alternately tense with remembered arousal and groan with residual embarrassment.
It had been close to 1.00am when she’d arrived home, virtually boneless from the string of orgasms Nick had wrung from her.
How many times had he forced her to come? Four? Five? Normally, even a single climax was hard enough for her to achieve. And being stimulated again after having one? Forget it. Her body had always been far too sensitive. Or so she’d thought.
Nick had completely ignored her protests for him and Caelan to stop what they were doing and give her a break. That she couldn’t possibly come again. They’d kept up their relentless torment of her pussy and breasts until her nipples had burned like hot, bright coals and the table beneath her had been wet and sticky with the juice that had trickled relentlessly from her cunt.
Bluntly, they’d played her body like it was a well-tuned cello, seeming to know it – and what it was capable of – better than she did.
By the time they’d finished with her, she’d been unable to stand without help, her legs wobbling like thin blades of grass in the wind.
Nick had wrapped her in a blanket, given her sips of water and cuddled her against him on the sofa, talking quietly to Caelan all the while. She’d been so exhausted she had no recollection of what they’d discussed – or how long she’d lain there. Only that when she’d finally raised her head from Nick’s chest and told him she was ready to go home, he’d stared at her for no short time and then told her she was too tired to drive.
She remembered insisting that she leave – for some reason, being alone in her own home to process everything that had happened seemed monumentally important – and eventually, after telling her that she was welcome to stay for the night, he’d agreed to drive her himself if she really wanted to go.
The trip itself was a blur, although she had a vague memory of Nick carrying her into her bedroom, tucking her – naked – beneath her duvet and kissing her lightly on the forehead.
A smile crept across her lips. After what he done to her body, the incongruity of the gentle affection had seemed almost ridiculous.
Grace’s stomach growled and she sighed, resigning herself to getting out of her warm bed and going in search of some breakfast. Thank God it was Saturday and she’d been able to lie in.
Shit. With a jolt, she sat bolt upright and looked at her clock. 9.36. She’d completely forgotten she was supposed to be meeting Elsie for a walk on the downs at 10.30. Was her car still at Nick’s house? Crap, crap, crap.
Grace scrambled out of bed, hurried across the room and pulled the curtains to the side so she could peek out of the window. Breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her Golf was parked in the driveway. Caelan must have followed them back in it. God bless them; they hadn’t left her stranded.
She made a mental note to thank both men for being so considerate next time she saw them. A taxi back to Nick’s would have been hideously expensive, not to mention it would’ve taken a huge chunk of time out of her morning. Although the thought of being back at his house again, imagining what he would do to her while she was there…
Grace pulled back the curtains the rest of the way and hurriedly made her way to the bathroom for quick shower, pushing thoughts of the previous night aside as best she could. She was late enough and it wasn’t fair to keep Elsie waiting around for her any longer than necessary because she couldn’t get her head out of the gutter. As it was, she was going to have a hard enough time holding a decent conversation when all her brain wanted to do was think about Nick. And relive each delicious moment of the previous evening.
…….
‘I’m sorry I’m late! I didn’t wake up properly until after nine.’
Elsie rolled her eyes and grinned at Grace as she jogged towards her across the gravel carpark. ‘I think I’m used to your appalling time-keeping skills by now.’
Grace slowed as she neared her friend and enfolded in her in a tight hug. ‘I know you are. But I’m still rubbish.’
Elsie gave her a squeeze and drew back, shifting her grip on the leash in her hand so that she could better control the little Scottish Terrier bouncing playfully at her feet. ‘You’re just busy. And we’ve got plenty of time, so don’t worry about it.’ Grace dropped down, scratched Elsie’s excited little Scottie, Marmite, behind the ears and was rewarded with a warm lick and frantically wagging tail. ‘Hello, little dolt,’ she murmured softly.
‘So,’ said Elsie. ‘I take it you haven’t had any breakfast yet?’
Grace looked up, gave Marmite one last pat, and rose to her feet. ‘No,’ she admitted. ‘But I can hold out until after our walk.’
‘Are you sure?’ Elsie looked doubtful. ‘Because I don’t mind if you’d rather we go and find something to eat and come back?’
‘Positive.’ Now that she was out and about, all Grace wanted was to walk in the fresh air, give herself a chance to clear her head and think objectively about everything that had happened with Nick. In her heart, she knew the previous night had been a major turning point for her and, although she was still undoubtedly nervous about where things were going to go, she felt as if she had began to explore the fringes a rich and beautiful forest. One made up of bright, soothing pockets of light and dark, seductive shadows.
‘Okay, then. Let’s do an hour and then go and have a cup of tea and something to eat in Stockbridge. How does that sound?’
Grace smiled. ‘Perfect.’
With the late morning sun licking over them as they walked across the shaggy grass, the downs were glorious. Marmite snuffled happily along, occasionally stopping to sniff at rabbit holes and dig frantically at fresh mole mounds. She and Elsie chattered away as they walked, but in their quieter moments, Grace allowed herself to replay the previous evening with Nick in her head.
There was no denying it; she’d enjoyed submitting to him. Even more than she’d suspected she might. Had she felt ashamed? Well, maybe to start with, but her discomfort had very quickly morphed into a blunt arousal that seemed to eclipse everything else; to turn her into a glorious sexual vessel.
If she was being scrupulously honest with herself, she could even acknowledge that her embarrassment had actually seemed to feed her excitement.
Nick had made her feel good. Really good. And, like a glutton presented with a glimpse of a spectacular feast, she couldn’t wait for him to get his hands on her again.
They meandered on, occasionally passing other walkers who nodded and greeted them politely as they passed.
Marmite strained at his leash and barked furiously at a nearby pigeon.
Elsie seemed perfectly content with Grace’s lapses into contemplative silence, but when they paused briefly at the top of a hill to admire the view of the countryside stretched below them, she turned to her curiously. ‘You seem very relaxed this morning. Has your workload finally eased off?’
Startled by her friend’s question, Grace took a moment to collect herself. ‘No,’ she said carefully. ‘I think I just had a particularly good sleep last night. It’s amazing how much less stressed I feel when I’ve had a decent eight hours.’
‘Eight hours?’ Elsie looked at her contemplatively. ‘If you didn’t wake up until nine that means you didn’t go to bed until after midnight.’ Her intelligent gaze didn’t waver from Grace’s face, and she had to force herself not to squirm under her friend’s scrutiny. ‘What the heck were you doing ‘til,’ Grace could see her doing the maths in her head, ‘one in the morning?’
‘Oh, um …’ Grace felt cornered. She’d never lied to Elsie. Ever. But taking the risk of discussing her sexual quirks with her friend? Seeing a look of shock or disgust on her face? No. It just wasn’t worth it. She’d just have to tell her a version of the truth. She straightened her shoulders and looked Elsie directly in the eye. ‘‘I was just going over some things with a client. Jack’s given me one of his regulars and I’m going all out to make sure I do everything I can to accommodate him.’
Elsie nodded and reached down to pat Marmite, seeming to accept her explanation. ‘Ah, I think I remember you saying something about that job the other week. Is this the guy he’s friends with?’
‘Yeah, that’s the one,’ Grace said as she moved to start walking back the way they’d come. ‘His name’s Nick Stark.’
‘Well, I’m sure he’s very lucky to have you working on his project,’ said Elsie loyally, as she trailed after her, tugging Marmite gently away from what appeared to be a particularly enticing rabbit hole. ‘Just make sure you don’t burn yourself out bending over backwards trying to please the man.’
Oh, thought Grace. If only you knew.
……..
The remainder of the afternoon was beyond pleasant. She and Elsie went to their favourite café, scarfed savoury muffins, drowned themselves in cups of Earl Grey tea, and generally chatted each other’s ears off.
‘I’m in Seattle for work for the next two weeks,’ Elsie was saying as Grace’s mobile vibrated in her pocket, letting her know she’d received a message, ‘so I won’t be able to meet up again until the first week of September.’
‘That’s fine.’ Grace drew the handset from her pocket and glanced at the screen, her heart tightening when she saw it was from Nick. ‘Maybe we can go out for dinner and drinks?’ She opened the text, both nervous and curious as to its contents.
From: Nick @ 13.23 > Grace. Tried calling you at home. No answer. Text me back immediately and let me know you’re okay after last night. And, yes, that’s an order. Nick.
She couldn’t help the corners of her mouth curving upwards in amusement. Even via text message – and without him having to tell her – it was very clear he was giving her a command. If anyone but him had sent her this kind of imperious directive – well, maybe anyone other than him or Jack – it would have instantly put her hackles up. But, for whatever reason, the commands she received from him, in person or otherwise, felt increasingly … good. Comforting, even.
Grace’s fingers flew over the touchscreen of her phone.
From: Grace @ 13.26 > I’m fine, thank you for asking. Just out and about.
As she pressed ‘Send’, Grace absent-mindedly dropped a lump of uneaten muffin into Marmite’s grateful mouth, and turned to her friend as she placed her phone on the table. Only to find Elsie was watching her like a hawk.
‘You’ve met someone.’ A statement, not a question.
For a moment, Grace froze – and then somehow managed to find the presence of mind to feign complete ignorance. ‘What an earth are you talking about?’ she scoffed, whilst simultaneously feeling a flash of guilt for her subterfuge. ‘Of course I haven’t.’
‘You totally have.’ Elsie leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. ‘That smile on your face is a complete giveaway.’
‘I’m not smiling!’ Damn it. She was. Cursed pokerface – or lack thereof. Grace tried to rearrange her lips into a neutral expression. ‘Okay, well maybe I am – but it was an amusing text,’ she defended.
‘Yeah, right.’
Grace made a show of draining the last of her tea from the cup in front of her and wiping her perfectly crumb-free hands on her trousers. Unable to think of a response that Elsie would believe, she stayed silent. Lying didn’t come naturally to her, and she’d already mislead her friend more times than she was comfortable with today.
To her surprise, when she looked up from her lap, her Elsie was grinning understandingly at her.
‘Don’t worry, you don’t have to tell me anything if you’re not ready to.’ Grace gave a mental sigh of relief that her friend wasn’t giving her the third degree. ‘But Grace?’ Oh, no. ‘When you are? I’m going to want details. Lots and lots of details.’
Her phone rattled on the table, signalling another message.
When Grace made no move to pick it up, Elsie quirked an eyebrow knowingly at her. ‘Aren’t you going to read it?’
Reluctantly, Grace picked up her handset and checked the screen.
From: Nick @ 13.31 > Next Friday. Same time. I left a key to my house on your kitchen counter. And Grace? No matter what, you are not to orgasm this week.
Grace flushed and slid the phone into her pocket. What did that mean, ‘no matter what’?
‘Like I said, details. Anything that has the power to make you blush like that has to be good.’