Cardinal's Rule

Chapter Eighteen

The next morning she awoke with a start to find herself cuddled against Cris on the couch. At some point during the night they’d changed positions. He was stretched out next to her with his arm comfortably draped over her waist.

A rush of memories swept through her, making her heart ache. More than one night they’d curled up to watch a movie just to fall asleep like this.

“I’ll make us coffee,” he mumbled behind her, “if you want to call and check on him.”

“How’d you know I was awake?”

“I’ve been awake for a while.”

That’s when she realized the firm shape pressed against her ass was his hard cock. It had felt so comfortable, so familiar, it took a moment to realize what it meant. She’d even snuggled more tightly against him, like she’d used to.

Reality finally broke through. Like a hot poker to her flesh, she jumped up from the couch.

“Um, okay. Yeah. I’ll call. Thanks.”

Racing to her bedroom, she closed the door behind her, all sleep gone from her system.

It had been all she could do not to roll over and kiss him, to make love to him.

She pressed her forehead against the door and took several long, deep breaths to calm herself.

Landry’s nurse assured her he’d had a comfortable night and might be allowed to eat breakfast, albeit a clear liquid diet, that morning. When she returned to the kitchen, this time with a bathrobe on over the clothes she’d slept in, she didn’t miss Cris’ playful smirk.

“What?” she asked.

“It won’t bite you.”

She felt her face redden. “You know, I’m not forcing you to walk around with twenty pounds of weight hanging from your balls, and I told him he’s not allowed to castrate you. Cut me some slack.”

“I’m sorry, Til.” He still looked amused as he poured her coffee first and fixed it before handing it to her. “It’s just you ran like a scalded cat. The look on your face was hysterical.”

Unfortunately, she couldn’t get the thought out of her mind as she took a shower. She’d slept damn good, like a fucking rock.

It was the rare night she hadn’t slept well when with Cris.

Filing those conflicting feelings away under the heading of Ignore at All Costs, she got ready to go visit Landry.

Unfortunately, the memory of what Cris called her in the waiting room kept creeping back to mind.

Baby girl.

The unexpected flood of memories and emotions that simple endearment had brought back startled her. Despite that, she still slept on the couch the next two nights, with Cris, quickly falling asleep while watching movies, until Landry returned from the hospital.

Upon returning home Landry immediately went to bed to sleep and she lay there and stared at him, studying his features. She’d missed him, even with Cris’ presence to soothe her. Maybe one day she could bring herself to talk to Landry about it, to broach the subject and let him in that much more, to confess that longing to him.

To be his baby girl.

She went to sleep with the soothing, steady sound of his breath lulling her into sweet dreams.

Landry’s healing and treatments progressed until he had another break from chemo six weeks later. Tilly was working on her computer one evening when Landry walked into the office and kissed the back of her neck.

“Busy?”

“Not too much. Why?”

He draped his arms over her shoulders. “I have a favor to ask.”

His tone of voice more than anything put her on alert. “What?”

“Would you mind if I spent some time with Cris tonight?”

Her body tensed. “Why would I mind?” He hadn’t spent time with Cris like that since the last time, the night she watched them together without them knowing about it.

“It is all right if you wish to say no.”

“It’s okay,” she insisted.

He stroked her hair. “Are you sure? I don’t wish to cause you any distress.”

“It’s fine.” She shut down her computer. If Cris was going to get laid, frankly, she wanted to be on the other end of the house with the door shut and the TV turned up loud enough to drown out the sound. Sharing him wasn’t as easy to agree to as it once had been.

Despite how she’d promised herself she wouldn’t do it, she still crept down the hall later after Landry made love to her and left her bed to go to Cris. As he had the last time, he held off his own climax, yet gave her two mind shattering ones that normally would have put her to sleep like a light.

Cris’ bedroom door stood open more than halfway, but she kept back far enough to watch them in the mirror. Landry held Cris, kissing him, two lovers embracing and not a Master using his slave.

Her clit throbbed as she watched Landry straddle Cris and impale himself on his cock. It took every ounce of will inside her not to join them.

Cris stroked Landry’s thighs, twisted his nipples, then reached down and grabbed his cock.

“That’s it,” he hoarsely said. “Use my cock. Let me make you come.”

She felt an uncomfortable flashback as she remembered many times he’d said the same thing to her, in the same tone, as she rode him in their bed.

Cris closed his eyes and threw back his head, and that’s when Landry looked into the mirror and met her gaze.

Without words, she knew. He’d known about her presence the whole time, and probably the other time, too. He smiled at her but didn’t stop his slow rise and fall on Cris’ cock

Still looking in the mirror, he crooked his finger at her.

She bolted for their bedroom and quietly closed the door behind her, leaning against it and gasping for breath as tears spilled down her face. Dammit, she didn’t want to lose control like this.

She couldn’t be with Cris, not even like that.

Not after what she’d survived.

Never again could she make herself vulnerable to that man, even if she had Landry as her rock to keep her steady. Sleeping—clothed—on a couch was one thing. Watch him get the shit beat out of him? Sure.

Not this. Maybe one day, but not now.

She crawled under the covers and tried to go to sleep, but her heart raced in her chest. After what felt like forever, but she knew was maybe a half-hour later, he returned and slipped into bed with her.

Not a drop of sleep in her system.

He kissed the back of her neck. “Are you all right, love?”

“Yeah.”

He made her roll over to face him. “Do you wish for me not to do that again?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s okay.”

He brushed the hair away from her face. It was now long enough he could run his hands through it while they made love. “If you ever wish it,” he rumbled, “you are always welcomed to join us.” He nibbled on the base of her throat and she softly moaned as her body betrayed her.

He entered her, slowly stroking. “I saved that for you, love. Just for you.”

Her body melted as she writhed against him. Before he could ask for it, she climaxed as her throbbing clit rubbed against him perfectly.

Another quick thrust and he joined her. With his lips buried against her shoulder, he whispered, “You are my love. I will always save the best for you.”

She immediately dropped to sleep in his arms, with his softening cock buried inside her.

One more round of treatment, then another break. With his break in chemo, Landry returned to a playful, if somewhat subdued mood. He awoke the next Saturday morning and rolled on top of her, kissing her.

“Good morning, tiger,” she teased.

“Let’s go to the club tonight.”

She frowned. “Are you feeling up to it?”

“You are worse than Cris.”

“Well, the nurse part of me can’t forget the whole vomiting blood incident. I don’t want you pushing yourself too hard.”

“The doctor said I can do what I feel like doing. I feel like going to the club tonight. I’ll take a nap this afternoon.”

She didn’t miss the playful gleam in his eye. “Aaannnd?”

He grinned. “I want to take you out to breakfast, and then shopping.”

“Shopping?”

He kissed her, long and hard enough she felt her own desire stirring. “Shopping.”

Cris didn’t react when Landry told him not to bother making them breakfast, that the two of them were going out. He nodded. “Yes, Master. Any instructions?”

“Use the day for any work-related issues needing your attention. Make sure you don’t wear yourself out before we go to the club tonight.”

She supposed Landry didn’t miss the almost invisible curl to Cris’ lips at that revelation. “Yes, Master.”

She insisted on driving despite him trying to take the keys from her. “Stop it, you stubborn man.

Let me take care of you.”

“We’re already fighting like an old married couple, and it’s not even our first anniversary yet.

How about that?”

“Shut the hell up and get in the car.”

He snapped her a salute. “Yes, ma’am.”

She flipped him a bird from the other side of the car, but smiled at his amused laugh.

After their brunch, they returned to the car. “So where do you want to go shopping, and why didn’t we bring Cris?”

“And spoil the surprise? Love, what do you take me for?”

“A sadistic Dom.”

“Ah, you know me so well. Has familiarity bred contempt yet?”

“No, that’s about the only thing you haven’t bred with me yet, you damn horn dog.”

He roared with laughter. “Let’s go to Temptations. That’s my plan.”

She could only imagine what he wanted to buy there, and it didn’t take long to sate her curiosity. As they walked into the store on U.S. 41, which sold various items from adult toys, to novelties, to club and stripper gear, she knew he’d set his mind on something.

A friendly clerk greeted them. “Anything in particular you’re looking for?”

Landry took Tilly’s hand. “I’m feeling particularly pervy today. Any chance of turning my beautiful wife into a Catholic school girl?”

Tilly blushed while the clerk laughed. “Right this way.”

When Tilly tried to object, Landry leaned in and whispered, “Please, love? I’ve been dying to see you dressed that way.”

She grumbled her assent. She’d once had a schoolgirl outfit.

Years ago.

In fact, she and Cris had shopped for it in this very store. If they had the exact same one in stock, she’d be forced to put her foot down. That would just be too much for her to handle.

She breathed in a sigh of relief at the short blue plaid skirt, not red like her other one had been.

And the blazer part of the ensemble looked different. When she modeled it for Landry, complete with a set of platform Mary Janes he picked out, his pleased grin melted her heart.

Yes, she’d wear it for him. To see him that happy, she’d wear nearly anything.

Or absolutely nothing.

He walked over to her. “We’ll take it,” he told the clerk. Then he nuzzled her ear, pressing close enough Tilly felt his hard cock rub against her thigh through his pants. The man didn’t seem to own any underwear. At least, none that he ever wore under trousers. “Do you know how long I’ve fantasized about this?”

“So are you going dressed as a priest or a nun tonight?” she teased.

He nipped her ear, knowing damn well what that did to her. She successfully fought back her moan. “I’m going as the horny Dom who will beat the shit out of his slave before he fucks his wife’s brains out.”

His words rang in her ears as they prepared to go to the club. As Landry scened with Cris, she felt her body respond as she watched them together. Several times Landry’s eyes caught hers as he played with Cris, pulling her in as a participant even as she sat against the wall and did nothing more lease as he spent nearly an hour going after him with canes, crops, and a singletail.

Cris didn’t seem to mind, looking happy as Landry held him, giving him aftercare.

She took the keys from Cris’ jeans pocket before he started getting dressed. When it came time to leave, she immediately stepped to the driver’s door and waved the men into the back. “I’m driving.

It’s my car anyway.”

Landry didn’t argue with her. She glanced in the mirror a few times and spotted Cris leaning against Landry, Landry’s arm around him. When they reached the house Landry sent Cris to bed. When he started to follow her to their bedroom, she stopped him.

“Go spend some time with him,” she told him.

“Love?”

She stood on her toes and kissed him. “I mean it.” She smiled. “Save some energy for me, though.” Without another word she walked to her bedroom and undressed. She knew what she wanted to do, but didn’t know if she’d have the guts to go through with it.

Ten minutes later, naked beneath her robe, she walked down the hall and stood in Cris’ bedroom doorway. Landry hadn’t bothered closing the door at all tonight. Cris lay naked in bed, on his back, Landry kneeling between his legs and going down on him. After a few minutes, as she stood there with her clit throbbing and her own juices sliding down her legs, Landry straddled Cris and mounted him, both men letting out pleasured moans as he completely impaled himself.

With her heart racing, she walked over to the bed. Landry didn’t appear at all surprised to see her there. He pulled her to him and kissed her, further inflaming her own need. His eyes looked a deep, jungle green in the dim light.

She didn’t break eye contact with him as she climbed onto the bed and straddled Cris’ face, facing Landry. This was her husband, and she wanted to make sure Cris remembered that. She lowered herself onto him, Landry’s arms steadying her as Cris immediately licked her clit.

“You’re beautiful, love,” Landry murmured as he kissed her. “Gorgeous.”

Cris wouldn’t take long to make her come. His tongue plunged deep inside her, tugging her closer to release. “Don’t you dare come, Landry,” she said. “You’re my husband. Play with him as long as you like, but your cock better be in my pussy when it explodes tonight.”

Cris moaned beneath her, but not in complaint. Her words had the desired effect, triggering his climax. She hung on to Landry for support as her orgasm swept through her, making her cry out.

As she recovered, she looked into Landry’s eyes and read the passion simmering there. Kissing him, she dragged herself off Cris and grabbed her bathrobe from the floor. “I’ll be waiting.”

She’d planned a sultry, seductive, hip-swaying flounce from the room, but she could barely walk. She no sooner made it to her bed when she heard Landry in the doorway. By the time she turned around, he was on her, scooping her up and tossing her onto the bed where he landed on top of her, his body covering hers.

“You are fucking beautiful, wife,” he growled against her throat, his teeth grazing her flesh. His hard cock plunged home, fast and deep. “So damn sexy.”

She met each thrust with her hips. “Show me.”

He nipped, a little sting in his bite. “Show me first.” He switched to French. “Come for me now!”

Tilly slammed her hips into him as her body responded. “Very good.” He switched back to

English. “I love you so much.” Then he bit down on her shoulder as he fucked her, almost violently.

This spun out her climax, stretching it, her body shuddering beneath him as he poured his seed into her. Finally he collapsed on her. Rolling to his side, he pulled her with him. “Jesus, I love you.”

She snuggled tightly in his arms. “I love you, too.”

Chuckling as he stroked her back, he said, “You are diabolical, love.”

“Why?”

“Bullshit, you ask me why?” He hugged her tightly. “Staking your claim on me like that.

Brilliant.”

“Well, you did say I was free to use slave however I needed, right?”

“Ah, do I sense a thaw in your heart where he’s concerned?”

“Nope.” She closed her eyes. “Like you said, I’m staking my claim. On you.”

He nuzzled the top of her head. “Consider me well-staked, love.”