The Reluctant Dom

Chapter Twenty-Five

Ed drove them to the clerk’s office and helped them get the marriage license. Leah and Seth signed where the clerk indicated.

“So when’s the big day?” Seth snarked.

Ed smiled. “Should be this weekend. I have to get everything put together.”

Kaden had left a DVD for Leah to watch. It was the only time Seth was told to leave her side. Ed had to stay with her while she watched it.

When she emerged from the study, she looked stunned but…

Seth couldn’t put his finger on it.

He’d been sitting on the couch, and she slowly walked over to him and curled up in his lap. He automatically wrapped his arms around her. “Are you okay?”

She nodded and closed her eyes as she curled tightly against him. “You can watch it now, if you want.”

He wasn’t sure he wanted to. “What did he say?”

“He wanted to explain why he set it up like this. I mean, I knew why, but he wanted to make sure I understood.”

“Are you really okay with this, hon?” Seth wasn’t sure he was okay with it. Marry Leah, hell yeah, that was a no-brainer. But this soon? Wasn’t that sort of tacky, even if it was the dead husband setting it up? “I mean, seriously, if you’re not, it’s all right. We don’t have to do this right now. We can wait.”

“Yeah, I’m okay with it. He’s right. He wants you to have the full legal ability to take care of me and to be able to access everything. The sooner we’re married, the better.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

She opened her eyes and looked at him. “I want to be your wife. I love you.”

Seth nodded and kissed her forehead. “Okay.” He snorted in wry amusement. “Will you marry me?” Seemed a little moot, considering he was already wearing Kaden’s wedding band—like hell he’d ever take that off—as well as the other band.

He’d never take that one off either, despite already wearing one just like it on the same finger.

Leah made a small sound he realized was a laugh. “Yes, I’ll marry you. I don’t want to be anywhere but right here with you.”

He breathed a silent sigh of relief. “Okay.”

Ed arranged everything. All Seth had to do was pack according to a list Kaden had prepared on another card Ed gave him.

He did this while Leah slept one afternoon. Kaden’s instructions to Seth, what little he let on, were to not tell her what was packed.

Late Saturday, a limousine arrived at the house to pick them up. Leah looked beautiful in a simple black dress Kaden had apparently bought months earlier, before he became housebound, and tucked in a garment bag in the back of Seth’s closet. Loose, flowing, with long, full sleeves, it fell just above her knees.

Kaden had instructed her to put her hair up, to wear the collar she’d had on—still the same one from the day he died—and to put just a little makeup on, tasteful and subdued.

She curled in Seth’s arms during the limo ride, nestled in his lap with her head resting on his shoulder. Kaden the control freak had picked his outfit as well, only he hadn’t needed to shop for his friend. Jeans and loafers, and a dark charcoal button-up shirt.

Seth wasn’t sure about their final destination, only that from what was packed, it would hopefully be warm.

Either that, or the two of them would freeze their asses off because Kaden figured he’d die in the summer.

Somehow, Seth didn’t think that was the answer.

The limo headed north on I-75. It was with no surprise the limo driver turned off at Bee Ridge and headed east.

Toward Tony’s.

Whatever was in store, Seth suspected Kaden had planned this part of the freaky festivities with Tony’s assistance.

Sure enough, there were several cars parked at Tony’s. Ed and Tony met them as the limo pulled up to the house. Seth helped Leah out. He’d given her a hard session at home just before helping her get dressed. She seemed to be handling things okay so far.

With her arm hooked through his for support, Seth led her inside.

There were a few people Seth knew from the club, people Kaden and Leah had known for years. Candles set an intimate tone. Seth cringed when he saw the large TV and DVD player.

Oh boy.

Ed introduced another man. “Seth, this is Judge Donnelly.”

Oh, crap.

Leah managed a wan smile. “Hello, Pat. Nice to see you again.”

Seth breathed a sigh of relief. Kaden’s instructions were to allow her to freely speak to people while they were at this gathering.

Apparently this guy was one of their “loan a whip” kind of friends.

He nodded. “I’m sorry I was out of town the other day and couldn’t make it to the service.”

“That’s okay.”

Folding chairs had been set up in a semicircle around the TV. Ed directed everyone to be seated, Leah and Seth at the front.

Ed consulted with Tony, turned on the TV, and hit play on the DVD remote.

Another of Kaden’s early recordings, again made in his study at his computer, most likely over a year earlier from how healthy he looked. Seth waited for Leah to react, but she held it together.

She was doing better than he was, apparently. Maybe he should let her whale on him for a while with the whips.

“Well, guys, I know this is weird and strange,” Kaden said with a smile, “but you know me. I’m a control freak.”

Leah and Seth both laughed. That apparently gave the rest of the people, fifteen in all, permission to laugh, too.

Kaden continued. “Everyone here knows Seth and Leah. And you guys know me. You were invited here tonight because you are, other than my brother and Seth’s brother, the people I want here. For obvious reasons, I’m not involving them in tonight’s activities.

“Seth, Leah, I love the two of you. You know that. I’ve got something for you. Ed and Tony will give it to you here in a minute. I wanted people as witnesses to this who would understand, who wouldn’t judge. No offense, Pat.” More nervous laughter from those gathered. “I wanted people who would support you and make this day as easy as possible on you.”

Kaden addressed everyone. “For everyone’s information, I’ve left Seth and Leah a very explicit set of instructions to follow. They’ve been following them—I hope—and tonight is part of that. I know I don’t have to explain to you all why it’s important Leah not be without a Master. I don’t have to justify myself, and Leah and Seth don’t owe you all any explanations. I know all of you gathered here will understand and accept and support them. That’s what I wanted. Maybe later they might want to have a public ceremony down the road, but I’m leaving that up to them. Most people won’t even know what’s going on until much later, so that will help them out.

“I don’t want people badmouthing Seth or Leah over this. I’m a lucky bastard that these two people loved me enough to stand by my side when I needed them the most. And I want them to be happy.”

Kaden took his glasses off and wiped his eyes. “Ed, go ahead and take a moment to get them up here and arranged.”

Ed hit pause on a remote control and consulted another index card. “Leah, Seth, I need you up here.” He motioned them up front, near the TV but not blocking it from everyone else’s view.

“Pat, you can stand here.” The judge stood near them.

Ed grabbed a small, rolled-up rug, shook it out, and laid it on the floor between Seth and Leah. Then he consulted his card again, patted his pocket, and motioned to Tony. He leaned in, said something in low tones to him, then handed him something.

Tony and Ed moved into position, flanking Pat. Then Ed hit play again.

“Okay,” Kaden continued. “Let’s begin. Pat’s here more for window dressing than anything.”

Pat laughed.

Kaden smiled. “Sorry, buddy, but you know why.”

That made Pat laugh again, and he shook his head.

Leah even managed a slight smile.

Seth tried not to think about how weird this was.

Kaden continued, his voice turning Master-firm. “Leah, kneel.”

She automatically dropped to her knees in front of Seth and looked up at him.

So that explains the carpet.

“Leah,” Kaden said, “behold your Master. The man who I give you to, in front of these witnesses, the man who will take my place. Take his hands.”

Seth didn’t try to fight back his tears, didn’t care who saw him cry at this point. Fuck, it’s not like it could get too much weirder. Unless Kaden asked him to fuck her in front of people.

He froze. No, Kade wouldn’t do that.

Would he?

Oh, God. Please, no.

Leah reached up to him. He took her hands in his.

“Too bad we can’t call Guinness about this,” Kaden quipped. “How many people can say their husband married them off?” His smile set off another light round of soft, amused laughter from the audience. “Leah, repeat after me. This slave gives herself to You, Master. Completely. Mind, body, heart, and soul. To love and serve You in any way You decide.”

She looked into Seth’s eyes and repeated the vows.

After a moment, Kaden continued. “Seth, repeat after me. As your Master, I vow to love, protect, and care for you, always.”

Seth did.

Kaden wasn’t done. “Tony, the rings. Seth first.”

Tony stepped forward and handed Seth a wedding band.

“Seth,” Kaden said, “place this ring upon the finger of your slave so she never forgets who she belongs to. It’s up to You if You want to keep the other rings on or not.”

With trembling fingers, Seth slipped the ring on Leah’s left ring finger, leaving Kaden’s engagement ring and wedding band on her hand. “I want them both,” he softly told her.

She nodded. “Okay.”

“Now Leah.” Tony handed Leah a ring.

“Leah, place this ring upon the finger of your Master as a symbol of you giving yourself, fully, completely, and forever to Him.”

She did.

“Okay, guys,” Kaden said. “Leah, stand and join hands with Seth.”

Seth helped her to her feet.

“Do you both swear to love, honor, and cherish each other?”

“We do,” they answered.

“Never lie, always be honest. Find a path that works for the two of you. I’m hoping at the end of the year the two of you won’t want to separate.” Kaden wiped his eyes again. “Master, behold Your slave. Slave, serve your Master well. Remember, your actions still reflect upon how I have trained you.”

They nodded.

“Seth, do you take Leah to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

He gently squeezed her hands. “I do.”

“Leah, do you take Seth to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

She nodded. “I do.”

“Okay, Pat. Call it. Make ’em legal.”

Everyone in the room laughed. Pat wiped his eyes. “By the power invested in me by the State of Florida, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

A moment later, as if he knew how long it would take, Kaden piped up. “And I now pronounce you Master and slave. Go ahead and kiss her. She’s all yours, buddy.” He smiled.

Seth gently held her, kissing her. It felt different than all the times they’d kissed before.

The right woman.

And she was all his.

Of course, Kaden wasn’t quite finished.

“I want you two to be happy. We’ve talked about this. Seriously. I know you both need time to heal, and that’s fine. Try to enjoy life. Find some simple pleasures to start with. Ed’s got some more—surprise—instructions for you. My orders for both of you are to enjoy what’s next and try to focus only on each other for the next couple of days. It’s been a long haul. I know you two are worn out. Don’t feel guilty about taking this time together, okay? Please? I need the two of you starting out on the right foot. It would really harsh my mellow if you didn’t.”

At that, Leah and Seth both laughed.

“Fucking ballbuster,” Seth muttered.

“I love you, Leah,” Kaden said. “And I love you, too, Seth.”

“I love you, too, dude,” he said. “But I’m still not doing you.”

“I’m still not doing you either, buddy.”

Seth froze, then laughed loud and heartily as Leah tightly hugged him.

The DVD ended.

Kaden knew Seth and Leah wouldn’t be in much of a mood to socialize. He’d instructed Ed to offer some very light refreshments, just enough to be polite, before the celebration broke up. Leah and Seth signed the marriage certificate, as did the judge, Tony, and Ed.

“I’ll save the DVD for you with the others,” Ed said.

“So when do you tell us what’s next?”

“There’s an envelope in the limo. You don’t open it until you’re on the road again. The driver knows where to take you.”

They said good-bye to everyone, hugged Tony, Ed, and Pat, and then Seth helped Leah into the limo.

The sealed manila envelope lay on the seat.

Leah cuddled tightly against Seth’s side as he took a deep breath and slipped his finger under the flap.

On top, another card in Kaden’s handwriting.

Congratulations! This is your honeymoon. Now don’t get freaked out, for chrissake. You two need a fucking vacation after what you’ve been through with me, admit it. A few days away that I know you normally wouldn’t take. I meant it when I said I want you two starting out on the right foot.

The two of you have never had a chance to just be alone and just be together. I want that for you. That’s my wedding present to you. No guilt allowed, and try not to rehash what’s happened. Just try to enjoy each other, go for some quiet walks, hold each other, talk. Hell, watch TV if that’s what you want to do. Recharge. I’m not saying I think the two of you can just drop your emotions and party, but I want you to try to relax, kick back. Just…be for a few days.

Inside were plane tickets, their passports, reservation information for a small resort in the Bahamas. A five-day stay. A handwritten note, from Ed, detailing their itinerary.

The limo took them to Tampa International Airport where they caught a short flight to Miami. From there, another flight to the Bahamas. A man waited for them at arrivals with Seth’s name on a sign. He helped them with their bags and drove them to a small, secluded resort.

Too tired to do anything else, they fell asleep almost immediately after check-in, tightly curled together.

The next morning, Seth awoke with a start. Leah wasn’t in bed with him.

He sat up, heart racing.

“I’m here,” she softly said.

He turned and saw her standing at the open window. A sweet, salty breeze blew in.

He walked to her and put his arms around her. They had a gorgeous view of the ocean. The sun rose from behind them, painting the turquoise water with a golden glow.

Seth kissed the back of her neck. “Are you okay?”

She hugged his arms tightly around her. “Yeah,” she said. “Just…sad. Not about you,” she quickly added.

“I know. I understand.” Now he understood why Kaden hadn’t included any “toys” in the packing list. Would have been hard to explain some of those to the TSA and customs agents. “Do you feel like breakfast?”

She nodded.

He ordered room service for them. Seth had to admit Kaden was fucking smart to do this, to totally get them out of their usual setting, away from reminders and normal routines, to jar them out of their funk.

But how the fuck had he lived all those months, well over a year from the looks of him on the videos, knowing damn well what he’d done for them? The videos he’d made, the messages he’d left?

Seth realized Kaden was telling the truth when he said he could share her. In Kaden’s world, he’d already married her off to Seth and said his final good-byes to them.

Seth and Leah just didn’t know it.

An almost lost feeling filled him. Today Leah seemed…peaceful. He suspected the worst of his worries over her safety were over, but he still worried about her health. The months of accumulated stress on both of them wouldn’t just magically disappear.

Without Kaden to care for, without a vigil to stand over Leah, Seth was left wondering what was next for them both.

After they ate they took a long, warm bath in the huge sunken tub. They didn’t speak, just lay there soaking in the water. Seth had finally taken a good look at the new bands. Matching, of course. Intricately engraved with a vine pattern. Not quite like the other bands but similar.

Leah twined her fingers through his. “Thank you,” she whispered.

He kissed the top of her head. “For what?”

“For everything. For being there for him, and for me.”

He tightly hugged her. “Babe, I love you. This was a no-brainer.”

She took a deep breath. “I meant it when I said if you really want out at the end of the year—”

“Stop.” He turned her to face him. “Let’s get this straight right now. I said it before, and I meant it. If you want out, you can tell me. As far as I’m concerned, this is for life, babe. I wouldn’t have married you if I didn’t mean it for life. I don’t care what Kade planned. I’m not leaving you unless you tell me you don’t want me anymore.”

She threw her arms around him, tightly holding him.

Then her tears.

It relieved him that she could cry without help. He settled back in the water and soothed her, consoled her.

When she relaxed in his arms she looked into his eyes. “Can we stay in the room for today?”

“Sure. Whatever you want.”

She caressed his face. “Please make love to me.”

It’d been over a month for them. Even though Kaden had encouraged them to make love, neither Seth nor Leah had been in the mood to do so. They’d opted for power cuddling together, the three of them in bed, Leah firmly sandwiched between them.

Seth drained the tub, dried her off, and carried her to bed. He knew what Kaden wanted them to do—spend their time bonding in a way they really couldn’t before when it was the three of them.

He brought her hand to his mouth and feathered his lips along her knuckles. “Are you okay, babe?”

She nodded.

“Do you need to feel the bite?”

She shook her head. “Not now. I think I’m cried out in the good way for now. At least for a day or so.”

He kissed her, taking his time, savoring her. He was intimately acquainted with every centimeter of her body already. But this was different.

She was all his.

Seth took his time, slowly working his way south. There would be no spankings, no whips or vibrators or cuffs or safe words this time. Just the woman he loved and his love for her.

He prayed that was enough to satisfy her, at least for now. Because it was all he wanted.

Her nipples peaked as he circled them with his tongue, teasing them, alternating between them. Her soft sigh of pleasure stirred him, stiffening his cock.

“You like that?” he whispered against her flesh.

Leah tangled her fingers in his hair. “Yesss.”

They could never be “normal” with a picket fence and two-point-three kids in the yard. There would always be the dark corners of her soul requiring regular cleaning to keep her sane. But for this moment in time, with the sound of the ocean outside their window and a salty breeze to stir the air, she was fully there with him. He felt it. Her mind, her heart, her soul…

Her love.

He traced meaningless patterns across her belly with his lips and resisted her attempts to nudge him down where she wanted him.

When he finally let her coax him into settling between her legs, he peeked up at her. She looked beautiful, with her skin flushed and hair mussed, and her lower lip clamped under her teeth.

His wife.

He was a lucky bastard.

“Tell me what you want, babe,” he gently teased as he kissed her inner thigh.

She opened her eyes, and the full force of her green eyes hit him. “I want my husband to make love to me. I want you to make me come, baby.”

The word flipped his heart inside out in a good way.

Husband.

Who was he trying to kid? Maybe he helped keep her sane, but he’d do whatever, anything she wanted.

He lowered his lips to her mound and slowly traced her clit with his tongue. A soft, replying moan rewarded him.

Gripping her thighs, he teased her, not trying to make her come, just to keep her hovering, floating in a state of mind he knew she could safely enjoy without any sad or painful thoughts intruding.

Leah softly whimpered but didn’t beg, didn’t plead.

Didn’t slip into slavespeak.

He closed his eyes and pretended this was the first time he’d ever touched her, truly his wedding night—well, morning—spent long, slow, delicious minutes exploring her. Making love to her without guilt or melancholy or the sad ache in his heart that she wasn’t really his.

He didn’t let her come. He sat up and pulled her into his lap, settling her onto his shaft. She kissed him and wrapped her arms and legs around him as he rocked his hips against hers.

Seth slid his hands down to her hips and cupped her rounded curves. “I want to make love to you forever,” he said.

Leah rested her forehead against his. “Please. This feels so good.”

Caressing her back, he kissed her jaw, down her neck and across to her shoulder where he gently nipped her. She shivered with pleasure and squirmed against him.

She felt different today. He felt different. He didn’t want to drift into sad thoughts. Those would return soon enough when reality called them back to Florida.

To their home.

He slipped a hand between their bodies and found her swollen nub, gently stroked it. She moaned and rested her head against his shoulder. He kissed her neck and nibbled on her earlobe. “Come for me, sweetheart.”

Rocking her hips in time with his, he felt her body struggling to make it. Her breathing grew quick and shallow as a fine sheen of sweat covered her.

Seth forced himself to maintain his rhythm, knowing she was close. He didn’t want to break her concentration.

When she gasped he felt her muscles contracting around him and knew he had her. “That’s it,” he murmured. “Give it to me, baby.”

She cried out, sobbing as she clutched at him. When he suspected she’d finished, he gently lowered her to the bed and kissed her face, brushing her tears away.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She nodded and weakly smiled. “Yeah.” Her fingers found his, laced together, and she kissed his hand. “I’m okay. I love you.”

“I love you, too, babe.” He shifted position to hold her. Even though he was still horny, more important to him was holding her.

His wife.

He suspected she was drifting to sleep again. “What about you?” she mumbled.

He smiled and kissed her forehead. “We’ve got a lot of time to worry about that.”

He awoke an hour later to the delicious feel of her lips wrapped around his cock. He lifted his head and looked at her. She winked, then went back to what she was doing.

Fuck it. She was obviously feeling a little okay, at least. He closed his eyes and dropped his head onto his pillow. His fingers tangled in her hair.

He was close when she sat up and straddled him, hovering, not impaling herself. “How are you feeling?” she playfully asked.

“I’d be feeling a lot better if you’d quit teasing me, girl.”

She rocked her hips along his shaft, letting it glide along her slick cleft but not letting him penetrate. “Teasing?”

He smiled. “Teasing.” He cocked one eye open and glimpsed the ghost of a smile. She was beautiful. “You keep that up,” he warned, “and you’re gonna get fucked.”

“Isn’t that the point?”

He surprised her, flipping her over onto her back and sliding home. He held still for a moment. “Is that what you wanted?”

She nodded. “Yeah.” She tried to kiss him, but he raised his mouth out of her reach. With her arms gently pinned over her head, he slowly stroked into her.

“You’re a tease, babe.”

“Is that a problem?”

He smiled. “No.” Then he stopped and nuzzled her nose with his. “As long as you’re only a tease for me.”

“Only for you,” she echoed, kissing him.

Something surged deep inside him, nearly overwhelming. He took several deep thrusts and came inside her, releasing her arms and rolling over with her clutched tightly against his chest.

He cried.

They ate dinner at a nearby restaurant recommended by the resort. Then they walked along the beach, hand in hand, and silently watched the glow of the waves as they softly lapped against the shore in the moonlight.

He made love to her until well past midnight, silently and gently branding her flesh with his lips and hands. It felt so much different now. She seemed to feel it, too.

The third morning they curled up together in bed and watched a rainstorm blow in off the Atlantic. She lightly trailed her fingers down his chest, across his abs, to his shaft, gently played with him, stirring his interest.

“This feels right,” she whispered.

He nodded. “Yeah.”

She was quiet for a long time. “I miss him.”

“It’s okay, babe. I miss him, too. We’re going to miss him for a long time. Probably forever.” He didn’t panic, knew he could take care of her if she needed help.

Another comfortable silence. “I told you it’s not always whips and stuff.”

When he processed what she’d said he laughed and rolled over on top of her. “Yeah, you were right. Is this the point where I start yes-dearing you all the time?” He kissed her.

She brushed the hair away from his forehead and smiled. “No.”

“Do you…need anything?”

She shook her head. “I’m okay for now.”

He didn’t feel a dulling down from her, just a quiet melancholy that echoed his own mood. Her eyes still looked sad, without the humor and joy that used to light them from within.

“Do you want anything?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

“What?”

She wiggled her hips under him, pinning his cock between her legs in an erotically wonderful way. “This.”

Another limo picked them up at the airport in Tampa and drove them home. Ed had brought in their newspapers and mail while they were gone.

Seth somewhat dreaded this even though he longed to be home. He knew a pile of condolence cards would await them. He didn’t want to be away from Kaden’s memory but worried Leah’s mood might slip upon their return.

The driver unloaded their bags from the trunk for them. At the front door, Leah unlocked it and started to step inside when Seth had a thought and grabbed her arm.

“Wait.”

“What?”

He scooped her into his arms. “Humor me.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck as a faint smile caressed her lips. “Okay, handsome.”

His heart twisted in a hot and pleasant way as he kissed her and carried her over the threshold.