Frenemies, Part Five

Hey Friends!

How are you? I’m doing well. Here’s the next installment of Frenemies. Originally, when this story appeared on the website, Discipline and Desire, I wrote it as a series of three stories to be run consecutively, yet as stand alone works. The original title for this middle part was The Secret Mission. Sometimes I’ll do that, take a more episodic approach to the stories, like I did with Gerry and Rob. Speaking of my old friends, I should probably do a few more stories with them, to see what they’ve been up to. Since Gerry never learns her lesson and will never understand that she’s a reckless menace—like Zoe and so many other of my characters—there is always plenty of fodder for the spanking mill with those people. And now, onto the show.

Have a great weekend!

Hugs and love,
Michelle


“What? Does he have a bridle on you and reins?” Karen demanded. “A muzzle? Handcuffs?”

“Practically,” Zoe said with a snort.

“You have to get out of there and come dancing with us.”

“I want to, believe me. But there’s no way Bryce is gonna let me.”

“You’ve been tamed.”

Zoe moved the phone from one ear to the other and plopped down on her bed. “No. There’s extenuating circumstances I can’t discuss. Consequences from Roland’s death.”

“Are you in danger or something? From what happened to your store? That fire?”

“I can’t talk about it.” She stretched out on the bed. She caught the scent of Bryce’s cologne on her comforter. A little zing went through her sex. Their early morning wake-up sex session had been nothing short of spectacular.

“You have to come out and see us. I need the whole story and now.”

“Honestly, Karen, I can’t. He’s got guards on me.”

“So you are in danger?”

“Let me put it this way, I’m talking to you on a prepaid phone, one Bryce doesn’t know about because he’s monitoring all my calls for threats.”

“Damn, that is scary. Maybe you shouldn’t come out.”

Zoe ran her hands through her short hair. “But I’m not sure if there is any danger. I almost got kidnapped a few weeks ago, they caught the guys and supposedly took care of them. And nothing’s happened since. Not that Bryce lets me out of his sight. Ever since we got involved he’s turned into even more of a dictator. I wish I could tell his paranoia from the actual threat of danger.”

“So are you being followed?” Karen asked.

“I don’t know. I don’t know how they could miss me with this giant entourage that follows me everywhere I go. You’d think I was the President.”

“Well, then you can’t come out, can you?” Her friend sounded very disappointed.
About as disappointed as Zoe. “Doesn’t look good.”

“Bummer. Gary Gates is playing.”

She gasped. Her favorite local band! “I’ll be there.”

Karen laughed. “Are you sure? How can you slip out of there if you’ve got a guard detail on you?”

“I’ll figure something out. I have to. Is he playing at Bongo’s?”

“Yeah. Nine o’clock, we’re all meeting there at seven tonight to get a good table.”

“Okay, don’t expect me, but I’ll try my best to get there.”

“Don’t get in too much trouble.”

“When have I ever got in too much trouble?”

“When have you not got in too much trouble?”

Zoe giggled.

She hung up the phone and bit her lip. Damn, she wanted to go. But how? Bryce watched her every move. It was hard enough to hide the prepaid phone from him. But there was no way she wanted him overhearing her conversations with her girls. And good thing, too, if she was to sneak away from him that night. But how?

But she didn’t want to be stupid, either. No way did she want to put herself in danger. She’d dance around the subject and see what information she could get out of him. Had to be careful, though, Bryce could read her mind.


Zoe was up to something. Bryce smelled it the moment he laid eyes on her. More than likely it had to do with her girlfriends. He’d overheard her on her “secret” phone, moments before, talking to Karen. He wished she’d come straight out and deal with her issues directly with him, but the girl was a game player. She’d played his best friend, Roland, until he was on the carpet, barking like a dog. Bryce had known all along what she needed. And now he was giving it to her. He grinned and a charge went through his cock. He’d never enjoyed sex more than with Zoe. Dynamite, inventive and crazy.

But unfortunately, the sparks that made her such a delicious lover, also made her a tornado of trouble. He barely had her under control. Perhaps it was time to buy the paddle.

“What?” she asked, a slight furrow in her brow. A flash of fear went through her green eyes.

“You tell me,” he said flatly.

“Nothin’, why?”

He held her gaze and allowed some darkness to show.

She averted her eyes. Another strong tell. But what was she up to?

Karen probably asked her to go out with the girls. He smiled inwardly. Such the perfect opportunity to teach her a lesson. Yes, he’d go right out and pick up a paddle. Maybe a riding crop. Maybe a whole slew of implements.

“You seem pensive.” He walked over, sat next to her on the bed and took her hand. “What’s troubling you?”

“Nothing. I…”

“Yes?”

“Okay, so what kind of danger am I still in? Do you have any guess when I can start thinking about reopening the store?”

“I’m not sure. We’re still trying to track down who made the threats.”

“I thought you’d found out when you caught those guys who tried to kidnap me.”

“They were hired by someone. And as it turns out, they don’t know who it was.”

“They didn’t know who they were working for?”

“Mercenaries work that way sometimes.”

“Jeez.”

“Why? Do you want to go out with the girls or something?”

All the color left her face. He had to cough back some laughter.

“No,” she said, her voice cracking. Then an abrupt change in her demeanor. Outwardly, she tried to look relaxed. But her heart was beating so fast, he could see the pulse in her neck.

He lightly stroked the back of her slender hand. “It’s been awhile, I know you must miss them.”

“Nah. I’d rather be here with you,” she said unconvincingly.

“I wish you could, Zoe. I wish I could keep you safe in a club. But it would take too many men and I don’t have them right now.”

“No, it’s cool. I don’t want to go out.”

He studied her. Why did she feel compelled to lie to him? He didn’t know, but he would break her of the habit. First, a warning.

Before she could react, he grabbed her and hauled her across his lap.

©2011, Michelle Carlyle