The Switch Read online

  “Girlfriend, if you’re waiting for perfect…” The words trailed off and she gave Beth a quick hug. “That’s enough from me. You know I’ll be there for you, no matter what happens. Now then, I’ve got a lot of clothes for you to try on while we catch up. There’s a couple of numbers that would do for a fancy dinner.”

  “You do like being a stylist.” Beth fell upon the new topic with enthusiasm, glad to be free of discussing her intentions toward Sean. Odd feeling since she’d told always told Jenn everything about her boyfriends.

  “Oh yes, best thing I could have done with that fancy Harvard degree. Lots of fun to be had, shopping with other folks’ money. Now get out of those clothes, down to your thong, and let’s start looking at what I brought.”

  “Okay, but you have to tell me about Jarred and the boys now.” Beth kicked off her shoes and started peeling off layers.

  “Jarred’s doing fine. Likes being a prosecutor, which surprised me. I thought he loved the police so much that he’d hate changing.”

  “Well, he had to do desk work after the shooting, didn’t he? So isn’t prosecution better than pushing paper as a cop?”

  “I wasn’t sure he’d think so. Maybe he’d love the police so much that he had to hang around, even if it was behind a desk. But he’s happy as can be now. His leg has almost returned to normal but he plans to stay where he is, even talking about becoming a judge one day.”

  “A judge? Well, maybe that’s not surprising. Remember how he lectured us when we first met?” Beth shimmied into the black dress. Matte silk jersey soothed her as it clung to every line of her body.

  “Do I? Lord, you’d have thought the man only believed in the missionary position, the way he carried on.” Jenn rolled her eyes and tossed a pair of black sandals to Beth. Beth raised an eyebrow at the stiletto heels but obediently sat down to put them on.

  “Not surprising, since he had just arrested us at a fetish club,” Beth pointed out. She looked at the one shoe she’d managed to don and shook her head at Jenn. Jenn tossed another pair over without missing a beat.

  “Then the man turns out to be one of the best submissive males you’re ever going to find,” Jenn laughed, watching the second pair go on.

  “Closeted, of course.” Beth stood up and checked her balance in the high heels; they were taller than anything she’d worn recently but better than the stilettos that Jenn favored. She’d still be shorter than Sean.

  “Of course! A tiger to the world but a pussycat in the bedroom, until I say he can roar. He said to tell you thanks for the Vegas trip. Yup, he’ll join me out there on Friday, after I’m done setting up for your big weekend,” she answered Beth’s unspoken question.

  She studied Beth’s appearance critically, waving her hand until Beth finished turning. “You like?”

  “You know it’s perfect for dining out. What next?”

  “Your goddess outfit for the big scene in Vegas. Brought you several choices for that one.”

  “Okay.” Beth pulled the dress over her head and took off the shoes at Jenn’s nod. “How’re the boys?”

  “Growing like weeds, when they’re not driving their daddy and me crazy. Your godson’s the worst.”

  “Really?” Beth’s voice was muffled by black lace, as she twisted the dress into place.

  “Oh yes. Did the oatmeal in the VCR business three times already this week.”

  “I thought you only had two VCRs.” Beth tugged the zipper into place and turned to face the mirror. Black lace, high necked and cap sleeves before it swept down her body to her knees, ending in just enough of a flared skirt to permit walking. Sheer black illusion silk backed it from her breasts down in a nod to propriety. She looked like a cross between an oriental goddess and a Venetian courtesan.

  “Nice dress but not for that scene. I’ll keep it though.”

  Jenn came up behind her to look.

  “Had to replace the VCR in the family room twice in the same week.” She frowned at Beth’s reflection. “Of course, you’ll keep it; don’t I always know what suits you?”

  “That’s just because we’ve gone shopping together so often. I taught you everything you know.”

  “Yeah, right! But thanks for taking me on those overseas trips. I’d never have learned so much or made all those connections without you.”

  “Don’t mention it; you’ve done as much for me.” The two women hugged before Jenn pushed a handful of red silk at Beth.

  “I’ve never tried that one on. My figure’s just not as firm as yours. But if you’re in half as good shape as you look, this should make your man’s eyes pop out of his head.”

  “He’s not my man.”

  “Still missing Dennis?” Jenn asked softly. Their eyes met in the mirror.

  “Yes, but I’m not in love with Dennis. I’m not sure I ever was!”

  Jenn waited, letting Beth talk it out.

  “I loved him but I don’t think I was ever “in love with” him for more than five minutes, every year or so. Every time I started to fall, I’d get reminded that he was bisexual and he liked having more than one lover in his life. He loved them and cared for them all but I couldn’t fit in that circle.” She flinched, remembering how deep the gulf had been between their needs, no matter how much they cared for each other. “He used to tease me about being too monogamous for my own best interests.”

  “That’s not true!”

  “He was right, Jenn. I want a lot and I want it all in the same man. If I was willing to have more than one guy in my life, I’d have an easier time.” Beth fastened the gold button holding up one shoulder.

  “What about Bob then? You know he’d lay down and die for you.”

  “Bob’s a great guy but he’s always submissive. Okay, so he’s only submissive in the bedroom but still! And he’s not really much into sensation. I want more.” Beth shook the finely pleated silk into position.

  “Like what?” Jenn’s tone was carefully neutral.

  “I’ve had a lot of time to think, Jenn, so I can answer that now. I want a sensation slut, somebody who’ll enjoy stretching his body’s limits for sensory play.”

  “Of course you want heavy sensation; anyone who’s seen you play would know that.

  “And is good at role playing,” Beth continued, nodding agreement with Jenn’s comment. “Rougher stuff, like soldier and amazon, not schoolboy and nursemaid.”

  “Fair enough. That all?”

  “You know it isn’t. I want a switch, somebody who can make me want to submit to him too.”

  “You’re asking a lot, girlfriend. Heaven knows there’s hordes of submissive men and it was still hard to find my Jarred. But you’re asking for a man who can take you, just as fiercely as you take him. And you want marriage too, not just frequent play dates.” Jenn’s tone was softer.

  “I know. One in a million, especially after you add in all the standard relationship stuff like honorable, kind, good with children, funny…”

  Jenn frowned and tweaked folds into place, achieving the appearance of an ancient goddess. “There’s a fellow out there for you, I know it.”

  “I hope so and I plan to start hunting as soon as I get back to Washington in two weeks. Will you help me?”

  “Of course!” Jenn hugged her. It was a few minutes before they looked at the red dress.

  “Oh yes. In fact, hell yes!” Beth struck poses reminiscent of Classical Greece.

  “You’ll really get this guy’s attention,” Jenn said softly and handed her a pair of shoes. Beth glanced at her in the mirror and decided to change the subject.

  “Dennis made me his heir, did you know?”

  “I’d wondered about that. Here, try on this leather number, just for me.”

  “He left a lot to charity, plus quite a few items to various people. But the bulk came to me.” Beth paused significantly. “Including his dungeon and almost all of its contents.”

  The effect was everything she could have wished.

  “Everything?
Good God, girlfriend, he had more toys than anyone else in New York! Even if he usually did stick to a handful of favorites.”

  “Lots and lots of toys,” Beth agreed, trying to zip up the strapless dress.

  “Whips and floggers and paddles and canes,” Jenn tried to make a list. “Nipple clamps and butt plugs and dildoes and cock rings and…”

  “Keep going. You haven’t even mentioned the equipment like the rack or the slings.”

  “The collection of whips alone, honey! He had some beauties, stuff that’s not made any more. That set of Jay Marston whips, that beautiful ruby red Jay Norman whip…”

  “He did leave one of the Jay Marston whips to Steve.” Beth stretched the leather smooth so she could finish zipping. “And that fabulous Mad Dog blacksnake went to Toby.”

  “Dennis sure knew his whips,” Jenn sighed, stepping up to help fasten the dress. “Lovely things to go thud or sting against a man’s behind, get him all hot and bothered and ready for love…”

  “Lovely things,” Beth agreed, tucking the zipper pull into place. She considered herself in the mirror. Jenn knelt so Beth could step into the matching shoes.

  “He showed you how to use them all, didn’t he?”

  “Oh yes. He taught me very carefully until he was sure that I understood them and would handle them well. We always met at least twice a year, just to play with flogging.” The leather dress hugged Beth like a lover, covering everything but hiding nothing. She looked both powerful and irresistible at once.

  She lifted her arm experimentally, moving into position to bring a flogger down on a lover. The dress stayed with her, still concealing her nipples. “Oh yes, this one is perfect but not for this weekend.”

  “Maybe you should push him a bit, flash him some leather. Got a nice deerskin flogger with me that you could borrow. It’s soft enough for a rookie.”

  “No, I don’t think so. He’s ex-Army, a Ranger.”

  “Wowee, girlfriend, sounds like you got a tiger lined up for you!”

  “You’ve heard of Rangers?”

  “Jarred’s brother, the Green Beret? He was a Ranger first. Won’t talk about what he does now but he’ll tell you about those Rangers.”

  “Really?” Beth felt a bit hemmed in by testimonials for Sean.

  “You might want to think about leather.”

  “No, he hasn’t demanded it and I want to do something that he doesn’t expect. I figure he’d know how to deal with pain and humiliation, thanks to the Army. So I’m going in a different direction.”

  Jenn laughed. “You could have a point about that Army training. Do you really think it’ll work?”

  Beth smiled, the cream-licking smirk of a well-fed cat.

  “You should have seen him blush when I admired his flannel shirt.”

  “Wicked. You are just totally wicked.”

  The two women looked at each other, trying to keep their faces straight. Then laughter burst through and they fell together, shrieking.

  Beth returned to the hotel just before midnight, thankful that the dinner was finally over. She wore one of Jenn’s finds, a gold brocade dress reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn. It had a high waist, deep neckline and little cap sleeves above a straight skirt that hugged her curves. A slit in the back made it possible to walk and a matching stole kept it suitable for winter wear.

  Dave Hemmings waved at her from his post by the fireplace and she smiled at him. Then her eyes widened as she recognized his companion. Sean was here in the hotel.

  She came over quickly, her eyes alight with welcome.

  “Hello, Dave, Sean.”

  “Hello, Beth,” Sean drawled, his hand coming up to stroke her arm briefly. She shivered at the touch. “I was just dropping off that packet for you, when I ran into Dave here.”

  “Really?” Only a more interminable dinner than usual, or an overwhelming attraction to this man, could account for such an inane reply.

  “Good to see you made it back safe, Beth,” Dave broke in. “I see that Tyler is back now and I’d better go talk to him. Night.”

  “Good night,” Sean and Beth echoed. They stayed still after Dave left until more people came back into the lobby, shaking Beth into awareness of where they were.

  “Would you like coffee or something, Sean? It’s a nasty wind out there.”

  “Sure, that’d be good.” He fell into place beside her.

  Beth hesitated when she saw the number of people in the hotel bar. “Would you like to come up to my room? It’s a suite and I can make coffee there.”

  “Whatever you want.”

  Beth turned to face him, considering the implications of her offer and his response. A day and a half since she’d last seen him but her body was as hungry as if it had been months.

  “Actually, I’ve been thinking about something strong and hot and masculine. I can make coffee if you’d prefer, but I’d rather start with the other.”

  His blue eyes gleamed. “As I said, ma’am. Whatever you want will be fine with me.”

  He was silent in the elevator, avoiding contact with the other passengers by moving to the back. Beth sidled closer until she was leaning against him. His arm came around her waist, low enough that the others wouldn’t see. She purred very quietly at his heat surrounding her, rising from the strength of his body and his breath in her hair.

  He nuzzled her neck while she tried to open the door to her room. She thought about mentioning the security cameras overhead, then decided to focus on the door. She wanted to be filled by that big cock of his, as they hadn’t done before. And she really preferred Sean naked in the bed for that, rather than a quickie in the hall.

  Finally the door opened and they stumbled in, only to kiss passionately just inside. “Oh yes,” she murmured, dropping her purse so she could lock her arms around his neck. “Oh yes.”

  Beth abandoned herself to the kiss, enjoying the lips and tongue that worked her mouth so thoroughly. His hands stroked her ass, in perfect rhythm with his mouth. She wrapped a leg around his hip, opening herself.

  He shuddered at the increased intimacy and squeezed her. She moaned encouragement and pressed even closer.

  “Beth, honey. Beth.”

  She opened her eyes at the hoarse croak and tried to think.

  “I’ve got condoms in the nightstand,” she offered.

  “It’s not that.” His hand rubbed the underside of her lifted leg, then let it down slowly as she pulled herself together.

  “If you’re not saying no…And I don’t think you are, given this,” she wriggled her hips against him, enjoying the hard ridge behind his zipper. “Then what is it?”

  “I want to make love to you. But I’d like to take my time at it. Get to know you and what you like.”

  Beth cocked her head, caught by his tone of voice.

  “Have you ever done that before? Explored a woman?”

  Color rose, bright and hot in his cheeks, but his eyes stayed locked with hers.

  “No, Beth, I haven’t.”

  She could be his first, the one who showed him what pleasures could be found in a woman’s body. It was the sexiest thing anyone had ever said to her. Her body coalesced into a surge of longing.

  “Yes,” she croaked, then tried again. “Yes, of course, you can, my darling. Where do you want me?”

  He considered the options, surveying the dining table, the sofa and the bedroom beyond. She thought wryly that his night vision must be excellent, since the only light came from a small lamp in the distant bathroom.

  “On the bed will be good. I’ll turn the lights on too, if I may.”

  “Certainly.” She dropped her stole on the table and took up position by the bed. He turned on the lamps and the overhead light, leaving the sitting room in the darkness. Anyone on the bed would be fully exposed, yet isolated from the world beyond.

  Beth had seen games staged at great expense for SM parties that left her far less excited than his simple arrangements. Moisture gathered under the gold brocade
gown, leaving her both powerful and yielding at the same time.

  He shrugged out of his heavy jacket, her eyes hungrily following every movement. He emptied his pockets carefully, setting the contents on the dresser.

  He caught her watching him in the mirror and shrugged. “I don’t want to lose anything and mess up your bed.”

  “That’s all right.” Why did such little gestures echo through her blood to her bones until she couldn’t talk?

  “Do you want to take your clothes off?”

  “Sean…” His name was a hoarse cough. She tried again. “This time is for you. Tell me what you want and I’ll do it.”

  He stared at her, startled. Understanding lit his eyes, followed by a bright blaze of delight. The thread snapped into place between them. When he spoke, it wasn’t what she expected.

  “Are those diamonds in your ears?”

  “Yes, and around my wrists.”

  “I’ve always wanted a woman wearing nothing but diamonds.”

  Hot color swept over her breasts. They tightened and ached against the lace bra. His lips curved to show just a hint of white teeth. She trembled slightly but waited.

  “Take the dress off.”

  She slid first one shoulder then the other free, moving as slowly as she could. She arched her back to reach the zipper and heard him hiss. His face was impassive when she looked at him but she still exulted in her effect on him.

  Finally, the dress fell to the floor and she stepped free of it.

  “The bra next.”

  The black lace of her pushup bra lent itself to even more delay. But eventually it too reached the floor.

  “Thong now.”

  She shimmied out of it, timing her moves to the harsh sounds of his breathing. Now she wore only stockings and heels, plus the diamonds.

  “Sit down on the bed.”

  He hooked a chair and sat down before her.

  “Lean back, honey. On your elbows so you can watch too. And give me your foot.”

  She lifted one foot to his knee. He studied the handmade Italian shoe closely and then took it off, moving at a speed that made her efforts look like a Grand Prix race. He rubbed her foot and she purred; eyes slitting as she enjoyed the touch. She also confirmed that he had a foot fetish.