Read Celebration for Free Online Page A

perfectly, calling her name as if he had no idea where she was. She heard him walking around. She struggled and moaned, because she thought she should, but she made almost no noise. She heard him looking for her in every room, and then the closets, and out on the balcony. She didn’t know whether to be thrilled or relieved when she heard him moving the empty boxes, and she shivered when she heard the knife cutting open the tape on this one.
    “Joanna!” he said, as if shocked. “What have you been doing while I was out getting pizza?” He reached down and pulled off her hood, leaving Joanna blinking in the sudden light. Mike’s expression was one of surprise, but the glint in his eyes gave him away. He looked predatory.
    Aroused.
    Ready to claim her again.
    Maybe she wouldn’t even catch a flight the next day. Maybe he’d keep her helpless here until the wedding. Joanna nearly fainted with desire. She tried to make a sound, maybe to protest her innocence, but Mike scowled suddenly.
    “You couldn’t have done this yourself,” he growled, his rough tone thrilling her all over again. “I’ll bet you’ve got a secret lover. I’ll bet you chose this apartment because you found some hot guy to share you, maybe one who lives right in the building.”
    Joanna moaned in protest, but Mike shook his head. “I’m going to have to teach you a lesson. You get shared when I say so, and not before.”
    He reached into the box with purpose, easily lifting her out into his arms. Joanna squirmed and moaned, inviting him to punish her.
    “You’ve been very naughty, Joanna, and it’s up to me to discipline you.” Mike carried her into the bedroom and tossed her on the bed. He ran his hand over her red butt, as if in disapproval, then slapped her once hard. Joanna cried out into her gag.
    “Well, then,” he said, his low voice making her shiver. “It’s a good thing we found our box of toys. You’re not leaving this apartment, Joanna, until I know you can be trusted to behave.”
    As she watched, he set out her corset and boots, her shackles and the velvet hood that blindfolded her. Joanna’s heart was racing. He held the riding crop before her and she stretched forward, as if to kiss it through her gag.
    “Very good, Joanna. We’ll start with you helping me to bind you into a pretty package. You’d better prove how much you want to please me or we won’t even get married.”
    Joanna nodded obedience and Mike smiled. He cut her bonds free, urged her toward the mirror and began to bind her to his satisfaction.
    It was funny but Joanna no longer could remember why it was so important that she hurry to the airport to catch that particular flight.
    She also knew as she watched Mike secure her in her corset that she had to find a way to get even with him for this game.
    Even better, she’d do it before their wedding night.
     
    * * *
     
    Athena was painting her toenails when the phone rang. It was early evening on a Saturday in London, a perfect time of day. She had the windows open and the curtains of her bedroom fluttered in the warm spring breeze. The hyacinths were blooming in the garden and the smell was heavenly.
    It was a lot better than the smell of drywall dust and paint. She’d been working hard, but on this night, she was going out to celebrate. Julius was in the adjacent shower, whistling to himself. The sound made Athena smile.
    It was all so fucking domestic. She knew she wouldn’t love it forever, but she loved it for now and was willing to see how long it lasted.
    She answered the phone on the third ring, assuming it was about the renovations, but was happily surprised.
    “Got a minute?” Rex asked and Athena smiled.
    “Always for you,” she teased, putting the brush back into the bottle of nail polish. “How are you?”
    “Getting better.” Rex sounded decisive, which was reassuring. Athena remembered his one bout with depression and never wanted to see him like that again.
    “And the bitch?”