Then he rose and turned his attention to getting her unfastened. When at last he got her completely unbuckled, Cassie took a step and nearly fell.
“Mistress! Are you all right?” Stone swooped her up into his arms and cradled her to his chest. “Are you well?” he repeated anxiously, looking into her face.
“’M okay,” Cassie protested. “Just a little weak in the knees.” She gave an exhausted laugh. “Being tied up and whipped and then given multiple orgasms really takes a lot out of a girl.”
“You need rest and care,” Stone said, frowning. “I will take you back to our room.”
“But what about the case?” Cassie protested as he strode out of the room with her still in his arms. “There’s so much we ought to be doing!”
“It can wait,” Stone said firmly. “First, I must care for you.”
Forty-Three
As he carried his partner away from The Cave and down the long halls of Gozeriam’s palace, Stone wondered if he had gone too far with her. He had allowed himself to get lost in her unique flavor and her warm, feminine fragrance. Her cries of pleasure and her sweet taste and scent had acted on him like a drug—he hadn’t wanted to stop.
But now, with Cassandra worn out and limp in his arms, he was upset with himself. He should not have allowed himself to get so carried away. It was just that he had wanted her for so long…hungered to taste her from the very first time he’d dreamed of her…
She’s so beautiful, he thought, cradling her to his chest. So brave, too.
Cassandra had gone all in for the scene they were acting together. She had played her part with great vigor—and without shame, though Stone knew it made her feel uncomfortable to be dressed so provocatively. It gave him new respect for her, to see her step outside her comfort zone in order to complete their mission.
Brave and beautiful—fierce and passionate, his partner was perfect in every way, Stone thought longingly.
He just wished he could have her as more than a partner when all this was over…but he knew that was impossible.
Forty-Four
During her classes with Madam Electra, Cassie had learned that one very important aspect of any BDSM relationship was After Care.
After the scene was done and the Dominant was finished punishing or “playing” with his or her submissive, it was very important for the Dom to care for the sub. This was because submitting yourself to another person totally—especially sexually—could leave a submissive in a very fragile state—both mentally and physically.
Often a submissive would do or say things during a scene that they might never have imagined doing in real life. Things that left then feeling vulnerable and exposed.
Things like as allowing your partner and best friend to tie you up and go down on you, Cassie thought ruefully.
God, maybe that hadn’t been such a good idea. It was going to be really hard to go back to being only friends when every time she looked at the big Kindred, she remembered him lapping her pussy and fucking her with that freaking flogger.
But she was too weary to worry about the possible repercussions of their actions now. She felt completely wiped out—both physically and emotionally. She was so weak she could barely summon the strength to lift her head off Stone’s shoulder when he carried her into their room.
He laid her gently on the golden beanbag bed and Cassie turned on her side and wrapped her arms around herself. Cold…she was so cold…
“Sub drop,” whispered Madam Electra’s voice in her memory. Sub drop was a psychological aftereffect of an intense BDSM scene, which could have actual physical symptoms. It often happened when there was inadequate After Care on the Dom’s part—or none at all, Cassie thought as Stone walked away.
But how could her partner be expected to know about things like After Care and Sub Drop? He had never done BDSM before or taken classes like she had. Cassie herself knew, however, which meant she ought to be able to bolster herself and avoid the pitfalls of the after-scene experience.
But as she lay shivering on her side, she couldn’t seem to warm up or stop the thoughts that popped into her head.
How could she have let herself go so completely? She’d been begging Stone to fuck her and she’d pressed herself against him, opening her pussy to let him do whatever he wanted to her. What would her partner think of her now that he’d seen her act in such a wanton manner? How could he ever respect her again? Would he even want anything to do with her once they got back down to Earth? Would he—
“Come, Cassandra. It’s time for your bath.”
It was Stone, leaning over to scoop her up and carry her into the bathroom.
“What?” Cassie looked at him uncertainly. “What are you talking about? I don’t need a bath.”
“Yes, you do. You need to relax.” He frowned. “And your skin is much colder that normal. A bath will both warm you up and facilitate relaxation.”
“Stone, it’s really sweet of you to draw me a bath, but I’m honestly just too tired right now,” Cassie protested.
“Don’t worry—you won’t have to do a thing,” he murmured. “I am going to bathe you.”
“What? But you don’t have to do that,” Cassie protested.
“But I want to. Cassandra, please…” He looked at her earnestly. “I pushed you too far during our scene together. Let me take care of you now—let me bathe you.”
“Well…” Cassie could feel her willpower slipping. Letting her partner give her a bath was certainly nothing she ever would have done before back on Earth, but then, none of the things they’d been doing together were things she would have let him do before this mission. And honestly, she was too tired to put up a fight.
“All right.” She sighed. “But don’t be surprised if I fall asleep in the bathtub. I can’t remember the last time I felt so tired.”
“You just need to be cared for. Here, let’s get you undressed.”
Stone sat her on the edge of the large, round, marble tub and began undressing her like a child. Cassie wanted to protest that she could undress herself—but honestly, she wasn’t sure she could. She just felt so tired and weak. It almost reminded her of the last time she’d had the flu.
Sub drop, she thought again. Apparently it was no joke.
Stone succeeded in getting her out of her Mistress outfit, finishing by unzipping her long, black boots and laying them aside. Then he helped her into the tub, which was filled with pink bubbles and had sweet-smelling steam rising from it.
Cassie sighed as she sank in up to her chin. The tub was surprisingly deep and Stone had managed to get the water just right—almost but not quite too hot.
“Mmm, Stone, this is nice,” she confessed, as he sat on the edge of the tub beside her.
“I’m glad you approve. Give me your arm.”
He was holding a big purple sponge-like thing that squished out bright purple bubbles every time he squeezed it.
“I can wash myself, you know,” she pointed out.
“Not this time. Hold out your hand,” her partner insisted.
Sighing, Cassie did so. Stone took her much smaller hand in his big one and began to wash her from her fingertips to her shoulder in long, even strokes.