Cardinal's Rule

Chapter Eleven

Cris felt hope mix with his fear.

That’s my good boy.

If Landry still wanted him, he would tough out whatever punishment was headed his way. He had no doubts that whatever his Master had in mind was a doozie in terms of retribution.

He recognized they were heading to the club. Cris tried to beat back his anxiety. He would do whatever Landry asked of him, except hurt Tilly again. He’d hurt her enough already. She’d deserved better than he gave her, no arguments there.

When the limo pulled up to the club, Landry’s face hardened as he leaned forward. “Remember, no talking. If you don’t like what happens tonight, you can leave and I’ll put you on a plane back to California. You get no say in the matter.”

Cris nodded.

Landry motioned him over, snapped the leash to his collar, and used the other clip to secure his wrist cuffs together. Cris had a feeling this wasn’t the worst torment he’d endure tonight, even though it’d been several years since Landry had put him on a leash in public for punishment.

He despised the leash and the humiliation it brought him.

When the driver opened the back door, Landry exited first. Cris followed close behind when

Landry jerked on the leash. He cringed when Ross met them in the club’s lobby. No one else was there, although the many cars in the parking lot indicated more people were inside the dungeon already.

Ross greeted Landry with a friendly smile and a handshake and totally ignored Cris. He waited, head bowed, while the two men talked. After a few minutes, Landry’s sharp voice and a snap of the leash caught Cris’ attention.

“Slave!”

Cris stepped closer, keeping his eyes on the floor.

“Ross has something he wants to say to you, slave,” Landry said. “Look at him when he talks to you.”

Cris forced his gaze up. The man he used to consider his best friend wore a murderous look.

“You fucking son of a bitch,” he growled. “Losing you nearly killed her. Tilly won’t let me castrate you, but Landry said I can do this.” He punched Cris square in the gut, doubling him over in pain.

Landry stood there, smiling, his arms crossed. “You should have heard his better revenge fantasies involving a propane torch,” Landry teased. “Unfortunately, my sweet Tilly is a spoil-sport.

Lucky for you, she’s forbidden castration and maiming.”

Cris struggled to catch his breath and finally did, coughing, his restrained hands on his knees as he stayed doubled over for another moment to recover. Even through his pain he didn’t miss the possessive term Landry used to describe Tilly.

“I would let him answer for himself, Ross,” Landry continued, “but I’ve forbid him to speak without my permission tonight. That will have to wait for another time.” He slapped Cris on the shoulder. “You did very well, I must say. I expected at least a cry of pain or a swear word, but you remained silent.”

His eyes on the floor again, Cris nodded after he straightened, praying Landry wouldn’t let Ross take another swipe at him.

The door leading to the dungeon opened and a woman stuck her head out. “Ross, Loren just called. They’re on their way.”

Ross and Landry, with Cris following behind at the end of the leash, entered the dungeon area.

Cris didn’t want to look around. He knew the brief, angry silence that greeted him even while people cheerfully greeted Landry told him more than he needed to know. With a practiced, familiar flick of his wrist, Landry jerked the leash downward. Cris knelt on the floor at his side, head bowed.

If he had to endure this, he would endure it as best he could. He suspected it was the only way to regain Landry’s good graces. He tried to ignore the conversations around him, choosing instead to drift into his memories. Not a day went by he didn’t think about her, miss her. It felt weird to be in her house without her there, familiar and strange signs of her presence all around, things he remembered, things he’d never seen before.

A well-known stranger.

Voices near the door greeted someone. When Cris didn’t look up, Landry jerked the leash hard, indicating he wanted his attention.

Loren wore a beautiful blue brocade corset and long, flowing black skirt. When Tilly walked in behind her…

His breath left in a rush. The purple dress suited her, gorgeous.

Landry leaned over and viciously pulled his hair to yank his head back. “Isn’t she beautiful?

Just think…you could be in my position right now instead of on your knees like a dog.” When Landry released his hair, he patted the top of Cris’ head.

Tilly and Loren walked over. When it looked like Loren wanted to kick him, Cris didn’t miss how Tilly deftly stepped between them as they talked.

Cris felt a measure of relief at that, immediately followed by a wave of guilt that after what he’d done to her, she felt she had to protect him.

Landry smiled and leaned in for a kiss from Tilly. “You’re beautiful, love.”

She was. Cris wanted to stand, take her into his arms, and kiss her.

He also realized that might get him killed, considering the gathered group of people and how they glared at him.

Landry offered her his arm and, without hesitating, jerked Cris’ leash. Cris scrambled to his feet and scurried to keep up, knowing Landry wouldn’t hesitate to yank him off his feet and drag him across the floor if he didn’t follow fast enough.

Loren and Ross left Tilly’s side and went to talk to some other people. Cris had a bad feeling what was about to occur, even though he didn’t want to believe it. When a photographer started taking posed pictures of Tilly and Landry, together and with other people, he knew.

After Landry spent a few more minutes talking with Tilly and others, Landry patted her on the arm and kissed her cheek. “I’ll be right there. I need to take care of something.”

She walked off, talking with others, while Landry pulled him into one of the curtained alcoves set aside for privacy. He pulled the black curtain shut behind them and turned on him, his voice low.

“You will not ruin this for her, do you understand me, slave?”

Cris nodded.

“You’ve behaved perfectly so far. Keep it up.” Landry unclipped Cris’ hands but left the cuffs on him. Then he reached into his pants pocket and withdrew a ring box. He opened it and took out a beautiful, delicate wedding band and handed it to him.

“You’ll be my best man, slave. Apropos, is it not? You get to help me marry the woman you love. She’s asked Ross to stand up for her.” He studied Cris. “Everything changes back to some semblance of what we used to have as of Wednesday, because that’s when I go into the hospital. Until then, if you wish to stay by my side, you will behave and obey without hesitation, question, or complaint. Understood?”

Cris nodded.

“Good.” He led Cris out of the alcove.

Loren waved Landry across the room. “Ready?” she asked when they joined her.

He nodded.

Everyone, about thirty people in all, gathered to watch. Dressed in everything from evening casual to full fetish gear, Cris knew about a third of the people in attendance.

He suspected everyone knew who he was.

Tilly walked up, her arm hooked through Ross’ and carrying a small bouquet of purple flowers.

Ross tenderly kissed her cheek before handing her off to Landry.

She never looked at him, her eyes only on the man she was about to marry.

Cris didn’t listen to the words. He couldn’t. His heart breaking, he watched as she recited the vows Loren told her before she slipped the ring Ross handed her on Landry’s finger.

Only because Landry reached back for the ring did Cris know to hand it to him. Cris fought his tears, refused to cry in front of everyone and spoil this for her.

Loren sounded genuinely happy. “By the power invested in me by the laws of the State of

Florida, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Tilly couldn’t believe she was actually going through with this. The day had rushed by in a blur with Loren unerringly steering her through the preparations, her nails and hair and make-up, everything.

She tried not to focus on Cris. This could have been her day with him. She’d been willing to spend her life with him.

His loss.

Instead, she let herself sink into Landry’s green eyes. His gentle hands felt scorching hot against hers as he slipped the ring on her finger and recited his vows, his gaze never wavering from her.

When Loren declared them married, Landry leaned in and kissed her with a gentle passion that threatened to unleash the fires raging below her surface. Dammit, she did want him, revenge or not.

She wanted him to fuck her brains out. She knew his game, and maybe he didn’t love her, maybe she couldn’t honestly say she loved him—yet—but she could and would enjoy tonight.

Everyone applauded as they kissed. When he lifted his mouth from hers he whispered, “I can’t wait to take my beautiful wife home and ravish her.”

Her knees weakened. She felt thankful he’d already offered his arm for her to hold on to. For a gay man, he damn sure pushed her buttons with precise accuracy.

Cris trailed behind them as they walked to the other side of the dungeon where tables and chairs had been set up. Landry paused only long enough to clip the leash to the table leg next to his chair, snap the clip onto his cuffs to hold them together, and point to the floor.

Cris obediently knelt beside Landry’s chair.

She swallowed back the uncomfortable lump in her throat. Shouldn’t she be enjoying this?

Seeing him cut down? Participating in his public humiliation, even? Isn’t that what she’d wanted?

Landry distracted her by offering to get her a plate of food. She nodded. While he was gone, even as she talked to others and accepted their congratulations, her gaze wandered to Cris’ bowed head.

When Landry returned, he sat next to her and blocked her view of Cris. She didn’t miss how

Landry occasionally took pieces of food from his plate and reached his hand down beside him.

She tried not to think about that and focused on their friends. Loren and Ross sat at their table, as did Kim and Kylee. When it came time to cut the cake, that’s when Tilly felt her next apprehension.

Even though it was a beautifully decorated sheet cake, not a traditionally tiered wedding cake, Landry stood with her to help her cut it. While everyone cheered them on, trying to get them to smash the cake into each other’s faces, Landry winked at her and gently fed her a small, manageable bite.

He kissed her on the cheek and whispered in her ear, “I am not a stupid man. I don’t wish to upset a woman so skilled at wielding a whip as you are.”

His eyes twinkled and she couldn’t help but laugh. When it was her turn, she deliberately brushed the piece of cake against his chin, dabbing a little frosting on him in the process. The spectators hooted, albeit slightly disappointed.

Landry laughed too, but before he wiped his chin she leaned in and licked the frosting off, prompting a pleased round of cheers from the others.

Before she could step back he kissed her again, the taste of cake fresh on his lips.

“We should have bought extra frosting,” she joked. “For later.”

He grinned. “You’re my kind of girl.”

“I’d better be your only girl.”

Landry set a small piece of cake and a fork on the floor next to Cris. Then Ross stood to give the toast.

He smiled at Tilly. “Most of you here know how special a friend Tilly is to my wife and myself,” he said. “Loren and I love her like part of our family, more than just a friend.” He grinned at Landry. “You’re a lucky guy to have her, and I suspect she won’t have any trouble keeping you in line.”

“None at all,” Landry agreed with a grin.

Ross’ face softened. “You deserve the best, Tilly. You’re a brilliant woman and have come a long way in the past several years. I know the two of you have a little bit of a challenge ahead of you, but Landry, you’ve picked the best damn woman—besides my own Loren,” he clarified, “to walk this journey with you.” He lifted his cup. “Here’s to happiness, a complete recovery for you, Landry, and hopefully some vicariously enjoyable hell for someone else that we can all witness on a frequent basis.”

Tilly laughed, forcing her eyes to stay on Landry’s face and not drop to Cris on his other side.

With plastic cups instead of real glasses to clink, everyone started pounding on their tables for another kiss from the newlyweds.

With a wink Landry leaned in and kissed her, long and slow and leaving her body sizzling in his wake. With their audience loudly hooting their approval, he whispered, “Let’s hurry this up so we can finish with them and get down to what we really want to do.”

Unfortunately, Loren had hired a DJ. They had to have a few dances, and more pictures, before Loren was happy she’d thrown Tilly a proper wedding. As they stepped into the middle of the dungeon for their first dance, where all the benches and other equipment had been pushed out of the way for clearance, Landry took her into his arms and led her around the floor. As they turned she again caught sight of Cris kneeling beside Landry’s empty chair. Except for the empty plate next to him, it didn’t look like he’d moved, his head bowed, hair hiding his face.

Landry turned them so they faced the other way. “Focus on us, love,” he whispered. “Not him.

Don’t let him spoil your day.”

“You’re fucking spooky.”

He chuckled as he nuzzled her ear. “No, I’m possessive. I want your mind on me, not him. And on what I plan on doing to you later.” The sensual dance soon took her mind off everything else as she looked into his eyes and saw her own passion mirrored there.

At one point he ground his hips against hers and she felt his stiff cock through his trousers.

“That’s for you later, love,” he promised with a playful smirk.

“I’m glad you’re flexible.”

“That makes two of us.”

She rested her head against his chest as they finished the dance. Even despite the circumstances she couldn’t say she didn’t feel special. She felt safe with him, definitely. She sensed he was a man of his word who wouldn’t hurt her. She already felt cherished.

When the song ended, everyone applauded before pounding on their tables again and chanting, “Kiss! Kiss!”

One corner of his mouth slid up in a sexy smirk. “How about it, Mrs. LaCroux?”

Heat flared deep within her belly as she draped her arms around him and gave him a long, sensual kiss. His hands cupped her ass and he ground his hips against hers as they embraced until finally he lifted his mouth and broke their kiss.

“I think I love you, Madame,” he said with a smile.

She returned his smile. “I think I love you, too.”

Tilly wanted to stay and help clean up, but Loren waved her off. “No, you’re going to go have fun.” She hugged her, then Landry. “Go do whatever it is you vanilla, non-kinky couples do,” she teased.

“Who said we’re vanilla and not kinky?” Tilly protested with a laugh. “That’s a dirty thing to call me after all the years we’ve known each other.”

“Well if he’s not your Dom, and you’re not his Domme, what the hell else is there?”

Landry pulled Tilly to him, taking her by surprise and making her squeal as he nipped her neck.

“I’m sure we’ll think of plenty of things to do.”

Tilly swatted him on the ass. “I’m sure we will.”

Loren pointed at Cris. “Oh, you. Asshole. Come here.”

Landry laughed as he unsnapped the leash and removed the clip holding his wrist cuffs together.

“Better go with her.”

All Loren needed was his signature on the marriage certificate as witness, yet another indignity.

Loren smiled as she looked at where he’d signed. “How’s it feel to know you helped marry her off, asshole?”

Cris didn’t respond even though Tilly noticed how his body tensed. Tilly felt another round of sympathy for him. “Okay, enough torture,” Tilly said. “I want to get going.”

Loren stuck her tongue out at her. “Landry’s right, you are a spoilsport.”

Others would stay and play. Landry sent Cris out to the limo first, instructing him to get in the back compartment, but to sit all the way at the front. Everyone else gave the newlyweds a birdseed shower as they ran for the car and jumped in. Ross had already made sure Tilly’s things were transferred to the limo.

Landry pulled Tilly across his lap as the limo driver shut the door before they pulled away.

“Now, home.”

“Home.” She ignored Cris’ silent presence at the front of the passenger compartment. Instead, she ran her hands through Landry’s hair. “You sure can wear a suit well. You look damn good in that thing. Even better than you did at the store.”

“I like finely-tailored clothes. You should see my wardrobe. I’ll have to take over a closet in one of the other rooms. I believe I have more than you do.” He looked up at Cris. “Isn’t that right, slave?”

Cris nodded.

He returned his attention to her and dropped his voice low enough Cris couldn’t hear. “Are you ready for tonight, love?”

“Yeah.” She snuggled closer. “Very ready.”

It seemed as if his expression softened, saddened as his eyes roamed her face. “I promise I will never leave you, Tilly. Not unless you tell me to go.”

Emotion threatened to swamp her. “Please don’t say that.”

He frowned. “Why not? I mean it.”

She struggled not to cry and finally succeeded in keeping her tears in check. “Don’t make me promises you might not be able to keep.” She didn’t want to ruin her wedding night thinking about the possibility that his treatment might not beat the cancer back this time.

Or that he might choose to leave one day.

Apparently sensing her distress, he slowly nodded and caressed her cheek, cradling her face in his palm. “I promise, with every fiber of my being, to the deepest corners of my soul, that I will fight to stay with you until the very last breath leaves my body.”

She gasped, unable to respond.

“Does that settle your heart, love?”

She nodded, feeling the prickle of tears in her eyes. “Yeah.” Pulling his head down to hers, she kissed him, long and deep and enjoying the feel of his hands on her, his arms around her. She wanted to cry and didn’t know if he’d understand, didn’t want to let go in front of Cris, either.

Landry apparently sensed it anyway. “I take my vows seriously. You’re stuck with me for a long time. I told you, don’t be surprised if you try to leave in three years and I’m clinging to your leg, begging you to stay. You’d hate to see a grown Dom cry, wouldn’t you?”

She giggled over his playful smirk, easing her tension. “I can’t think of anything more pitiful.”

She rested her cheek against his palm, which still cupped her jaw. His fingers stroked the back of her neck, up under her hair. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m difficult to live with. I’ve gotten used to doing things my way.”

“Then that’s the way we’ll do them. Cardinal’s rules.”

She cracked an eye open. His eyes were still fixed on her, his expression serious. She knew Cris couldn’t hear them if she whispered. “If you get tired of me—”

He kissed her. “Stop. I will not get tired of you. Although you may be ready to kick me out by next week after you see what a whiner I am.”

“I don’t want to fall in love with you and get my heart broken.”

He nuzzled her forehead with his. “I guess Loren meant it when she asked me.”

“Meant what? Asked you what?”

“This morning, when she arrived to pick you up. She said it was between her and myself, but she wanted to know if I was falling in love with you and if I would mean my vows. Apparently she meant it when she said she wouldn’t tell.”

Her heart raced. “What did you say?”

“I told her yes, that I am. And yes, I meant every word.”

“Please don’t tell me what you think I want to hear.”

“I will always be honest with you, Tilly. Good or bad. You know my past, you know about Cris.

If I ever feel I can’t continue, I will tell you. But prepare yourself for me doing my best to woo you whenever I get the chance.”

Her fingers tightened on his shoulders. “Woo away, buddy.”