Venom lost himself in the focused intensity of wrapping her petite body in the rope. He crafted a flat body harness, tucking and looping the long lengths of rope rather than using knots to secure it. The diamond shapes he created on her soft skin looked so incredibly beautiful. Always mindful of her comfort and safety, he tested the tautness of the rope and ensured her ability to move freely remained.
When he finished fashioning the corset, he took a step back to study his work. Her flushed skin and pebbled nipples assured him that Dizzy loved the gentle embrace of her bindings. Venom traced her full bottom lip. “You’re gorgeous, Dizzy.”
She glanced up at him with a mischievous glimmer in her brown eyes. “I’m pretty sure a rope harness isn’t going to meet the formal dress code.”
A chuckle rumbled through his chest. Dipping his head, he claimed her mouth with a loving kiss. He picked up the dress and helped her step into it. The enticing shimmy of her hips enlivened his cock. Indulging his desire to enjoy her lush body, Venom allowed his hands to caress her bare skin as he dragged her dress into place and slowly tugged the zipper up.
He bent down and picked up the heels she had chosen. Clasping her ankle, he slid the first one on her foot. Dizzy put her hands on his shoulders to steady herself. He had to fight the clamoring desire to flip up her skirt and bury his face between her thighs. The idea of taking her to the wedding with her face still flushed from an orgasm was ever so tempting—but there simply wasn’t time to do it right.
Dizzy popped into the bathroom one final time to primp. After he slid into his jacket, she checked over his uniform for any stray pieces of lint or fuzz before grabbing a sleek evening bag. He didn’t quite understand the rules of which purses went with which outfits but he assumed there was some science behind her choice.
Spotting her collar on the bedside table, he crossed the room to retrieve it. When he picked it up, he noticed the new lining she had added. “Did you do this while I was at my second debriefing this morning?”
“Yes.” She joined him next to their bed and took the collar from him. Looking a bit sheepish, she explained, “I sort of ripped open one of the throw pillows from the couch. I hope you don’t mind.”
His eyebrow arched. “It’s a bit late to ask about that, isn’t it?”
“There’s a saying down in The City. Ask first, do penance later.”
“Penance, huh?” He easily spun her around, lifted her skirt and popped her bare bottom with his palm. “Like this?”
“Venom!”
Her shocked outburst made him laugh but when she reached around to smack his backside his jaw dropped. “Dizzy!”
She put a hand on her hip. “It’s not so funny when you’re the one with a stinging butt, is it?”
“That’s not the way this works. I spank you, not the other way around.”
“Says who?”
“Says everyone.”
“The first night we were together you told me that we’re the ones who set the rules for our relationship. I think that if you get to spank me I should get to return the favor.”
Her spunky reply curved his mouth with amusement. “Sugar, there is exactly zero chance of you ever turning me across your knee.”
“Well yeah, because you would crush me!” Dizzy retorted as she rubbed her bottom.
His brow furrowed. He had barely applied any force to his whack but maybe he had miscalculated. “Did I hurt you?”
“No. It’s just hot.”
Stepping into her personal space, he slid his hand under her skirt and palmed her naked flesh. “You’ve got that right.” His mouth grazed hers. “This is the hottest ass I’ve ever had the pleasure of spanking.”
A look of annoyance flitted across her face. “Spanked a lot of asses, have you?”
“More than enough to know yours is the very best.”
She rolled her eyes. “Smooth save.”
He laughed and coaxed a hungry kiss from her. “We’ll talk about this spanking thing later. I didn’t mean to cross a line with you. It was a spontaneous thing and I probably should have asked before I hit you.”
She ran her finger over one of the shiny buttons on his uniform. “You didn’t hit me. Hit has such an ugly, abusive connotation and that wasn’t what happened here. I know it was a playful smack, Venom.” She pinched the button between her fingers. “I think I might want to try it again—but with some warning first.”
His mouth went dry as visions of Dizzy draped across his lap filled his head. He would take his time warming up her bottom with his cracking palm and then spread her thighs to reach that secret place hidden there. He could almost feel the slick, wet heat of her painting his fingers as he probed her pussy and rubbed her clit. She would come like crazy after a thorough spanking.
Stepping back from her, he inhaled a long breath to clear his lust-riddled thoughts. “We really should go.”
A knowing smile played upon her lips. Dizzy handed him the collar. He draped it around her neck and latched it in place. Sweeping aside the silky waves of her pale hair, he dotted a teasing line of kisses from the collar up to her earlobe. “I’m glad you’re here with me tonight.”
She glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him. “Being Grabbed wasn’t the ideal way to meet you, Venom, but I’m so glad our paths crossed out there in that snowy forest.”
Taking her hand, Venom led her out of their quarters and down the hall to the elevator bank. It was a short ride down to the banquet and event rooms where the brass typically hosted promotions and official dinners.
When they turned the corner of a hallway leading to the room where Menace and Naya’s wedding was scheduled to take place, Hallie bounded toward them. “Thank goodness you’re here, Dizzy! We have a major emergency and we need your help.”
Dizzy seemed taken aback by the sight of Hallie. “You’re wearing one of my dresses.”
Hallie blinked. “Really?” She looked down at the delicate lacy dress she wore. “Naya ordered them from a vendor in The City. I had no idea it was one of your designs.”
“It must have been the boutique on Quayle Street. It’s the only place I sold that particular design.” She tilted her head. “You did a nice job taking in the bodice. You know your way around a needle and thread.”
“I’m okay,” Hallie agreed, “but Naya needs more help than I can give. The elevator caught her dress and I don’t know how to fix it.”
Dizzy grimaced. “Let me take a look.” She took a step away from him before turning back. “Do you mind?”
“No. Please. Go.” He gestured toward the door that Hallie had rushed through. “I’ll see if there’s anything I can do to help with the ceremony delay.”
Certain Dizzy was safe with Hallie, Venom searched out Vicious and Menace. They were fully apprised of the situation with the dress but it seemed that wasn’t the only problem.
“Naya’s friend Dankirk still hasn’t arrived,” Vicious explained. “He’s supposed to walk her down the aisle. Orion is fast-tracking the transport ship through arrivals but it’s taking forever.”
Agitated, Menace rubbed his face. “I promised her a perfect wedding day. After everything she’s been through, she deserves a perfect wedding day.”
“It will be perfect,” Vicious assured him. “Venom’s mate is a talented seamstress. She’ll have that dress fixed in no time. Orion never breaks a promise. He’ll get Dankirk here even if he has to suit up, borrow a dart and intercept them out in space.”
“I should go to her.” Menace stared at the door. “She needs me.”
“You can’t.” Vicious squeezed his friend’s shoulder. “The marital customs of Calyx indicate it’s bad luck if the groom sees the bride before the ceremony begins.”
“I’ll pop in and check on her, Menace.” Venom clapped the gunner on his back.
On his way to rejoin Dizzy, Venom was stopped by Risk. “Is everything okay?”
“There’s some sort of an emergency with Naya’s wedding dress.”
“Maybe I can help,” Risk said and locked step with him.
Venom shot him a strange look. “I doubt the bride is so upset she needs to be sedated.”
“Ha-ha-ha,” Risk intoned dryly. “I can sew, Venom.”
Venom doubted sewing fabric and suturing used the same techniques but it wouldn’t be the first time he had been proven wrong. Darting inside the dressing room, he found Dizzy kneeling on the floor behind a distraught Naya. His mate held out the badly ripped fabric along the back of the dress and chattered back and forth with Hallie as they searched for a solution.
“The small scissors in my emergency sewing kit aren’t nearly big enough for this,” Dizzy said tightly. She had the contents of the kit from her clutch spread out on the floor around her.
“I’ve got you covered, Dizzy.” Risk hurried to the medical kit safely stowed behind a glass panel on the far wall. He dragged the big soft-sided bag out of its nesting place and carried it over to Dizzy and Hallie. Crouching down, he unzipped a main compartment and retrieved large trauma shears. “Will these work?”