[Author's note: After struggling to cope with the death of Alena, his wife and Mistress, Quinn sought out Cassie for professional counselling. Together, they explored Alena and Quinn's journey into a female-led relationship (
AG01
), and helped him come to terms with his loss. Syn introduced him to someone new, Ally (
WOD05
), and they have been building a relationship in the time since.]
---
HARD LIMIT
Ally opened the door at the second knock, slightly breathless.
"You're early."
Quinn shrugged, "I had nothing better to do. Did I catch you at a bad time?"
"No, come in, it's fine. I just...."
She stepped to the side, letting Quinn into her house, her eyes roaming around the place.
"I was just tidying up," she admitted, "The boys left a bombsite behind, as usual. This place was stacked to the rafters half an hour ago."
"You did a good job, Ally, it looks fine."
"Yeah, after they got all the camping gear into Mark's car, eventually. They took their sweet time about it."
"Ah, so."
"So?"
"Hence the stress. I nearly bumped into him, did I?"
Ally's face twitched.
"It's okay, Ally, I'm sure it'd be fine. We're all adults."
Quinn gave her a smile, seeing the uncertainty in her face.
"Or are you ashamed of me?"
It was a little sting, and Ally stiffened.
"No, I'm not. I just don't want that prick knowing my business. I don't want him sizing you up. He's probably drilling the boys right now."
"And what are they going to tell him, really?"
"I dunno. You don't know what teenagers pick up. They act like they're oblivious, but then they'll say something and it's like, oh fuck, they get it, they get it all."
"What have they said to you though?"
"That you're my boyfriend."
Quinn laughed.
"What's that funny?" Ally snapped.
"If that's what they think, then we're fine."
Ally hesitated, wrinkling her nose, then replied, "I guess."
"So long as they don't know what I am really. That's too adult. I can be just the new boyfriend, that's okay. Mark's going to have to deal with the fact that you'd find someone else, it was inevitable, right?"
"No, it wasn't. You know that. You know how hard it was."
"You're beautiful Ally, you'd have them lining up if I hadn't got there first."
"No, Quinn, I'm not. I know how I am."
"What are you then?"
Ally shot him a look, sighing to herself.
"Average, I'm average. The face, the figure. I'm homely. I'm not like Syn, or Cassie, or...."
"Or who else?"
"Alena."
"And yet, here I am with you."
For a moment, Ally looked as if she was going to say something, a bitter thing, but instead she remained silent.
"You're truly remarkable, Ally. That's why I'm here, with you. I see past the mother, the busy physiotherapist, the divorcee. Even when you don't."
He slid his hand into hers, giving her fingers a squeeze.
"Now, what shall we do tonight?"
Ally looked up into his warm eyes for a long time.
"Bathroom," she said.
---
Quinn could feel how she'd altered him. Even with his eyes closed, standing stock-still in the middle of the bedroom, he was acutely aware of what Ally had done to his body. He was struggling, but he was also trying to hide it, keeping his expression neutral because he could feel her watching him.
"Baby," the voice whispered next to his ear.
Quinn flinched, not expecting her so close. He hadn't heard her move.
"You look so beautiful."
A finger pressed against his lips.
"Only your safeword, okay?"
Quinn nodded his acquiescence.
"Good girl. Open your eyes."
Quinn obeyed. He blinked in disbelief, staring at a tall figure in a tiny wraparound dress and loose blouse, black stockings and high heels. Hair slicked back, bright red lipstick, eye shadow, then the eyes staring back at him in the mirror.
"So femme."
Quinn felt a little tremor in his core, taking in the view of what she'd done to him, understanding at last all the little caresses and touches with him ordered to stillness, eyes screwed tightly shut. Ally stepped up behind him, wearing slacks and one of Quinn's white business shirts. She'd threaded a tie around her neck, slipping into leather shoes. She wasn't wearing make-up at all.
"Let's eat, baby."
Ally took his hand, leading him through to the dining table. He stopped, staring at it. Ally had laid out candles, crockery and cutlery already neatly arranged, a decanter topped up with red wine, glasses ready. Her arms slid around his waist.
"Happy anniversary, baby. Take a seat."
Ally grinned at him as he hesitated.
"Seriously, you're allowed to sit. Food's gonna be on plates. No tricks. At least, not yet."
Ally wandered into the kitchen and Quinn slid into a seat, squirming with the unnatural feeling of the stockings, the fabric of the tight little dress, and also what she'd done underneath. He could feel the lace of panties, then the tightness between his legs from the thing she'd done to him.
Ally returned, carrying two plates, setting one down in front of him. She settled into the chair next to him and ran a hand down his thigh.
"Eat, it's your favourite."
Quinn looked down at the mushroom risotto, and a little part of him was impressed by her attention to detail. She must have remembered the discussion about Quinn's birthday, the restaurant by the lake where he had made the decision to become Alena's property. His wife had known his dislike of risotto, and Ally was continuing the tradition.
There was just a moment, and he was somewhere else, transported back by a memory to the Lost and Found, back exactly one year, to being tied to the floor, with Cassie and Ally and Cynthia, no that wasn't right: Mistress Grace, Mistress Candice and Madame Syn, looking down on his tormented body, with Alena's final letter in their hands.