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A/N Okay, so this was a little bit rushed. Next week I will be working on Feature Creep. Thanks for reading along!
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At the bottom of the stairs, we found ourselves in a service bay. I almost tripped over one of the "goons" Shaw had "handled". The poor kid looked like he was barely twenty.
"He'll be fine," Shaw said as she unceremoniously stepped over his prone form. "Don't want to ruin my record of five whole days since Finch complained about unnecessary violence."
"You mean besides the guy you shoved through a wall upstairs?" I asked.
"That was necessary violence."
Shaw casually shoved open the emergency exit—the alarm had been disabled, I noted in passing—and we headed out onto the sidewalk. The three of us meandered away from the building even as a police car came roaring up the street, going back the way we had come with sirens blaring.
"So what was with the Number?" I asked, glancing back over my shoulder.
"Freddy wanted more than his employer was willing to give him," Root said. "But it looks like the people he was going to sell his algorithm to wanted more as well."
"So both a perp and a victim, kinda."
Root shrugged. "The software could've done damage in the wrong hands. One of the buyers had ties to a terrorist cell."
I stared at her. "And you know this...how?"
"The usual way," Root said mysteriously. I groaned in exasperation.
We walked along as another police car raced by, followed by an ambulance.
"Well, that was fun," I said after awhile.
"Yeah," Shaw said. She was doing something on her cell phone. "You know what else is fun?"
"What?"
"This." She tapped her phone.
Next to me, Root gasped and jumped a few inches in the air.
"Lizzy!" she hissed. "A little warning before you turn it up that high?"
"What? But I didn't—" A grin spread across Shaw's face and I scowled. "Shaw! Not cool! We spent hours working on the cryptography for that! How'd you break it already?"
"Oh, I didn't," she said. "I just bluejacked your phone and remote-controlled it."
Annoyed, I took out my phone and turned the toy back down. A second later, the sliders popped back up to 50% all by themselves, and Root let out a wavering moan.
"Shaw, stop it!" I said, turning them back down again.
"But it's fun," Shaw said, and a second later the toy was back on again.
"Don't make me turn off my phone." Now the toy was off.
"You are such a killjoy." Shaw turned it back on. Root was starting to make really interesting noises.
"Look, you can do that to me all you want—" I turned the toy down again "—but if you want to mess with Root, you really need to ask her first."
"Okay. Hey, Root, can we fuck?"
"Y-yes," Root stuttered out. A moment later, the sliders jumped up again. Root had to grab my arm for support. "Please. I c-can't take this much longer."
Shaw smirked. "The car's just up ahead. You'll just have to 'take it' until we get someplace nicer."
The nearest apartment Finch owned was about a five minute's drive away. It must've been a torturous ride for Root. She couldn't stop moving and her hands kept looking for things to grab onto. In the relative privacy of the car, she was free to make all the noises she want, and she sounded downright pornographic.
We had to help her up the front steps. As soon as we were over the threshold, everything happened in a confusing blur. Shaw grabbed Root—or did Root grab Shaw?—and they practically dragged each other to the bedroom. I kicked the door shut behind me, locked it, and got to the bedroom just in time to see Root stumble backwards into a sturdy wooden chair over in the corner of the room. Shaw was on top of her in an instant, her fingers wrapped firmly around Root's neck. The room went very still.
Damn, had it just gotten about ten degrees hotter in here?
"Traffic lights?" Shaw asked. Root nodded quickly.
"Good." Without looking away from Root, she said, "Ellie, see if you can find something to tie her legs."
Smirking, I checked the drawers and under the bed, but this apartment, not being one Shaw and I frequented, was disappointingly devoid of bondage equipment. But in the closet was a box of scarves, and I found a few that seemed particularly thick and sturdy. By the time I turned around, Root's hands were already cuffed behind her back and Shaw had already gotten Root's blouse open, leaving it hanging loosely off her shoulders. Root's chest rose and fell rapidly and her breath came in soft pants as she squirmed. I held her still while Shaw bound her ankles and knees to the chair legs, leaving Root exposed and helpless.
"Sorry, I don't have an iron handy," Shaw said. "But that's not really Ellie's thing."
"Maybe next time," Root said.
Shaw stood up and pulled out her cell phone. Root's eyes fixated on the device. "Hmmm," Shaw said thoughtfully. She rubbed her chin. "What do you think, Ellie? Fast or slow?"
"I dunno," I said. "She's been suffering a lot already. Let her have some fun already."
"True...on the other hand..." Shaw set the phone down on the dresser. "I could do something else fun."
"What's that?"
"You."
With an evil smirk, Shaw grabbed a fistful of my blouse and pushed me towards the bed. The back of my knees hit the mattress and I fell ungracefully backwards onto the sheets, laughing. Shaw pounced on top of me, crouching down like a cat about to snap up its prey.
"What?" Root said. "Come on, turn it up, Shaw!" She rattled the cuffs, but Shaw had fastened them to something on the back of the chair, and her hands remained trapped behind her back.
"I know for a fact she's not the only one who's horny right now," Shaw said, her voice husky. She leaned down until her face was mere inches from mine. "You poor thing. You must've been suffering all day." Shaw's hand traveled under my skirt, rubbing the inside of my thigh before traveling northward.
"Hey!" Root said. "I'm the one with the stupid vibrator, not her!"
"Yeah, it's been hard," I said. "I'm pretty damn turned on right now."
"We'll have to do something about that," Shaw said.
"Come on!" Root whined. "Don't leave me with this thing on low!" She rattled the cuffs again and glowered at us. We ignored her. Shaw hooked her fingers under the waistband of my skirt and tugged impatiently. I squirmed my legs out of the skirt and stripped off my panties, tossing both garments aside.
"Let's have some fun," Shaw said. "Scoot back."
I did so, reclining back against the pillows at the head of the bed. Shaw ran her hands up my legs, rubbing in soft circles, but when she reached my nethers, her hands veered off to either side, leaving my desire frustratingly untouched.
"I hope we drive her crazy," Shaw muttered. I chuckled as she leaned down and planted a kiss on my thigh. I could feel her warm breath on my intimates. Sighing happily, I sank back into the fluffy pillows, lying languidly amidst the sheets while Shaw's hands and lips roved over my body.
Root was pouting and glaring daggers. I stared right back until she blinked and glanced away, squirming and grunting in frustration.
"Don't pay attention to her," Shaw said sweetly. "I'll give you something else to think about. Spread your legs a bit more."
I did so, and Shaw positioned herself between them. She winked and then, maintaining eye contact, put her head between my legs.
"Oh!" I squeaked as Shaw's tongue made contact with my nether lips. I let out a shaky breath and hummed contentedly, enjoying the warmth tingling throughout my body. Shaw started out nice and slow, leaving a trail of kisses and nips around my womanhood and fueling the arousal simmering in my loins. I shifted my hips and spread my legs further.
Shaw's ministrations slowly became more eager. She used her fingers to gently spread my nether lips for easier access.
"Oh! There!" I gasped as Shaw's tongue and lips probed and explored. "Oh, oh, right there, right there!" I curled my fingers in Shaw's hair and pulled her head closer to me, guiding her to the right spots. Shaw happily obliged, sucking and licking and sending tingles of pleasure from head to toe.
I couldn't help but send a haughty look Root's way. She gritted her teeth and scowled, but otherwise didn't react.
The mattress shifted beneath me as Shaw moved, and a moment I felt two of her fingers slip inside me, aided by the wetness of my own body. I grunted in pleasure and canted my hips towards her touch.
The combination of Shaw's fingers and mouth quickly drove me towards the edge. "Oh god," I whispered. "Oh god, that's—keep going—" Shaw was more than happy to oblige.
Within minutes, the orgasm crashed over me, rushing through my body like a wave. I rode it out as long as I could, holding onto Shaw's hair until the sensations became too intense.
"Okay, okay," I gasped out. "Too much!"
Shaw eased her fingers out, made one last little kiss, and sat up, rubbing the inside of my thighs while I laid there and panted, awash in afterglow.
"Guys, can you turn it up now?" came a desperate voice.
"Did you hear something?" Shaw asked me, her face deadpan.
"Uh-uh." I propped myself up on my elbows. "Maybe you should have your ears checked by Dr. Tillman."
"Yes, because she'd be thrilled to see us after what happened last time."
"All we did was accidentally start a little fire in her—"
"Guys, come on!" Root said.
"There's no guys in here. Hush up."
"I wanna cum!"
"Isn't there a roll of duct tape under the kitchen sink?" I asked Shaw.
"That only works in the movies," Shaw said.
"Maybe we could order a ball gag online with 2nd-hour delivery."
"But then we have to hear her complain for two hours."
I grumbled and glanced at Root. Her chest was covered by a thin sheen of moisture and a tiny wet spot had formed on the chair just beneath the vibrator. Her long hair was no longer stupidly perfect and wavy; it was stringy and slick with sweat. She did her best to glare at us, but there wasn't much malice in the look, only desperation.
"Think she's suffered enough?" I asked Shaw.
"Never," Shaw said with relish. "But, I guess we could give her some...attention now."
If I had been Root just then, I would've known to be nervous, very nervous at the restrained glee in Shaw's voice. But when Shaw stood up and snagged the cell phone from the dresser, Root stared at it with only relief in her eyes.
Shaw casually pulled up a chair in front of Root and sat down, crossing one leg over the other. She glanced at her phone and flicked the screen. Root immediately moaned, closing her eyes and leaning forward as far as her restraints allowed. Her legs strained inward against her bonds, but the scarves held her tight, keeping her legs apart. Root's body trembled, making the handcuffs jingle. Her gasps and moans were becoming more and more vocal, especially when Shaw started playing with the cell phone sliders.
I sat on the edge of the bed to watch the show.
"Don't stop," Root gasped, nervously fingering the cuffs. "Even if I tell you, don't stop!"
"Oh, trust me," Shaw said. "I won't."
And she didn't. She just sat and watched Root squirm and writhe in the chair. Root was close to orgasm. Her fingers and toes were alternating between clenching and spreading, and her moans were getting louder and louder until they cut off abruptly. Every muscle in her body tensed, pulling against her bonds.
"Fuck..." Root gasped. "Oh, fuck!" She pulled frantically at the cuffs. "Turn it off!"
"No," Shaw said. She crossed her arms, allowing the cell phone to dangle from her fingers. "You're mine. My toy. I can play with you however I want."
Root writhed and squirmed, tugging at her restraints, but they held her firm. She shook and bucked her hips, doing her best to get the vibrator away from her intimates. I smirked, knowing just how useless the motion was. With the way she was tied and the tightness of her panties, there was no way to dislodge the toy nestled against and within her.
"P-please!" Root begged.
Shaw didn't respond. Instead, she casually strolled behind the chair and squatted down. Suddenly, her hand shot up, her fingers wrapping around Root's neck.
"Mine," Shaw growled in Root's ear, enunciating every nuance of the word. She squeezed her hand, her fingers digging into the delicate flesh of Root's neck, and Root's eyes went wide.
I watched Root carefully, looking for signs of distress. Shaw knew what she was doing, and Root hadn't used her safeword, but this was still something much edgier than I was used to seeing from Shaw. Root's face was gradually becoming redder and redder.
Shaw loosened her grip, and Root sucked in a deep breath—and howled.
"Turn it off!" she pleaded.
"Tell me who you belong to," Shaw said. She squeezed again, briefly. "I want to hear it."
"Y-you," Root gasped out. "I b-belong to you!"
"Good girl," Shaw said, and she tightened her fingers again, this time putting her other hand over Root's mouth and nose. She held on as Root's body abruptly tensed, her toes splayed, her eyes squeezed tight shut, and didn't let go until Root started to struggle away from her grasp.
Root gasped and sputtered when Shaw released her. Her voice was hoarse and she spoke in gibberish, making inarticulate, guttural sounds as she fought against the restraints. Her mouth was open wide and tears glistened in her eyes.
"Root?" Shaw said. "Hey." She snapped her fingers in front of Root's face. When she didn't respond right away, Shaw quickly shut off the vibrator.
"Okay," Shaw said, rubbing Root's shoulders, "you've had enough. Breathe."
"I'll get her some water," I said. Shaw nodded and uncuffed her. I headed for the kitchen, fetching a glass of water from the tap and a towel from the linen cupboard in the hall. By the time I returned, Shaw had loosened most of the scarves, leaving them dangling limply from the chair and Root's legs. I handed Root the glass of water. She immediately downed it. Shaw draped the towel over Root's shoulders.
"Thanks," Root said breathlessly. She fingered the edge of the towel and grinned up at Shaw. "I didn't think you cared so much."
"Can't use your toys again if you break them," Shaw said lightly.
"You sounded like you were having fun," I said.
"It was the best," Root said. She awkwardly brushed a strand of slick hair behind her ear. (It didn't do much for her appearance; she still looked like a hot mess.) "We should've done this sooner."
"Yeah," Shaw said. "Watching you struggle is fun."
We stripped away the last few scarves and Root was free. She leaned forward, propping her elbows on her knees, and breathed deeply.
For awhile, none of us spoke.
"Soooo," Root finally said, putting on her innocent face. She leaned in closer to Shaw. "Does this mean I'm finally forgiven for the kidnapping incident?"
"Nope," Shaw said. "But it's a start..."
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A week later, lounging on the couch in an apartment that was in no way connected to one Caroline Turing, Root made a call on her cell phone.
"Hey, Elizabeth," Root said. "You up for a round of torture the hacker?"
"Sorry, Root," Elizabeth said. "Trying to help a friend build a computer—"
In the background: "Is that supposed to be smoking?"
"No! Yank the plug!"
"I'll leave you to it," Root said. "Sounds like you have your hands full."
"Thanks. I said unplug it!"
Root hung up and stared at her cell phone. She chewed the inside of her lip, considering her options, as she turned the phone around in her nimble fingers. Finally, she picked a contact on speed dial. The phone connected after the second ring.
"Shaw," came the voice at the other end of the line.
"Hey, sweetie," Root said.
An exaggerated groan.
"What's up, Root?"
"So, uh..." Root said. She took a deep breath, smiled, and said, "You free this afternoon?"
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