by Hélène Soper
Luc must have decided his new favorite pastime was watching Avery taste wine. Her lips throbbed under his intense gaze as it locked onto her lips. Her clit pulsed in time with her galloping heartbeat as she valiantly tried to bring her breathing back under some semblance of control.
“Mmm. Your Sauv Blanc is delicious. Fresh, crisp, lemon and lime, with the right balance of herbal notes. Bet it’s a terrific match with seafood.”
When he didn’t respond her eyes popped open. “Luc, you still here?”
“Yes, Avery.” The deep timber of his voice made her nipples harden like granite. His teasing fingers created fanciful swirls with the bubbles covering her body, a peek of upper thigh here, a hint of cleavage there. He hadn’t even touched her yet and every molecule of her body was straining to feel his skin against hers.
“You’re making me uncomfortable. You with all your clothes on, staring at me like that, and me all naked and covered in bubbles.” Her mouth curled up on one side as her gaze wandered up the length of his body and settled on his eyes.
“You’re so beautiful. There’s nothing I would love more than to join you. I do have to get out of these wet clothes anyway.”
“Well, we wouldn’t want you to catch a chill by staying in wet clothes. You’d best be getting out of them.” She took another sip of wine and sat back to enjoy what was most certainly going to be a hell of a show.
Luc placed his glass on the edge of the tub and started to unbutton his shirt. Slowly. Each piece of skin he exposed notched up her heart rate another level. By the time the shirt was unbuttoned and he was pulling the tails from his pants she thought for sure he’d be able to see her heart thumping in her chest. He peeled the shirt off his shoulders. It slid down his arms and he held it out in one hand. With all the dramatic flare of the Men from Downunder he opened his hand to let the shirt float to the floor.
“Very smooth, Mr. Christianson.”
“I’m glad you are suitably impressed, Ms. Lewis. I’ve practiced that move a few times.”
“I’m sure you have. But, can I just say, wow.”
Her eyes were riveted to his hands as they worked the button and zipper on his trousers. Until the unmistakable bulge outlined by his body-hugging boxer briefs left nothing for her imagination. Holy hell. The purplish head poked out from the top of the waistband, glistening with a drop of pre-come that made her mouth water. She’d never seen a cock that big. Not that she’d seen that many, but still. Her core ached at the thought of him stretching her open, pushing his way inside, claiming her.
“Looks like there’s room for two in this tub. Wouldn’t want you to get lonely in there.” Luc pushed the boxer briefs down his legs and kicked them aside.
“I guess we should take full advantage,” Avery said. Apprehension morphed into anticipation. She couldn’t help but lick her lips, hopeful she wasn’t drooling. God, but the man was beautiful and didn’t seem at all bashful about showing off his body. He clearly took care of himself, could even put a lot of younger guys to shame. Pretty damn hot for a guy in his late thirties. She languidly gazed up at him, unable and unwilling to avert her eyes as he climbed into the tub.
“Now I’m the one blushing,” Luc said. He eased himself into the water at the opposite end and tenderly lifted her legs and laid them down on top of his. “I’m glad you like what you see. I told you there was room for two.” He rested his upper shoulders against the end of the tub, reached for his glass, took a sip, and let out a relaxing sigh.
Warmth from his big body drifted into hers. She took another sip of wine, closed her eyes, and laid her head back on the edge of the tub. A gentle caress slid over her foot. He placed her heel on his chest and settled into a firm, sensuous rhythm, gliding both hands up her calf then back down to work his thumbs into the arch, ending the stroke with a little tug on each toe. She sighed and slid a little deeper into the water as any remnants of stress from the day evaporated.
“You look so relaxed. I’d like to see what other looks I can put on that gorgeous face of yours, little one.” He brought that foot closer to his mouth and cascaded kisses over the inside of her ankle, up her calf, and back down the outside.
“That feels heavenly.”
“I’m glad to see you’re easy to please.”
Avery raised an eyebrow and gave Luc a playfully taunting look. “Don’t be so sure of yourself, mister. I’m not that easy.”
“Ha! Far be it from me to ever suggest Ms. Lewis was easy.”
He finished with the first foot, gently laid it down on his rock-hard erection. Avery couldn’t mistake his playfulness for lack of desire. He picked up her other foot and continued his sensual therapy.
“So, tell me, what were you listening to when I so rudely interrupted you?”
“If this is an interruption, you’re welcome anytime.” She laid her head back against the tub again to savor his ministrations before she answered. “Probably not what you would expect.”
“How so?”
“Avenged Sevenfold, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Seether. Stuff like that.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
She opened her eyes and sat up, pulling her foot from his grasp. “Not kidding at all. I’ve been a rocker chick since high school. A certain local band introduced me to the wonders of Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, to name a few. I’ve been hooked ever since.”
“Wow. I never would have pegged you for a hard rock fan.”
“Well,” Avery tapped her index finger against her lips, “there was this cute guy in high school who helped me to hear the nuances and musicality of hard rock. It’s more complex than it appears on the surface. I helped him with English lit, he helped me with music appreciation.”
“That sounds oddly familiar.”
“Whenever I need to muster my inner warrior goddess I crank the volume and let the music take over my body. I know I’m not invincible but the guitar riffs, intense bass line, powerful drums, and passionate lyrics grab me by the throat and infuse me with an inner strength I can’t describe. It’s soulful for me.”
Water sloshed as Luc scooped under her butt and in a deft show of strength pulled her toward him so she was straddling his lap, her pussy lined up perfectly with his shaft. It pulsed against her labia as he ground his pelvis up into hers, pressing against her clit with torturous precision. Luc’s chocolate eyes grew darker as lust crowded out all other emotions.
“I need to taste you again, Avery. Once was not enough.”
Luc slid a hand up her back to cradle the back of her head, threading her hair between his fingers. Then he tugged, angling her head, leaving her neck exposed for the taking. Avery tensed and gasped against the pinpricks of pain in her scalp.
“Wait for it, beautiful girl.”
Then she felt it. Shards of pain ignited every nerve fiber in her scalp followed by fissions of exquisite pleasure cascading down through her body, somehow morphing into a powerful need that left her pussy aching to be filled. The expression on her face must have given her away because the smirk he gave her was smug. He knew exactly what he was doing. Not that she was complaining. She hadn’t ever been this aroused during sex, and he hadn’t even gotten to the good stuff yet.
“There it is. You feel it now don’t you, Avery? I’ll bet your pussy is wet and plump and begging to be filled with my cock.”
What the hell? Pain didn’t equate to pleasure. Pain was pain. Period. What was Luc doing to her?
Luc trailed his tongue along the shell of her ear, eliciting shivers like a ticklish school girl. He sucked the lobe between his lips then bit. Avery moaned. The sting of Luc’s bite zipped a trail of fire directly to her clit.
“You like that, don’t you? Don’t try to figure it out. Just feel it. Let it take you where your body wants to go.”
More water and bubbles overflowed the tub onto the bathroom floor, but Avery was oblivious. All she could do was soak in his energy as it flowed into her while he played her body like a maestro tak
ing her higher and higher to the inevitable crescendo.
“Oh, Luc. I’ve never…My God…It feels…” Coherent thought eluded her.
“That’s it, beautiful girl. Come for me.” Luc reached between them and pressed his thumb on her clit. “Come for me and know who made you feel like the goddess you are.”
She floated away to another plane that she had only read about, incredulous at the sensations. Layers of color swaddled her in a calm acceptance of herself as a sexual being. How could she have had sex and never experienced this euphoria? A girl could crave this feeling.
Luc did this to her. For her.
How could she ever go back to basic sex? Wait. They hadn’t even had full on sex yet. Could it get even better than this? She wouldn’t survive.
She opened her eyes to find her face nestled against a slab of muscle. And it smelled so good. If only she had muscle control she’d stick out her tongue and taste that expanse of male skin. Bet he would taste better than her favorite Cabernet Franc — smooth, complex with a dash of spice to keep things interesting. Yum!
Heat radiated from his body, keeping her warm. Every point of contact simmered like embers of a campfire. A bit of stoking and they would ignite into an inferno. Again. Still? The head of his enormous cock bumped into her belly. He was still hard. All his attention had been lavished on her, bringing her ultimate pleasure. But it was more than an otherworldly orgasm — she felt worshiped, sexy, and completely at Luc’s mercy. Avery’s breath caught in her throat as Luc lifted them both out of the tub and carried her to the bedroom, snagging a cozy, fluffy towel along the way.
Luc had been giving off alpha male vibes his entire life, but they hadn’t been focused on her, until recently. Her body ignited whenever he was near. And her brain shut down. She’d been down that road before and it ended horribly. She had the scars to prove it. Problem was, she had tried dating vanilla guys, but they didn’t make it past first base. They simply didn’t fire her engines. Luc was a Dom, Avery was convinced of that based on everything she’d read about D/s. And man, were her engines revving on all cylinders. For him.
God, Luc awakened parts of her body she didn’t know were dead. His voice, his strength, his commanding presence all wrapped up in a sexy-as-sin package made for a potent aphrodisiac. Undeniable. And that was a problem. Luc overwhelmed her and then she caved to his commands.
So many questions swirled in Avery’s mind, keeping her from giving over to Luc completely. She knew about the monumental mind fuck that came with a D/s relationship. Was she ready to expose herself to that kind of intimate power exchange? Could she trust herself enough to believe she wouldn’t get pulled down into the rabbit hole of abuse again? Was Luc the man who could shepherd her on that journey? Wait. Who said he was even interested in taking her on as his sub?
Luc wasn’t Cal, he wouldn’t physically hurt her. Her heart was an entirely different matter based on how he shut her out on the way home from the Vintner’s Awards. That hurt. Was she strong enough to survive heartbreak should Luc get bored with her? The only way she would find out was obvious, and so cliché. But it was her decision. Every lame-ass overused phrase popped into her head — do or do not, there is no try, in for a penny, in for a pound, take the leap — yadda yadda. It was time, and if there was anyone with whom she wanted to break free of her past, it was with this man, Master Luc.
12
Luc’s gentle hand on her cheek brought her brain back online.
“Hey, beautiful girl, where did you go? Put all your worries out of your head. Focus on me. Allow the sensations to surround you, envelop you.”
Luc gently laid her down on her back with her legs hanging over the side of the bed. The coolness of the sheets sent goose bumps all over her skin. It was a sharp contrast to the warmth of the bath and the heat from Luc’s body.
Luc leaned over her and braced his weight on his elbows. His rippling biceps had her rapt attention until he nibbled, licked, and kissed a trail down her neck and over her collarbone to the sensitive hollow at the base of her throat. Avery didn’t even know about that spot, but the charge of electricity skittering over her skin clearly meant Luc knew what he was doing.
“You smell and taste incredible, beautiful girl. Even better than I remembered.” Luc’s words, and the wicked tongue that spoke them, banished all thoughts of her ex-husband. She was breathless.
Luc said and did everything Avery needed. She knew Luc to be a man of integrity. Gryff trusted him. That went a long way in her book.
Luc stood back. His eyes caressed her from head to toe. The intensity of his stare ignited a surge of fire that banished the goose bumps and left a trail of heat wicking across her skin. Avery sucked in a quick breath between her teeth. She throbbed with desire, surprised at herself for not feeling the least bit inhibited. She simply let his sensuous gaze lavish her body, sensitizing her skin in its wake. Intoxicating.
“Tonight there’s no one to interrupt us. It’s just you, beautiful girl, and me. I wonder how many times I can get you to scream my name.”
“Luc,” she rasped, “you make me feel like a goddess. No one has ever talked to me or touched me or looked at me with such…reverence.” She blinked to fight back the tears welling in her eyes. This was too special a moment to be ruined by her self-doubt.
“Let me show you how much I want you to feel like the goddess I see in front of me. You’re a sexy, beautiful, smart woman who deserves to be worshiped every day.”
Luc leaned over her until their eyes were inches apart. He nipped her chin with his teeth then soothed the spot with feather-light kisses. He pulled up and captured her gaze again. She saw barely leashed, raw need but it didn’t scare her. A calmness came over her that she hadn’t experienced in…well, she couldn’t remember when. She trusted him.
“Why did you stop…?”
He flashed her a devilish grin before his sensual mouth assaulted the hollow at the junction of her neck and collar bone. Getting his fill, he continued to the valley between her breasts, followed the curve underneath the fullness of one, up the side and back to the middle to cross over to the other breast, drawing a figure eight across her chest with the tip of his tongue, searing his path into her memory.
“Oh my God, Luc. That’s so good.” She had no idea that the side and underneath her breast was so sensitive. She arched to meet his mouth, no longer in control over her body’s responses. She just felt. And she was OK with that.
Lips latched onto one of her nipples. Luc sucked and laved each one, sending waves of pleasure all the way to her toes. But it wasn’t enough to send her over the precipice. His skilled fingers joined the fun, pinching and rolling each nipple until it was diamond hard. A flick of the nubs with his fingernail kickstarted an entirely different engine — pain was the fuel that burned white hot in her core.
“You are so fucking gorgeous,” Luc growled. He shifted to bestow the same treatment to her other nipple. The roughness of his tongue against the stiff nipple was exquisite torture.
Just when she thought she couldn’t be more on fire, his muscular thigh pushed between her legs and the heel of his hand pressed against her mound. She was so close. Then he pulled away.
“Luc, please,” she barely whispered, unable to catch her breath. Every nerve ending was electrified and not under her control. She had never been awash with sensation like this. Ever. But, she knew this man, her high school crush all grown up, would be able to make her boneless unlike any other man could.
“I can feel your heat on my leg. I’ll bet you’re so wet for me, beautiful girl. But don’t come yet. I’m not even close to done with you.”
Alternating between playful and ravishing, Luc’s mouth continued down her body, over her stomach to the sensitive skin just above her trimmed curls. Her breath quickened when his fingers found her wet folds. He knew exactly what he was doing and how high he was pushing her. He took her to the pinnacle of desire faster than she imagined was even possible. She needed to come. Now.
<
br /> A primal rumble came from Luc’s chest. God that was hot. “You’re soaking. You’re so incredibly sexy the way you purr my name and those little sounds you make have me so hard. I can feel how close you are. Your pussy is milking my fingers. But I haven’t given you permission to come. Yet.”
Avery grabbed his silky hair to direct his head. To hell with not coming. She couldn’t take any more. This orgasm was going to be extreme. Now. She needed to come now.
He shook his head out of her hands. “I don’t think so, little one. I’m in control here. I will decide what you will or won’t take from me. Reach your hands behind your head and hold onto the edges of the pillow. Don’t let go. Understand?”
“I can’t take any more. I need to come. Now.”
“You can and you will. Hands.” Luc’s voice dropped an octave.
She wanted to comply, wanted to please him.
“Yes, Sir.” The words rolled off her tongue.
Avery gazed down at his gorgeous face. His smile accentuated his rugged cheekbones and the fine lines at the corner of his eyes. The wicked gleam told her he knew exactly what he was doing to her. A lick from her folds to her clit had her practically levitating off the bed. His chuckle reverberated throughout the room. The tip of his tongue traced circles around her clit, but never touching, not giving her the stimulation she needed. A finger inside her clenching channel had her screaming his name, begging for release. Avery used every muscle in her body to stave off a cataclysm. He had to let her come before she exploded. Death by orgasm. She could see the headlines now.
Luc settled on his knees on the floor and his broad shoulders pressed her legs farther apart. “Look at how plump and pink you are for me. Gorgeous. I couldn’t see you the last time I tasted you and now I won’t have you any other way. I want to watch you flush with arousal. I want to watch you come undone for me.”
One finger became two, and he started to plunge in and out while his talented mouth destroyed what was left of her sanity. Luc sucked her folds, pressed each to the roof of his mouth, brought her to the brink then eased back. Again.