by Flynn, Poppy
It was more than a question; it was an expression of confusion, a seeking of clarification, and her brow furrowed deeply as a sliver of disquiet shivered down her spine.
"Well, I mean…" Grace hesitated and tried to pull her thoughts together. "…I guess most relationships start off that way, don't they? People, even those in a lifestyle like ours, take things slowly and date before they build up to something more significant…" She trailed off again, because Xavier was shaking his head vehemently.
"Yes, that would be the norm, I suppose, but it's not the way I want to do things," Xavier reaffirmed. "I want things to stay the way we start them off."
Grace scrunched up her face in concentration. What the heck was he— "Wait!" She had a sudden eureka moment when comprehension finally dawned. "You mean you don't want anyone to move in with you…ever?"
This wasn't what she had imagined at all….in fact, it could hardly be further away from what she wanted. Perhaps she had been wearing those rose-coloured glasses after all.
Xavier's smile was almost blinding, making her chest constrict painfully as she witnessed the depth of his enthusiasm for this unconventional plan of his. "Exactly!" he exclaimed, his eyes dancing as if he were thrilled that she understood.
Grace opened her mouth to reply, but Xavier forestalled her with a single finger to her lips. Despite her bewilderment, Grace still felt the telltale tingle of desire, where skin touched skin.
"Don't answer yet," he told her, the hint of his accent more pronounced in his enthusiasm. "It's a big decision. Not one that should be made on a whim. Think it through carefully before you agree."
Grace knew her eyes had widened. He thought she was going to agree? No! Right there, was the certain proof that he sure as heck didn't know her very well at all.
She struggled between the visceral knee jerk reaction to tell him so right there and then, and the cool logic, which advised her that, of course, he didn't know her that well yet. They hadn't spent nearly enough time together outside the club, and what he was suggesting might actually be a certain way of moving that forward, a way of driving them both to a place where they could renegotiate with a better idea of how they might find a compromise for what surely must be two extremes. Not that she had divulged her own dreams just yet, of course, so she could hardly blame him for not understanding how she felt right now. Besides, her lips still tingled at the contact with his fingers, and surely, she couldn't be blamed for wanting to enjoy one last night with him, even if she did plan to blow off his fantasy scenario in favour of pursuing her own aspirations.
Was that really bad of her?
It didn't matter. Before she could decide one way or the other, her tongue had slipped out involuntarily and caressed the tip of his finger where it still rested, and his eyes immediately darkened with desire, the expression on his face one of brooding indulgence.
"Come home with me tonight." The words were out of her mouth before Grace knew she was even going to say them.
In response, Xavier raised his hand for the cheque without ever taking his eyes off her.
Chapter 8
There was a heavy tension crackling in the air within the confines of Xavier's sleek BMW as he drove them both toward the dark promise of sexual satisfaction.
Grace was feeling unusually bold as she placed her hand on his knee and slowly, tantalisingly moved it higher and higher on his thigh, drawing light circles with her fingers on the fine wool fabric of his impeccably fitted suit.
Well, it had started off impeccably fitted. When she finally built up the nerve to cup him, Grace couldn't help noticing that the fit was getting tighter and tighter as the hard evidence of his arousal burgeoned underneath her palm and strained against his zipper. A zipper that she was toying absently with and wondering if she had the sheer audacity to open, when his vice like grip stayed her straying fingers and pressed them hard against his rigid flesh.
"You're playing with fire, little girl," he growled in a guttural tone that brooked no argument.
Grace had to brace herself against the overwhelming desire to squeeze her fingers around the impossible bulge, which throbbed beneath them, but despite being a masochist, even she knew better than to poke the bear too much.
It was scant minutes later that Xavier pulled up outside a gated driveway and pressed a remote control attached to his sun visor to open the decorative wrought iron barrier.
Grace sat up a little, distracted by the movement, and looked around.
"Umm, this isn't where I live," she whispered, peering into the darkness in front of them, where she could see the silhouette of a large, private house at the end of a long drive, flanked by what looked like a tall sentinel of poplar trees.
"I live closer," Xavier retorted gruffly, his voice thick with desire as he rubbed her trapped hand against his fly, letting out a deep groan as he did so. "And you are being a very naughty girl who is playing with fire!"
He didn't hang around. Pulling the vehicle to an abrupt stop in front of a darkened house that was barely more than a silhouette in the night, Xavier freed her hand and jumped out, marching around the car with purpose to open the door for her.
Once he'd captured her hand again to help her alight, he didn't let go and Grace had to trot to keep up with his swift gait as he marched up to the front of the house and pulled her inside without any fanfare.
He continued unerringly through the building, without bothering with the lights, and Grace swivelled her head from side to side, peering through the gloom and trying to make out the shapes around her as he led her up the stairs.
Xavier didn't stop until he reached a solid wood door at the end of the landing and pushed through it determinedly. He still didn't turn on any lights until, finally, he stopped at the head of a gigantic bed with a sturdy, wrought iron frame and flicked on a muted bedside lamp which illuminated the room in low light and cast long shadows against the walls.
"Strip!" he grated out as he finally let her go and crossed to the floor to ceiling window to close the heavy brocade curtains hanging there.
Grace barely got an impression of soft greys and slate blues in the pristine, masculine surroundings before her head dipped in deference to the command and her fingers automatically flew to the zipper of her little black dress. The Dom was back, full force.
She was aware of him prowling around the room as she removed every stitch of her clothing and folded it neatly onto a nearby bedside chair. Then, without consciously thinking about it, Grace dropped to her knees, spreading them wide and folding her arms behind her back as she waited obediently for his instructions.
"Such a perfect little sub," Xavier breathed reverently a few minutes later, his long lean fingers tangling in her hair.
Grace watched as his bare feet came into view in front of her and wondered briefly how it was that she even found those sexy. As he pulled her head up and leaned over her, piercing her with eyes so dark with desire that they almost appeared black, she realised that he was still mostly dressed. Along with his shoes and socks, he'd removed his jacket and tie and rolled up his shirtsleeves, exposing the black, masculine hairs on his forearms.
Bending at the waist, he took her lips in a punishing kiss that marauded her mouth and stole her breath. She was barely aware of the stinging in her scalp as his hand fisted tighter in the tresses he used to control her. Not another single part of their bodies touched. Just his hand in her hair and his mouth on hers, but it was enough to ignite a powerful lust which had her panting and craving his punishment.
Her chest was heaving, and her nipples became hardened pebbles by the time he finished with her mouth and pushed away from her. The stark evidence of her desire was leaking down her spread thighs and unmistakable in the spicy female aroma that permeated the air.
The distinctive sound of his belt being unbuckled pulled her eyes up to his waist and she watched, entranced, from beneath her lashes as he slid the supple leather through the loops and doubled it in his hand. Her breath caught in an
ticipation as he stood there, silently, before her, the heavy outline of his cock obvious behind the fine tailored fabric of his slacks, his fingers caressing the leather almost reverently.
Grace could feel her heart pound faster and her mouth start to water at just the thought of feeling that warm, supple leather, fresh from hugging his body, slapping against her flanks in broad, red lines until the edges faded and there was nothing left but a sea of welted, dark pink skin.
She had to fight the urge to beg, because if there was one thing she knew about Xavier, it was that he would take an even greater sadistic pleasure in thwarting her basest needs.
That acceptance was cemented by the recent memory of a time when he had tormented her with a feather after she had begged him to whip her, just so he could drive home the fact that he was in charge and that being a sadist didn't necessarily mean he had to hurt her. Just that he might torment her.
It had been a lesson that she had learned hard and fast, and she sure as hell didn't need a reminder.
To that end, she kept quiet, but she couldn't help licking her lips in anticipation as he undid the top button of his slacks with the fingers of one strong, tanned hand, except even that small reaction didn't go unnoticed.
"I'm sure you must be licking your lips at the thought of having my cock between them, eh, sweetheart?" Xavier rumbled, dropping the belt onto the bed and inching his zipper down until his straining member nudged its way out from the waistband of his skin-tight, jersey boxers.
With a casual flick of his wrist, Xavier freed his cock completely from the confines of the gloving fabric and pumped, ever so slowly, up and down with his fist. Then his free hand darted out in the barest flash of an eye, fisting in her hair as he abruptly pulled her forward.
"Open!" he demanded roughly as he brought his cockhead to her lips, barely waiting for her to comply before he thrust his entire length down her convulsing throat.
Grace's pussy flooded at the harsh treatment and she worked to loosen her jaw and breathe carefully through her nose as Xavier held himself still for long seconds. Her nose was buried in the musky male scent of his neatly trimmed pubic hair and his heavy length almost cut off every bit of available air, but Grace relished every moment. Every tug on her scalp sent skitters of sensation scattering into her belly, every warm dribble of saliva that dripped from her straining mouth onto the tops of her breasts, every tear that leaked from her eyes as they watered with the strain, streaking her mascara into black lines down her cheeks.
And she relished every tiny nuance of satisfaction on Xavier's rugged face when he looked down at her with stark approval as he began to roughly fuck her throat as if he owned her. As if she truly belonged to him. God, she so wanted to belong to him.
Grace's eyes fluttered closed as she savoured the sensations rushing through her body, but they quickly blinked open at Master X's command.
"Look at me!" he grunted as he gripped her hair punishingly and thrust extra hard, causing her to gag. "I want you to watch me while I fuck your face. I want you to see only me as you kneel before me, serving no other purpose than that of my own personal fuck toy."
Grace couldn't stop the low, mumbling moan that was torn from her throat and vibrated around the pulsing shaft that took up all the room in her mouth. She had never been much for base humiliation, but somehow, in the privacy of Xavier's home, it was different. His words flowed over her and made her feel prized and appreciated.
"I want you to swallow everything I give you," Xavier growled as his movements sped up and his practiced thrusts altered in their rhythm from smooth to jerky, indicating he was close to spilling his release. "Don't spill a drop!"
His free hand dropped to circle her throat and Grace felt engulfed by the wave of unexpected emotion that rushed through her as his thumb stroked absently across the frantic pulse which beat there. It stilled momentarily as he moaned out his completion, but Grace was exhilaratingly aware of its heavy presence as she swallowed convulsively around his spurting shaft in her efforts to submit to his will.
Then, as he finally withdrew his softening cock, he resumed the gentle caress as if he were trying to soothe the ache that he'd put there.
Reaching behind her, Xavi pulled out a tissue from a box on the bedside cabinet and gently wiped her mouth and breasts before pulling her to her feet. Grace blinked her eyes in an effort to stop them from streaming, but Xavier blocked her when she raised a hand to wipe them.
"I love seeing you like this," he breathed, looking down at her with something that almost resembled adoration.
Grace knew she must be mistaken, but she basked in the glow of his appreciation, regardless.
His long fingers still circled her throat possessively and he used them to back her up against the wall then pin her there while he captured her wrists in his other hand. Holding them easily above her head, this time he plundered her mouth with his tongue in a savage duel that she greedily joined.
* * *
Xavier relished the feel of Grace's madly fluttering pulse under his fingers. He could smell her arousal, heavy in the air, and it was making him hard again already. He had used her mouth in a desperate attempt to take the edge off, in order to give her what she craved without lust clouding his desire to fuck her long and hard before she got what she needed. But damn, if the woman didn't affect him in a way that no sub ever had before.
He felt like a randy teenager all over again. And that was quite something at his time of life. He wasn't used to having such little control.
Usually, he maintained a rather more detached perspective. One that stood him in good stead as a sadist. He was the one who set the pace and could continue on and on until his subs were crying and begging for culmination and relief.
That, however, all seemed to fly out the window where Grace was concerned, and with just a look, she managed to reduce him to quivering mass of straining hormones. He wasn't quite sure how he felt about the lack of control.
On the one hand, he felt subtly undermined, though it wasn't something that was deliberate on her part, just his own rampant reaction to her. On the other hand, it was wildly exhilarating to come across a woman who affected him in such a way after all the years he had spent in the lifestyle.
She set him on fire, just with being. There was no other way to describe it. Sometimes it felt like she was the other half of him, the yin to his yang.
Xavier realised he didn't ever want to give that up and desperately hoped that they had some kind of future together.
Not that he was giving anything away right now, of course. Nobody looking at him at this moment in time would ever guess at the raging swell of emotions that was bubbling underneath his habitually cool and unruffled façade. But then Xavier was nothing, if not an expert at playing this game, and right now it was time for some rather darker pleasures of the flesh.
Nipping at her lips as he drew away and redirected his attention across the skin of her jaw, all the way along to the sensitive area underneath the shell of her ear with a string of licks and bites, Xavier whispered in her ear, "I want you to go bend yourself over the bed now, my sweet, and wait for me."
With that, he stepped away, noticing the way Grace's naked body shivered and erupted in goose bumps from the loss of his heat. But also, he suspected, from the anticipation of what was to come.
Steadying herself briefly, Grace immediately did as he instructed. She was such a delight. There was enough of a hint of sass in her to keep things interesting, but she'd lost any of the brattiness she might have displayed as a youngster—if indeed there had ever been any. She was old enough to know her mind and negotiate what she wanted without having to resort to acting out. And at his time in life, Xavier found that trait a very big draw.
Chapter 9
He was going to have to improvise somewhat.
Xavier never brought women into his home. Not before today, anyway.
This was his quiet place, his sanctuary. Whenever he played, he played at the club. Never bef
ore, had things ever gotten this up close and personal, treading the boundaries of his fiercely guarded privacy. Not even during the six months when he had acted as a 24/7 Master to Fluff. In all of that time, he had gone to her and had never once let the circumstance overflow into this private sphere of his life. It simply wasn't what he did. Even his toy bag was kept in his private locker at Club Risqué.
He took a deep, cleansing breath. Now wasn't the time to be having his concentration diverted away from the scene that was unfolding. A good Dom, especially one who was a sadist, should never have his attention divided. Everything needed to be focussed on the play and the sub so that nothing crucial was ever missed, and Xavier had always prided himself on his attention to detail. He was a perfectionist. Some might consider him detached, but one thing was for sure. Nothing ever interfered with his construction and implementation of a scene.
Putting the unsettling thoughts aside to consider at a later date, Xavier took his time, knowing that it would only serve to increase the suspense and anticipation. Allowing his mind to quieten and clear, he settled into the zone, relaxing into both his experience as a Dom and also into the experience that was about to unfold.
One side of his mouth lifted into a crooked half smile as he watched Grace's muscles tense and relax as she tried her best to keep still, clearly fighting the urge to look over her shoulder to see what was going on.
Crossing to his wardrobe, Xavier removed a couple of ties from a hanger then pursed his lips in thought. Time to think outside the box.
"Stretch your arms out above your head," Xavier instructed, moving back to where Grace still waited on the bed. He made quick work of tying her wrists together, securely, then placed a plump pillow under her abdomen, forcing her butt even higher in the air. Pushing her legs further apart, he widened her stance until she was forced to place more weight onto her torso in order to support herself, making it all the more difficult for her to move. Then, when he was satisfied with her position, he left the room.