by R. M. Sotera
Jordan was in front of Mia in mere seconds, shielding her view. It was the look he pinned Ennisbrooke with that turned Mia’s blood ice cold.
“Don’t threaten me, you piece of scum. Go home to your wife.
Perhaps if you were more of a man she would have forgotten about me.”
Jamison signaled to the door, giving David his cue to push Ennisbrooke across the floor and out the door. When the door slammed behind them, Jamison and Jordan, still yelling at each other, walked to the far side of the room.
“What the hell just happened, Cin?” Mia asked, her voice but a crackle in her throat.
The shock of almost being stabbed on her wedding day left her body, but just as quickly, numbness took its place. The idea of this man wanting to kill her weaved an unsettling path through her consciousness. How many more men were sitting in the wings waiting to kill Jordan because of his promiscuous ways? And then the big question still lingered. Did I bring this on by my choice to marry a non-Catholic man?
She glanced toward the table holding the guest book and swore she saw herself. She did a double take, yet her twin still remained.
With hair the color and style of hers, the same exact dress, the fake Mia watched the real Mia. Cindi pulled her arm, and Mia turned her head. When she looked back, the woman was gone. What the…
The commotion must have numbed her brain into seeing a vision of a doppelganger, or else she needed several drinks to relieve the shell shock. Occasionally Jordan looked away from Jamison and glanced her way, but she couldn’t seem to make her mouth move. At least she could try and smile at him.
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Cindi took her by the hand, and after a long, sizing-up moment, she creased a brow in concentration. “The man is John Ennisbrooke.
Jamison warned me about him a few days ago. He and his wife attended a coven retreat a year ago, and Jordan slept with his wife.” Cindi glanced at Jamison and Jordan, and continued, “You see, Mia, in certain coven houses, the rules state if a couple comes to a retreat and one of the Elders wants to entertain their spouse or significant other, it should be considered as a show of respect to the coven leaders. If the couple is married, it is the couple’s choice if they want to entertain, however, if the couple is not married, it is proper coven law to let the Elders have the person they want for the weekend.”
“Are you kidding me? Jamison and Jordan can sleep with any woman they want, married or taken, at coven gatherings?” In her opinion, it sounded like they were a bunch of horny dogs, not respected leaders.
Shrugging her shoulders, she turned a questionable look on Cindi.
“What could the reason be for sleeping with other people’s significant others?” Were these another of Jordan’s skeletons? Geez. How many more lingered in the shadows? She knew he had been with lots of women, but damn, she had no idea her life would be in danger because of it.
“Well, Mia, you could look at the act as showing respect to the Elders, or just a strange rule someone wrote a long time ago who wanted to get laid and couldn’t. You know as well as I do people write the rules, and they can make them say whatever the hell they want to.”
Cindi took in a deep breath, and arched an inquisitive brow. “Does it make you love Jordan any less knowing the type of man he was before you? Do the other women make a difference?” Hesitation lingered briefly. No. It didn’t matter. She knew what she was getting herself into with Jordan. When it came to his past, he was honest with her from the beginning. She knew he was no angel.
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“No,” she admitted. Regardless of his past, she loved him more than anything in the world. Did it frighten her? Yes. Was she going to be enough for him? She hoped.
“Good,” Cindi added. “Look, here comes your men. I mean man.” Incredulous, Mia shook her head. “That’s not funny. I told you, Jamison was my past. Nothing more.”
“I know you say that, but I wonder who would be the groom if Jamison would have returned your affection. Would it truly still be Jordan?”
Of course it would still be Jordan. It would always be Jordan.
Although Jamison still fluttered her stomach when he was near, Jordan rumbled her entire being, like no other man ever had.
Cindi stepped back as Jordan pulled Mia into his arms.
“Are you hurt?” His voice deepened. “I’m sorry about what happened.” His breath traveled down her neck, making it impossible for her to think clearly. “I can’t erase the things I’ve done, baby, but I can tell you I will not stand by and let someone hurt you because of my mistakes.” His shoulders sagged. “Honestly, Mia…I wanted to kill him.”
The aroma of the flowers around the room calmed her, and she touched his hand. “I love you, Jordan. Your past is just that. The past.”
As his mouth closed over hers, all her questions and confusion quilted.
Love is all that matters.
* * * *
Once Mia and Jordan had finished sprucing up in the restrooms, they met in the foyer before heading toward the next phase of the wedding celebration. The gathering.
The entrance to the gathering room was magnificent, with its massive arch of black roses and stargazer lilies. Black twilling twined
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between the flowers. Cocktail tables were decorated with fine white linens and clear circular bowls were filled with floating red and black candles. To the east of the room were red leather sofas and a DJ
booth. In the very back of the room, in a softly lit corner, a stand-alone table covered in black linen contained an array of bloodletting tools.
Yet the farther they moved into the room, it wasn’t the strange bloodletting table that garnered Mia’s undivided attention. No, it was the strange contraption hanging from the ceiling, past the pool table, that garnered her complete fascination. Not because of what it was, more because she recognized it.
Although her man was going to glide right past it, she stopped.
Crossing her arms and raising an amused eyebrow, she studied the contraption for a second before blurting out, “It’s a sex swing.” A seductive smile creased his lips. “You know what a sex swing is?” His voice overloaded with sexual tones. “And how is it possible you know what a sex swing is, Mrs. De L’croix?” She pinched his arm. “Don’t get all excited. I watched an episode of Sex in Las Vegas, the one where Christina has wild sex in a sex swing, like this one. Knowing me, I’d probably kill myself in the thing.”
A slight frown crossed his face, but his eyes still sparkled as he stepped behind her and inhaled, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Damn, baby, I was sure I was going to be able to talk you into letting me have it taken down and put into our room. Your first time could be a lot of fun with you strapped into the swing. ”
“Perhaps I’ll consider it,” she admitted with true conviction stinging her words.
His smile eased into a grin he couldn’t seem to control. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed I can change your mind, but in the meantime, let’s grab the table over there in the corner and drink some champagne while we celebrate the start of our new life together.” 178
Waiting for him to return, she watched the crowd twirling on the dance floor, admiring her new and old friends. She hadn’t noticed Jordan’s return until he was sitting across from her, staring.
A devilish grin inched up the sides of his face. “I’ve got a surprise for you. Are you game?”
For Mia, it depended on what the surprise was. Images of the bloodplay room focused in her thoughts. No, it couldn’t be that.
Could it? A tinge of excitement passed through her veins, and then just as quickly, a tinge of fear. “What do you have in mind?” Her voice squeaked way more than she’d hoped it would.
“Taking your virginity. Come on, let’s go.” Reaching the entrance to the cave-like area, the sex swing was no longer visible. Instead, a long, thick, black curtain camouflaged it, reminding her of the stage curtains used in theaters. They passed the curtain and came upon guests
lounging on stuffed black sofas and chairs.
Faces scanned them, smiling as they walked by. The first couple they passed reclined on a sofa, with the man propped up behind the woman. She recognized the bloodletting instruments strewn on the sofa but couldn’t make out what kind they were. Jordan kept moving Mia through the shadowy darkness as people whispered messages of luck and Godspeed, ending at an oversized black leather chair in the far corner of the room. Reaching the chair, he sat first. Spreading his legs, he pulled her between him.
“I want you so badly,” he breathed.
A slight moan left her lips.
“You know that when it comes to blood practices you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to tonight. It is enough for me that you are my wife. I will be taking your virginity, but I will let you decide if you want to give me your blood. Again. ” Her head swirled from the desire heating every part of her body.
Pure yearning might have just ignited her flesh into flames. How could she not feed him the blood he wanted and needed. Of course,
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his donor, Becca, could still give him blood, but deep down inside, Mia knew she didn’t want that happening anymore. For her, it wasn’t an option. It was love. It wasn’t like he’d drink her dry. A small cut would not a cup of blood make.
“Jordan. I want to give you my blood. I want to be with you in every way. I’m not scared. I want this. I want you.” He ran his finger down her arm. “You don’t have to do anything to have me. You have me regardless if you ever give me another ounce of your blood again.”
“I want to give you my blood. Case closed.” He smirked.
Before she knew it, once again, the invisible blow to her chest garnered her temporarily speechless.
“Case closed. I’ll be back,” he advised, proceeding into the darkness.
And shortly he was back, moving across the floor like a predator approaching its prey. His black leather pants hugged every part of his tight, lean body, and his white shirt slipped open, revealing a sleek chest.
The closer he approached, a piece of his blond-black hair brushed across his cheek, just enough to make him look ravenous and wild.
Reaching the chair, he pulled her hand into his and lifted her from the cushion.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
He kept walking. “It’s a surprise.”
She glanced ahead, unable to see because of the muted lighting in the room. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay back where we were?”
Stopping midstep, he turned slightly. “Are you scared?” She cocked her head sideways. “Of what?”
“Of where I’m about to take you?”
“No. Not scared, just curious.”
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“Well, don’t be. Here we are.” He stopped in front of a black curtain. “I hope you don’t mind. I’m dying to see you swing.” The deep sound of his voice caressed her soul. Swing? Oh boy.
Thoughts of dangling from the ski lift at Bryon Head, Utah, flashed through her mind. The lift workers had to stop the entire ride to unhook her from the lift. It was beyond embarrassing.
The huge, leopard-print velvet swing attached to the ceiling with industrial-size hooks took up most of the space. A large, plush seat was in the middle of the swing, equipped with padded back and butt support, as four adjustable stirrups protruded outward from the middle seat for comfortable binding of arms and legs. A tension spring held the entire swing together for easy sexual maneuvering.
While she stood mesmerized by the contraption, he remained flush against the wall, watching her every move. “So what do you think of it close up?”
She stared at the chair, preparing to blow his mind. She blew him a kiss, then scooted up into the chair.
“What are you doing? I was kidding.” His shocked expression was funny, and it was the first time he seemed to be at a loss for words.
“I’m not.” I hope I look sexy doing this.
She must have, because he didn’t waste any time strapping her into the chair. As soon as the last words left her mouth, he had her bound, both of them stripped and ready for action.
Carefully, he touched her knee then spread her legs. The cool breeze kissed her thighs. Her legs quivered. While she lay spread-eagle, his eyes danced over her body. He didn’t need to say anything.
His face said it all. Again, he had a way of making her feel uninhibited, sexy, and alive.
His cock jutted forward. In all his naked glory, beautiful didn’t begin to describe him. “You’re staring at me,” he whispered.
More to the point, she was staring at the size of his cock. Now that the time had come for sex, it looked a lot bigger than she remembered.
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“Sorry. I…”
“Do you want me, Mia?”
She nodded. Pushed against her restraints. The things were tight.
Standing in front of the swing, he pushed her body upward, securely holding her weight against his chest. “Say it, then.”
“I want you,” she admitted, but so low she wasn’t sure she actually said the words.
He chuckled then covered her lips with his. Deepening the kiss, he slid his hand inside her wet pussy. “I know you want me, darlin’. I can see it in your face, and feel it between your legs. But I want to hear you say what you want me to do to you, so I can make sure I’m doing everything you have in mind.”
With his hand lodged between her legs, he continued to massage his fingers in and out of her wet center.
His touch ignited every nerve in her body. A gentle sway of his hand sent her body into overdrive, and she started to grind against his hand. “I want you to do everything to me.” When the cut to her thigh came, there was only time for screams of pleasure.
His body shifted, and he bent to his knees, just as his finger moved deeper into her pussy. His mouth devoured the cut, and the more she arched her back, the faster his tongue licked the salty, thick, ruby-red liquid. Time halted. As he fed from her, every nerve in her body screamed from the sheer intensity of the moment. He sucked harder and fingered her faster, and the moment she thought she couldn’t take anymore, that she was completely spent, her body exploded into one orgasm after another.
“Oh my God,” she whimpered, pushing against the restraints, wanting desperately to wrap her arms around him.
Removing his sheathed finger, he lifted his head. “Oh, sweet girl, God has nothing to do with it. It’s all me.” A chuckle crept from his lips as he redeposited his finger into the moistness.
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Her muscles contracted. “Wait—I don’t think I can take anymore,” she murmured. Again she tried in vain to push away against the restraints, even lifting her shoulders.
An unexpected measure of wildness moved over his features. “I don’t think you are going to undo those ties, sweet thing.” She recognized the ragged heat in his gaze, the sweet pull of his primal desire. Without hesitation, Mia domed her body, asking for more.
With his tongue, he opened back up the small cut, sucking hard.
Then he licked at the wound.
Please don’t stop…never stop. If this is wrong, I’m ready to go to hell now. If loving you is wrong, I will suffer any consequences.
This time when she came close to orgasm, he released his mouth from her thigh, locking his gaze on her as she came on his hand. After the last jolt of ecstasy pummeled her body, he put his fingers to his mouth and licked clean the remnants of her juice. “You are an incredible woman, and I love you.”
Overwhelmed with passion, she studied his flawless features and her heart did handsprings in her chest. “I love you, too, so much. You are forever my man.”
Wanting to freeze-frame the moment forever in time, she took an imaginary picture, sealing it next to her heart.
“I want to make love to you, woman. I want to hear you talk dirty to me. Right now.”
The time had come. The deed would be done. Oh boy. His penis suddenly looked like it was a missile. “Wait,” she wh
ispered. “Wait, what do you mean talk dirty to you?”
Two strong hands cupped her legs. “No. Not this time. Relax, darlin’, I won’t hurt you.” His voice was no longer soft and gentle but sparked with need and a small amount of frustration. “No worries, I’ll teach you dirty talk.”
Oh god. She felt if he touched her she would incinerate into millions of pieces. This was it, her final moment of Catholic virginity.
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Relax, he won’t hurt you. He’s even going to teach you to talk dirty.
In all reality, she knew what talking dirty was about, she just wasn’t sure she could do it.
And the more she stared at his missile-resembling penis, the more she felt like vomiting. The word “huge” didn’t begin to describe it, however, massive and humongous most definitely did. Jordan moved into position in front of her, and her heartbeat accelerated. She prayed a silent Hail Mary that she wouldn’t start hyperventilating. It was happening. She was about to lose her virginity, and could have a heart attack all in the same moment. The time had come for her to become a woman in the biblical sense. Shouldn’t she be happy? She wanted to be happy, but fear was more real at the moment. She kept telling herself it was going to feel awesome, yet she didn’t really believe that.
Who was she kidding, it was going to hurt like hell. From what she read in magazines and from Cindi’s sex talks on many occasions, the first time wasn’t always the most memorable. Yeah, romance novels tried to pretend that it was, but that was bullshit.
Her mind continued racing a mile a minute.
Jordan put a hand on each of her thighs and pushed until her legs were nice and wide. And her body tensed to the point of pain.
“Relax, darlin’.” She didn’t relax, only watched as he removed his hands from her thighs, opened a condom package he had strategically hidden on the swing, and slid the contents onto his cock.