by Fiona Archer
Harper scrambled to get to the center, and drew her knees up in front of her. As a shield? Hmm, he needed to break that down. She studied him as he sat on the edge of the bed. “Seth, what did you mean by exploring my limits?”
He ran a finger over her cheek before he dropped his hand to rest on one of her knees. “Let me ask you this first. When I held you and you couldn’t get free, did that scare you?”
She licked her lips. “No, not really. It was more…thrilling.”
An honest answer. And it cost her by the color in her cheeks.
“And my questions about bondage, they turned you on?”
“You know they did.” A hint of pique sharpened her voice.
He firmed his voice. “Harper, your body said yes, but I need you to acknowledge that aloud. Reading about this stuff in a book or watching some billionaire act it out in a bloody movie doesn’t come close to the reality of a man tying you to a bed.”
Harper ran her hands over the tops of her thighs. “When you first mentioned bondage the other night, I was intrigued. Tonight...” She looked at his hand on her knee as she drew in a deep breath. “Tonight was so much more. I’ve never felt so turned on. But I’m not sure I want the whole Dom/sub thing that I’ve read about in those erotic romance books. So far, I’ve liked the domination, but I’m not into calling you Sir or anything like that.” Her tone strengthened on the last sentence. She lifted her gaze to his. “Is that enough for you? I get the impression you’ve experienced more than just tying up women.”
“I have.” Years ago, he’d dated a woman in the kink lifestyle, but her tastes went deeper than Seth’s. “My needs are basic. I want to be in control during sex. Some bondage and spanking adds to the mix.” He rubbed her knee, wanting to keep their contact fluid. “I’m fine with those limits.”
“I could, uh, try working with that.”
Brave little thing.
“Then the only thing you need to remember is if anything gets too much, or you need a break, say the word ‘red’.”
“You mean a safe word?” Her body and expression relaxed at the mention of something familiar. “I’ve read about them, too.”
“Yeah, a safe word.” He leaned forward, crowding her as he pushed down on her knee, flattening both legs and effectively starting her first lesson. “Say it to show you understand.”
“Red.” She leaned back on her elbows as he advanced.
“Good girl,’ he whispered against her lips and kissed her, all the time pushing her back until she was lying flat on the mattress.
He stood and undressed, feeling the relief as his erect cock sprung free from his jockeys. “Where are your scarves?”
Her gaze flew from his cock to his face. She blinked as her chest rose at his question. It was all getting real for his coffee girl. “In my dresser.” She nodded to her left. “Second drawer.”
Seth walked over to the tall, dark wood dresser and pulled out the drawer. Rolls of neatly folded scarves lay on their sides. He picked two, went to his gym bag and pulled out a condom from his toiletries case, and sheathed himself.
“Put your arms over your head. Bend them at your elbows.”
She obeyed, all the while not taking her gaze from the scarves in his hands.
Hmm, she needed a distraction. Dropping the strips of silk near her head, he cupped her breast. “I haven’t kissed you here yet.” He licked the tip, feeling it harden against his tongue as he traced the edge of her nipple and then squeezed the plumpness of her breast. “Never get enough of touching you, Harper.” Seth repeated the same with her other breast, watching her face as she closed her eyes and pressed her head deeper into the pillow. He continued until both plum colored buds were pebbled hard, and her breasts were full and ripe from his massage.
Grabbing a scarf, he quickly tied her wrists together, making sure not to cut off her circulation.
Harper’s eyes flashed open, and she twisted her head to try to see what he was doing.
“Eyes on me, sweetness.” He remained silent until she complied. “This is about making you feel good, baby.”
She sank back into the bed. “It’s just…new.”
He made quick work of looping the second scarf around the bonds of the first. After allowing about a foot of length, he tied the ends to the headboard. Leaning back, he ran his hand over her breasts, and his gaze traveled the length of her naked body.
“You’re gorgeous, Harper. Tied. Helpless.” Seth pinched a nipple and smiled at her swift intake of breath. Lovely. He moved his hand down her body, skimming the wetness above her clit and pushed between her legs. “I can touch you however I want, when I want.” He traced over her clit, feeling the nub harden.
“Oooh.” She tugged on the scarves.
Seth chuckled. “See, firm enough to keep you in place.” He pushed one of her thighs wide and high. “Bend your knees and spread for me.”
Harper did his bidding, and he couldn’t miss the way she tilted her pelvis up, inviting his touch. The late summer sunlight shining through the bedroom window highlighted the sheen of moisture coating her pussy.
His cock throbbed in need. “I’ve been waiting all day for a taste.” He moved between her legs, his face now inches from her pussy. Glancing up, he saw the straining muscles in her neck as she stared back. “I plan to take my time enjoying myself.”
“Oh, Christ.” Her head fell back.
Seth pressed one hand down on her lower belly and felt the muscles tighten under his touch. From nerves or anticipation? He dipped his head, and her musky feminine scent filled his senses. In one firm, long lick, he ran his tongue up the length of her pussy, ending by flicking the hood of her clit. Her soft cry spurred him on as he teased and tormented her clit, swirling around the tiny bud, then dipping inside her. The unique taste of sweet and salty filled his mouth.
“Seth, please.” Her desperate plea was sweet music to his ears. She pushed one foot into the bed and lifted her hips, pushing herself against his mouth.
He lifted his head and spanked her, right on the red, swollen area of her clit. His hard stare met her wide-eyed look and cry of shock. “Who’s in charge?”
“Y-you,” she whispered, her lower lip trembling.
Softening his voice, he kissed the inside of her thigh. “That’s right, coffee girl.” He pressed the flat of his tongue on her clit, smiling to himself at her soft sigh.
Her taste and smell, the way she squirmed under his teasing, tugged at her bonds, and the soft moans that grew louder with each lick of his tongue stoked his arousal to the point of aching. Only when he felt her thigh muscles starting to shake did he relent.
He rose swiftly to cover her with his body. Harper’s soft whine of displeasure turned into a loud gasp as he entered her in one hard thrust.
The tight, inviting warmth of her pussy enveloped him. He waited a moment, letting Harper stretch to accommodate him. Staring down at her face, he studied her features, taking in the way her eyelids closed only to flutter open again when he started to move. The sounds of her soft, hitching breaths charged the space between them.
“I love the way your cheeks turn pink when I fuck you. Your chest, too.” He surged deep, filling her. The muscles of her walls tightened around him, making each outward stroke feel like he was gripped in a vise made of hot satin. He put more weight on his elbows and pushed her deeper into the mattress with each thrust. The sounds of their skin slapping together and their heavy breathing mingled with groans of pleasure. Angling his cock, he caressed the sides and roof of her channel. A hard spasm seized the walls of her core. Christ. He almost lost himself. Gritting his teeth, he focused on her face, watching the way she bit her lip as the small quivers built to harder, longer spasms.
His voice was hoarse. “Wrap your legs around me.”
She followed his order and crossed her ankles over his lower back, driving him that extra inch deeper.
“Oh God, Seth.” Harper’s head fell back just as her loud cry of pleasure filled his ears
. But he couldn’t come. Not yet. He wanted to make it last for her, to keep her right on the edge, yelling his name, tugging on her bonds before she fell over into sated euphoria. His balls rose and tightened as her head whipped from side to side on the pillow.
“Holy fuck. I can’t,” she sobbed. “I can’t take any more.”
The moment her thigh muscles started to relax, he sped up his rhythm. One, two thrusts. Shudders overtook his body. He groaned in blissful agony as he spilled himself in a white-hot eruption. Clenching the sheet, he reveled in the feel of her hot, sweet cunt around him as he forced out a few last thrusts before collapsing beside her.
Seth supported his weight on one elbow and untied the scarf attached to the bedpost. Harper’s eyelids fluttered open. He watched as a soft smile played about the corners of her mouth. With her hair a riotous tumble spread over the pillow and the light sheen of sweat on her forehead, she looked well and truly fucked.
Seth was sure she’d never been more beautiful.
Her throaty voice added to the overall picture. “Well, that certainly was a delicious new use for my scarves.”
Christ, she was something special.
He went still. His thoughts raced in front of him like cars on a racetrack, sliding left and right, overtaking each other for prominence. Two dates and great sex didn’t equate to falling in love. But there was something unique about this woman. He’d never felt so turned on, so intrigued and at the same time so fucking vulnerable in his adult life. Later, when his cock wasn’t buried deep inside her, he’d grab a beer and sort that out in his head.
He spoke before she’d panic over his silence. “I should leave you like this with your hands tied for a while longer.”
The way her pupils dilated was proof Harper’s body at least wasn’t adverse to the idea.
But as fun as that would be, he chose not to push too far her first time with bondage. “Maybe not tonight. There’ll be other times.” Seth slowly guided her arms down and released her bonds. “No cramps? What about concerns? Did anything scare you?” With gentle stokes, he rubbed her upper arms.
“No.” she said softly and captured one of his hands in hers and held it close. “I’m fine.”
“More than fine, sweetness.” Seth captured her mouth in a gentle kiss. A small hand wrapped around his neck as fingers strummed through his hair. God, she was a temptress. He broke away, and rested his forehead against hers. “As much as I want to let you continue I need to clean up. And you do, too.”
Her answering pout was truly brat worthy.
“Come on.” He eased out of her, missing her warmth the moment his cock hit the air. Sitting on the side of her bed, he removed his spent condom and tied it off. “I’ll wash your back if you wash mine?”
“How could I resist such an invitation?”
Seth grabbed her hand and tugged her off the bed. “She fell for my plan.” He steered her in front and planted a smack right on her arse.
She whirled around, but Seth laughed as he dragged her into her master bathroom’s two-person shower.
Much later, after they’d showered, dressed—him in jeans and her in a T-shirt and nothing else as per his instructions—and watched another movie, they lay once again naked in Harper’s bed. The scent of her flowery shower gel filled his nostrils as he spooned her soft body from behind.
“Seth?” Harper rested her hand on the arm he’d curved around her waist.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for earlier today, for not pushing, and for being a good sport with Nitro and Ryan joining us.” She interlocked her fingers with his. “That was really cool of you.”
“Nice of you to say, luv, but that’s just basic manners. I promised we’d take things easy at the start, so I did. You felt the need to invite your friends, and I was a guest in your home. For me to act otherwise would make me an arsehole.” He turned Harper so her back hit the mattress and raised himself on one elbow, resting his head on his hand. “I’m going to say this, and you’ll likely want to take back the nice things you just said before, but here’s the deal. Harper, I’m going to pursue you. That’s going to make you nervous. Too bad. I’d never hurt you, sweetness. Not ever. But I’m not going to let you run away just because recent events have made life complicated. You try to talk yourself out of exploring what we have, I’ll cut you off and convince you to keep the faith. I’m going to confuse you, challenge your perceptions until you understand that whatever chaos surrounds us is simply the bullshit that is life. Sooner or later one of us is going to win out.”
Harper stared up at him, remaining silent a half minute before saying, “And if I say no, that I want you to leave?”
“But you don’t.”
She raised her brows. “What makes you so damn sure?”
He fired his winning shot. “Because earlier tonight you allowed me to tie you to the bed.” She sucked in a breath. Gotcha. “Those are the actions of a woman who trusts me on some level.”
“Just because we tried something new in bed doesn’t mean I’m a pushover, Seth.”
He strengthened his voice. “Harper, I wouldn’t be here if that’s what I thought of you.” He grinned as he tapped her nose. “And just so you know, this is you getting nervous and striking back.”
“God, you’re infuriating.”
“That’s all part of the attraction.” He winked, lowered himself beside her, and dragged her close. “Glad we had this chat, luv.” Dropping a kiss on her mouth, he closed his eyes, aware of Harper lying there wide awake and likely thinking about various scenarios to either push him away or maybe hire a hitman to take him out of her life.
Her efforts would all be in vain.
Harper Fox was more tempting than her chocolate cake. And now he’d developed a taste for those charms and found it impossible to walk away.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Harper pressed her foot hard on the accelerator and whizzed down the alley to the back of her building. She was running late. Dammit. Jinx and Cleo would arrive any minute now. The blue Prius came to a jarring stop under the large metal awning that covered the three parking spaces in the courtyard.
Grabbing the bag containing their regular Wednesday ‘Girls’ Night In’ supplies of Champagne and pineapple juice, she almost didn’t hear the pitiful mew coming from near her foot.
Almost.
A tiny bedraggled bundle of wet black fur shivered next to the brick wall.
“Oh, you poor kitty.” Harper dumped the bag onto her driver’s seat and, careful not to scare the little mite, scooped up the kitten.
She cooed gently at the tiny creature quivering in her arms. Whether its shaking was from fear or cold, Harper had no idea. Rain had poured all day, and the poor baby was soaked. Using the softest touch, she ran her fingers over the wet fur. Her stomach knotted. Skin and bones.
“Baby, we need to get you warm and fed.”
Harper inspected the area, worried that the kitty may have a mom or siblings that needed help, too. Tall buildings blocked out much of the natural light. A scary place for a desperate animal. But after walking back along the alley and inspecting the courtyard, she came up empty.
The kitten burrowed against her knit top and lifted its head and reached out a tiny paw toward Harper’s face. Oh, my. She had to clear her throat to get her next words out. “Come on, baby, let’s get you inside.”
She slung her handbag over her shoulder and grabbed the bag of drinks.
Once in her apartment, Harper headed to her bedroom. After dropping both bags on her bed, she grabbed a towel from the bathroom. “Okay, honey.” Harper gently pried kitty claws from the light blue material of her shirt before lying the kitten on its back on her bed. A boy. “Let’s get you dry, mister, and fill your belly.”
Striking blue eyes surrounded by black fur blinked up at her. As she patted the towel over his tummy, the kitty’s front paws closed over her fingers.
“Oh, baby, you’re killing me here.” She blew him a kiss as the buzzer for
her building’s security door sounded. Harper gathered up her precious bundle in the towel and headed out.
At her apartment’s front door she pushed the video button. Jinx and Cleo’s images filled the screen. “Hey.”
“It’s us, babe. We come bearing pizza and overnight bags.”
Since Jinx’s salon was across the road, and Cleo worked in the bookstore next door to Seven Dishes, it was silly for either to go home after a night of cocktails and a David Boreanaz-World’s Sexiest Vampire marathon.
“Come on up.” She clicked the building’s door release, held the kitty closer to her chest as she opened her door and waited, hearing her friends chatter as they climbed her stairs.
Jinx, dressed all in black from straight leg pants to boat-necked top, carried a stylish brown canvas weekender and a plastic bag filled with candy. Cleo, her long legs encased in denim and teamed with a caramel poncho style top, followed behind with her own overnight bag and two pizza boxes.
“What’s with the towel? We catch you about to grab a shower?” Jinx teased as they passed her and entered the living area.
“No. I found this little guy in the alley five minutes ago.” She lowered her hands and showed them her surprise visitor.
Jinx’s mouth formed an O. “A kitty.” She dropped her bags and came to stand next to Harper. The little guy blinked up at her as she gently stroked his tummy.
Cleo’s bag joined Jinx’s. “Oh my God, I have to hold that gorgeousness.” She raced to the kitchen, returning seconds later sans pizza boxes. “He was in the alley?” The normally bubbly woman’s mouth turned down.
“Yeah, I couldn’t find any other critters, just him,” Harper shared as Cleo slid her hand under the kitty and drew him to her chest. The little guy’s black fur matched Cleo’s ultra-straight long hair.
“He’s so thin.” Cleo’s gaze met Harper’s, reflecting the concern that knotted in her belly. “But he’s weaned. I’m sure of it. His body’s too long for under eight weeks.”
“You don’t have cat food.” Jinx went to grab her purse. “I’ll grab some supplies.”