Sweetwater: The Kihn (The Sweet Series)

by Rivi Jacks

  He looks more amused than ever as he pours wine into two crystal wine glasses. “Yes. And furthermore, I expect to be obeyed,” he divulges. “In all things.”

  “What?” I frown. Is he serious? “I’m not one of your men, Lucas.”

  He smirks. “I’m well aware of that, Sofie.” He hands me one of the glasses, and I take a small sip, licking my lips as I set the glass down. I peek at him, meeting his dark gaze.

  “You expect people to obey you?” I ask.

  He smiles enigmatically. “Most do.”

  “And if they don’t?” I ask softly as I search his face for any indication he’s teasing.

  “Then I give them reason to.” He picks up a large Spanish olive and pops it into his mouth, keeping his eyes on me.

  He gives them reason to. What does that mean? I swallow with difficulty. “Do you expect me to?”

  His eyes flare slightly as if he’s surprised I’ve asked him this. “Would it matter if I did?” His voice is deadly quiet. He tilts his head. Crap! Does he expect an answer? My mind is in complete confusion. What exactly does his “obey” entail? His smile is sardonic. “Just as I suspected. Eat. Your food is getting cold.”

  He is totally at ease while my stomach is in knots. I take another sip of wine and look out the window. With the lights dimmed low inside and the moon full outside, the snow is illuminated, enabling us to see the beauty of the winter’s night.

  “It’s so pretty and peaceful,” I remark, trying to lighten the conversation. I poke at something on my plate that looks like a chunk of chicken. I close my eyes to savor the taste. The chicken is crunchy on the outside, moist and garlicky on the inside. Delicious.

  When I open my eyes, Lucas’ dark, brooding eyes are on me. He smiles as he uncovers a dish and places a spoonful on a small plate. “Try this.” He hands me the plate.

  “Salad? Mmmm, asparagus.” The dish includes leeks, garlic, and capers in a light dressing. He’s also loaded my plate with steak in garlic and sherry sauce, olives and marinated mushrooms, and some type of shrimp paté. “Wow, Max has gone all out. This is amazing. He’s a true culinarian.” I notice a dish by Lucas’ plate, and I see him fork a piece from it. “Is that your special dish, and you’re not sharing?” I teasingly ask.

  He forks another piece and offers it to me with a smirk. “The sauce is almond saffron,” he says. I hesitate before leaning in and taking the bite off his fork. “Max has made this dish for me for years.”

  All it takes is two good chews, and I’m on my way to spit it out in the bathroom. I hear Lucas laugh as I rinse my mouth out. As soon as I’m back at the table, I take a healthy drink of the wine.

  “Lucas, that truly... is disgusting!”

  He chuckles. “I’m sure you don’t want to know what’s in it.”

  I give him a look that makes him laugh again. I shudder and take another drink of wine, swishing it around my mouth.

  He refills our wine glasses. “Did you bring your swimsuit?”

  I look at him as if he’s speaking a foreign language. “What?”

  “I thought you’d enjoy the hot tub tonight,” he says, his lips lifting a little at the corners.

  “Outside? It’s freezing!”

  “The water’s heated. You’ll enjoy it.”

  “Since I didn’t bring a swimsuit in the middle of the winter, I guess I won’t,” I say a little sassily. The thought of being in a swimsuit, in a hot tub, with Lucas… makes my stomach hurt.

  “You can wear your underwear.”

  I choke on my sip of wine. “Uh... I don’t think so.”

  “Sofie, I’m sure your bra and panties will cover you sufficiently.” He glances at me from under his eyelashes. My breath catches and I have to remind myself to breathe. “You will enjoy it,” he repeats, with a sly grin. He raises his glass to his lips, watching me over the rim.

  “I-I’m not stripping to my underwear for you,” I tell him.

  He raises his eyebrows. “Why not?” His voice is soft and deep. I do a long blink. “You don’t trust me?” He pauses, his eyes taking on a knowing gleam. “Perhaps it’s yourself, you don’t trust.”

  “Excuse me?” He is so full of himself!

  He stands. “Sofie, I’m not suggesting we have sex in the hot tub.” He gives me a long, hot look before striding to the closet. “Wear a T-shirt over your underwear if it will make you feel more comfortable.” He comes back with a couple of white spa robes. He lays one of them on the bed. “I’ll go change in the sauna. Here’s a robe for you.” He strides toward the door. “Max will take care of the cleanup.”

  After he leaves, I sit for a moment. My bra and panties do cover as much as my bikini, more actually, and I do want to get into the hot tub with him. After I admit this to myself, I leap up and grab the robe he’s laid out for me. I go into the closet to get one of my cami sets. I stand in the middle of the closet, biting my lip. I’m smart enough to know where playing around in a hot tub with Lucas Santiago could lead. Am I ready for that?

  I gather my hair up in a high ponytail and head to the bathroom to change. After donning the robe, I step out and see that the door to the outside is ajar. I quickly notice Lucas’ tracks in the snow and I follow his steps to the hot tub. It isn’t far from the lap pool, but it sits closer to the house under a covered gazebo with a string of patio lights along the eaves. There’s a trellis along one end of the porch providing privacy if someone should venture around the end of the house. The soulful Spanish guitar fills the air out here as well, and steam rises from the water.

  Lucas is waiting for me. His smile is seductive, and I know a moment’s panic. I take a deep breath. Holding his gaze, I walk to him. “We’re not going to have sex.” I feel my face grow hot with flush. I’m glad it’s dark so he can’t see.

  He reaches out, and I step back. He continues to hold his hand out to me. When I don’t step closer, he takes the step and grabs my belt, pulling me close to him. “We will go—as slow—as you need.” His voice is a sensual caress.

  He unties my belt. His eyes hold mine as he reaches to push my robe off my shoulders. The cami set I’m wearing does cover more than a regular bra and panties, but it’s undeniably skimpy. The cami is made of black, stretchy lace that clings to my body. My breasts strain against the material. The matching panties are a little bit of—not much.

  Lucas looks his fill, his gaze boldly touching me. I blush knowing how my breasts are on display. “Do you know how beautiful you are?” His voice is rough with emotion, and his eyes smolder.

  I draw in a quick breath. Goose bumps emerge, but I’m not sure if it’s from the cold or the hot way he’s looking at me. He quickly bends. One arm goes behind my knees and the other across my back as he picks me up. I kick off my slippers before he lifts me higher and sets me in the hot tub. I gasp and yelp, hearing his chuckle, as the nearly scalding water washes over me.

  This is no ordinary hot tub. It’s large and deep. I take a moment to acclimate to the heat before gliding through the water to the far side, and I watch as Lucas removes his robe. My mouth drops open as I watch him mount the steps.

  He is beautiful. His chest and arms are nothing less than magnificent. His whole body is muscled but not overdone. His shoulders are broad, his waist trim, his stomach rippled. He doesn’t have hair on his chest, but he has a yummy trail, a line of black hair, running down his stomach disappearing under the waistband of his swim trunks. His long muscular legs have a sprinkling of the same dark hair. When he’s in the water, he sits and fiddles with something on a shelf on the outside. His back is trim and muscled like the rest of his body.

  I have to touch him.

  I need to touch all of that hard body. I move through the water as if he’s a magnet. He turns, letting me see the hunger in his eyes. Or maybe his eyes are mirroring mine and it’s my hunger I see.

  I tentatively lay my hands on his chest and move my palms across his nipples, which have hardened in the cold. A hoarse moan rumbles from his chest. His
mouth comes down on mine as his arms pull me close. One hand is at the back of my neck and the other is against my bottom. I pull my hands from between us and twine my arms around his neck. As he lifts me, I wrap my legs around his waist.

  He breaks the kiss, and I moan in protest. His eyes pierce mine with their passionate intensity. “Sofie,” he breathes my name.

  I grab the hair at his nape and twine my fingers in the silky strands as he reclaims my lips with a kiss that blazes with desire. His hand moves across my back, under my cami, and around to my front. It splays across my stomach and moves up to my breast, his large hand cups and squeezes firmly. His fingers begin pulling on my extended nipple, rolling it between his fingers and pinching, just short of too painful. I gasp in his mouth and whimper. That’s all I’m capable of doing.

  His hand moves to my other breast as his tongue plunges in and out of my mouth in a rhythm that makes an ache settle between my legs. His other hand slides down my back, inside my panties, and cups my bottom. I can’t get close enough to him. He suddenly jerks his mouth from mine, and a protest leaves my lips as he pulls back from me.

  “Lucas?” What’s wrong?

  I still have my legs around his waist, and when he leans backward under the water, he nearly pulls me under too. He comes back up quickly, the water sloshing around us. I remove my legs from around his waist, turning to move away, but he grabs my arm and pulls me back.

  “Huh-uh.” His voice is deep and hoarse. He places my hand on his erection so I can feel how aroused he is. I’m glad he can’t see how this affects me. “I need to calm down a little,” he breathes. He hisses when I firmly take hold of him. He doesn’t have on swim trunks but silk boxers, barely a barrier between my hand and his flesh. He’s big! My hand finds the opening in his shorts, and slowly, I move my hand inside. My boldness surprises me.

  “Sofie—” he gasps in warning and lets out a harsh sigh as my hand partially encircles him.

  I’m surprised at how warm and hard he feels. I think he grows larger as I hold him. He rests a hand on my hip and leans back against the side of the tub. I continue moving my hand gently around him, exploring. I grew up on a farm around randy men, but other than a movie I’d once been exposed to, I have never seen a naked man, let alone touched one so intimately. I’m curious.

  Lucas releases a pained growl and rests his head against the edge of the tub, closing his eyes. I look down, wanting to see him, but the water’s too dark. When I look up, he’s watching me from under his lashes. My breath catches seeing the hunger on his face. I swallow as my mouth goes dry.

  “Show me—what to do,” I whisper.

  He raises his head with faint surprise on his face. His eyes look silver in the moonlight and they capture mine with their intensity. He slips his shorts off. Never taking his eyes from mine, he uses his hand to show me how to stroke him.

  He leans his head back once more and lays his arms on the edge of the hot tub. His body tightens as I stand between his outstretched legs. I stroke him the way he’s shown me. What’s gotten into me? I’ve never wanted to do anything like this. I’ve never cared enough for anyone to want to. But I know I want Lucas this way. I want to pleasure him.

  I lean into him and lick one of his hard nipples. Mmmm, he tastes good. I suck gently and bite lightly. He gives a ragged moan, encircling my body with his legs and pulling me tight against him. His breathing escalates, and I can’t take my eyes from his face. Watching him unravel is incredibly sexy. He squeezes tightly with his thighs when his release comes, shuddering against me as he cries out hoarsely. My face burns, thinking someone might hear him.

  His laugh is dark and deep as he pulls me close. “Encantadora,” he utters against my lips before kissing me with a deep drugging kiss, his tongue stroking mine. His hand cups the side of my face, and I lean my cheek into it.

  “Let’s have a drink of wine,” he suggests, his voice low and gravelly. He leans toward the shelf on the outside of the hot tub before handing a glass to me. I take a small sip, wetting my lips before taking a longer drink.

  “What did you just say? Was that Spanish?” I hand the glass back.

  “Yes.” He turns me until I’m sitting on one of his thighs with my legs between his outstretched ones. Lucas scoots down enough that the hot water covers me and I snuggle against him. He drains the glass of wine, sets it back on the shelf, and wraps his arms around me, kissing my temple.

  “Do you know how long I’ve wanted you to touch me like that?” he asks, his deep voice sending shivers over my body. “Are you cold?” He pulls me closer.

  “No. Your voice does that to me.” He chuckles softly and nuzzles my ear. “I... I’ve wanted to touch you too,” I admit softly.

  He leans back, looking down at me, and I meet his hot gaze. He hesitates. His hands grip my waist and he effortlessly lifts and turns me to straddle him. Water sloshes around us as he scoots down. We stare into each other’s eyes. He is so sexy, and I want him. I’ve never felt this way about anyone, but even with my concerns, I realize I want this.

  “You know, I dream of the color of your eyes,” he murmurs softly, cupping my face. Oh! My lips part with my gasp. I touch his chest again, rubbing my palms over and around his nipples, and hear his quick intake of breath. I slide my hands slowly down his stomach and feel his muscles contract. Oh my.

  I feel a wave of lust wash over me. “Lucas?” I sound breathless.

  “Yes.” His voice is deep and soft. He kisses the corner of my mouth and traces my bottom lip with his tongue, causing me to moan softly and lose all reason.

  I wrap my arms around his neck and grab hold of the silky, wet strands at his nape. He crushes my mouth under his. He’s relentless. His tongue tastes and teases, making me crazy with my need for him. I’m breathless when he releases me, and I give a small whimper in protest.

  He looks into my eyes before bringing his mouth back to mine and plunging his tongue in and out of my mouth. An ache begins down low in my belly. His eyes gauge my response as he slides my cami up my stomach over my breasts, exposing them to his sight. I glance around nervously. I’m uncomfortable being so—naked.

  “Relax,” he growls. “No one will come out here. Trust me.”

  I try to relax, but this is all new to me and I’m beginning to feel—edgy. I now understand the expression “all wound up.” My nipples are always erect, but they harden and become even more prominent when the cold air hits them.

  “You are so beautiful,” he breathes, his breath flowing over my face. He grasps both nipples and rolls and pulls, stretching and twisting them. I moan. When he pinches hard, I cry out and arch my back, pushing my breasts toward him. He growls, grabs the front of my cami in both hands, and rips, tossing the piece of material into the water.

  Oh! Is that hot or what? It’s the most erotic thing I’ve ever seen.

  He pulls both of my wrists behind my back and holds them with one hand as his other molds around my breast. He wraps his hot mouth around my nipple, drawing it into his mouth and sucking forcefully. I whimper, throwing my head back while I arch my body again. I feel a pull all the way down, deep inside my most intimate place. I bite my lip to keep from crying out. He continues to suck hard as his fingers pinch my other nipple. I moan loudly.

  He raises his head and redirects his lips to my neck, licking and sucking to my pulse point, where he flicks his tongue in time to my heartbeat. The sensation is exquisite, and he sucks the spot, marking me. I barely recognize my voice as I moan and say his name.

  I pull at my wrists and he releases them so I can grip his arms. They are muscular, and as they slide under my bottom, lifting me, the strength in them is a turn on. He repositions me on his lap so I’m sitting farther back on his legs. He pulls his legs apart, causing mine to spread wider.

  “Sofie.” He growls my name, his voice forceful. He grabs my ponytail and pulls my head back to look into my eyes. His eyes are intense as he holds my gaze, brushing his fingertips over my nipples. They’re sensitive
from his rough treatment, and I moan, biting my lip. “You are mine. No one else gets to touch you this way but me.”

  Oh! I think he wants an answer, so I whimper, “Yes.”

  He smooths his hand down my stomach, making me inhale sharply. “Your skin is so soft, so lovely.” His hand continues down along the delicate skin of my inner thigh. I gasp and squirm, tightening my hold on his arms. He continues to watch me as his hand brushes across the junction of my thighs. I can’t hold back my moan as I close my eyes.

  His chuckle is rich and deep, full of satisfaction. He still has his grip on my ponytail and pulls my face toward his. He places his mouth on mine, scorching me with his kiss. When he releases his hold, his hands move to the top of my panties, his thumbs skim under the waistband, and he rips them from me. I gasp, pulling my mouth from his.

  I am now sitting on his lap as naked as he is. My breasts move rapidly with my aroused breathing. What now? I want to belong to him, I know that. I just don’t want to disappoint him with my inexperience. His hand moves between my legs and I can’t stop the instinctive urge to try to clamp my legs together.

  “Huh-uh,” he growls. “Spread your legs for me, Sofie,” he orders. I feel my skin heat with my rush of embarrassment. No one has ever touched me there. His voice becomes gentler. “Relax.”

  “Okay,” I breathe, gasping as his fingers move over me, causing me to buck against his hand. His arm wraps around my waist, holding me still while his fingers rub against my sensitive nub. I cry out.

  “Easy,” he says against my ear, his voice soft as velvet.

  I don’t feel the cold any longer; I feel hot and feverish. I close my eyes and moan from the pressure of his fingers rubbing against me. Shuddering, I spread my legs wider. He inserts one finger deep inside me, and I think I will pass out when he pulls it out and pushes it back in. He moves his finger in and out several times before I feel him insert a second finger. I whimper with pleasure. Oh, this feels good.

  “You are so tight and hot for me, my sweet.” His voice is hoarse. I realize he is as affected as I am, which excites me even more. His free hand smooths over my back, occasionally pressing me closer to his invading fingers. All I can do is hold on to his shoulders. When he rotates his hand, causing his fingers to twist inside of me, I cry out again and arch my back. He plunges in and out, fast and hard. I moan loudly and dig my nails into his skin as I fall apart.