by Rivi Jacks
“When I was downstairs and the lights went out...” He continues to watch me with consideration. “I heard a growl. Not a human growl,” I add as I see him start to respond.
“Taylor,” he says matter-of-factly.
“Nuh-uh—” I shake my head “—I’ve heard Taylor’s growl, this was different.”
“I don’t know what to tell you,” he replies, finishing his drink.
“Well, while you’re investigating,” I mock, “be sure to find out where they were hiding in the wine room.” Lucas raises his eyebrow. “I looked in that room. No one was in there.”
Lucas continues his steady regard before bursting into laughter. Sitting up, he puts his feet on the floor. “Sofie, you’re adorable!” He continues to laugh as I stand and move to the fireplace. His laughing irritates me.
Raking my hair off my forehead, I gather the length into a ponytail and let it go to fall freely down my back. I turn, and my breath catches at the heat in Lucas’ eyes. His gaze slides over me, making my skin tingle in reaction. He gives me a slow, seductive smile, one that’s clearly full of wicked playfulness. He saunters toward me. His expression has me retreating as he stalks me with intent.
“Lucas! S-Stop!” I walk backward, maneuvering the couch between us.
“I don’t think so,” his voice rasps.
I glare at him, but I am afraid. I have never felt more like prey. Seeing his pupils dilate, and the expression on his face, is unsettling. It’s similar to what I saw that night at the Shotgun Shack when he let me see his—I’m not sure what to call it—his beast? I continue to retreat; he continues to stalk.
“Y-You’re not frightening me.” I try to say it firmly, but I’m not sure I pull it off.
“You should be frightened,” he warns darkly as he advances. Why does he enjoy this? Something tells me if I run, he’ll enjoy it even more. I’ll only be giving him what he wants. His cell phone rings. He lets out a harsh sigh and fishes the offending cell out of his pocket with a low growl.
“What,” he snaps, not taking his eyes from me. His gaze turns hard. “I’ll be there shortly,” he responds and ends the call. He makes his move. I yelp and start for the bedroom. Lucas grabs me around the waist and lifts me off my feet.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he growls. He swings me up and over the back of the couch, plopping me down on the cushions. I start to get up when he lets go of me. “Don’t even think about it!” he warns in a dark voice.
I swallow nervously. I guess playtime’s over; he’s pissed again. I hear him sigh deeply behind me. What now? I wrap my arms around my front, all at once feeling cold.
He moves in front of me and squats. His eyes lock on mine. “The Kihn were chased from your uncle’s house again tonight.”
My body jerks with shock. “What? Is Jake—”
“Jake is fine. He wasn’t there.” I close my eyes, my body sagging with relief. Opening my eyes, I find Lucas closely watching me. “What do the Kihn want with you?”
“I don’t know,” I croak softly. Lucas looks down at the floor between his legs, shaking his head slightly. “You don’t believe me,” I say in a pain-edged voice.
His gaze slashes back to mine. My breath freezes at the hard anger I see on his face. “I believe you know something,” he says. Tears spring to my eyes. I am so afraid. I don’t know what to do. He exhales slowly, his face softening. “I also believe that you are very frightened. You have to trust me, Sofie. You have to let me help you.”
He tucks my hair behind my ear. His eyes meet mine. “Please—trust me. Don’t be afraid,” he says softly, seductively. His voice is doing a number on me, and my only defense is to get mad.
“A few minutes ago, you wanted me afraid of you,” I point out.
To my amazement, he grins. “That was fun.” I give him an appalled look. “Do you truly think I would hurt you?”
I give a slight shrug, lowering my gaze. When he doesn’t say anything, my conscience makes me feel guilty. I know Lucas would never physically hurt me. “No.”
He raises my face, his eyes searching mine as if he can find his answers there. He leans in, and before touching his lips to mine, he whispers, “Tell me.”
My eyes widen. I push against him, he lets me move him back, and I stand. “You’d better go; you don’t want to keep—whoever was on the phone waiting,” I say haughtily.
Lucas laughs. “You think that was a woman?”
I don’t say anything. I lift my chin as I turn to leave the room. Instantly, he’s in front of me, pulling me roughly to him. His mouth comes down hard on mine, the kiss consuming me. Instead of pulling away, I melt against his body with a soft moan. When he raises his head, my whole body feels flushed. He chuckles and takes my mouth in another kiss, slower and sweeter.
“Mmmm, you’re all soft, and you smell sweet,” he growls in my ear. “I think I need to take you to my bed.” He runs his tongue around my ear, and I shudder at the sensation of his hot breath and tongue on me. “Have my way with you.”
“You’re always having your way with me,” I gasp.
“I have something special I want to do with you, something you need,” he tells me in a husky murmur. He licks the length of my neck and a surge of pure lust slams my body. I grab his arms as he pushes and pins me against the wall. I’m panting with my need for him. I reach down, grab him through his jeans, and squeeze firmly. He emits a growl that sounds raw and primal.
“Little girl, you’d best be careful,” he warns, pressing harder against my body.
“I’m not afraid of you.” My voice is breathy. I inhale sharply as he lifts me up against the wall so he can grind his hardness against me. A sudden pounding at the front door raises our heads in that direction. He looks into my face, and I feel a sense of satisfaction that he’s breathing heavily.
“We’ll get back to this when I return,” he states, a little too self-assured for my taste.
Heat rises in my cheeks. “I’m not here for your amusement,” I hiss and try to squirm out of his hold.
He crushes me in a fierce hug, laughing, “You’re so much fun, Sofia Reece!”
“Let go of me!” I push at him.
Another loud, persistent knock causes Lucas to release me. I angrily head for the bedroom. “Sofie,” he calls before I turn the corner. “We’re going out tomorrow night.”
I bite my tongue. I won’t tell him what I think he can do with that. “Well, it’s always nice to be asked,” I say sarcastically. I turn back toward the bedroom, more irritated than ever.
He laughs “Sofie?” I tense at his tone. “I expect you to be in my bed, naked, when I return.”
I inhale sharply. When I turn toward him, he’s already gone.
I pace the bedroom, trying to decide what to do. I am not going to wait in his bed—naked. Of all the nerve! Who does he think he is? I sit on the couch and stare into the fire. I’ve been here less than a week, but it seems much longer. So much has happened. I never dreamed it would be this way between us. I knew I was attracted to him, but this—I can’t imagine my life without him now. He is as necessary to me as breathing.
I sense Lucas before he opens the bedroom door. He pauses when he sees me sitting on the couch. He closes the door and crosses to the liquor cabinet, not saying anything as he pours a drink and knocks it back. His silence makes me nervous.
“I knew you wouldn’t do what you were told,” he says with a smirk. I swallow as he heads for the closet. Great. Is he mad? When he saunters back into the bedroom, he’s removed his shoes and socks. I swallow convulsively. How can one man be so ridiculously good looking? He’s holding a long, black scarf, which he twists around one hand and then the other. He watches me as he winds and unwinds the scarf.
My mouth goes dry, wondering what he’s going to do with it. “What’s that for?” I ask softly.
“It’s for you.” He smiles wickedly. “I’m going to blindfold you.”
My stomach tightens at the thought. “Why?” I whispe
r.
“You’ll see.”
“Not if I’m blindfolded.”
Lucas chuckles dryly. “Well then, you’ll understand.”
I swallow visibly again. “I-I don’t think so.”
“Sofie, you can remove it at any time.” He smiles without humor.
“It’s just something... I’ve never wanted to do.”
“Well now, it’s one of those things you have to try to—enjoy.” His voice is raspy, and his smile is so persuasive.
“Why do you think I’ll like this?” I ask quietly.
He tilts his head as if he’s weighing my question. My breathing quickens as he moves toward me. “Maybe because I’ve shown you—you have sexual appetites you never dreamed of having. I’d bet you never imagined you’d enjoy sex so much, did you?” He’s got that right. No one had ever affected me the way he does. “And I’m positive the idea never entered your head that you would let me make you come—on a horse.” I exhale sharply and blush profusely. His chuckle is low and carnal. He’s standing directly behind me now. My body tingles at his nearness. “Since you have trust issues,” he murmurs, “I think you will benefit from this little exercise.”
He places the folded scarf over my eyes and ties it behind my head. Oh. So that’s what this is about. He doesn’t realize how much I do trust him. But where the Kihn are concerned—I don’t want him to think I’m crazy. And besides, I don’t know anything.
“Too tight?” he asks softly.
“No,” I breathe.
He moves in front of me and kisses me deeply as I lean into him. He releases my lips and moves away from me, but he comes back with a quick peck. “Now to get you naked.”
This is hot, but scary. “Lucas, please...”
He laughs softly and pulls the blindfold free. He looks down into my anxious eyes. “My sweet, I promise—you will enjoy this. I need you to trust me.”
“I just think it’s too... kinky for me.”
He smiles at me wolfishly. “Kinky?” He laughs. “Sofie, most people consider this foreplay. There’s nothing deviant or kinky about what I want to do to you.”
My stomach muscles contract at the thought of what he wants to do to me. I gaze into his beautiful eyes, and he cocks his eyebrow. “Okay,” I breathe. He repositions the scarf, plunging me into darkness again. He steps away, and I hear him move about the room.
“Now the clothes,” he mutters as he stands close behind me. My breathing escalates as he reaches around, unbuttoning my blouse before he removes it. “Pretty bra,” he whispers and pinches one of my nipples. I jerk back against him with a gasp. He chuckles softly as he unhooks my bra and lets the straps slide down my arms. I feel air brush my breasts and I strain forward, wanting, needing his hands on me. But he moves on to my jeans. He pulls them and my panties slowly past my hips. Raising one of my feet, then the other, he pulls the jeans off my legs.
I stand naked, panting with my need, and he’s barely touched me. I don’t hear him anymore—I don’t hear anything. He scoops me up, and I barely contain my yelp, grasping his shoulders as he moves across the room. He gently lays me on the bed. I feel the cool sheets, and then Lucas is lying on top of me. His clothes are still on as he presses me into the mattress.
His mouth comes down hard, his tongue stroking mine as he grinds his erection against my softness. He growls deep in his chest and tweaks my nipples. I pull my mouth from his and cry out as I writhe beneath him. He grabs my wrists and pulls my arms up above my head. “Leave your arms up over your head,” he orders. His voice is hard and raspy. “Do not move them. Leave them above your head. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I whisper. This is hot!
His knee pushes my legs apart, and he moves between them. He shifts and then he’s pulling roughly at my nipples again. I groan loudly.
“You have the most beautiful breasts. I love your nipples,” he reveals hoarsely. I know I turn red as I feel heat move over my body. I swallow. His voice is totally erotic, causing a jolt of almost painful desire in my lower region. “You are exquisite, Sofie. And you are mine,” he growls, coming down on top of me with a suddenness that makes me cry out.
He grabs my hair, pulling my head to the side. He buries his face against my neck and bites, just not breaking the skin, and sucks hard. I know he’s marked me again. He pushes my legs wider with his, and his hand goes between my legs, rubbing and pressing firmly against me as his other hand moves to my breast, pinching and pulling on my nipple. Even if I moved my arms, which I won’t, he would still have me trapped securely under him.
I whimper and writhe beneath him as a wave of desire spreads through my body like liquid fire. His body lifts off mine, and he rests between my legs as I lie there panting.
“How are you feeling?” I hear unsteadiness in his voice.
“Good,” I whisper.
“Just good?” He strokes between my legs, and I can’t stop from raising my pelvis. “I don’t think good is enough. We’ll have to see what we can do about that.” He places his hands on my thighs and pushes. I moan. I don’t think I can open them any wider. When he does nothing else, I know he’s looking at me. I feel him looking at me, and my body burns.
He slides a finger into me, and I know he’s watching. It’s embarrassing but so erotic! I writhe slightly at the exquisite sensation. He pulls his finger out and pushes two back in. I groan and arch my back.
“You are so desirable, Sofie. I love watching you respond to me.”
I flush knowing I’m right about him watching the things he does to me. Amazingly, I’m not dwelling on the blindfold. Actually, it helps. I can hide behind it. He suddenly pushes his fingers in and out of me relentlessly. It hurts because I’m so sore, but the pleasure quickly overrides the discomfort.
“Bend your knees,” he orders. I bring them up and raise my pelvis toward his hand. I’m embarrassed at my wantonness but unable to stop myself. I moan as the pressure builds. It’s the same as the other times, almost painful. Just when I think it’s too painful and my body starts to quiver, my orgasm breaks over me. I cry out softly. My body twists and jerks with my release, my arms still above my head.
Lucas pulls his fingers from me, and I mewl, softly. Then his mouth is on me, sucking and biting gently where his fingers have just been. “Ahhh,” I practically scream and buck against him.
“Relax!” he growls. Easy for him to say, we’ve not done this before. It’s something new for me, and—I never imagined it could feel so—good. I writhe and whimper under his assault.
“Again, my sweet,” he commands, his voice husky.
What?
He sucks, and his tongue ruthlessly swirls over, around, and in me. I agonize and whimper. The pressure builds almost unbearably. I grip and pull on the sheets above my head, trying to wrestle away from his onslaught, but he holds me fast. It goes on and on, he won’t stop, and I think I’ll pass out with the fervor of his assault. My climax hits me with an intensity that bows my back off the bed and leaves me sobbing.
Lucas is beside me, gathering me into his arms. He unties my blindfold and smooths my hair from my face. His voice is soothing, calming me as my heart rate and breathing slow.
Geez, that was intense! I feel strangely disembodied, unconnected from everything but the man holding me. It’s close to the same sense of deep connection I experienced the night of the party. I twist in his arms to look up at him, and he brings his mouth down on mine. I taste me on his tongue. I think his kiss will devour me.
He leans over me, and his expression is fierce. He places his hands on either side of my face. “You—belong—to—me. Do you understand what I’m saying?” I nod slightly. I do now. “That’s good.” His voice holds some measure of threat, but that doesn’t matter. I am his. I have never been more sure of anything. I want him with a passion that consumes me.
I encircle his neck with my arm and pull him back down to me. “I am yours.” I kiss him with as much love as I can project into my kiss. He moans in the back of
his throat, pressing his body to mine. He’s still fully clothed, and it feels so naughty lying naked here with him. I giggle. He leans up, looking at me. The expression on his face makes me giggle harder.
“And this is funny because…” He raises one of his black brows. He really is the handsomest man.
I stretch my body, hook my leg over his, and hear the catch in his breath. I feel so relaxed I could purr, which makes me giggle again. “I was just thinking about how irritated I was at you when you ordered me to wait for you in bed.”
His lips quirk up at the corners. “And yet, here you are.”
I run my hand up his chest. “Naked,” I whisper.
His gaze moves over me slowly. “So you are.” The timbre of his voice has me biting my lip. He moves his hand over my breast and flicks my nipple with his thumb. I moan softly. He brings his mouth to my nipple and sucks tenderly. He moves and suckles the other one just as gently. I arch my back, pushing my breasts up. They are so sore, but the feeling is extremely pleasant. His hands mold around my breasts as his lips suck my nipples. I moan loudly, and he slides down beside me, his knee wedging between my legs and rubbing against me.
He looks at me and grins. “You certainly are adept at distracting me, my sweet.” There’s a sudden commotion in another part of the house before I have a chance to ask from what I’m distracting him. We both look toward the door. “What—?” he exclaims.
I almost groan with frustration when he lifts off my body. Before opening the door, he looks back and orders, “Stay here.” He leaves, closing the door.
I blink at the closed door, astounded. Like hell! I vault off the bed, grab my scattered clothes, and dress hurriedly. I ease the bedroom door open and listen. The house is quiet. I step out into the hallway and cautiously make my way to the living room. I don’t hear anything. It’s as if I’m alone in the house. I walk down the hallway to Lucas’ study and find the door open. I see no new vehicles in the driveway and no one moving about. I head back through the house to an empty kitchen. I open the basement door. It’s dark and quiet down there. What the hell? I am alone in the house!