Eostre's Baskets: Stacking the Deck

by Selena Illyria

  He inhaled deeply and blew it out. A weight had been lifted, but he wanted to give her a gift to show her that he was all hers, that nothing was between them.

  “Carrie, I’m going to submit to you. I want you to tie me down and make love to me. I want to show you that I trust you not only with my emotions, my past secrets, but with all that I am.” He held his breath, waiting for her to say something.

  Surprise lit up her dark brown eyes. The pink tip of her tongue darted out to wet her plump bottom lip. “You want to…”

  “I’m submitting to you. I am submitting to my dragon mate.” He waited for whether she’d go for it or not. “I want you to use the cuffs and cock rings on me.”

  Again the bright pink tip slipped out. “Okay,” she whispered.

  His legs turned to water, and he almost sank to his knees.

  She laughed. “What? You weren’t sure I’d say yes?”

  “No, not really,” he confessed.

  “I’m nervous. I’ve never done this before.”

  He lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. “I trust you, amore. Always have.”

  Emotions flashed across her face. “You say that now, but what if I—”

  “Stop! I. Trust. You. Now, let’s get this started before you change your mind or I chicken out.” He grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it up and off; then he went for his fly.

  “Whoa, slow down.” She reached out and grabbed his hand. “We have time.”

  He chuckled. “Honey, my cock is being squeezed by my jeans and not in a good way.” He undid his belt and the button and pulled down the zipper before she could stop him.

  Rather than protest, she seemed to take an interest in her surroundings. “I have to go get the basket. Why don’t you finish undressing and then get on the bed and while you’re waiting for me think of a safe word. Okay?”

  “Okay.” He shuffled over to the bed and sat down. He yanked off his boots and socks, not giving himself time to slow down or think about what he was getting into. Dean stood up once more and shucked his jeans. Once he was completely nude, he looked down at himself. A nervous flutter started in his stomach. He knew Carrie found him attractive, sexy, but would she enjoy being in control of him? Even he had doubts about whether or not he’d like it. Dragons were the ones in control of their situations. Opening himself up like this, submitting to his mate, left him vulnerable, not only in strength and body but also in emotion.

  The dragon wasn’t sure about this, but it didn’t protest. Instead, it gave him a surge of its strength. Scales rippled over his skin, and he felt the beast rise up but stop just before surfacing completely. It was a comfort knowing he could partially shift and break free of his restraints if he needed to. He took her absence as time to figure out his safe word. She returned with the items he’d suggested: the silver handcuffs and the black leather snap cock rings. His semihard cock thickened a bit more. He gave himself a pinch on the crown to stave off the arousal. The harsh tactic worked, and some of his desire receded.

  “Ready?” She held up the sex toys. “Safe word?”

  “Yes. Banana.” He turned and climbed on the bed, stretched out, and waited for her to make her move. It didn’t take long. He reached over his head and grabbed on to her headboard slats. He curled his fingers around the thin wooden bars. The painted rods felt cool against his skin. He latched on to the sensation and closed his eyes as the bed jostled underneath him. Her hands coasted over his legs, up and down. Warmth flowed through him, soothing away his nerves. He sucked in some air when he felt her fingers tease and brush his cock. He didn’t flinch when he felt the press of warm leather against his dick. She slipped the bit of softness against him, back and forth, before he felt the pinch of the cock ring around the base of his shaft. She repeated the process with the second and then the third ring. She moved up his body, planting kisses and kitten flicks of her tongue before she reached his arms and snicked the cuffs on one, then the other, until he was well and truly bound.

  “Now I’m ready,” she said.

  He opened his eyes and looked at her. “Do your worst, amore.”

  CARRIE TOOK IN Dean stretched out on her bed. His hands gripped the spokes of her headboard but not, thankfully, in a white-knuckled grip. He was relaxed and open. Golden light bathed his scarred body. Tears slipped down her cheeks unchecked. She felt as if she was gazing at a precious treasure. He was trusting her—not just with his body but his heart, his soul. The loss of his parents, of his mentor… Her heart clenched as pain spasmed through her chest. They had both lost so much, both mired in pain and hope and hiding behind walls that kept them safe and others out. It wasn’t until he told his story that she realized just how much she was hiding from him.

  No more.

  As mates, as partners, they couldn’t go on like this.

  “What? What’s wrong?” His voice was rough with emotion, his eyes filled with caution and worry.

  She reached out and ran her hand along his side. The raised ridges of old scars and smooth skin flowed under her palm. “No,” she whispered. With her free hand, she wiped away her tears. “Nothing wrong.”

  “Tell me,” he urged.

  She looked away from his gaze and circled her fingertips around his tightened nipple. “I was just thinking that we are both so damaged and hurt by life. And that you’re trusting me with all of you. I just… There are no words for that. Not even thank you is adequate.”

  Dean lifted his chest as if trying to get up but settled down when his bonds limited his movement. “There is no need for thanks, amore. We are mates. We’re in this together. I’ve started to heal because of you.”

  She moved her stare up to his eyes and studied his face. His features didn’t hide anything from her. He truly believed that. Her heart lurched, and she wanted to cry all over again. Instead she took in a deep breath and steeled herself to give him pleasure, to show him how much she desired, wanted, and needed him. Carrie threw a leg around his lap and sank down onto his thighs. She moved forward and gave his shoulders a squeeze. She felt no resistance or tension. She released them and sat up again, leaned over, and grabbed a card.

  “‘Give your lover a compliment,’” she read. She didn’t have to rack her brain to find something. “I love that you’re so strong, physically. You can take on anything thrown at you.” She punctured that statement by raking her fingernails over his chest, rasping his nipples as she went. He groaned and pushed out his chest. Faint pink lines formed on the golden skin.

  “More.” His breathing was shaky as his cock jerked on his stomach.

  She ignored the thickened rod and focused on memorizing his chest with light swipes and swirls of her fingers. She scooted back and leaned down before she started to explore him with her lips—light kisses dusted along the column of his neck, love bites across his chest, flicks and licks around his pectorals and nipples before switching back to butterfly touches along his ribs and over his stomach.

  “I love how fit you are.” She punctuated that statement on a giggle as he shifted underneath her. “Superficial, I know, but I love to look at you when you’re naked or shirtless or just, hell, whenever.”

  “Will be naked more often.” His voice was low and gravelly. He flexed his hips but couldn’t force her to do anything or buck her off. “Now please, jerk me off.”

  She chuckled as she sat up before she put the card back on the table and selected another one. “No. Playtime, and we haven’t really played the game correctly. Now what does this say?” She paused to read it and laughed. “Looks like fate is on your side. ‘Tease your partner with your mouth but don’t let him come.’”

  He groaned; his head lolled on the pillow. “Please.”

  She looked down at his groin, the thick, ruddy stalk wrapped in black leather cock rings with a droplet of his desire at the slit. For a moment, worry dampened her ardor. “How are you feeling? Does your cock hurt? Should I loosen the straps?”

  “Touch me,” he urged. He pressed his hea
d into the pillows once more. His tendons stood out from his neck. “Feel so much.”

  She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing. “Babe—”

  “God, please.” Scales rippled over his skin. He lifted his head and gazed at her with molten gold eyes. “Now, please.”

  Understanding dawned on her. The dragon wanted out and to play. “Orgasm?”

  He writhed on the bed a bit more. “Will help.”

  “Okay then.” She slid down onto her stomach between his legs and focused her attention on his testicles. She didn’t forget the previous card. “I love how strong your legs are.”

  She played her fingers along his inner thighs. His legs were lightly covered in a dusting of golden hair. “I love that you’re not too hairy.”

  “Carrie—”

  She cut him off by taking one delicate testicle into her mouth and giving it a gentle pull. He moaned in response. She used her free hand to roll the other ball in her palm. His unique musky scent was stronger here, as was his body heat. He shifted as she sucked and teased his other testicle with her tongue, released it, and then transferred her attention to the other one. She released him and spread the sac wide, then traced her tongue down the center. She heard the rasp of his heels against the sheets. Small whimpers and grunts filled the air. The scent of his arousal grew with each lick. She focused on his right inner thigh and then the left, using nips and flicks of the tip of her tongue to tease and torment him before going back to his testicles. She laved the sac, teasing him until he shook on the bed. Ragged cries came from his mouth.

  She pulled back on her ministrations, sat up on her heels to watch and wait for him to calm down. His cock was thick, flushed red, and leaking precum. The straps of the cock rings stood out in stark contrast to his ruddy skin.

  “How are you doing?” She needed to know if he was in any pain. His skin was still scaled with black tiles edged in gray. A red sheen glimmered in the golden light. Sweat coated his torso and his face. He opened his eyes. Gold with black dots looked back at her; intense need shone in the dark-yellow depths.

  “Fuck. Me.” His voice was inhuman—deep, dark, and so rough it was as if he were speaking with boulders in the depths of his throat.

  A rush of confidence purred through her at the sight of his desire for her. She felt sexy, desired, and in command. The feeling surprised her. She’d never thought she could enjoy being in charge before. It was nice, but she wanted to know what it would be like to be held at his mercy and under his thrall. One day. For now she was going to give him what he wanted—to a point.

  She made a clucking sound with her tongue. “Not done yet.” She crawled up his body, reveling in the press of his humid heat against her own damp skin. As a dragon, his temperature burned hotter than normal. She took in his partially shifted form. The only thing that hadn’t changed was his cock. She looked down his body, curious. “Looks like I haven’t done my job completely. I’ve heard dragons can thicken and lengthen their cocks, even grow scales too. I want to see if I can push you to it.”

  He jerked on his bonds but didn’t try to break them. She appreciated that.

  “Fuck me or get off. Just bring it,” he challenged.

  She chuckled. “You know I will.” She tossed her head and straddled him, bent down, and pressed her mouth to his, starting off soft before using more pressure, pouring her emotions into her affection. The kiss turned passionate with a mesh of teeth and tongues. She didn’t pull back until she felt light-headed and had to pant just to take air into her lungs. She licked her bruised lips and savored the prickle.

  “Fuck. Me.” Each word was edged in a growl.

  “Patience.” She kissed and nibbled along his jaw, down his neck, over his chest before she paused to flick and nip his tightened nipples. She sucked one hard tip into her mouth, then released it and showed the other the same attention. She took care to trace her tongue between the dips and peaks of his abs. Down she went, exploring his body. She scraped her nails along his ribs reveling in the groans that came from his mouth. She gripped his hips and stopped over his groin. His cock lay against his stomach. Scales decorated the thick rod, the top slick with precum. She relaxed onto her belly. She played her tongue along the column, savoring the smooth ridges. She traced the thick vein on the underside of his cock. He squirmed and groaned. The rattle and thud of chains against the wood slats of her headboard sounded above her.

  “Please, please, please,” he begged in between groans of pleasure.

  She couldn’t deny him any longer. Nor could she ignore the heat and desire that pulsed heavily between her legs. Her thighs were slick with her need for him. Her demanding clit throbbed. As much fun as it was to give him attention and show him pleasure, it was time to give them both what they wanted.

  She pushed up and got to her knees, crawled over to the side of the bed, and grabbed a condom off the nightstand. She didn’t rip it open immediately; instead she placed it on his stomach and surveyed his state. His eyes were wild, almost feral. His face was covered in the black tiles.

  “Now don’t come. I’m going to release the straps.” She bit her bottom lip and waited for him to respond.

  “Do it.” His body tensed, but the determination on his face didn’t waver.

  She started with the first leather strap. She took hold of the shaft and pulled on the tab. He sucked in a large amount of air, and then it gusted out. “Fuck!”

  She paused. “Are you—”

  “More, damn it.”

  His cock jerked in her hand as more precum dribbled over the flared crest. Encouraged, she undid the next one and waited. Only one more to go. The thick, clear cum slipped over her hand, making her grip difficult. She decided to use it to her advantage and push him closer to the edge. She gave him a few quick strokes followed by one long, slow tug. He moaned and thrashed to the point she lost her hold. She let go and waited until he quieted down. His chest rose and fell as he struggled to take in air.

  “Fuck. So close. Please, amore.”

  She couldn’t deny him any longer. She released the last ring. He let out a roar as he came. His cock jerked in her hand. She helped him, stroking his shaft, holding it gently as she milked his cock for every drop of his cum. She let him go when he stopped shaking. To give him time to recover, she crawled off the bed. She went to the bathroom, wet a small towel, and returned to him to clean up the mess. Once everything was wiped up, she brought the towel to the bathroom and quickly removed the plug and vibrator he’d put in her. She returned to find his cock still hard and covered in scales.

  “Ride me. Come for me, amore.” His eyes were back to their usual turquoise color but shone with a faint, golden glow.

  Not having to be told twice, she climbed onto the bed, crawled between his legs, and sat on her heels. She picked up the foil-wrapped packet and ripped it open. With practiced ease, she rolled it onto him, then positioned herself over his cock. She grasped his shaft and held it as she lowered herself onto him. Sinking inch by inch, savoring the feel of him stretching her sensitive vaginal walls, she moaned at the pleasure and pain. Up and down she moved, taking him deeper and deeper, squeezing her inner muscles, pulling him farther inside until he was balls-deep. She rode him, taking her time, letting the tension build as the pressure expanded and enveloped her. She let her orgasm grow and crystallize until the stress broke and grabbed hold of her body. Sensation shimmered through her on heated pinpricks. Her climax overwhelmed her to the point of pain. She felt him expand and jerk inside her as he came once more.

  She heard the snick of the metal chains of the cuffs snapping. He grabbed her hips and sat up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on. He dropped his head and took her lips in a branding kiss that seared her to her soul. She pulled her head back, gasping for air.

  “I love you, Carrie,” he murmured before he buried his head in the crook of her neck.

  “I love you too, Dean,” she whispered back. Despite the afterglow, she didn’t think he was saying that i
n the heat of the moment. She knew it to be true and reveled in the knowledge.

  Chapter Six

  After Easter

  Dean opened his eyes and groaned as bright sunlight filled his view. He rolled over to cuddle into Carrie’s warmth. The delicious scent of coffee drifted into the room. One of the hunters must have returned and set the automatic timer. He grunted as he pushed off the covers and stood up. He stretched his back; the vertebrae in his spine pinged and cracked. He padded over to the small yoga area he had set up and began his morning routine. Last night’s sexual session had been fun and a learning experience for both of them. Pride swelled in his chest as he remembered how confident she was, how open she had been with him. Last night had brought them closer together. He now understood her better and her wants, needs, and desires. A sense of awe filled him at how much trust she’d put in him. He might have been the one tied down, but she’d given him a piece of herself.

  It wasn’t just that he’d trusted her with his body and to keep him from harm. He couldn’t get her story out of his head. Remnants of pain seared his heart. He had created a large web of connections with all the favors he’d done other hunters over the years. Plus, there was his and Carrie’s own stable to consider. Why hadn’t she asked the hunters who crashed at their place for help? Then again, she didn’t know what fairy clan she was a part of, so she couldn’t pin down where they could look. Based on the fact that she only seemed to display fairy light, he surmised that her people were of the lower caste. Fun, mischievous, sweet, and helpful, just like her.

  He grinned. He had a few contacts he could touch base with to ask if anyone matching that description could be found or at least a hint of where they were. Until recently he hadn’t had anyone to depend on. Last night he realized he could trust Carrie. Shutting her out had been stupid and childish.

  They had started their journey to becoming better mates. They needed to be more communicative, but also he needed to be open with his emotions. First he wanted to give Carrie something that would be the world to her. He had to find her people.