by HELEN HARDT
I took a sip of my wine, the spiciness a wonderful complement to the sweet corn and robust pork of the tamales. Talon watched me eat, but I had long gotten over being self-conscious around him. He’d seen me in every position possible.
“Those tamales are the bomb, aren’t they?” he said.
I nodded, swallowing another mouthful. “I do miss Felicia’s cooking. That’s for sure.”
“You can always come back.”
“We’ve had this discussion, Talon. You kicked me out.”
“And I told you, I regret doing that.”
“I believe you. I really do. But something happened to you that night, and until you deal with it, I don’t think I should be here. At least not on a permanent basis. I mean, I’ll come by. To see Marj.”
“Just to see Marj?”
Did he want me to say I wanted to see him? Of course I always wanted to see him. But I still didn’t know where we stood. Other than the amazing sexual chemistry, I wasn’t sure what was between us. I knew my feelings, but I didn’t know his…and I wasn’t sure he did either. “I’m always happy to see you. You know that.”
“Good. I’d like for us to have dinner sometime.”
The last time he asked me to dinner… That was the night he went crazy on me and kicked me out of this house. So I decided to play it light. “Isn’t that what we’re doing right now?”
“Touché,” he said. “Seriously, I’d like to take you to dinner.”
“You mean in your bedroom, like last time?” I said boldly.
He cleared his throat. “No. I want to take you out on…”
He really couldn’t even say the word, could he? “A date? You want to take me on a date, Talon?”
He looked down at the table, his head bobbing.
“Is that a yes?” Damn it, I was going to make him say it.
“Yes,” he said under his breath.
“Fine. Then look me in the eye and ask me out. Like a man.”
He lifted his head up, and his dark eyes were blazing with fire. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I want you to ask me out.”
“You said ‘like a man.’” He clenched his hands into fists.
“Well…yeah.”
He rose with such force that the wrought-iron chair he’d been sitting in toppled over. He advanced around the table, grabbed my arm, and yanked me to my feet.
“I’ll show you what a man I can be.” He crushed his lips down onto mine.
I opened for him without meaning to. I would always respond to him, whether I wanted to or not. He plunged his tongue into my mouth and took. This was the kind of kiss I was used to getting from Talon. And even though I’d loved the kisses the other night that had been soft giving, this kind of kiss fueled my desire for him like no other. He broke the kiss with a loud smack and trailed little nips and bites on my neck and up to my earlobe, where he tugged. “Look at what you do to me, blue eyes,” he whispered. “Do you want me to be a man for you? You want me to show you what a real man can do?”
I sighed, groaned, as he continued his assault on the outer shell of my ear, nipping, biting, the pleasure-pain bursting through me in sparks of fire.
“Answer me, blue eyes. Tell me what you think a real man should do to you.”
Something was bothering him. Something about me telling him to ask me out like a man. Those words had gotten to him, and where they were rooted I didn’t know, but right now, I didn’t care. He’d asked me what I wanted, so I would tell him.
“I want you, Talon. Take me to your bed and fuck me.”
In one fell swoop, he gathered me into his arms and lifted me. He stalked to the French doors, kneed them open, and took me through the kitchen and down the hallway to his suite.
I didn’t know where Marj was, and I didn’t care. If she had seen us, I wouldn’t have stopped this. Nothing could stop this. Fiery passion raged through me, my heart thundering, my body quivering. I wanted him like I’d never wanted him before. He opened his door, walked swiftly through the sitting room to the bedroom, and deposited me on his bed. Then he went back to the door and clicked it locked.
He turned to me, his eyes blazing. “Undress for me, Jade. Show me that succulent little body of yours.”
I undressed slowly, achingly slowly, because I wanted to make this good for him. If I’d had my way, I would’ve stripped everything off both of us in sixty seconds and had him flat on his back on the bed, me riding his cock.
I was still wearing my work clothes, but I had dressed more casually today in black leggings and a gray tunic. I proceeded leisurely, performing a strip tease, despite the fire in his eyes begging me to go quickly. I pulled the clip out of my hair and let my waves fall around my shoulders. I shook my tresses and then started unbuttoning my tunic. When enough buttons were undone, I let the gray fabric slide over one of my shoulders, baring it. I continued unbuttoning, and I finally let the garment fall to the floor in a gray heap.
My black lace bra was a demi cup, showing lots of cleavage, and my full breasts were plump from arousal.
I unclasped it in the back, slowly removed the bra, and let it fall to the floor on top of the tunic. I cupped my breasts, giving each nipple a quick pinch. The jolt arrowed between my legs.
Talon sucked in his breath, his erection a bulge against his jeans.
I flipped off my mules, pushed my leggings over my belly and hips, and slid them down both legs at the same time, removing them from each foot one by one. I stood only in my black lace panties.
I stopped for a moment to let him look at me.
His gaze was lascivious as he scanned me from top to bottom with his dark eyes.
My pussy was wet, the moisture warm against my silky underwear.
“The panties, baby. Ditch the panties.”
I smiled at him and then bit my bottom lip. He sucked in another breath.
I slowly eased the panties over my hips and down my legs, and then I tossed them to him. He caught them and brought them to his nose, closing his eyes and inhaling.
I’d always found panty sniffing disgusting, but seeing Talon—big, strong, gorgeous Talon—being mesmerized by the odor of my cunt nearly shattered me into climax.
He paced toward me, backed me onto the bed, and pushed me down. Still fully clothed, he hovered over me, taking one nipple between his teeth and tugging.
I gushed fresh juice. My whole universe became my pussy, and everything Talon did cascaded through me, culminating in that bundle of nerves between my legs. Fuck, he was hot.
“Such gorgeous tits, baby. Never seen such beautiful tits before.” He squeezed them, pinched the nipples, sucked on one and then the other.
I came undone.
My nipples had always been sensitive, but Talon brought them to new heights. He was simultaneously rough and gentle with them, a sensation I’d never known before him.
He let one nipple drop from his lips. “I bought you something, baby.”
My eyes still closed, still biting my bottom lip, I didn’t respond. A moment later, my right nipple was held in a clutch so hard, so full of pain and pleasure, that the sensations spiraled through me like psychedelic arrows.
I opened my eyes. A nipple clamp. A goddamned nipple clamp.
The sight of it drove me crazy. My cunt throbbed for attention.
He looked into my eyes. “Okay?”
I nodded.
“Verbal,” he said. “You have to tell me okay.”
I nodded again. “Yes, okay.”
“Good, blue eyes?”
I nodded again. “God, yes, Talon. I could never imagine it would feel this good.”
“You want one on the other?”
Still biting my lip, I nodded.
“Verbal, baby.”
“Yes.”
He clamped my other nipple, and I nearly exploded.
“Squeeze your breasts, baby,” he said. “Squeeze them and let the clamps do their work. And spread your legs for me. I’m going to lick
that gorgeous pussy of yours.”
He didn’t have to ask twice. I spread my legs and held them open. He dived into my heat, tugging at my labia.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said. “I love your pussy lips. So pink and engorged. I can suck them into my mouth.”
His teeth grazed my clit, and my whole body tingled.
“You’re so beautiful and red. Like a ruby rose.” He tugged on my folds again, worked a finger inside.
And just when I was about to splinter into a million pieces, he unclamped his mouth, rose, and spread my legs.
“And now, blue eyes, I’m going to fuck you. Like a man.”
Chapter Eleven
Talon
I plunged into her with force. She moaned as I took her.
“That’s right, baby, like a man. Fuck you like a man.”
She gripped me with sweet suction, as she always did. Every time with her was like the first time. She was a drug I could no longer live without. The noises she made, the way she smelled, tasted, like fresh apples from my orchard…
“God, Talon, I need to come…”
She shattered around me, her walls grasping me. But I wasn’t ready for it to be over yet. I leaned over, removed her nipple clamps quickly, and licked her tight buds to soothe the sting as she continued bucking with her orgasm.
When she came down, her eyes closed, her facial features peaceful and serene, I withdrew. I quickly discarded my clothes and turned her over. “Get on your knees, blue eyes. I want you this way now.” I grabbed her hips and plunged into her sweet pussy once more, and—
My flesh went cold. Icy shards of glass worked their way into my spine.
On the small of her back was a black outline.
She was getting a tattoo. And not just any tattoo…
I withdrew and walked backward, my back finally hitting the wall. I slid down and hugged my knees.
It can’t be… It can’t be…
“You keep your eyes open, boy. You do as I tell you.”
The boy coughed and choked, trying desperately not to gag.
Failing.
The colorful tattoo on the devil’s forearm drew the boy’s gaze. He stared hard at the image. And even though it laughed, the maniacal heckling not unlike that of the three demons, the boy could at least focus on it and not close his eyes. Its beak was yellow, like a canary, its body the red of a candy apple. Its wingtips bright pink, blue, and orange, ending in white-blue flame. Swirls of gray smoke surrounded the bird as it rose from burning embers.
The bird rose toward a five-pointed star.
“That’s right, boy, take it all. You’ll never be a man. Never.”
Eerie cackling danced around the boy, visible as black swirls around the tattooed bird.
You’ll never be a man. Never be a man…
The phoenix rose toward a star. I had forgotten until now, when I saw a near replica—the image etched onto Jade’s back.
She was kneeling before me, touching my cheek. “Talon, what happened? Are you all right?”
I couldn’t speak. I tried, but the words wouldn’t come.
Had I screamed, like the last time? I didn’t think so. Jade would have been acting differently if I had.
“Talon,” she said again. “Talk to me, please. What happened?”
I opened my mouth. This time a tiny croak emerged.
“Please, tell me what’s the matter.”
I inhaled and exhaled slowly, willing my drumming heartbeat to slow. “When did you get a tattoo?”
“I haven’t yet. I was about to get it tonight, but Haley only got the outline done before Marj called me with this ‘emergency.’”
I swallowed. The lump obstructing my throat didn’t budge. “What do you mean she only did the outline? So it’s not permanent, then?”
“No, of course not. It’s a simple ink drawing for her to follow. It’ll come off in the shower.”
I stood. A man on a mission. A strange whooshing met my ears. “It’s coming off right now.”
Her silver-blue eyes held compassion but also determination. “Talon, no. I like it.”
“I hate it.”
“It’s perfect. I saw it—”
“Where?” I grabbed her forearm, gripping tightly.
“Stop. You’re hurting me.”
I refused to loosen my grip. I couldn’t. My fingers were frozen. “Where did you see a tattoo that looked like that?”
Her eyes glazed over with tears ready to fall. “It was in Haley’s art book.”
“What do you want a tattoo for anyway?”
“I-I’ve always wanted one. I love tattoos when they’re done tastefully. I just never found the right image, and when I saw the phoenix—”
“Why the hell would you want a phoenix?”
She shivered before me. “It spoke to me. It’s perfect. I’m starting a new life here, rising from my broken engagement. It made sense to me, and the colors were so beautiful—”
“What colors were they?”
“I don’t know. Red. Orange. Some blue.”
Colors. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to visualize the colors… I’d dulled them in my mind years and years ago—but in my flashback, they had been vibrant.
I opened my eyes. “You’re not going to get that tattoo.”
“Of course I am.”
“I don’t want you to have a tattoo.”
Still shivering, she bit her lip and then visibly stiffened. “I don’t recall asking your permission.”
I nearly snapped but held myself in check. She was right. She was not my slave, my property, even though I sometimes wished she were. “Fine. Mar your body if you want to, but not with that image.”
“But the image is perfect.”
A calculating need to control surged through me like rocket fuel. “Trust me, the image is far from perfect. It’s not you at all.”
“I disagree.”
“I don’t care. You’re not getting that fucking tattoo.”
Her eyes darkened to a smoky blue. “I am.”
I grabbed her, gripping her upper arms harshly.
She grimaced. “Let go of me.”
“Not until you promise me not to get that tattoo.”
She kept her mouth shut.
Fucking stubborn woman! No phoenix tattoo Not on my watch. I dragged her into my shower and turned it on with a swoosh of water. Once it was steamed up, I pushed her inside.
She cowered under the spray, her arms crossed over her chest as if to hide herself. She looked over her shoulder at me, her blue eyes glassy. “Why does this bother you so much? I don’t understand.”
I turned rigid, raking my fingers through my hair. “You’ll never understand. Why did I think you ever might?”
“Understand what? You haven’t given me any reason to—”
I grabbed a washcloth and squirted body wash onto it. I stepped in the shower behind her and started scrubbing the small of her back.
“Talon, not so rough, please.”
Rough? Hell, I didn’t care. I’d burn that shit off if I had to.
Once her skin was free of the outline and the last traces of black were swirling down the drain, I finally started to relax a bit. I slunk against the wet shower wall, closed my eyes.
I opened them when the water patterns changed. She had turned to face me.
Was that shower water running down her cheeks? Or were the tiny rivers tears?
The whites of her eyes had reddened.
Tears.
My heart fell to my stomach. I could bear anything but her tears.
She sniffed. “I don’t understand, Talon.”
No, she didn’t understand. And she never would.
I dried myself off and walked out of the bathroom. I hastily put on a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and my socks and boots.
Walked down the hallway, out the door to my car, and drove off.
Chapter Twelve
Jade
My wet hair was plastered to my face a
nd shoulders.
Still weeping, I scrubbed at my face. I looked down. My nipples were red and swollen from Talon’s attentions and the nipple clamps. What had I done now? Did he really hate tattoos, or was this something else entirely? Oddly, none of the Steels had any tattoos—at least none that I knew of. Maybe they were actually against them for some weird reason, though Marj had often spoken of getting one.
I had wanted one for so long, and that phoenix image perfectly fit how I was feeling and what I wanted to convey through art on my body. I had every intention of rescheduling the appointment with Haley.
But Talon… What was I going to do about Talon?
He needed to get some help. Maybe I could talk him into going back to his therapist. I would talk to Marj about it, Jonah and Ryan if I had to.
I grabbed the washcloth and did a quick once-over my body. I squeezed some of Talon’s American Crew shampoo into my palm and quickly washed my hair, tearing up again at the masculine fragrance I recognized from his gorgeous hair. Then I turned off the shower, dried off, and squeezed the excess water out of my hair. I expected to walk out and find Talon waiting for me.
But I was alone in his empty bedroom.
Roger ambled up to me and licked the drops of water off my ankles. If Talon were anywhere in the house, Roger would be with him. Hell, if Talon were anywhere on the ranch, Roger would’ve gone along. The fact that Roger was here, with me, alone in Talon’s room, gave me pause.
Talon was gone.
I dressed, walked down the hallway to the other wing of the ranch house, and knocked on Marj’s bedroom door. At her command, I entered.
She was lying on her bed reading. “Hey,” she said. “What did you do? Take a swim?”
“It’s a long story,” I said. I couldn’t go into it. I was sure my eyes were red and swollen, but if Marj noticed, she didn’t say anything.
“How did things go with Talon? I hope you got that little slut off his mind.”
“I don’t think the slut was ever on his mind. I’m not sure why you kept her here waiting for me.”