Capture

by Flora Dain

  The position is hard to hold, almost too painful to hold for long. But I taste and tease him eagerly, burning up with excitement and a hint of real triumph that my plan’s working. Separate rooms, indeed.

  I speed up when he starts to groan, eager to bring on his rapture, to prove that he’s safe as houses but as I do it he holds me off and gives a low cry. ‘Wait. We can’t do this. Not like this, Ella.’

  I pull away and stare at him, my lips wet, my shoulders stiff. ‘Why not?’

  He’s glaring down at me, still fingering my wrists, his eyes full of pain. I see him swallow. ‘I’m taking these off. I may … do something.’

  With an effort I pull upwards to ease away from my task and clamber up onto his lap. He watches me with a wary expression, his jaw tense. I slide my arms around his neck, taking care not to snag his hair in the cuffs, and kiss him fully on the mouth.

  ‘That’s not how it works, remember?’ I say softly. ‘You said seeing me in these made me safe. You said it reminded you –’ I break off. Should I say this now, when he’s almost healed? Will he freak?

  I kiss him again, this time on the cheek, and move lightly against his rigid, silky erection, letting the soft inner skin of my thigh brush lightly against it where my eager mouth has primed him with my saliva, soothed and inflamed him, already so close to eruption. ‘Remember?’

  He’s sweating now. His broad chest gleams with it, like an oiled wrestler, magnificent as a statue. Slowly I lower my head and touch my tongue to one of his hard nipples and then make my way slowly over to the other, tasting gently at all points in between. Under my lips I feel his chest heave like he’s drawing in air.

  ‘You sure about this?’

  Relief courses through me. I close my eyes briefly and then gaze at him, feeling tears spring. ‘Yes,’ I say softly. ‘I’m sure.’

  His eyes narrow and then his expression veils as he places his hands either side of me and pulls me close, holding my gaze as he guides me down onto his rampant erection in one slick, glorious plunge as he thrusts up into me from below. For a second he stills, fully inside me, and lowers his head onto my shoulder.

  ‘Shit, Ella. I’m only … I’m scared I’ll do something … I told you, I’m trying to do the right thing.’

  His voice is muffled as he buries his face in my neck. I stroke his springy hair and drop another kiss on his ear.

  ‘Seems to me you’re doing fine,’ I whisper.

  In one lithe, powerful surge he hauls my ankles around his back and rises to his feet, lifting me with him. He fastens his mouth on mine as he carries me over to the bed. We land conjoined top and tail, blending closely together, and now he thrusts for real, his energy pounding into me at every plunge, fanning my flames until our double wave of climax – first his and then mine – crashes over us and sweeps us both away.

  * * *

  The following morning we meet at breakfast. I awoke in an empty bed. My heart sank. Either he was up early or he’d stuck to his word and slept elsewhere. On a warm spring morning like this the thought was chilling.

  As I start on my cereal he appears, beautifully suited, necktie an immaculate knot. He’s fixing his cufflinks. ‘Sleep well?’

  ‘Mm,’ I mutter, carefully non-committal. ‘You?’

  He says nothing, just touches my cheek with the back of his finger. ‘I’m away on business for a couple of days. Be good.’

  I feel my heart sink. ‘Without you? How can I be anything else?’

  His eyes dance. ‘So I should hope. Joel called.’

  ‘Lawyer Joel?’ Instantly I’m all attention. I know Darnley’s distant cousin, keen to repay his baby’s medical bills, has been calling daily, offering to help. ‘He wants to come out here in case you’re arrested again?’ My stomach clenches. Will he never be free of this?

  ‘Hey. Don’t look so scared.’ He’s grinning. He runs his hand under my chin and tilts my face up to his. ‘He called to say there’s been a new development.’ He reads from the display on his phone. ‘“BTW you’re trending all over social media. Public heavily in your favour. Police unlikely to try again. Give Ella our love.”’

  He stoops and kisses me on the mouth, his lips warm and loving. ‘Looks like I’m in the clear.’

  * * *

  After breakfast I’m due at the complex. Syra’s waiting for me, stiff and respectful on her motorcycle. She gives me a grin as I head for my convertible. ‘No lipstick in there this mornin’, ma’am. I checked. An’ next time you accuse Chet of that kinda stuff, we’ll be havin’ words.’

  I grin back. ‘We certainly will. And so will Freda, so be warned.’

  Her smile vanishes. ‘Mz Freda? She’s behin’ me one hunnert per cent. You’re wrong about my brother, ma’am. For real. Even Mz Freda thinks so.’

  For a telling moment her cheeks glow. As I drive away I glance at her from time to time in the rear-view mirror and my thoughts reassemble.

  Syra and Freda? Is it possible?

  Classes go well, and now I have a tricky moment to negotiate. My faithful bodyguard must somehow be ditched so I can take Ryan’s call.

  As I come back out to the car I give her a friendly wave. ‘I won’t be needing you now, Syra. Take the afternoon off.’

  ‘What’s going on?’ Freda’s come up behind me, her down-turned mouth sour as a lemon. Now she scowls. ‘Syra doing OK? She wants another chance. I promised Darnley she’d stay out of sight.’

  She darts a furious glance at Syra, who goes very pink.

  ‘She’s terrific,’ I say quickly, earning a grateful glance from Chet’s older sister. ‘But I don’t need her till Monday. I’ll be working at home.’

  Freda ignores me and turns to Syra. ‘See Miss Dean safely into the beach house and then get your ass back here. I may have some work for you.’

  And now I see a telltale spark between them that hints they’re an item. My heart leaps. Who’d have thought?

  When we reach the beach house Syra’s all smiles as she turns her machine to make the journey back. ‘Thanks a lot, Mz Dean. Sure appreciate that. Mz Freda’s sure sumpn’, ain’t she? You take care now. See ya Monday.’

  I wave her off with a sigh of relief and dive into the house for a shower and some lunch. And after that – Ryan.

  * * *

  When I make my way down to the beach the tide’s coming in. I pick my way around the rocks, and glance at my watch a couple of times to take his call. As I check my watch again my cell signals.

  ‘Shit, El, you took your time.’

  ‘You said three. It’s barely two minutes past.’

  ‘Is it? Whatever. Show me where you are. I want to make sure you’re standing where I told you.’

  I quickly scan the beach on video setting so he can see.

  ‘OK, good. How was your record? Topping the charts yet?’

  I grind my teeth. ‘Sure. Any minute. So where are those photos? You promised, Ryan.’

  ‘Yeah, well. Not so easy, now I’m out of the country. But I’ll get them to you somehow.’

  ‘So – when, exactly?’

  ‘Soon. And El –’

  He breaks off. I stare at my cell, exasperated.

  ‘I just wanted to say – thanks a million for giving me this chance. You don’t know how much this means to me.’

  His voice seems to catch. Surprised, I swallow. ‘Ryan, if it’s helped you get back on your feet I’m glad, truly. How’s the launch going, anyway?’

  ‘The –? Oh, yeah. Looking pretty good, actually. Being out of the country makes things tricky but I can work round that. Thanks again for your help. You’ll get the pix real soon, I promise. You’re a star. And El?’

  ‘What now?’

  ‘Take care nobody knows about this call. Things are a little hot for me right now. And the hotter things get for me, the longer it’ll take for you to get those pix.’

  I roll my eyes. ‘Fine. I get it. But make it soon, right?’

  He’s already rung off.

  CHAP
TER TWENTY-FOUR

  Ryan still has the power to shred my nerves, even by phone. I walk along the beach for a while, trying to calm down. Finally I head back indoors.

  I hear music, so I know instantly that Darnley’s back. But as I walk in I stop dead.

  The entrance area is ablaze with my picture, the gold all gleaming under the flooding spotlights. The whole wall seems to have sprung to life, my image startling – and beautiful.

  The fact that it’s of me seems oddly irrelevant. Jay must be a terrific artist.

  ‘You took your time.’ Darnley’s low voice echoes around me. He’s leaning on the upstairs balcony, gazing at my image.

  I gaze up at him, willing him to look down. He keeps his eyes trained on my portrait.

  ‘I was walking on the beach. Back early?’

  ‘Surprised?’

  I stand very still. Something in his tone strikes me as odd. ‘How long have you been standing up there?’

  ‘A while. Now you see it –’

  I hear a faint click and the lights switch off. My image dissolves into fragments of random glitter.

  ‘Now you don’t. A bit like you. Weird, don’t you think?’

  He’s still not looking at me.

  I swallow. ‘Something the matter?’

  ‘Should there be?’ Now he does look at me. For a split second something flickers across his face. ‘Come on up.’

  As I join him he catches me round the waist. ‘Hey. You want to eat?’

  ‘Soon. I’m famished.’

  Whatever I saw in his expression just now has gone. Or did I imagine it?

  Guilt again. Damn Ryan.

  Darnley folds his hand around my neck and slides his hand down my arm in a light, possessive caress. ‘I set up a treat for later, when I got back. But the meetings wound up early, so we’ll do it now.’ He leads me past the dining room, where I see a table set for two, with candles, silverware and crystal glasses. A maid’s already pouring wine.

  He pauses and leans in. ‘Miss Dean’s just arrived. We’ll change first.’

  Upstairs he slams the door behind us. The gleam in his eyes hints that changing may take a while. He grabs my arm as I head for the shower.

  ‘Hey. How about a welcome?’

  I launch myself at him, my heart leaping. He finds my mouth and pulls me tight, stopping my breath with the hunger in his kiss. Keeping his mouth clamped on mine he pushes me back towards the bed as we tear at each other’s clothes. It’s like our brief separation makes our reunion all the sweeter, but I know it’s not really that.

  It’s guilt making me heady with lust.

  And something new in his manner – an edge.

  ‘You OK?’ He holds me off him for a moment as we lean on the bed.

  I pause part way down his broad chest where I’m already pushing open his shirt and grin up at him. ‘Sure. You?’

  He seizes my hand and holds it briefly to his lips. ‘It’s just – you seem preoccupied. Want to talk about this afternoon?’

  ‘This afternoon?’ Shit. His calm gaze could mean anything. Then again …

  ‘On the beach.’

  I feel a rush of relief. Don’t panic, I tell myself. When you’ve got those photos it’ll all be worth it …

  ‘Talk? Who wants to talk?’ I deliberately seek his mouth. In seconds we’ve slipped off the bed and we’re sprawled on the rug. He’s pinning me down, both my arms stretched wide, his fists gripping my wrists as he explores my mouth.

  When he pulls away he’s grinning. ‘No talking? Fine by me.’ He searches deep between my legs with his free hand while he threads his other into my hair, jamming my head into place to claim another kiss, deeper this time.

  I writhe as he explores me, aching already under his questing fingers, burning up under his steady, penetrating gaze.

  His eyes flash. ‘Why do you make this so hard? I told you we should sleep apart, stay off sex. I even told you why –’

  He breaks off with a groan as I reach down to feel his erection. It moves impatiently under my fingers and quickly grows hot and smooth at my touch. I hear his breath catch.

  He buries his head in my neck with a low growl. ‘We should stop this. It’s not safe.’

  I nip his ear. ‘OK then. Let me take charge. Then I’ll be perfectly safe.’ I kiss him lightly. ‘Then we eat. Deal?’

  In minutes I’ve hushed him to silence and made him sprawl back on the bed. He obeys with a sigh, his eyes narrowed to slits as he waits to see what I’ll do. I reward him with a lingering kiss on his business sector, just below his root, and then I kneel over him again.

  ‘See?’ I arch a playful eyebrow. ‘I always practice safe sex. Now keep still.’

  I place my hand on his chest to hold him down – it’s a token gesture, given his superior strength, but my touch is just firm enough to hint I mean business. With a sideways lunge I reach into his bedside drawer and pull out both pairs of handcuffs.

  His eyes widen. ‘Hey. What the –’

  I cuff him swiftly to the bedposts, and then lean hard on his thighs while I hiss in his ear. ‘Keep still. Or I’ll cuff your ankles too.’

  The effect on him is electric. His chest heaves as his eyes widen with fear – or is it anger? I feel a spike of alarm.

  ‘What are you doing? Unfasten these.’ His voice has lowered to a snarl. He writhes, suddenly tense. The bedposts quiver.

  I stroke him gently, kissing him softly on the mouth, trying to relax him and praying he won’t freak.

  Maybe I should have thought this through. But the sight of him suddenly at my mercy is having a strange effect on me. Maybe just a few moments more …

  ‘It’s OK,’ I murmur. ‘I’m not going to hurt you.’ Or have I already?

  He’s sweating now, his eyes wild.

  ‘Ella, for fuck’s sake.’

  ‘I want you to enjoy this.’ I run a hand lightly along his breastbone and then fondle his straining biceps. I take it slow, trying to calm him, like he sometimes calms me.

  Under my hand his muscles ripple and gleam. A faint sheen of sweat highlights his contours and clings to my fingertips.

  I swallow. The sight of him like this is deeply arousing but he’s clearly in stress. I decide to be guided by his erection. I keep my eyes fixed on his face but I can just see it from the corner of my eye. It’s huge and rampant – no stress there, apart from the evident strain of his burning, urgent arousal.

  All the guidance I need. And now I set to work with my mouth and my hands, stroking, licking, nipping with my teeth. I taste him, relishing his power, working slowly along his glorious landscape, taking the utmost care not to linger on his bulging cock too long for fear of provoking him too soon but skirting round it, touching now and then, enough to tease but not enough to make him come.

  The feeling of power over this tower of a man makes me heady. Now and then I whisper things into his ear, lewd, filthy things, teasing him as much as I dare while he’s still at my mercy. I kiss him gently with soft, teasing touches of my lips, hoping he’ll start to relax.

  Nothing works. Instead I’m growing more and more fascinated by his bucking, helpless arousal. The sight of him trapped like this is wildly exciting, like having an untamed lion at my feet. His trapped fury crackles between us, making him super hot – and dangerous. I feel a tight knot of fear clench my belly as his eyes burn into mine.

  ‘Hush,’ I whisper. ‘I won’t hurt you. I’d never hurt you.’

  I stroke him now, pressing gently like in massage, still avoiding his bulging, swollen shaft but kneading his muscles everywhere else. I keep my hand flat and level on his taut, rippling stomach, thrilling to its steely power. Finally he grits his teeth and groans as I slide my other hand deep between his thighs, teasing his cool, swelling sac with light brushes of my thumb.

  I kiss him as I go, trail my hair over him, measuring his tension, easing off when he gasps. ‘Relax. You use the cuffs to keep me safe. I’m still safe. You too.’

  I see his
jaw clench in frustration.

  ‘I tried them once before. Remember? I know what they do.’ His voice comes out in a low growl. Sweat trickles down his face. ‘Unlock these damn things, Ella. I can’t bear it.’

  ‘Hush.’ I kiss him gently as I fondle his sac with soft, light touches of my fingers, pressing gently, easing deep and making him sigh. ‘What happened before was different. This time you’re safe. You’re with someone who loves you.’ I brush my fingers along his burning erection and follow with my lips. He arches under my touch, closing his eyes for a moment.

  Meanwhile the effect on me is startling and takes me completely by surprise. Urgent, burning arousal pounds between my legs, raising the down all over my back. I want to lick him all over, nuzzle in his depths, so I do. I do it all as I make my way down his body to salute his gleaming purplish cock with soft touches of my lips and my tongue, longing to suck, to grant him release, but forcing myself to hold off, to keep it for later.

  Make him wait, like he does me.

  He groans aloud and closes his eyes. ‘Fuck it, Ella. You’ll kill me.’

  ‘I’m only teasing,’ I smile. ‘And guess what? I bought us a new toy to play with.’

  I ordered it off the Internet days ago. It’s small and curved and it took me a while to work out how to use it, once I’d got over the shock of where it goes and what it does. The reviews promised exciting results. Here’s hoping.

  ‘And here it is.’ I hold it up so he can see. The gleam in his eyes tells me he knows all about it.

  ‘Shit.’ He looks at me in disbelief and closes his eyes for a moment.

  He says nothing more, but clamps his mouth into a hard line, sets his jaw and arches now and then as his powerful muscles react to my firm, intimate caresses.

  Slowly I trail soft kisses along one side of his chest and back up the other, and then I kiss around his hard, rippling navel. I lie along him and let his hot, hard cock jut between us, twitching beneath me, helpless and needy.