by Banks, Maya
“Hello?”
“I’m on my way home.”
Ash’s simple words sent a tingle down her spine.
“Okay,” she murmured. “I’ll be ready.”
“Good. You didn’t forget, then.”
“No,” she said softly. “I know what your expectations are.”
He paused. “But is it what you want, Josie? Or are you only catering to my desires?”
“I want it too, Ash. I’m a little nervous, but it’s because this is all new and we’re still getting to know each other. But I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be. No matter what kind of woman you think you hustled to your apartment, I’m not her. I’m not weak or spineless. Granted, I didn’t handle the situation with Michael like I should have, but I’m not easily walked over.”
He chuckled, the sound warm and vibrant in her ear. “I never thought for a moment that you were weak or spineless, baby. It takes a strong woman to take on a man like me. Never doubt that.”
A broad smile attacked her face and her belly clenched in delight at the soft endearment. It wasn’t the first time he’d called her baby, and she’d loved it then. There was something about this man’s voice softening, the tenderness when he used the pet word, that made her heart skip a few beats.
“I need to go if I’m going to be ready for you when you get here,” she said. “I don’t want to disappoint you on your first day home to me.”
There was another pause and then his voice low and sweet, sending a brisk thrill coursing through her veins.
“You won’t disappoint me, Josie. Don’t want you thinking that. Don’t even want it in your head. If you’re there when I get home, naked and waiting for me, I’m not going to be disappointed. I’ve looked forward to it all day. I’ll let you go so you can get ready. See you soon.”
“Bye,” she whispered.
As soon as she ended the call, she surged to her feet, frowning when she saw the scattered supplies all over his living room. She knew his housekeeper was coming in the morning, but she didn’t want to be an added burden. For that matter, all her stuff was in boxes, neatly stacked against the living room wall. She hadn’t bothered unpacking them yet because she’d wanted to work, eager to get more of her paintings to the art gallery.
Hopefully Ash wouldn’t be annoyed at the mess and at the chaos she’d brought into his immaculately kept apartment.
She rushed to the bathroom, wondering if she had time for a quick shower. But she’d taken one this morning. She was clean. Just her hands and her arms had paint splatters and she could clean those off in short order.
Still, she paid careful attention to her appearance. She brushed out her long, blond hair and surveyed her reflection in the mirror. No makeup today, but then she rarely wore more than lip gloss and mascara.
Satisfied that she didn’t look an absolute mess, she went into the bedroom and stripped out of her clothing. She folded the jeans and the shirt, not knowing if she’d dress afterward or if Ash would keep her occupied until bedtime. She’d tackle that particular issue when the time came.
But what now? Did she wait in the bedroom? Should she sit in the living room and wait for him there? She frowned pensively. They hadn’t gone over the particulars, just that he wanted her naked and waiting for him.
He’d been specific in that he didn’t want her to kneel unless he wanted her there because she was sucking his cock. Her cheeks flamed in remembrance of that statement. Michael had liked her to kneel. Liked her subservience. At the time it hadn’t bothered her. It was a part of their relationship, one she’d readily agreed to. Now she felt foolish for offering the jerk her submission.
She walked into the living room, deciding this was where she’d wait for him. He’d liked the idea of coming home and finding her naked and waiting, which told her that he’d probably like to see her as soon as he walked in. If he had to look for her, then she wasn’t waiting for him very well. And she liked the idea of being the first thing he saw when he got off the elevator.
Since she wasn’t going to kneel, she opted for the plush leather couch, but she put one of the throws down so it would be comfortable against her bare skin. And then she pondered over whether she should sit up? Recline? Laughter bubbled from her throat. She was so overthinking this.
She was an artist and visuals appealed to her. She knew all about provocative poses and Ash would appreciate one of those surely. She wanted to wow him the first time he came home to her.
Warmth entered her chest as those words settled over her. Coming home to her. How easily she fell into his life, his apartment, and adopted it as her own. Was she really considering this home now? And that she had a man coming home to her every day?
Not deliberating over whether she was crazy for entertaining such thoughts, she settled onto her side, arranging her hair to hang over her shoulder, partially obscuring her breasts. It wasn’t that she had any inhibitions. But less was often more. Men responded to what they couldn’t see often as much or even more than what they could see.
It was what made her paintings provocative. The hint of flesh. Just a glimpse of the forbidden.
She rested her head against the arm of the couch and let her gaze drift toward the elevator door. Her skin tingled, anticipation licking over her body as she imagined what Ash would choose to do when he got home.
Arousal hummed low in her body. She was tempted to slide her fingers between her legs and stroke herself to a quick orgasm. It wouldn’t take much. She was worked up just thinking about Ash’s arrival. But she didn’t want to take away from whatever he planned.
So she waited, each second seemingly an hour.
When she heard the elevator, her breath hiccupped and stuck a moment in her throat. Her mouth went dry and she hastily licked her lips just as the doors slid open, revealing Ash in the suit he’d worn to work.
One hand shoved into his slacks pocket, his pose casual and arrogant. He exuded wealth, charm and . . . power.
She shivered as their gazes met and held. His eyes burned over her, flaring when he took in her pose. Appreciation gleamed, and she was glad she’d opted for seductive instead of just sitting and waiting.
He strode toward her, his jaw tight, eyes blazing. She lifted her head, tracking his progress.
“Hello,” she said huskily. “And welcome home.”
He surprised her by dropping to his knees in front of the couch. He swept in and fastened his mouth to hers in a heated rush that took her breath away. His hand tangled in her hair, yanking her closer so there was no space between them.
“Fucking beautiful,” he growled. “Been thinking about this all day. Me coming home, seeing you waiting. But nothing could have prepared me for the reality.”
He traced a finger down her cheek, stroking gently as he sucked in breaths to catch up from their kiss.
“Really glad you’re here, Josie.”
“I’m glad too,” she murmured.
“Had a dozen different ideas on the way home. Thinking of how I’d take you when I got here. The minute I saw you, I forgot everything but the way you look perched on my couch.”
“I’d love to hear all those ideas. I’m intrigued now.”
He smiled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Some of them are probably illegal.”
“Even better.”
He laughed, low and husky, the sound vibrating over her skin. “I like your enthusiasm.”
“Should we write them all down and draw one out of a jar to decide how we have sex?” she asked with a grin. “Or can I count on you to be decisive in the matter?”
“My darling is being cheeky today,” he drawled. “I might have to punish you for that.”
Heat rushed into her cheeks. One of his eyebrows lifted.
“You like that idea.”
She cleared her throat, unsure of what to say. Ash had said he was
n’t into games. Wasn’t her playing the naughty submissive to earn a punishment a game?
Ash’s gaze narrowed and he slid his fingers underneath her chin, forcing it upward so she met his gaze.
“What the hell are you thinking right now?”
She sighed. “It’s silly. I guess I was worried about how to respond to that. And how it would make me sound if I did say that the thought of you punishing me turned me on. You said you weren’t into games and you wanted to keep it real.”
He brushed his thumb over her lips to silence her.
“First of all, never ever hesitate to tell me anything. Especially what turns you on, what you want, what you need from me. Sexually, emotionally, whatever. Second thing, your desires aren’t a game. I get that what I said may have caused some confusion. What I meant was that you and me, we’re real. Not a game. Doesn’t mean we can’t play together. As long as you get that what we do is real.”
“Clear as mud,” Josie said, amusement thick in her voice.
“We haven’t talked about punishment. Have to tell you, I’m not much into the discipline thing. I’m not your father and you’re not a child. But there are things I like, and there’s a big difference between thinking you need punishing and me wanting to redden your ass because it turns me on. Get where I’m coming from?”
“Yeah,” she said breathily.
“I’m guessing that idea appeals to you too.”
She nodded. “I like it. I mean it’s a turn-on. There’s something hot about a mouthwatering alpha male spanking me. Or exerting his will over me. That probably sounds stupid.”
Ash sighed. “You’re not getting me, baby. Nothing you think or feel is stupid. Understand? If it turns you on then it’s not stupid. If it turns you on, I want to know about it because I want to bring you pleasure. I want to make you feel good. Now, what I want at this exact moment is you on your knees, my dick in your mouth. But after? We’re going to have a discussion about your kinks. And mine for that matter. Hopefully they’ll match up pretty damn well.”
She swallowed and licked her lips in anticipation.
He groaned and then pressed his mouth to hers, devouring her hungrily.
“You drive me crazy,” he said into her mouth.
“Good,” she whispered.
He reared back, pushing up to his feet. Then he extended his hand down to help her up. After reaching over for one of the pillows from the couch, he dropped it onto the floor and then urged her down on her knees on the cushion.
His hand went to his fly, unfastening it and then lowering the zipper. He reached in, pulled his straining erection from the confines of his pants and fisted it as it jutted forward toward her mouth.
“Lick it,” he rasped out. “Tease the head and then suck me deep.”
She flicked out her tongue, circling the broad head and teasing the sensitive underside. She loved the way he sucked in his breath and the way it escaped in a long hiss in reaction.
His fingers delved into her hair, twisting around the strands before his knuckles came to rest against her scalp. His hold wasn’t gentle, and she liked that. With his other hand, he cupped her jaw, opening her mouth as he pushed inside.
His thrusts weren’t any more gentle than his grip in her hair, and she loved that too. She loved the raw power barely restrained underneath the surface. He was like a lion poised to pounce. All predatory, delicious male.
She levered up higher so she could take him deeper. She wanted him deeper. Wanted his taste, loved the way he took control, the fact that she had no power except what he gave her.
“Jesus,” he breathed. “Never felt anything better than your mouth around my cock, baby.”
She shivered in delight over his words. Her nipples hardened, puckering into taut crests. She gasped when he reached down and took both nipples between his thumbs and forefingers, twisting gently, exerting just enough pressure to drive her insane without causing her pain.
She licked leisurely from base to tip, letting the head rest precariously on her lips before sucking him back in and sliding her mouth down until her chin rested against his sac. She swallowed, milking the head with the back of her throat. He groaned, rewarding her effort with a twitch, and his fingers grew more aggressive at her breasts, eliciting a groan of her own.
“I’ve imagined you so many ways,” Ash said in a strained voice. “Tied up, ass in the air, my mark on your skin. On your hands and knees, me taking you from behind, in your ass, in your pussy. You on top of me, riding me. Me eating your sweet pussy while you suck my dick. You name it, I’ve imagined it.”
She shuddered, her body trembling almost violently as the images he provoked fired through her mind.
“I won’t always be this easy, baby,” he murmured. “It’s hard to hold back, but I don’t want it to be too much too fast.”
She tore her mouth away from his cock and stared up at him, her fingers wrapped around his erection. “I don’t want you to be easy, Ash. That’s not why I’m with you. I want what you can give me. I need it.”
He cupped her face in his hands and looked down, his expression tender. “I love that you want that from me, Josie. I just want to make sure you’re ready for it. You’ve been through a lot and the last few days have been hectic and stressful for you.”
“Yes, they have,” she agreed. “But do you know today was the best day? The first day in longer than I can remember where I was utterly content. I was happy, Ash. Because of you. Because I was here. I sat in your living room painting, and all I could think was how content I was to be here, working, anticipating the moment when you called to let me know you were on your way home.”
His eyes softened and went liquid green, the color almost electric. “You take my breath away.”
“Now,” she said, rocking back on her heels as she positioned her mouth to take his cock again. “When do we get to the kinky part?”
chapter sixteen
Ash was nearly undone by the sight of Josie on her knees, her mouth around his dick, just like he’d imagined so many times since seeing her that first day in the park. Now she was his. In his apartment. His life.
He knew she’d given him a precious gift. He didn’t look beyond the fact that she offered him her trust. She’d placed her body and heart in his hands, and he’d do whatever it took to protect both. He’d never take for granted what this beautiful, courageous woman was giving him.
He slid his hands through her hair, curling the strands around his fingers as he leaned into her. Deeper. Each stroke the most exquisite pleasure he’d ever experienced.
He’d had many women. He’d been honest with Josie about that. But she was different. And he couldn’t even say why definitively. There was something about her that just spoke to him on a different level. Made him think about permanency when that had never been an issue in his past relationships. But then, him and Jace fucking the same women could hardly be classified as actual relationships.
It had been years since he’d spent any time with a woman one-on-one, and he found the idea appealed to him now. Josie appealed to him.
She was on her knees before him, utterly submissive, and not only submissive, but she wanted the same things he wanted. Enjoyed the same kinks he enjoyed. There wasn’t a more perfect woman for him. Of that he was certain.
He sank deep into her mouth, twitching at the back of her throat before sliding back out, enjoying the rasp of her tongue over the sensitive underside of his dick. Then he withdrew, watched as her eyes, aquamarine pools clouded with desire, found his.
Wordlessly, he extended his hand down for hers to help her to her feet. As soon as she’d risen, he pulled her into his arms, crushing her against his chest. He kissed her, almost forgetting in his urgency to possess her mouth that he should take care. She still wore bruises. Her mouth was still tender. Yet it hadn’t stopped him from fucking her mouth, even as gentle as h
e’d been.
“Let’s go into the bedroom,” he said gruffly. “I’ve been hard on your mouth. For now I’ll focus on other portions of your delectable body.”
Her eyes flared with heat and anticipation. She’d asked him for kinky. He sure as hell could accommodate her there. His hands itched to redden her ass, to see his marks of possession on her body. It was a primitive urge that completely overtook him. He wanted to own her, for there to be no question as to his ownership.
But as he guided her toward his bedroom, he acknowledged that he didn’t want just to own her body. He wanted to own her heart. And while he would possess her body in short order—as he’d already possessed her once—it would take much more effort and time to own the parts of her she held most dear. Her heart, mind and soul.
He wanted them all. Wouldn’t settle for anything less than all of her.
Now he just had to convince her.
“Get on the bed. Lie on your stomach, hands behind you at the small of your back. I’ll come to you as soon as I prepare everything.”
She caught her breath and color suffused her cheeks. He could see her breathing had sped up and excitement reflected in her gaze. Her hand slid from his, leaving him bereft of her touch. Then she walked to his bed and positioned herself as he’d directed.
He collected the items he needed from his closet. A leather strap. He was confident it would bring her—and himself—great pleasure. A length of rope.
He dropped the rope on the bed and then positioned his knee between her splayed thighs. He gathered her wrists in one hand and then began coiling the silken rope around them, binding them together.
She gasped softly. He could feel the tension coiling in her body.
When he had her wrists securely tied, he stepped back.
“Up on your knees,” he said firmly, injecting a bite of command into his tone. “Ass in the air. Cheek against the mattress.”
She struggled upward, and he reached underneath her, splaying his hand over her soft belly. He helped her upward until her knees found purchase in the mattress and she rested her face against the bed.