by Lucy Leroux
He did remember Elynn’s earnest conversations on the subject of fine jewelry and diamonds, in particular when she had tried to dissuade Costas from buying that sort of thing for Mary. Her mother appreciated the jewelry, however, so Costas made sure to give it to her when Elynn wasn’t around.
But Alex should have been more considerate of her feelings. He had bought the necklace on impulse from an auction catalog. It had belonged to a real princess, and he had looked forward to giving it to Elynn. And although she was completely wrong about his thinking of her as a mistress, there had been a grain of truth in her accusation.
He used to give his lovers gifts instead of real affection or commitment, and the habit was ingrained now. But he loved Elynn. She had to know that she was different.
He almost kicked himself as their argument came full circle. Elynn was different, and he loved her. He had to make an effort to meet her expectations and respect her desires and beliefs instead of always expecting that she would always adapt to his. She had deeply held convictions, and he had better stop conveniently forgetting them when it suited him. Taking one last sip of his drink, he asked for the check.
“It’s on the house, Mr. Hanas,” the bartender said. Alex nodded in thanks, although it wasn’t unexpected.
They knew him here. This hotel was part of the Caislean chain, and he’d been an early investor.
He needed to talk to Elynn. There were things he needed to tell her. And not just his confession of love. He had another confession, one that had been weighing on him for a while. About Wainwright.
For years he’d paid top dollar to have someone monitor Stephen Wainwright. Unable to find anything criminal in his background, he was disgusted when the guy graduated from college with honors from a prestigious university in the states. But when the asshole had decided to celebrate with an extended European tour, Alex had freaked out.
He and Costas had agreed long ago that Elynn needed protection. When she went off to University, she had eschewed bodyguards, but Alex hadn’t been able to accept that. It hadn’t been enough to have the doorman, a former police officer, keep an eye on her. He’d also had two other men watching out for her, with Costas’ blessing. Elynn’s security team did background checks on everybody she worked with as well as her friends.
Elynn lived under the carefully crafted illusion that she was a normal girl, living a normal life. He didn’t want to shatter her sense of safety. But whenever Wainwright left the states, he doubled the number of men on her.
Right now, Wainwright was in Spain, partying in Barcelona with a group of friends. That knowledge had helped push Alex into his decision to keep Elynn close this summer.
He didn’t feel bad for spying on Elynn. What he felt bad about was lying about it. But she needed to know the truth. He had just been trying to protect her. She would understand. Eventually…
Maybe this wasn’t the right time to bring up his surveillance. No matter how he spun it, the fact he’d had her watched was not going to go down well with Elynn. And she was already mad at him right now. But he was prepared to apologize. Their argument would blow over. And afterwards, they would carry on with their happily ever after. In the meantime, he wouldn’t mention Wainwright. Elynn deserved to live her life out from under his shadow. He’d tell her after they were married. If he had to.
He went back to their suite. Elynn was lying on the bed with the curtains pulled back. She was curled up in a little ball in a patch of moonlight. He felt like a real bastard when he noticed the marks of tears on her cheeks. Mentally cursing himself, he undressed, resolving not to make the same mistake again.
Crawling into bed he wrapped his arms around Elynn, squeezing her lightly until she tensed and her breathing changed.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
She didn’t say anything.
“I’m an idiot,” he added.
“Yes, you are,” she agreed in a low voice.
“As long as I’m an idiot that is also forgiven,” he said, giving her another squeeze. “I promise I won’t forget who you are. Not ever again.”
He waited. An eternity passed until she finally nodded and returned his embrace.
****
Elynn woke up with a start. She had been drifting closer and closer to consciousness when she realized she couldn’t move her arms. Her eyes flew open to meet Alex’s above her. Her wrists were tied to the bed and he was lying between her open legs. She was completely naked, her discarded nightgown lying off to the side. Frowning, she realized the satin nightdress was no longer intact.
“I hope you don’t mind that I cut it off you. I didn’t want you to wake up yet. I’ll replace it,” he said as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
She tilted her head back to examine the restraints holding her to the headboard. Though they had discussed it, Alex hadn’t tied her up before. Instead, he occasionally used his strength to hold her down when they made love. She had found that incredibly exciting, but this was next-level. Open-mouthed, she gaped at him before he swooped in for a kiss.
“Hmm, still sweet even first thing in the morning. How do you manage that?” he asked in an undertone as he lowered his head to her breasts.
He didn’t wait for an answer as he began to suckle on one nipple, then the other. His hands moved to the dresser next to the bed. He raised his head and sat back in order to show her what he had in his hands, a black blindfold. “I think after last night we need a reaffirmation.”
“What do you mean?” Elynn asked apprehensively.
Though she had bought the blindfold with the other toys, the prospect of actually using the blindfold and the restraints for the first time was a little nerve-wracking.
“I think we need a reminder that you trust me,” he said. “Even when I make mistakes and behave like an ass,” he added softly as he leaned over her.
“I already forgave you,” she said.
Alex hovered over her, looking deeply into her eyes. “I need more,” he whispered.
The intensity in his expression made her breath shorten. “Okay,” she whispered, and he tied the blindfold in place.
He kissed her forehead. “Remember our safe word,” he teased.
She had insisted he have one when she’d tied him up.
She giggled. “All right.”
****
When Alex was sure Elynn couldn’t see, he leaned back to enjoy the picture she made. Her silky skin was such a temptation—one he didn’t need to deny. Sliding his hands down the underside of her arms, he reveled in her softness, stopping to kiss her breasts and nuzzle underneath them. He continued down to her waist and hips, measuring her with his hands.
She was so small and delicate. He sincerely hoped she wouldn’t have any complications when the time came for her to have his children.
He stroked her thighs and legs, avoiding the area she wanted him to focus on the most. Her rapid breathing turned into moaning when he returned his mouth to her breasts as his hands continued their work. He paused to tickle her feet, and she kicked them wildly. Moving up, he tickled above her hips until she was shouting at him and forcefully struggling against the restraints.
His erection was almost painful as he subdued her, covering her with his body. Playfully he covered her mouth with his hands and whispered in her ear. “I have you right where I want you now…and you’re going to give me everything you have.”
Elynn’s breathing shifted into excited little pants. He waited, but she didn’t use the safe word. Excited now, he bent to tease her with his tongue, tormenting her with it, until she managed to use the restraints to pull herself up so she could use her legs to push him away.
Blood pumping fast in his veins, he forgot to cover her mouth as he pulled her back to him. Elynn nipped his shoulder. Surprised, he laughed before moving between her open legs. She continued to struggle half-heartedly as he plunged inside of her. Her whimpered cry filled the room. Hesitantly, he covered her mouth with his hand once more. His impulse p
“You’re going to pay for that bite,” he gasped as he began to pump inside her.
Elynn seemed as excited by their bondage play as he was. She was like hot silk around him. He wrapped her legs around him, replacing his hand on her mouth with his lips. His tongue teased hers until she responded and the kiss became demanding.
On impulse he lifted her legs so her lower body wasn’t lying on the bed and he was on his knees. He held her legs up around him and stroked in and out of her with enough force to make the bedsprings squeak. Making sure his grip wasn’t too tight, he continued to rock in and out of her until she bucked and strained in his arms, crying out as a climax burned through her.
“Oh hell,” she gasped as the last tremors ran down her body.
Still in a daze, Elynn was soft and limp in his arms as he turned her around so she was face-down on the bed. Her arms were too taut against the restraints so he pushed her higher on the bed until they were slack. Slowly, he covered her body with his own, entering her from behind.
Alex hissed. Elynn felt incredible around him in this position.
Apparently, the feeling was mutual. She moaned loudly as he praised her with hot whispers in her ear. He let her know how much he loved her without using the actual words, worshipping her with his hands and mouth in between penetrating strokes. Eventually, his more aggressive instincts took over. He needed her to understand. And he needed her understanding.
“You belong to me, Elynn. I’m your first and last lover. No one else will ever touch you. No other man will ever know how silky soft your skin is here,” he said as be bent to kiss the back of her neck. She gave another broken little whimper as he rocked into her tight little sheath.
“Tell me you love me,” he coaxed softly.
When she could only pant in response, he withdrew and turned her around again. He entered her slowly and kissed her deeply. When he raised his head, her green-grey eyes were fixed on his. But she hadn’t answered him.
“Say the words, Elynn. I want to hear them,” he said, nipping at her lower lip in encouragement. She shook her head. “Say the words. Tell me you love me.” She was silent. He rocked into her hard enough to make the bedsprings creak. “Say it, Elynn, or so help me I will never let you out of this bed!”
He was only half-joking, but he was still a little surprised when she started to laugh. He pumped deep into her until she stopped. “You will say the words,” he promised her as she moaned and panted in response.
It took two more orgasms before she begged him to stop.
“All right. I love you,” she finally whispered before she closed her eyes to sleep.
Satisfied, Alex untied the restraints, rubbing the slight red marks on Elynn’s wrists before he gathered her into his arms. He hadn’t meant to keep her tied up so long, but lord, she was so stubborn. He wrapped himself around her, completely at peace for the first time in years.
Well, truthfully, he’d felt this strange contentment since the first time he and Elynn had made love. He’d known then that she loved him, but it was still a relief to hear the words. Drifting off, he recalled her reaction to the necklace. He was going to have to do something different now.
The engagement ring he’d bought for her two years ago wasn’t going to work.
Chapter 18
In the days that followed, Elynn was both happy and terrified. She and Alex skipped across several more European cities, working hard during the days and making love for hours every night. She was sure about her feelings for him and only felt a little bit of anxiety about telling him she loved him. It wasn’t like he’d given her much of a choice. But he didn’t say it back. She was sure he loved her; he didn’t say the words.
Typical.
It was completely unreasonable that he would demand a declaration of love and deny her one in return, but Alex wasn’t known for playing fair. Unless…
There was always the possibility he regretted pushing her for a declaration because he didn’t intend on ever saying it back. Even if he did love her, that didn’t mean he was ready to settle down. Maybe he didn’t have it in him, and he wasn’t confessing his love so she wouldn’t get her hopes up.
She tried to tell herself that her fears were unjustified, but her insecurity about being enough for him was sorely tested one night in Rome. Alex had arranged for a special night tour of the Coliseum and then taken her out to a five-star restaurant for an amazing meal.
After they ate, he was waylaid by a business associate. Full and flushed from the wine, Elynn took the opportunity to get some air. It was warm outside, but she didn’t want to duck into the air-conditioned car just yet. Instead, she leaned against it, letting the ambiance of the eternal city soak into her veins while she waited for Alex to come out of the restaurant.
When he did, he wasn’t alone. A slinky blonde in a short red dress was clinging to his arm, whispering in his ear. It didn’t help that Alex looked furious…Elynn saw red.
The blonde bitch looked over at her before turning away in an obvious dismissal. “Alexandros,” she purred. “Why don’t you come back to my place tonight?” she said in a voice loud enough to carry to Elynn.
She didn’t hear what Alex said back to her, but it must have been pretty harsh. He leaned over and whispered something that made the stranger turn purple. She turned to Elynn and shot her a nasty look, but then her face became calculating. She whispered something to Alex before turning in her direction and laughing derisively, as if she couldn’t believe he would waste his time with her.
Elynn felt the sting of that laugh deeply. It touched on her insecurities too closely for her to be able to shake it off. Instead, she focused her anger on Alex.
****
As soon as they were sitting in the back of the car, Alex instructed the driver to take them to their hotel. He could tell Elynn was furious. A perverse part of him was secretly pleased that she was jealous. It was about time the shoe was on the other foot. But in this case, she had no reason to be upset.
Maria, Gio’s ex-wife, had seen them at dinner. She was still angry that he had always refused her attentions, so she decided to cause trouble for him and Elynn. Everyone knew they were together at this point. Despite his attempts to block them, stories of their relationship had leaked to the tabloids in the last week. And Maria, the skank, was a born troublemaker. She had blown up her marriage to Gio with her infidelity, and when he wouldn’t take her back, she vowed to get even with him and all of his friends.
I have to tell Elynn about the tabloids.
When the news about the two of them had hit the rags a few days ago, his father had called him several times demanding to speak to her. Alex had managed to put him and Mary off by assuring them that Elynn was happy and they would see the both of them soon—and by turning off the ringer on Elynn’s cell phone to buy a little more time.
His future absentminded professor hadn’t even noticed. He had promised their parents that they would meet them in Venice ahead of schedule as long as they remained patient. In the meantime, he kept the tabloids away from her, a simple matter since she never bothered to ever look at them.
In the back of the car, Alex studied Elynn’s tense profile. She was still seething. He put up the privacy screen before he put his arms around her. Her shoulders were stiff, and again he couldn’t stop the satisfaction that coursed through him. His own possessiveness was an angry weight when he saw another man hit on her. The fact that she could be jealous, too, was comforting.
He was starting to explain about Maria when she turned on him suddenly. Her hand shot out, and she gripped his testicle tightly. Surprised, he tried to pry her hand off, but she simply squeezed tighter.
“Elynn!”
“If you ever even think about cheating on me, I swear I will twist one of these off, and I will bury it in the backyard just to see what grows. Do you understand me?” she hissed.
Stunned, but also a little proud, Alex pried her surprisingly strong little hand away. As a precaution, he grabbed both of them and pulled her closer to him.
“I understand. There’s no need to rip off my testicles. For Christ’s sake, Elynn.” He leaned back, taking her with him by the grip he kept on her hands.
“I’m serious, Alex. If you get bored and you start thinking about seeing someone else, you end this first. I won’t be deceived. You will break up with me first before you let another woman touch you,” she hissed.
He wanted to laugh, but she probably would have broken free of his grasp to hit him. “There will be no other women,” he promised. “I waited a long time for you to be ready for me, and I have no intention of letting you go now, or anytime in the future. I have loved you, and only you, since you were seventeen years old.”
Elynn stared at him, utterly shocked. He was a little shocked, too. He hadn’t intended on telling her that, not right now. More like on their tenth wedding anniversary.
Well, maybe some things shouldn’t wait, he thought as he bent his head.
He kissed her still open mouth, slipping his tongue inside until she finally responded. They continued until they reached their hotel. Elynn was still speechless when he led her out of the car and up to their room.
He hadn’t expected that. She should have had some idea of how he felt before this.
She was quiet as they went into to their bedroom, but enthusiastic when he stripped off their clothing. Elynn put both of her hands on either side of his head and kissed him passionately. They tore at each other’s clothes, but this time she took charge, pushing him on the bed and climbing on top of him.
“Fuck,” he growled as she lowered herself on his straining cock.
Nothing had ever felt so good, or so he thought. And then she started to move, and he almost bit his tongue. He loved her in this position, watching his shaft as it entered her tight little pussy. And unlike the last time she was on top, his hands were free. He used them to cover her breasts and bring them to his mouth as she rocked against him. Suckling hard, he ran his hands down to cup her bottom as she slid up and down on him.
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