A Sip of You (The Epicurean Series)

by Grace, Sorcha

  The silence continued, and in my nervousness, I reached to fill it. “So what is this? Handcuffs in the nightstand? Do you chain women to your bed often?”

  He laughed, but it sounded more devilish than reassuring. “No, I bought these specifically for us. I’ve thought about having you like this since the day I licked chocolate off you in your kitchen. Do you remember that?”

  I nodded. My thighs tensed as I recalled the feel of his tongue on that sensitive skin.

  “Since that day, I’ve fantasized about this over and over.”

  The bed sagged, and I felt his warmth beside me again. The bare flesh of his thigh rubbed against my torso. He’d obviously gotten undressed. He didn’t touch me but just his nearness was enough to make my hips arch involuntarily again.

  “We can stop at any time you don’t like it, but you look so fucking hot, cuffed to my bed, so turned on and at my mercy. What’s your safe word, Catherine?”

  My breath hitched in and I felt a gush of dampness between my thighs. I was more turned on than I could ever remember being, and he hadn’t even touched my sex yet. “Rosé,” I managed to say. My heart was hammering in my chest as I waited in anticipation. I felt him shift and then his mouth pressed gentle kisses on my belly, and I gasped and moaned. “Oh fuck. William. Don’t stop.”

  He laughed quietly as his tongue, wet and warm, swirled over my flesh. He nudged my knees apart, probably sensing how close I was to coming. I was soaked and pulsing and could have made myself come so easily if I pressed my legs together.

  “Please don’t stop,” I begged. I wanted to push his head to my sex but my raised arms strained against the handcuffs instead. “Please, please, please…”

  “I’m just getting started.” But then his hands left my body and he got up off the bed. I whimpered. And then for a long moment I felt and heard nothing.

  “William?”

  Then the bed shifted and he was back again. “Relax and try to open yourself to every sensation, Catherine. Don’t anticipate or second-guess. Just feel. Do the cuffs caress your wrists? Is the fur silky? Is the wood on the headboard warm under your fingertips?”

  I hadn’t noticed all the tiny sensations. When I concentrated on them, I felt my body come more alive. I was aware of the cool breeze from the open terrace door skating over my flesh, of the way it flicked over my nipples and teased the end of my hair. My shoes pinched my toes slightly, my knee itched, and I could just make out a sliver of light where the blindfold covered my nose. But mostly I felt the heavy warmth in my belly. My thong was soaked with my need, my sex swollen in anticipation.

  Something light and soft touched my shoulder, and I jumped.

  “Relax. I won’t hurt you. I’ll never hurt you. This will always be about pleasure, never about pain.”

  I felt the sensation again, and this time it tickled up my arm to my wrist and over to the other side. It disappeared and then I felt that light flutter on the slope of my breast and over my nipple. I moaned again, my buds hardening.

  “I can see you like that.”

  The fluttering dipped lower, tickling my belly, and if I hadn’t been so aroused, I would have giggled. “What is it?” I asked.

  “What do you think?”

  I concentrated on the airy sensation as it glided over my thong and skated across my thighs. I couldn’t help but part them. “A feather,” I said suddenly. “A long feather.” I could picture it in my mind, see its weightless fronds teasing my skin.

  “That’s right. Let’s try another.”

  My body was already aching for him, and I still felt pouty and petulant from being shut out after dinner. I wasn’t sure how much I liked surrendering control right now. “Can’t you just fuck me?” I asked.

  “I like it when you talk like that,” William growled hoarsely. I knew I was getting to him. “Say it again.” His hands slid down my belly, and his fingers slid under my thong.

  “I want you to fuck me.”

  I lifted my buttocks as he slid my thong down and I felt every single sensation involved in removing it. Then I felt him between my legs, his knee nudging me to open even wider. “I’m looking at you, Catherine, all pink and swollen and glistening wet. You’re ready for me, aren’t you?”

  “Yes.” I was writhing now, knowing his gaze was devouring me. I felt his knee press against my sex, and then the feather fluttered over my clit. I groaned, my muscles clenching, begging for release.

  “Say it again.”

  “Fuck me.”

  His finger slid inside me, penetrating me and then sliding up to circle my clit. My breathing came shallowly and my hips rose off the bed. I was close, so close.

  And then his touch was gone. “No,” he said, moving away. “Not until I say.”

  I cried out in protest. My body wanted to jump over the cliff. I jerked my hands, my instincts telling me to touch myself, but I was cuffed to the bed. “William!”

  “I’m right here.” Then I felt fur, much like that on the cuffs, slide over my belly. It was warm and velvet soft. “What is this?” he asked.

  I didn’t answer. I didn’t want to play his games, especially when they mirrored our relationship. He gave me a taste of who he was and then pulled it away. Was this some sort of punishment or was he on a power trip? Either way, I didn’t like it.

  I was about to say rosé and stop his exquisite torture when the fur slid up my body, circling my breast and brushing over my nipples, causing me to shiver from head to toe. Instead of speaking, I groaned, low and guttural. I just wanted to come. I needed to come.

  “Tell me what you feel,” he ordered.

  I tried to concentrate. “It’s fur…a fur glove, I think.”

  “Good.” The fur slid down my body, slowly, so my every nerve could revel in the sensation. “How does it feel?”

  The fur slid lower, over my belly, and my sex pulsed with need. I struggled to form a coherent thought. “Soft.”

  The fur brushed over my thighs, teasing their inner sides. “What else?”

  “Silky, like velvet.”

  The glove moved slowly over my center, and I clenched in anticipation. But William moved it away, brushing it over my belly. I dug my fingernails into the wood headboard, resisting the urge to scream at him to make me come already. The fur was like the feather—soft and ticklish. My sensitive flesh couldn’t take much more. As though reading my mind, the fur was gone, replaced by something rough and scratchy.

  I flinched at the sudden contrast until I realized it was William’s cheek. He rubbed his stubble across my belly, the warmth of his skin making mine heat in reaction. He kissed my belly, his cheek moving down toward my hip. His stubble punished my sensitive skin, rubbing it raw until his soft lips soothed the hurt.

  When I felt the prickle on my thigh near my apex, my breath caught in my throat. Without William even asking, I spread my legs even wider. His rough stubble scratched against my tender flesh, moving higher and higher until I felt it on my sex. His tongue parted me, and his prickly stubble brushed against my clit. I cried out, wanting his mouth on me more than I’d ever wanted anything in my life. I knew his harsh beard could be replaced by a soothing lick. I felt the tip of his tongue tease me, and I pushed against him, wanting him to suck and lave until I begged for mercy.

  “Catherine.”

  I shook my head. I didn’t want to talk. My whole body was shaking with need. I was trembling, my legs tense, my hands white-knuckled on the bed post.

  “Not yet.”

  He was crazy. He was some sort of sadist. “I can’t stop,” I said, my voice breathless with arousal.

  “You can. And you’ll come only when I give you permission.”

  “Fuck you!” I cried because as soon as he said the words, my orgasm receded, leaving me uncomfortably on the edge and in desperate need of relief. “Why are you doing this to me? Are you punishing me?” I was pissed off now, and throbbing with desire.

  “This isn’t punishment. But you have to learn to trust me. To d
o what I tell you, even when you don’t like it.”

  “I don’t have to learn anything. Take these handcuffs off.” I was angry and frustrated, but the warmth of his lips on my neck made me still.

  “Are you sure you want me to do that? If you want me to stop, use your safe word.” His mouth moved up my neck, making me shiver all over again. His lips closed on my earlobe, his warm breath sending shoots of pleasure straight to my core.

  I didn’t want him to stop. “Please,” I said, too aroused to be embarrassed at the pleading in my voice. “Oh, William, please. Just fuck me. Please just fuck me.”

  “You have to get me ready, Catherine. If I’m going to fuck you properly, I need you to get me hard.”

  The man was rock hard at the word sex. I seriously doubted he needed any assistance now, but I felt him move away and then return. “Open for me, Catherine.”

  I turned my head away from him. I was handcuffed to the bed, my legs spread—what else did he want?

  “Open your mouth.”

  I knew better than to ask what he would feed me. Obediently, I turned back and opened my mouth. Something warm and sticky slid inside. His finger was coated with honey. I’d noticed the bowl of honey sitting over a small tea light. Now I understood he had other plans for the honey besides as a topping for sopapillas. He swirled his finger around my lips, and then I took it inside and sucked hard until I swallowed the sweet coating.

  I could hear his ragged breathing, and I knew he couldn’t keep this up much longer. “More,” I said, hoping to push him over the edge.

  “I love your mouth, Catherine. I love those wet, pink lips sucking me off.”

  William slid down the bed again and between my legs, and this time I felt his finger on my clit. It was sticky and slightly warm from the honey, and he licked it off, swirling his tongue on my swollen bud until I was straining hard against the cuffs. His finger stroked and probed, teasing my skin until one slid lower and pressed gently against my anus.

  I jumped. “William.” The sensation was new and I wasn’t used to being touched there. I’d never had anal sex but William had made it clear it was only a matter of time before we would try it. I knew it would be amazing, but that didn’t make me any more comfortable right now.

  “Relax,” he said, mouth still on my clit. “It’s just a finger. You can enjoy it.” He pressed his finger, moist with my own wetness and a swipe of honey, slowly against my tight rosette. “Open yourself to it.” I tried to relax and felt his thick finger press more firmly now, going in and then out and a bit deeper with each slow stroke. “Feel the sensation.”

  The unfamiliar fullness of his thick finger slowly sliding in and out of me brought me to a place of pleasure I’d never been to before, and a dark and almost primal moan escaped from my lips in response. I moved with him now, urging him to thrust his finger deeper in my ass, to lick my clit harder. I could feel my toes curling and my back arching as my orgasm built and built until I was just about to tumble over the edge, and then suddenly William was gone.

  I cried out in pain as much as frustration. I moaned, and William actually chuckled. “I’m in control, Catherine,” he murmured. “Don’t forget that. I decide when you come—how hard and how fast. You’ll come when I say, not before.” He leaned over me, and I could smell the sweet scent of honey.

  I took in a ragged breath, my body vibrating with tension and deferred need.

  “Open your mouth.”

  I must not have obeyed quickly enough because he said it again. “Open those pink lips for me.”

  I did, and I felt something smooth and sweet and hard…oh my God. He’d coated his cock in honey. He slid it into my mouth, the honey sliding over my tongue as I felt his tip hit the back of my throat.

  “Lick.”

  He pulled back and my tongue danced over him, rolling over his thick, hot member, swallowing the honey. It was warm and slick as it slid down. He withdrew and I could imagine him coating himself with the honey again.

  “Open,” he ordered as he pushed his cock into my mouth again. I let my throat relax as he thrust in and out, his hard member swelling as I pressed my lips tightly around him.

  “Catherine.” His voice was ragged and harsh, and I felt his honey-slicked hand pluck at my breast. I thought he would come in my mouth, and it turned me on—the taste of him mixed with the taste of honey. But he pulled out suddenly and I felt his hot mouth on my nipple, licking the honey off.

  “Yes,” I moaned, and then I bucked when warm honey trickled on my belly. His mouth was there to lap it up, and then his sticky warm tongue dipped lower and slid over my swollen clit.

  I heard his rough whisper of “Now” and then the orgasm crashed through me, taking me so hard I couldn’t even make a sound. My body came off the bed, and I dug my heels in to keep my balance. Every sensation imploded as my orgasm went on and on. And just when I began to come down, William’s mouth left me and his hard cock slammed into me.

  I came again, this time pulling hard against the cuffs, hard enough that the fur provided no cushioning against the unforgiving cold metal that held me back. My wrists screamed with pain, but I didn’t care. I wanted more of him inside me. I wanted to be closer to him, even though he was thrusting deep and hard, his flesh swelling until I knew he was close. I was just aware enough, the pleasure and the pain together just bearable enough, that when he swelled and spilled into me, I was coming again or still, I couldn’t tell which. I felt wetness on my thighs and William groaned and buried his face in my neck as my swollen pussy gripped him over and over again.

  Wrapped in the whirlwind of sensation, I couldn’t hold onto a coherent thought. And I was still blindfolded, so I couldn’t see. But I could feel. I desperately wanted to hold him but I couldn’t. I wanted to wrap my arms around him, to pull William close to me so he could feel my heart racing, hear my ragged breathing. He’d laid me bare and I wanted him to feel me. But my arms were chained above my head. Even in the midst of this most intimate act, he kept me at arm’s length.

  I loved him, but in that moment I hated him too. And I didn’t know which emotion I felt more.

  Six

  I awoke with a start and bolted upright. William’s hand on my shoulder was the only reason I didn’t scream. “What’s wrong?” I gasped.

  “Nothing. I’m sorry I startled you,” he said. He was standing next to the bed, fully dressed and looking down at me. I hadn’t even realized he’d gotten up.

  It was still dark outside, but through squinted eyes I thought I could make out some grey on the horizon. “What time is it?” I cut my gaze to him and took in his blue pinstripe suit and a blue and grey abstract tie. He smelled of soap and shaving cream.

  “Early. I have some meetings today, but I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.” He smiled, one of those earnest, genuine smiles of his that made my heart swell. He was an early riser and I wasn’t, but we agreed that he’d always wake me up to say goodbye. That smile indicated he remembered our promise and I loved that. But even in my sleepy state, the fact that he was leaving me stung. An early morning workout I’d expected, but not him ditching me for work, especially after last night. I wondered, too, what kind of meetings required a suit and tie on a Sunday morning. Very important ones, I guessed.

  William must have read my mind because he took my face in his hands and kissed me tenderly, his tongue swirling ever so gently in my mouth to make contact with mine. My lips still felt bruised and swollen and a delicious shiver ran through me.

  “I’d rather spend the whole day right here, with you. You know that, right?” His voice was low and soft.

  “I know,” I answered with a sigh.

  “Thank you for last night.”

  “I should be thanking you.”

  “Thank you for trusting me. I need you to keep trusting me, Catherine.”

  “Okay.” That was cryptic. He straightened up, and I realized again that he was leaving. I didn’t want him to go. “When will you be back?”


  “I don’t know exactly, but not soon enough. Go back to sleep, beautiful girl. And then just relax and enjoy the estate. It’s going to be really nice today. I’ll see you later.”

  He bent down again and kissed me while stroking my hair, then he turned and left, his footsteps echoing across the wood floor. I watched him go, then stared at the doorway. The cavernous room felt instantly emptier without him in it and I felt emptier too. But the bed was still soft and warm where I had burrowed in on one side. For once, I was too tired to dissect William Lambourne and what he was doing to my heart, so I closed my eyes and went back to sleep.

  ***

  I woke several hours later, sat, and groaned. I didn’t know what happened to me during my second sleep, but I was sore all over—my legs, my abs, my arms. Every single muscle in my body felt both sated and spent. Last night I’d clenched over and over as William brought me to the brink of orgasm, only to rip what I wanted away. I closed my eyes again, and flashes of fur-lined handcuffs, honey-slicked lips, and silk scarves battered my mind. I touched my wrists gingerly, noting they were tender. I looked at them closely but didn’t see any bruises. Still, when I stretched up to wind my fingers around the carved headboard, I couldn’t stop a small rush of anticipation flooding through me as I felt a familiar muscle strain ripple through my shoulders. I wanted more of the dark pleasure William could give me. I thought I didn’t, but I had liked last night. More than liked it, actually, and I tingled all over just remembering the way he had ordered me to lick, to suck, and to come. I’d never come like that before and though maybe I could do without the handcuffs, letting him call the shots had been intense. And amazing.

  The sun was high in the sky by the time I ventured out of the master suite and crept—yes, crept—downstairs. Last night we had taken a long hot shower together after our sexcapades. William had been very attentive, gently washing me to remove all the sticky honey. But I’d been more than a little freaked out when we came out of the bathroom and found the bed remade with fresh sheets and the handcuffs placed neatly on the nightstand. How the hell did his staff know we needed clean sheets, and who had been in the bedroom while we were in the shower together? William had been completely unfazed, as if having hired help tidy things up after he’d chained me to his bed and fucked me senseless was as natural as could be, but it had weirded me out.