Enthralled: A Box Set

by Pamela Ann

  We both continued to pant heavily as he pulled himself up on his elbows and looked at me with a huge grin. “That was out of this world, my Sienna.” Blake kissed me softly. “Now that I know what it’s like with you, I’m never letting you go, ever.” He kissed me harder this time, full of promise.

  Rolling to our sides, Blake gathered me toward him. “Sorry I came inside you… I couldn’t help it. Are you on the pill?”

  I nodded and smiled at him. “Why?”

  “So I can have you anytime tonight. I’m leaving tomorrow afternoon. I wish I could stay here with you all weekend in bed.” I nuzzled his neck as he hugged me closer. Skimming my arm gently, he spoke, “What made you change your mind tonight? I thought you wanted to wait on sex?”

  I stiffened from his question, but he had the right to know. “I’ve always wanted you. From the moment I saw you, I knew I was in trouble. I realized what was at stake—when you walked away from me—” I swallowed. “Regrets can be damning to one’s soul. The ‘what if’ scenario would haunt me forever if I didn’t give you a chance to see where this is going to lead.” Sitting up, fidgeting on the blanket that I held dearly to my chest, I went on, “I have issues, Blake, with trust and being vulnerable. When Dad died, everything I knew and loved was taken away from me. My home was sold, my friends vanished, love and security was gone… my dad’s sister took me in. They didn’t appreciate my interruption in their lives. Her husband and daughter both resented my presence in their home.”

  My voice shook, but I had to keep going. “I was taunted, threatened, beaten up and tortured by all of them. If I was late waking up for school, they would douse me with a bucket of water. When I didn’t finish my meal, I was beaten with a shotgun cleaner. If I did something that infuriated them, they made me kneel for six to eight hours on a pebbled floor, sometimes more, only in my undergarments. I got my hair pulled. I was dragged and slapped in whatever way you could imagine.” I heaved a heavy sigh. “Never once did I fight back. I was helpless and I was at their mercy. I was seven; it was either live with them or go to social services.”

  “Didn’t any of your teachers know about this? Didn’t they notice your bruises?” His voice wavered as he spoke.

  “Not in the beginning, but after this one incident, I had a lot of cuts on my legs from the metal shotgun cleaner they’d used. I was bruised badly and the cuts were deep, so the blood gushed profusely. I only had band-aids to cover them, but they weren’t big enough. The blood oozed off my legs and stained my socks. That’s when the teachers noticed. My aunt and uncle were called in to school, but they negotiated with them, I guess. They had power and money after all. None of the teachers or the principal ever bothered to mention it again.”

  “When did they stop?”

  “Two years ago, when I started dating Kyle and he threatened to report them, but I stopped him. It’s not that I don’t want to see them pay for what they’ve done to me, but life has a way of catching up to us and I don’t want to live with so much hate in me. Hate ruins people and I didn’t want to lose perspective of what I want my life to be like.

  “I’ve forgiven them, but forgetting is another matter. I still get nightmares from time to time, but I won’t let them win. I just won’t. I’m stronger than that.”

  Blake hugged me from behind as he whispered softly, “I’m so sorry. I knew you were hiding something, but never once did it occur to me that you were an abuse victim. People who do that to helpless children are sick, twisted human beings. I feel wretched. I want to ease your pain, but I don’t know how.” His heart was beating erratically on my back. I could tell from his breathing that he was angry. It was a ragged sound.

  “Just be here. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. It’s in the past; let’s leave it there.” I twisted my head to study his face. Leaning in, I kissed him with all the emotions that were rolling off me.

  There were only a few people who know about my past—Kyle, Chad and Lucy. Sharing that part of me with Blake was huge; however, I needed him to understand when the time came that I may, most likely, fall short of his expectations. Trust was important and I trusted him as my friend, but as boyfriend or lover, we were still working on that. I may not have offered my heart, yet I could offer him everything else.

  “Just promise me one thing,” I said against his lips.

  “I’ll give you anything, poppet.”

  “No matter what happens, be honest. Promise me that, Blake?”

  With his thumb on my chin, he lifted it until my eyes met his silver, midnight blue eyes. All sorts of emotions went through those depths and I was left dumbstruck. The gold flecks stood out and the effect was utterly spellbinding. This gorgeous, enigmatic man had irrevocably ensnared me. “I promise that I will always be honest and never lie to you. From now on, I will protect you as my own. You’re mine now; no harm will come to you.”

  My entire body swelled from his protective and possessive nature. He was a Knightly; it came with the territory, I suppose.

  Resting my head on the expanse of his chest, I pondered our conversation. “I had a wonderful childhood,” he spoke softly. “My parents were so in love with each other and they both never failed to tell me or show me how much I was loved. When I saw how other parents treated their children, I felt blessed that mine were wonderful. When they died, I was angry because they left me, but at the same time, I was grateful that they were taken together. I don’t know how one would have survived without the other.

  “Grandfather taught me to have a backbone. To be strong and master my emotions. He once said that once your emotions get the best of you, your rational and logical thoughts erode. A man could be easily conquered, easily defeated, and the valuable idea of focus would evaporate.

  “He wasn’t easy to live with at first and I rebelled. I was angry at everyone, but I hadn’t realized that he was hurting as well. He lost his son, and we were both grieving. We reached a compromise and his constant encouragement along with the reminder of my parents held me in check. For that, I am grateful that he never gave up on me. Grandfather’s the only one I have left. I swore to myself that I would never disappointment him.”

  He paused and stroked my hair. “Sienna, I’ve never done this before.”

  I looked up. “What? Having someone on your bed?”

  He smiled and pinched my cheek. “No, you beautiful wench; a proper relationship. What I had was a mutual agreement between two consenting adults, exclusive sex with no strings attached. But this, this is different. I need you to be patient; this is all new to me. I’ll make mistakes, I assure you; don’t condemn me without talking to me first. It’s all I ask.”

  “Thank you for telling me, Blake. You don’t know how happy it makes me to hear you say that. I promise, I’ll be patient with you.”

  He left loud, smacking kisses all over my face as I giggled like a little girl who got her wish from Santa. “I can die happy now; I’ve waited so long. Now, here you are—” kissing my neck and my earlobe “—driving me mad with hunger. You’re this burning need in my blood, Sienna, and I’m ravenous.” Rolling me on my back, he quickly demolished my lips.

  The only thing that was running through my mind was, mine, he’s mine, as he annihilated my body with voracious greed, quenching his thirst.

  His touch was rough and raw, yet the thrill of having him again consumed my very being. When he finally rammed his cock inside with full force, I welcomed it lasciviously. His lovemaking was demanding, hard and harsh like a man starved; I matched his need. There were no words spoken. Our bodies spoke for us.

  Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined such a soul-consuming connection with anyone. It was a connection that obliterated my sanity. It yearned with no concession. It was like a hypnotic state of a nonsensical, merry-go-round of emotions with no chance in hell of slowing down. People always spoke about it, but I’d never understood their uncontrollable obsession, until now.

  I was petrified and scared shitless; however, I didn’t have t
he capacity to walk away from him.

  It was all or nothing.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  “Poppet, wake up,” Blake’s voice trailed along my neck as it sent goose bumps all over my body. I sighed contently. I like being woken up like this. I was on my stomach as he began kissing me across my shoulder and then his kisses trailed lower.

  Jesus, the man has more stamina than an Arabian horse.

  I was caught by surprise when he swiftly lifted my butt and placed a pillow underneath me. My ass was raised into the air, hailing his undivided attention. His thumb rubbed my clit intensely as he licked the lips around it and stuck his tongue inside my opening. He groaned loudly when I moaned his name. He was insatiable and I loved the fact that he couldn’t get enough of me.

  If this is his way of marking me, then mark away, lover!

  Lifting his body to his knees, he squeezed my ass with both of his hands. He took his sweet time, torturing me with the head of his cock, swiping it back and forth on my clit to make sure I was wet enough.

  My mouth hung ajar as I groaned from his ministrations. “Blake! Fuck me already!” I was aggravated and beyond aroused! I wasn’t to be me messed with!

  Thrusting his huge cock, he penetrated me quite roughly; the sudden impact stunned my body for a mere second. I was a bit sore from his rough handling the night before, though my greed for him seized me entirely and erased any thought of the soreness. I moaned as he took himself deeper.

  My pussy was salivating from the building pressure. He pulled my hips and commanded me to lift myself to all fours as he pounded my cunt harder. The impact of his balls slapping and hitting my wet folds just heightened my burning need.

  He slapped my ass. Hard. I howled from the impact of his palm as I felt a well of liquid seep out of me. My mind went blank from the excruciating hunger that rumbled inside.

  “You feel incredible,” Blake said in between heavy panting.

  Grabbing both of my ass cheeks with his hands, gripping them firmly as he fucked me harder, my body tightened from his animalistic lovemaking. I yelled, gripping the sheets as my body was released from its misery. My orgasm overwhelmed and paralyzed me as his tempo picked up faster than before.

  “This pussy belongs to me,” he growled loudly through gritted teeth. “Tell me it’s mine. Tell me!” his voice roared possessively.

  “This pussy’s yours, Blake. It’s yours. I’m giving it to you. Take it. It’s yours,” I breathily panted as his orgasm came to a close. With one last thrust, he stiffened and spilled his semen inside me.

  He panted heavily, his cheek on the back of my shoulder as he said, “It’s mine, all mine; don’t you dare forget that!”

  Loud. And. Clear.

  S

  After Blake’s lovemaking, my lids started to get heavy. I submitted to my body’s demand for recuperation as sleep took over.

  A loud thud woke me from my slumber. How long did I nap for? I sleepily wondered.

  I sat up and yawned loudly as Blake entered the room dressed in a black suit, stark white dress shirt and a black silver-patterned tie. My eyes greedily roamed all over him. He looked sharp and utterly delectable. My mouth watered.

  And he’s leaving for a month and a half. How the hell am I going to survive now? I’ll miss him like mad.

  The bed dipped as he sat on it, smiling affectionately as he traced my swollen lips with his thumb. “You look flushed and satisfied, my sweet. Your hair’s all sexily mussed up and you look absolutely beautiful.”

  Gazing contently at him, I smiled like an idiot. “Maybe you did something right, Knightly.” I suggestively licked my lips, my fingers playing with his hair behind his ear. “Your skills are extraordinary; incomparable.”

  Every time he smiled at me I felt like I’d just won the lottery. I was such a sucker for his smiles. I was hopeless!

  Smiling in between his soft kisses, he managed to say, “Oh yeah? Try to remember that in the next few weeks. I’ll try to get away as much as I can, though you have to understand the kind of pressure I have at the moment. I have so much to prove to my grandfather.” He paused as his eyes scanned my face. “Just remember how good it’ll be when we see each other again.”

  Yes, it will be hella crazy.

  “Blake, everyone that knows you knows how incredible you are. Your own investments have been phenomenal. I don’t doubt you for a second. As for your other worries, stop, okay? You’re worrying for nothing.” I kissed his lips to assure him.

  “All right, I have to leave for Gatwick Airport. I hate leaving you here.” He took something out of his pocket and handed me a key with an embossed, golden, oriental lily with intricate pink and white diamonds around the designed keychain. It was probably about two and half inches in diameter.

  I swallowed.

  “Are these real diamonds? Blake, this must’ve cost a fortune!” I stared at him in shock.

  He simply shrugged. “You’re worth it, poppet.”

  I looked down at it with confusion as I traced the lily with my finger. Sometimes I tended to forget how loaded Blake was; the keychain cost probably a fraction of his shaving paraphernalia, but still. We hadn’t properly dated yet.

  He knew I loved that particular type of lily. The intoxicating perfumed smell and the contrasting colors of pinks were too beautiful to explain. My insides swelled from the thought that he could remember insignificant details about me.

  “This is the spare key to my apartment. I already informed the lobby about you. It’s your second home now. I’ve been meaning to give this to you since you gave me yours, but didn’t get the chance to. I know how much you love this particular kind of lily so I thought it would be a nice reminder when you see it, hoping that you’ll think of me.”

  “Thank you! It’s very sweet and a thoughtful gesture; however I don’t need a reminder of you, Blake… you’re in my thoughts all the time.”

  “Good to know because you’re in mine, every second,” Blake declared, getting up and kissing me one last time. We said our goodbyes and he left for the airport.

  S

  The apartment was silent without him. I took the pillow he slept on last night and inhaled his scent; lemons and the smell of his intoxicating skin. Maybe I should take the pillow with me when I go. Tempting.

  I miss him already.

  Grazing my fingertip on the lily keychain, I flipped it over and was surprised that he’d had it engraved. Cradling it on my palm, I read it slowly. “And one by one the nights between our separated cities are joined to the night that unites us.”

  I’ll be thinking of you, poppet.

  It was a quote by the famous Pablo Neruda, one of my favored poets. My heart thudded as I traced the engraving. He remembers everything that I like! With his razor-sharp, brilliant mind, I was not surprised that he did.

  However the thought of him making an effort is a major deal.

  Bubbles of happiness coursed through my body.

  He thinks of everything; so far, I’m putty in his hands.

  He simply knows how to put a smile on my face.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Three days had passed and I was still high on Blake and I didn’t want it to stop. It was even better than a triple chocolate cake and crème brûlée put together. Though I’m sure if you put them all together, I would devour them all with gusto.

  We’d been relentlessly calling and texting each other. With the permit problem fixed, there was still much for him to get done. His schedule was punishing, yet he still made time to call me every night before he went to bed. Sweet, wasn’t it?

  I was walking on cloud nine as I entered the restaurant where I was meeting Kyle for lunch. It was a block away from school, so saying no to him when he’d invited me for lunch had not been an option. He was already at a table and stood up as I approached him.

  The dark circles were gone, his face bright and handsome as ever. He was wearing his usual get-up; jeans, shirt and his rugged Timberland boots. He looked well. I’
m glad that his transition in the office had worked out fine.

  “How are you, baby?” He kissed my cheek before I sat down. Kyle had always called me baby, even before we’d started dating. There was some odd sense of security knowing that he was there with me. I suppose it was because he had been a big part of my life growing up.

  “I’m good! What about you? How’s work?” I asked before taking a sip of water.

  “What’s this?” Kyle asked as his finger pointed at the folded flyer in my hand. He jovially took it, his long, manly fingers prying it open.

  “You’re looking for a job? Why didn’t you say so?” He peered at me as he popped an olive.

  I was staring at his mouth. I looked away quickly, a little embarrassed. Damn, he’s still cute and sexy to boot. Are these normal reactions to your still-hot looking ex? I suppose so. I mean, it was merely a month ago since that mouth went downtown on my body.

  “I don’t know what I want yet. Have to see what’s available. Although I want to work somewhere challenging, you know, a job that I can learn from and apply later on in life.”

  “Well, why didn’t you say? I’m interviewing for an assistant,” Kyle informed me, smiling widely.

  “You’re joking, right? Why would you need an assistant, Kyle?” He usually did his own thing.

  “Hey! Don’t underestimate my abilities. You know I’ve been working for the company since I was sixteen. I’ve earned my position. All I’m saying is that I have a spot available, if you’re not interested, too bad.” He shrugged slightly as he devoured another olive.

  “Sorry, I wasn’t underestimating your abilities. I was just surprised. Climbing up the ladder, hmm? I’m happy for you, but as you can see, my class schedule is a little crazy. I don’t see how that could work.”