Pretty Prize

by Goode, Ella

  “What are you—” Her pussy walls squeeze around my finger. My cock jumps in response, having been dormant too long.

  “You were begging to be fucked in your sleep,” I tell her. “And so as your husband, it’s my duty to make sure all of your needs are addressed.”

  I withdraw my finger slowly, enjoying the wet sounds that fill the room as I do. Rose flushes, likely embarrassed.

  “You hear that, darling Rose? That’s your body telling you how badly you want a cock inside of you, but right now your little cunt is too tight for my massive cock. I need to prepare you.”

  Her eyes widen. “Prepare for what, oh, oh!” She gasps as I slide two fingers inside of her.

  “For this.” I begin to thrust, slow and shallow at first and then longer, harder strokes as her eyes fall shut and her head goes back and her hips rise to meet my hand. “That’s right, ride my hand.”

  Her juice coats my palm. Need lashes at my cock, winding around the rigid staff until I’m certain I could come if I let myself go, but I’m not coming until I’m inside her. I’ve waited this long. I’ve gone without for years, I can make it a little longer. Maybe. I thought my control was ironclad until now.

  “Hunter, I…I need…” Her fingers wrap around my wrist. “I want…I want…”

  Satisfaction fills me up. This darling flower has never been plucked before. She has no idea what her body needs. She doesn’t even have the words in her vocabulary to ask for me to spread her wide, open her up, and shaft her hard until she comes screaming off the bed.

  “I know. I know.” I quickly shuck off my clothes and then pull her into a seated position. Her body trembles as I pull off her nightgown and remove her panties. “This will hurt because you’re tiny but the hurt won’t last.”

  “How do you know?” she asks, her eyes wide with fright. “You’re enormous. I don’t think it will fit!” Her legs close and she pierces me with an accusing stare. “You’re too big!”

  I choke on my laughter. “I will fit. I promise you. Lie back and stop staring at my cock because your big green eyes are making it bigger.”

  She snaps her eyes shut. I allow myself a small smile before positioning myself between her legs. I open her flushed, juicy cunt up with my fingers, and push the broad head of my cock into her virgin channel.

  I knew this was going to be worth the wait. Her body is going to take the years I’ve gone without waiting for this moment. I thought it was all for revenge but now it’s for her.

  Chapter 12

  Rose

  I gasp as he slowly pushes into me. I expect a fair amount of pain but all I feel is full. A delicious fullness as he keep sliding into me. With every inch of him that my body accepts, my need for him seems to grow stronger. I feel the moment he breaks through the barrier that is my virginity. The twinge of pain only lasts a few moments until I open more for him, sucking him deeper into me. My eyes fly open to meet his dark gaze. For once I can truly read his face. I see the emotion that flashes across it but not the one I was expecting. There’s pain in his eyes, which confuses me. That one tiny second wears on my insecurities. What could he possibly be upset about? My mind races with all the reasons that could have caused that emotion.

  “I’m okay,” I tell him, hoping that this is the cause of his look he unintentionally flashed me. I watch the relief fall over his face. He’s given me another tiny little piece of him. He’s provided me with a glimpse into the real man that lies beneath that cold exterior. He may be able to control most things, but he’s unable to stop his true self from bleeding through in this moment. He cares that he is hurting me. My mind can go so many ways with that little fact but he pushes more inside of me. A moan pours from my lips, making me forget everything else but this.

  “Fuck.” He closes his eyes for a moment, sucking in a deep breath. I can tell he's fighting for control. Something I’m sure he normally doesn’t struggle with. I can see it quickly falling apart as I lie under him, giving him what he’s here for. My hips try to move but he has me pinned to the bed with his cock fully inside of me. He looks more vulnerable than I ever could have imagined. My hand reaches up to touch his perfect mouth. I lean up, pressing my lips to his in the lightest caress.

  His eyes fly open as I wrap my legs around him. “I need-” I trail off, not sure what it is I need but knowing that I need him to give it to me. Only he can give it. I know that to be true deep inside of me.

  “I’ve got you.” It sounds like a vow.

  “I thought we already made that clear.” I am his. We signed on the dotted lines, standing before each other while we said the words to one another. He kept making it very clear that I belonged to him.

  “Things are far from clear but there is no going back.” His words are strained. I’m below him giving him something I can only give once, bare for his taking, but I can tell in this moment he is too.

  “Hunter.” I say his name softly.

  “I had no idea…” he says before his mouth falls onto mine. This kiss is soft and sweet, bringing tears to my eyes. I close them to keep them at bay. This is the closest I’ve ever felt to someone in my life. He begins to move in and out of me as he kisses me slowly. My legs tighten around him as I feel every inch of him. Our bodies speaking a language that neither of us truly understand, mine hoping to learn the dialect.

  The pleasure I’m feeling grows more intense with each of his thrusts. His mouth pulls from mine as he kisses my neck and anywhere else he can get to. “Taste so sweet everywhere.” I’m not sure if he’s talking to me or himself. “Open those beautiful eyes, Rose. I want to see my wife come.” They flutter open at his command. He stares down at me while he continues to pleasure my body.

  His stare is so tender. This is nothing like how I thought it would be. It’s sweet and gentle. He’s attentive and caring. His harsh tone has disappeared as he works to pleasure my body.

  “Hunter,” I plead again because in all honesty I have no idea what to do or say.

  “I’ve got you. Let go, sweet Rose. Give it to me.” With those simple words, pleasure explodes from inside of me. I cry out his name as it courses through my body. My legs fall from him as I melt into the bed, unable to hold on any longer.

  My hands stay though. I hadn't noticed that I’ve been digging my fingers into him but I have. Hunter growls out my name. It’s so deep it rumbles from his body to mine. His warm release spills deep inside of me. My core clenches around him. The knowledge that his seed is deep inside me seems to relax him. He doesn’t move for a while, keeping his cock fully in me. I let my fingers drift up and down his back as I bask in this moment of happiness.

  I’m not sure I can move. My mind is unable to conjure any words to explain what I’m feeling. Maybe there isn’t one to describe it. What I do know is that if this is what sex feels like, then I’m going to want so much more of it with my husband. I’ve always been afraid that it would hurt but I felt an array of emotions that didn’t include anything to do with pain. The intimacy of it is something I’ll never be able to go without again.

  Even the look on Hunter’s face is one of confusion at this point. He looks as if he doesn’t know what to do next. The door has just been opened to a whole new world for me and I don’t want him to shut it yet. I know I’ll never be able to handle him shutting me out no matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise.

  Hunter slides back, slipping out of me. We both groan at the loss of contact. My legs instinctively begin to close out of shyness. I laugh inside, thinking about how it is too late for that. Hunter’s body is on full display as he kneels on the bed near my feet. My eyes feast on him. His hands caress my knees as he once again parts them, his eyes focusing on my sex.

  “Open your legs for me, sweet Rose. Let me look at my sweet pussy.” He licks his lips as his finger traces the seam of it. My body is instantly aware, wanting more of whatever he wants to give me.

  That thought is humbling. Will I be the wife always begging for his attention? I already kno
w I’m not at the top of the pecking order when it comes to Hunter. My husband has big plans and I am only to be used in them. Maybe I can use him too. Enjoy the moments of pleasure he gives me. I am going to have to do better about safeguarding my heart.

  If he is going to keep his walls up then so am I. I spread my legs wide. He can have the taste he wants. I will take my pleasure but that is all I can let myself give him.

  The real question won’t be how did I survive my brother but how did I survive Hunter Keal? I’m not so sure I will. If he wants to slide his cold mask on I can do it too. Hunter might be good at a lot of things, but keeping my distance from people is something I’ve been trained to do my whole life. That is a game I know I can win. I have something to lose. My heart. The one thing that truly belongs to me. There is no selling it. It has to be won. He can have my innocence. I willingly gave it and I will be indulging in that pleasure again, but my heart is mine. As long as Hunter treats me as only his pretty prize he’ll never have it.

  That is a vow I am making to myself.

  Chapter 13

  Hunter

  A shutter flickers down over her eyes. She’s opened her legs but closed her heart. From beneath her lashes, she watches as I smooth my palm over her stomach. The movement of the plane tells me we’re close to landing. The plans I had for her sweet pussy have to be set aside for the moment. With a regretful sigh, I help her to her feet.

  “The plane will be landing soon,” I tell her.

  Silently, she moves into the bathroom. When the door is shut, I shrug into a robe and open her suitcase. A note from Chris lies on the top.

  She has very few things. Perhaps a Rome shopping trip is in order.

  That is an understatement, I realize as I paw through the case her brother had packed for her. Her shoes are worn. The elastic on her panties is stretched thin. The rest of her clothes look like rags used by the cleaning staff in my office. Her brother wears hand-tailored suits, custom-made shirts, and designer brands from his sunglasses to his shoes. Dressing her in these shoddy garments was one more way of asserting his dominance over her and eroding her sense of self. She wasn’t good enough to warrant the nice things.

  I crumple Chris’s note in my hand, wishing it was Garrick Vandermeer’s neck instead. Growing up with him made Rose distrust men. I should be on my knees, thanking every known deity that she actually wanted me, but did I really expect that because she accepted me into her body that her heart would be open too?

  I close the suitcase and turn to my own wardrobe. I need to find something simple. I don't want her to feel uncomfortable around me. I should’ve bought out Barney’s before I booked this trip. What was I thinking?

  To my dismay, I find that my own wardrobe is not much different than Vandermeer’s. My suits were hand tailored in Italy, my shirts done in hundred-year-old shops in London. There isn't a garment in my entire case that wasn't either made solely for me or sporting a designer tag. What am I? Some Vandermeer knock-off? I jerk a white shirt and a pair of wheat-colored linen pants out of my case. Am I really any better than her brother at all? After all, I want to possess her, own her. After taking her virginity, my blood boils at the thought of anyone else laying eyes on her.

  A brief internal struggle ensues before I pick up my phone and shoot off a message to Chris.

  Rose needs a phone. And her own bank account. Put 1 million in it.

  I drop the phone and snatch it back immediately.

  Make that 5.

  Chris doesn’t question it. Miller probably had him set up the account before the ink was dry on the marriage certificate, believing that I had some good luck in my dark soul. I look down at my chest. I do have a dark soul. Maybe it’s too black for Rose. I pick up my phone again.

  Send her aunt over here.

  This does get me a reply.

  It will take some time to get her a passport.

  She doesn't have one?

  No.

  Why am I surprised? Of course Garrick would have wanted to restrict his family’s movements. It’s how he kept them under his scrawny thumb. Chris and I work through the details of getting everything done for the aunt ASAP. It will require money, which I have plenty of. By the time that Rose gets out of the shower, I feel marginally better.

  She clutches a towel to her chest. She’s so beautiful and she’s mine and I’ve never had anything like her in my life.

  “Thank you,” I blurt out even though she hasn't done anything but walk to the bed. From the puzzled look on her face I don't think she knows either. She's just as baffled as I am. I clear my throat. “How are you feeling?”

  “Good. I didn’t realize planes had showers.”

  “Not all of them do. Very few, in fact.” My chest puffs up with pride. At least I managed to impress her. “If you're up for it I thought we could do some shopping before we went to our hotel.”

  “Certainly. If that's what you'd like to do.”

  Weirdly, I bristle. Why is she so docile? I liked it better when she was fighting me. “If you don't want to go, tell me. I'm not your brother. I’m not going to force you to do things you don't want to do.”

  There is no immediate response. I gnaw on the inside of my cheek wondering what I should say at this point. I really don't have much experience in wooing women. I've been solely focused on the business world. I know how to buy buildings, close deals, ruin people's lives. I don't know much about making a woman happy.

  “I suppose as Mrs. Keal, I will need to present a certain image,” she says slowly. “Whatever you decide is appropriate is fine.” She waves a dismissive hand.

  “Fuck my image,” I explode. “There isn’t a thing about you I’d change. I just thought you might like new things. When I made my first million, I bought myself a whole new wardrobe so that when people looked at me, they wouldn't judge my clothes. I don't really care what people think about me anymore, but fuck, I still like nice things. I want to give you nice things, too, not because any dick off the street’s opinion matters, but because a woman like you with a big heart deserves all of the best that money can buy.”

  Her mouth drops open in stunned silence. Frustrated and a little embarrassed by my outburst, I drag a hand through my hair and dart into the bathroom for my own shower.

  Rose shakes me up, in more ways than one.

  Chapter 14

  Rose

  “What do you think of this?” I ask, holding up an ugly top that is covered in feathers. It’s not even one color of feathers but a rainbow of them. It might be one of the ugliest shirts I’ve ever seen but what do I know about fashion? I know this place is fancy so it has to be in style or something. I don’t really want the shirt. I want Hunter’s reaction to it.

  “If you want it.” He shrugs. This time he actually takes the garment from my hand to inspect it. Hunter hasn’t said the word no a single time during this entire process. I keep adding things to the massive pile that he was already getting me. Every time I point at something or say I want it, he says okay. Now I am merely toying with him. The sales people are all too eager to keep adding things to the mountain I already have. Their eyes light up with money signs each time Hunter nods his head yes or instructs them to add it to the pile.

  “You like it?” I hedge. The thing is hideous.

  “If you want-”

  I cut him off. I’m sure he’s not used to that but I’ve become a child testing my limits. Each time he lets me do something I know he’d never let anyone else get away with, I get this weird excitement in the pit of my stomach. I enjoy challenging Hunter. I want him to be different with me.

  “But do you like it?” I ask again. I’m trying to work out in my mind what his motive is for buying me all of these things. He doesn’t seem to care whether they’re beautiful or not. That leads me to believe that he’s not buying them to simply show me off. Why would he buy them then? There is no excuse for him letting me purchase this hideous feather top. None at all. I know that he has impeccable taste based on the way
he dresses.

  When he brought me here my first thought was that he wanted me to have nice things so I’d look pretty on his arm. If he is going to stroll me around town he’ll want to make sure his pretty prize takes first place. My confusion about his intentions turns to anger. I want an honest answer and I am determined to get one. This is the first time I’ve ever been able to buy anything I like and he is a terrible shopping partner. Most people would like the fact that he let them purchase whatever they want but I am different. I want him to be involved.

  “I don’t think this will be good for your skin.” He rubs the feathers between two fingers before tossing the thousand-dollar top to the ground. He reaches for me, pulling me into his arms. I willingly go. I’ve been enjoying all of his touches. They feel so different since our coupling. He’s different. I can feel it. It’s probably why I’m playing this silly game right now. I must say I’m having fun while I do it.

  “Your skin is so soft. I don’t want it to scratch you.”

  My heart flutters in my chest. Okay, that was sweet. Then he gives me a soft kiss on the lips before releasing me to get back to my shopping. The sales ladies come and go, bringing me different things. Hunter’s eyes stay trained on me the whole time. Every now and then he will respond to something on his phone but he quickly puts it away, giving me back all of his attention.

  Hunter might think my brother had a thing for me but he didn’t watch me like Hunter does. I can feel the man's eyes on me. How was it only yesterday that I was afraid of him? The only fear I have now is of losing him. The energy or something around us has changed. I know there is a good person inside of him and I am determined to bring him out. I’ve gotten a few glimpses of him and I want more.