by Opal Carew
“Uh … just wanted to let you know I’m here.” Wild Card’s voice caught her off guard.
He was hard to see in the softly lit pool, sitting on the walk-out steps at the deep end with a beer sitting on the stone deck beside him. She’d forgotten that Wild Card had decided not to go out with them this evening.
She realized she was practically naked in the pool with him, and Shock was standing on the edge of the pool behind her in his boxers.
Part of her wanted to cover herself and swim away, then skulk out of the pool and hide. Another part thought this was a perfect opportunity to distract herself from her desire for Shock and start convincing herself that other men could fill that need. After seeing them all together earlier and being surprising by how arousing she found it, she wondered if Shock was right to encourage her to push herself sexually. And it would have the added benefit of easing her heartache about him.
She swam toward Wild Card, then tread water in front of him. The soft colored lights set her naked breasts aglow. Wild Card gazed at them with admiration.
“What are you doing, Liv?” Shock said with a warning tone.
“You told me that you all share your women.” She smiled at Wild Card. “I thought that might be fun to try tonight.”
She swam close to Wild Card and rested her hands on his thighs so she could stop treading water. “What do you think?” she asked him.
He glanced up at Shock, so she moved into Wild Card’s arms and kissed him, not wanting to give Shock a chance to protest. Wild Card’s arms slid around her and he pulled her close, her naked breasts crushed against his hard chest.
She teased his lips with her tongue and he opened them, then slipped his tongue into her mouth. With one hand on the side of the pool and the other arm around her waist, he slid off the stairs and turned her around. When he pressed her tight to the wall of the pool, his rock-hard erection pressed against her and she gasped.
Panic tore through her. This wasn’t what she wanted.
He was strong and powerful. And scary.
She sucked in a breath and pushed him back.
He moved away easily and gazed at her, his eyes questioning. “What is it, Liv?” he asked.
“This was a mistake. I …” But she just shook her head and swam across the pool. Straight to Shock.
He reached down and she took his hand, letting him pull her from the water, then tuck his arm around her waist. She peered over her shoulder as Shock guided her back toward the house.
“I’m sorry, Wild Card.”
“It’s okay. Maybe another time.”
Shock didn’t even stop to pick up her clothes, just hurried her up the stairs and into the bedroom.
“What were you thinking?” he demanded as soon as the door closed behind them.
She went straight into the bathroom and grabbed a towel to dry off, not wanting to listen to his lecture, but he followed her in.
“I just wanted to try being with someone else.” She hated that her voice trembled. “You suggested it in the contract, so I don’t know why you’re getting upset.”
“I didn’t say I’m upset, but clearly you aren’t ready for that.”
“So I just need more time, is that what you’re saying? Then I can be a slut and sleep with all your friends.”
He frowned. “If you think it’s a negative thing being with Wild Card, why did you want to do it?”
“I don’t think that. I …” She sighed in frustration. “I’m just … confused.”
“I think you’re just trying to get back at me.”
“For what?”
“I don’t know. Forcing you into this situation with the contract.”
She shook her head, but said nothing.
“Then maybe you’re just trying to push me away,” he said.
“Why would I do that?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because you’re starting to develop feelings for me?”
His words were like a bucket of cold water splashed across her. Oh, God, she couldn’t let him know that was true. And she didn’t want to get pulled any deeper into her well of emotions.
Even if it would be good for her to end this now, she didn’t want it to end one second sooner than it had to.
“No, you don’t have to worry about that,” she said. “I know exactly what this is.”
He raised an eyebrow. “And what is it?”
“Me meeting your physical needs for one month. You’ve always wanted to explore the physical attraction between us, and that’s what this is. Then, when I’m out of your system at the end of the month, it ends.”
He narrowed his eyes. “And you don’t want it to be any more than that?”
She gazed at him, keeping her heart in check. “No. Of course not.”
* * *
Shock’s chest tightened. So she was only doing this to meet the requirements of the loan. She didn’t feel anything for him.
The rejection hurt. She’d rejected him before, but this time, he’d hoped she would feel something for him.
Maybe even fall in love with him.
“If you’re so keen to follow the contract, then let’s start with you being my slave and obeying my every whim.”
At the hard edge to his voice, her eyes widened.
“Strip off those panties and get down on your knees.”
“But—”
“Obey me immediately,” he demanded in an iron tone, “and with no argument.”
When she still hesitated, he stepped toward her. “Now!”
She tugged off her panties and dropped to her knees.
“Eyes to the floor.”
She dropped her gaze to the cold white tiles.
“Good. Now you will do everything I tell you, without question. And when you respond to me, you will call me Sir. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Sir.”
Her voice quivered, and he felt a little guilty, but he pushed it aside. She was rash and had gotten herself into trouble. She could use the discipline.
“Stand up and walk into the bedroom.”
He followed her, then gestured to the love seat.
“Sit.”
She walked to the love seat and sat down, watching him with her wide blue eyes.
“Now spread your legs.”
She obeyed, spreading her knees wide.
Having her completely at his mercy caused his cock to lengthen. And the sight of her sweet pussy open to him made his heart race. He wanted to touch her. To push inside her.
But even more, right now he wanted to see her touch her soft, intimate flesh.
He sat down in the chair across from her, his attention fixed on her pink folds.
“Now touch yourself.”
She frowned as she gazed up at him, then seemed to remember his command to keep her eyes lowered and dropped her gaze again. She moved her hand slowly, pressing her fingers between her legs, and started to stroke her folds.
Fuck, it was so sexy, his cock began to throb. She stroked along her slit, back and forth.
“Dip your fingers inside.” He watched as the tips of her fingers disappeared, then more as she continued up to her knuckles.
“Are you wet?” he asked.
“Yes, Sir.”
He moved forward and dropped to his knees in front of her, watching her fingers, wanting his own fingers inside her.
“Does it feel good touching yourself?”
She glanced up at him again, frowning. “I … I’d rather it was you.”
He smiled. “Soon. Right now I like watching you.”
Then he caught her wrist and drew her hand forward. He wrapped his lips around her fingers and sucked. The sweet taste of her sent his hormones into overdrive.
“You taste so fucking good.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
He sat on the love seat beside her.
“Come and touch me now.”
She moved onto her knees in front of him. At first she ran her hands over his shoulders, then acr
oss his chest. Her fingertips found his nipples and she toyed with them, sending heat simmering through him. He wanted to feel her lips on him. She began to move her hands down his chest, but he captured them and brought them back to his nipples.
“Don’t rush away so fast.”
She glanced at his face questioningly, then at his nipples, which were hard as beads. She ran her fingertips over them, noticing the catch in his breath. Then she leaned forward and licked one, then took the little bead in her mouth, and began to suck.
“Oh, fuck, yeah, Liv.”
She sucked harder and he groaned.
He took her hand and pressed it to his cock. She wrapped her fingers around it, through the thin fabric of his boxers, and squeezed, making him groan again. When she began to stroke him up and down, he knew this would end too quickly.
He stood up and walked to his dresser, then opened the drawer and pulled out a pair of handcuffs.
Her gaze locked on them as he returned to her.
He would take this opportunity to show her that she could give total control to a man, and if he cared for her, he would be devoted to her pleasure. Not like that bastard who had hurt her.
“Get on the bed.”
She stood up and walked to the bed, then stretched out on it. He snapped a cuff around one of her wrists, threaded the chain around an intricately curved section of the wrought-iron headboard, then cuffed her other wrist. Then he stepped back, taking in the glorious sight of her stretched out on the bed before him.
“Open your legs.”
She obeyed, her cheeks flushing. He stepped to the side of the bed, stroking his hard, aching cock.
“Now suck me.” He pressed his cockhead against her cheek.
“Yes, Sir.”
She turned toward him and he directed his cock toward her mouth. When her lips parted, he glided his tip inside.
“Now, slave, suck hard,” he demanded.
It was so hot and moist in her mouth, he twitched in need. Heat pulsed through him.
“I’m close. Make me come.”
She bobbed up and down, then sucked the tip of him hard, then bobbed again. Her hot mouth sent pleasure rocking through him.
“Fuck, that’s so good.”
Then she squeezed him inside and pleasure blasted through him, his pelvis rocked forward, and he erupted in her mouth. She kept sucking as he flooded into her, filling her mouth with his hot seed.
When he finished, she continued to suck softly, then licked around his cock head before she released him and drew her mouth away.
He could get used to this. Her obeying his commands. Not challenging him.
He sat on the bed beside her and stroked her breasts lightly with his fingertips. Her nipples peaked into tight buds. He leaned down and suckled one in his mouth, to her soft whimpers of appreciation.
He slid his hand down her stomach, and lightly caressed her between her thighs and along her slick slit. She whimpered louder. He brushed his lips against her hip as he continued to slide his fingers along her folds.
“Open wider.”
She spread her legs wider and he gazed at the wet, intimate flesh in front of him. His cock, although emptied, twitched at the sight. He leaned down and licked her.
“Oh, yes,” she moaned.
He climbed onto the bed and knelt between her legs, then licked her slit again. Then he drove his tongue into her. Her soft moans encouraged him.
He opened her folds and slipped a finger inside her, then another. As he gently thrust into her, he found her clit with his other hand and stroked it.
“Ohhh.” She lifted her hips higher.
Shock continued to thrust and tease. Her moans increased. He teased her little button faster and she whimpered, then moaned louder.
He wanted to see her face in sweet rapture. He looked up at her, burying his tongue in her hot flesh and licking her clit.
Then she gasped and moaned her release, long and loud. The sound of her pleasure vibrated through him, giving him intense pleasure, too.
As her orgasm subsided, he climbed all the way onto the bed and covered her body with his.
His cock was hard with need and he pressed it against her, teasing her sensitized clit, eliciting more muffled sounds of pleasure. Then he drove into her, loving the sound of her gasp and of the way her eyes widened.
“Do you like me inside you?” he asked.
“Yes, Sir.”
Fuck, the sound of her calling him Sir, especially with his cock sunk deep inside her, sent need pulsing through him. He drew back and surged deep again. Her eyes widened and she moaned as he swirled around inside her.
Then he stopped.
“Do you want me to fuck you?” he asked.
She gazed up at him and nodded.
He pressed harder into her.
“Tell me,” he demanded.
“Please fuck me, Sir.”
He smiled and drew back, then drove deep again. She was so soft and warm around him. Her body so accepting of his.
“Tell me more. Why do you want me to fuck you?”
He wanted to hear how much she needed him.
“Yes, Sir. I want you. Your cock filling me … it makes me feel good.”
He thrust deep again, then drew back until he was almost at the point of pulling out entirely. “Do you need me inside you?”
“Yes.” She wrapped her legs around him and arched, trying to force him farther inside, but he drew back a little, teasing her. “It feels so good when you’re deep inside me. Please, I need you.”
Fuck, those were the words he wanted to hear. That she needed him. He’d always wanted to hear them.
He drove forward, filling her to the hilt, pulling back and thrusting again, then kept on thrusting until her moans turned to wails and she gasped and cried out in ecstasy.
She tightened her legs around him as she found her release in his arms, and he erupted inside her, joining her in a joint journey to total fulfillment.
A few moments later he realized he was lying on top of her with his full weight and she probably couldn’t breathe. He rolled away and unfastened the cuffs, then pulled her into his arms. She snuggled against his chest and he sighed, enjoying the feel of her within the confines of his embrace.
Soon her even breathing told him she was asleep. He stroked her hair, loving her so close to him.
Loving her.
God, he had to find a way to convince her she loved him just as much as he loved her, because he knew, with everything he was, that he would not be able to let go of her at the end of the month.
* * *
Liv woke up in Shock’s strong arms, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat in her ear.
She could get used to this. Waking up in his arms.
Last night had been … surprising. She never thought she’d enjoy being ordered around by a man, but with Shock it was pure pleasure. For some reason she responded easily to his control, at least in the bedroom. It wasn’t like when he lectured her or was disapproving of her actions. When he commanded her in the bedroom, she could just give herself over to him and their shared pleasure.
Because she trusted him. In fact, she realized he was the only person in the world she truly did trust.
His lips brushed against the back of her neck and his arms tightened around her.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked, his voice husky from sleep.
“Yes, Sir.”
She smiled as she felt his cock swell. She could tell last night that her calling him “Sir” was a real turn-on for him.
And it certainly was for her.
She turned in his arms to face him and he kissed her. Sweet and tenderly. When their lips parted, she smiled. “Would you like me to make you breakfast, Sir?” she asked.
“No, you stay right here. I’ll make you one of my special omelets.” He brushed her hair from her face and kissed her. Then he rolled from the bed and stood up.
She watched him walk to the bathroom door, enjoying the sight o
f his tight, sexy butt. Then she lay back and stared at the ceiling, remembering how delightful it had been to follow his commands last night. She must have dozed off in the midst of her reverie, because when she opened her eyes, she realized Shock was gone.
Liv got out of bed and showered, then dried her hair and dressed. As she walked down the stairs, she could hear several voices, probably the others having breakfast.
She walked into the living room on her way to the kitchen and froze when she saw Wild Card. He was the only person in the room and sat in the armchair facing the window. When he turned toward her, she immediately dropped her gaze to the stars silhouetted by red, purple, and blue swirls tattooed on his arm. Her cheeks flamed as she remembered stripping practically naked in front of him, then throwing herself at him.
“Oh, good morning,” she said.
He gazed at her with his warm hazel eyes and his initial smile faded as he realized she could barely look at him.
“Hey, you’re not going to let it get all weird between us, are you?”
“I’m … really sorry about last night.”
He stood up and walked toward her. “You are going to let it get weird.” He took her hand. “Look, I loved it, okay? Come on. A naked woman kissing me?”
His infectious grin relaxed her a little. He wasn’t judging her.
“I mean, sure,” he teased, “her then choosing her boyfriend over me hurt a little, but I get it.” He took her hand and squeezed it. “So, we good?”
She gazed into his hazel eyes and smiled timidly. “Yeah, of course.”
“Liv, you coming for breakfast?”
She turned to see Shock standing in the kitchen doorway, watching them. His sharp gaze dropped to their joined hands and Liv immediately drew her hand from Wild Card’s.
In the kitchen Shock served her an omelet, toast, and coffee, and she sat with Steele and Tempest and shared small talk, conscious of Shock’s silence. After breakfast she helped Shock with the dishes, wondering if he was going to give her the silent treatment all day.
“I thought we’d do something special today,” he said as he wiped his hands on a towel, the pots all clean in the dish drainer by the sink.