by Nina Croft
Her lashes fluttered closed as he pressed upward. “A little.”
He bit down on her earlobe, then soothed it with his tongue. “I think you’d better show me.”
Her eyes had been drifting closed now she blinked. “What?”
“Sit on the edge of the bath. I want to see.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Don’t be shy.” He put his hands on her hips, picked her up, turned her around, and perched her on the edge of the bath, her back resting against the wall. “Come on, show me where it hurts.”
Actually, she didn’t think hurt was the correct word for what she felt right now.
Slowly she parted her thighs.
“Jesus, that’s pretty.”
It was? She’d take his word for it.
“Touch yourself.”
Her gaze flew to his face; a dull flush colored his cheekbones, his eyes glittered. She looked lower to where his erection stood straight up against his belly. His hand slowly wrapped around it and squeezed.
She licked her lips, then moved her own hand between her thighs. Her eyes never leaving the hand on his shaft, she parted her sex.
“Fuck, that is so sexy. Show me how you make yourself come, sweetheart.”
Could she do it? The idea of touching herself in front of Jake was weird but hugely exciting. She was already slippery and her fingers glided over her sex. She found her clit, swollen and sensitive, and stroked her fingertip over it once, then again.
His fist was pumping his shaft now.
She dipped inside herself, then rubbed over her clit, harder this time. Her orgasm was building, the little nub throbbing beneath her fingers. She relaxed into it. Let it flow over her. Her back arched as she came, pleasure flowing through her, and she pressed the heel of her hand hard against herself to prolong the sensation.
Jake’s hips arched up from the water, his fist still wrapped around himself as he came seconds later. He sank back, gripped her calf, and tugged. Kim slipped into the water and into his arms.
“So,” he said. “Those were the sore bits. You want me to kiss them better?”
She hadn’t thought she could feel anymore but she definitely had a twinge. “Oh, yeah.”
“I might have to tie you up to do it properly.”
She twisted in the water so she could look into his face. “You need to tie me up to kiss me better?”
He grinned. “Way more effective that way.”
She supposed it was only fair. She nodded slowly. “And once you’ve kissed me better…?
“I can think of a few other things we can do.”
She didn’t doubt it for a moment.
…
Jake had no clue why the idea of tying Kim up appealed so much, but throughout the day, each time the thought crossed his mind, the blood rushed to his dick.
He’d never had any urge to tie up anyone before. In fact he’d once had a girlfriend who was into the whole scene and he’d split because it did nothing for him.
Now he couldn’t stop thinking about it. Maybe because he’d enjoyed last night and wanted to give Kim the same pleasure. Or maybe because he wanted to show her that she could give up control and he wouldn’t hurt her.
Whatever the reason was, he wanted it.
They’d spent the day exploring the castle and checking the security systems. The more he saw of the place, the more he liked it. And he could tell Kim was falling in love as well. He’d give it to her as a wedding present.
They’d made slow love in the library on the blue velvet sofa, with him taking care not to be too rough; he wanted her in good shape to enjoy the evening entertainment. After that, he’d kept his dick in his pants and let the anticipation build.
Now, he sat back in his chair and watched as she moved around the kitchen, clearing the remains of their meal. She wore the leather skirt and one of his T-shirts and he was quite certain no underwear. She kept darting him quick glances and her cheeks were flushed, her mouth swollen.
They’d shared a bottle of wine with dinner, but no more. Now he swallowed the last of his glass and placed it on the table. “Kim?”
She jumped.
“Are you nervous about something?” he asked.
“Yes.” Her voice was breathy and her answer was so unlike her that he grinned—she never admitted to fear.
“You want to back out?” He held his breath.
She shook her head. “No.”
Thank God.
“Then let’s go to bed.” He rose to his feet and held out his hand. “Because tonight, I plan to make you beg.”
Shock flared in her face. “Never going to happen.”
“Oh yes it is, and you’re going to enjoy every second.”
Once in the bedroom, she stood at the head of the four-poster, twirling a strand of hair around her finger and chewing on her lower lip.
He came to stand in front of her, stroked a finger down her cheek. “I promise I won’t hurt you.”
“I know that.”
“What then? You worried you won’t enjoy it?”
“Actually, I’m worried I’ll enjoy it too much. Do you think I’m turning into a pervert?” She took a deep breath. “Maybe you’d better not answer that. So what do you want me to do?”
He’d been thinking about this all day. He knew exactly what he wanted her to do, but first he wanted her naked.
“Strip.”
“Everything?”
“Oh, yeah.”
She reached behind her, unzipped the tight skirt, and wriggled out of it, kicking it out of the way. Then gripped the hem of her T-shirt and dragged it over her head, throwing it onto a nearby chair. And with that she was naked.
His breath hitched in his throat and the blood pooled in his groin. He’d been hard since they left the kitchen; now his dick pressed painfully against his fly. He dragged his own T-shirt over his head, then loosened the button on his jeans to relieve the pressure.
“Raise your hands above your head.”
The movement lifted her breasts and he took a step closer and cupped one in his hand, rubbing the pad of his thumb over the nipple.
“Do you have any stockings?”
“You just got me naked, Jake. Now you want me to get dressed again?” She nodded over to her bag. “In there.”
“Don’t move.” He crossed the room and rummaged in the bag, found some interesting red underwear and an unopened packet of stockings. He ripped open the packet and took one of the sheer black stockings back to where she waited, head tilted to one side, brows furrowed, as she watched him.
“Turn around,” he ordered.
She hesitated, then turned slowly. But as he placed the stocking over her eyes, she whirled back around. “Hey, that’s not what I signed up for.”
“Trust me,” he said again.
She stared into his eyes, he could almost see her mind working, then she nodded abruptly and turned again.
He tied on the blindfold. “All right?”
“Ask me again in ten minutes.”
He steered her toward the bed and pushed her gently until she sat perched on the edge.
“This is so weird.”
“Lie down on your back.”
She didn’t argue this time, just lay back, her legs slightly bent, her lips parted. She was breathing fast and a pulse beat at her throat.
He took one hand and pulled it over her head, tied the cord still attached to one of the top posts around her wrist, firm but not too tight. He moved around the bed and tethered her second arm. Then stood back.
God, she was sexy as hell. But he wasn’t finished yet.
He moved to the bottom of the bed, and untied the cord from the first post.
“What are you doing, Jake?”
“Wait and see.”
“Er…blindfolded here. Not seeing much.”
“Wait and feel, then.”
He wrapped a hand around her right foot and she tried to jerk away. He waited for her to settle, then stretched
out her leg and secured the cord around her ankle, pulling it tight. She knew what to expect with the next one and didn’t fight. Just one more thing to make it perfect. He grabbed one of the pillows and eased it under her hips. When he was done, he stepped back.
“Holy shit.”
That had to be the hottest thing he had ever seen. Her breasts were thrust into the air, her legs stretched wide apart, revealing the pouting folds of her sex, glistening with moisture.
He was painfully hard now and his balls ached viciously. He pulled a condom out of his pocket, tossed it on the bed, then stripped off his jeans and squeezed his aching shaft. He needed to be inside her, but he had a promise to keep first.
He knelt on the bed in the V of her legs. Leaning over her, he pressed his lips to her throat. “Now which bits need kissing better?”
“Take a guess.”
“Here?” He licked the spot where her throat met her shoulders then nipped the skin. “Or here?”
He moved lower, stroking his tongue over first one breast, then the other, careful not to touch her anywhere else. She groaned and he kissed her nipples, sucking them into his mouth, then biting down softly.
He moved lower, kissing down her stomach, dipping his tongue in her navel, then pulling at the tiny ruby with his teeth. He bypassed the curls at the base of her belly and shifted down the bed. He kissed the inside of her ankles, then over the smooth skin of her calf. She was shifting restlessly now but unable to move more than a little, and she growled in frustration.
He reached her thighs, the skin so soft that he spent long moments caressing them, building the anticipation.
“Please.”
Kim’s softly spoken plea made him pause. He raised his head and peered up the length of her body. “Are you begging?”
She pursed her lips. “Of course not.”
He lowered his head and blew gently over her sex.
She gasped, her hips jerking. “Okay, just say I am begging. What then?”
He breathed in the warm, musky scent of her. “Then we get to the good bit.”
He used one hand to part the folds of her sex. Her clit was swollen and she was drenched. “I love that I do this to you,” he said, brushing his fingertip across her moist flesh.
He stroked his tongue down the length of her, his cock twitching as he tasted her sweet muskiness. Pushing inside her, he rubbed her inner walls, feeling her muscles clench around him. Then drew out to tease lazy circles around her clit.
…
She was in a dark, sensual place, her only reality Jake’s lips and tongue on her sex. She could see nothing through the blindfold; all she could do was feel. She was flying out of control and she no longer cared—nothing mattered but reaching for the release building inside her.
His tongue swirled around her clitoris, never quite touching. In some ways, she didn’t want him to. She was sure that the first direct touch would send her tumbling over the edge and she wanted this to last forever. Here, in this place, there were no worries of the future, just sensations piled on sensations. The experience was too intense. The pleasure too great.
She’d probably regret this later. But right now nothing else mattered. She stopped moving, held herself so still, concentrated on his clever mouth moving between her sex, eating her up, devouring her.
Time lost all meaning. Some part of her registered the small mewling sounds coming from her throat. At last, he kissed her gently, his tongue flicking over her clit, and the heaviness burst inside her, washing over her in warm waves. As the pleasure receded, he sucked her into his mouth and she came again.
She was vaguely aware of Jake leaving her, then the tear of foil and he was back. Pushing into her, huge and hard, stretching her. For a minute, he remained still, lodged deep inside. Then he slowly pulled out. Each slow stroke rubbed against her sensitized core and she gave herself up to the feelings. She lay beneath him, stretched out taut. She could feel the ropes at her wrists and ankles, holding her open for him while he moved relentlessly on her. His mouth was at her breasts, tugging and sucking on her nipples. The intensity of feeling bordered on pain, filled her mind, until she was nothing but the swell of sensation.
“Come for me again, sweetheart,” he whispered.
And she did, shattering into a thousand pieces.
Chapter Seventeen
Kim blinked in the darkness. No light leaked from behind the heavy curtains. Here in the Highlands, sunrise came around four thirty; it must still be the middle of the night.
She lay pressed against Jake’s side but couldn’t tell if he was awake or sleeping.
This was like time out of real life, and she didn’t want it to end. She didn’t want to return to reality. She didn’t even want to think about it. Now, the weekend was nearly over.
She hadn’t wanted to spoil their time here by worrying about what would happen when they returned to London. All the same, she had a sneaking suspicion this weekend might not have succeeded in getting the idea of sex with Jake well and truly out of her system. She wasn’t sure that was a possibility. The more she had him, the more she wanted him. He was addictive.
And she felt changed, a different person than the woman who had arrived. When Jake had tied her, blindfolded her, instead of feeling trapped as she’d expected, she’d experienced a sense of liberation she hadn’t dreamed possible. Something had shifted inside her, but she needed time to explore what that meant.
The next day, Jake had been different. Tender yet forceful, as though he sensed the change as well.
When she got back, she would rethink her future. Whatever she’d hoped, there was no way things with Jake could go back to what they were. As long as he was her boss, and his company subsidized the rent on her flat, she’d never be on equal footing. He wouldn’t like it—might hate the idea—but after four years under Jake’s thumb, it was time to take control of her life.
So she’d get a new place, a new job, and prove to herself that she could stand on her own. Once she’d done that, maybe she could make a success of a relationship with Jake, maybe even allow herself to fall in love. She still couldn’t think in terms of marriage, but there had to be something in between.
Jake’s hand tightened at her waist. He was awake. In a few hours, they’d be heading home, which caused an ache in her chest.
She needed him one more time.
“I can almost hear your mind working,” Jake said.
She turned to face him, but he was he was already sitting up, dragging her with him. He flicked on the lamp by the bed, and light flooded the room. It was just after four in the morning, but she knew she wouldn’t sleep again that night; she felt restless, unable to settle. Scared.
“Why don’t we go up to the roof and watch the sun rise?” Jake asked. “It will be up in a quarter of an hour.”
They found a rug and some cushions in the chest at the bottom of the bed and climbed up the tower, both naked. She shivered when they came out onto the flat rooftop, though the air was warm.
The sky was still dark. Only a faint line of tangerine to the east showed day was nearly upon them.
Jake laid the rug and cushions where they could watch, then sank down and patted the space next to him. She lay beside him, and he took her in his arms, lowered her back to the ground, and came down over her. He took her mouth in a melting kiss as his shaft pushed inside her. His lovemaking was slow, languorous, each stroke measured, concentrating the pleasure on the point where their bodies joined as one. And all the time he kissed her. Her lips, her throat, her breasts. She could feel the buildup of pleasure like a heaviness pulsing inside her, but she felt no sense of urgency. Her body knew him now, trusted him to get her there.
She kept her eyes open, and above her, the sky turned from midnight dark to palest blue streaked with crimson. And she experienced a moment of sublime happiness. If everything fell apart, she’d always have this one perfect moment to remember.
Wrapping her legs around Jake’s waist, she pulled him closer,
wanting to absorb him into her, really become one. He tangled his hands in her hair and stared into her face as he moved on her, in her.
But the sensation altered; she could sense it in the insistent throb of pleasure at her core, demanding to be gratified. Jake’s muscles tensed, his cock swelled. He thrust deeper and rotated his hips against her, and she came in a slow wave of pleasure that rolled her over and sucked her under. She held on to the feeling as he relaxed his control and came a second later.
And in that moment, gazing up into the hard, handsome lines of Jake’s face, she realized what a total idiot she was. And a coward. And the fucking queen of self-deception. Because it was already too late. She loved Jake. She’d maybe always loved him. Probably always would.
And that changed everything.
She didn’t understand how, and she needed time away from Jake until she did. Time to figure out what to do next, how to move on. To decide whether she was brave enough to risk putting her life in someone’s hands. Brave enough to risk that maybe it wouldn’t always be perfect…that she wouldn’t fall into that dark pit of despair if things went wrong.
Inside her chest, her heart was one big ache. She had to hold it together a little while longer.
He stared down at her with an expression in his eyes she didn’t want to analyze. Fear coiled inside her. Something told her to move, get up, break the spell between them. But he was already opening his mouth, and she knew, just knew, what he was going to say, and she wanted to slam her hands over her ears to block out the words.
“I love you,” he said.
She wanted to feel angry. This weekend was just supposed to be about sex, and he was breaking the rules. Instead, she had an urge to bawl her eyes out. To run away. But she couldn’t do that to him. She was through running, even if she wasn’t ready to give him the total capitulation he wanted. His expression was so full of love and hope that however terrified she was, she had to face him, tell the truth. She wouldn’t be ruled by fear.