Perception

by Nicole Edwards

“Come for me, pet.”

  Coming on command had never been something she could even fathom doing, but the stimulation was such that she had no hope of staving off the orgasm that grew stronger and stronger until…

  “Fuck yes!” she screamed as she came, thankful she was tied down because she was pretty sure she’d have been a puddle on the floor otherwise.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Xander wasn’t sure he’d ever been more impatient in his entire life. And he’d been wearing thin for longer than just the drive home from Devotion.

  After delivering the fourteen licks that he’d determined – because, seriously seven wasn’t even remotely close to enough – to Mercedes’s beautiful backside, he’d made her come at least three more times in the process, but it wasn’t until the final orgasm that he knew he might not be able to make it all the way home before he had her.

  It’d taken several minutes to rouse Mercedes after her last powerful orgasm, but once he did, he had quickly bundled her into his coat and then led her right out of the building, without saying a single good-bye.

  At that moment, nothing had mattered except getting her home and spending the rest of the night buried deep inside of her. While he had helped Mercedes into the limo, Carson had gone back inside to retrieve her discarded clothing and returned promptly.

  Although Xander would’ve been content to look at her wearing his coat and little else, she’d insisted on getting dressed in the car. Back into the stunning turquoise dress.

  Sitting by and watching her had been an added bonus. The woman was so graceful, even when she was maneuvering into her clothing in a moving car with limited space.

  As the car came to a final halt, Xander let out a long exhale.

  About damn time.

  Carson pulled the limo up in front of their complex and Xander didn’t waste any time before climbing out. Once again wearing the sexy dress, Mercedes insisted on walking although he would’ve preferred to carry her. Instead of arguing, because it wasn’t going to do him much good, he just took her hand and remained silent until they reached the front door of his condo.

  Once inside though, Xander purposely ignored the fact that she had wanted to walk on her own, and he lifted her into his arms, paying absolutely no attention to her immediate rebuttal.

  “Hush,” he ordered. “Keep in mind, you’ve probably earned a few more licks tonight. Enough to keep me busy for a while.”

  Mercedes instantly quieted.

  “Does it seem like this day will never end?” she asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head against his shoulder.

  Xander made his way up the stairs and to his bedroom without saying a word. If she thought the day had been interminably long, she had no idea how he felt right at that moment. Rather than deposit her on the bed like he would’ve preferred, he took her into the master bathroom.

  “If you tell me we’re going to shower, I’m going to tell you how much I really like you,” she mumbled drowsily.

  “Well, get prepared to like me,” he advised her as he set her on her feet in front of the long vanity.

  After turning on the water, he waited for it to warm while he easily undressed Mercedes. Once she was naked, he took his time removing the clamps from her breasts.

  “Oh, fuck,” she groaned when he released the first clamp, using his hands to stimulate the soft, warm globe while the blood rushed back to her nipple. When he reached for the other clamp, Mercedes gripped his wrist.

  “I’ve got to take it off,” he informed her.

  “I know. Just… give me a minute,” she said, her breath rushing in and out.

  When she finally relaxed, nodding her head at him, Xander reached up and removed the other clamp. Placing his hand over her breast, he squeezed as he leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers. Kissing her was like heaven and hell mixed together. She was so sweet, so damn responsive, but the way she kissed him back made his dick ache all the more. He needed her. But they still needed to get the shower out of the way.

  Once the steam began to fill the bathroom, Xander urgently removed his clothes, wrapped Mercedes in his arms and led her into the glass enclosure.

  “Oh, God, the water feels good,” she said as the warmth cascaded over them.

  “You feel even better,” he told her, placing a kiss on the top of her head. “But don’t think I’m through with you yet, pet.”

  In fact, he was just getting started.

  “Haven’t you had enough?”

  Had enough? Was she kidding? He hadn’t had anything yet, except for hours and hours of self-imposed torture. At this rate, his balls should’ve been glowing a nice neon blue. He was scared to look down for fear they would be.

  Instead, he chuckled, amused by her obvious exhaustion. He’d fucked her with a dildo, and she’d clearly forgotten that he had yet to come once since they’d agreed to this just that morning.

  He was looking to change that in the very near future.

  Xander pulled away from her, looking down into her eyes as he cupped her face in his hands. “Not nearly enough.”

  There was the hint of a smile on her lips that made everything seem to right itself. Like all of the events of the last few hours wouldn’t have to be categorized as one big failure because if her smile was anything to go by, he’d at least done something right.

  What, he didn’t know.

  “As much as I’d love to linger in here,” Mercedes said drowsily, “I’d much prefer a nice soft bed.”

  Xander wouldn’t argue because he felt the same way. “As soon as I shave you, we’ll make our way to the bed.”

  The drowsy smile on Mercedes’s face flashed to something akin to surprise. Ahh, so she’d thought he was joking about that, did she?

  “Turn around,” he instructed, reaching for the bottle of shampoo that hadn’t been in his shower that morning. It must’ve belonged to Mercedes and had been delivered just as expected by his housekeeper, Janelle, while they’d been out.

  Reaching for the detachable shower head, Xander wet the long, silky strands of Mercedes’s hair before applying a generous amount of shampoo. The scent that filled his shower was unmistakably hers. He didn’t pretend to know much about flowers, but he could distinctly define the scent of lavender that drifted on the humid air around them.

  After washing her hair, he used the conditioner as well and then proceeded to soap her body, taking the time to observe the creamy, smooth skin of her ass ensuring there weren’t any marks. Once he was satisfied, he turned his attention between her legs. When she began to moan softly while he soaped her up, he smiled. She was right back to where he wanted her. Aroused.

  When he was satisfied with how clean she was, Xander took a step back before snatching his own body wash from the shelf. He lathered himself, going as slow as he could manage while Mercedes watched him – or more accurately, watched his hands as he thoroughly soaped his rigid erection. He lingered on his cock longer than necessary, but the way her eyes glazed over was almost enough to send him into orbit. He was that fucking close.

  He had to stop her when she reached for him.

  “Not yet, pet. You’ll get your turn in a minute.” If he let her touch him now, he’d come in her hand, and when he came, he fully intended to be inside of her. Fuck, he hoped he lasted even that long.

  “Lean back against the wall and put your right foot on the ledge,” he told her as he reached for the pink can of shaving cream sitting near the shampoo.

  “Have you ever done this before?” she asked him, sounding worried.

  “Do you really want me to answer that?” he asked sternly. He wasn’t interested in going into detail about his past experiences, but yes, he’d certainly been in this position more than once.

  “No, I don’t,” she finally said with a small smile.

  “Trust me, pet.”

  Xander filled his hand with shaving cream and lathered her mound before dropping to his knees in front of her. The hard tile of the floor w
ould’ve bothered him if he hadn’t been distracted by the pretty picture she made standing above him, her cunt open for his perusal.

  Not wanting to draw out the process for longer than necessary, Xander didn’t tease her much as he focused on the razor in his hand. Instead, he worked diligently, reapplying shaving cream when necessary, rinsing thoroughly until she was completely bare.

  That was when he knew he’d reached his tipping point.

  ~~*~~*~~

  Mercedes would admit to her fear. Well, not out loud, but she’d definitely admit her nerves were at war inside of her. And it had nothing to do with Xander wielding a razor between her legs.

  In fact, that had been quite an experience. The man was precise about everything he did, and shaving was something he was especially good at.

  What he was also good at was driving her crazy.

  For the last half hour, she’d stood in the shower with him, only briefly able to physically touch his stellar body. Now, as he led her across the bedroom, going directly for the bed, she prayed they would not pass go or collect anything on their way.

  She was tired of waiting.

  Touching him was something she’d ached to do and after all of the amazing things he’d done to her body since noon that day, she wasn’t sure she could wait much longer.

  “Please tell me it’s my turn,” she whispered, trying to keep her request as non-intimidating as possible. She truly wasn’t trying to top him. At the moment, domination and submission weren’t even on her radar.

  She just wanted to freaking touch him.

  Xander turned to face her, the backs of his knees against the mattress. When he pulled her against him, his big, warm body lining up with hers, she sucked in a breath.

  The man was perfection. All sleek, formidable muscle, long and corded beautifully.

  And his cock.

  Sweet mercy. He was big. Huge.

  Not that he looked impressively large against his way bigger than average frame, but Mercedes could feel the heavy weight of his cock against her belly, and she knew he was well above average.

  Right now, she wanted to measure him. With her mouth.

  “Do you think you’ve earned a turn?” he asked, that wicked gleam in his brilliant green eyes.

  “No,” she said truthfully. As far as a submissive went, she’d failed miserably for most of the day. And up until their scene at Devotion, she truly hadn’t put forth much effort. Not until she realized exactly what she was holding out on.

  Knowing how much pleasure she could offer Xander by giving him her submission, she’d finally relented. And holy freaking Toledo, had it been worth it.

  “Good answer,” he said as he cupped her chin. “Thank you for being honest.”

  “Always,” she told him, meaning it.

  Mercedes saw an unfamiliar emotion pass in his eyes, and she tried to pinpoint what it might be, but before she could get that far, Xander was pulling her down onto him.

  “I want to feel your hands on me,” he whispered gruffly. “I’ve waited a long time for this, Mercedes.”

  He’d said her name. Not pet. Not “M”, his nickname for her. He’d said her name.

  “I have, too,” she told him truthfully. She had. Definitely all day and probably even longer than that if she had to guess. Even if she hadn’t realized it, Mercedes had been secretly wanting this. Perhaps for a really long time, she wasn’t sure. But right now, she didn’t want to think about any of that.

  Now that she was lying on top of him, she had a little control on her side. But she held back, letting him take the reins. When he pulled her head down so that their mouths met, she held back longer than she thought possible.

  And that’s when everything went out the window.

  It was no longer Dom versus sub. This was all about two people; a man and a woman who wanted one another with a desperation that threatened to suck the oxygen out of the room.

  The kiss lingered for long minutes, but the hunger intensified. They were a jumble of hands and lips and tongues as they reached and searched and stroked. Mercedes felt his smooth, warm skin beneath her fingertips, the crisp hairs of his legs against her shins, the heavy stalk of flesh against the apex of her thighs as Xander ground his hips against hers.

  Oh, how she wanted this man. She could get lost in him for hours, and she fully intended to.

  Pulling her mouth from his, she fought for air as she ran her lips down his neck, over his collarbone. She didn’t try to pull away when he repositioned himself so that he was fully on the bed, ending with her straddling his legs as she caressed the hard angles of his chest.

  She made her way to his nipples, using her tongue and teeth to twist and pull the titanium bars that ran through his nipples. God, that was so fucking sexy. She’d never been with a man who had his nipples pierced, but fuck it was hot. And she learned that the more she tugged, the more he moaned his pleasure.

  “Does that hurt?” she asked curiously, not stopping in her pursuit to torment him the way he’d done to her all day long.

  “Just a little,” he said on a groan. “In a very good way.”

  So, it was true, Xander enjoyed that small bite of pain – just like she’d learned that she did.

  “God, yes,” he groaned, palming the back of her head and holding her to him as she teased his nipple relentlessly.

  He only released her enough so that she could move to the other side, savoring the feel of his smooth skin against her lips, the cool metal against her tongue as she continued to nip and pull – harder this time – until he was bucking up against her.

  Fearing he was going to rush this before she was ready, although she wouldn’t have complained if he’d driven his cock inside of her right then, Mercedes made a wet path with her mouth down the center of his abs, lingering long enough to outline each gentle ripple of muscle with her tongue. Moving lower, she trailed the sexy muscles that formed a “V”, moving back up slowly, first one side, back down. Then the other.

  She briefly stopped on the tattoo on his left side. There, perfectly aligned just beneath the line of his “V”, was the word “Trust” in plain black bold letters. Seeing it made her heart pound wildly.

  Mercedes knew all about the tattoo. She knew the meaning because she’d heard people talk about it at Kink. It was Xander’s motto: Without trust, what was there? According to him, when he finally trusted someone implicitly, and they trusted him in return, he would know that was the woman he’d spend the rest of his life with.

  At least that’s what she heard.

  Looking up at him, Mercedes saw that he was watching her intently. Her breath lodged in her throat as she realized just what they were doing here. Was this the trust he was looking for?

  She tried not to read too much into it, choosing to pretend she wasn’t thinking about the fact that they were about to take this to the next level.

  With his head propped on a pillow, his hands now casually behind his head as though he’d be able to resist what she was about to do to him.

  She smiled.

  He smiled back.

  Without asking, she leaned down and sucked him into her mouth. It took some work, but she managed to take him almost all the way to the root, the thick shaft filling her mouth completely until her gag reflex kicked in. Only then did she pull back, laving the silky smooth length of him with her tongue.

  “Fucking shit,” Xander groaned, his hips thrusting up, the impact of his large body jarring her, but she didn’t release him. “Mercedes, baby, I… Oh, fuck yes.”

  Not wanting him to stop her, she began sucking him, taking him deep while she wrapped her hand around the base of his cock, squeezing firmly, unwilling to let him come. Not that she expected him to. This was Xander. He had more self-control than anyone she knew.

  “Mmmm,” he groaned as his hand once again resumed its position in her hair. He didn’t use force, just a gentle pressure as she sucked and stroked, doing her best to go slow, but loving the intensifying sounds of his p
leasure.

  “Come here,” he groaned loudly and the next thing she knew, Mercedes was turned around, straddling his head.

  Without questioning him, she continued to focus on sucking him, fearful that he would distract her to the point she wouldn’t be able to pleasure him the way she wanted.

  It didn’t take but a second for that to happen, and Mercedes found herself grinding against his mouth, desperately riding his face as he tormented her clit with his wickedly talented tongue.

  “Oh,” she said, wrapping her lips around his cock to keep from crying out. She did her absolute best to focus on him, to ignore the absurdly amazing feeling of his lips on her, his tongue thrusting into her.

  As much as she wanted to maintain control of the situation, it was only a matter of seconds before she lost.

  A violent, amazing, wonderful orgasm ripped through her, shattering her into a million tiny fragments as her body locked up, and she totally forgot what she’d been doing.

  Chapter Twenty

  He would admit it had been a power play. One designed to keep him from coming deep in her throat because the way Mercedes was mastering his cock with her mouth had been unlike anything he’d ever felt before.

  Rather than give in too soon, he’d redirected his attention to eating her pussy until she came.

  And now she was resting against him, allowing him a moment to catch his breath and pull himself together. But he didn’t wait long.

  Carefully, he rolled her off of him and then repositioned them both until he was kneeling between her thighs, his elbows resting beside her head, his cock tucked against the warm wet heat of her pussy. He fought the urge to sink into her.

  Barely.

  “Hi,” she whispered long seconds later.

  “Hey,” he said with an answering smile, but the smile gently faded and another emotion bubbled up inside of him. “I need to be inside of you,” he told her.

  It was more of a warning. Or rather, a request of sorts. He didn’t intend to use a condom, and although they’d had the conversation earlier that day, he wanted to make sure she was still on board with the idea.