Lusty Charms: Invictus

by Lani Aames

  Surely, that wasn't all!

  She crawled from his lap, her limbs as weak as jelly, her breasts aching, her clit throbbing. She looked down at him through a haze.

  "On your knees, Serena. Undress me," he commanded.

  Chapter Eight

  Serena dropped to the floor.

  Haunting black eyes watched her from beneath thick, dark brows. Stray strands of hair tended to fall across his aquiline face, but he brushed them back with one swipe of his hand. His shoulders were broad, and his chest and waist were in a straight line to his hips. He wasn't muscular, yet she had felt the steely strength he possessed. The strange scars sprinkled across his skin didn't diminish her attraction to him. In fact, she found them appealing. She couldn't imagine what had caused them, but he would tell her in his own time.

  With trembling fingers, Serena unbuckled his belt and unfastened his trousers. She was surprised to see the scars went below his waistline, very close to his genitals. Then her attention was taken as his erection sprang free, thick, large, and hot. She felt the heat emanating from it even though she had yet to touch it. Unconsciously, she licked her bottom lip. With a start, she realized what she'd done and glanced up at him.

  He looked at her from beneath hooded eyes, wearing a satisfied smirk, but he helped her push his trousers down below his knees. When he nodded, she wrapped her hands around him. She'd had other lovers, but none as big as this. She couldn't remember them being as hot either. And she definitely couldn't remember ever wanting any man as much as she wanted Invictus Cross. The silky smooth flesh burned her fingers as she pushed up and down over the stone hardness just underneath the skin.

  Invictus groaned, the sound rumbling from deep inside his chest, but he continued to watch her. When a drop of clear fluid appeared at the tiny slit, she used her thumbs to spread it over the sensitive spot just below. He groaned again and his hips surged toward her hands.

  When his rhythm grew faster and his legs quivered with the effort, he placed his hands over hers to stop her.

  "Stand up." He gasped for breath as if he'd been exerting an enormous amount of energy in exercise. "Stand up and turn around."

  She did as she was told, gladly. She could barely stand on her jellied legs. She was ready for him, more than ready. Her arousal had only intensified while she massaged him.

  "Pull up your robe," he directed.

  Serena did that, too, wadding the excess at her waist.

  He put his warm hands on her hips. "Spread your legs, Serena. Yes, like that. Now, I'm going to fuck you. Are you ready to be fucked, Serena?"

  "Oh, yes!" she said. She hovered over his erection, held up only by the support of his hands on her.

  "Are you sure, Serena?"

  "Yes, Invictus. Yes!" She was on the verge of begging, but she didn't care. If he didn't enter her soon, she thought she might explode from the anticipation alone.

  "Tell me. Tell me you're ready to be fucked."

  She swallowed hard. She'd never said the word out loud in her life! It had always sounded crude and emotionless to her. But hadn't this entire evening become crude? Strangely enough, it did not lack emotion. She had never felt so alive. She had never been as intensely aware of her body and its reactions before. Making love was always pleasurable, but this was exhilarating!

  "I want to be fucked, Invictus. I'm ready for you to fuck me." She drew in a deep breath and waited, but the world did not come tumbling to an end.

  "Good, Serena. You've learned to voice your answer when I demand a response." He remained silent for a few moments. Then, in a sneering tone, he said, "Can you beg for it? I want to hear you beg to be fucked."

  Serena closed her eyes. Why were they talking about it when they could be doing it? Why was he wasting time when it was clear both of them were more than ready? But if she did as he asked, the sooner they could get to it.

  "Please, Invictus, please fuck me! Please fuck me long and hard—"

  "I will decide how you will be fucked," he snapped. "I'm going to fuck you, Serena, but you can't move. Don't move at all or it's over."

  He lowered her and his thick erection slid into her easily. She moaned and tossed back her head.

  "Don't move your pussy," he reminded her. "This is punishment number two. Don't move or I'll walk out and never come back."

  How could she do it? She wanted to ride him as she'd never wanted to ride a man before. She had to force her hips to remain still while he thrust into her, gliding in and out, sometimes grinding his groin against her. She shuddered when he did so, but she didn't allow herself to move with him.

  Once again, one of his thumbs found her anus, moving deeper, manipulating the sensitive muscle. Her hands clenched the silky material at her waist. She was almost there. She could only hope he didn't stop suddenly and leave her hanging on the edge. Small mewling sounds escaped her throat and turned into a low, long moan.

  "Come, Serena, come now!" he hissed.

  Another hard stroke, his thumb pressing deeper, and her back arched with the release. Warm tingles danced through her body, spreading from between her thighs to the very tips of her toes. If Invictus hadn't been holding her up, she would have collapsed.

  He lowered her one last time, plunging into her as hard as he could, straining into her. She felt hotness as he spurted into her, groaning once more. He released her hips and she fell back, resting against him, her heart thudding in her chest. His ragged breath blew into her hair and tickled her ear. His arms wrapped around her, his hands splayed across her belly, and she laid her hands over his, entwining her fingers with his.

  Neither of them said a word.

  Chapter Nine

  Serena listened to their breathing—slow and even—and waited for her heart to stop its pounding. She had never dreamed sex could be such an ordeal. She didn't understand his need to dominate her in such an unreasonable way. She understood even less her own reaction to it. She knew she was passive, but she had never considered herself submissive. Yet she wouldn't hesitate to do it all again to be able to once more experience the pleasure Invictus had to offer.

  His hands started moving. They were large and square, his fingers long and thick topped with square, flat nails. He rubbed across her belly and up over her ribs. Slow, sensual movements that relit the fire he had just extinguished in her. She closed her eyes when they crept beneath her robe and cupped her breasts, thumbs swirling over her nipples. Then he took the hard peaks between forefinger and thumb, pinching and plucking until pain mingled with pleasure. Once again, it wasn't an unbearable sensation. He seemed to have a fine sense of just how far to go.

  "You have beautiful tits," he said, something no one had ever said to her before. They had been pinched and plucked, sucked and nibbled, but no one had ever said outright they were beautiful. No one had ever called them tits. "Neither too large nor too small, they fit perfectly in my hands. Touch them, Serena, feel how perfect they are."

  Serena wasn't shocked at his words. She'd had too many shocks tonight and was impervious to anything else he might suggest. Unless he brought out red-hot pincers or something equally torturous, but she didn't think causing pure pain was what turned him on. His hands moved to lie atop hers as she cupped her breasts. His fingers settled over hers and squeezed her fingertips so that she pinched her nipples hard.

  Unbelievably, she burned where his awakening erection rose between her thighs, nudging her softly. Slowly, she moved against him as he grew longer and thicker, and the tingling warmth spread throughout her body. She was ready for him again.

  "Not yet, Serena," he murmured as if he could read her thoughts. But one hand skimmed downward and rubbed briskly between her thighs.

  When her hips surged up, he pulled his hand away. She moaned piteously.

  "Stand up, but don't let your robe fall from your waist."

  Serena sighed and slipped from his lap, his erection rubbing her one last time before she carefully clutched the fabric to her and stood. She watched him stand, pull
ing up his trousers, zipping them quickly. He straightened and looked at her from dark, half-closed eyes. His hair had fallen into his face again and his shoulders were slightly hunched over. His trousers were zipped, but the waistband and belt hung loose above an enormous bulge. His lips were pursed thoughtfully.

  He looked like sex personified, satiated and aroused at the same time. Her knees grew weaker and she stepped toward him, ready to kiss the moué from his lips. He caught her by the shoulders, stopping her, looking down at her with his unfathomable eyes. Like bottomless pools of black ink in which she could become lost.

  "Go into your bedroom and remove your robe. Lie down in the center of your bed," he whispered hoarsely. "Spread your legs for me, Serena, and wait for your third punishment. I'll join you in a moment."

  "Yes, Invictus," she said without fear. His "punishments" were hardly that.

  He placed his palms on either side of her face, under her hair, his thumbs resting at her ears. She raised her chin. He looked down, his eyes darting back and forth as if examining her lips. Abruptly, he pulled her up on tiptoe and his mouth covered hers.

  His lips were warm silk, his tongue exquisite as it delved into her mouth, dueling with hers. He kissed her hungrily, thoroughly, completely. He didn't hold back and neither did she. She matched him, move for move, tongue for tongue, and devoured him as well.

  It was she who pulled back and he allowed it. She had to breathe, to think, to rush into the bedroom so he could do whatever he wanted with her. She turned and walked away from him, but didn't run. She wanted him to watch her cross the room and disappear through the door, so he wouldn't hesitate more than a moment. Even a moment was too long to be away from him.

  Serena did as she was told. She removed the enchanted robe and crawled into the center of the bed, spreading her legs for him. She waited.

  Invictus wasn't more than a few minutes. She had hardly gotten settled when he appeared in the doorway, a darker shadow in the moonlight that glowed through the windows. She watched him pad silently across the room, barefoot, still wearing his undone trousers. This was the image she'd had when she planned this evening. Invictus coming to her, climbing into her bed, making love to her in the moonlight.

  Instead of joining her, he went to the foot of the bed and stood, gazing at her with half-closed eyes.

  "Touch yourself, Serena."

  Hardly what she had expected. "What?"

  "I want to watch you touch yourself," he said huskily, not bothering to reprimand her for questioning him.

  She felt her face grow warm beneath his scrutiny.

  "I would rather you touch me, Invictus."

  "Oh, I will, Serena," he promised softly. "I will touch you, but first I want to see you touch yourself."

  Yet another thing no other man had seen her do. Tonight was a night of many firsts for her. How many more firsts would he put her through? How many more would she find she enjoyed?

  She only touched herself when the nights grew too long and lonely. She had touched herself a lot in the past few months while dreaming of Invictus in her bed.

  He leaned closer, bracing his hands on the footboard, arms stiff, shoulders slumped forward. His shaggy hair fell into his face, shadowing his eyes. But she could feel him watching her, waiting for her to do as he said.

  She put her hands to her breasts, cupping them as he'd had her do while in the chair. She ran her thumbs over her nipples, watching him watching her. Knowing the sight excited him was what excited her.

  Then she let her hands roam over her ribcage and across her belly, her fingers brushing her lower curls.

  "Yes, Serena, there," he insisted.

  She took a deep breath and placed a hand between her legs. She was too self-conscious to enjoy her own fondling…or so she thought. But Invictus had ignited the heat within and her own hand stirred her more. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to be caught up in the sensations her moving fingers created. When her hips surged upward and she was on the verge of release, the bed shifted beneath her.

  Her eyes sprang open as Invictus came over the footboard, crawling toward her on hands and knees, climbing her body. She whimpered as he gathered her into his arms and kissed her roughly, deeply, taking her breath away.

  Serena kissed him back just as savagely, her hands threading through his shaggy hair, her legs hooking around his thighs. This was what she had wanted and dreamed of for so long. She tilted her chin up as his lips worked their way down her neck. He stopped at her breasts long enough to suck each one a moment while kneading the other.

  His hair slipped through her fingers as he moved lower, across her ribcage and belly, following the path her own hand had blazed moments before. He knelt between her legs, his long hair brushing her inner thighs as his tongue delicately delved into her patch of curls.

  Serena gasped and arched her back. His tongue and lips played with her, and she writhed beneath him. She was so close…so close she quivered all over. A moan escaped her throat and her hands clenched in the bedding.

  Suddenly, he was no longer there, no warm tongue stimulating her into a frenzy, no hands pressing into her thighs. Her hips rose, seeking his touch, while her whirling mind tried to comprehend the abrupt change. Her eyes flew open.

  He stood beside the bed, poised as if ready to flee. Was that his intention? To leave her now, balanced on the edge of forever, without finishing what he had begun?

  Serena looked up and held out her arms to him, whispering, "Invictus, please."

  Chapter Ten

  Invictus had felt Serena tremble and the rapid undulations of her hips had told him she was near climax. Then he'd made one of the most difficult decisions of his life…he pulled away from her warm honey. He watched her body react in frustration at the sudden lack of his touch.

  He ached to lie with her again, his cock a throbbing reminder of what he denied himself as well as Serena. But he'd lost sight of what he needed to do and why. Now he had to follow through. He had to make Serena despise him to keep her safe.

  DeMonica would one day return. While he didn't think DeMonica still wanted him, he was afraid she would delight in destroying what he most held dear in retaliation for his betrayal. And what he most held dear at this moment was Serena.

  Invictus looked at her, aglow with unspent ecstasy. Her eyes opened wide, and she looked straight at him and into his heart. She reached for him and whispered, "Invictus, please."

  His resolve shattered. His cock burned. He couldn't leave her after that impassioned plea. Throwing caution to the dark winds of chance, he unzipped his trousers, pushed them off his hips, and stepped out of them toward Serena.

  He took her hands and folded their fingers together. Raising her arms above her head, he pressed their fists into the bedding as he settled between her thighs. Her long legs wrapped around him. She sighed softly and he kissed her.

  As his tongue delved into her mouth, his cock drove into her hot, wet slit. Only a few hard strokes and she bucked beneath him, crying out his name. Her quivering muscles sent him over and his body shook with the release.

  Invictus loosened his hold on her hands, and fell back on the bed on his side. Serena snuggled into him, her backside nestling against his deflated cock and her long legs molding to his. He propped his head up on one elbow and laid his other hand on her bare shoulder.

  He shouldn't have let it go this far. He shouldn't have returned to her bed. He should have walked away so she would be safe. Now, he held Serena in his arms, but her life was in his hands. He wouldn't hesitate to give his life to protect her, but he wasn't sure if that would be enough.

  Serena turned her head and glanced back at him. She was smiling shyly.

  "I probably shouldn't ask, but wasn't there supposed to be another punishment?"

  "Tomorrow night," Invictus said, sealing both their fates. He leaned down and kissed her shoulder.

  "Tomorrow night?" she asked, and moved closer to him, the full length of her body pressing into his.

>   He wanted to wrap her in his arms and never let her go. His cock stirred, and she wiggled her bottom against him teasingly. He was tempted to stay with her longer—all night…the rest of his life—but he couldn't be found anywhere near the North Tower, Serena's chamber, or Serena. He couldn't trust that DeMonica didn't have one or more spies in this dimension or even in the castle.

  "What about tomorrow night?" she prompted him.

  "I'll expect you in the dungeon tomorrow night, exactly at midnight," he murmured near her ear. "Not a minute earlier or a minute later."

  "And what will we do in your dungeon?" Serena asked breathlessly.

  "You'll find out," he said, pressing a kiss to her ear. He slipped a hand around and cupped a full breast. "And, Serena, don't tell a soul about us."

  "Not even Celeste? She's my best friend. She gave me the globe and the robe."

  "No, not even Celeste."

  "Why not?" Her voice rose in bewilderment.

  "Are you questioning me?" he asked sharply. He had to revert to the dominating bastard to field the question. He couldn't tell her the truth.

  "No, not exactly. A-Are you ashamed of me? Of us?" He felt her pull away from him and his touch.

  "Discretion, Serena, that's all," he explained and gathered her closer. His fingers massaged the taut nipple of her breast until he felt her relax.

  "All right, Invictus. If that's the way you want it." But she sounded sad. He desperately regretted making her sad.

  "It is, Serena, for now."

  Invictus held her until she fell asleep, then he slid from the bed without disturbing her. He spread a blanket over her still form and watched her for a few minutes. He gathered his clothing and dressed in her sitting room, then turned down the lamp.

  Cautiously, he unlocked the door and peered out into the dimly lit hall. He didn't hear or see anyone or anything. Locking the door behind him, he hurried along until he reached the spiraling stairs.

  Serena Blackstone had surprised and delighted him. He regretted he hadn't been able to discourage her, but only because it put her in danger. He didn't know how DeMonica might react if and when she found out he was involved with another woman.