by Abby Brooks
“Yes! That’s good. Please, Ian. More of that.” Her breath heaved in her lungs and she writhed against her bonds. He slid a finger between her folds, angling it so that it dipped inside her just the tiniest bit while still keeping pressure on her clit.
“Oh, look how wet you are. You do like this.”
The tip of his finger wasn’t enough. She needed the whole thing inside her and she needed it now. She bucked her hips forward, lifted them off the bed. “Please, Ian. I need…” She trailed off when he plunged his finger deep inside her for one mind-bending second and then gasped when he withdrew it.
“We may be equals, Juliet, but you have to remember, I’m in control. I’ll be inside you when I decide to be, no sooner.” He lifted her shoulders a little. “Now I have to punish you, you dirty girl. Flip over.”
“What are you going to do?” She met his eyes, needing to see that he wasn’t actually angry, that this was just all part of the game and found what she needed.
“Well, my angel, remember that spanking you got the first night we were together? You’ve earned yourself another one of those for being such a bad girl.” Ian’s tone of voice was commanding, but his eyes were kind and locked on hers, searching for even the tiniest bit of fear.
She remembered what he’d said. That she’d just have to say the word and he’d stop. Juliet’s heart thundered around in her chest and her stomach did a little nervous dance, but she did as she was told. Maybe it was the alcohol, but more than likely it was the fact that she trusted Ian to keep her safe. While she was on her stomach, he slid her panties off and tossed them on the floor. Ran his hands over her bare bottom and spread her legs, dipping his fingers into her again. First one, then two.
“When I decide,” he whispered and her inner muscles clenched around his fingers. When he pulled his hand away, Juliet groaned in disappointment. Ian put his hands on her hips and helped her up onto her knees. With her hands tied above her head, her face was turned to the side, half buried in the pillow, and her ass was up in the air. It made her feel vulnerable and exposed, but it meant she could see him. He slowly undid the buttons at his wrists. Untucked his shirt tails and then unbuttoned his shirt, his eyes fixated on her hips.
When his shirt was open, baring little sneaking glimpses of his torso, he rolled up his sleeves and kneeled beside her. He spanked her once. Not hard enough to really hurt, just hard enough to make a sound. He rubbed her, caressing the spot, then he spanked her again. Then he plunged his fingers deep inside her, moved them in and out, stroking her inner walls and damned if he didn’t find that sensitive inner spot. The spot only he knew how to find. Her ass stung a little, but it mingled with what he was doing to her now and only added to her pleasure.
“You like that, don’t you?”
“Yes,” she gasped.
He pulled his hand back and slapped her ass again. Once. Twice. It felt so good. She never thought it could feel so good. And then his fingers were inside her, his other hand reaching around to circle her clit and she cried out. Every time she felt close to climaxing, he withdrew his fingers, and spanked her again. The orgasm he was building had her quivering already. He brought his hand down on her, once, twice, not hard, but hard enough, and she waited for his fingers. Needed his fingers. And then there they were, plunging in and out, his thumb circling her clit and she came with a scream, harder than she ever had. Her muscles clenching tighter and tighter as he kept finding that spot inside her. There was truly no man like Ian Moore.
The bed shifted and Ian stood. She moaned again, feeling a little trail of moisture work its way down her inner thigh.
“You’re dripping, my angel. I like it.”
Juliet sagged on the bed and panted, trying to catch her breath. “You make me come so hard. I’ve never had orgasms like this before.”
“I like that, too.” Ian ran a finger between her folds and Juliet cried out. “Now you be a good girl for me and stay just like that. I’ll be right back.”
What? He was going to leave her? Legs quivering and body trembling? Helpless and tied to his bed? Ian swept from the room and she listened for him, heard the clink of ice on glass and the sound of him rummaging through a drawer. What the hell was he doing? It wasn’t long before he returned, carrying a bowl of something in one hand and a bandana in the other.
“Now there’s a view I could get used to.” He set the bowl down on the night stand. “Flip over, beautiful, let me see you.” Juliet did as she was told and Ian showed her what was in the bowl. Ice. He put a piece in his mouth and sucked on it, bent over her and trailed it around her hard nipples, little bits of water snaking down her sides. He played until it was melted and she was gasping again, goosebumps standing out on her flesh, water pooling in her belly button. The spot between her legs throbbed with heat and moisture.
Ian took another piece of ice from the bowl and held it in his mouth, scooted down the bed and parted her legs. Juliet lifted her head and watched him take the ice from his mouth and just barely touch it to her clit. Her hips bucked off the bed and she dropped her head back. He held the ice against her, circling on that little ball of pleasure and then pulled it away and replaced it with his mouth. The change from cold to hot was almost more than she could take. She cried out again, writhing beneath him. As he sucked and licked, he put the ice inside her opening, only to pull it out and replace it with his tongue. She was nothing but sensation, nothing but need. Her orgasm was building again, reaching even higher than before.
“Ian, I’m gonna come again!” she called out, so close to release.
“Do it. Come for me, Juliet,” he said and she did just that.
When her breathing slowed, Ian stood and shrugged out of his shirt, undid his pants and stepped out of them. She could look at him like this all day. His cock straining towards her, his eyes filled with lust. He didn’t speak to her this time. He spread her thighs with his knees and pressed his tip against her opening. She threw her head back and he groaned, sliding himself all the way inside her until he was fully sheathed. She lost herself in his movement, in the sensation of having him inside her. She pulled on her bonds and called his name, his hips rocking and rolling and gaining speed as his own climax drew close.
“Look at me,” he growled and she did, her teeth clenched and her eyes locked on his while he came with a shout, bringing her right along with him. He collapsed on top of her and she was surrounded by him, filled by him. His scent in her nose, her name on his lips, completely and utterly consumed by the amazing Ian Moore.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Juliet groaned and opened her eyes onto a piercingly bright day, the sun streaking in through Ian’s curtain-less windows stabbing her right in her poor, hungover head. Ian’s head weighed heavy on her chest, his arms wrapped tightly around her, holding her close even in his sleep. She kissed his hair and breathed him in, closing her eyes and damning the wine. He stirred and she smiled. Waking up with him was a gift, hungover or not.
Last night was amazing. Everything she had ever wanted, everything she had ever needed, including things she hadn’t even thought of yet! He had taken control without being demeaning. Pushed her boundaries and played with pain, but did it so that it brought her pleasure. Made sure she came, and not just once. Oh no! Juliet came at least three times, and there was a good chance that her last orgasm started the moment he entered her and ended right about the time the sun came up.
This was a man who didn’t just take control but was in control. A man who operated from a place of confidence instead of some injured psyche that demanded he be obeyed above all things. A man she could fall in love with. A man she already was in love with. She swallowed hard and kissed him again.
“Do it again.” His voice was slurred with sleep.
“Do what again?”
“Kiss my head. It hurts. Red wine never has my best interest at heart.” Ian shifted, rolled onto his back and she immediately missed the contact of his skin on her skin.
“You too, huh?�
�� She draped an arm over her face. “As much as I appreciate the whole waking up with the windows open to the sea thing, I think the sun wants to kill me.”
Ian slid his feet off the side of the bed and sat up facing the window. Stretched while Juliet watched the muscles in his back flex and ripple, then stood, giving her an unobstructed view of his backside.
“Body of an Adonis,” she said and pushed herself into a sitting position, clutching the sheet to her chest.
Ian turned his head so his face was in profile over his shoulder, flexed his arms like a bodybuilder, and grit his teeth. “Ouch,” he said, grimacing. “I was gonna make a joke, but I think I just angered the red wine again.”
“Goodness, don’t do that. It’s angry enough already.”
Ian padded around the front of the bed towards his closet, paused when he saw her. “No, no, no. That won’t do. You can’t keep a body like that covered up. Drop that sheet, now.”
Juliet giggled and let the sheet fall, exposing her breasts. “Ohhh,” she groaned. “Don’t make me laugh. It’s bad. It’s really, really bad.”
“Alright then, what this needs is hangover food. Get dressed. We’re going to Good Beginnings.” Ian disappeared into his closet and reemerged with some clothes in his hand.
“I can’t. I have to go let Lulu out.”
“Fucking Lulu.”
Juliet slid out of bed and started gathering last night’s clothes. “I thought you liked Lulu because she brought us together.”
“Yeah, but right now, she’s keeping us apart.” Ian pulled on some boxer briefs and pants. “How about this. We’ll stop at your house, let Lulu out, you can put on some new clothes because my sexy little angel won’t be doing anything close to the walk of shame, wandering around town in last night’s clothes. And then, I’ll take you into Good Beginnings and we’ll stuff our faces with whatever the hell we feel like.”
Juliet had to admit, the plan was a good one. Plus she really wasn’t ready to leave Ian’s company yet. She got dressed while Ian brushed his teeth, then they hopped in her car and Ian played with the dog while she took a few minutes to set herself to rights. It was only half an hour later that they found themselves seated in Ellie Charles’s cafe, coffee steaming in front of them, waiting for their food.
“Rough night?” Ellie asked with a quirk of her eyebrows when she brought a huge tray supporting the odd array of items they’d ordered.
“Oh, no. Rough morning,” said Ian, pulling a plate laden with pancakes in front of him. “The night was wonderful.”
Juliet giggled and bit her lip, met Ellie’s eyes with a sweet smile and nodded her agreement. “You’ll get no complaints from me.”
“Too much info, you two. Too much.” Ellie held up a hand and turned away, laughing gently to herself on her way back to the counter.
Juliet made quick work of breakfast, finishing a plate of pancakes, some bacon, and a biscuit, and drinking both an orange juice and a Coke in between sips of coffee. Ellie had made several trips back, wielding coffee like a trained hangover nurse and carrying away empty plates.
“So, looking back, was there anything about last night you didn’t like?” Ian asked, picking at a piece of buttered toast. “Anything you think fear or wine talked you into doing that you don’t think you want to do again?”
Julz thought through the night, taking the time to really process his question. The muscles deep in her belly flared to life and clenched, and damn if she didn’t get a little wet. “Nope,” she said with certainty. “Not one thing.”
Ian’s broad smile brought out one of her own. “That’s what I like to hear. You think we hit your limit? Or could we play some more?”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure we could do some more exploring. You don’t scare me. I feel safe with you.”
“You should. I’d never do anything to hurt you.” Ian leaned forward. “That you didn’t like, that is.”
Juliet hid her blush behind a long drink of coffee, the caffeine waging a very successful war against the pain in her head. “I’m so full.” She sat back in the booth, keeping her coffee in her hands. “But I’m not queasy anymore, so I’m not complaining.”
Ian cleared his throat and a serious expression fell across his face. “So, I was thinking,” he began and she was instantly queasy again, the change in him making her nervous. “If Michael Phillips broke the terms of your agreement, then he’s in breach of contract. I know you’re afraid he’s gonna try and find you or something, but I don't think you need to worry. He's probably thrilled you disappeared because you’re the one holding all the cards.”
Juliet shrugged. “Maybe. But I’m in breach of contract, too. I told both you and my friend Willow about what was going on. That’s a pretty direct violation of the non-disclosure clause. And I’m less and less sure he’s gonna want to find me. I think I’m just another notch on that belt, you know? Another name on a dotted line. But, I really don’t want to tempt fate. Tech Lord still owes me my final paycheck, and I sure would like to get it. I just can’t bring myself to reach out in case he comes swooping down on me and ruins all this.” Juliet made a sweeping motion, gesturing to Ian and the little strip of downtown Bliss out the window.
“If he owes you money, there’s no reason not to reach out and get it.”
“Yeah, but what if he gets mad and starts accusing me of stuff? What if he, I don’t know, sues me? What if he goes after Willow, or you, because you know the truth about what he likes. What if… ” She couldn't bring herself to finish that sentence, to speak the fear that hung so heavily on her. What if he tried to kill me so I couldn't say anything?
“Do you really think any of that will happen?”
“I don't know. Not really…? But Ian, I’m really afraid of him. He’s got a lot of money, and a lot of power, a whole team of lawyers, and I’m in a pretty good spot to understand that he’s not exactly working with a full batch of cookies.”
“Cookies, huh?” Ian asked with a wry smile. “That what you’re going with?”
“You better believe it.”
Ian sat back and watched out the window while Juliet thought through all the fear she had surrounding Michael. It’d been, what? Over a month since she’d left? Surely, seeing as Michael really did have all the money and power and technology he could ever need right there at his greedy little fingertips, he would have found her if he really wanted to. His continued silence spoke volumes.
“I think you should ask for your paycheck,” Ian said breaking the silence.
All the reassurance Juliet had been feeling dissipated. “It’s not worth it.”
“No. I think it is. Sure, he’s rich and powerful and has a team of lawyers, but that might not exactly work in his favor. Money, power, and lawyers? The Moore family has those things, too, and you know what? If my lawyer talks to his lawyer, I bet Michael Phillips would end up terrified of the court case that might follow on the heels of any contact he made with you other than sending you the money you’re owed. You know, high profile CEO’s tend to shy away from sex scandals that make them out as selfish, abusive, assholes.”
Juliet didn’t know what to say. What Ian just said made a whole hell of a lot of sense. Maybe she’d been safe this whole time, just because of the nature of the very relationship she’d been scared of.
She grinned. Couldn’t have kept a straight face if she tried. “You are so right.”
“Of course I’m right. That’s what I do.”
“He’s not gonna want me anywhere near a courthouse, or a microphone, or a news crew. Even if his mighty team of lawyers came slamming down on my head, the damage would be done to him the moment I opened my mouth.”
“And if his lawyers even looked at your sweet little head the wrong way, my lawyers would be all over their asses.” Ian leaned forward and took her hands in his. “And you better believe that if he tried to hurt you, he'd have to get through me first.”
Juliet beamed at Ian and for the first time she could think about Mi
chael Phillips without feeling like she was left to the mercy of his actions. Like he could destroy her on a whim. Hell no. Not now. With Ian at her side, it turned out that she was the one in control of this situation. Michael was in the palm of her hand, at her mercy. Not the other way around.
“Can I take that shit-eating grin as a sign that you’re gonna go after your last paycheck?”
“Hell yeah, I am. I’ll contact the Tech Lord human resource department as soon as I get home.”
Ian sat back. “How about this. Don’t contact them.”
Juliet frowned. Didn't he just talk her into calling about the money they owed her? How could she do that without making contact? “What do you mean?”
“I want you to let me get my lawyers involved. That way he knows to not even think about coming after you.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“You bet your sweet ass I’d do that for you.”
The smile was on her face again and she was nodding, laughing a little in disbelief. How had she gotten so lucky? She’d literally chosen Bliss on a whim and it’d been the best decision she’d ever made in all her life. All the years before Ian were cold and gray and mechanical. Stressful and tense. Since moving to Bliss and meeting Ian her world was filled with color and laughter. Things were easy. Right. Like this was the life she’d been destined to live.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Are you sure I look okay?” Juliet stood in front of the mirror in the bedroom and fussed with her dress, picked at her hair, leaned in and checked her makeup.
“You could look okay in a burlap sack.” Ian looked amazing, as usual, leaning back on her bed, his jeans hugging all the right spots in all the right ways, his cowboy boots kept respectfully off the duvet.
“I just really want to make a good impression, that’s all.”