Playing with Fire
29
R eading to him made her more skittish than any threats of punishment. The only thing scarier than letting a man read her dirty novel was having to read it out loud to him!
A fire crackled in the hearth. Gage sat on the oversized sofa with a plate of finger sandwiches and crudités while she fiddled with her laptop. She closed all the browser tabs in case he looked over her shoulder.
Her stomach was in knots.
“I’m not a patient man, Brynne.”
“I know! I just need a minute to find the latest version of chapter one. No one has seen this; you will be the first.”
“You look like I’ve sentenced you to the guillotine. Relax.”
She blew out a breath and shook her head. Here goes nothing.
Twenty minutes later, her face was on fire when she forced herself to look up from her screen. He had a crooked grin on his face. Was he trying to find something nice to say?
“Well. What do you think? Be honest.”
“It is very good. It flowed well. You captured my interest and I want to know what happens to the heroine next. You’ve also given the reader a taste of what kind of morally gray character Dante is. Well done.”
She beamed at him. “Thank you. I’m happier with this version, too. I reworked it so there’s more tension between them right from the beginning.”
“Thank you for sharing it with me. I’m looking forward to hearing more.” His smile looked genuine, and she was relieved. He suggested she have something to eat and take the afternoon to edit. He had some work to do before his massage therapist arrived.
Brynne returned to her room to work at her desk. If she stayed on the couch by the fire, she would fall asleep and get nothing done.
After editing two chapters, she went to the kitchen for a drink. On the way back, she saw a tall, slim blonde coming down the steps. Of course, the woman was gorgeous with a perfect body. She looked ill at ease until she spotted Brynne, then her eyes turned squinty as she looked with disdain at Brynne’s ratty pink robe and mussed hair.
The woman flipped her long hair and said, “You must be his latest sub. I’m Kylie, his personal massage therapist.”
Brynne pasted on a phony smile and replied, “I’m Bree, the flavor of the month.”
“Cute. But, you’ll see, no matter who is warming his bed, he still needs a professional to work out the kinks and give him a happy ending.”
Brynne laughed harshly. “Sorry Karlie, but I’m going to lay odds he had nothing for you today but sore muscles from all the fucking we’ve been doing. And while I’m here, he won’t be needing a happy ending. You can see yourself out.”
Brynne didn’t wait to see her leave, but she heard the front door slam. Did he honestly think it was okay to let that bitch touch his dick? If Brynne wasn’t seeing anyone else for the duration of this agreement, the same rules applied to him. How could she convey that point?
A little while later, Gage popped his head into her room. “How’s it going?”
“Good. I’m a little stiff though. I could use a massage after all this computer time. Can you give me your therapist’s number? I want to book myself a treatment.”
He hesitated for a second, then nodded. “Sure, I will text it to you. We will leave here at six. We are going to a hotel in Sleat with a fabulous chef. Your outfit is in the closet.”
“Okay.” She bit her lip and wondered what he planned for tonight.
“Don’t look so worried. It’s perfectly respectable.”
He left, and she ran to check the closet. The new dress was a silky wraparound style in dark teal. He’d also provided stockings, garters, and a matching black lace bra and panty set. She wondered how he found beautiful outfits that fit her to a T. And how much money was he spending to get them here? Crazy man!
Her phone dinged with Kylie’s contact info. Brynne would book a massage to follow his, then the day before, she’d cancel it and any upcoming appointments. That bitch wouldn’t be back while she was in residence. He could call her when she was gone!
At the dot of six, Brynne was excited and ready to leave. An older gentleman stood by the Range Rover, waiting for them. He nodded and tipped his cap before opening the rear door. Gage helped her into the SUV and introduced her to Hugh. They chatted briefly about his wife and grandkids, and Gage explained Hugh had been driving him and his mother for years. If she needed to go to the mainland or the airport, Hugh would take her.
When they pulled in, Brynne recognized the quaint boutique hotel. She and Josie ate lunch there years ago, after a tour of Armadale Castle.
The owner welcomed them personally and gave them a very secluded table. The staff seemed to know him, and Brynne wondered if he brought anyone else there. She didn’t want to think about who came before.
The meal was delicious, and they polished off a bottle of red wine without realizing it. Gage got her talking more about her novel and her summers in Skye. Perhaps it was a ploy to keep her from asking personal questions. She still knew next to nothing about him.
When dessert arrived, he told her he needed to go to Edinburgh for a few days on business. Secretly, she was relieved to have a few days to herself.
He lowered his voice and leaned closer. “While I am away, I want you to journal about your dirtiest fantasies. Hold nothing back.”
Her eyes widened and she knew creases were forming on her forehead.
“This exercise will help your writing. By delving deeper into what turns you on, you’ll be able to turn your readers on.”
She glared at him and leaned close to whisper harshly, “And how am I supposed to write all that stuff and not bring myself off?”
“You will save all your orgasms for me. I want to be the one to unleash them.” He winked and called for the check. They were both quiet on the drive home, and Brynne spent the whole time stewing about his latest demand.
They entered through the front door and Gage helped her coat off. “Take the dress off, Brynne. I want to see you in that sexy lingerie.”
All that erotic talk over dinner together with the wine helped lessen her inhibitions. She was not used to stripping for him and fumbled with the tie that held the dress together at her waist.
He held out his hand for it and his eyes raked her over from head to toe. “There’s a package in the kitchen for you. Bring it.”
Brynne hurried excitedly to the kitchen and returned with the brown paper package. She found him in the bedroom getting undressed. He’d lit the fireplace and pulled a lounge chair forward, so it was a few feet from the bed.
“Go ahead and open it.”
She ripped the packing tape off and pulled out the inner box. “Oh my god, you replaced Mr. Boss! Thank you, Gage. That was so sweet of you.” She pulled him down to kiss him on the cheek and said, “I was going to order one this week.”
“I’m glad you like the gift, Brynne. Now you can show me how you use it.”
Her mouth dropped open, and she backed up a few steps. “No, please. You can’t be serious.”
“I’m deadly serious. You only use it when I give you explicit permission or when I can watch.”
“I can’t. I just can’t. That’s too private.”
“I guess you won’t get that orgasm tonight, will you?”
“Who made you such a bastard?”
“Watch it, Red. You’re treading on thin ice. I’m going to pour a drink. Do you want one?”
“Yes.” Her irritated tone had him turning back, one eyebrow raised. “Yes, please sir ,” she added sweetly, then scowled at his back and threw up two middle fingers.
What the hell! How could he ask this of her?
It was yet another test.
When he returned, he had two glasses of port. She took the glass and glowered at him.
“Well, are you performing for me tonight or not? Remember, I’ll be gone for a few days, so…”
Brynne watched him sink into the chair and casually sip the drink. She stood there, debating her options. Fine. He wanted to play games. She could play too.
She downed the contents of her glass, deposited it on the bedside table, and started ripping open the box. How nice that he replaced the exact one he ran off with that night in London. Lucky for her, the hot pink, six-speed toy came fully charged.
He was watching her, his mouth twitching in amusement. She turned away from him and bent over to undo the delicate straps of her shoes. The lacy bra, garter belt, and stockings made her feel very sexy, so they were staying on. Slowly, she pulled her panties down and flung them in his direction. He caught them, put them up to his nose, and inhaled.
She sat on the edge of the bed and lay back, leaving her legs dangling over the side.
You can do this, Brynne. Just pretend you’re alone.
She turned the vibrator on and focused on the wrought iron scrolls above the bed. Gage was suddenly standing over her. He had a pillow in his hand. “I expect you to look at me when you come.” She rolled her eyes and lifted her head so he could prop her head up.
He looked at his watch. “You have five minutes.”
“Five?! That’s not fair. Do you want me to fail?”
“Perhaps I’m just trying to see what you’re made of.”
She smiled wickedly and turned the switch to a higher setting. “Don’t worry, Mr. Boss always delivers.” Staring boldly at him, she spread her legs and coated the toy in her juices. If she hated this so much, why was she already wet? It didn’t matter why; the clock was ticking down fast. Her mind went to her darkest fantasy, then drifted to that first night on this bed—when she took his cock deep in her throat and was helpless to stop him. A blissful moan escaped her as she pushed the toy inside. In and out, she thrust it until her breath was coming in quick gasps. Short panting cries came from deep in her belly as her fingers manhandled her clit, and she forced the toy deeper until it reached the ultimate sweet spot. Brynne screamed her release and shuddered again and again, riding the waves of ecstasy to the end.
As she floated down from that amazing release, she smiled, satisfied she’d beaten him at his own game. Her eyes fluttered open to find Gage naked, sheathed and lifting her legs to his shoulders. He took the toy and threw it across the room.
“Mine.”
When Gage walked into his Edinburgh office on Monday afternoon, his assistant Fiona shocked him by jumping up and giving him a hug. As a rule, she was pretty buttoned up and she ran a tight ship—keeping everyone on their toes in his absence. She was one of a select few he allowed into his personal life.
“You look like shit, Magnus. How do you intend to attract a nice woman looking like you do?”
“Fiona, my dear, I have found a woman, and she’s keeping me up all night, so you needn’t worry about my sex life any longer.”
“I never worried about your sex life; it’s your love life that needs resuscitation.”
“Sorry to report that isn’t about to change anytime soon.”
They went to his inner sanctum and got to work. Fiona sat with him, noting action items as they went through his list. Out of the blue, she asked, “How did you convince your neighbor to let you dig?”
Gage smiled crookedly. “I made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.” He pulled out the signed paper from his briefcase. “Scan and file this with my lawyers. The crews can begin work on her property in ten days.” His team had worked tirelessly to get the surveys and permits in place, but everything waited on clearance from Brynne.
“I am sure your powers of persuasion worked on the poor girl.” She winked knowingly.
“Not quite. She fought me tooth and nail. In the end, it required me to add a sweetener.”
“Oh cripes, don’t tell me she is the one keeping you up all night?!”
“If I said I was doing it for the good of the poor residents of Skye, would you believe me?”
“No fecking way. I know you. She must have tweaked your interest.”
“Something like that. Anyway, it’s a temporary diversion while I’m in Skye. It will end when I get back to London.”
“Oh Magnus,” she sighed. “If you like this one, give it a chance.” His expression told her to drop the subject, and she knew him well enough to leave it alone.
They worked over the next several hours on paperwork and reviewing the newest investment proposals. Armand, his COO, was due back tomorrow. He was out with Patricia again. She was close to making an offer on a castle they’d found. It was outside the city and would be the perfect private location for a destination spa. Zoning and permits were also easier to get in the neighboring county. Gage planned to invest half a million pounds, and Cole and Aaron had agreed to do the same. His friends loved the idea when they heard about it.
He was still at the office going through files when Garrick rang him. “Hey Gage. Sorry to bother you during dinner. Do you have a few minutes?”
“No issue mate, I’m still at the office. What’s up?
“Dimitri showed up today, demanding to see you. He wasn’t happy to hear you were out of town.”
“What the fuck did he want?”
“He asked to be reinstated as a member, claimed Brynne led him on and that he never touched her. He insisted he didn’t break any rules, and that she overreacted. Then he threatened to sue us.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“My sentiments exactly. He pressed me on when you would be back. I said I would pass along his message.”
Gage ran a hand through his hair. “Did he leave peacefully?”
“Yeah. I made him leave his bodyguards outside. We spoke in the lobby and then he left.”
“Let John know. I want him to be aware he has resurfaced.”
“Got it. I’ll see him later tonight.”
“Good.”
“When are you coming back to London? We miss you.”
“Not for a few weeks, at least. Things in Skye are moving along well now, and the excavation starts soon.”
At some point, he would have to tell Garrick about Brynne and their arrangement, but not today. He didn’t want to hear his objections, or the I told you so. They agreed to touch base again in a few days. He called the house to check in but kept it brief. She seemed a bit annoyed when he reminded her, no touching, and no orgasms.
“Sure thing, Mags. I’ll save all my comes for you. I expect you’ll do the same for me, right?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means no happy endings for you either.”
He cleared his throat. “Watch your tone, Red. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt because you don’t know me. However, listen carefully. I don’t cheat and I don’t play with multiple partners—although there are exceptions to that rule, which we’ll discuss another time. For the duration of our agreement, my cum will go down your throat, or into one of your other orifices. And if not inside you, then all over you. Do you understand?”
She made an unladylike snorting sound into the phone. “Yes, sir. When will you be back?”
“As soon as I finish. Likely Wednesday. Why? Do you miss me?”
“No. I just want to be ready ,” she said cheekily.
“I may just surprise you—so I suggest you stay ready.”
The cloud cover was heavy Tuesday night and sat low on the hills, so Gage’s helicopter could not land at the new helipad at his house. Fiona arranged for Hugh to pick him up from the Broadford airstrip. As they flew low over the Skye Bridge, Gage wondered what Brynne was up to. He looked forward to catching her off guard, since she expected him tomorrow afternoon. The lab had processed her bloodwork quickly after he offered a generous incentive for next-day results. From now on, he could forego the condoms.
Armand and Fiona had things well in hand and he wouldn’t admit it to anyone that he left early because he missed sparring with Brynne. He came in through the garage entrance and tiptoed into the living room. She was tucked into a corner of the loveseat, snoring lightly. It had been unseasonably cold the last few days, and she was in her purple flannel nightie. It was a garment that he should not find at all sexy. Except he did.
He crept behind the couch so he could see over her shoulder. There was a massage porn video paused on her computer. What the hell is she researching now? He put his hand over her mouth and grabbed her wrists. She came awake, struggling and squealing.
He leaned down behind her and growled in her ear. “Shh. I won’t hurt you. Unless you’ve been a bad girl.”
She squirmed against his grip and tried to say something. He made his voice deep and raspy. “I will take my hand off your mouth if you promise not to scream. Nod if you understand.”
She nodded. He helped her stand up on the cushions, then roughly turned her, so she faced him. Pinning her wrists behind her back with one hand, his other went under her nightie and started a slow path up her leg. “Have you been a good girl?”
He watched her face—reading guilt, followed closely by defiance.
“Mostly.”
“Tell me.” He was already hard when his hand reached her hip.
“I, um, I pleasured myself.”
His pupils darkened. “How many times?”
She looked at the floor. “Two.”
“How many?” His voice took on a scary, grating tone.
She sighed. “It might have been three. But I couldn’t help it. I was doing research, and you weren’t here to relieve me.”
His hand squeezed her hip, then he quickly turned her back around and pushed her to sit on the back of the couch. “Pull up your nightgown and don’t let go.” He yanked off his jacket and threw it on a chair. Standing behind her he asked, “How many dirty videos did you watch?”
She didn’t answer.
He couldn’t see her expression, but knew she was trying to choose the right answer. “Well?”
“I can’t be sure.”
“You know I can check.”
She looked back at him, her eyes lit with excitement. “You told me to be ready for you.”
He gritted his teeth so he wouldn’t smile. “One might think you were asking for trouble.”
She smiled playfully. “One might…”
His hands went to her knees and pulled them apart as he dragged his fingers lightly up her inner thighs, toward the apex. “Are you ready to pay the piper?”
She inhaled. “What does the piper want?”
Gage spread her with his fingers and found his private paradise. “Christ,” he uttered. His hand cupped her, then smacked her swollen flesh lightly, causing her to squirm.
“I want this soaking wet pussy…right now.”
He couldn’t wait another minute to have her. Forget the teasing, forget punishing her for breaking the rules; forget all of it. He picked her up roughly, carried her to his bedroom, and tossed her onto the bed.
“Take that thing off, or I’ll rip it to shreds.”
Brynne quickly did as she was told, grinning at him. She then laid herself on the bed like a virgin sacrifice. He stripped off his clothes, barely able to string a thought together. He wanted her so badly.
Gage climbed between her legs and entered her in one stroke. His mouth swallowed her gasp and devoured her in a desperate kiss. He couldn’t get deep enough inside her and knew he would not last. Brynne was almost feral—demanding as much from him as he was from her. Her hands were yanking on his hair, then gripping his shoulders and clutching his hips to pull him deeper.
“Please Gage, please, may I come?” She begged him so sweetly, how could he deny her?
He rolled onto his back, taking her with him. “Ride me.”
She kissed him with wild abandon and straightened her legs. Perching on his cock, pubic bone to pubic bone, she started squeezing and grinding against him. Seconds later she screamed and came—her body shuddering with aftershocks.
“Again,” he said against her mouth.
She lifted her torso off him, perched on her hands like a cobra pose in yoga, and closed her eyes in concentration. More grinding followed louder and louder moans until she went off like a firework again. She collapsed on his chest, buried her face in his neck, her breathing ragged against his skin. He thought she was finished, but her hips started rotating and twisting again. She nibbled on his earlobe and panted, “One more. Just one more, please.”
He enjoyed being her stallion, but it was time to add a little spice. One hand gripped her ass, the other dipped between her legs and gathered her juices on his finger. When he touched it to her bottom hole, she jerked her head up and clenched her cheeks together, staring at him with uncertainty in her eyes.
He stared back. “One finger, in exchange for one more orgasm.”
Her breath hitched, but she nodded. “Okay. But be gentle.”
She hid her face in the crook of his neck and then nibbled and sucked on his shoulder while he wet his finger again. She rubbed herself on him, gathering momentum for another orgasm. When he tapped the tight little ring, she moaned into his neck. He waited for her to get into her rhythm and then pressed forward with the tip of his finger. Christ, she’s tight. Her body pressed down on him harder and faster, so he slid into the first knuckle and she lost it. His shoulder muffled her piercing cry as she came apart. It seemed to last for a full minute until she finally slumped against him, panting to catch her breath.
Gage rolled her beneath him and dragged her legs up into the crook of each arm. He was a man possessed and he fucked her as if she could save his soul and banish his demons. He couldn’t be sure which. Moments later, he detonated like a bomb, reaching the peak of ecstasy as wave after wave surged through him, leaving him breathless and trembling with its force.
Later, he would analyze why he didn’t immediately leave her side. Instead, he pulled her body in close and spooned her while his mind struggled to make sense of this profound attraction for a woman he didn’t trust.