7. Pepper
SEVEN
PEPPER
I kept volleying between the fear that I was terrible at this and the raw pleasure corrupting me.
Salt’s words hummed through me.
Keep sucking me, Pepper, before I fuck your throat without mercy.
The thing was, I wanted him to face fuck me.
I wanted him to be rough. I wanted to be used without mercy.
Something was happening to me, a dark yearning brought to the surface, eager to get a taste of what was happening between us.
My gaze trailed up his hard stomach to where his eyes feasted on me. Pleasure raptured his beautiful face, all the harsh lines of his jaw and cheekbones cast golden by the bedroom lights. I took his cock deeper, the salty taste of his cum sitting on my tongue. He grunted, his hips flexing, pushing his cock further.
Serving him felt right .
I loved the taste of him. I wanted to do this for hours. I could stay on my knees here, licking and teasing and sucking as long as he demanded.
I just wanted to make him come again.
A whimper escaped between sucking motions, my eyes watering as he hit the back of my throat. Salt released a low hiss, his hips bucking again.
“Fuck,” he grunted, his fingers flexing. Inked thorns and roses climbed up his forearms, veins bulging as he gripped the blankets. His body was a museum, intricate designs blending with simple ones. The word mine was inked on the inside of his wrist. Possessive and demanding, just like him. “Fuck. You feel so good, Pepper. Are you wet, baby? Touch yourself.”
His words spun around me, wrapping me in their silky filth. I slid two fingers down to my pussy as I kept sucking, moaning. I pulled off just for a moment. “I’m so turned on,” I rasped. “I’ve never felt like this with someone before.”
“Me neither, baby.” I wasn’t sure if I believed him, even though he sounded genuinely tortured. His graveled voice became raspy as he reached for me. “Come here.”
The way he manhandled me sent a wave of shock through my entire body. I squeaked as he pulled me over him, turning me so my knees pressed into the blankets above his shoulders. “Wait,” I protested. “What are you doing?”
“Sit on my face while you choke on my cock,” he demanded.
“I don’t want to hurt you?—”
He slapped my ass hard enough I gasped.
“You won’t hurt me,” he said. His fingertips dug into my hips and he brought my pussy down on his face, shock rolling through me as his tongue brushed my clit.
Fuck. I went still, my brain short circuiting. Jeff had always refused to go down on me because he said it was gross, but Salt was demanding it. His breath was hot against my pussy, his fingers kneading me as his tongue circled my clit, drawing involuntary moans from me.
No one had ever touched me like this before. Without hesitation, without making some backhanded comment about my body. I’d always imagined someone wanting me like this, but I'd never experienced it. I was unnerved by his touch.
Was I too much? What if he didn’t like the taste of me? What if hurt him?
He suddenly slapped my ass again, shattering all of my self-doubt. His tongue drew back. “Pepper, I swear to fucking god if you don’t suck my cock right now, I’m going to force you to.”
That only made the pulsing between my thighs more intense.
He could tell. A low growl left him as he pushed a finger inside of me, rubbing a spot inside me that made me yelp.
“Fuck,” I groaned “What are you doing to me?”
“Pleasing you.”
A shiver rolled down my spine as I looked down at his beautiful cock, thick with veins bulging along the shaft. I circled the base and guided him to my mouth as he lapped at my clit.
I could barely think straight as I started to suck. My eyes closed as I focused on the sensation of him gliding in and out of my mouth, the weight of his cock on my tongue. He held me firmly in place, even as I tried to keep my weight lifted off him.
Teeth sank into my ass cheek and I cried out.
“Sit on my face. Now .”
His hand slid up my side to the back of my head. He shoved me down, and I choked around his cock as he pulled my pussy on his face, forcing my full weight on him, forcing me to stay put. I struggled against him, but he didn’t let up.
Fuck. My entire body buzzed with electricity, pleasure pumping through me. I whimpered, tears streaming down my cheeks as he lessened the pressure on the back of my head for just a moment before pushing it back down, creating a choppy rhythm, fucking my throat as he sucked my clit.
The sensations flooded every part of me, overwhelming me until I was nothing but a wet, shaking fuck toy. The mere thought of being his to use dragged me close to the edge again, another orgasm threatening to overtake me.
He didn’t let up. My toes curled as I choked around him, coming right on his face, his tongue driving in and out of me and catching every drop of my pleasure. He released his hold on my head, allowing me to come up for full gasps of air, my nails digging into his thighs as I arched back.
“Good girl,” he panted against my pussy. His tongue darted out, licking me again. He moaned, getting lost in the taste of me.
The bliss lasted for a few moments, but then something ugly and unwanted raised its head. Panic? Fear? What in the hell was I doing? What was I thinking?
I immediately rolled off him and the bed, only for his hand to snatch my wrist and drag me back against him.
“No,” he said. “You’re not running.”
“ Stop ,” I gasped. “This was a mistake. This was…”
“Pepper,” he said gently, grabbing hold of my cheeks.
He forced me to look at him, so I closed my eyes.
“What just happened?” he murmured.
“I don’t know. I feel like I’m losing my mind.” I was shaking. I wanted more. I wanted so much more, but I didn’t know how to ask for it. For the first time in fifteen years, I found myself needing more from someone than they needed from me.
He stroked my face gently with his thumbs—patient. Too patient.
“Stop looking at me,” I muttered, squeezing my eyes shut even tighter. I could feel him, just like I did in the coffee shop. His presence suffocated me. It freed me.
“No.”
“I hate this.”
“I don’t.”
My eyes flew open to glare. “Fuck you.”
His skin glistened from my pussy, and he licked his lips. “You’re more than welcome to again if you want.”
I shoved at his chest, but he caught hold of my hands.
“What’s your safe word?” he asked.
My breath caught in my throat.
“We can stop. At any time. Any moment. I told you that earlier, and I meant it.” His dark brows pulled together in concern. “I can’t tell what is happening right now because you’re not telling me. Do you want me to actually stop?”
I didn’t want it to end. I didn’t want any of this to end. “No,” I whispered.
His shoulders relaxed a fraction. “Then use your words.”
Heat flamed in my cheeks. I was embarrassed. “I’ve never been with anyone like this. And I don’t know what to do with myself. I feel like I’m doing everything wrong. I came but then I felt humiliated. I’ve never squirted before, and then you made me come again, but… I’ve never had sex with someone who actually made me orgasm.”
Something hot glinted in his eyes. “That’s a tragedy, honestly. You don’t like it when you’re not the one in control, do you? It’s unfamiliar.”
I nodded. “I hate it. But there’s relief in it? And now I’m naked in front of a stranger ten years younger than me, having a breakdown. If anyone knew about this?—”
“Pepper. Stop.” He dragged me close, his arms wrapping around me. I wasn’t sure what he was going to do to me, but then he just…
He just hugged me.
Salt was hugging me.
Tears burned as I slowly pressed my face against his chest.
“You need someone who will make you forget about all of that,” he murmured. “Someone with a firm hand, hmm? Someone who won’t judge you for whatever you want to try.”
I nodded. “Yes.”
His fingers massaged the back of my head, working magic. A shiver rolled through me and I leaned into him. My spiral was winding down, but then a wave of guilt followed for ruining the night.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I ruined this.”
“No, you didn’t. Do you feel like you’re falling off a ledge and have no idea if you’ll survive hitting the bottom?”
“Yes,” I croaked.
“That’s called sub drop. Which is why I wanted to make sure I was ready with some sort of aftercare.”
“Oh.”
“It’s normal, Pepper.”
Normal. For some reason, that helped. Maybe it was knowing that I wasn’t completely flawed or broken. He kept massaging my head, drawing out a groan from me. “You know a lot about this stuff,” I mumbled.
“I do. Which is why I think we should get some water and relax.”
I frowned and looked up at him. “But don’t you want more?”
“Of course I do,” he snorted. “But for now, we’re going to take a shower and I’m going to massage your shoulders.”
My lips formed a pout. I wanted him to fuck me. “I don’t want this to end, though.”
“It doesn’t have to,” he whispered. “But we do need to take a break for now.”
A flash of disappointment came first, followed by a flood of emotions, all of them tied up in the hidden, ugly insecurities I kept from the rest of the world. But he saw them. And that horrified me.
Protect yourself. Protect. The cool, intellectual part of me took over, smothering everything else. “This is just a one night stand,” I said.
He laughed . “Yeah.” His hands slid down my body, cupping my ass. “We’ll see.”
I yelped as I was suddenly lifted, his muscles hard against me as he held me like a bride.
“Oh my god,” I hissed. “You’re insane.”
“I can be. Where’s the shower?”
I shook my head at him, but pointed at a doorway on the other side of my bedroom. He carried me across the room, flipped on the light, and let out a low whistle.
“Music industry pays well.”
I couldn’t remember the last time I saw my bathroom through new eyes. I was used to the luxuries I’d afforded myself. This bathroom was literally the reason why I’d wanted this apartment in the first place. Jeff could keep the house in Green Hills—it didn’t have the deep soaking tub or the gorgeous shower or the pristine counters or countless mirrors. Black-and-gray marbled tiles swept up from the floors and climbed the walls, a rack holding my silk robe and a stack of fluffy towels.
“I’ve been lucky,” I said. “I didn’t have anything like this growing up.”
“No? Where did you grow up?” His gaze was still sweeping over everything, taking it all in. For a moment, he looked even younger.
Fuck. I hesitated. Why did I even mention anything? I didn’t talk about the past or my childhood for a multitude of reasons. “Small town. Where did you grow up?”
He tensed, his expression tightening. “A little outside North Nashville. Let’s forget about any of that.”
I nodded, eager to leave it behind, too. He took me to the shower and opened the door, setting me down gently.
Salt scowled. “How the fuck does this shower work?”
I snorted as I touched a button on the wall, the screen lighting up. The water temperature was already set to how I liked it, and with one more press, the water streamed from overhead.
“Magic,” I said.
My stomach flipped as he stepped closer, slowly backing me against the shower wall. Hot water rolled down his back, licking his thorny vines and rose tattoos as the door shut and steam began to fill the space.
“Are you… are you sure you don’t want more?” I asked.
“I do want more,” he said. “But I also want to take care of you right now.”
“Why? You don’t have any reason to,” I said.
Salt’s eyes danced with a hint of amusement. He didn’t say anything though, instead dragging me to the center, water rinsing down my body. The heat felt good, all of my muscles relaxing. I shut my eyes and tipped my head back, my awareness of him only growing more acute. But the discomfort was slowly fading. It had been a long time since I’d showered with someone else, and while I was painfully aware of the fact that we were standing completely naked together, it didn’t feel as foreign as it had minutes before.
His fingers grazed up my side, cupping my breasts. I whimpered, eyes flying open. The look on his face was one of pure reverence, undoing me completely. I swayed against him, leaning up on my tiptoes to kiss him.
He took control, his tongue sweeping against mine. I wound my arms around his neck, finding myself lifted, legs winding around his waist. He moaned, kissing me harder, his hunger making me wet in other ways.
“Damn it,” he muttered between kisses. “ Pepper .”
I didn’t care. I rocked my hips, grinding against him. “I want you,” I whined. “I want to know what you feel like inside me. Only for tonight.”
He hissed between clenched teeth. “I don’t want to do anything you might regret.”
“Would you regret it?”
Salt frowned. “No.”
“Then I won’t either.”
His gaze searched my face, his brows drawing together. “Do you always get what you want?”
“ Always .”
“Do you want to know how to get me to do what you want?”
“How?” I asked.
“ Beg ,” Salt demanded. “I told you earlier I’m not fucking you until you beg for it, Pepper. Beg me for this cock. Beg me to breed your needy little cunt. Beg me to fuck you until you forget who you are.”