Chapter 21 #2
“It’s more of the same.” My tone tries to keep the moment light, because it’s weighing on me. I unhook my bra and slide it off. Then the panties.
I thought about getting waxed for this, but there wasn’t time for me to do it. From the plethora of salons in Foxgrove, I’m sure most GU girls are.
“Exactly what I imagined,” he says as he rises. Our gazes lock together like puzzle pieces. “And exactly what I want.”
“Hmm…” There’s a trace of skepticism in the sound.
“What?” When he stops in front of me, he casts a big shadow. So tall. So muscular. It’s impossible not to constantly clock that.
“I don’t know,” I whisper. “At first, you didn’t act like I was your type.”
“Beautiful without even trying? That’s every man’s type, whether he lets on or not. You gonna pretend you don’t know that?” War’s thumbs brush my biceps as he grips my upper arms. His breath is warm and smells faintly of mint.
“You worked pretty hard to convince me otherwise.”
“Yeah, well, I wanted you to understand you couldn’t bring me to my knees.”
In the low light, his eyes are dark, but so close, I can see the ribbons of greenish gold that mark them as hazel rather than fully brown. They’re beautiful, and remind me of a tiger’s. He’s also got gorgeous thick black lashes that I couldn’t achieve with ten coats of mascara.
“Metaphorically,” he adds .
My gaze drops to his mouth. “What?”
“I don’t mean I’ll never be on my knees literally. There are some parts of you I will want at eye-level and mouth-level soon enough. I meant, your kind of beautiful makes plenty of men weak. I don’t get weak over a woman’s looks. No matter how good they are.”
“What makes you weak?”
“Not much. But I have let myself get distracted. When I don’t want to take my eyes off you, I’ve been shot in the back.”
I shrug. “We did all right in the end.”
“Yes, we did.” Leaning his head down and lifting me to my toes, he brings his lips close to mine. “Give me a kiss. A good one.”
He’s not what I expected. Nor is the opening of this night. I expected fast and rough. Wasn’t at all sure I wouldn’t end up feeling bruised and used.
The kiss is nothing like that. When our lips touch, there’s nothing transactional about it. It’s slow, with both of us open to all the possibilities of what it could become.
For the first time, a kiss makes me feel awake in the moment. My body leans in, so my nipples touch his chest. His dark hair and hard muscles are foreign but so delicious. His tongue strokes mine before sliding into my mouth. Relaxing my jaw, I open wider until there’s no space left.
The kiss lasts and lasts, and that’s because of him. He sets the slow pace, giving us time to explore each other’s mouths, to inhale each other’s breath, for our skin to melt together like warm wax.
When he sets me down, I sip in air to catch my breath.
“That qualifies as good, right?” There’s a teasing note to my voice.
“You really gonna ask questions you already know the answer to?”
Swallowing, I shrug, then take a deeper breath. “I’m not actually that sure of myself when it comes to kissing. In the past, it was kind of awkward.”
“Did that feel awkward?” His tone is skeptical, as though he expects more from me than he’s getting.
I bristle inwardly. Normally, I love the way we challenge each other, but right now… “No, but maybe I need to hear how it landed on your end.”
He grabs my hand and drags it down the front of his pants, pressing my palm against his erection. “Got it?”
“Not literally. But metaphorically, sure.”
He glances up at the ceiling, letting the corners of his mouth curve into a small smirk.
“I wise-crack when I’m nervous. Get used to it.”
His dark glance returns to my face. “Pretty soon you won’t have enough breath left to crack jokes.”
“Promise?”
His smile is dark and sexy. “I do. Get on the bed, and spread your legs.”
The night blurs, shatters, and re-forms as I back up until the backs of my thighs hit the mattress. There’s magic in the game we’re playing, and I love that.
The tattoos along his ribs seem to writhe in the dim light. He stands there, neither posing nor hiding—just a living weapon on display. It makes me want to see all of him while I have enough distance for the whole effect.
“Take off the rest of your clothes, War.”
“Eventually.” He inclines his head toward the bed in a silent order. A reminder that he’s calling the shots tonight. And that I agreed to this dynamic.
Except… This is my night, too. Even if he doesn’t know it.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I cross one leg over the other and then put my hands over the opposite collarbones so my forearms are an X covering my chest.
War’s expression darkens into one I recognize well. His natural state is to be top dog. And while a little teasing seems fine with him, outright opposition to his dominance is not appreciated.
“You’ve seen me.” I nod at his trousers. “It’s only fair…”
“Never said tonight would be fair. You’re here to do what I tell you to do.” His tone is not playing. And that rekindles the nervous fear until it threatens to bubble over inside me. My skin prickles, and goosebumps erupt over my exposed skin.
For some reason, this is becoming one of the hardest parts of the night. Guys have seen me in swimsuits. Boyfriends have seen me topless and have touched me through my underwear. No man has seen me completely naked, with my legs spread and waiting for him. It’s crazy intimate.
My core draws my body in tighter, making it even harder to move. “You know what? I don’t even know your first name.”
War holds up a hand to stop me. “Don’t talk just to drag your feet. Stalling will get you in trouble.”
“What kind?” The note of defiance in my tone flirts with anarchy. My limbs will help me bolt from the bed at the slightest provocation, and they’re itching to.
He exhales heavily. “Girl, do not try me. I want you, and I’m gonna have you.”
“Even if I say no?”
Leveling a black gaze upon me, he nods slowly.
“I don’t think you would.”
“Don’t push me. You don’t want it rough from me the first time.”
“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes?” I whisper the lyrics, letting his warning sink in.
He could be serious about forcing me. For a long time, I’ve projected things onto him that I want to be true, rather than heeding the red flags and considering that he may actually be as bad as he sometimes seems. Is he dangerous and destructive even to women? Even to me ?
Things could go seriously sideways if that’s the case. Since it’s too late to escape, I definitely don’t want that.
“I’m not backing out. Just… not comfortable with the way this feels at the moment.”
His expression is inscrutable.
Hugging my arms around my knees, I ask, “Why not let me see you?”
A small smile tugs at his lips. “That will not be reassuring.”
“I don’t care.” The return of his smile helps more than I can possibly say. Maybe he’s not on the edge of losing control of his temper. My own expression is guarded. “I’m going to be naked and exposed. You should be, too.”
“I’m gonna give you what you think you want. And something you don’t.” His big hands go to his fly. He unbuttons and unzips it, then shoves his pants and boxer-briefs down in one fluid motion.
My gaze travels down his flat stomach, along a trail of black hair to a cock which seems massive and inherently aggressive. Jesus.
“Told ya.” He sits on the end of the bed next to me.
I start to lean to the side so I can create some cozy contact to lesson the tension. But that’s not what he has in mind.
Without warning, he grabs me and pulls me facedown over his lap. My gasp stutters out as he pins my arms in the small of my back.
“What are you doing?”
When one big hand lands with a heavy thud on my ass, I suck in a startled breath. Then I start to fight to free myself.
I don’t succeed. All that happens is that my hair becomes a curtain around my flaming face.
“You should stop,” I say, trying to make my voice a command.
He ignores me, squeezing each ass cheek before swatting them again. I squirm, aware that something is happening. Something sinister. And deeply erotic.
“In my bed, bad girls get spanked. ”
Heat and resentment explode inside me. Along with a secret thrill. I like his animal dominance. I struggle, making him hold me tighter and spank me harder. Soon, my entire ass is on fire, stinging so much tears burn my eyes.
“Okay,” I croak. “Okay, I’ll do it.”
He pauses and massages my ass with his giant, calloused hand. It feels good. The ache fades into something hot and full of need.
Lifting me, he stands. In one fluid motion, he sets me on my feet, facing him.
My mind races, a jumble of chaotic thoughts I can’t untangle. I stare at his chest.
Voice as deep as the ocean, he says, “Look at me.”
I shake my head, full of white hot rebellion and an inexplicable urge for him to force me to do what he wants. Whatever he wants.
“Ashling.” My name from his lips is the crack of a gunshot.
“No,” I say from between clenched teeth.
He grabs my chin and forces my face up. We lock eyes as a tear spills over my lashes.
“I will kill you,” I hiss.
“You might,” he says evenly. “You’ve got the skills.” Sounding completely unconcerned, he leans closer. “But the one thing you will never do while I’m alive is stop me from taking control when I decide to take it.” Our stare-down is fierce. “Come to terms with that or walk away.”
“I’m walking away,” I lie, without even thinking things through. Stepping back, I jerk my chin from his fingers.
His hands grab my arms and pull me back to him, so my softer body collides with his rock-hard one. “Not tonight, beautiful. Tonight, you belong to me, remember?”
I stare up at him. “You just said?—”
“Yeah, I meant after tonight.” He licks his lips, the ones that kissed me so sweetly earlier but now spew words that make my stomach drop like I’m on a roller coaster. “Now, are you going to do what I told you to do? Or do you want to find out the other ways I can punish you for disobeying me?”