Chapter 7 #2
There was utter conviction in his voice, a strange determination that also surprised me. The vibe oozing from him was confidently dominant, but he was tossing the ball in my court. To a point.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Would you prefer to hear how I might allow you to change your jaded mind regarding men?”
“I don’t think you have a remote possibility of doing that, Christian. You’re many things, but I’m not certain you’re capable of providing what I need.”
The tiny voice inside my head was reminding me that poking a bear never had a decent outcome, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself from pushing his buttons. Letting go was one thing, but letting go with the biggest jerk on the East Coast could ultimately have damning implications.
“Come now. You’ve already told me you enjoy a challenge.” He kept his fierce eyes locked onto mine as the trembling turned into something more dangerous.
Utter blatant desire.
The heated throb in my pussy increased along with the flutter of butterflies in my stomach.
“Am I wrong?” he pushed.
This was crazy. This was certifiable. This could create a huge problem in the future.
All the screaming in my head telling me to ignore my intense hunger was dulled by the ache that refused to go away.
“No,” I admitted with more confidence than I would have believed earlier. “You’re not wrong.”
“Do you trust me?”
The question was far too open ended, forcing me to think about it. As strange as it seemed, I did. “Yes.”
“Mmm… Very good.”
He toyed with his drink, creating another wave of excitement as well as more than a hint of self-doubt. I should push him away, but that wasn’t what I wanted.
I wanted him close.
I craved his touch.
His rough kisses.
That should label me a lunatic, completely certifiable.
“Now the real question,” he growled. “Can you be obedient?”
My mouth was bone dry, tiny prickles jetting against my skin. This was crazy. This was ridiculous. This was… Exciting. I took a few seconds before I answered. “I guess you’ll need to determine that for yourself.”
“Yes, I guess I will. You should know, if you don’t obey me, I will punish you. Do you understand?”
As with everything else about him, he wasn’t asking me if that was alright. He was telling me what would happen.
“Yes.” The answer tumbled from my mouth before I could stop it.
He laughed softly, provocatively as he pushed back his chair, taking his time to stand. “I guess I’ll find out. If not, you will be punished.”
“One night.”
I needed to establish the limits.
“One night.”
Very slowly, I lifted my head as he approached. He was cocky as hell, more annoying than any man I’d spent time with, yet at that moment I wanted nothing more than for him to touch me in the commanding way he’d mentioned.
When he held out his hand, he lifted an eyebrow. This was my last chance to say no.
If I was a truly good girl, I would.
Instead, I placed my hand in his.
He said nothing as he pulled me to my feet, guiding me away from the table and down the short set of stairs into the salon. There was something so commanding about the fact he was walking in front of me, his arm behind him and his fingers firmly wrapped around mine as he led me into the stateroom.
Was I nervous? Yes, but the excitement continuously building between us changed everything. Once inside, he took a single glance into the salon before closing the door. Locking it was definitive, authoritative, and I bit back a whimper.
I wasn’t afraid of him. I was terrified of myself.
I was also petrified of letting go.
Yet the intense scent of longing in the air between us was unmistakable and intoxicating. While my entire body continued to quiver, my mouth was already watering at the thought of seeing all of him.
As he turned toward me, he immediately allowed his gaze to fall as he’d done so many times before.
Only this time was entirely different, a moment of ravenous hunger feeding into his system.
His chest rose and fell and I could almost feel the wheels of his mind clicking as he determined how he wanted me.
How he would devour me.
Even from where I stood several feet away, I could see his cock throbbing. I licked my lips involuntarily and he chuckled in his deep, almost ominous tone.
“Remove your clothes.”
His tone was demanding, more so than before. When I didn’t react immediately, he arched an eyebrow. “Perhaps I need to allow you to understand before every moment of pleasure often there’s a requirement for pain. Obedience is required.”
This wasn’t about romance, but blind, unyielding passion and his utter control.
Over every inch of me.
I’d agreed to obey him, which wasn’t like me. All my life I’d done my best to control a situation. My only obedience had been to my parents, my teachers, and law enforcement. With men, all bets had been off whether in business or in pleasure.
Yet with him, as I studied the dark, piercing look of his eyes, I wanted to obey him if only for tonight. As I tugged the shirt from the waistband of my skirt, he mimicked my actions.
When I unbuttoned, he did as well, the wry smile on his face and lust-filled eyes keeping me tingling all over.
After I shimmied the shirt to the floor, he ripped off his by the back of the neck, finally removing his loafers so we were both in bare feet.
As I reached around to unzip my skirt, his nostrils flared, but he wasn’t removing any additional clothes.
“No fair,” I purred as I pushed the material past my hips. “I thought I was allowed to see the goods at the same time.”
My comment forced him to burst into laughter. “The goods, huh? Not yet. You should know by now life isn’t always fair.” He backed against the door, leaning against it and folding his arms. “Given I’m in control, you will do as I say. Let me hear you agree.”
“Fine.”
“You should know I need more than that.”
“Yes, sir.” I was almost spiteful, but it aroused him even more, his cock pressing hard against his trousers.
My heart was in my throat now that I was standing in only a bra and panties. He slowly shook his head, his breathing becoming more labored than before. “Turn around. Slowly.”
I felt as if I was being considered for purchase, the thought naughty and exciting. I turned around as slowly as he’d asked, even tossing my hair from one shoulder to the other. When I spun around, I could tell I had his rapt attention.
There was something so pleasing about the way his chest rose and fell and the fact his eyes were now hooded as he watched me.
I faced him again while reaching behind me, slowly unfastening my bra.
I was no longer shaking, now swaying my hips in time to the music I could still hear through the walls.
He lifted his head slightly, studying me intently I could feel another wave of heat blistering my face.
As I rolled one strap down then the other, allowing the lace to fall slightly, I pressed both arms over my breasts and turned away from him again.
Now I took a deep breath. His growl fueled the bad girl and with one hand, I threw my bra out to the side, waiting for a few seconds before allowing it to drop.
I tossed my head over my shoulder, winking at him.
He shook his head as if admonishing me, but I could still see the way his upper lip curled. His eyes were also glassy, but I knew instinctively his patience was waning.
With two fingers under the elastic of my thong, I swayed my hips once again and forced the lace to my thighs. When I bent over, I immediately jerked up, laughing. The sound indicated my nervousness, which caused him to smile.
“Be careful tempting a beast, Wildcat. You have no idea when or how he’ll strike.”
I finally stepped out of the lace, kicking my thong aside and stretching my arms over my head.
Every sound he made was guttural, as if an animal had taken his place.
A predatory animal.
“Turn around,” he commanded.
“No.”
“You might regret that. One more time. Turn around.”
I reminded myself this was nothing but one time, a game of control and passion.
Dark passion.
So I did as he asked knowing once I did, I’d just done as he’d asked.
Surrendering all of me.