26. Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter twenty-six
T he Next Day
I watch Aria from across the room, desire burning through my veins. The curve of her neck, the sway of her hips as she moves around the kitchen—I want to possess every inch of her. This need goes beyond lust. It's primal, and yet somehow still tender.
I step forward into the dim light, the city's glow framing Aria's silhouette. "Come here," I say, my voice low and firm.
Aria doesn't turn, continuing to slice fruit at the counter. "In a minute, Dimitri."
I close the distance between us in three long strides, spinning her around to face me.
Her eyes widen, her gorgeous full lips parting in surprise.
My hands find her waist, pulling her against me. "We need to talk. Now."
I feel Aria tense, her heartbeat quickening against my chest. She searches my eyes, perhaps seeing the raw desire burning behind my usual stoic facade.
"What's going on, Dimitri?" she asks softly.
I bring one hand up to brush her cheek, reveling in the silkiness of her skin. "Things have been...different between us. I know we talked after our argument, and things have been better, but I want to make sure you're okay."
Aria leans into my touch, eyes slipping closed. "I know. I've felt it too." She pauses, biting her lip. "But I'm scared, Dimitri. What if this changes everything? The restaurant, Tane, all of it…"
My thumb caresses her jawline as I tilt her chin up. Our lips are a breath apart. "It already has, Aria. We can't turn back now. The only way is forward."
I kiss her then, slowly at first, then building in urgency. She responds in kind, her hands fisting in my shirt. We come up for air, our foreheads touching, breathing ragged.
"I'm ready, Dimitri," Aria whispers. "I trust you."
I smile, brushing a strand of hair from her face. No more words are needed. Our bodies speak for us now, destined to intertwine in the dim light of the loft. With our bodies entwined, we can work through any conflict.
I pull Aria into my lap, needing her closer. Our kisses deepen as our hands roam and clothes become barriers we desperately want gone. I trail hot, open-mouthed kisses down her neck and she arches into me with a breathy moan.
"Dimitri..." she gasps as I palm her breast, teasing a nipple into a tight peak.
I capture her mouth again, drinking in her sweetness. My desire ramps higher, my body coiled tight. I have to pace myself, take this slow.
Aria deserves reverence, worship.
I lay her back on the couch, my hands skimming her sides, memorizing every curve and valley. Her skin is like warm silk under my calloused touch. I trail kisses down her torso, pausing to swirl my tongue around her navel. She shivers, her fingers tangling in my hair.
"Please..." she begs softly.
I glance up, seeing the naked need in her eyes. I hook my fingers under her panties.
"Tell me what you want, Aria. I need to hear you say it." My voice is rough, strained.
"I want you, Dimitri. All of you. Make me yours."
At her breathless consent, I strip her bare, exposing her fully to me. She is exquisite in the dim light, an angel made of flesh. I kiss back up her legs reverently, ready to worship every inch of her.
We’ve been here many times before, but tonight… this is different.
I trail a hand up her inner thigh, feeling her tremble with anticipation. When my fingers finally reach her slick heat, she arches into my touch with a sharp cry.
"So wet for me already," I murmur.
I stroke her slowly, well aware of what makes her gasp and moan.
Her fingers dig into my shoulders, her body wound tight as a bowstring.
I circle her clit, applying just enough pressure to make her shudder.
"Please, Dimitri..." she pants. "I need you."
The raw desire in her voice shreds my restraint. I shed my clothes and cover her body with mine, groaning at the skin-on-skin contact.
She wraps her legs around my waist, her heels digging into my back.
I enter her in one long stroke, swallowing her throaty moan with a searing kiss. She feels like heaven around me, hot, slick and impossibly tight. I set a slow pace, pulling almost all the way out before thrusting deep again.
Aria claws at my back, urging me on with breathless pleas.
I quicken my pace, angling to hit that sensitive spot inside her.
She shatters around me with a sharp cry, her inner walls fluttering and clenching.
I follow her over the edge with a guttural groan, emptying myself inside her welcoming heat.
We cling together as the aftershocks fade, our hearts hammering against each other. I brush damp hair from her face and kiss her tenderly.
Now that round one is over, the superficial lust addressed, it’s time to put her to the test.
I guide Aria through a series of commands, assessing her willingness to submit. My voice is firm but gentle as I say, "Kneel for me."
She hesitates, uncertainty flashing in her eyes. "Dimitri...this is...different."
"Trust me," I urge. "Do it."
Slowly, she sinks to her knees on the plush carpet. I can see the conflict raging within her—the desire to please warring with her fear of losing control.
"This is hard for me, Dimitri," she says softly, her eyes downcast.
I tip her chin up to meet my gaze. "I know it is. But I need to know we can trust each other completely, even in this. "
She takes a shaky breath and nods.
I caress her cheek, my heart swelling with pride at her courage. We still have a way to go, but this first act of submission is a milestone.
Leaning down, I press a gentle kiss to her forehead. "You're doing so well, my darling. I won't take us further than you can handle." In my line of business, I've learned exactly what buttons to press, and—more importantly—when to stop, to slow down, to be guided even when I'm in charge. Especially when I'm in charge.
She smiles tentatively up at me. "I'm trying, for you. Because...I trust you."
I help her stand, wrapping her in a warm embrace. Tonight we explored new territory, and it might not have seemed like much, but ultimately it deepened the bond between us. Trust is more important than ever, and obtaining it in one area of our lives will surely translate into others.
I pull back slightly to look into her eyes, my hands still cradling her face. "This isn't just about power or control, Aria. It's about trust—absolute, unconditional trust."
She nods, understanding dawning. "I do trust you, Dimitri. With everything I am."
"I know," I murmur. "And that means everything to me."
I lean in, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. She responds eagerly, the last of her reservations fading away. It's a perfect moment, two souls meshing, tangled together with want.
When we finally break for air, her cheeks are flushed and her eyes bright. The atmosphere between us has shifted, charged with renewed passion and intimacy.
"What do we do now?" she asks breathlessly.
I grin and sweep her up into my arms, carrying her towards the bedroom. "Now, my love, I intend to show you just how much I appreciate your trust."
The long night ahead will be all about worshipping her body and spirit, reaffirming the unbreakable bond we now share. Her courageous act of submission has forged our souls together at the deepest level. And I plan to spend every moment proving myself worthy of the gift of her trust.
Our lips lock in a heated kiss. I set her down gently near the foot of the massive four-poster bed dominating the room. She laughs happily as I kick the door shut behind us.
My hands trail down her sides, fingering the soft swell of her hips.
She stands before me gloriously nude, moonlight from the window casting a silver glow on her flawless skin and illuminating her gorgeous curves.
I drink in the sight hungrily, desire raging through my veins. I cannot get enough of this woman.
I circle behind her, my fingertips ghosting along her shoulders, down her spine.
She shivers at my touch.
Leaning in close, I brush her hair aside and graze my lips along the graceful curve of her neck.
"So incredibly beautiful," I murmur against her skin. My hands glide around to cup her breasts as I trail open-mouthed kisses down to her shoulder.
A soft gasp escapes her lips.
Turning her in my arms, I capture her mouth again, walking her backwards until her legs hit the bed frame. Gently but firmly, I push her down onto the silken sheets.
I shed my own clothes swiftly before joining her.
Our bodies align in flawless symmetry, skin against skin.
My hands and lips worship every inch of her flesh, drawing out sweet cries of pleasure.
This is only the beginning.
Tonight I will take her to the peaks of ecstasy again and again, our passion burning bright as the city lights outside. Here, tangled together in satin sheets, we let the outside world fade away.
Nothing exists except her body and mine, moving as one.