15
TAKE THINGS SLOWLY
IVY
M y back aches. My arms and legs are stiff. My chest is tight. My hips hurt. I never realized your hip bone could be sore, but apparently, my body’s determined to teach me something new.
“Morning, lea.”
I still and Henry pulls my hair to one side, placing a slow, deliberate kiss between my shoulder blades. It isn't horrible. It's rather nice. Not that I like it. Or him. Or his attention.
“Did you sleep well?”
I nod and his arm wraps around me. He's naked. I'm naked. Our bodies meet and it's unexpected. It's new. Dear lord, it's exciting and nice. It's the word that keeps coming to mind, and I loathe it. It's too much, not enough and it's true.
“Yes.”
He grunts softly. “It’s yes, thank you, Master.”
I try to laugh my way out of something I don't want to do. Henry rolls me around to face him and he's amused, but more by me than with me.
“As adorable as that is, I'm afraid it won't work with me, lea.”
He lands a gentle smack on my ass and my mouth falls open. It's not enough to sting, but it reminds me of the hard, painful spanks he delivered when he carried me out of the woods. He arches his eyebrow, expectantly.
The asshole knows exactly what he's doing and it isn't fair. It isn't reasonable—and the threat of a spanking is exciting my clit.
“Thank you, Master.”
“Close enough,” he says, kissing my forehead. “Get dressed.”
I pull my clothes on and notice they're new. Comfortable sweats that are soft and not too tight. He's much faster and emerges from the bathroom looking immaculate in his pale blue shirt and jeans.
He sits and calls me over, and I notice the cushions lying on the floor. Henry points and I hesitate, darting my eyes between the floor and the pastry on the plate next to him.
“I’m not hungry.”
It isn’t a lie. I’ve never been a fan of breakfast and the week of starvation hasn’t improved my appetite. The sticky pastry looks mildly appealing, but it might be too sweet and my stomach isn’t entirely convinced it’s ready for something this rich.
Henry tears a piece off and tilts his head. “It’s late and I’ve already had breakfast. You haven’t eaten properly this week. You need to regain your strength and I don’t like my pets looking unhealthy. ”
My stomach tightens and I tense. My heart races and bile catches in the back of my throat. This isn’t rage. It’s jealousy. I’m fucking jealous because he’s mentioned others. Other pets. It’s horrific, but the thought Henry has someone else cuts to my core and the implications are far from straightforward.
I grumble as I lower myself and he graciously ignores the mortified expression on my face or attributes it to what I’m doing and not what I’m feeling. Jealousy means I’m attached. It means I care. It means I’m falling for him.
“Open, lea.”
My lips part and he places the food on the tip of my tongue, smiling as I moan and enjoy the raspberry croissant. It’s sticky but not too sweet and Henry waits until I’m ready before offering me another piece.
We repeat the same game as last night. He offers food and I open my mouth, accepting it. He praises me and I enjoy it. Henry smiles and takes pleasure from whatever this is. We find our balance and he pulls us out of it, making it harder and I work to bring the equilibrium back.
I finish the pastry and he holds his fingers out. They’re smeared with raspberry syrup and icing sugar. I wasn’t sure this was sexual until now, but I’m damn sure it is as I stare at the fingers he expects me to lick. My breathing quickens and the uncomfortable throbbing between my legs becomes unbearable.
Fuck, this is weird.
“You’re okay, lea. I’m excited too. Don’t overthink this.”
My eyes lock onto the red goo painting his fingers. It’s tempting, so damn tempting, and maybe this could be alright. My arousal screams I’m insane for even thinking about this and I’m pretty sure I’m getting wetter by the second.
“Would you like to lick Master’s fingers clean? ”
Holy fuck.
A small noise escapes my lips and I’ve never made a sound like it. It’s a complete surrender and a frantic plead for anything he’ll give me. Fucking hell, I’m panting and practically drooling for the cold-hearted, unreasonable, attentive man and I’d roll over and give him anything he asks for right now.
I nod. Not once. Enthusiastically. Repeatedly.
“Please, Master.”
Fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I’m begging. I’m actually begging. Like I’ve lost my goddamn mind and I’ve become an obedient pet. Oh my god. This is horrific. Mortifying. Disgusting. Arousing. I need to know what his fingers feel like in my mouth more than I need to breathe.
“Lick Master’s fingers clean.”
I’m not even thinking anymore. My head darts forward and I’m pressing my lips against his fingers. It’s sending my arousal through the roof and I’m not even tentative. I’m playing with him and he’s playing back, brushing his fingers against my lips and making me work for it.
I growl and suck his fingers into my mouth and a deep groan rolls off Henry’s chest. It pulses through me as the sticky, tangy syrup and the sensation of his fingers in my mouth drive me wild. I want more; I want deeper. I flick my eyes to meet his and Henry’s on the verge of losing his mind too. He’s biting his lip, holding back and straining against whatever’s sweeping through him as his fingers move further into my mouth.
“Soon, Master will feed you his cock and you can suck until he comes down that perfect throat of yours.”
It’s too much .
My hand dives between my legs and I rest my clit against my forearm, relieving the pressure driving me insane. I moan again and Henry grabs my hair, holding me as his fingers slide to the back of my mouth.
“Fuck, lea. You’re such a naughty little thing, playing with yourself without permission. Is it agony? Are you losing your goddamn mind at the thought of my cock in your mouth?”
I whimper and nod as his fingers move in and out of my mouth and the throbbing keeps time with his movements.
“You’re making Master so fucking hard it hurts, lea.” Henry groans and his hips move, making his erection impossible to miss. “I could fuck you now. I could bend you over this sofa and fuck you until you feel my cock in the back of your throat.”
My excitement’s building and I’m lost. Heat’s rising through me and I don’t care how disgustingly filthy his words are, they’re turning me on and I want more. I’m grinding against my hand and sucking his fingers, half hoping he’ll pull his cock out and let me try.
Fuck, this is new. It’s exciting too.
I shouldn’t want this, but I do and Henry’s as lost as I am, staring at me like he can’t stop watching.
“Suck all the mess you’ve made off my fingers,” he demands, and the deep tone of his voice does something to me. It’s a pulse of pleasure setting me alight and my fingers work harder, bringing me close to climax. I’ve always struggled, but he makes this so easy and I close my eyes, focusing on the feeling of Henry’s fingers as they play inside my mouth.
Henry pulls his fingers out of my mouth and yanks my arm up. It’s sharp and quick, and my orgasm collapses, leaving me aching and desperate. I stare at him, questioning what the hell’s going on and what the fuck I did wrong—and he smiles, releasing his grip and stroking my hair .
“You’re perfect, lea.”
“I don’t understand…”
He hums a quiet note of amusement and stops me dead. “I decide what you need and get. Bringing you to the edge of climax and withholding it will make your orgasm more intense.” I pout and he shakes his head. “When I allow it, lea.”
Henry pulls me onto his lap before I can protest and his lips claim mine. I’m startled and their softness is a surprise. He’s firm but gentle and my insides melt as we kiss and I settle. Perched on him like this is perfectly normal.
“Such a good fucking girl,” he praises as he pulls away. “Only for me. You’re mine, Ivy, and you only play with me.”
I nod, even though I’m puzzled. By more than what I’ve done. What we’ve done. My thoughts are spiraling and Henry’s words make no sense. He catches my confusion and one hand grips my hip while the other strokes his face.
“I made a promise and I’ll keep it. When you’re stronger.” His eyes shine bright blue, sincere and without a trace of deceit. “I have to go soon, lea. I don’t want to, but I need to take care of something.”
My head turns to the door before I can stop it and even though I snap it back quickly, I’ve silently screamed that I don’t want to be locked in here. Not again.
“I know, lea. This is for your own good.” His thumb drags down my center and my gaze pleads for him not to do this. “I must go, but I will send Ryan or Matt to keep you company. You can get to know them.”
I pull a face and Henry’s eyebrow does that thing again.
“Behave, Ivy.” His smile turns wicked. “You’ll see it’s worth it if you do.”
Henry pulls my head down and steals another kiss, groaning into my mouth before we part. He slides me onto the sofa and gets up, adjusting himself before he heads to the door.
“Did you want anything, lea?”
I stare at him and tip my head. My lip trembles and my thoughts collide. I want to ask for something, but I don’t want to give in. I don’t want him to win. I’m not ready to stop fighting, nor willing to submit.
“I…”
His eyes flood with hope and he waits.
He’d refuse all the things I’d want anyway. I want a choice. I want my freedom. To go outside. To leave this godforsaken room. I want to know what the fuck he’s hiding. And I want to know why he keeps calling me lea.
I shake my head and he leaves, locking the door.
My heart races and I’m panicking. Within seconds of him leaving. Within moments of the lock turning. The walls are closing in and my heart’s pounding so hard it could break out of my ribcage. I don’t want to be trapped again. This room is another cell, even if it’s a damn sight prettier than the last one.
I race to the door and my fists bang against it. I’ve lost all reason and my screams become frantic. I’m pulling at the handle, slamming into the wood and doing anything I can as I thrash against the immovable barrier holding me in here.
“For heaven’s sake, calm down.”
I scream and the door nudges open. I back away until I hit a piece of furniture and Matt walks into the room, closing the door behind him. He’s tense but at least he doesn’t look like he’s going to kill me. Or give me another lecture.
“Well, you’re in a right state. I won’t hurt you,” he says. “Henry will kill me if I harm so much as one hair on your head.
I nod and he sighs.
“Was Henry kind? ”
I shrug and Matt’s eyes narrow. “Was he kind, Ivy?”
My lips purse as I search for something to save me from telling a random stranger about what happened last night. I haven’t had time to process it myself and I don’t want to talk about it with anyone until I’ve done that—and I definitely don’t want to discuss this morning.
“He was…”
Matt’s muscles tense and I sink against the chest of drawers behind me. He’s staring with enough intensity to make me brace myself and so far this conversation isn’t going well.
“I’m not sure I know.” We draw a hitched breath in unison. “He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t mean. I need to think about it.” We exhale together and an urge to say more takes hold of me. “The bath was nice. Really nice. I ruined it by falling asleep.”
“Ivy, I can guarantee you didn’t spoil anything.” Matt smiles and takes a seat. “In fact, I suspect you did the exact opposite by falling asleep on him.”
My mouth forms a small circle and I sit on the furthest chair away from Matt.
“Everything seems very strange right now, and it’ll make more sense and get easier with time. As long as he’s kind, and you’re honest, and neither of you rushes it.”
This morning wasn’t rushed but we didn’t go slowly. I didn’t want him to slow down, not once we got started. I wanted more, practically begged for more. My clit pulses as I remember earlier, making all the thoughts I had about thinking things through evaporate instantaneously.
“Well,” Matt says, barely hiding his smirk. “You’ve moved past the taking things slowly stage.”
I turn scarlet and he laughs, watching as I drop my head on the sofa and silently contemplate how the hell I’m going to get out of this mess.