Chapter 5
Valentine cried out and trembled beneath his onslaught.
God, she’d never had a man go down on her with such intensity—such single-minded determination to make her come.
Gavin’s approach to oral sex had been much like his approach to spanking— halfhearted.
But it was obvious that Shane was as committed to tasting her as he had been to spanking her.
His tongue seemed to be everywhere, lashing her clit one minute and then pressing deep, as though he was determined to taste every bit of her. He was fucking her with it, thrusting in and out of her as if he wished it was his cock filling her instead.
Valentine wished it too. She gasped and moaned his name, twisting and yanking against the black silk scarves that tied her to the headboard as the pleasure built inside her until it felt like she would explode.
She wanted desperately to touch Shane, to have contact with him while he ravaged her with his mouth.
But there was no getting loose. His broad shoulders split her wide, making her feel naked and utterly helpless and his muscular arms held her in place, ensuring that she wasn’t going anywhere until he was finished with her.
“God, Shane! Oh God, please!” She didn’t know what she was begging for, only that she would die if she didn’t get it. His mouth on her was so hot, so insistent, as he sucked her clit one minute, teasing it sweetly with his tongue, and then licked deep inside her the next.
Her cries seemed to have some effect on him because he looked up, ceasing his assault for a split second, his mouth wet with her juices. “Come for me, Valentine,” he said, his deep voice a hoarse growl of need. “Come for me now—need to feel your sweet pussy coming while I eat you.”
His words sent her tipping over into a second, much deeper orgasm than the quick one he’d given her earlier.
As he pressed back between her thighs, lapping her and sucking her swollen clit, Valentine gasped and writhed with abandon.
She bucked up to meet his tongue shamelessly as the pleasure rolled over her in a wave so deep it felt like she might drown in it.
God, she’d fantasized about Shane forever but she’d never imagined it could be like this.
She’d never had a sexual experience so intense, so emotional and erotic at the same time.
This wasn’t just any man going down on her—it was Shane, the man she’d had a crush on for literally years, the man she wanted to give herself to completely.
The man she loved.
Tell him—tell him how you feel, urged a little voice inside her. Surely some part of him feels the same way for you. No man is so focused on giving pleasure to a woman he doesn’t care about.
“Shane,” she whispered as he slowed his lapping, giving her a much needed rest. “There’s something I need to—”
“Valentine.” Suddenly he was on top of her, his big body heavy and warm as it pressed her into the mattress. “God, sweetheart, you’re so beautiful when you come.” He kissed her hungrily, sharing the taste of her on his tongue, rubbing her lips with her own juices.
She moaned at the erotic flavor of her nectar on his mouth and gave herself completely to the kiss. Between them she could feel Shane doing something but she wasn’t sure what until she heard the rustle of leather and felt something hot and hard against her lower belly.
His cock—God, he took off his pants and he’s going to fuck me for real!
Sure enough, the heated ridge of his shaft moved down until she felt it part the lips of her pussy.
Shane was holding himself in one hand and supporting his weight above her with the other.
“Need you so much,” he murmured, kissing her again as the broad, plum-shaped head of his cock stroked up and down her slippery folds, sliding over her clit in an agonizingly delicious way.
“God, yes. Need you too. Fill me up, Shane. Please just fuck me.” Valentine kissed him back, giving as good as she was getting. She couldn’t wait to feel him buried to the hilt inside her. Couldn’t wait to feel him filling her completely.
But just as she was tilting her hips to receive him, aching to have his thickness deep in her open cunt, Shane pulled away.
“Shane?” She looked at him in alarm as he rolled off her and sat on the side of the bed with his head in his hands. “Shane? Is everything all right?”
“Hell, no it’s not all right,” he growled, sparing her a glance. “None of this is right.”
“But…but what…” Before she could find the words to finish her question, he had turned and was untying her roughly. “Shane, what’s going on?” Valentine sat up, rubbing her wrists and looking at him uncertainly.
“What’s going on is that you need to leave. Now.” The tone in his voice made it clear he wasn’t asking—he was telling. He wanted her to get out, to leave—and just as they had finally been about to make love.
Valentine slid off the side of the bed and stood stiffly, frowning at him. “You want to tell me what the hell’s going on?”
“No.” He got off the bed and began gathering her clothes. Valentine trailed behind him uncertainly.
“Well, are we at least going to have another lesson?” she asked as he hooked her into the bustier roughly and shoved her skirt at her.
“No more lessons.” Shane’s voice was an angry growl. “No more of any of this for you, Valentine. As of right now, tonight, you’ve had enough D/s to last you the rest of your life.”
She pulled on her skirt in stiff, angry movements. “What are you saying? That you’ve decided I’ve had enough so you’re cutting me off? I have news for you, Shane— you’re not the only Dom in town.”
“Don’t you dare.” He took her by the shoulders and gave her a short, fierce shake. “If I ever and I mean ever catch you in another one of those clubs or find you trying to get some other guy to give you lessons I’ll make you sorry you were born. And that’s a promise, sweetheart.”
“You don’t own me, you know!” Valentine shouted, anger overcoming her common sense.
She’d never seen Shane look so angry but she was angry herself—and hurt too.
What the hell was he so upset about? Why was he kicking her out when they had been just about to make love?
Why was he making all these crazy threats and ultimatums?
Only minutes ago her entire life seemed to be falling into perfect harmony and now nothing made sense anymore.
“I know I don’t own you.” Shane’s black eyes were suddenly bleak. “I never did. I was a fool to think I could.”
“Shane, what—?” But before she could finish her question, he was pushing her toward the door.
“Goodnight, Valentine. And goodbye.”
“What do you mean ‘goodbye’?” Panic was rising in her chest. Surely he couldn’t mean what she thought he meant.
“I mean we shouldn’t see each other anymore.” Shane was opening the door and pushing her out in the cold now.
Valentine felt like her heart was freezing over. “You mean we shouldn’t have any more lessons, right? You don’t mean we should never see each other again ever—do you?”
Shane sighed and ran a hand over his face.
He looked haggard suddenly, like a man ridden by demons he could no longer control.
“I don’t know, sweetheart,” he said in a voice that was probably meant to be gentle but just came out sounding tired.
“I just…the way I feel right now, I don’t know when I can see you again.
I mean, we almost…I almost…” He trailed off, shaking his head.
“It’s better we have some time apart. Maybe a long time. I don’t know.”
“I’ve known you since I was twelve and you’ve been there for me for years.
Shane, you’re part of my life—don’t do this.
” Valentine knew she was pleading but she couldn’t seem to help herself.
His goodbye sounded so horribly final and it had all happened so fast. Worst of all, she still wasn’t sure what had happened to set the whole ugly chain of events in motion in the first place.
But Shane was shaking his head. “I’m sorry I can’t explain, sweetheart. But it’s just better we don’t see each other. You should go.”
“Can’t we just talk?” she begged—but she was talking to his closed front door.
Valentine stood there for a minute, staring in disbelief at the unyielding wood, willing it to open.
Willing Shane to be standing there on the other side smiling and telling her it was all a joke, all some kind of submissive test that she’d passed with flying colors.
But that didn’t happen. After ten long minutes, Valentine realized it wasn’t going to happen. Ever.
She trudged to her car, feeling like someone had tied bricks to her feet.
What had she done to make him so upset? Why did he hate her now?
Was it that he didn’t want to make love to her?
Maybe he felt like she’d tricked him into it somehow?
But he was the one who’d set up the scene so how could she possibly…
Her mind went on and on in an endless loop of misery as she drove home. But when she let herself into her apartment, she was no closer to solving the mystery than she had been when Shane had first shut the door in her face.
She took a hot shower and crawled into bed, wishing she could have the last two hours to do over again. But even if she did, she had no idea how she’d fix whatever it was that had gone wrong.
As she closed her eyes, hot tears slipped down her cheeks. Shane was gone, out of her life. And it didn’t look like he was ever coming back.
Shane could count the number of times he’d cried on one hand. It was difficult for him to let go emotionally—almost impossible in fact. And yet, as he sat on his couch with his head in his hands, he could feel something hot and wet prickling just behind his eyelids.
God, Valentine. So sorry…I’m so sorry…