Chapter 12 #2
That was all I could take. It was as if he controlled every inch of my body, forcing my total submission.
As another climax swept through me, I dug my heels into the bed, fighting the velvet straps, panting like a crazed woman as the pleasure swept through me like a wildfire.
Being lost in the moment of pure nirvana was certainly nothing I’d ever felt before.
Stars floated in front of my eyes even behind the blindfold, vibrant and beautiful.
Alexsey refused to stop, lifting my pelvis off the bed and burying his face into me.
“My beautiful little captain.”
I had no idea how long his tongue assaulted me, but when I finally started to come down from the incredible high, I realized I was no longer bound and the blindfold had been removed.
While the room was still encased in shadows, a warm glow from light in another room in the suite kept the feeling of suffocation at bay.
I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t that a demonstrative, powerful man like Alexsey Dmitriyev, someone I’d cursed up one side and down the other a couple of days before would be holding me.
Not just holding, but cradling me in his strong arms, keeping my back pinned against his chest. And for the longest time, I counted our combined heartbeats because they were the same.
Minutes passed, maybe more. The music was still playing, the softness of the sheets still soothing, and his heated breath on the nape of my neck reminded me of the passion we’d shared.
My body molded against his as if we were meant for each other.
It had been a very long time since I’d felt this comfortable, this beautiful.
He had a way of making me feel as if the world revolved around me.
Even the way his thumb continuously drifted back and forth across the top of my hand was subtly seductive.
But it was all fantasy and nothing else. He had his world and I had mine. They were entirely separate or at least they needed to be.
There were all those complications rolling through my mind.
The strangest thing of all was that I felt zero remorse.
Nor did I feel embarrassed or even concerned about the fact I’d never hear from him again.
I wasn’t that kind of girl. This had been merely a blip in time and I was perfectly fine with that.
Plus, why did I feel any desire to be with a man who had to always carry a weapon with him? That was the reminder I needed that at any moment his life could be in danger. And anyone who shared space with him could expect the same.
The few stories I’d read about his family came to mind. There certainly wasn’t any place for a child in the picture. Ha. As if that was going to happen. Yes, he’d been sweet with my little Emily, but anyone could do that for a few minutes, even a day. No, he definitely wasn’t a family man.
There you go again, playing out the fantasy.
My inner voice was right. As usual.
Sighing, I glanced at the red LED numbers on the clock. “It’s getting late. I need to get home.”
“Mmm… I thought you might say that. I have an early meeting anyway. However, you’re welcome to stay here and enjoy yourself. Call room service. The suite is fully paid for.”
“How will I get home?”
“I’ll come back and pick you up at whatever time you’d like.”
Nerves and muscles bristled. Instead of staying the night with me, he’d make the time to return and pick me up. The tough girl side of me returned and while I tried my best to temper her, as soon as I twisted on the bed so I could face him, I could easily tell he knew I was pissed.
“You’d go out of your way to do that? For little ole me?”
He brushed his hand down my arm and damn it if I didn’t shiver all over again. Something else to irritate the hell out of me.
“Of course.”
The next thing he was going to do was to tell me he was a gentleman. Nope. The beautiful spell was broken and it needed to be.
There was no reason for what he’d just said to bother me. None. He’d told me his brother owned the resort. Naturally they’d have a suite or two kept for the family members, so it wasn’t as if he was leaving cash on the nightstand and slipping out in the middle of the night.
Yet his stark, cold words after what we’d just shared pissed me off.
Where was he staying since his house had burned to the ground with almost everything he owned with it? Of course. He had a second house or condo somewhere. Maybe he could take his private jet and head to the islands for a few weeks until his new digs were built and furnished.
It was childish of me to feel as if I was being dismissed. It was one night at my request. Or I should say my demand. Still, the sharp dig in the back of my mind was just another reminder of how different we were.
I threw back the covers and disengaged myself from him, not bothering to turn around while padding toward the door of the bedroom. Until I heard the rustle of sheets when I was just inside the doorway.
“You’re truly a beautiful woman, Halle. Tonight has been very special.”
Very slowly I looked over my shoulder, able to catch a full glimpse of his massive form in the stream of moonlight shimmering perfectly in through the crack in the blinds.
He was simply gorgeous. With one arm behind his head on the pillow, the sheets pulled down to just where the deep V in his abdomen started and his hair a tousled mess, he was sexier than any model I’d seen on the cover of a glossy magazine.
Yet as of this moment, what we’d shared was nothing but a sweet, naughty memory. “That’s okay. I have my daughter to think about. She’s the most important person in my life. If you’d prefer, I’ll catch a cab.”
His laugh was deep and throaty, setting off a series of thoughts and needs that should be shoved onto a shelf. The hard rustle as he threw back the covers was followed by the gift of another look at his buff body.
Including his already throbbing, thick cock.
“Nonsense,” he gritted out. “I’ll be ready in five minutes.”
“So will I.” I slowly turned my head to face the living room area, disappointed in myself and with him. Maybe what I wanted was for a man to fake wanting to see me again so we’d go through the motions of pretending as if maybe we would, but later we would find reasons not to do so.
Maybe it was just another childish moment. While dressing, I reminded myself that he wasn’t good for me. And that I’d despised him two days before because he was an arrogant ass.
But he was a good lover.
At least I could leave with a smile.
It felt different as we stood in the elevator. There was still the crackle of electricity, the rush of heated air that was almost completely stifling, but everything had changed between us.
The bubble had been popped.
There was limited activity as we walked through the gorgeous lobby. It was shades of blue with several subtle yet evocative neon lights and glistening marble floors. I would have expected an austere feel, cold and isolated, but there was a seductiveness about the resort that fit Alexsey.
Another good memory I could take with me.
With his hand on the small of my back, we moved out into the warm air.
A light breeze rustled the trees and from where we were, there were other traffic sounds.
However, due to the long road leading into the resort and the surrounding landscaping, the quiet was almost unnerving.
At least there was a water feature, a beautiful fountain shimmering from imbedded lights.
The gorgeous piece was anything but typical, the mermaid enshrouded in ropes. Perfect for a BDSM-themed hotel.
“That poor girl,” I said I peered up at her.
“Don’t feel sorry for her. She’s enjoying Shibari.”
“What’s that?”
“Japanese rope art. Highly coveted. Creating beautiful and intricate patterns on the human body following curves and lines.”
“Someone would allow themselves to be bound that way?” We stood right next to the fountain, close enough a spray of water tickled my skin.
He shifted his hand further down to just above my aching bottom. “Doing so involves a strong foundation of trust and communication. The art is all about experiencing sensations, intimacy and vulnerability.”
“Similar to the blindfold and velvet bindings.”
He laughed. “Very limited foreplay in comparison.”
“Is this something you would enjoy doing?”
With a slight turn, he looked me in the eyes. “Only with the right person.” The corner of his mouth turned upward.
Suddenly, I was full of another wave of shivers.
“I don’t think I’d look good in rope no matter how creative the artist.”
Using just a single finger, he eased hair from my face, intentionally brushing the tip of his finger across the seam of my mouth. “That’s where you’re wrong, Halle. You’d be even more beautiful than you are.”
Maybe he’d redeemed himself a little. Enough that I found myself leaning against him as we headed to the parking lot. Somehow, he’d managed to push me to a happy place and I’d be left with happy memories that would keep me warm at night.
He pulled his key fob, hitting the button. The slight chirp brought a smile to my face. He still needed to use his keys to find his place even in a private parking lot. Maybe he was a little more like the normal people in this world instead of just a rich, hot guy.
When we were close, he did something else completely unexpected. He pulled me into his arms, cupping both sides of my face. “Thank you for tonight.”
“You’re welcome.” As he lowered his head, I gripped his wrists.
The closeness was special, a perfect ending to a lovely evening.
When his lips touched mine, I was once again pulled into the sinful yet perfect moment of being able to lose myself.
How long had it been since I’d been okay to pretend that everything in life was going to be okay?
Too long.
The taste of him was so sweet, the lingering hint of champagne and strawberries allowing for another shiver. He held me, his fingers using enough pressure I was locked in place.
Not that I wanted to go anywhere.
He swept his tongue inside and all else faded away. No sights. No sounds. Including the incredible fountain.
Suddenly, his body tensed and he pulled his face away, cocking it to the side.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, following his gaze.
“Maybe nothing. Let’s get in the car.” His grip on my arm was firmer than before and his body language was entirely different. He also unbuttoned his jacket and I knew why,
So he could easily reach for his weapon.
He kept his footsteps long and quick and, in my heels, I had a difficult time keeping up with him. While we’d gone into the resort through a door only accessible by a qualified handprint, we’d gone out the front, which meant the walk was much longer.
I constantly looked over my shoulder much like he was doing. When we were maybe twenty feet away, a strange squeal pulled both of our attention. He grabbed his weapon, ripping it from his jacket and staring at the entrance.
Headlights.
Two sets of them.
And the vehicles were coming fast.
“Get down!” Just as he pushed me away, gunshots rang out. He didn’t give me a chance to object, pushing me down beside a vehicle. He also stood in front of me, yet I could see just enough around his legs to know what was happening.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Another round of gunfire echoed in the night.
The two vehicles swung around the curve leading into the parking lot, both slowing. Alexsey didn’t back down, firing off several rounds of his own.
An engine revved and suddenly, he grabbed my arm, pulling me with him.
“Stay down!” His command was low, the sound vibrating in my chest. He raced us around to the back of another vehicle as the two dark sedans slowed between vehicles, firing off several shots.
Suddenly, he threw himself down on me as bullets continued to fly, one after another. Gasping, I clung to him with one hand. The man was covering me with every inch of his body.
Protecting me.
The horrible sounds continued, and he crowded me closer. I could feel his thudding heart matching the rapid beat of mine.
“Goddamn it,” he hissed.
When he finally lifted his head, the sound of tires squealing and engines revving meant the assailants were trying to flee. He jumped up, standing with his legs wide apart and the gun in both hands.
And he continued firing off rounds, one right after another.
Until finally, I heard a horrific crash.