Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Avery
“Whipping is exactly what it sounds like, using a whip rather than a flogger,” Avery answered, keeping her tone light.
It was one of those things that sounded scarier than it actually was, mostly because certain whips could be very painful and do real damage when wielded incorrectly.
But that was the whole point of the class.
“A lot of the Doms at Stronghold use whips.”
“Is that like a bullwhip?” Nick’s unease about the idea of using a whip was obvious, and Avery pushed down her disappointment.
She didn’t want to unduly affect some of his choices, especially not after she’d realized he was closely noting her level of enthusiasm for everything and had left a couple options open he’d been hesitant about on his limits list when she’d been a little too exuberant in her explanation.
“It can be, but that’s only for very advanced users. More are about this long…” She held out her hands. “Still can be dangerous, depending on the whip and the force used, but it can also be really great.”
“Is that something you like?” The dubious note in his voice made her sigh inwardly.
“This isn’t about what I like. It’s about what you like.” She could live without being whipped. It clearly made him uncomfortable. “I filled out my sheet before I went to Marquis.”
“Can I see it?” Nick perked up.
“No!” Laughing, Avery sat back, shaking her head. God, that was just like him. She should have expected his response. He had a wicked sense of humor, despite how serious he could be at work.
“Worth a try.” He grinned at her, completely unrepentant.
Even though she couldn’t stop smiling, Avery tried to give him a stern look.
“You need to be serious. Remember, you’re going to have to try everything you say you want to do.” She’d reminded him of that when he’d bypassed ‘figging’ without even making it a soft limit, but that was his choice.
Expression turning more serious again, he looked down at the paper.
“I’ll mark it as a soft limit.”
Avery’s heart went out to him. He was trying so hard, and she could tell he wasn’t comfortable.
While his confidence had been one of the things that had initially attracted her, being the one to see this moment of vulnerability was even hotter.
This was something not everyone got a glimpse of—in fact, she’d bet most people would say he didn’t have a vulnerable side.
Sitting here, doing his best to keep an open mind despite the biases he was obviously struggling against, showing his hesitation and his concern…
well, she found that hot. She had a feeling he was going to make a very good Dom.
Considerate. Thoughtful. Focused on what his submissive needed instead of demanding that he was catered to.
Hopefully, the class would help him open his mind a little more. She got it. There were a lot of misconceptions about kink. He had some, which was why she hadn’t told him about her involvement.
Avery scooted a little closer. She’d started off on his left, but as they’d gone through the list, she’d ended up moving around, closer and closer, thanks to her round dining table.
Turning his head to look at her, a little confused, both of them froze when they realized their faces were mere inches apart.
He smelled like Febreze and food, but the combination wasn’t bad.
At least it was one she was used to since she’d done the same thing many a time when she couldn’t stop for a shower after a shift.
“Avery,” he murmured, his gaze dropping to her lips before lifting to meet hers again. The sensual awareness in his dark eyes made her insides quiver. “What are you doing?”
“Um… sitting?” Her voice was softer, breathier. Leaning in a smidgeon more, she tilted her head. She was topping from the bottom, but Nick wouldn’t know that. It wasn’t really topping from the bottom, though. She was just… encouraging. Tempting.
Offering.
“Mmm-hmm.” He didn’t hesitate, his hand sliding into her hair, pulling her lips the last few inches to his. Avery sighed with approval as he kissed her, happy arousal bubbling up from her core.
Whether or not he was a Dom, Nick was a take-charge guy, which flat out did it for her.
Once he had an idea of what she wanted, he went for it, and right now, Avery wanted a hot, passionate kiss while she didn’t have to worry about anyone seeing them, didn’t have to keep her ears alert for anyone approaching.
Nick shifted on his seat, angling toward her and pulling her against him. Lifting her hands against his chest, Avery caressed the hard muscles beneath his shirt, enjoying being able to touch him. The material of his t-shirt was a lot thinner than his chef coat.
“Fuck.” Breathlessly he pulled away, but not very far, still cradling the back of her head in his palm. “How far do you want to go tonight, Avery?” Uncertainty flashed in his eyes. “Do you want to wait until the class, so I know what I’m doing—”
Oh, hell no. She cut off that line of thinking immediately. There was no way she wanted Nick to feel as if he was less because he lacked the knowledge he was lined up to learn.
“Just do what feels right. The whole point of the class is to learn how to do the other stuff I don’t expect you to know right now. I don’t even want it. I want you.” It was the truth. She smiled wickedly. “Give me the Chef Nick Evans experience.”
Laughing, Nick’s hands dropped to her waist and pulled her, twisting, so she ended up straddling his lap, trapped between him and the table.
Hands on his shoulders for balance, she wiggled on top of him.
Wow. His chef pants were loose enough, she’d never been able to get a good look, but Chef Nick was packing one hell of a sausage.
“I’m going to be the top student,” he said, sliding his hands up her sides to cup her breasts.
Avery shivered, panting as her arousal soared under his touch.
“Of course, you will.” That was the guy he was—driven, competitive—which meant a bit of her bratty side had to come out to play. “Because I’ll be helping you with your study sessions.”
He chuckled, but his expression settled into seriousness.
“You just wait, Avery. I’ll be the best Dom you’ve ever had.”
Before she could answer, he pulled her down for another kiss. Rather than argue she didn’t think there was any such thing as a ‘best’ Dom, Avery gave herself over to the kiss. Arguing right now was pointless.
Nick
Damn, it felt amazing having Avery on his lap, her soft thighs settled atop his, those short shorts barely covering her lower body as she squirmed on his erection.
He realized he was nervous as he cupped her breasts, squeezing them gently, then a little harder to make her moan.
That was a new feeling. Nick couldn’t remember the last time he’d been nervous about pleasuring a woman.
It wasn’t because Avery meant something to him—at least, that wasn’t the only reason.
He wasn’t sure he could give her what she wanted—needed—and he didn’t want her to think he was lacking. It was something he hadn’t worried about in a long, long time.
He pushed that aside.
Hell, he’d had no complaints. Avery wasn’t expecting him to know the kinky stuff, but he meant it when he said he would at the top of the class. Even if part of him cringed at some things on the list. He’d figure it out.
Right now, he needed to focus on showing Avery everything he could do without all those bells and whistles. He could be a little more aggressive than he had in the past. That’s what she wanted, right?
Sweeping his thumbs over her nipples, he teased the little buds to hardness through the fabric of her tank top. Avery arched her back, pushing her breasts into his hands, begging for more.
Pinching her nipples, a rush of hot arousal swept through his body when she moaned and rubbed herself against him, kissing him more frantically.
He tightened his fingers, crushing the little buds, and felt his satisfaction surge when she whimpered and squirmed rather than pulling away or protesting.
Fuck.
She liked it.
If his dick was hard before, it was nothing compared to how it felt now.
Nick had always had to rein in some of his impulses, pull back on things he’d wanted to do.
He’d felt guilty about some of his fantasies because he wasn’t supposed to want it, because his girlfriends hadn’t liked it, so he hadn’t bothered trying with the few hookups he’d had over the years.
Avery, though… Was this kink? He didn’t know, but he was getting a hell of a lot more excited about learning.
Releasing her nipples for a moment before giving them another hard pinch, he pulled away from their kiss, sliding his hands down to her hips.
“Bedroom?” His voice came out lower than usual, almost a growl. Normally, he’d try to be more suave, but he was having trouble focusing.
“That way.” She pointed over his shoulder, down the hall.
He’d really been asking whether or not she wanted to go there, but hell, that worked as an answer.
Moving his hands under her ass, he stood. The chair he’d been sitting in skittered back, and Avery shrieked, wrapping her arms and legs around him and clinging on for dear life. Chuckling, Nick turned and made his way down the hallway.
Avery
Nick wasn’t just hot; he was fun.
And rough.
And bossy.
Exactly the way she liked it.
Which was probably why she’d thought maybe she didn’t need the kink. He was bossy enough in his own right, she might not have missed it, but she was glad, oh so glad, he was going to try.
She wanted tonight to know him—know what he liked, what he would do—before the classes started. She was pretty sure he was still going to be the best vanilla sex of her life.
Going straight to her bed, he tipped her back onto it, following her down. Avery gasped, squirming beneath him as his hands slid up her arms to her wrists, pinning them down on either side of her head, leaving her helpless beneath him.
Not kinky, my ass.
He didn’t know he was, but Olivia was right. Ignorance or denial doesn’t change a person’s desires.
Right now, Nick was running on pure instinct, doing what he liked, and what he liked was to dominate.
“Fuck, I’ve wanted to do this forever.” Hands sliding down her arms, he yanked down the front of her tank top.
Avery was a solid DD cup, but her breasts were rounded enough she could wear tank tops with shelf bras, no problem.
When she wanted deep cleavage, she’d put a bra on, but most days—especially when she was at home—she was most comfortable like this, with nothing but the shirt’s built-in bra.
So, when Nick pulled down the front, her breasts spilled out, pink nipples hard and begging to be pinched.
She didn’t even have to ask. He filled his hands with her breasts, his mouth unerringly going for one of her nipples.
Avery gasped as the hot, wet heat closed around the turgid bud, throbbing pleasurably from being pinched.
When his teeth closed around it, her entire body clenched with pure pleasure.
“Nick!” Her fingers threaded through his dark hair, holding him in place, as he sucked and nipped the tender flesh.