Chapter 35
She started to pull off her top and caught sight of her tattoo.
From a broken acorn…
Before yesterday, she alone knew what it meant. Now Noah King knew the pain and horror that had gone into each letter. He knew, and he still wanted her.
Fresh tears threatened as she stood under the shower. She’d almost walked away from that. From him, his strength, his indomitable will and determination to right everything that was wrong in her life.
What will the rest of it say?
He’d asked her that about her tattoo. She still didn’t know.
But she was hanging on to the hope that one day she would.
And she sure as hell was going to hang on to him if he wanted her.
Part of the reason she’d fought so hard to come here tonight to end things was because she’d been terrified of the depths of her feelings for Noah.
When she’d walked away from him this morning, she’d felt as if her very existence was ripping in two.
She’d carried his last touch on her nape through the day, touching herself there when her world had threatened to cave it on itself.
Then she’d compounded the torture by imagining him with Ashley.
Jealousy and dread tore through her stomach. She pushed it away and finished washing.
After drying herself, she walked naked into Noah’s dressing room and peeked through his clothes.
On one side, sharp designer suits hung neatly next to four trays of ties and cufflinks.
On the other, casual clothes, shoes, and men’s accessories had been laid out.
She picked up a Vassar College T-shirt and pulled it over her head.
She was about to turn away when she noticed the closet at the end of the room.
Intrigued, she opened it and froze.
She’d never shied from using sex toys for self-satisfaction when her needs had grown too explosive to handle. But compared to her paltry collection, Noah’s was the super-deluxe version.
She bypassed floggers, ball gags, and cock rings and stopped in front of the heavy-duty stuff. A five-rung silver rack with black straps hung on a spike. Next to it, a three-foot metal rod with cuffs at each end leaned against the wall. She touched the cool metal and her pulse shot up.
“Sweetheart, you coming to ea?—”
She jumped and whirled to face him. Noah’s gaze raked over her as he strolled lazily toward her, all lean hips and sleek muscles.
At some point he’d rolled up his sleeves so his forearms glistened gold under the dressing room lights.
His hair was a touch disheveled as if he’d run his hands through it a few times.
God, he was beautiful.
He stopped in front of her. “You’re wearing my favorite shirt and you’re standing in my favorite room. I may never let you leave,” he growled.
The combination of rough tone, delicious man, and wall-to-wall sexy toys threatened to fry her synapses. He stepped up to her, turned her around so her back was to his chest, and leaned down.
“Which one would you like to try first?” he whispered.
She touched the metal rod. “What does this do?”
“The straps go around your ankles so you can’t close your legs. I like the idea of having you wide open to me for hours while I make you come again and again.”
Shivering, she touched the rack.
“That goes on the wall in my bedroom. Same principle. Full and unfettered access. But that comes with complete trust. And we’re not quite there yet. Ceding control to me in the bedroom was a first step, but there are several steps to complete trust, baby. I want you there with me when we use this.”
He took her hand and led her out.
“Come and eat. If you’re good, I’ll let you choose something from in here later.”
Leia tried not to be hurt about the trust remark. Deep down, she knew he was right. Her first instinct when the shit hit the fan today had been to run and hide the way she’d been doing for the last five years. She’d almost walked away because she’d been too scared.
It was time to shed the fear and take a leap.
She curled her fingers around his, and he sent her a smile as they entered the living room. She hadn’t taken the time to check out his condo before, and she now looked around.
“Wow, I love your place.”
His smile widened. “Yeah?”
She nodded. The living room was huge with vast amounts of open space.
White furniture dominated, contrasted with bold splashes of color that drew the eye to strategic pieces of modern art in the room.
Floor-to-ceiling windows met on two sides.
At this time of night, she couldn’t see the ocean but by day it would be spectacular.
“I’ve never been in a billionaire’s pad before. ”
He caught her to him and smacked her hard on the ass. “And you’ll never see another unless it’s mine.”
His hand soothed her flesh. Then he groaned when he realized she was naked beneath.
“Let’s eat. It’s been nearly twenty-four hours since I last fucked you.
You’re getting it rough and merciless for what you’ve put me through today, but you’re also getting it fast.” His eyes held a shade of vulnerability and hurt.
“I also need your vocal cords functioning tomorrow for when we meet my guy.”
He started to walk away, but she caught him back and touched her fingers to his cheek. “Noah, I’m sorry I didn’t call. I was scared you’d think the baggage was too much.”
His hand pressed her fingers into his cheek and he kissed her palm. “Sometimes our nightmares loom larger than they really are. Willoughby is a problem. The videos are a problem. But they’re not problems you need to deal with alone. I told you, you’re mine and I’ll take care of you.”
They shared a smile that stung her heart and pierced her to the core. For a moment she didn’t recognize the feeling. Then it slammed into her.
Happy. She was happy.
Leaning up, she pressed her mouth against his.
A split second later, he took over. Eventually, they stumbled to the bar where he’d set up their meal, and they ploughed through the grilled swordfish and salad he’d prepared.
He’d rescued the chocolate fondant from the restaurant delivery, and she gorged and licked her spoon clean.
“Wow, that’s some mad cooking skills there, King. I may just keep you.”
He grinned, drained the last of his wine and prowled towards her. “You better. Because I intend to keep you.” He took her glass and set it down. Electrifying blue eyes hooked into hers, one hand around her throat, caressing her pulse. “Now, Leia.”
Her breath caught and she stood. “What do you want me to do?”
“Pick a toy and put it on the bed. Take off my shirt and kneel on the bed, legs apart.”
The force of his need and the power of his arousal followed her all the way up the stairs. Even as she crossed the carpet to his closet, Leia knew which item she would choose.
She took it off the hook and curved her fingers around the thick handle. Returning to the bedroom, she undressed and crawled onto the high king-sized bed.
He entered five minutes later, his slow predatory footfalls escalating her helpless exhilaration.
“Fuck, sweetheart, you’re wet and swollen. Did seeing my toys make you like this?” he groaned.
“No, it’s you. All you. I need you so much.”
His breath hissed roughly. She heard a rustle of clothes then the bed dipped behind her. Her stomach clenched on a rush of desperate anticipation.
“For the next hour, when I ask you a direct question, you can answer. Otherwise, the only words I want to hear from you are please and Noah . I don’t care in which order. Just vocalize those two words. You got it?”
“Yes, Noah.”
He picked up the toy and trailed it along the top of her thigh. “I suspected you would choose this, but I want you to tell me why you chose it.”
“I need to be punished for making the monsters win for a while.”
“You know how that made me feel?”
“No.”
“Angry. Disappointed. Fucking terrified that the real world had taken you from me.”
The first hard lash of the leather whip against her pussy made her scream. She fell forward onto hands that trembled beneath the ecstasy roaring through her. The second hit her ass, fanned pain and pleasure in an outward flare that sent another scream roaring through her.
He took turns lashing her pussy and her ass until she was poised on the brink of cataclysmic release. Then he stopped.
“Please, Noah. Please… please…” she sobbed.
He dropped the whip and reared up behind her, one hand cupping her breast, the other her hot, aching sex. “Are you sorry?”
“Yes!”
He shuddered deep. “Kiss me, Leia. Show me how much you want me.”
She twisted and kissed him, dirty and deep, just the way he liked it. With her tongue, she told him how much she was enjoying what he was doing to her body, how much she needed him.
With a groan torn from his soul, Noah poised his cock at her entrance and surged into her.
Her teeth clamped on his lower lip and she screamed. Tasting his blood against her mouth was like a drug shooting through his veins. Desperate to keep control, he tore his mouth away. “Sweet heaven, what are you doing to me?” His voice was raw, much rougher than he’d ever heard it.
“Take me, Noah. Make me yours.”
He didn’t bother to tell her she’d flouted the rules.
He fucked her with everything he had, every desperate emotion he’d lived through today. He made her scream until the sound saturated his blood.
Then he flipped her over, pulled her knees up to her shoulders and started all over again.
Her nails scored grooves in his biceps. “Yes, Noah. More please. Give me more!”
Her insatiable demand triggered his own.
Sweat poured down his temple, dripping into his mouth before landing in hot splotches on her stomach.
His balls tightened as his pleasure gathered strength. Heaven help him, he was going to come way before he was ready, but there was no help for it. She undid him in ways he was beginning to fear he’d never understand.
“Noah,” she groaned, and he lost another layer of reason.
Her inner muscles tightened. “Do I make you feel good, baby? Is that why you’re so wet, so tight for me?”
“Yes!”
He braced his hand on either side of her head and planted kisses between her breasts. “You feel so gorgeous.”
She shuddered and turned her face to his. Shamelessly, she grazed her cheek against his rough stubble. “Make me come, Noah. Please. I’m dying.” Her voice broke.
He shut his eyes against the sound of her pleas. God, she was incredible. He kissed her cheek and caught her lobe between his teeth. “It’ll be my pleasure, baby.”
Sliding his hand between their bodies, he slid two fingers alongside her clit, squeezing the nerve-engorged nub between his knuckles.
She started to come with a low keen. She turned her face and kissed his hand next to her head on the bed.
Shock slammed through him when he realized her cheek was wet with tears. “Oh, baby.”
Her silent tears turned into hoarse sobs and he started to unravel. “God. Leia.”
His seed gushed out of him with the force of a power hose, scalding him as he filled her to overflowing. The sensation was so intense, he roared, tipping forward as his body gave way under the torrent of pleasure.
Vaguely, he felt her fingers thread through his, her lips touching his flesh over and over in silent benediction as he came harder than he’d ever come in his life.
He knew he was crushing her, that he needed to move. But the semen gushing out of his cock showed no sign of abating.
“Jesus,” he groaned. “I can’t stop coming.”
She shuddered beneath him, and he sucked in a frantic breath.
Get hold of yourself, dammit.
Wrapping his arms around her, he turned them sideways. Her head flopped weakly onto his arm, her silky hair covering her face. He felt her chest expand as she sucked in a breath and felt a twinge of guilt.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?”
She kissed his forearm. “I’m a little sore but it’s a good pain.” She fell silent for a moment, but he sensed she had more to say.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I just… didn’t mean to cry again.”
He pushed the hair out of her face. She was flushed with embarrassment and her eyes were slightly red with her tears. She’d never looked more beautiful.
“Do you have any idea what it does to a guy… what it does to me to have you cry when I fuck you?”
She grimaced. “Is it a good thing?”
He laughed, and he realized his heart was bursting with emotions he couldn’t name. “It’s a fantastic thing. Don’t ever hold back what you’re feeling, especially if it’s a first.”
“Okay.”
Leaning closer, he whispered, “I’d love you to soak the sheets with tears, sweat, and cum every time we fuck.”
She reddened even more. “Noah!”
He kissed her shocked mouth and started losing himself again in her bone-deep sweetness. Hell, he needed to dial it down a notch before he lost it completely.
And yet… “Are you happy?” he asked before he could stop himself.
Her hand curled against his chest and she sighed. “Yes.” A simple answer that tore at his insides and left him reeling.
“Good. Go to sleep before I get you to spend another hour proving it.”
Long after she’d settled into sleep, he lay wide-awake, his arms around her, listening to her breathe. He pondered how very quickly she’d shot up to the top of everything that was important to him.
And how very determined he was to keep her there.