CHAPTER 33 #2
“Can anyone see us in here?”
Nick heard the tremor in her voice and froze. Jannie got off on having an audience, he knew. Part of him didn’t want another pair of eyes to even catch a glimpse of her like this. The other part would take her in front of the entire universe, if that was what she wanted.
“We have security cameras everywhere,” he told her. “The ones in here are turned off. Why? Do you want me to turn them on?” He pointed to the opposite wall. “There’s also a panel there that raises, if you want people to watch—”
“No.” She vehemently shook her head. “No. I want you. Just you.”
She leaned back then, all gorgeous golden goddess, and he drank in every minute detail, her eyes, her face, her beautiful, lithe body, and her spread thighs, bound and open for him in sublime invitation.
Never had he wanted inside a woman more.
She held her arms out, blue fire in her eyes. “Come to me, sir.”
Jesus.
Head reeling, he quickly discarded the rest of his clothes and slid onto the bed.
Naked.
He’d never been naked in this room.
Because he’d never connected with anyone deeply enough to bare his body.
Tonight, he’d also bared his soul.
Spreading her wider, he knelt between her legs and gripped himself, letting his head fall back, just savoring the moment.
She whimpered. “Please.”
He shuddered at the intensity of her stare as he settled in, the pull between them so intense, the very air vibrated with it.
And then, he drew back and took her in one deep, forceful thrust, drawing a sharp cry from her.
Oh, yes, he took her.
Hard. Fast.
No slow or tender Nicholas this time.
Nick claimed her. Gave it all to her, unleashing everything that was pent-up inside him.
Every thought of her he’d ever had, every lonely night of lying there, jerking off alone. Every time he brought a woman into this space and ended up dissatisfied, feeling empty and unclean. Every time he’d wondered if he would ever find fulfillment.
Because this—this, right here, the woman he was drilling into with everything he had, was everything he’d ever wanted.
This woman, taking all of him.
Unreservedly.
He wrapped his hand around her throat. “Take it, Jannie.”
He squeezed, his ring finger right at her pulse point.
She moaned. “Yes … harder.”
She was now making guttural sounds with every thrust, noises bordering on frantic.
“Make me come,” she begged.
Nick drew back and shifted, changing his angle. With quick, powerful pumps, he slammed her over the edge, and Jannie broke apart around him, screaming.
It was primal. Savage. Feral.
Fantasy.
Fucking.
Fulfilled.
She clamped around him hard, pulsing so powerfully that he lost control, and Nick erupted, coming with such force that he saw spots and jagged flashes before his eyes.
He didn’t cry out. Couldn’t, past the granite lock of his jaw as he gripped her bound, wide-open legs, watching where they were joined as he shot all of him deep into her.
·
Nick pulled the soft blanket out of the warmer and draped it over his arm, then opened the mini fridge and grabbed a bottle of orange juice. He slid open the drawer that held snacks and took several, wanting to give Jannie options when she returned from the bathroom.
She hadn’t said a word as he’d dimmed the lights and untied her. But she responded to his kiss, not letting him end it. That was good, he guessed.
Still, he was worried. Had this been too much for her?
Her silence and laser focus on him as she walked back in made his chest tighten with apprehension.
Lifting her to gently place her back on the bed, he carefully wrapped the warm blanket around her, his heart squeezing when he heard her sigh as she snuggled into it.
These scenes, he knew, were taxing not only physically but emotionally, too. He showed her the energy bar, bags of nuts, and chocolate-covered almonds.
“What’s all this?” she asked.
“Aftercare.”
“What’s that?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. You want any of these?”
“Not yet.”
“Want me to hold you?”
“What kind of question is that?”
He smiled. He should have guessed she wasn’t one to need space. He slid in beside her, took her in his arms, and waited for her to speak.
She didn’t. That was OK. Aftercare was all about meeting a partner’s needs after all that intensity. Even though they hadn’t discussed it, he instinctively knew she needed some time to process.
“Would you like some orange juice?” he asked after a while.
“Yes, please.”
He opened the bottle with a pop, put in a bendy straw, and brought it to her lips.
She sucked greedily, draining over half the bottle. “I didn’t realize I was so thirsty.”
“These things are intense. They take a lot out of you.”
“Did it take a lot out of you?”
My heart and soul. They’re outside my body right now.
“Yes,” he simply said. “Would you like something to eat?”
“Are you on the menu?”
He chuckled. “For you, I’m 7-Eleven.”
She looked at him questioningly.
He kissed her hair. “Open 24/7.”
“So, feed me,” she said.
“With pleasure. What would you like?”
“Chocolate is always good.”
He took the bag of chocolate almonds, ripped it open, and brought one of the candies to her mouth.
She took the bag from him and fed him one. “You need aftercare too.”
BDSM, Jannie style. Nick smiled as he accepted her offer and chewed.
Soon, the bag was empty, and they started on the peanuts.
“So,” he finally said, “what did you think? This is the time to discuss and go over how the play was, what we liked, what we want to do again … or not.”
“You mean, like a debriefing?”
“I never thought of it that way but yeah. How do you feel?”
“I feel like I …” She thought for a moment. “… crossed the Rubicon.”
Oh.
His gut tightened. That could be good news for him. It could also mean disaster.
“That was the most intense experience I’ve ever had.”
His whole body relaxed, and he nodded, because, yeah, he felt the same way.
She cupped his cheek then, her eyes intense as her gaze captured his. “That wasn’t play, Nick. And if that was your expression of how you love me …” She paused to stroke his jaw with her thumb.
He waited, his heart pounding.
“… then I think you should be my husband.”
Nick blinked. He blinked again. “What did you just say?”
“I’m saying if we do this kind of stuff, we should be married.”
For the first time in his life, Nick was rendered speechless. He looked into her upturned face, her blue eyes blazing as she stared straight into his soul. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask if she was joking, but her expression told him she was 100 percent serious.
She gets it. God.
His heart stuttered, then threatened to beat out of his chest. “Are you proposing to me, Jannie Larssen?”
“Yup. It’s my turn.” She kissed his chin. “Full disclosure: I’ve been thinking about it for some time. Jannie Kent does have a nice ring to it.”
He had a nice ring. Purchased months ago, tucked away in his hidden compartment where he kept his ties, waiting for his fourth proposal.
He opened his mouth to enthusiastically accept and suggest they go do it right away, but Jannie stopped him with a fingertip to his lips.
“I have a stipulation.”
“Name it.”
Anything. Whatever she wanted, he would give it to her, no matter what it was. Once, he believed he would burn the whole world down for her if she asked, and now, that belief was a thousand times stronger.
“You’ve already shown that you’re a great teacher,” she said, a glint in her eye.
“And?”
“I want you to teach me how to do this.”
“Do what?”
“I want to learn how to tie, Captain Kent. And I want to do things to you while you’re suspended, all naked and hot for me.”
His brows shot up. “Suspended?”
“Uh-huh.” A little smile. “That was hot.”
His jaw dropped. Jannie wanted to … to top him?
“That’s right,” she said, reading his thoughts. “Those photos you showed me gave me lots of ideas. This body, all tied up …” She shuddered, drawing her tongue across her lips. “Yes, please. So, what do you say?”
Nick stared at her, still speechless. Had it been any other woman, he would have immediately refused. But this was Jannie. Jannie, who held his heart in the palm of her hand, whom he would crawl across shattered glass for if that was what she needed. But did she want to do it only that way?
Somehow, he found his voice. “Would you still let me …?”
Her eyes flashed. “Yes, Nicholas, I would, and I will. I get it now. I thought I’d pass out from coming so hard.”
Well. Mission accomplished.
He grinned. “So, will you finally marry me?”
“Will you teach me?”
“Beautiful girl, I’ll teach you everything. Give you everything. My heart, my body, my soul, they’re all yours. Have been for a very long time, only you didn’t know it.”
Everything he’d ever wanted shone on her face. “Marry me tonight. I don’t want to wait.”
He gaped at her. “You’re serious?”
“Deadly.”
Euphoria gripped him. “God, I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She kissed him then, and it was possessive, demanding, and deep.
He broke the kiss. “You sure you don’t want a big wedding? With your family there?”
She shook her head. “I want the fastest and cheesiest wedding ever.”
His lips twitched. “Around here, that shouldn’t be hard.”
“We can always have a second ceremony to include the family. I want you.”
“You have me.” He held her tighter. “Tonight it is, then.”
He looked into her eyes, part of him in disbelief that within hours, Jannie would be his wife. He knew he would remember this night forever, the night his dreams became reality, the greatest of his life.
“How’s that for a birthday present?” she asked.
It’s unbelievable.
“It’s perfect.”