Chapter Nine #2
Avery frowned. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, he’s probably right. The killer would have to go to great lengths to connect him with you from your license plate. You didn’t live together or work at the same place.”
“Yeah, but Rogan said…” The conversation had veered in a direction that made him wish the mug held chamomile tea after all.
Avery reached over and clasped Eli’s wrist. “Yes. Out of an abundance of caution, Rogan thought it best to bring Lenny here. But he’s an adult, sweetheart. We can’t force him.”
Eli rubbed his thumb across the rim of his cup, staring at the rich brown liquid. He looked up. “Yeah, I know. It just stresses me out.”
“We’ll keep trying, though. Okay?”
Avery’s smile was infectious enough that Eli smiled back. “Okay, thanks.” He took a healthy swallow of his cooling chocolate. “So… What was it you wanted to talk about?”
He figured he should get whatever Avery had on his mind out in the open. No point in making an ass of himself if Avery had decided to cool his jets.
“I’ve been thinking about our discussion regarding BDSM and what you’d like to get out of being a sub.”
Eli straightened. This didn’t sound bad. If Avery was offering to be his Dom, the answer was hell to the yes.
“Yeah? What were you thinking I should do?”
Avery scooted closer, taking the half-empty cup from his hand, then setting it down. He draped an arm across the top of the sofa and plucked at Eli’s curls.
“Eli, all I can do is offer suggestions or advice if we’re not in a scene.
It’s not my place to tell you what you should do.
As a Dom, I’ll guide you based on what we work out in a contract.
” Avery stroked Eli’s cheek. “Without written goals, a discussion of limits, my influence over you is limited, which is as it should be.
Avery trailed his fingers down Eli’s throat, then rested his palm on Eli’s chest. “Never give your power to someone unconditionally. What I propose is a temporary contract designed to help you discover your goals as a sub. Does that sound like something you’d be interested in?”
Eli’s heart quickened. The word ‘contract’ made this real in a way their previous conversations hadn’t. A tinge of excitement mingled with nervousness in his stomach.
“Yes!” Eli pressed his lips together before continuing. “I mean, I think that’s exactly what I need.”
Avery’s lips tugged into a wide smile. “I hoped you would say that.” He leaned forward, his voice taking on that commanding tone that made Eli’s skin tingle.
“But before we discuss the details, I want to be clear about something. This isn’t only about sex, Eli.
This is about helping you grow, to discover your limits.
Learn to make decisions with confidence. ”
“I understand.” His cheeks heated. “But there’s still sex, right? Just not all sex.”
Avery choked out a laugh, then cleared his throat.
“Of course, sweetheart.” Avery brushed his fingertips along Eli’s cheek, his forehead, the light touches something Eli had come to crave in such a short time.
“You can’t imagine how difficult it’s been to resist taking things further while you slept in my arms, to keep from making love to you until we’re both utterly spent. ”
Eli moved closer, his cock growing harder the more Avery spoke.
He pressed his palm to Avery’s chest. “Yes, I can imagine. That’s all I’ve been doing.
I can barely function during the day because all I can think about are your astounding, toe-curling kisses.
The way you cradle me as if I were the most precious thing in the world, and wishing you’d use your strong hands to hold me down and take me however you want. ”
Avery pinned Eli to the couch before he could continue laying out his case of why they should make love.
He shoved his hand beneath Eli’s shirt, yanking the fabric free from the restraints of his jeans.
Eli gasped as Avery’s warm palm met his naked skin in a claiming touch, caressing, kneading his frame, showing Eli that he belonged to Avery and no one else.
How he’d longed for a lover whose interest went beyond a quick hook-up or casual date now and again.
He arched his back, pressing against Avery’s hand as if he could somehow get closer to this incredible man who also wanted more.
Avery kissed his way up Eli’s throat, scraping his teeth along Eli’s sensitive flesh.
This. This is what I want out of BDSM.
He didn’t want to think right now, only feel. But he knew he had at least part of the puzzle. He needed to be owned.
Avery crushed their mouths together, taking control of the kiss before Eli could respond.
He writhed beneath Avery, anxious to remove the frustrating barrier of clothing between them.
Avery ran his hands over Eli’s body, as if tracing every contour of Eli’s frame.
He clutched Avery's shoulders, desperate to feel the full weight of the Dom pressing him into the cushions.
“I’ve wanted this from the first moment we kissed,” Avery murmured against Eli's neck, his breath hot and heavy. “But I needed to be sure you were ready.”
Eli dug his fingers into the firm muscle of Avery’s shoulders. “I’m ready. I've been ready.”
With a fluid motion, Avery pulled back enough to strip off Eli’s shirt, tossing it aside before removing his own. The sight of Avery’s bare chest—broad and defined with a dusting of dark hair that narrowed down past his navel—made Eli’s mouth go dry.
Avery’s hooded eyes lowered to Eli’s body, his gaze hungry. He leaned over and placed soft kisses along his clavicle while circling the pads of his thumbs over Eli’s nipples. A soft moan escaped Eli’s mouth, the gentle erotic touches driving him crazy with need.
“Avery, please…” Eli squirmed. “More.”
In an aggravating move, Avery stopped what he was doing and leaned down, whispering against his ear, “I need a safeword.”
Oh. It was going to be that kind of encounter. Fuck yeah. “Is red okay? I never thought about picking one.”
“Whatever you’ll remember to say if you want me to stop.”
“I’ll remember.”
“Mmm…” Avery rubbed his nose behind Eli’s ear. “Then it’s Sir, please.”
Eli sucked in a sharp breath. “Yes, Sir.”
Avery nipped his earlobe. “Such a good, obedient boy.”
That was it. He was going to come. The reality of submitting to a Dom was better than the fantasy, and they’d barely begun.
Avery’s weight shifted, and Eli found himself being lifted.
He wrapped his legs around Avery’s waist as the Dom carried him from the living room.
My Dom. Eli clung to Avery’s amazing broad shoulders, his heart hammering.
The bedroom door swung open with a nudge from Avery’s foot, and moments later Eli’s back met the velvety, burgundy comforter on the bed.
“I’ve wanted you like this since our first night alone.” Avery loomed over him with those icy blue eyes now much darker with desire. “Mine to give pleasure to, mine to play with.”
Eli couldn’t find his voice, could only nod as Avery worked at his belt, unhooking it with practiced ease.
The zipper followed, and Eli lifted his hips, helping Avery slide his jeans down.
His boxers came next, then his shoes, and finally, he was completely exposed while Avery remained half-dressed above him.
He resisted the urge to cover himself, instead letting Avery’s appreciative gaze wash over him.
“Beautiful.” Avery ran his hands up Eli’s thighs. “So perfect for me.”
Avery encouraged his legs open, Eli’s skin prickling with goosebumps as he traced patterns on his inner thighs, coming tantalizingly close to his aching cock before retreating. The teasing touches made him squirm again, whimpering.
Avery let out a low, throaty chuckle. “You’ll take what I give you when I give it. Hands above your head, lace your fingers together.”
Eli complied quickly, his breathing picking up a rapid pace.
Avery’s smile was almost sinister, yet Eli wasn’t afraid, only more aroused.
“Well done. Such a good boy for his Sir.”
Avery rose from the bed and began to remove the rest of his clothes—slow as fuck.
Eli’s cock strained against his belly, pre-cum beginning to bead at his slit.
When Avery’s pants finally hit the floor, Eli’s breath caught.
His body was even more magnificent than he'd imagined, lean muscle and pale skin, that delicious trail of dark hair leading down to an impressive cock.
“Eyes on me,” Avery commanded, his voice rough. “Don’t even think about touching yourself.”
Eli nodded, his fingers tightening where they were entwined above his head.
The bed dipped as Avery rejoined him, settling between his spread legs.
Avery placed warm palms on his stomach, and Eli gasped at the contact, his skin hypersensitive to every caress.
The anticipation was killing him. Avery continued to map his body with deliberate slowness, fingers dancing over his ribs, across his hipbones, down the sensitive skin of his inner thighs.
When he finally wrapped his large hand around Eli’s cock, the touch was electric.
“Sir!” Eli gasped, his hips jerking involuntarily.
“Still,” Avery ordered, his grip tightening momentarily. “Good boys don't move without permission.”
The firm tone sent a shiver through Eli’s body. He forced himself to remain motionless, every muscle taut with the effort of restraint. Avery’s thumb swept over the head of his cock, spreading the drops of pre-cum, and Eli bit his lip to keep from crying out again.
“That’s better.” Avery let out a throaty groan. “You’re learning already, doing so well for your Sir.”
The praise was like a reward, the feeling as magnificent as a physical touch.
Obeying Avery fed a need inside him that he was beginning to understand.
The act of submitting seemed to quiet the constant chatter in his head, replacing his usual indecision with a singular focus that was only about pleasing Avery.