2. Dark Fantasy
two
Dark Fantasy
"Mine." His words were sharp, cutting into the still air of the office with the prescission of a knife. His eyes blazed at her, but all she could imagine was walking around with the words Property of Warrick Nash embroidered on all of her clothes.
Iris couldn't contain the snicker that escaped her with that picture in the forefront of her mind.
But not a second later, she wished she fought against it harder.
Because right before her eyes, he transformed into something else.
Gone is the cool businessman. The mask dropped and the apex predator beneath the surface was on full display.
His blue eyes bled black as he leveled a blistering glare at her. He stepped up to her, and when she backed away from him, he followed. Stalking her every move. His inner predator was usually kept on a tight leash. But at times like these? She remembered the beast was never far from the surface.
As much as she wished she could stop it, her body responded. Just like the prey she desperately wished she wasn't. She swerved around the furniture in the large office, driven by pure instinct alone. Wanting distance between her and that dark glare. She should have known it would be useless.
In mere moments, he had her corralled. Pressed back into the corner of the office, all her exits blocked off. No way out except through him. And she didn't need to be psychic to know that was never happening.
"Is there something particularly amusing about that?
" He growled. His face was set in harsh lines, his eyes and clenched fists told the story his silence wouldn't. This was not the time to push back against him, this was the time to pacify the beast before her.
Iris didn't know exactly what went on in Warrick's life before they met, or even after, but it was clear to her he was no mere business executive.
No spoiled, entitled, trust-fund frat brother like far too many of her parent's friend's children grew up to be.
He may have been born into old money, but he didn't grow up easy.
Iris couldn't explain it, but looking at him, she just knew.
Something had shaped him into this predator she saw before her.
How had she never noticed before? This was more than a driven alpha male before her.
People with happy childhoods didn't grow into men like him.
Men who were so comfortable with violence, they could appear cavalier about it.
She was seeing the man she ran from three years ago. The one who terrified her. Why then was fear not the only thing she felt now? It was there, of course it was. But beneath it? She couldn't help but be intrigued. Captivated, even, by each new layer she discovered of him.
"Well? Want to let me in on the joke?" His words were quiet, but somehow, Iris knew it's even worse than if he'd shouted at her.
She swallowed back her fear and pushed her shoulders back.
She will explain, but she refused to grovel.
If she was lucky, she would get out of this office with no more bruises that she had when she entered.
"I scoffed at how dressing me in a skintight outfit with a slit practically up to my pussy is supposed to show everyone that I am yours.
" She said with slow, measured words. It's harder than she would ever admit, but she wouldn't cower.
"I know I'm yours. You have made that more than clear.
Trust me. Why I need to dress like a lady of the night to broadcast that particular message is where you lose me. "
They stared at each other for the space of several breaths. Suddenly, with no warning, Nash did something that she couldn't recall him ever doing before. Not in all their time together. Then or now.
He laughed.
Loudly. Genuinely. If the expression on his face was anything to go by, he was just as surprised as she was about it.
As his laughter melded into slow chuckles, and finally faded into nothing more than a small uptick of his lips.
The tension seemed to bleed away as if it was never there. She looked at him in disbelief.
"You know, I would have bet good money you didn't know how to laugh." She told him with wide eyes. This made his lips turn up, but no more laughter followed.
Pity. Laughter looked good on him.
With the hint of amusement gracing his lips, Iris couldn't help but marvel at the soft appearance it gave him. She had never seen him like this before. Unbidden, she wondered if she could do it again? Could she bring out this soft Nash somehow? And if she could, at what cost to herself?
"I would have agreed with you, but it seems you are the exception to all of my rules." He murmured mysteriously. His words caused confusion to swirl around Iris. What rules? With a furrowed brow, she couldn't help but question him.
"What other rules do you have that I apparently don't follow?" His eyes locked on her, and with one look from him, she knew that he was not going to answer any of her questions. And she was right.
He didn't even acknowledge what she had asked.
Instead, he closed the distance between them with one step.
The space seemed infinitely smaller now that she was sharing it with his much larger frame.
She could feel his body heat wafting off of him.
Smell his minty breath on the air around them. Her senses seemed consumed by him.
But, really. What else was new?
His hands came up to grab her tightly, drawing her body in between his legs.
He wrapped one of his legs around her ankle.
With one hand on her left hip, he angled her body, keeping one leg locked between his, and forcing the other to move back if she wanted to keep her balance.
This had the desired side effect she was sure he wanted.
Her legs spread wide and the slit in the skirt gaping open.
With the material spread apart, it left her one leg exposed.
And providing him with clear access to her most private parts.
A fact that he was quick to capitalize on as his other hand dropped to the said slit in her skirt as if it was whispering a siren's song to him.
With a devilish glint in his eye, he slowly dragged his hand up along her leg.
Pausing when he came up to the line of her garter belt.
His fingers dug gently in the skin under the belt, his nails giving her a delicious burn that sent shockwaves straight to her core.
Causing liquid heat to pool at the juncture of her legs.
His actions threw her body into a tailspin.
Stoking the fire that had been smouldering since she gave him her reverse strip-tease.
It was as if a switch had been flicked in her mind, and passion began to flood her senses.
Common sense flung to the wind. And when he spoke, if she wasn't aroused before, she sure would have been once she heard his deep words.
"This outfit is not something that a lady of the night, as you so colorfully call them, would ever wear.
Clothes like these on a body like yours are about so much more than cheap lust. No, these are about you giving a gift to the man lucky enough to unwrap you.
This is all about the tease. The anticipation.
" His hand abandoned the garters and followed the straps that held them up.
His fingers slipped beneath the silky material of her underwear.
Iris's eyes closed as his fingers hit in just the right spot.
"Before, you dressed like the proper lady your family raised you to be.
" He dropped his mouth to the curve of her neck, with his teeth, he pulled down the high neck of the sweater to gain access to the sensitive skin beneath.
One purposeful lick sent delicious shivers racing down her spine like lightning.
Joining together with the shockwaves caused by his hand doing sinful things in her panties.
"Now, your clothes will send a very clear message.
You're not theirs, not anymore." With every word he said, his lips skated along her neck.
Iris could barely focus on the words that were falling out of his mouth.
"You shed the weight of their expectations and their rules.
They have no claim on you anymore. You dress like the woman you are, not the one they believed they could turn you into.
You are someone with your own wants, your own desires.
In this outfit, you tell the world you know what you want, and have every intention of getting it.
" She could feel his lips tilt into a smile against her skin.
"And anyone who doubts that you will get it, are fools.
And if someone is stupid enough to get in your way?
Then they best run for cover. Because no where will be far enough away to be free of your wrath. "
"How does a skirt and a sweater say all that?" Iris managed to gasp out.
"Because you look like a confident woman who knows every ounce of her worth." His dark voice skittered across her skin. "You look like my woman." And with that, it was as if the wool she never knew that covered her eyes fell away. And Iris's whole world shifted on its axis.
His words sent her reeling. She had lived her whole life for other people.
First for her family, and then when they were engaged, she had lived for Nash.
She had tried to shape herself into the woman she thought he would want.
She had done whatever he said—quit work, given up her friends.
It wasn’t until she was free of everyone that she had to face a truth that terrified her.
That she didn’t know who she was or what she wanted.
After three years of soul-searching in the desert oasis that was Lake Havasu, she had learned what she wanted out of life. It was the one thing her wealthy family had never given her.
Love.