Stare Me Down (Stare Down) (14 page)

He went after her then. Pinching, sucking and then biting her nipples. First one, then the other. Hard and then harder still until she sank back against the tree trunk and speared her fingers through his hair. Massaging his scalp, drawing him closer as she moaned.

He was careful not to hurt her. That wasn’t the purpose of this little interlude. Actually, his only purpose when leaving the restaurant was to reenact his dream. With the ice, anyway. But that turned to shit at the same time the ice turned to water. Jaxx was complicated. Wary. In need of a man like him, and
he
hadn’t been needed this much in a long, long time.

He used his teeth and grazed her delicate skin. Over and over, he teased one breast and then the other. Biting and nipping, and when she flexed her hips forward in a continuous plea for more of his touch, he gave it to her.

“Open your legs. Wider.” He slid his hand up her inner thigh and when he got to her panties, he didn’t waste any time. He wasn’t sure which one of them was more eager to draw that silk down. She wanted to be touched, and he wanted to explore. Would she be wet for him?

His fingers slid into her hot steam and he had his answer.

“Ahhh…”

She was shivering, and he hadn’t even gotten to the good parts yet.

“Aries,” she groaned out when his index finger slipped into her. “Ohh…”

“Stop flexing. Stay still. Very still. That’s right.” He took hold of her nipple between his teeth and tugged on it before letting go. “Let me move you.”

Her clit was swollen. Pulsing against his knuckles as he pressed and circled it. Over and over, harder and harder as she clung to him. Panting and moaning.

Sighing.

Until he pinched that bundle of nerves between his bent knuckles and squeezed her with graduating pressure.

“Aries…”

This time, when he clamped her delicate flesh, he didn’t let go. He stayed still and ordered, “Now move. Slowly. Rock forward and back.”

She was unsteady at first but then got the hang of it.

“That’s right. A little more. Now…” He eased his grip from her and waited. He knew what came next. Or who, more accurately. The second all the blood rushed back into those starved nerve endings. “Oh my God! Mmm…”

He held onto her tight as she shivered and trembled, coming hard as he rocked her in his arms. The scent of her desire, mingled with the cool evening air, wrapped around him, and he want to beat his chest in primal satisfaction. Being in control with a woman he liked and respected for other things than just sex, offered a new layer of contentment for him. A new brand of satisfaction.

When she let go of him and he saw her intent, he bent down and whispered, “Don’t. Leave your skirt up. Panties down. Turn and face the tree for me.”

Her eyes were languid but wary.

“It will be okay. Remember the traffic lights and you’ll do fine. I promise. Turn around and let me see your ass. Now.”

She nodded and did as he told her. The second he saw her gorgeous ass, he sucked in a breath. Round, firm and as white and pristine as new fallen snow…‌for now. “Arms up.” He helped her. “Good, only…” He pulled her hips toward him, which gave her back a sexy sway. The position also put her ass on greater display. “That’s better.”

He’d thought to use his hand, but with such a beautiful canvas? “I’m taking off my belt. It’s older, so it’s nice and worn. Flexible. It’s going to sting and then burn. Are you ready?”

“Yes.” Her sigh was more a groan.

Jesus, with her answer she changed position. Normally he would have made her move back the way he had her, but her way was better. Much better, as her breasts connected with bark. Her cheek connected with bark. Hell, even her splayed hands lovingly pressed into the rough surface.

She was more than ready, and there was nothing hotter than the sight of her prepared.

He started off with a series of graduating taps. Light, then successively harder.

“You can go do it harder than that if you like.” She didn’t open her eyes when she spoke, but she did do a little ass wiggle.

Oh yeah, she was going to be fun.

He continued to tap the leather against her while he leaned down and said, “Quiet. I’m warming you up. I don’t want to bruise your beautiful skin. I suppose now would be a good time to remind you that I’m in charge.” He gave her a good tap and then returned to moderate ones. “I know what to do and how to do it.” He tapped her hard again. Only once, but she jerked. Good. “Which is fortunate for you, because you don’t have a clue about what you need.” This time, he pulled back and gave her a full whack across both cheeks with the leather.

She didn’t complain, so he did it again. And again. Careful not to hit the same spot too many times. He wanted her whole ass hot and tingly. The ripples the force of the belt created were mesmerizing. Stunning, because she didn’t tense up. She didn’t clench. She embraced the experience, but then, even martyrs had their limits. She was getting to hers and when he gauged she reached that threshold as he spied her biting her lip, he lightened up. Landing the belt on her in lesser degrees until he finally stopped.

“Are you good?” He helped her to stand straight and then pressed himself against her. Forcing her into the tree trunk. He leaned, but not too heavily as he whispered, “Your ass is burning me through my pants.”

“Mmm…”

He slid a hand between them and took hold of a scalding cheek. Firmly, he kneaded it until she groaned and tried to move.

“Don’t ever shy away from my touch.” He waited for her to still and then said, “You did good, Jaxx, but don’t forget. Tonight while you’re lying in bed and your ass is all tender and itchy and your nipples are aching to be sucked by me, think of this.” He squeezed her ass cheek so hard she cried out. “If you agree to our arrangement, I control what you feel and how you feel it. Right now we’re concentrating on your needs, but soon we’ll be focusing in on mine. I have very specific needs. I like to take things. I’m going to take you. Whenever, wherever and however I want. Does that excite you?”

She shivered and then whispered, “Yes.”

“Are you wet?”

“Yes.”

He smiled because that admittance was so soft he had to strain to hear it. Slipping his hand between her legs, he spoke equally as soft in her ear, “Let me see………”

When she came this time for him, it was fast. So fast he wouldn’t be surprised if she handed her house key over before they got to her doorstep.

He waited for her quivers to stop and then helped her with her clothes. When she was dressed, he pulled her in for a hug. “If I had your key tonight, I might be tempted to pay you a visit.”

“I don’t think I could take it.”

This was nice. Just the two of them bathed in moonlight with nothing but the rustle of ivy leaves swaying in the breeze to break the silence. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment.

“Aries?”

“Hmm.”

“What were you going to do with the ice before it melted?”

“I was going to make you come over it.”

“Oh.”

“Hey,” he said as he kissed the top of her head. “Congratulations.”

She leaned back. Damn, she had the prettiest eyes. “For what?”

“I think your magical vagina scored round one. Enjoy it tonight, because come tomorrow? She’s going down.”

He let go of her, but when he noticed her smile falter he frowned. “What’s the matter?”

“I don’t want tonight to end.”

There was no falter in his smile as he mentally calculated how many more minutes would tick by before she caved and gave him the key.

“But then the quicker I get home, the faster I can start thinking about whether I should agree to this. And about that. I have a few questions. You can answer them on the way to get Maggie, okay?”

Okay?
No it wasn’t okay. “Sure.”

And the magical vagina won again. Fuck.

Chapter Nine

Jaxx sat on the edge of her bed and stared down while she nervously wriggled her toes. Should she do it? Could she do it? Who would know?

Aries.

To him, it was probably a foregone conclusion. She tilted her head and peered at the master bathroom as if she hadn’t seen it before. Well, she hadn’t, at least not in her current state, with nerve endings vibrating in a sexual hum especially the sensitive ones in her breasts and bottom. He certainly knew what he was doing in that regard.

This was crazy. She stood and went to flick on the light. Looking down, she noted the defining line between the wood and tile at the threshold. She wasn’t going to step on the glossy black and white checkerboard floor while she debated, because the ceramic was cold. Just the opposite of her.

“You want to do this.” She had to say it out loud so she’d believe it. She’d just had two mind-blowing orgasms with the man, and all he had to do was kiss her goodnight and tell her what he wanted from her and she was ready to give him anything?

She recalled his quiet words. They replayed in her mind. Seducing her. He had a great voice. Firm, but husky. Hell, the guy could read the phone book, and it would be a thing of beauty. She closed her eyes and let them penetrate. “
If you decide to give me that key tonight before you fall asleep, I need you to text me. Let me see the phrase, ‘I want you to fuck me anytime you want to’ and after you do that mark the occasion by going into your shower and when you’re all soapy and warm under the water, I want you to get yourself off with your hands. Nothing else, just your hands while you fantasize that it’s me touching you.”
Opening her eyes, she flipped off the light. Who was she kidding? She couldn’t do this. It was too‌—‌one word echoed within her‌—‌awkward.

She snapped the light back on and scowled. Hadn’t they already established that everything new was awkward? And if she wanted to experience something new as in unique she’d have to get over feeling awkward about it.

Five uncomfortable minutes later she stopped debating and tore her gaze away from her cell, where she’d typed out the phrase he’d asked her to text him. Releasing a deep breath she cringed, closed her eyes and pressed the send button. When no telling thunder clap sounded and the sky didn’t fall down, she opened her eyes.

“Well, that wasn’t so bad.” She put her cell phone on the night table and went to the bathroom doorway. Peering in she muttered, “A promise is a promise.” One foot touched the cool tile, then two, and before she knew it her robe was left behind as she went straight for the shower. She walked into the L-shaped enclosure and bent to crank on the water. As it heated up, she faced the truth. Once she took this step, there was no turning back. She was smart enough to know that. She was also smart enough to know that this may simply be sex for him, but for her it was much more. This was a chance for better understanding and possibly some enlightenment into why she had a hard time responding to normal stimulation. She’d look at like an experiment. An opportunity for self-discovery, but could she trust him? She still had no idea why a man like him would want a woman like her. It made no sense.

“Stop overthinking. Even if this was only about sex, enjoy it for fuck’s sake. Why not? Yeah,” She nodded and then nodded even more resolutely. “Hell, yeah.”

And now she was like a crazy person, talking to herself? She took a deep breath and turned the dial until hot shots of water beat down on her. It was simple. Until she felt she could trust him, she’d remain emotionally distant from him. It would only be about sex for her too. How hard could that be?

She grabbed the soap and lathered herself. Her breasts tingled and hardened and, just as he’d predicted, begged to be sucked by him. She dragged the soap in languid circles over her stomach and belly, closing her eyes as a wave of desire coursed through her. This new physical phenomena was one she could get used to. She angled her head back, letting the water shower her chest and drain down to wash the suds away. Then she shifted her head forward so the water rained across her back. Slowly, gently, she pushed the glycerin bar over her sensitive bottom. Back and forth and up and down, until she wasn’t thinking anymore. Only doing.

She let the soap slip over one hip and slide between her legs. Dipping in between her thighs. Skating over her flesh so smoothly, she sighed. She didn’t even notice when she’d dropped the bar because her fingers were just as slippery. Moving over her clit, circling, pressing and pressing some more. “Mmm.”

“I think you dropped this.”

“Aries?” She snapped her eyes open and immediately closed them against the blasting water. Which was a mistake, because she couldn’t see where she was going, but she needed to go somewhere. “Is that you?”

“Stay still. Careful, I don’t want you to slip.”

His arms wrapped around her, and that was when she got her second shock. He was naked. “But how?”

“I got your text.”

“What? Were you waiting outside my door or something?”

“Yes.” When he answered it was in whisper against her ear, “I want to fuck you now.”

He pulled her back against him so deliciously, she sighed. Until…‌wait, was there‌—‌she flexed her bottom back to double-check‌—‌latex covering his very hard…? “Are you wearing a condom?”

“What color are the lights?”

“What lights?” She wished he didn’t have her arms pinned to her side, because she was dying to wipe the water out of her eyes and see what the hell was going on. Was that his jaw against her cheek?

“The traffic lights.”

It took her a second and then she realized. “Green. No yellow.”

He laughed. It was soft and surprisingly comforting. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those drivers.”

She scowled with her eyes closed. “Hey, I’m a good driver.”

“Then make a decision. Green.” He softly kissed her ear, jaw and neck then abruptly stopped. “Or yellow?”

Her skin tingled everywhere his mouth had touched. Damn, he was good. “Green. But tell me how did you get in without a key?”

“We’ll talk about that in few minutes. Right now I want to talk about how pleased I am with you. How beautiful you are and how happy you’ve made me with your choice.”

Those words swirled right around her heart and gave it a hug. She literally felt all the tension rush out of her as she relaxed in his arms.