The Highwayman's Lady (8 page)

The pain stops. His fingers are gentle again, stroking through my moist folds. He had been leaning over me, his lips against mine, but now the bed shifts as he moves to kneel between my thighs. I do not need to see him to know that his eyes are on me, perusing my most secret places, spread wide for his enjoyment—just as he told me, exactly as he requires.

“So pretty, Imogen, such a sweet, pink little quim. And mine. You are a virgin, yes?”

I nod.

“There will be pain but it will be quick and soon over. Then comes the pleasure. You want the pleasure, do you not, Imogen?”

Again, I nod, drawing my tongue across lips, which are dry suddenly. “Please, Gray, I want it now. I am ready.”

“I think not… not quite ready yet. But you will be.” He presses my knees further apart and upward toward my chest.

I have no time to reflect on the vulnerability of my position, nor on the fact that whilst I am naked and spread out on the bed, he remains fully clothed as far as I am aware. Any protest I might have made and in truth I have to doubt there would have been so much as a whimper, is swept away by the wave of pure sensation he unleashes next.

He uses his thumbs to part the lips of my quim, then leans down to plunge his tongue inside. I cannot see what he is doing, but it must be his tongue, for nothing else could deliver such sweet intensity. Soft yet probing, the intimate intrusion sending spirals of raw lust spinning through me.

“Gray… sir!” I exclaim, my fingers gripping the headboard as though to anchor me to this earth.

He ignores my startled squeals, shifting his attention back to that nub he teased just moments ago. I am unsure whether to be disappointed or to urge him on. I do neither, my whole body convulsing as the sensation starts to crest. I am terrified, hurtling toward something I do not comprehend but which draws me on like a siren.

“I warned you, do not take your release until I tell you to.”

“My—what? Sir?”

He pauses, then, “Ah, my apologies, Imogen. Please disregard that last remark of mine. You may take your pleasure as you will. This time.” He returns to his task, licking and nibbling whilst he trails his fingers through my dripping folds.

I arch, let out a sharp cry as he inserts one long finger inside me. He slides it forward, slow but sure, then swirls it within to caress my inner walls.

“Oh, dear lord.” I am thrashing on the bed, still clutching the headboard but thrusting my hips upward. Another finger enters me and he scissors them inside. I am losing any semblance of control. I fear I may be dying but have no wish to stop or slow down. Quite the reverse, I am driving forward, stretching, seeking, soaring.

Gray lowers his head again and closes his lips around that sensitive bundle of flesh again. He sucks and I am gone.

White light flashes within my skull, my body is spasming. Wave after wave of raw pleasure cascades through me. I am flying, weightless, adrift. His fingers in me, his tongue and lips on me, all conspire to rob me of sense and reason and the merest vestige of control. I care for none of that, so intent am I on milking this flow of carnal delight.

Almost as suddenly as the feeling was upon me, it recedes. Gray’s caresses are slowing, inside and out and my senses gradually return. As do my questions.

“What happened? What did you do?”

The bed shifts again and I know he is standing now, no doubt looking down on my form, still trembling from the intensity of the sensual onslaught he just unleashed. I turn my face in the direction I assume he has gone. “Gray? Please…”

“I told you I am a generous lover, did I not? Now you know what shall be your reward for obedience. You want more?”

“You could do that again?” I cannot keep the wonder from my tone, or the longing.

“I could. And I will. I intend for you to enjoy this night, my little Imogen.”

“There is more?”

“Aye, much more.”

I turn my head, seeking to follow his footsteps around the room. I release my hold on the bed head and start to sit up.

“Do not move.”

The curt command rings across the room. I subside back onto the mattress, mumbling my apology.

Several minutes pass. Occasional sounds offer clues—the thump of boots dropping onto the floorboards, the swish of clothing as he undresses. He will not permit me to see him, but might I touch?

“Please, may I move my hands?”

“No, you may not. If you believe you may struggle with that, I am happy to restrain you.”

“I, I will remain still. I promise.”

Despite my arousal and undimmed enthusiasm for this endeavour, I cannot help flinching as he re-joins me on the bed.

“Do not be afraid, Imogen. I promised you no harm and I will keep my word. But I
will
have your obedience and you should know that if you disappoint me in this matter, I
will
punish you.”

I want to know the nature of any punishment but do not dare to ask. Instead I tilt my face toward him. “I mean no disrespect, Gray. I hope… I… I do not wish to disappoint you.” The very notion leaves me in despair.

The mattress shifts under him as he rolls over me. He cradles my face between his hands and places his lips against my ear.

“You know what I require of you. And I know what you want, what you need. Let us believe that neither of us is to be disappointed this night.”

“Yes, sir,” I breathe, as he lays a trail of soft kisses across my jaw. He covers my mouth with his and I part my lips in welcome. It is as though he has released a tap, my body arching as the well of pent-up lust gushes forth to meet his thrusting tongue.

He shifts again and I part my legs to accommodate him. He breaks the kiss and leans up on one elbow, reaching back with his free hand to grasp my knee and draw it up, widening me, spreading me open. He leans to the other side and repeats the action.

“Wrap your legs around my waist. If I hurt you, you may scream. I will not stop. Afterwards, if I continue to cause you pain, you may let me know that in any way you deem suitable.”

“Would you stop? Afterwards? If I asked you to?”

He rubs his forehead against mine. “Aye, lass, I would.”

It is enough. I reach up, blind, to kiss him.

“Very nice, sweetheart. And now… your legs?”

Ah, yes.
I hook my ankles together in the small of his back, screw up my eyes behind the improvised blindfold, and I place my trust in him.

I have but the vaguest of notion of what is to happen. I am not entirely ignorant and I realise his fingers inside me were the prelude, but my grasp of detail is woeful. The delight he has afforded me so far is a happy harbinger, surely?

I take in a sharp breath as he parts the lips of my quim again, but this time the intruder is larger, thicker. My entrance opens, spread wide as he pushes forward. His hips rock under my legs, just short, probing strokes impaling me inch by inch. It is sore, my flesh stretching around him.

“Oh, sir…”

“Is this better?” He slips his hand between our bodies to lay his fingertip across my sweetest spot. He rubs again, quickly, from side to side. The pulsing sensation from just a few minutes ago is back, my tense body softening around him.

He takes advantage, pressing further into me. I gasp, hope to weather this without crying out or worse still, begging him to cease.

Another inch, then another. I press my face into his shoulder, my breathing ragged now.

His fingers are in my hair, caressing my scalp before tangling in the curls and easing my head back to meet his kiss again. He supports his weight on one elbow, the other hand stroking my pleasure spot as he distracts me with the sensual assault on my mouth. I do not know which is the more effective diversion. I only know that I want this moment to continue. To never end.

Of course, it must. Just as I relax, soften against him, he drives forward. The pain is intense, tearing, a ribbon of fire rushing deep inside me. I scream into his mouth, the sound swallowed by his kiss.

He stops, holds still. The pain subsides. I am numb.

“There, it is done. Breathe in, Imogen.”

I do as I am bid, taking care not to move any other part of me. I would surely tear in half were I to attempt such foolishness.

“Good. Now you may breathe out.”

Excellent advice. I follow it.

“Again.” His tone is deep, gentle, but shot through with an inner thread of hardened steel. I obey him, of course.

Several deep, fortifying breaths later he again rubs his forehead against mine.

“You still live, Miss Bennett.”

I cannot disagree. “Yes, sir, I do.”

“So, we continue?”

“I… I believe we should, sir.”

“I may spank you for your impertinent tongue, Miss Bennett. Later.”

“Yes, sir—oh!” I let out a startled cry as he withdraws from me, dragging his thick length across the walls of my inner space. It feels indescribable. He holds his position, the head of his erection just inside me, then he surges forward again.

The stroke is long, slow and fills me to the hilt. It stuns me, shocks me, takes away my breath. But it does not hurt me.

I tip my head back in wonder, my breasts pressed against his solid chest. I long to wrap my arms around him just as I have my legs, but will not so much as consider defying his instructions. Instead, I gasp his name.

“You are all right? No more pain?” He sounds concerned. I do believe he would stop if I were to ask it of him. But I should sooner die on the spot. Indeed, I might just expire right here and now if he does not continue.

I opt to borrow from the new vocabulary he has shared with me. “Yes, sir. Please fuck me.”

Gray’s lips are on my temple, my cheeks, my forehead. He trails soft kisses down my neck, nibbling my earlobes, biting the point of my shoulder. I wriggle, desperate for him to do that thing again, that thing that sent ripples of lust coursing through me and caused my inner walls to clench and convulse around his huge bulk.

“Sir? Please—”

“Patience, little Imogen, we have plenty of time. Your coach does not leave until eight.”

“You intend to make me wait all night?” I cannot keep the note of horror from my voice.

He chuckles. “I fear neither of us would survive that.”

“Then—”

“May I offer an observation?”

“I suppose you may.” I cringe—I have no idea what to expect. Is this truly a suitable time to strike up a conversation? What is normal in such circumstances?

“For a virgin, I find you to be somewhat demanding.”

“You would prefer me timid?” I might be, on another occasion, with another man. But here, now, with Gray, I am quite fearless it would seem.

He kisses me again before replying. “No, Imogen, I would not. On reflection, you are quite perfect.”

I am still formulating my response as he withdraws from me again, then thrusts back into me and all thoughts of polite conversation are driven from my mind.

I let out a groan of startled pleasure and release my grip on the bed head. I reach for him, wrapping my arms around his neck and I hang on as he rocks his hips back and forth. Each stroke fills me completely and I wonder at my body’s ability to stretch. I was not permitted to see Gray naked and I have no direct experience of the male anatomy upon which I might draw, but I am convinced the erection filling me can be nothing short of huge. It must be—the contact between us is so tight, so intense.

Gray’s thrusts set up a brisk rhythm, the tempo slow at first, but gaining in speed as my body adjusts. I find myself willing him to speed up, to drive his cock into me faster, harder. I am whimpering my pleas, my inner walls squeezing him as I seek to increase the friction.

“Gray, please, that is… I mean, I need…”

“Say it, Imogen. Tell me what you want me to do to you.” He slows as he murmurs his command.

“Do not stop. Please, sir, do not stop.”

“Tell me, sweetheart.”

“I want you to fuck me.”
There, I have said it.

“And so I shall, little Imogen. And after I have fucked you to your absolute satisfaction, I shall spank you for your disobedience in the matter of holding on to the headboard.”

“Ah…” I might have striven to be more eloquent, but he has commenced his relentless thrusting again and I find myself unable to assemble much in the way of coherent thought.

“Ah, indeed. For now though, enjoy.”

I do enjoy. I enjoy exceedingly. He manages to angle his thrusts such that my body quivers with arousal, the pleasure building, blossoming. I am close to losing control as I did just minutes ago, edging toward it, reaching for something I cannot yet name but that my body recognises and yearns to possess.

Gray knows it too and again he slides his hand between us to apply direct, devastating pressure to my most sensitive little nubbin. It is the work of moments. I unravel with a series of short, panting cries, my body spasming around him.

Gray pounds his cock into me harder, just as I want it, offering exactly what my body is demanding from him. He utters something I cannot quite decipher, something guttural, crude, and incredibly erotic. He gives one last, deep thrust and holds still for several seconds. I cry out in alarm at the sudden rush of heat deep inside me but Gray seems content with matters so I remain still, trusting him.

Long moments pass in which I concentrate on drawing in each breath, my head still whirling from what has just happened, what I have done. I would not undo a moment of it… would I?

“No more bruises, Imogen?” Gray speaks first, his tone low.

I shake my head. If there is damage, it is not to my battered limbs. So where has been the harm? What have I hurt?

“Imogen? Are you all right?”

I do not reply. I am still grappling with the dawning enormity of my reckless actions. I did not wish to be left alone in my little room here at this inn, so I struck a deal. An expensive deal. I am starting to think I have paid a heavy price for the dubious company of this enigmatic highwayman.

“We should not have done this.” I attempt to wriggle from beneath him.

“I disagree,” he shifts to let me go, but quickly gathers me to him when I would have scrambled from the bed, “as did you just a few minutes ago.”