The Temptress (43 page)

He followed me through my walk in wardrobe into
the en-suite and sat me on the sink counter top as he carefully removed my
makeup, delicately sweeping the cotton wool over my cheek as he shook his head.
His breathing was laboured as he stripped off my bra, suspender belt and
knickers and watched as I quickly showered and washed my hair. He was so gentle
helping to dry me, carefully dabbing at my raw knees, that I felt emotional
again and started crying.

‘Sssshhhh, ma belle. You are safe now. I will
not let anything happen to you. Come, we need to dry your hair and get you into
bed.’ When I was done, with my teeth brushed, he disappeared, then returned and
slipped a large white t-shirt over my head.

‘This is yours?’ I asked.

‘Yes, your brother put my case in your room
when I arrived.’

‘Thank you, for the t-shirt, for coming for me
and looking after me so well,’ I murmured as I looked up at him gratefully. I
was so lucky to have him.

‘I will always come for you if you need me, you
or Tristan. You are my raisons d’être.’

‘I’ll have Dom make up the study bed in my
office, you’ll have to stay in there, quietly, until Dom leaves with Tristan
for school.’

‘Non!’ he scoffed. ‘I sleep in no guest room. I
am sleeping with you. We will have to lock the bedroom door, or barricade it if
necessary, but I will not leave you alone. Tomorrow and Friday I will work from
here and go back to the hotel when he comes home from school, but I will return
when he is asleep and stay at night again.’

‘Luc,’ I feebly protested, then sighed and
nodded when he glared at me. He tucked me up in bed and opened the door when
there was a gentle tap on it, to let in Dom with my drink, a hot water bottle
for my stomach and cold pack for my cheek, as promised.

‘I think it would be best if I say you didn’t
come home last night, I’ll give him breakfast and drop him at school. I’ve got
no shoots tomorrow, so I’ll pick him up as well. Best we don’t tell Mum and Dad
about this.’

‘Agreed,’ I nodded.

‘Thank you for being honest with me when I
called, Dominic. I look forward to getting to know you under more ideal
circumstances,’ Luc said, as he shook his hand. ‘Your sister speaks very highly
of you and I know that it means a lot that you are here for her.’

‘Well I know my sister, she may not have said
it, but she’d have wanted you here too. Thanks for coming so fast. Right you,
little sis, bed rest until Luc or I tell you otherwise. Don’t make me kick your
arse.’ He kissed my good cheek and headed to the door, before turning and
throwing me a double thumbs up. ‘I like him, in spite of the accent,’ he
winked, making me laugh, then clutch my stomach again. Luc shook his head and
quickly locked us in, then disappeared to the bathroom with his wash bag. I
slowly sipped my drink. Shit, what a night. I really thought I was at risk of
not getting out of that room at all, some bruises and hurt pride were a
blessing in retrospect. My mouth dropped open as Luc appeared, totally naked,
sporting an impressive erection that I couldn’t stop staring at, until it
disappeared when he gently climbed into bed next to me.

‘Stop looking at me like I’m just a hunk of
meat,’ he ordered, slight amusement in his tone. ‘No sex, lie down on your good
side, facing away from me.’

‘You’re perfect,’ I told him under my breath. ‘You
fly all the way back to be with me, you’re tender and gentle, you’re so
handsome and your body is …’ I shook my head, feeling giddy again at the sight
of all his toned muscles.

‘You react the way I do to your body, but
tonight we do nothing but sleep. Have no fear when you are ready I will let you
take advantage of me,’ he winked.

‘I’m ready,’ I nodded.

‘No you are not,’ he replied sternly. ‘You have
bruises that must heal and I want to be sure you have no psychological trauma,
you have been through an ordeal. Lie down, I will not ask again.’

‘Yes, Sir,’ I replied, as I carefully lay down.
He took my cold pack out of my hand and gently lay it on my face, before
turning out the light and tucking in behind me, kissing my neck as his arm
circled my waist and covered the hand holding the soothing hot water bottle on
my stomach.

‘Do not call me “Sir” unless I demand it, it
gets me hard,’ he groaned.

‘So I notice,’ I replied, as I wiggled my
bottom against his erection.

‘Stop, sleep, or I will get very angry. You
have nothing to fear, ma belle. I am here to watch over you and protect you.
Dream sweet dreams.’

‘I think I will,’ I confirmed.

‘Je t’aime,’ he whispered in my ear. I smiled
and closed my eyes, letting out a deep contented sigh.

Lulu

I lay in bed on my side, watching him sleeping. It had been
over a week since my ordeal, while the bruise on my face had turned a yellow
green colour, the one on my stomach was no longer visible. I’d been so grateful
to have Luc staying with me every night, I’d woken up in a sweat that first
night, with palpitations in my chest, sobbing my eyes out. He’d quickly soothed
me, whispering to me in French, holding me tightly until I finally fell back to
sleep. It had happened for a couple more nights and each time he’d been there,
even though I knew how hard it was for him to be in my house, with our son
totally oblivious to his presence. I’d stayed at home over the weekend as well,
meaning he had to make himself scarce all day while I kept Tristan entertained,
only returning at night when I called him. He was struggling, I could see it
all over his face every time we went to bed and walked right past his door. My
heart was breaking for him, but Tristan wasn’t ready yet. He’d been so excited
to get his Elmer book, carefully wrapped and he’d told me I wasn’t allowed to
read it to him, only his daddy could, which was a great sign, but while he was
regularly asking me questions about Luc, he hadn’t asked to see him. When he’d
mentioned his zoo set, I’d told him that we’d need to invite his daddy over to
give it to him, hoping that would make him agree, it hadn’t. How did you talk
about this to a five year old, or encourage him to move at a faster pace? I was
running out of ideas.

He was with my parents this weekend, Mum had
collected him Friday night and was dropping him at school Monday morning, so
Luc and I could have two days to ourselves at his house in the country. I’d had
Claire come over to babysit on Thursday night and had invited my parents out
for dinner, to introduce them to Luc. It had gone really well. Mum had hidden
herself behind the restaurant menu, fanning her face as she winked at me, letting
me know what I already knew. My boyfriend was seriously hot! It made me squeeze
his hand tightly, proudly. I’d never introduced them to any men in my life
before, but they knew our history now, not how wild the sex had been that night
in Paris, but that I’d been reckless having an unprotected one night stand,
that he was the father and I’d gone back looking for him. When Luc excused
himself to go to the toilet, even Dad told me I had his approval. I had no
doubts Dad was doing a full background check on him, but I didn’t need to. For
the first time, I trusted a man I was involved with. I don’t know how he
inspired it, he just did. Having him close and knowing that Mr. De Vere had
been charged with GBH and attempted rape, was so reassuring.

I reached over and gently ran my fingers over
his eyebrow. He moaned and shifted slightly, the sheet slipping and revealing
more of that body that instantly had mine in a spin, but it was early and he
was still worn out. Not only had we had lots of seriously enjoyable, but
physically tiring sex last night, but he’d returned from Paris every night, to
watch over me, while he was arranging the transfer of his account from Bouchon
bank. He was also getting prepared to conduct the majority of his business from
London, for which he’d purchased a new office building, not too far from mine.
I carefully slipped out of bed and pulled on his discarded shirt, grabbed a
bikini from the dressing room that he’d thoughtfully stocked with some basic
items for me and skipped down the stairs to go and have a swim to stretch out
my tired muscles. I planned to relax in the sauna, then shower and go and make
him a large breakfast, surprising him with it in bed.

I lay on the sofa next to him, catching up on
the TV series
Scandal,
while he sat with his laptop on his knees,
working, occasionally reaching out to caress my scalp. As I finished another
episode, I paused the player and just watched him concentrating with a slight
furrow in his brow. He was so dedicated and conscientious, but given he oversaw
the management of billions of pounds, he had to be. I just wished he’d take his
foot off the gas now and again and just relax. I knew if I asked him to do
anything with me, he’d make the time, but it wasn’t for me I was worried. It
was for him. I didn’t want him overdoing it and making himself ill. Or God
forbid having an early heart attack. Even just lying here gazing up at his
handsome face made me happy.

‘I can feel you watching me, it is very
distracting,’ he stated, his lips curling up at the edges.

‘How is it distracting? I’m quietly observing.
I like to watch you.’

‘As I do you, ma belle,’ he replied, carefully
placing his laptop on the lamp table beside him. ‘Come here,’ he ordered,
patting his lap. I quickly scrambled up and straddled it, locking my fingers
behind his neck. ‘So obedient,’ he chuckled, as one hand slipped under his
shirt to grasp my bare bottom, the other tangling in my hair as he pulled me
down for a kiss. I sighed as our lips met and his tongue gently flickered at
mine.

‘Luc,’ I sighed as I broke our connection and
gazed into his beautiful glossy brown eyes. ‘I need you again, make love to
me.’

‘How is your stomach feeling?’ he asked,
tilting his head as he waited for my answer.

‘Fine,’ I replied, with a puzzled frown.

‘You are sure? It does not hurt when you touch
it, or lie on it?’

‘I’m sure, why?’

‘Because I do not want to aggravate an old
injury, but I owe you a punishment,’ he advised, suddenly rising to his feet,
holding me up by my backside as I clung to him by the shoulders.

‘What do you mean?’ I searched his eyes for
answers as he strode out of the family room and into the kitchen.

‘You defied me by going out to tempt men again,
by flirting, by going to another man’s room and for almost …’ he shook his head
as a faint growl left his lips, his soft body immediately hardening as he
changed his stance, standing taller and straighter. ‘I promised that I would
punish you and I intend to do so. Right now.’ My eyes widened in surprise as
his face changed to one of grim determination and anger. Before I had a chance
to protest, he’d hoisted me up his body and over his shoulder, one hand firmly
fixed on my backside to stop me slipping as he opened the kitchen door and
headed out into the hall.

‘I was just doing my job, it was the last time,
trust me
, it will never happen again,’ I protested, as he opened the
door under the stairs and headed down to the basement.

‘You don’t get to pull the trust card on me,
Lulu McQueen. I forbade you from going out again, you agreed not to, then two
nights later you did just that. I could have lost you that night. Tristan could
have lost his mother and I am not yet in a position to care for him, because he
has not met me. I have hidden my fury for over a week, while you recuperated.
No more. You will learn that there are consequences to breaking your word. How
else am I supposed to trust you?’ he bit angrily. I gulped as I hung limply
over his shoulder, seeing the large flagstones under his bare feet as we passed
the sealed, temperature controlled wine cellar and the door to the laundry,
both directly under the kitchen. I’d seen the cinema room, which could seat
twenty four people, but the door opposite, under what was to become his formal
lounge, he hadn’t shown me. When I’d come to explore this morning, the door had
been locked.

‘What are you going to do to me?’ I asked
quietly, my heart racing at the thought of his dominant side appearing again,
like it had in Paris.

‘Whatever I want,’ he replied, as he pulled a
key from his pocket and unlocked the door. ‘The price for disobedience is
submission to my will. You will feel enough pain to remember to never cross me
again, but it will also make your body heightened with need, you will crave me,
you will beg me for release and you will have the most explosive orgasm of your
life at the end of it.’

‘It sounds like I want to misbehave more
often,’ I giggled, then gasped as he smacked me forcefully on my bottom, with
enough smart to make me screw up my face.

‘Silence. You will address me as “Sir” and you
will only speak when spoken to. Do you remember your safe words?’ he barked, as
he tucked the key back in his pocket.

‘Amber if I’m nearing exhaustion or my limits
and … black if I need you to stop,’ I confirmed, suddenly feeling nervous.

‘You did remember. You enjoyed our night
together as much as I did,’ he replied, a tinge of pride in his voice.

‘I had no idea what was coming, I was excited.’

‘And now?’ he asked, as I heard the handle
being turned and the door swinging open.

‘I’m nervous,’ I whispered. ‘In case you really
hurt me.’

‘Lulu, I am not a sadist, I do not get off on
inflicting pain on anyone, let alone the woman I love. I enjoy restraining,
watching you succumb to the way I can make your body feel, I get off on seeing
you submit to me, letting me control you and your orgasms. It is not my
intention to terrify you, to have you unwilling to come into this room again,
let alone to be scared of me touching you, but when you put yourself in harm’s
way, I will ensure you feel the consequence of that. There will be no bruising,
no breaking of your perfect skin, but you will be reminded every time you sit
down today and tomorrow, of why it is in your best interests to never break my
trust again. Are we clear?’

‘Yes,’ I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me.
My breathing hitching a little at the thought of what was about to happen. He
hadn’t moved, he was still standing on the threshold.

‘I am a dominant man, it is in my nature, I
enjoy the feeling of power I hold over men and women alike, it assists my
business to have this persona, but I am not a dominant. I will not demand
subservience from you unless we are in this room. Other than your safe words
and the use of my title when we are in here, there are no rules, regulations or
contracts. You are the woman I love and who I will keep safe no matter what the
cost, so I will have certain expectations of you when it comes to this, which
we will discuss as and when the situation arises. If you agree to anything I
see to be in your best interests, I expect you to adhere to our agreement, as I
will if I make you a promise. Break that agreement and I will spank you and then
use you as I see fit in this room. The end result however will always be
intense pleasure, for both of us. Tell me you agree to those terms and I step
inside.’ He remained rooted to the spot, I wasn’t sure who was breathing
hardest or fastest out of the two of us. All I knew was that when Luc promised
pleasure, he’d never once failed to deliver. Surely I could handle a few spanks
like I had in The Domville, when I’d confessed to bugging his room?

‘I agree to your terms, Sir,’ I confirmed, my
voice breathy and excited. I heard him grunt with approval and saw the
flagstones change to a soft cream carpet as he carried me in and kicked the
door shut behind him. I felt dizzy as he lifted me up and my feet connected
with the soft, luxurious pile below me. I went to look around at the room, to
take it all in, but he grabbed my chin, keeping me facing him.

‘Stand here quietly, while I prepare. Do not
move from this spot and do not move your head. Confirm you understand?’

‘Yes, Sir,’ I nodded, gazing up at him, wishing
he’d just clasp my face and kiss me. His eyes moved down to my lips, as if he
knew what I was thinking and he stroked them with his index finger.

‘I will kiss you, in good time,’ he smiled, ‘once
you are warmed up, but I must punish you first. We will get this out of the way
so your mind can accept it is over and focus on the intense pleasure I’m about
to give you.’ He slowly ran his finger down from my lower lip, over my chin,
neck and throat into my cleavage, showing through the undone buttons of his
pale blue shirt. He did it so delicately, every millimetre of skin he touched
fired off my nerve endings, leaving a feel of an echo even when he’d moved on.
His finger skimmed over the top button and continued down, over my navel and
stomach. My breathing was coming hard and fast as he approached my mound, just
concealed by the edges of his shirt. I flexed my pelvis towards his touch, his
finger hovering just above my clit, which was now throbbing with a desperate
need for relief. ‘Are you wet, ma belle? Do you crave my touch? My fingers, my
lips, tongue or cock?’

‘Yes, yes, Sir, all of them,’ I moaned. My
nipples had hardened and puckered, each pant of air forcing his shirt to rise
and fall, creating gentle friction against them. I needed more. I needed Luc.

‘Bon,’ he stated with a smirk, then moved out
of my peripheral vision. I was left with an aching hunger, staring at the
corner of the room, where the door frame met the wall as I wondered where he’d
gone and what
preparations
he had to make.

I heard a door open behind me and strained to
hear what was happening, but nothing gave me any clue. I focussed on the
brilliant white glossed door, the soft taupe paint on the wall next to it, the
scent of it still lingering in the air. This hadn’t been decorated long ago by
the smell and the carpet underfoot was heavily cushioned and springy. I closed
my eyes as I tried to imagine what he had in store for me. God how I wanted
him, we’d had sex again after breakfast this morning and had fallen asleep in each
other’s arms, but in spite of the powerful orgasms he’d given me I still wasn’t
completely sated. I had a feeling I’d always want more with him. He was more
addictive than anything I’d ever known. Worse even than chocolate and anyone
that knew me would attest to my cravings and passion for that. I held my breath
in anticipation, as I heard his feet on the carpet, feeling a shiver run down
my spine to know he was behind me, letting out a soft sigh as I felt his breath
on the side of my neck, but he was careful not to let his body touch mine.