“Let me rephrase,” Dorian amends. “Are you really that inexperienced with pleasure…with a man?”
I don’t respond. He gives me a smile, appearing contemplative as he looks me over. “Tell you what,” he says slowly. “I can see you’re overwhelmed. I don’t want to overwhelm you to the point where you do that thing you do—go blank. So, I’m going to commute your punishment. Instead of fifteen, you’ll give me three.”
I bite my bottom lip. “Three… orgasms?”
He nods slowly. “I’d rather see how many I can physically pull out of you, but I’ll settle for three. Come for me three times… and a kiss.” His lips twist. “Only if you want it. I’m not going to force that.”
I swallow hard, gazing at him with wide eyes. This whole scene is too much, too intense, but I like that he’s listening to me. I like that he’s willing to pull back and hold himself back. And, despite my reservations, I trulyaminterested in seeing where things go. Idowant him. The fact that I know I shouldn’t only makes me want him more.
“Are you going to give me a kiss, Mira?” Dorian asks, gazing at me with intense focus. His hand trails across my jaw and down my neck, resting in the center of it. He doesn’t apply any pressure, just strokes his thumb over my pulse.
“You really want a kiss from me?” I question, genuinely curious. It seems like access to my lips has a lot of worth to him.
Dorian nods slowly. “Very much so.”
I inhale a deep breath. “Then take it.”
His mouth curves into a smile. I only catch a glimpse of it before he leans his head down and brushes his lips across mine. He doesn’t gostraight for a full-on kiss like I expect him to; he starts with brushing his lips over one corner of my mouth and then the other. He kisses my nose, my chin, my forehead, both of my cheeks. He pauses to nibble on my earlobe, and my body softens underneath his.
He continues teasing me for so long that I start to grow nervous, squirming beneath him. My grip on his shoulders turns from harsh to soft. My hands slide over the muscles of his back, up his neck, and then my fingers thread through his hair of their own accord. I use my grip to press his mouth to mine, drawing a low rumble of pleasure from him. My lips part, and his descend on them. The world falls away; the bed, his room, our fucked-up circumstances all fade into the ether.
All that’s left is me and him.
His lips. His softness. His gentleness and his desire for me. I feel it; it seeps through his pores and invades me, turning me on beyond anything I thought was possible. His tongue strokes against mine. Softly at first, but then with increasing hunger. Each sensual lick and rub creates a responding tug in my core, and I feel myself grow molten for him. My grip on his hair tightens; he gently squeezes my throat, drawing a soft moan from me and a chuckle from him.
His energy turns to something persuasive and titillating. If energies could have scents, his would be pine and jasmine; an enticing, intoxicating mix that calls to me like a siren’s song. My leg creeps up to his waist, hooking over it, heel digging into his ass. He grinds forward, and I gasp as I feel his erection slide over me. Even through the fabric of both of our pants, I can feel him; he’s hot, thick, hard, and so,sobig it’s intimidating.
Dorian gently nips my lower lip before pulling back. I gasp in several shuddering breaths, panting. I try to pull him in for another kiss, but he doesn’t allow it. He smiles at me and shakes his head.
“We can kiss more later,” he murmurs. “Right now, you owe me a debt. Three orgasms. I’m going to take my payment.”
I whimper in response, aching for him. My apprehension has all but left the building, and in its place is a scorching need.
Dorian slides down my body, unwinding my leg from around his waist. He settles himself in the cradle between my thighs, then gets to work unbuttoning and unzipping my jeans.
“Lift your hips,” he whispers.
I comply without hesitation. He slides my jeans off slowly, inch by inch, his pupils dilating as he takes in every bit of my exposed skin. He bites his bottom lip, shaking his head slowly.
“You’re so beautiful,” He murmurs as he gets my pants off and tosses them over his shoulder. His palms slide up my legs, caressing my skin. “Creamy skin, smooth as silk. Gorgeous.” He stops when he hits a patch of scar tissue on my left leg, tilting his head to examine it. His lips curve down at the corners as he sees the two surgical scars, accompanied by a disgusting, gnarled scar that’s a result of my bone tearing through my skin. His thumb rubs over it, and his eyes darken with anger. His energy turns from laser-focused and brimming with desire to something rageful.
“Is this where he hurt you?” Dorian asks. “Your piece of shit stepfather?”
I turn my head away. “Yes.”
“And yet you’d prefer pain over pleasure?” Dorian questions sharply. A low, almost angry chuckle escapes him. “Haven’t you felt enough of that in your life?”
“I’m used to it,” I say lowly. “I can withstand a lot of it.”
“I know,” Dorian says. “I’ve seen it. You didn’t react to your shoulder like you should have. You should’ve been crying, at the very least you should’ve yelled when it came out of place and got put back in.But you didn’t. You blinked and you swayed, but you didn’t even shed a tear.” He pauses, kissing my scar, and for some reason,thatmakes my eyes sting with tears. “I willneverhurt you. I will never let another person hurt you. One of these days, sometime very soon, I’m going to find the scumbag who did this to you and kill him.”
I don’t have a response to that, because I can feel just how honest Dorian’s being. Hewillfind my stepdad and kill him—I can sense his determination. Hecravesdoing it. I didn’t think I’d ever want someone killed on my account, but the idea of this man going after the one who hurt me doesn’t bother me as much as it should.
Another kiss along my scar makes a single tear drip from my eye. Dorian kisses a spot above the scar, moving his lips higher and higher until he’s kissing the crease between my thighs.
“Jesus,” he murmurs. “I cansmellyou, Mira. You’re wet for me already, aren’t you?”
Embarrassment seals my lips and keeps me silent; Dorian’s response is a dark smile. “It seems you enjoyed our kiss as much as I did, didn’t you?” He shakes his head. “Do you know how much that fucking turns me on?” He hooks his thumb under the waistband of my panties, making quick work of pulling them off my legs. I startle and jerk when two of his fingers slide through my slit, top to bottom, and then back up again. He releases a low groan. “Youarewet.” His words hold a note of wonder. “What got you wet, pretty girl? Kissing my lips? Hearing me talk? Knowing what I’m about to do to you?” When I don’t respond, he prompts, “Mira, look at me.” I whimper, shaking my head. He rubs his thumb up and down my clit, startling me. “I have no problem adding to your punishment, baby.”
