It took more self-control than James believed he was capable of, but he held her still, just with the tip of him inside her, spreading her squeezing walls. "I belong to you, Morrighan Maura MacLaren.” He grinned, “Pine. And you belong to me. Always. Forever. Everything you say is true. I swear it."
Her seawater eyes glistened in the water's reflection, and his Irish witch smiled as she shoved her hips greedily down his shaft again, setting off the explosive orgasm that consumed them both. Maura clutched to his shoulders, gasping at the blaze of heat that seared through her as she came. James bit mindlessly into her soft shoulder, groaning and clutching her ass with both hands, trying to push her down harder. Nothing had ever felt this good, nothing as tight and powerful as he filled her, feeling his come slide over her clenching walls. Neither of them could seem to move, clutching each other and shuddering as their coming together seemed to go on and on, each wave sparking the next.
Chapter 34: Mediterranean Blue
In which redemption comes in the form of a platinum collar.
Maura looked out to the ocean, eyes squinting in the New Zealand sunlight. All four of them had decided to stay in West Auckland for a while. No one was in a huge rush to make a move as the dust settled and old wounds healed. Maura saw her husband’s first truly unguarded expression of joy the day his mother's beautiful grand piano was delivered, back in a place of pride in the living room. She would play for her "roomies" many nights after dinner, smiling as she watched them relax into the sound of Bach, Chopin, or The Pogues.
Even realizing she was giving up an advantage, Maura began giving James swimming lessons in their big pool, then eventually the warm waters off the Karekare Beach. Perfect, like everything he does, damn him, she thought, watching him dive into the surf, slicing strokes through the choppy waves to the buoy holding their new sailboat, then circling around again. Looking back down to her laptop, she read through the latest news out of New York City.
The abrupt collapse of the New York division of Jaguar Holdings left a huge vacuum in the criminal world, and various interests were racing to take their position. Surprisingly, speculation about the end of the Corporation was limited. Anyone who knew about the spectacular explosion off the coast of Algiers was already resting on the bottom of the ocean or busy counting a massive stack of money.
Suddenly sprayed with cold ocean water as James shook his head over her, Maura squealed and bolted from her chair. Walking into the sunny kitchen, she called out, "What would you like for lunch? I'm doing the cooking for Mr. Sahnoun today."
"Anything but crab," James grumbled as she laughed.
Their sex life had returned in force, causing their friends to move to the opposite of the huge beach house. Maura was horrified when she found out, but since O'Connell and Sahnoun never commented, she gratefully let the humiliating issue drop.
It was different, though, she pondered as she sliced steak and chicken to go over a salad. James was loving and responsive, but the masterfulness, the dominance she’d learned to crave was gone. No more demands for her orgasms, no trying her up and torturing her with a long, painful arousal before allowing them both to come.
Mixing the salad and carrying the big wooden bowl out to the table on their terrace, Maura had to admit it. She missed the old James, her arrogant Sir. She knew her husband was forcing himself to hold back- every now and then his hand would sweep up and grasp her thin wrists, holding them together until he seemed to realize what he was doing and releasing her again. It began to feel like part of him was always just… sitting back and watching when they were entwined with each other.
It was another full moon that night, the fifth since they'd found refuge here. Maura was admiring it from their private patio when James came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Mmm... darling. You smell good," he smiled into her hair, moving it to kiss down her neck.
Turning around in his arms, she slid her hands down his broad chest, admiring how handsome he was. "Oh! I have something for you."
Maura pulled something from her drawer and brought it to him, holding it up with both hands. She watched his lips part in surprise when he recognized it- the thick platinum choker he'd bought her in Algiers. "I found it in your luggage, in that jewelry case when I was unpacking everything we'd managed to salvage from the hotel."
James's dark head bent over hers. "I see," was all he said, gently running his long fingers over the shining band and her fingers holding the collar.
"I thought- I thought you'd like to put it on me again?" Maura offered, not quite sure how to ask for what she wanted.
His cobalt eyes were rapidly cooling to azure as they flicked up from the necklace to look at her. "Are you sure that's what you want, darling?" Maura nodded, but he shook his head. "No, I need to hear you say it. You need to tell me."
"I want it," she answered, swallowing past the nervous lump in her throat. "I miss the way you were- as my Sir."
James's slow, spreading grin was all she needed, as he took her hand and pulled her to the floor-length mirror on their closet door. Standing behind her, he was close enough for her to feel his breath stir along the sensitive skin on her neck. Bending down to place a kiss on her shoulder, he slipped the collar around her neck. Just before clicking it shut, his eyes flickered up to her widened ones. "Once this locks, I am the only one who can remove it. Are you certain, Maura?"
She could feel the heat of his body warming her back and the feel of his calloused fingers rasping against the thin, soft skin at the base of her throat. James's nearness was intoxicating, as always, but she knew this moment was significant. "You're not weak for wearing this, Maura-girl. I've never known anyone stronger." His assurance was kind, as his thumbs began circling on her back. "Do you trust me, the way I trust you?" James pressed, looking into her eyes in their reflection.
The answer was instant for Maura. "Yes," she said. She smiled at James as he pushed the clasp together with a click, then running his warm hands over her neck and shoulders, down her arms to hold hers as she leaned against him. Her eyes dropped shut as he began sliding his lips over her jaw, gently nudging her to angle her face, bringing her mouth to his.
Maura could feel him slowly unzip the back of her sundress, slipping one strap, then the other off her shoulders. To her surprise, her bra came too, those long, clever fingers of his had been busy as his mouth kept her attention. Even his kisses were different; harder, greedier. James sucked her tongue as she moaned, the heat of his arousal pressed against the small of her back.
He chuckled, lightly circling one nipple, then the other with his calloused fingertips. "I've always loved the little spray of goosebumps that rise on you when my breath touches your skin," he murmured as he proved it by running the tip of his tongue from her shoulder to the delicate skin behind her ear, blowing on it.
"Mmm..." Maura moaned, head lolling on his shoulder, eyes closed. James pushed her forward, pressing her breasts and pelvis against the chilly glass of the huge mirror.
"Open your eyes," he ordered.
Maura obeyed, watching as one of his arms crossed over her breasts to hold her still as his other big, warm palm slid down her abdomen and inside her panties, two long fingers spreading her rapidly swelling lips as the third slid up and down the silky path between her clitoris and entrance. "Such a sweet kitty," he mused, "so delicate, so warm and grasping."
She could feel James grin against her cheek as she shuddered, unconsciously pressing harder against his hand. "Such a filthy girl, pushing against me for more... do you want more, my sweet bride?" Her eyes were wide, looking at his narrowed ones gazing back, his smile positively devilish.
Putting one hand back, sliding down to grip his firm ass, Maura nodded breathlessly.
"Ah-ah," James chided. "Use your words."
