I watched as she moved around the room, her fingers tracing the wood.She was a chameleon for so much of the time, only showing what she intended to project, but in less guarded moments, she wore her thoughts and feelings on her face for anyone willing to pay attention to see.I planned to pay attention to everything where Alex was concerned.
“You could always leave the door locked.They let owners do that when they don’t want people in certain rooms.”
It took me a second to realize she was talking about the home tour again.It didn’t make sense.As far as I knew, she didn’t have any connection with the Historical Society.
“I’m not interested in having my house included on the tour, Alex.”
“You might change your mind.”
“I won’t,” I said, holding the door to the hallway open for her.
“You don’t want to stay in here?”
Her forehead creased down the center, and I let go of the door for a moment to step closer to her.Her eyes were wide and uncharacteristically unsure.I could see the pulse racing at the base of her throat.
“Want has nothing to do with it,” I said, invading her space until she had to decide whether to take a step back or press her body against mine.
I felt her breasts skim my chest, her nipples hard peaks under the delicate silk and lace.She wanted me.She wanted this.However it may have started out, it wasn’t about the money or the challenge anymore.This thing—whatever we decided to call it—was already about much more than that.I smoothed my thumb over the line in her forehead and watched her brown eyes go dark.
“Iwantto strip off your clothes, stretch your naked body out on the St.Andrew’s Cross and take a leather-tipped cat to your ass until you’re so wet, your thighs glisten.Iwantto suck your nipples so hard they stretch to tight peaks, perfect for me to attach clips to and then Iwantto work your belly and thighs over with the flogger until every inch of your skin comes to life.Iwantto pull the clips off with my teeth and suckle your aching nipples while I finger fuck you to your third or fourth orgasm.Iwantto make you come so many times you get hoarse from screaming my name.”
Her eyes were dilated, and I could see her chest rise and fall with each shallow breath she took.She licked her lips and only my resolve not to let her top from the bottom kept me from tugging it between my teeth and catching her needy little cries with my mouth while I gave us both what we needed.
“Why don’t you?”Her voice trembled but the set of her shoulders was more of a dare than a submission.“We seem to spend a lot more time talking than naked.”
“It’s going to stay that way until you understand—really understand—that you have all the power in this exchange.None of this means anything until you can actually surrender to me.Not for money and not on a dare.Not because you’re weak.I know you’re not.You need to have power to give it.Because you trust me to take the power you give me and use it for both of our pleasure.”I ran a hand through my hair, not bothering to hide my frustration.My cock was so hard it ached.Painting the picture for her with my words had affected me as much, if not more.I wanted her with a hunger that bordered on desperation.But I knew from experience anything other than genuine surrender would leave me less satisfied than if I never touched her.
“I’m scared.”
“I know, beautiful.That’s part of the point.Anything real that exposes that much of your soul is scary, but it’s also worth it.I’m not going to push.Not yet.Not until you’re certain you can be honest with both of us.”I cupped her face, loving the way she turned in to my touch, resting her cheek against my palm.“We’ll get there.Don’t worry.”
“I was just...”She let the rest of what she’d been about to say fall away.
I tipped up her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze.“Just what, Alexandra?”
“Never mind.I’m curious; that’s all.”
“That’s honest.What are you curious about?”My cock throbbed against the zipper of my too-tight slacks.I swear to God, I was tempted to step out for a moment to jerk off and relieve some of the pressure so I could actually think clearly.But I had a feeling nothing would change the state of my cock as long as Alex was in my house.
“About the flogger.”She swallowed, and I forced my focus to stay on her eyes and not her gorgeous lips.“I’ve never had anyone who actually knew what they were doing use a flogger.On me.”
Fuck me.
“And you’ve decided I do?”I called on every bit of training I had to keep from letting my emotions influence what she was telling me.Which was fucking impossible, given how much I wanted what I thought she was offering me.
“With the way you’ve been able to mind fuck me using nothing more than your voice, a tie and some tea?Yes, I’m pretty sure you know your way around a flogger.I can’t promise I’ll be any good at submitting, but I can promise to be honest with you and to try.I want to try.”
I debated for a fraction of a second as I watched the emotions play across her beautiful face.This woman pushed me past the point of reason.My limits didn’t seem to matter where she was concerned.It was the glimpse of curiosity and, even more, the hope I saw in her expression that made the decision for me.I took a step back and let my gaze trace a path from her face to her toes and back again.By the time I reached her eyes again, her lips were parted and her cheeks flushed.
“Strip, Alexandra.”
