Is this about Brody? Are you still in love with him?
She laughed then and the worry hed pretended he never had faded altogether.
I love Brody. Hes very special to me. But not like that. Even when we were together it wasnt . . . Anyway. But I hurt him. Hes a good man and he expected things from me that I couldnt give him. I told him. But he . . .
He took her chin. Gentle, but firmly enough that she couldnt look away. You werent meant for him.
Raven sighed. All right. Ill agree. You and only you while were together.
Oh, she thought she could do that little disclaimer and give herself an out. Delightful.
It would be such a pleasure to gentle this woman to his touch.
All right then. He kissed the hand hed been holding. Get back to work. He turned, knowing she probably needed some time to get herself together. God knew he needed that too.
7
She couldnt avoid it any longer. She didnt want to work on him any more that night. Shed gotten a lot done, but shed worked on his back for nearly three hours and though he hadnt complained, she knew he was going to be sore and tired, and she sure was.
Their conversation had left her sort of off balance, but hed given her his back and had left her alone with her thoughts for a long while before starting in on small talk again. Shed agreed to monogamy. She hoped like hell she wouldnt fuck it up because she really liked him.
She cleaned off his back. I think thats enough for tonight. Want to look before I cover it up?
Yeah. He stood stretching, his arms above his head as his back cracked a few times.
He checked her work in the mirror, nodding his head. I like it so far.
Thanks. Come back so I can get it covered up. Youve done the tattoo thing before so you know its going to itch and you need to keep out of the sun, that sort of thing. I brought a tube of stuff for you to put on it. But then its on your back.
She covered the tat and he turned slowly, a smile on his lips. Then it looks like youll be the one to help. It comes with the service, right?
He was so . . . much.
Hm. You promised me food and a martini.
Im ordering in. Once thats done Ill get us some drinks. He pulled her in, surprising her. First I need a kiss.
She held on, careful to avoid his back, as he lowered his mouth to hers, taking it, owning it, and she gave over, opening up on a soft sigh. He tasted so good.
His tongue, sure, as sure as he was, swept into her mouth and a memory of his mouth on her pussy flashed through her brain. She squeezed her thighs together to ease the ache, but it only made things worse.
He nipped her bottom lip and then took a fistful of her hair, yanking her head back to expose her throat. Something warm washed through her as her muscles loosened. His lips cruised down her throat as he nibbled at the hollow, on her thundering pulse.
His skin was hot and hard as he held her tight, one hand in her hair, the other sliding down to take a handful of her ass.
She moaned and he made a sound, nearly a growl.
Food. Drink. Then Im going to fuck you.
He stepped back, licking his lips as she struggled to gain her composure. And failed.
Jonah flustered her. She wanted him. That he wanted her with such avarice thrilled her. Her body didnt give one tiny fuck that she was supposed to be annoyed with his caveman-type ways. Her clit and nipples thought it was pretty fantastic actually.
She watched as he swayed to the phone. Broad shoulders led to a narrow waist and a spectacular ass. It was just as hot with his jeans on as it was when he was naked. And that was pretty fucking spectacular.
Raven busied herself by putting her gear away. She put aside the tools shed need to run through the autoclave before using them again. Secured the inks. She cleaned off the chair where theyd been working and put the stool shed been sitting on back.
When shed finished shed found some measure of peace, but when she turned back to see him in his kitchen, pulling martini glasses out, she couldnt stop a wistful sigh.
I like that you wore a red shirt. He pushed a glass to her. Olive or onion?
Olive. And hed shown a preference for red after all. And she had a million T-shirts, many of them red, so it wasnt like it was a big deal.
He dropped in an olive and clinked his glass to hers. To beginnings.
She tipped her chin and sipped. He had not exaggerated his skill.
This is a very fine martini. Nice and dry.
Food will be here in about half an hour. Come sit in the living room.
She followed him. He sat, putting his feet up and patting the couch next to him.
Raven drank slowly, not quite trusting herself to say much.
I did ask about you to your friends. Does that bother you?
She thought about it and he didnt press.
Maybe. A little. She shrugged.
I wasnt trying to dig up dirt. I like you. Im interested in you and I wanted to know more. Daisy likes you. Shes a little in awe, I think, which is interesting given how fierce my brothers girlfriend is.
Well, at least one of you has good taste.
He smirked. What do you mean by that?
Do you think I havent heard about your sister-in-law? The one who thinks Daisy is a dirty gold digger out for your family fortune?
He sighed heavily, draping an arm over her shoulder, hugging her close, and to her surprise, she liked it.
Gwen. Goddamn, she must give head like nobodys business. Its really the only thing I can think of that would blind Mal to her many faults.
Is that the key then? Cocksucking?
You do well with the cock and the rest is sort of easier.
Hm.
Whats this mysterious hm you do? What does it mean?
Any and all manner of things at any given time.
Should you be harboring any ideas that Im only here with you because of your cocksucking skill, though youve got it, youre not easy.
He was . . . blunt. Surprising. She didnt quite know how to take the things he said.
Is that what you like then? Easy?
He took her drink, placing it on the table next to his. He held her chin so she couldnt look away. If I wanted easy, I wouldnt be here with you now. Easy is overrated anyway. I like prickly. Defensive. Blunt. I want you.
She swallowed, thrown by the heat of a blush working up her neck.
Easy is boring and youre anything but boring.
Before she could reply, the doorbell rang. The food. Ill be back.
She stood along with him. Ill get plates and stuff.
Raven didnt know why she was like this with him. Off balance. She liked to tease her romantic partners, to play. But this was different.
He made her blush. She couldnt recall the last time shed actually blushed over anything.
He brought the food into the kitchen, humming as he poked into the containers and saw what was inside.
Here, let me make your plate. Shed paid attention, knew what he liked.
He stepped to her, pulling her close. I like that you pay attention. I like that you serve me.
She swallowed hard. I like it too. What else was there to say? She could have lied, but she tried not to. And the look on his face when she told him that pleased her to her toes.
When they sat, he pulled her chair close by hooking a foot in the rung at the bottom. He brushed the hair back from her face and then picked up a spring roll, feeding it to her.
Everything in her stilled.
I like taking care of you.
His voice was soft. But intense. In command.
I wager it doesnt happen often.
She licked her lips. Im a grown woman. I can feed myself.
Of course you can. He fed her a bite from his plate.
He took a bite or two and then fed her again. Forkfuls here and there. Nothing overwhelming. He wasnt forcing her to eat.
Have you ever been to Paris?
Twice. I like to travel. She shrugged. I doubt its the Paris you visit though.
He raised a brow her way. Oh? And how so?
Ive never stayed in a four-star place before. I like pensions and cheap, off-the-beaten-path places. Not because Im so edgy. She laughed. But because when I first started traveling I had no money and it was all I could afford.
He snorted. I do like four-star hotels, I cant lie. Luxury isnt overrated. You said you love travel. Where else do you go?
I love Hawaii. Theres something about just walking out the door and it being perfect outside. The air always smells good. The water is always gorgeous and warm so you can play in it all day long. The food is plentiful and cheap.
He laughed. Cheap? Its as expensive to eat in Hawaii as it is in Paris.
There are so many roadside stands, barbecue grills and hole-in-the-wall places to eat in Hawaii. If you go to the tourist places, its expensive. If you buy a lot of milk, yes, its expensive. But when Im there I eat a lot of fruit and local stuff.
I think I need to take you to Paris, four-star style. And you need to take me to Hawaii, roadside-stand style. I have a house in Maui.
You do? A friend has a condo there and he lends it to me a few times a year in exchange for my working at his shop. I used to go more often. But since Alexander I find myself spending a lot more time here.
He fed her another bite and sat back, eating as he listened to her speak awhile.
Youre close with him.
Hes precious to me. Erin is like my sister. Shes the person on earth Im closest to. And Alexander, well, hes impossible not to love. He likes me around so Im around.
Its important to children to be surrounded by people they love and can trust. Its a gift youre giving him.
Its the other way around really. I never thought much about kids one way or the other. Until him. When she got pregnant it was an odd time in my life. I didnt know how it would change our friendship. I was selfish.
Worried youd lose your friend, thats not selfish. Thats human.
It was selfish. I can own my flaws. I dont need anyone to make excuses for me.
He loved how her chin jutted out. Defiant.
He fed her another piece of bread. Her eyes closed just a bit as she enjoyed the taste.
Anyway, she had a rough time. Her pregnancy was hard. There were things going on with Bens family and it upset her. I stayed to run some interference when I could. Though shes surrounded by people who love her so it would have happened anyway, I suppose.
He knew Erins brothers adored her and were protective. But he was sure this woman did all she could to help her friend get through her rough time.
Anyway, when he was born I was there. In the room. It was . . . it was amazing. And she was a fucking queen to have done it. And then Alexander was in the world. I traveled like I usually did, but I found myself coming back more often and for longer stints of time. It worked out for Brody so he could take more time off to be with Elise because then they got pregnant and had Martine.
She downplayed how important she was to people.
By the time Alexander had his first birthday I figured it would be best if I bought a place up here. Hes my little dude. Then Poppy came. Lucky for the kid, shes more like her mom than her dad. But I like kids. Other peoples kids even better because after a few overnights with Alexander, I dont know how Erin manages it on four hours sleep.
You have a marshmallow center. He poked her belly and she smirked.
I am a hard-ass bitch, Jonah. I am mean. I am selfish and not to be trusted.
He shook his head. You moved to Seattle for Alexander.
Her face softened again. Hes my reason to put down roots. Then she found her mask again. But that doesnt mean Im still not bad news.
You are not bad news. No matter how often you tell yourself that. And I will say the sleep stuff is a killer. When Carrie was a baby she was pretty easy. She slept well. But when she started walking she just hated to sit still. She was up at five. Gave up naps before she was two. My ex hated that.
You were at work all day while she was home with the kid?
One of us had to pay the mortgage. We talked about it before she got pregnant. That shed be home. I didnt expect her to because she was the woman. We had a deal. She . . .
Im not accusing you of being a sexist jerk. It was a question, thats all. Erin is really good at it. The stay-at-home-mom gig. Shes got this endless patience with him. It helps that hes a really happy kid. But still, she just goes and goes. Did you have a nanny or a night nurse or whatever?
He relaxed a little. She wanted a night nurse but I was really opposed. But she did have a nanny a few days a week. My mother came and helped a lot too. Looking back, the first cracks in our relationship were then. She wasnt cut out for it. Parenting, I mean.
Yes, well. Carrie has you. Sounds like shes better off without your ex. Who, by the way, sounds like a total moron. Did her tits blind you or something?
He choked as he laughed. We were young. She was gorgeous in her way. Her family knows my family. It seemed like the right choice at the time. I did love her. Then. Even as theyd started to get into trouble hed loved her, wanted to fix things. But once shed started neglecting Carrie, that had killed it.
You Warner boys sure do like to marry dumbasses. From what I hear, your mother isnt stupid in any way.
I thought you liked Daisy?
I do. But he isnt married to her. Yet. Im talking the first one. And your ex. And the dumb, racist one your other brother is married to.
Im going to hear your voice calling her the dumb racist one every time I see her from now on. Thanks for that.
She shrugged.
I think we did what we were expected to do.
I insulted you.
No. Not really. He paused, teasing her with another bite. You say things people dont say. Its . . . Im not used to it.
Honesty?
Candor perhaps is a better term.
I dont know which fork to use either.
She was so fearless in many ways, but also vulnerable. He saw it all through her words and body language. It got to him. He wanted to gather her up and protect her.
So he did.
She didnt resist, though she was surprised as she wrapped her arms around his neck to keep from falling from his lap.
Ive got you.
The words were simple. Easily understood in the context.
But they were more. It tore at her. Made her lose her grip on her defenses.
He put his head on her chest and she relaxed a little.
Forks are overrated. Also, you talk a good game, but your table manners are pretty impeccable.
He had a house in Maui. Good lord.
Im full, but you hardly ate.
He sat straighter and pulled her plate over. She moved to take the fork, but he grabbed her wrists with one of his hands, holding them fast at the small of her back.
A pulse of warmth flowed through her. Narcotic.
He fed her, pausing to kiss her here and there as he did.
She couldnt explain to herself why she tolerated it. That he restrained her and fed her and she made no effort to stop him.
But it did something to her. Filled a crack that had been forming since hed come into her life.
Candor is important. Most people arent honest on that level.
Erin says Im sort of feral. She shrugged. It was true really. Its not like she was ever in any one place long enough growing up for a responsible adult to teach her how she was supposed to act.
He smiled. Not feral. Youre just not affected like so many people are.
Im really not trying to offend people. Well, most of the time. She smirked. I can be a total bitch when I put my mind to it.
He laughed. I bet you can. And I bet youre aces at it.
Not worth doing if you dont do your best. He kept feeding her, holding her hands, keeping her on his lap until she was nearly catlike in her laziness. She leaned into his body, warm and lethargic. Im full. I promise.
He put the plate aside.
Do you trust me?
She managed to tip her head back enough to look at his face. She didnt trust a lot of people. But there she sat, on his lap after hed held her hands captive and fed her. After shed told him about growing up in the system.
Ludicrous. But no less true.
Yes.
Good.
He stood, keeping her in his arms, though he did let go of her wrists to keep from dropping her.
I can walk.
I know. And I can carry you. Whats the point of going to the gym if I cant carry a hot woman to my bedroom where Im going to strip her naked and fuck her?
Put that way.
She had to admit she was impressed by the easy way he carried her. As if she weighed nothing, and heaven knew that wasnt true.
He nudged the doors to his room open with his foot and put her on the edge of the bed. You need to be naked.
She quickly complied, pulling her shirt off.
He sucked in a breath. Mmm, I know you love purple, but red really looks gorgeous next to your skin.
She was glad shed worn the red bra.
She bent to help him get his jeans off and then his shirt, which luckily was a button-down so he wouldnt have to pull a shirt on over his head with his back sore.
She pressed a kiss to his shoulder. You have a fantastic body. Really.
Thank you. He tipped her back to the bed and pulled her jeans off. Pausing to look at the tiny red panties she wore.
Im not sure Id have pegged you for matching lingerie. But I like it. A lot.
I have a slight problem. I love lingerie. So much that its one of my favorite things about finally having a regular place to live so I can store it all instead of carrying it around.
Clearly I need to come to your place so I can check it all out.
Maybe. If youre extra good.
He grinned, looking rather like a pirate.
He crawled up the bed toward her body, nibbling up her thigh until he got her panties off, tossing them behind him. He paused as he held her gaze and a change came over his features.
Hold on to the headboard. Dont let go unless I say.
She obeyed as if hed pressed a button.
The cool of the wood was real against her palms. An anchor as he nibbled up her belly and then bit the underside of her breast until she hissed. Then he licked over the spot and warmth flowed as he hummed against her skin.
Gonna leave a mark.
That appealed to her. Knowing shed be able to see it the next day. A tangible reminder of the time theyd shared.
I like knowing itll be there. Knowing my mark will be on your skin. Like a secret.
He left her breathless with the stuff he said. Good gracious.
The edge of his teeth found her nipple. First the right and then the left. Over and over until she was writhing. Grabbing the headboard so hard she wouldnt have been surprised if shed broken it.
What shall I do next? Hmm?
Shed been about to answer when he sat up.
Dont move.
She didnt as he disappeared into the next room. She heard him rustling around for a few minutes and then returned looking rather triumphant.
Im not sure if that look bodes well for me.
It bodes well for me, anyway.
He pulled out a blindfold. I use it while sleeping on long plane rides, but itll work just fine for you too.
The material was cool against her face as he slid it on. It smelled faintly of lavender and of him.
Her skin came alive at the loss of her sight. Gooseflesh rose as he drew a fingertip down her collarbone and then over her nipple.
On your belly. Hands out to the side.
He took one of her wrists and she felt the clasp of a leather cuff as he tightened it on one side and then the other. Then he moved her wrist up and attached it to the poster of the bed somehow. He followed with her ankles.
Now, she wasnt a stranger to sex. Shed been tied up for shits and giggles a few times. But this was different. This wasnt a game. He was far too good at it to have been a game.
Part of it wasa big part of ithow hot it seemed to make him. She heard his breathing change as he moved. The brush of his cock as he worked let her know he was more than a little turned on by what he was doing.
His hands on her were sure and strong. And though what he was doing was binding her, those hands did not harm or misuse. This was out of her normal repertoire, but she knew that she liked it and wanted more. And that was enough.
Youre so beautiful this way. Your back, your gorgeous ass and those long legs. Goddamn.
She couldnt quite put her words together so she didnt say anything, though she managed a grunt of assent.
She wanted to know what he was going to do next. Wanted to experience it.
Hed never seen anything better in his bed. Ever.
Her dark hair a river over her shoulders and her back. Her muscles corded with her arms up, bound to the bed with the cuffs hed actually never used before today. Though hed taken them out and thought about using them more than a few times. Hed never been alone in the house with a woman hed trusted enough to use them with.
Charlotte had barely tolerated his taste for rough sex. But shed never submitted this beautifully. There had been others since the divorce. A woman he used to visit at her apartment. Hed learned a lot. His likes and dislikes. How to wield the tools that appealed. But it had been more like training than a relationship. Hed never been invested in her beyond her bedroom door.
This though . . . Raven was something far more. It had been a very long time since anyone had called to him the way this woman did.
So much to do with her. He let it take over, that part of himself he kept leashed deep inside. It settled in easily. As if it had been waiting for Raven.
Provocative. Her eyes covered. Naked on his bed. Her skin a riot of color from her ink, the roses curling up her inner arms. Her ass jutted out because shed arched her back.
His. No one else around. Hours and hours.
He leaned down and bit one juicy cheek and she shuddered on a moan.
This strong, bossy woman had given over to him with such ease it had startled him. And, he realized, it startled her too.
He picked up the slapper, testing it on his palm, liking the sound.
She stilled.
He drew the edge of it over the curve of her ass. Still with me?
She managed a moan of assent.
And then he brought the leather down against her skin, the sound loud, more startling then the actual slap, hed wager.
He dipped to lick up the line of her spine before he slapped her ass several more times. Slowly. Building heat. Building pleasure to beat back the pain.
Your skin turns the most beautiful shade when its being paddled. He blew over her ass cheeks and smiled to himself when gooseflesh rose in response.
Her legs were spread wide, leaving her pussy open to his touch. When his fingertips brushed against her labia he found her wet and hot.
She moaned low and ragged when he parted her, swirling a finger around her clit, tugging lightly on the hoop.
His pulse pounded in his temples. His cock was so hard it nearly hurt. He wanted to slide into that hot, wet cunt and fuck her. Right then.
Instead he drew it out.
Her muscles trembled as he slowly built her orgasm.
Her skin, so much of it, soft, taut over curves that stretched forever, called to him. He kissed the dimples at each side of her spine. Licked the small of her back. He kissed the blades of her shoulders and across her back.
Every once in a while, he returned to her cunt and she strained back to get more.
Do you want it? He surged up to nip her ass again.
She made a frustrated growl, her muscles tightening.
I need you to tell me.
Yes!
Yes what? He blew against her pussy and she groaned as he tickled her clit.
Yes, I want you to make me come.
There you go. That wasnt hard, was it?
She growled again and he resisted laughing. Only barely.
He went back to her cunt, one hand there, the other he slid between her body and the bed to play with a nipple. Her body gleamed with sweat and a flush as her climax began to build in earnest.
She smelled so good he couldnt resist leaning in to lick over her ribs. She whimpered and he nipped her skin. The whimper smoothed into a moan.
She rained honey on his hand as her nipple hardened against his palm and fingers.
With a strangled gasp as he pressed his palm against her cunt, still stroking her clit with his fingertips, she came hard and fast, her muscles tightening as she strained against the cuffs. He was thankful for the sturdiness of his furniture; her upper-body strength was nothing to sneeze at.
And when she finally went boneless on a satiated sigh, he kissed her skin.
Mmm, youre so fucking delicious when you climax.
She mumbled into the mattress.
Its my turn, Raven.
He sat up enough to undo her cuffs from the bed, though he left them on her wrists.
She was still boneless and lazy. He wondered how often she was this way and figured it probably wasnt very often.
He pulled the blindfold off and she blinked at him. Hello there, beautiful. You need to climb up and fuck me.
She managed to get to her knees on the bed, and then he hooked the cuffs on her wrists together, binding them behind her back.
My balance . . .
He put a finger over her lips to silence her and he nearly came when she sucked it into her mouth.
Goddamn.
She smiled, catlike.
Ill handle your balance. You said you trusted me. Prove it.
She licked her lips and then relaxed as he kept hold of the chain between the cuffs to help her remain upright.
Your back . . . Her words were slightly slurred. Either sit or put a bunch of pillows under your head and neck or youre going to hurt.
He hadnt thought of that but she was right. He moved to a nearby chair and brought her along, helping her off the bed first, sliding a condom on before she straddled him, her knees to either side of his body.
Looking up at her this way brought pause. This wasnt play. This was more. He was breaking her in a sense. Battering all her defenses until she submitted to him totally. There was a lot of responsibility he was about to take on. If he wanted her to submit to him, he had to deserve it. To continue to deserve it every day.
This woman was strong. Vibrant. She was wild and willful. But beneath? She was fragile and he needed to tread carefully so as not to harm that. He wanted her total trust. He had to earn it.
One-handed, he angled his cock, brushing it against her pussy a few times before he lined up and pressed in. Her lips parted on a sigh and she pushed down, taking him into her body completely.
He held her wrists, letting her know he wasnt ready for her to move again just yet.
His gaze danced over her body. Lingering as he took in the curve of her hips. The weight of her breasts. The glint of the silver bars piercing her nipples. Her face, those gorgeous, lush features, her full mouth, the slumberous, slightly wary eyes.
And then there was the sight of his cock as she drew up on her knees, nearly leaving her body, and then slowly disappearing as she fell slowly down on him again.
Dark, slick with her honey, the sight of his cock disappearing into her cunt seemed to hypnotize him. Seduce his senses.
She arched, jutting her hips as she slid herself back and forth on his cock. All while he held her to keep her from falling. Watching her face as she closed her eyes. He wanted her to look at him, to know it was Jonah who gave her this experience. But he sensed she wasnt ready for that kind of exposure. Not yet.