Reign on Me

by Zoe Devereaux

  The air between them became even more charged. A blazing physical and emotional chemistry was brewing between them, and it was one that they both recognized easily.

  His demand was soft but firm. “Lie down.”

  Chapter 4

  The satin sheets caressed her heated skin as she slid down in the bed.

  All over, she was on fire, on the outside and the inside.

  She watched as he closed the canopy curtain around the bed, and it offered even more privacy. As their gazes met across the short space, she trembled helplessly. Within them, there was sensual fire, erotic danger, and dark need.

  “No one can find you here,” Reign said simply, sitting on his haunches at the foot of the bed. The dangerous primal gleam in his eyes made them even more mesmerizing. “You’re free to be whom and what you want within my walls.” He slid a hot fast gaze over her shaking form. “I literally see and feel your need.”

  And he was right.

  The need was coursing through her veins like a torrential fire. Her senses flamed to life, seeking redemption from the dark want that gripped them. But, that redemption would only be realized with a sinful touch.

  Her gaze held his. “T-this is wrong---”

  “Know what your problem is? You’re thinking too much, and that is a big problem,” he rasped unsteadily, watching her. “So, I have three words for you, my little princess: stop fucking thinking.”

  She inhaled a shaky breath.

  Was she really that far gone?

  His simple command had awakened something primitive inside her, and it resonated down low. Eagerly, she was responding to the power that he was wielding over her.

  “Another word of truth,” he said suavely, flicking his hot gaze over her. “I’m not that shit-nosed kid that you met up with when you were a teenager. I’m a man---a real one.” A sexy, confident smile snaked his lips. “I actually have a dick, and I do know what to fucking do with it. You’ll find that out soon enough.” Then, his expression turned serious. “But, not tonight.”

  As their gazes held within the space, she fought to hide her disappointment. “Why?”

  “Because first, you have to find acceptance with yourself, and that acceptance is realizing that there is no shame in having needs.” Then, after crawling up the bed, he straddled her quivering form. A dangerous gleam shone in his eyes as he stared down at her. “Tonight, you’re simply going to learn about the power of a man’s touch. A touch that yields danger---one that’s designed to slay your very innocence. A touch that’s intended to awaken the fire inside of you.” The sensual fire deepened in his eyes. “Can I touch you?”

  His eyes bewitched her further.

  Already, he was carefully woven a spell over her senses.

  She licked her lips nervously. “Yes.”

  He killed her with silence.

  A shiver coursed through her as he cupped her face, purposely spearing his hands until all of his fingers were spread apart. Slowly and gently, he massaged her cheeks, all the while mesmerizing her further with his deep stare. His fingers trailed to her lips, parting them slightly, allowing her soft pants to escape into the night. Then, daringly, he traced a slow path along her upper lip before moving to the bottom one.

  When his hands closed about her nape, she inhaled a surprised breath, and her startled gaze was now filled with questions.

  But, his answer was more silence.

  The fine ridge of her collarbone was sensitive to his touch. For a moment, his touch lingered there, sampling the area along the rise of her plump breasts. A tad bit snug, the brassiere caused the round globes to mush together like twin melons, making them rise slightly above the lacy ridge. In his fingers, he wielded sensual magic, teasing her skin with the pads of his fingers. He trailed a finger along the edges of her bra strap, leaving a scorching path along her tingling flesh. Her breath caught as he pulled the straps down her arms, finally releasing the bra’s front clasp, and freed her plump breasts. As the cool air met her naked skin, her nipples puckered in response.

  Suddenly, she couldn’t squelch the need to be touched.

  The hungry look in his eyes only heightened it.

  “Your innocence has blinded you to everything. Tell me how it is possible…” he breathed hoarsely, staring down at her. Then, he traced a finger along her heaving cleavage. “…that you have no idea how fucking sexy you are.”

  “No, I’m not,” she whispered.

  “You calling me a liar?” he challenged softly, sliding a finger along the rise of her breast again, and his green orbs roamed over her face with a subtle sexiness. “I think that you are, and oddly that turns me on. Because I know that I’ll have the guilty pleasure of proving my claims.”

  And it was a touch that was lethal in its approach, she mulled, taking in a frantic breath. For now, she was finding it difficult to concentrate on anything else but his burning touch. Still, she attempted to find reason within the rising madness. “No, I’m not calling you a---”

  On a broken gasp, her words seized as he filled his hands with both breasts. With an aching slowness, he kneaded them between his large hands. As the feelings coursed through her, she clenched both hands at her sides. But, there was no escaping the building pleasure that was rising within her.

  “Put your arms over your head,” he murmured, and his own voice was unsteady. “That way, you won’t be so tense. Relax.”

  She raised both arms over her head, and as she did, it only exposed her more. But, she was hardly prepared as his fingers moved to her puckered nipples. He massaged the tightened buds between his fingers, proving that the tiny orbs were highly sensitive points. Both pleasure and surprise seared her at once. “Oh,” she gasped in breathless wonder, and her hips rose from the bed slightly. But, her movement only seemed to heighten the pleasure. “Oh…”

  But, there were other sensual pinpoints in her skin, she realized as his finger trailed along her heaving cleavage on down her quivering midriff. When he reached her navel, he dipped a finger inside before tracing a daring path inside of it.

  At that time, he shifted position, and she seized to breathe as his body covered hers. Against her tingling flesh, she felt every hard ridge of his, and again, it appeased a deep sinful gratification inside of her.

  “Just let go and relax,” he whispered hoarsely and pushed her legs wider apart with his knee. His movement allowed him to settle on her fully. Through the cotton panties, his hard bulging erection met the soft fabric, although he was still clothed. “There’s only pleasure in this. Don’t fight against what you’re feeling.”

  And he was right, she realized, staring into his eyes.

  The feel of him on top of her, it felt good---too damned good.

  But, she had no room for further thought as his head lowered. His hot lips met her nape, and he seared the tender flesh as he pressed a kiss against it. With the tip of his tongue, he traced a wicked path along it before moving to her earlobe. She took in a fractured breath as he nipped it gently with his teeth.

  Still, she didn’t touch him. Yet, she longed to know the feel of him. Like was his skin soft and smooth to the touch? Or was it hair-roughened in various places, she inhaled sharply as his mouth blazed a wet scorching trail along her right shoulder.

  It was obvious that he sensed her disdain because his words followed her distressed thoughts, “I want you to relax,” he breathed against her skin, and then slandered her further as he met her eyes. He shifted above her, bringing their hot bodies dangerously closer. Then, he clasped her hands in his. “You’re so fucking tense that I’m afraid you’ll break,” he whispered, stilling above her. “Look at me.”

  She looked at the space past him.

  Could she dare be that bold?

  The near darkness bathed the small space, and the canopy curtain around the bed only heightened the allure. Somehow, someway, it did seem that they existed in a private world outside the rest of the universe. A high level of intimacy marked the atmosphere and swathed th
em within its confines.

  This was real, she realized, inhaling sharply at the intense sensations ricocheting through her at record speed. Not some illicit, scandalous fantasy roaring in her conscience.

  Here, she could confront the dark urgent needs that tormented her on so many countless lonely nights.

  Taking a shaky breath, she finally met his eyes.

  A thrill of excitement ran through her as their gazes locked. Her insides twisted more, tangling inextricably into deep seeds of naked want. Within the hazel green depths, a dangerous fire was lit, and the desire swam in them. It was wild and unattainable, and once it was released, there’d be no restraints strong enough to hold it. Within the walls of her blatant innocence, she recognized its viral power.

  It pulsated in her heated body.

  Flowed from his hard body like grid-iron blocks of pure fire…threatening to scorch her inhibitions into pure nothingness.

  But, just how…how...could they answer the violent call without losing some semblance of themselves and reality?

  Yet, it had to be answered.

  His eyes roamed over her face, and they held the burning question before he even voiced it. “You okay?”

  She bit her trembling lips. “Yes.”

  But, truthfully, she wasn’t.

  How could she say that she ached---in the very place that was forbidden? Or that she wanted him to touch her all over until the fires inside of her were quenched?

  His half-smile made her heartbeat kick into overdrive. “Good.” Then, he shifted against her again, this time nestling between her thighs until his erection rested dead center of her heat. Releasing a guttural grunt, he tightened his grip on her hands. “You feel that? This is my body’s gut reaction to you---a natural full fledged fucking hard-on.” His eyes smoldered bright as his eyes flicked along her face again. “That makes you a very dangerous woman. Why? Because until you no woman’s had the power to get a real rise out of me.”

  “Do you say that to everyone?” she whispered, and despite herself, was totally mesmerized by the words. “Because there’s nothing dangerous about me…I don’t even know how to---”

  He shifted against her body, initiating a deep stroke that left her speechless. A new wickedness breathed from his lips. “A reaction like this---it can’t be manufactured, concocted, or bought. The chemistry is either there or it isn’t. In our case, it’s explosive. That means that we are in a very interesting situation. We’re in danger of blurring the lines between fantasy and reality.”

  “So, right now, we’re stuck in the in-between?” she asked lowly, curious as to his answer. But, didn’t everything about this beautiful stranger mesmerize her beyond redemption? “Is that what’s happening between us now?”

  At her probing question, a light flickered in his eyes. “Our bodies are engaging and connecting in a sense, daringly and boldly issuing an invitation by instinctive reactions alone.” Now, his words were husky, sexy, and dangerous all together. “Your need to be touched by me is overwhelming, and my desire to be touched by you is staggering.” His sexy smile cut her feminine senses to the core. “You’ll understand quickly that desiring another person is the greatest warfare yet. Willingly and shamelessly, we surrender to the other side, and we say to hell with the damaging consequences.” Intentionally, he dropped his head lower, just so they could mutually share the fractured breaths between them. “I’m all about honesty, princess, and you have a fucking right to know what I want. I want you. All I can think about is being inside of you, buried so deep in your tightness, just to feel as your sweet rain bathes my cock.” His eyes darkened to a deeper green. “And what do you think about that confession? You seem like the kind of woman who prizes honesty above all else.”

  Her feminine senses surrendered fully.

  Awestruck, she stared into is eyes, totally beholden. “I---I think that it’s good that you’re being truthful.” The air constricted in her lungs, and suddenly, any rational coherency was shredded within the intense moment. “To me, that is.”

  “And you?” he probed, dropping his green orbs to her lips. Perhaps, like her, he was fascinated by the fact that air no longer passed through them. “Will you be truthful with me? Or will you continue to mar our intimate moment with more untruths?”

  “I like you being on top of me,” she confessed shyly, dropping her eyes to the beating pulse point at his nape. It beat wildly and out of control. “It feels even better than I imagined it would.”

  “Is that what you want?” he asked, passing her another disarming smile. “…for me to make your every sinful and lust-filled fantasy to come to life?” His head descended, and now it was only a few scant inches from hers---so close that their lips nearly touched. His hot breath fanned across her lips, and it was a potent mixture of mint and alcohol. “One final confession---you make me want to do things that I’ve never wanted to do with any other woman that’s walked through these doors. That means, like you, I have my own personal stake in this.”

  The shockwaves of pleasure coursed through her system. Her insides quaked with want, and on a dark primitive level, they met within the mind space.

  The canopy curtain shielded them from the rest of the world. But, there was no escaping the rising storm that brewed between them. The hushed silence was marred by their raspy breathing, and the air was clouded with an explosive sexual tension.

  Though she prayed to find air, she failed to.

  For every breath that she took in, she lost the very next one. Every inch of her skin tightened in reaction. In the searing moment, she finally realized that there’d be no turning back.

  “But, tonight isn’t about me. It’s about you,” he said thickly, releasing her, and then, to her chagrin, he lifted himself off of her and sat up in the bed. His eyes glowered in the near darkness as he spoke. “And only you. But, the moment will come when it will be about the both of us. When it happens, it’ll be something that neither of us will forget.” His eyes glimmered in the stunted darkness. “You want to know why…because I fucking want you just as much as you want me.”

  Her breath caught at the daring proclamation. Perhaps, she should have been afraid of the admission. Rather, she found herself further intrigued instead.

  As he settled against the pillows beside her, she stayed mute and was uncertain of what’d unfold next. “Why don’t we try and relax some more,” he suggested, staring at the side of her face. “Your muscles are tight---sit on my lap and I’ll massage them.” Then, he paused. “That is if you want to.”

  Though the request was simple, deep down, she realized that it was exceedingly complex. Still, she crawled onto his lap. As she did, he spread his legs wide apart, allowing her to situate herself between them.

  His hands fell on her shoulders, and he began kneading the tight muscles. “Just relax. Don’t think about anything else at all,” he murmured softly, massaging the area near her nape. “Let me take care of you.”

  She closed her eyes and allowed the sensations to sweep over her. In his hands, he wielded magic, and soon, the tension began to ebb away from her body. Then, his hands traveled down both arms, kneading the flesh in those parts as well.

  A sigh of contentment left her as she leaned back against his chest, consciously seeking more from him without voicing it out loud. While his touch had been innocent before, it wasn’t now, she realized as his hands moved to her midriff. Now, his caresses were sinful and deep, stirring the fires that burned within her. As his hands traveled upward, finally reaching her breast, she held her breath. Like he’d done before, he closed his hands about both globes before kneading them.

  A fractured breath left her as he pinched a tightened nipple between his fingers. The pleasurable pain inside of her peaked as he massaged the pebbled tip.

  “Oh,” she breathed helplessly, leaning closer to him. Through cracked lids, she watched his ministrations, and it only increased the fervor of her reactions. Her back arched in response, and her movement only encouraged him f
urther.

  “You like that, don’t you, princess,” he murmured thickly, and his hard body quaked behind hers. A deep groan left him as he closed his hands over her plump breasts. “Guess what? I love touching you.”

  Rather than speaking, she placed her hands over his, and in response, he massaged her breasts until she was aching with need. Like a voyeur, she took in their love play, and there was nothing more damaging to the senses than the very sight.

  She bit her lip and tried to hold back her heartfelt cry of need. But, still, a soft whimper of pleasure escaped past her lips.

  “Don’t you dare,” he rasped, and his breathing was fractured and unsteady. Then, he carried their clenched hands on further down her body. “Try and fucking hide from me. I won’t let you.”

  “Please touch me,” she pleaded softly, tightening her grip on his hand. As their joined hands hovered just above her mound, she nearly came apart. “Please.”

  “I’ll give you anything and everything that you want,” he whispered, and his breathing was fast and hoarse. Freeing her hands, he placed them along her sides. “And I just want you to just sit here and take it. Can you do that for me?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, sounding out of breath. “I can.”

  “If you want to cry out, cry out,” he commanded softly, trailing a single finger along the edges of her panties. He held her closer against him as she trembled. “If you want to scream, do it.” A hard shudder racked through him. “Open your legs for me, sweetheart.”

  Biting her lip, she nodded and did as he bade.

  A sweet gasp left her as he slipped a hand inside her panties. But, rather than going in for the kill, he teased the fine hairs that dusted her sex. Then, taking a single finger, he stroked her slick folds in a slow upward and downward motion.

  “Oh,” she gasped helplessly and writhed in response. His finger met the tiny nub, the trigger point to her release, and teased it gently. The intense feelings inside of her were now overwhelming, and deep down, she pondered if she’d come apart in that very moment. Her sensual instincts overtook her as her body arched in response to his dangerous touch. She released a sharp breath of pleasure and pleaded more. “Oh, please…”