Enlightened (Untwisted Series Book 4)

by Alice Raine

  The following morning I woke up feeling surprisingly good – there was no hangover in sight whatsoever, so apparently there were some benefits to being the designated sensible person then. The guest bed in Rebecca and Nicholas’ spare room was incredibly comfortable, and with the curtains filtering the early morning sunshine I could have easily stayed here for longer, but the warm sheets quickly lost their appeal when I discovered Nathan was no longer in bed with me. Dragging myself to the bathroom I grabbed a quick shower, pulled on last night’s discarded clothes, and then went in search of him.

  I was a little wary of finding Nathan, especially after his sleepy comments on my arrival in bed last night, and was desperately hoping he wasn’t going to make a scene in front of Nicholas and Rebecca this morning. Finding him alone in the kitchen was actually quite a relief, until I took stock of the tenseness of his shoulders and my stomach plummeted. He stood leaning back against one of the kitchen counters, his legs spread and arms crossed over his chest looking so sexy and broody that I felt my heart give a kick in my chest. ‘Good morning,’ I murmured softly.

  Instead of a reply I was greeted by silence and a pair of intense, heavy lidded blue eyes watching my every move. Hmmm … it looked like someone had definitely gotten out of bed on the wrong side this morning.

  ‘I’d like to go home,’ were his first words, but they were laced with petulance, and not anger as I had expected. A smile curled my lips; instead of being stroppy about last night he felt put out because his routine was off, and judging from his awkward stance, he didn’t like it one little bit. ‘Let’s go,’ he said, handing me a travel mug full to the brim of steaming coffee. I accepted the mug, but placed my other hand on his forearm to halt his movement.

  ‘Can we say good morning properly first?’ I murmured softly, and he immediately paused and looked down at me intently. I slid my hand up his arm and into the hair at the nape of his neck, which was damp, presumably from a shower. After running his gaze across my face a tiny flicker of a smile twitched on his lips before he leant down and placed his soft warm lips on mine in a brief but lovely kiss, and then leant back a fraction. ‘Good morning, beautiful.’ His endearment was so quiet that I barely heard it, but it was there, and my heart beat just a little quicker because of it as I instinctively leaned into his body.

  ‘You’re still not forgiven for last night. I wonder how I’ll get you to make it up to me …’ he added, as he leant back and gently smoothed some hair from my face. Crikey, my heart was pounding now; the contradictory clash of his soft actions but firm words had fully awoken both my sleepy body and my thundering arousal.

  ‘Rebecca said to say thank you for last night, and that she’ll call you later.’ Nathan said as he guided my stunned body towards the door with a firm hand on my lower back, but I felt too shocked to speak. How could he lace his previous words with a delicious threat of kinky naughtiness and then seconds later be conversing like nothing had happened? Mild amusement replaced my shock and I shook my head at how changeable he could be. I literally couldn’t keep up with him when he was like this so I may as well just go along and enjoy the ride.

  ‘They’ve gone out this morning, some appointment in Herefordshire with a group of musicians Nicholas knows. Turns out my brother is being very finicky about who will be playing at the wedding,’ Nathan said with a small snort of dry laughter.

  Nicholas wasn’t the only one with his finicky ways , I thought with a smile as I allowed Nathan to guide me from the house and help me into his car. What with his hand-washing, suit adjusting, and general possessiveness Nathan could certainly give his brother a run for his money in the obsessive control department. Sipping my coffee as he drove I began to feel more alert from the caffeine and rather aroused at the thought that Nathan might have some sort of punishment planned for me today. Apart from the liaison in the back of his company car a few weeks ago it had been ages since he’d really let his Dominant side out. Imagining all the things he might do to me, all the things I wanted him to do to me, was enough to keep me quiet for the entire journey home.

  Arriving at his apartment Nathan headed to the lounge and paused by the dining table before turning to me, widening his stance, and then slowly and deliberately pushing his hands into the pockets of his suit trousers as he looked at me from under lowered brows. Such a normal stance, but God Nathan looked sexy when he stood like that. Like me, Nathan was still dressed in last night’s clothes, despite the showers we’d both taken at Nicholas’, which meant he was suited and booted in a charcoal three-piece, and looking completely delectable.

  ‘So, Stella. About last night. As much as I enjoyed dancing with you, I did not take any pleasure whatsoever in seeing you surrounded by a pack of men as you flaunted yourself on the dance floor.’

  Flaunted myself? Pah! Hardly. I danced in a group with the women I was out with and paid no attention to any men. I was just about to huffily state as much, but as I studied Nathan’s expression very closely I suddenly realised that he was playing with me when I saw the corners of his eyes crease with just the tiniest hint of a smile. Ah, OK, so Nathan wasn’t really irritated, he was merely intent of setting up a scene, was he? Well that was just fine by me, especially as I was now completely recovered from my flu and feeling back on top form. Although truth be told, knowing Nathan like I did, he probably was carrying around a touch of lingering frustration about last night as well, bless him.

  ‘Whatever shall I do with you?’ he murmured salaciously as he cocked his head to the side and kept me pinned with his bright blue stare. At his domineering stance and words I felt my legs become a little rubbery, so lowered myself to lean on the edge of the dining table for support as I chewed expectantly on my lip, choosing the stay silent for now.

  Leaning across the table Nathan tutted in apparent irritation and used his thumb to roughly dislodge my lower lip from between my teeth. ‘You’re really pushing my buttons, Stella; first last night and now chewing on your lip again.’ Leaning back he ran his hands through his hair and genuinely looked like he was at his wits ends. It was at times like this when I loved him the most, when he tried to maintain his calm, strong front but failed and exposed a little of his vulnerability. I knew my lip biting bothered him, he hated it when I ‘hurt’ myself, but it wasn’t exactly a conscious choice, just a habit that I was mostly unaware of doing. Poor guy, clearly my lip biting combined with the stress of seeing me out last night with the occasional bit of interest from the opposite sex was tipping him over the edge.

  Looking at me with pleading eyes he exhaled a short, sharp breath and then seemed to gather himself. ‘I’ve told you numerous times, don’t damage yourself – this lip is mine. No biting it. Clear?’

  Hearing Nathan’s truly domineering tone for the first time in weeks sent an instant shiver of fear laced lust shooting straight to my core and delicious tingles sprang to the skin of my arms. As ridiculous as it sounds, after our ‘handcuff car scenario’ the other week I had realised that I’d missed this side of him, really, missed it, if I was being honest. Submission was obviously something inbuilt within my personality, or at least a certain degree of it anyway, because no matter how much I loved the responsibility of my job, my independence, and the equality of the relationship I now had with Nathan, I still occasionally yearned for the good old days when he used to so effortlessly take control of me and have his wicked way with me.

  A small sigh escaped my lips as my mind suddenly ran wild with visions of all our passionate times together. The sensation of his total power over me was just exquisite, the biggest turn on I’d ever experienced in my life, and although I’m sure some women would hate it, I loved how powerless I felt when Nathan truly dominated me. Although perhaps “powerless” is the wrong word. It was the lack of responsibility I loved; I didn’t need to worry or think about anything when we were in a scene, it was like emptying my mind of all thoughts and just existing in the moment. I sound like some Zen yoga buff, but it was true – it helped that I knew I
was completely safe with him, one murmur of the safe word and I had no doubt that Nathan would cease immediately.

  My thoughts had me craving that adrenaline rush again, right now, regardless of the fact that it was barely ten o’clock in the morning, and so with a deep breath for bravery I made sure I had his full attention before I slowly licked my lips, nodded to show that I’d heard him, and then teasingly took my lower lip in between my teeth again. Gently grazing my teeth back and forth on the soft flesh I watched as Nathan’s eyes initially widened in surprise at my deliberate infringement of his rules, but then his pupils darkened and narrowed as his spine straightened from my challenge.

  ‘Stella?’ Nathan’s voice practically rumbled across the small distance between us as I continued to toy with my lip, but I didn’t answer him, just continued to look at him provocatively, no doubt with a devious twinkle in my eye.

  ‘So be it,’ he murmured. Standing slightly straighter I watched Nathan adjust his posture until it was utterly perfect; his broad shoulders squared and upright and his legs splayed as he pointed to his right and raised an eyebrow at me. This was my signal to submit to him, and I’d never been happier to see it, or keener to oblige in all my life. Sliding from the table I immediately took up my position at his side, linked my hands, and averted my gaze. My heart was hammering so loudly in my chest that I was sure he would be able to hear it and laugh at me for being foolish enough to start all this in the first place with my act of defiance.

  ‘Don’t move a muscle,’ he told me in a low tone as he stalked around me once and then came to stand behind me. His lips lowered next to my neck, tracing a pattern up and down so closely that I could feel his breath fanning across my skin, but never once did his teasing mouth make contact with me. Once again circling me like his intended prey – which I suppose I was – he came to stand just before me and placed both his hands on my wrists in the lightest of touches before running just one fingertip up each arm, across my collar bones, and up my neck until they reached my mouth. His thumbs grazed across my lips several times and instinctively I bit on my lip to hold in the moan that wanted to escape. ‘This lip is going to get you into trouble, Stella,’ Nathan smirked, sounding rather pleased with himself as his thumb released my lip and briefly pushed inside my mouth where I couldn’t resist gently sucking on it. Just as quickly as it started Nathan moved away and removed all contact with me and a groan escaped my lips as I swayed on my feet, my head now light and dizzy from the adrenaline and lust coursing through my system.

  ‘Stay right where you are,’ he murmured, thrusting his hands into his trouser pockets, then seeing my shiver of anticipation, he chuckled darkly, ‘That’s right Stella, I’m nowhere near done with you yet.’ Such teasing words! He strode in the direction of his office, leaving me panting and wondering what he was doing.

  Just as he had requested I didn’t move an inch – unless you counted the heaving of my chest from the ragged breaths escaping past my lips – but thankfully no more than a minute or two later I watched him stride back towards me purposefully with a single sheet of paper and fountain pen in his hand. It didn’t escape my notice that he had dispensed of his shoes and socks and was now barefoot, his gorgeous feet making hardly a sound on the wooden floor as he approached me. Placing the paper down he began to roll up his shirt sleeves, taking his time to fold them perfectly until they sat just below his elbows. I wondered if he knew just how sexy he looked; still in his smart shirt and trousers, but barefooted and his strong, corded forearms rippling as he moved. It was such a tempting sight that I felt myself biting my lower lip again, only to realise what I was doing and then stifle a nervous giggle as I released it from between my teeth.

  Ignoring me completely he slid onto one of the seats by the dining table, removed the lid from his pen with a flourish, and began to write something. I was too far away to see what he was writing, but I was starting to squirm a little on the spot, which he obviously noticed, because he finally sighed and then looked up briefly, ‘Undress, then resume your position.’ With that he went back to his notes.

  Slightly taken back by his cold briskness I stood unmoving for a few seconds staring at him, almost feeling affronted by his treatment of me. Was this really how he had been with me at the start of our relationship? I thought back, and realised that yes, Nathan had been incredibly intimidating and blunt then, while also sexy as hell, and clearly from this display still had it in him just below the surface.

  ‘Now, Stella,’ he reminded me in a firm, barked order, not even lifting his eyes from the paper. But this time I saw that his words were accompanied by just the briefest curl of his upper lip, as if he was sharing my shock and finding it amusing. Well, I suppose I had been the one to deliberately taunt him in the first place, clearly he was just getting his own back now. Luckily, just that tiny glimpse of the Nathan I now knew, loved, and trusted reassured me and I immediately began to peel my clothes off, fold them neatly, and place them on a chair.

  Just as I was about to remove my high heels I heard the shift of Nathan’s chair on the wooden floor and glanced up to find him replacing the cap of his fountain pen and watching me intently with a lusty glint in his eye. ‘The heels can stay,’ he murmured, standing from his seat and pointing to where he wished me to stand. Pushing my foot back into my four inch high heel I stood as tall and confident as I could, and then approached him with what I hoped was a seductive gait until I was stood before him wearing nothing but my necklace, high heels, and a heated blush.

  When I reached his side I heard a low growl of approval rumble from Nathan’s chest. Then saw him pick up the piece of paper and wave it briefly, before stepping away from me and bending to place it on a low coffee table on the other side of the dining room. Then he walked back to me, placed a hand on my lower back which seemed to scorch my skin from his touch, and guided me to the coffee table.

  ‘I want you to read this in your head and memorise the lines word for word for posterity,’ he told me in a soft tone. Wondering why he hadn’t just handed the sheet to me I bent to pick it up but almost immediately felt his warm hand settle on my lower back, keeping me bent over at a right angle. ‘Uh-uh, Stella, no picking it up.’ Then, after giving my lower back a gentle tap he spoke again, ‘Hands here please.’

  I complied immediately, the weeks and weeks of training we’d done together at the start of our relationship were still so ingrained in me that to be honest I found it hard not to comply with his requests. Lifting my arms up and behind me I felt one of his hands circle both of my wrists and gently rub as he held them at the base of my spine. ‘Are you learning your lines?’ he reminded me again, which made me remember why I was bent over the coffee table in the first place.

  Flicking my eyes to the sheet of paper I began to read. Even Nathan’s handwriting was somehow sensual in its curved formation, the glossy flow of the real ink from his pen somehow added to the overall eroticism of the scene. As soon as I began digesting the contents however, I very nearly laughed out loud.

  I shall no longer bite the lower lip of my mouth and cause myself damage. I will never flaunt myself in front of other men because I belong to you, Nathan. My body and lips are yours, and as such, you, Sir, are to be the only one permitted to touch me or bite my lip in future.

  Scoffing quietly I rolled my eyes, glad that Control Freak Jackson was behind me and couldn’t see. But fine, if that was how he wanted to play this little scene I would go along with it. I was just beginning my second read through of the ridiculous verse when I heard the metallic sound of Nathan’s belt buckle being undone. Talk about a distraction. Now all I could concentrate on was whether he was going to take me here, or perhaps bend me over the sofa to have his wicked way with me. All lusty thoughts evaporated from my mind a second later however, when I felt his palm gently caress my bottom, shortly followed by the sharp pulling noise of his belt being removed from his trouser loops. My mind was working at warp speed, was he about to punish me with his belt? Beat me with it? He
ll no. I was brave enough to admit that I enjoyed a spanking from Nathan, and the paddle and flogger we’d used had been fun too, it heightened my arousal no end to mix a little dash of pain in with my pleasure, but a belt? I had never, ever thought that that could be pleasurable and I felt panic completely swamping my arousal.

  Trying to stand up I was stopped by a firm pressure from Nathan’s hand on my spine, and before I realised it a safe word had popped from my lips, ‘Yellow!’ I blurted. I’d barely ever safe worded with Nathan in the past, he seemed to intuitively know my boundaries, but if he planned on using a belt on me I needed to voice my concerns. As soon as the word had popped from my mouth Nathan’s hand was gone from my spine, both of his warm palms landing on my shoulders and pulling me up into the safety of his arms.

  Releasing a breath into his chest I realised I was trembling all over and desperately tried to get a grip of myself. ‘Talk to me, Stella,’ he encouraged, one hand running up and down my back reassuringly as his other arm encased me against the warmth of his solid body.

  ‘I don’t like the idea of you …’ But I faltered, what word should I say? Beating? Hitting? Spanking? The first two sounded too excessive, but surely a spanking inferred a hand and skin on skin contact? Pausing briefly I kept it simple, ‘I don’t like the idea of being punished with your belt, Sir.’ Suddenly the arms around me tightened to the point where I was struggling to breathe, and I heard a similar ragged breath escape from Nathan’s throat.