The Astronomer

by Charmaine Pauls

  “Slower,” he said with that evil, deep, rasping voice of his that caressed every nerve ending until her skin broke out in goose bumps.

  When she stood in front of him, fully naked, she couldn’t help but cover her breasts with her arms. After Domfront, it was only the second time she stood naked in front of him in broad daylight. And it was unnerving. He studied her openly, not bothering to hide the way his eyes lingered on certain parts of her body.

  “Sit on that couch.” His voice was gruff.

  She moved backward and sat down, wondering what he had in store for her this time. Already her body responded, begging for his touch, aching in places where he had denied her release up to now.

  “Open your legs.”

  Oh no.

  “Open. Nice and wide.”

  She took a gulp of air and did as she was told, her hands on her knees. His eyes darkened. Oh God, why can’t he just tie her up? It was so much easier when she had no control. She wanted him so much she thought she was going to die if he didn’t take her.

  “Touch yourself.”

  She looked at him in horror. “What?”

  “Touch yourself. Make yourself come for me.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t do that.”

  “Oh, but you will.”

  She felt her throat tighten. “Don’t make me do this. It won’t work. I promise you, I should know. Or do you want me to fake it?” she bit out.

  He shook his head slowly. “No faking. Never. But you’re at least going to put on a show.” His eyes cut a path over her. “Grip your nipple in one hand and pinch it.”

  “Please, Emilio...”

  “If you beg so nicely, I’m going to make you do things you’ll be too shy to remember in the morning. Let’s try again. Lick your fingers and pinch your nipple.”

  It was futile arguing with him. She sucked her fingers into her mouth and closed her eyes, remembering how he had tasted. Her hand moved hesitantly to her breast. She had never touched herself like this.

  “Harder.”

  When she did, she gasped. It felt so good. She was dying of need.

  “Now, touch yourself. Forget that I’m here. Put your head back and close your eyes.”

  She obeyed, hesitantly in the beginning, but as her body started reacting to the feel of her own hand, her movements became more rhythmic, urgent.

  Oh God. This wasn’t possible.

  “Slip a finger inside.”

  This time she complied without hesitation. She arched her hips forward, caressing her breasts while she desperately tried to still the yearning she felt in other places. She clasped her knees together in need.

  “Keep them spread. Your pussy is so beautiful. I want to watch you make yourself come.”

  She didn’t care that he was watching any longer. She was only aware of the sensation, and that she needed more.

  “Slip two fingers inside yourself.”

  She moaned as she followed his command, tossing her head to the side.

  “Emilio ... I can’t stand it.”

  “Press your palm down hard.”

  When she did, she hit the spot that could send her over the edge. She whimpered, breathing hard. She was aware of the sounds coming from her mouth but she couldn’t care. She was beyond reason.

  “Oh yes, baby. You’re so close.”

  She pinched harder, moved faster, felt herself contracting around her hand, clenching her ass and biting her lip as what she needed started building in her abdomen, a fire spreading to her loins, an eruption closing in around her until there was nothing but the feeling. Reluctant to let it go she kept on riding the wave, wanting so much more, but already feeling it ebb and even out to a tremble that left her shaking. She dropped her chin to her chest, panting as she struggled to regain her control. When she reopened her eyes, Emilio was knelt in front of her, between her legs. His eyes were smoldering, a dark sapphire blue.

  He pushed forward, grinding himself into her body. She gasped. His hands went to her hair, kneading his fingers through the long strands, pulling her head toward him. His lips brushed over hers, teasing, instead of the claiming she wanted, kissing a path over her jaw line.

  “Was that your first time, like this?” he breathed against her ear.

  “Yes.” Her voice was nothing more than a croak.

  “Do you know why I’ve made you come like this? That’s so you know how to get off, when you’re two thousand miles away, surrounded by other men. Because believe me, if I ever find out that I had to share you, I’ll kill whoever dared push his cock into your tight little pussy. I fuck exclusively,” he said with his mouth back against her lips. “You won’t do to me again what you did in Domfront. For a year I had to live with the knowledge that I was sharing you with my best friend, and I don’t share that way.”

  She trembled in his grip. He didn’t make any sense. “But I didn’t belong to you. I was engaged to be mated to Gene.”

  “That’s beside the point. When I had you, you promised me that I could have you again, and again. When you made that promise, you were mine.”

  He let go of her abruptly and got to his feet. She wanted to clasp her knees together again, but he was still standing between her legs, studying every inch of her body at his leisure. His jaw was tight, his muscles tense.

  She looked up at him. She could see he wanted her. And she needed more. “Do you want me to ... you know, repay the favor?”

  His gaze shifted. “You mean you would like for me to jack off so you can watch?”

  Her face turned scarlet. Oh, he was a devil in disguise. He knew very well what she meant.

  He grinned. “Don’t worry. We’ll get to that, too.” He trailed his hand over her breasts, down her tummy, and along the inside of her thighs. “But if I strip naked, I’m going to fuck you so hard you won’t know your name. You’re not ready for that, yet, baby. Not until you’re ready to be honest with yourself.” He pulled away. “For now, take a shower, and then come down for dinner.”

  She gaped at him as he turned for the door. Images of him stroking himself and riding her hard tortured her mind. She groaned as she rested her head in her hands. She had seriously bitten off more than she could chew, and now it was too late, because a dark, hungry need had opened inside of her, awakened a part of her she didn’t knew existed, and she couldn’t walk away, even if she wanted.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Instead of having that shower he said she should, Fraya decided a dip in the cold pool was more what she needed. She had never had a pool all to herself. After her release she felt more relaxed, but the yearning hadn’t abated. She stepped in front of the tall mirror in her bathroom and stared at her naked body in wonder. Never could she have imagined the pleasure Emilio had guided her to. The memory of his voice, coaxing her, fuelling her, had the need rekindled in an instant. Her craving was more than just a need to still a physical ache or to orgasm. She wanted him. She needed to feel his hands on her. She wanted him inside of her. He had succeeded in awaking a passion in her she didn’t know existed. The things she was learning about her body and her deep, dark desires left her flushed. Right now, she should be more concerned about Gene than her blossoming needs. Fraya pulled on her bikini and made her way to the pool. The packing could wait. What she needed now was the cool water to wash away her confused web of thoughts.

  * * * *

  Emilio pressed the earpiece of his mobile wrist pad to his ear and watched from his bedroom window as his mate pushed herself from the water to lie on her tummy at the side of the pool. The red bikini didn’t cover much of her body and he felt a surge of possessiveness flood his senses. He wanted to free the strings tied on her hips to reveal her white, tight little ass. He wanted to feel her push against him, as she had done last night in his study, and then he wanted to flip her over and fuck her to heaven and back, watching her arch into him as she came, this time, with him buried in her.

  Patrick’s voice pulled him back from his thoughts. It was hard to co
ncentrate on the conversation when where his mind was wandering left him painfully hard.

  “He still refuses to take our calls, Emilio.” Patrick sounded tired. “We got a text message saying he was traveling to Zone 44 next, on this damn journey of self-discovery.”

  Emilio pursed his lips. “Cambodia? At least we know he’s safe.”

  “I didn’t expect this ... this breakdown ... this crisis. Gene has never been rebellious.”

  “Then he doesn’t know about Fraya and me, yet?” Emilio asked tightly.

  “No. He doesn’t.”

  “Do me a favor. Let me be the one to tell him.”

  “It’s between you boys, now.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate your understanding.”

  “You’re like a son to us, too, Emilio. Gene and you ... you’re like brothers. I just hope this thing will work out alright for everyone.”

  “It will. Just let me know when you hear from him. I’m ... we’re worried too.”

  “Is Fraya alright?”

  “She’s fine.”

  Was she? He was pretty damn sure she didn’t love Gene. Not like she was supposed to. And Gene didn’t love her. Not in the way she needed to be loved. But he never would have tried to steal her when she was engaged to Gene. Not from his best friend. Fate had played well into his hands when Gene had decided to run away to India with Zita. He knew he had to tell Fraya about Zita. She had a right to know. Up till now he had been putting it off to save her the hurt, and more humiliation.

  He peered through the window again. He needed Fraya. Sometimes he worried that his needs were too much for her, too intense. But he had sensed since that first night in Zone 11 that she wanted him in the same way he craved. And with time, she would come to love him. First, he had to bind her to him, in ways that would ensure she would never want to leave. Then he’ll tell her about his feelings. For now, she still had to deal with what she believed she felt for Gene. She wasn’t ready to hear the truth about how he felt. Not yet.

  “Emilio?”

  “Yes Patrick?”

  “Promise me you’ll take care of that girl. She’s got no one else. And she’s had a hard life. She’s like a daughter to us.”

  “I know that,” he said, tearing his gaze away from her.

  “Good. We’ll be in touch. And let us know if you hear anything before we do.”

  “Sure. Don’t worry. Gene will take care of himself. He just wasn’t ready to face the truth. Fraya is like a sister to him. He mistook it for a different kind of love.”

  Patrick sighed. “I hope you’re right. And I hope you’re right about her.”

  “Have I ever been wrong?”

  “As long as you know what you’re doing.”

  Emilio heard the echo of his father’s words in Patrick’s and clenched his jaw. He had better know or his life was screwed. Fraya wasn’t someone he could walk away from.

  He hung up and paced the floor. Right now, he needed to go downstairs and pull her into his lap. He wanted her to take him, to satisfy the needs he knew tortured her. With much difficulty he forced a patience he didn’t know he had. Eventually, she would come to him. In time.

  * * * *

  Only when Fraya started shivering did she move to a lounge chair under the covered veranda and wrap a thick towel around her body. The minute she sat down, warm air from a vent in the ceiling started blowing her dry. Her eyes moved to his bedroom window above. Not even the cold water had managed to get him out of her head. A movement pulled her attention to the veranda doors. The man himself, the object of her torturous suffering, walked outside, his gaze fixed on her as he made his way around the pool.

  She squinted up at him and caught her breath. He was still dressed in his business suit, his hair pulled into a ponytail. A few strands had escaped, falling over his forehead. His eyes were as blue as the sky as he watched her with something like caution. His jaw was tainted with dark stubble, the seductive line of his lips now looking tense. It was a sin to be so darkly handsome.

  “I spoke to Patrick,” he said.

  Oh. That was a bucket of ice water on her thoughts.

  She sat up in the chair. “Any news?”

  She had left five messages for Gene. She was going to call his parents later tonight. She couldn’t help but worry.

  “Gene is planning on traveling to Zone 44.”

  “Cambodia? Why?”

  “That’s all Patrick knows.”

  “Patrick spoke to him?”

  “No one has. Apparently Gene is not ready to be spoken to. He sent Patrick a text message about his plans. Said he was on some self-discovery journey.”

  Fraya clenched her jaw. He should have done his self-discovery before he stood her up. Then she wouldn’t have been Mr. Hunk’s sex slave. Ooh. That thought made the blood gush to her breasts and... She swallowed.

  “Well, I’m glad he’s safe,” she said.

  Emilio stared at her with something she couldn’t place. Pity? Concern?

  She swung her legs from the chair. “What are you not telling me?”

  The line of his mouth became thin. She watched those lips open, hesitate, and finally he said, “He’s not alone.”

  She wasn’t sure why she went cold, but she did. Not again. She shook her head but she already knew.

  “Of course not,” she said, her voice sounding brittle to her own ears. “He’s with Terry and Bruce.”

  “And Zita.”

  There it was. The truth again. She could only stare at Emilio. Should she have been angry? Sad? Devastated? All she felt was humiliation. Not that it mattered now. Not that she was in any position to judge. She willingly mated a man who admitted he only wanted her for sex.

  “I see,” is all she finally managed.

  He opened his mouth again, but a call from the door hijacked his words.

  “There you both are!” Ana waved happily, treading carefully on high heels around the edge of the pool.

  She kissed Emilio and hugged Fraya. “I dropped in for dinner. Wanted to see more of my new sister.” She took the chair next to Fraya and took Fraya’s hand, squeezing it affectionately.

  Fraya awkwardly held her hand in place.

  She thought she saw a smile in Emilio’s eyes as he said, “I’ll get you girls a drink, and give you some time for your girls’ talk.”

  “Good idea,” Ana said, shooing her cousin away.

  Fraya shot Emilio a pleading look, but he either didn’t get it, or enjoyed punishing her, because he turned on his heel and disappeared into the house.

  Ana pulled her shoulders up to her chin and giggled. “So, how is he?”

  “How is who?”

  “Emilio.”

  “You just saw him yourself.”

  “How is he in bed, silly?”

  Fraya pulled her hand away. “Ana!”

  “Oh, come on.” Ana rolled her eyes. “We’re family.”

  “I can’t believe you asked me that.”

  “I don’t expect you to talk out of the bedroom.” Ana waved her hand. “I was just meaning in general. Unless you wanted to give me the juicy details.”

  Despite herself, Fraya laughed. “You’re impossible!”

  “I just wanted to know if he’s as kinky as everyone says.”

  Fraya felt her heartbeat slow to a lull. “Everyone?”

  “Well, not everyone. One or two, maybe.”

  “You know Emilio’s ... ex-girlfriends?”

  “Of course not. Not all of them. Emilio never introduced us to any of his lovers. But he once dated a friend of my best friend. Suzanne, I think her name was. And I just wanted to know if you’re ... impressed.” Ana raised her brow suggestively.

  “What did Suzanne say?”

  Ana inched closer. “She said she was a bit frightened of him. Said he wanted to do stuff with her that she could never imagine doing.”

  Now Fraya’s heart was in a vice. Stupid girl, she reprimanded herself. Did she really believe she was different, special, the
only one he treated to wild sex?

  “Like what?” Fraya asked, forcing her voice to sound normal.

  Ana made big eyes. “She said he could do that several times in a row and...”

  Ana actually had the decency to blush.

  “And what?” Fraya prompted, already feeling bad for prying, but she couldn’t help herself.

  “And he gave her an erotic whipping while taking her up the ass.”

  “Ana! You shouldn’t be listening to talk like that about your cousin. Besides, some people consent to different things during lovemaking.”

  “But it wasn’t just that. He did it while another woman used a vibrator on her.”

  “A threesome?” Fraya said, breathless.

  “Exactly. I guess my cousin is a lot more adventurous than we imagined.”

  Fraya felt her heart come to a complete stop now. It was like a dagger in her heart. Knowing she was no match for him. It was something she had never considered. She wasn’t even sure she could go there.

  “I guess.” Fraya said meekly.

  “And then he wanted to watch her and her girlfriend ... you know ... do it.”

  Fraya wasn’t sure she could listen to more. Yet, she had to ask.

  “And did she do it? I mean, did Suzanne do what he wanted?”

  Ana made a big ‘O’ with her mouth. “All of it.”

  “Oh.”

  “She said that’s why he left her.”

  “Because she did what he wanted?”

  “When he got what he wanted, he dumped her. She said she should have held back some.”

  “Oh.” Another painful question filtered into her mind. “How long ago was this?”

  “About a year ago.”

  “Has he had many girlfriends since then?”

  Ana shook her head. “None. So, are you into kinky stuff like that? I’ve never met anyone who’s had anything but vanilla sex, you know, except for Suzanne. And Emilio.”

  “Not that it’s any of your business, Ana, but it’s not like that with us.”

  “But is he really the animal women say he is?”