by Lauren Dane
Liesl glided to a stop at Raven’s side. “He believes I didn’t notice that. Now I’m going to have to think up something to make him do.”
“You move me to tears sometimes, Liesl. You’re like a total Jedi Master.”
Liesl tried not to smile but it didn’t work. “Yes. Well. Would you be willing to talk to me and my board of Created Families? About your experience in the foster care system?”
“I don’t know.”
“I know your experiences were not all good. But it’s good to hear from someone who has a unique perspective. We want to make things better. We’d like to know how. Jonah didn’t tell me much, if that’s your concern. He’s honored your privacy.”
Raven nodded. “I know. You did a good job with him, you know. He’s a good man. The best I’ve ever known.”
Liesl softened. “Thank you. I’m proud of the men my sons have become.” She paused. “I’d like to hear your story. If you’d like to tell it. I know I can be . . . difficult at times. But I’ve gotten to know Daisy, who is delightful. And I’d like the same opportunity with you. My son loves you. You’re good for him and for Carrie too.”
Raven laughed. “I’m not delightful.”
Liesl sniffed. “I’m aware.”
“All right. I’ll let you take me to lunch. I’ll tell you my story and you can decide whether or not you want me to address your charity board.”
Liesl smiled, victorious. As if there’d been any doubt. “I’ll be in touch. I hear you’re off to Maui next week.”
“Your son knows how to give a Christmas present. I’ll give him that.”
26
She sat on the chaise, a drink in one hand, her sunglasses perched on her face. The ocean roared just feet away from where he stood, watching her.
She was different on vacation. Different a thousand miles away from home and halfway across the ocean. Relaxed. Playful even. Her hair had been caught in two braids, exposing the beauty of the ink on her back.
She knew he was there, a smile on her face. “Would you like your drink freshened up, Sir?”
When it was just them she’d taken to calling him that. It made him so fucking hot and hard he wanted to bend her over and fuck her right there. It was a gift, freely given. He didn’t require it. Didn’t need it. It wasn’t role-play. It was the way she submitted, in her own fashion. In a way she knew would get to him.
He slid onto the chaise next to hers. “I would. Thank you.”
She got up, padding over to the bar he was doubly glad he’d had installed the year before. She mixed him a fresh Blue Hawaiian. Normally he was prone to simple drinks like martinis. But here? Well with the breeze and the clean salt smell on the air he let himself enjoy drinks that captured that sprit. And she was good at making them too.
She handed him a drink and sat again. “This house is pretty spectacular.”
“I know. I bought it on a whim. An expensive whim. Four years ago. After the divorce and I wanted something far away from home.”
“The real estate agent was hot, wasn’t she?”
He laughed. “It was a he, as it happened.” She was the only woman he’d ever had here other than Carrie.
“Hm.”
He wanted to ask her to marry him. But it was too soon. He wanted to ask her to move into his house. But it was too soon. It had only been four months since he’d first met her, after all. He knew, without a doubt, that she was meant to be his. That this woman beside him was the one he’d spend the rest of his days with.
And he knew she felt the same, though she wasn’t as generous with her words as she was with her deeds. In the end, that she showed him how much she loved him, what a gift she thought he was, meant far more than a million words.
She would let him know when she was ready to move in. When she was ready to stop relying on her place as her little bolt hole. He was an exceedingly patient man and she knew he was waiting.
“I was thinking of taking you to dinner tonight.”
“You were?”
“Yes. You know how much I like to show you off.”
And he did. Shamelessly so. She was so beautiful and vivid. And all his.
“There’s a place. Just up the road. Right on the water. A dance floor. I want to dance with you with the breeze in your hair and my hands on your bare skin. I brought a dress I think will be perfect.”
“I bet you did.” She smiled, her eyes closed behind her sunglasses.
He liked to buy her things. He liked to see the dresses and other clothing he chose on her skin. Liked to know she allowed him to spoil her. It wasn’t overly exorbitant. He knew she had limits and he didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable.
But he liked her in sexy clothing and she wore it all so well.
“Perhaps some shoes too.”
She laughed then, reaching out to tangle her fingers with his.
“I’m a kept woman, Sir. My goodness.”
He liked the fantasy of keeping her at home just for him. Waiting for him to get home, naked and willing. But the reality was nice too. Independent and creative. Bawdy and totally capable of pushing him back when he crossed lines. He’d never imagined finding that attractive. But oh, how he did.
Being at his side was her choice. One she made freely. Which made it all the sweeter.
She turned her head, pulling her glasses down her nose. “You’re trouble. You know that?”
“I hope so.”
“Dinner it is. But remember, you promised to try Hawaii my way too. I know just the place to have lunch tomorrow.”
“Anything for you.”
When he stepped from the shower he saw her note.
I’ll meet you at the restaurant—R
Well now.
He got dressed and headed out. She’d worn the dress he’d laid out for her, and the shoes. Things were looking up.
She must have taken a cab because his car was in the garage. Once there he headed inside, looking around. It was then he saw her at the bar.
Stunning. Her hair was a tousle around her face, held back with a flower to one side. The side that said she was taken. Her lips were glossy and red, eyes dramatic, lined to accent how big and sexy they were.
He walked around to catch sight of her from behind. Her entire back was exposed. The dress had a halter neck and dipped to the small of her back. She had her legs crossed, slowly kicking the delicate strapped high heel back and forth.
He wasn’t the only one staring.
He slid onto the seat next to hers. She gave a slow, sensual look his way. “Hello.”
“Hello.”
“You should buy me a drink.”
“Should I?”
“You should. Or he might.” She tipped her chin toward one of the men who’d been staring at her.
“Can’t have that.” He got the server’s attention. “Another for her and the same for me.”
She held a hand out. “I’m Raven.”
Oh. A game. Well.
He took her hand. “Jonah.”
Their drinks arrived and he clinked his against hers. “You should have dinner with me.”
“Should I?”
“You should.” He tipped his chin at a woman on the other side of the bar. “Or she might.”
Raven leaned in close enough for him to catch the scent of her skin. “I think she’s more my type than yours.”
Christ. She was going to kill him.
She put a hand on his knee. “I’d love to have dinner with you, Jonah.”
He checked in with the hostess and she led them to a table.
The view was gorgeous. The sky was on fire from sunset, but soon enough it would be the kind of dark it only got out in the middle of the ocean. The moon would hang overhead and shine silver on her skin.
They chatted as if they were strangers and he got harder and harder as the night drew on. He knew he’d have her in any way he wanted her. The real her.
This was fun and titillating, but the real Raven was special.
He took her hand after dessert had been cleared off and he’d watched her lick her spoon like she did his cock. He pressed a kiss to her palm. She shivered.
“I don’t want to dance with you.”
“You don’t? I’m a very good dancer, Jonah. I may be insulted.”
“I want to take you back to my house and strip you naked. I want to lick you from head to toe and then I want you to suck my cock. I’ll fuck you.”
“Naturally.”
“Naturally. And then we’ll nap. Then I’m going to wake you up and you’re going to get on top so I can watch you while I fuck you again.”
One corner of her mouth lifted. “I think I can find that amenable.”
He paid the bill and led her to the car.
He put a hand on her thigh as they drove. Making little circles with his middle finger just on the inside.
“Don’t get into an accident or you’ll never get to see me naked.”
He swore under his breath but kept his attention on the road. Just three or so miles more.
“Oh and Jonah?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m not wearing any underwear.”
Once he was in the garage he turned to her and inched her hem up, revealing her neatly trimmed pussy.
“Touch me.”
Heart pounding in his chest, he reached out with a fingertip and slid it along her labia.
“Wet.” He pressed, immediately greeted by hot, slick flesh. “All for me?”
“Yes. I had to go into the bathroom and make myself come.”
“You did?”
She licked her fingertips. “I did.”
“I don’t think I gave you permission to do that.”
One brow went up and he leaned in to kiss it, and then her fingertips.
“What did you think about?”
“The way your tongue feels on my clit, with your fingers inside me. The way you say my name right before you come. The way you feel when I want you so bad and you finally put your cock in me. My fingers are never as good as that.”
“Go in the house and get naked. I want you on the bed. You know how I like you.”
She swung those long legs from the car and sashayed into the house as he got his breath and control back.
Raven smiled as she let the dress slide from her body. She knew she’d gotten him all worked up. Which was good as she was worked up too. All evening as they’d teased she’d known they’d come back here. She wanted his hands on her. Wanted all of him all at once.
She decided to leave the shoes on as she settled on the bed, on her knees, her hands behind her back.
He came in some minutes later, standing in the doorway, staring.
He was going to make her work for this one, she knew by the look on his face. And that was totally okay with her.
He left the room again for a few minutes and came back, his hands full. She shivered at the sight of the things he held.
“You’ve gotten me in quite a state, Raven. What are you going to do to make that right?”
“Whatever you want me to, Sir.”
He cupped her throat around her choker, tipping her head back. He kissed her hard, a gnash of teeth and tongue. Need, like fire, licked at her skin. When he handled her like that it did something to her. Flipped an internal switch of some sort. That they’d built the sort of trust for him to touch her that way without fear he’d harm her or scare her, that he did touch her that way and only turn her on, it meant so much to her.
Made her want to do anything he asked. Anything he demanded.
He pulled back, his eyes burning, and a thrill slid through her. She made him like this. What they had wasn’t temporary. Or a fling. This was bone-deep connection. No one else had ever made her feel this way.
She’d stopped questioning it. Stopped letting herself panic over whether he was the real deal. He’d proved it to her every time he touched her. Every time he looked at her—even knowing all he did about her past—not with pity but with love. He adored her. No one had ever adored her before. It was not overrated.
“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
He bent and straightened, holding the blindfold. She hummed her pleasure and he allowed himself a smile. “Do you like this?”
“Yes.”
He tied it in place and her skin came to life.
He brushed something against her shoulder. She stilled, trying to figure out what it was.
“Something new I’ve been working on. Practicing so I’d use it just right.”
His voice was taut with desire and it hardened her nipples. She tried to squeeze her thighs together but it wasn’t nearly enough.
Then he struck. Hot and fast, tails of what she figured out was a flogger licked at her belly, just above her pussy. She gasped at how amazing it felt, the heat of pain that dissolved into fingers of desire in its wake.
He paused, she knew, to gauge whether her gasp was good or bad. After a few moments he did it again, this time against her ass.
“Hands high above your head. I want at that ass.”
She obeyed quickly. More and more, the leather tails of the flogger scorched heat and then pleasure against her ass, leaving her panting. He pinched her nipples. Right and left and then the flogger hit them too.
“Ohgod,” she gasped.
“You should see the color of your skin right now. Pink. The prettiest pink. Your nipples are so fucking hard. Do you like it when I use the flogger on them?”
“Yes,” she managed to say.
“Does it hurt?”
“Yes.” And this time it was a moan as he struck several times in quick succession. She was so fucking wet she ached with her need to come. “In a good way.”
“Jesus, you’re so hot.” She heard the flogger hit the mattress as he tossed it down. Then his mouth was on hers, taking her pleasure, feeding it back as he left her drunk with his taste. With how much he wanted her. With how much she affected him.
Then he kissed down her neck to her nipples, licking them until she writhed. Her hands still high because he hadn’t said she could move them.
“Please, please, please,” she begged.
“Please what?” He breathed the words against her mound, now on his knees. “I can smell your cunt. I know how much you want me.”
“I want you. I want your mouth on me. Please let me come.”
He parted her with his thumbs and sucked her clit between his lips. There was no slow buildup, just climax so hard it nearly hurt as it shot through her body. He didn’t stop. His fingers slid up inside as he continued to suck at her clit over and over, pushing her into another climax right on the heels of the first. Leaving her sensitive and raw.
He helped her to stand. “I’m going to walk you over to the chair where I’m going to sit. Then you’re going to get on your knees and I’m going to fuck that pretty mouth of yours until I come.”
She nodded, walking carefully as he guided her.
He let go of her, leaving her standing as he undressed. He was weak in the knees at how she looked. Her taste lived in his system, the feel of her skin on his fingertips. She stood there, waiting. Waiting for him to tell her what to do next. It nearly drowned him, how ridiculously alluring it was to see her that way.
He’d been careful with the flogger at first, waiting to see, wanting to be sure she was on board, but oh, how she was. Her scent hung in the air, she was so wet, and she nearly sobbed when she came all over his lips, shocking him with how fast it happened.
Once he was totally naked he pulled her close, hissing at how good it felt, her skin against his. His woman right there.
“On your knees.” One hand on her shoulder, the other holding her forearm, he sat as he helped her to her knees and onto the pillow he’d put down for her. “Now.” He pulled her hair, bringing her closer. Her mouth opened, seeking. He swallowed hard as she licked her lips.
Her hands were behind her back. “You can move your hands to my thighs to keep
your balance. I’m going to be fucking that gorgeous mouth, so you’ll need to brace yourself.”
She licked her lips again and he groaned.
She braced, moving closer on the pillow as she did.
First she kissed his knee. Then up one thigh and down the other.
He ran his fingers through her hair, wrapping it around his fist as he pulled her to his cock. “Now.”
The air gusted from her lips as she found his cock with her tongue, licking up the length of him. She grabbed him at the root and then in one movement she swallowed him deep.
“Christ,” he gasped.
She hummed her pleasure and all his control began to unravel. Each time she took him deep he needed her more until he flexed his hips, taking his pleasure from her, fucking into her mouth over and over.
The mask made it hotter. The way she seemed to love what he did to her made it hotter. This woman, so strong and bold on her knees as he fucked her face, as she gave herself over to him, was more than his heart could take. His balls crawled up close to his body. He was torn between the need to blow down that pretty throat and to fuck her cunt. Indecision left him a breath or two from climax.
He pulled her back and she was slow to rouse from that sleepy, desire-warm place he took her when he was this dominant. She found herself being picked up and unceremoniously brought down on his lap, his cock sliding into her hard and fast
She grabbed his shoulders, still blindfolded, his taste still on her tongue.
He was speaking to her, low and dark. Telling her how beautiful she was in raw terms. How hot and slick her cunt was. The dirtier he got, the more his control slipped and that GQ mask fell away and he went into a rut. It made her feel gloriously beautiful and desirable.
“You’re so fucking tight and slick, goddamn.” He nearly snarled it as he thrust so hard her tits bounced. She hung on, her nails digging into his shoulders. She was going to leave a mark and she didn’t give one single fuck. She owned him as surely as he owned her.
“I want to come inside you. Fill you up with me, mark you, gorgeous. I want to bite you.” He moved and his teeth sank into the side of her right breast. She cried out, her cunt rippling around him. God, she was going to come again.
