She allowed him to draw her to her feet and waited while he shrugged on his jacket. Thank goodness he’d adjusted and re-fastened his pants and belt.
“We’re going to have a little walk. We’ll see you up front at the end of the auction, hmm?” Travis didn’t wait for Leo or Ursa to answer. He tucked Vans against his side and led her out of the room.
Even though the auction was still in full swing, the rest of the house bustled with people. Adler employed a vast number of people, and they all seemed to know Travis. He stopped and introduced her as his girlfriend with more than friendliness warming his smile.
“Good work on that piece,” a man said to him, slapping Travis on the shoulder. He gave Vans a considering look before nodding his approval. “You are a very lucky woman, Vanderbilt. I look forward to seeing you again. Stop by before you two leave, all right? I’d like you to meet Elena.”
“Sure, Kent. Yes,” Vans said, feeling warmth in her cheeks. She remembered his name. Maybe because it was easy. Maybe because he seemed enthusiastic about meeting her. Whatever the reason, she was pleased the name had stuck, and she grinned at Travis in victory.
“You are going to win over all my friends, you know. We’ll never be able to avoid dinner parties. Are you good at throwing dinner parties, little brat?”
“I have no idea,” she admitted. “I’ll take classes. How’s that? Freshen up my finishing school degree or something.”
He stopped at a door and leaned against it, glancing down the enormous mahogany and marble hall where they stood. “I don’t want any of your edges dulled down, Vanderbilt,” he told her. “If we throw a party, it’s going to be uniquely our style. I am not exactly refined.” Reaching for the door, he gripped the handle and tested it. It sighed open, and he leaned over to glance inside.
“What are you doing? You’re going to get us in such trouble.”
He just smiled and pulled her into the room, turning on the light. “Just showing you the dining room. I was told they hung a new tapestry and I want to see it.”
She looked around the room. It was full of antique furnishings, and intricate old rugs covered the marble floor. She had to admit that the table stretching across the impressive dining hall did inspire awe. The china and crystal that had been set out for the dinner wasn’t what caught her attention, though—it was the image on the wall.
Hanging on the long wall near the table stretched a tapestry, filling the whole space. Someone had taken extraordinary effort while making this particular piece of artwork. It gleamed with a brilliance like gemstones in firelight. There was something otherworldly about it. Vans couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
An army of warriors armored with elaborate helmets and armed with swords stood around a woman on a black horse. She was dressed in armor as well—hers more formal than her men. A winged helm was tucked under her arm. On her raised fist perched a phoenix with wings spread. Her hair was the same color as the flaming bird, and her eyes burned with green fire.
Vans wanted to twist away and avoid the woman’s intense stare, but she forced herself to look at the stupid picture.
It was just artwork.
With a long, trembling sigh, she focused on the horsewoman. Wings were perched on her armored shoulders, made of flames and blood. Her head was tipped just slightly, gaze fixed on Vans. Determination tightened the jaw, and the expression said very clearly that she would burn down the world before anyone took her. And they would have to go through her army first.
Only when Vans forced herself to take in the details did she see the woman’s little secret smile. They—Vans and the tapestry woman—didn’t have to play on different sides.
In the hummingbird length of her attention span, several things happened with only the sort of speed her unfocused thoughts could perform.
Friend or foe? A woman’s calm voice demanded in the space of her mind.
Before Vans could form the thought, What. The. Fuck?
Friend, the voice decided, amusement replacing the edge. You must learn to focus your mind, sister. This will never do.
Sister? She didn’t have a fucking—
Sisterhood isn’t always blood, ally. You are beloved of the seeker. Interesting.
Vans had no response for that.
The seeker will stop his search. The old line ends. New lines begin.
Questions spilled freely around her mind.
Travis is this seeker?
What does he seek?
What line is fractured?
What are the new lines?
Be easy. You don’t have to know it all now. Work on your focus, little sister.
Wait, why wasn’t she telling the seeker? Directly?
I will not talk to agents of the adversary, sister. There was a definite, don’t-argue-with-me dismissal to the last comment.
Travis was talking to her.
More than that, he was standing behind her, his hands on her hips, his body flush to her back. Through his slacks and her beaded dress, his cock hardened where it pressed her ass.
“…here,” he growled into her ear, and she realized dimly that she’d completely lost most of what he’d said in the din of the other conversation.
Her thoughts spun and whirled. All those thoughts filled her at once.
She closed her eyes and focused on where his body pressed along her back and leaned into him, arching toward him. His heart pounded against her spine and into her ribs, where her own heart echoed back. With a growl, he kissed a line from her ear to her neck and sucked wetly on her shoulder.
“We’re going to get caught!” she warned.
“Only if you don’t keep quiet,” he purred, lavishing kisses over her shoulders to the nape of her neck. He pushed her curls away so he could nip there.
The sensation melted along her bones, sending ripples of aching pleasure through her that made her knees weak, and she sagged against him. His big hands supported her, one on her hip, the other sliding down in front of her, cupping her sex through the short dress. With a pleased growl, he sucked at the skin along her spine where they both knew it would leave a mark. A bruised bite mark hidden under her hair.
She cried out and he shushed her, smiling against her skin. “That’s no way to keep quiet, Vanderbilt. Should I fuck you against the tapestry, do you think?”
The very idea sent a bracing cold sensation right through her.
“N-no!” she blurted, looking around the room for a place they could play. Somewhere they wouldn’t blaspheme the tapestry in any way would be better. So much better!
At the far end of the room was a large alcove filled by a curved window. There, the moonlight spilled silver into the room. “There!” She turned her head and reached up to cup his face, imploring him with her eyes.
Please, not the fucking wall hanging.
His eyes were intense, and he obviously wanted some answer about the passionate rejection of his suggestion. She wasn’t sure how to explain it, or even if she should. Not now, at least. Now when her mind focused on the pleasure and the torment he might do to her.
“Is that so?” he growled, urging her forward, closer to the tapestry. For a moment, she thought he would force her. Her safe word tangled up on her tongue.
From behind he pressed her forward another step. She felt heat thrumming off the fabric like sunlight. She had no doubt that the carefully woven threads would burn her if she touched it. Her mind filled with images of hot needles piercing her. The woven weapons of the knights were ready to impale her and tear through her.
Momentarily, the fear overrode her reason and she braced, feet skidding. “Mushroom! Mushroom! Fuck!”
He stopped instantly and turned her to face him. The look of concern tightened his features as he searched her face. “It’s all right, precious baby. I’m sorry!”
“Oh fuck. Fuck. Fuck!” she breathed out, heart hammering.
He carefully guided her away, backing her toward the alcove. The terror faded into an embarrassing thrum
with each step out of harm’s way. She felt the heat of the female warrior’s eyes on her back until he pulled her into the alcove. The cool air whispered along her skin, making her sag against him. His fingers stroked along her hips and up her back.
”That was a first. Are you all right here? Do you feel safe?” He watched her, seeming to track the various changes on her expression before leaning in to kiss her.
She nodded, eyes closed, glad when her breath settled and her heartbeat calmed from the irrational panic. “I’m safe. I’m all right. This is better.”
“We don’t have to do this,” he whispered, drawing her head back, stroking his fingers over her in a soothing sweep of his hands.
It felt so much nicer there. The silvery light fell over them in this space overlooking the bay. The water shimmered with faint sparkles in the distance. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood up onto her tiptoes to kiss his lower lip. “No, it’s all right.” She felt stupid now for her response. “I am just being jealous. I don’t want that red-haired bitch to get any ideas.”
Travis looked dubious for a heartbeat before he grinned. Leaning in, he caught her lower lip, biting her with a low, possessive growl that silenced her teasing. He kissed her hard. It was one of those mouth-bruising kisses as he slid his hands up into her hair, and she thought she might break under the force of it.
She pressed up against him, thighs wrapping around his hips, twining around him. Her arms curled around his body, scraping over his shoulders and up his neck to knock off his hat and tease his short hair. He moaned into her mouth, his tongue darting forward, caressing her lips as she answered his moan with hers, straining toward him.
He pulled her head back by her hair and she stared up at him, mouth open, panting out his name and his title, “Travis. Sir!”
He arched toward her, rubbing his hard length against her ruthlessly. “I planned to get you in here and fuck you over the table, but now you can see the view when I claim you,” he whispered, sliding his hands down her ass, squeezing as he rocked his hips forward, grinding against her as the fabric slithered up, exposing her panties. His thumbs hooked into the sides, and his body pressed her into the window, chilling her back against the smooth glass.
She nodded and whimpered when he tightened his grip against the fabric, snapping the fragile lace. “I want to…to taste you,” she blurted and felt heat burn her cheeks. “Please!”
With a soft groan, his fingers loosened their grip against her and his eyes burned with a new azure fire. “I didn’t think you liked—”
“I haven’t ever tried with you,” she said, and touched her finger to his lips. “I really, really, want it, Sir.” She tipped her chin down and flashed him a look through her lashes.
He moaned, and she stretched up along his body so she could suck at his lower lip. With care, he set her back to her feet and she slid down his body, pressing her breasts along his chest and stomach, and then along the length of his cock through his pants. He held her panties in his fist, and when she looked up at him, he brought them to his face, breathing in the scent of her.
“Fuck, precious, you look so beautiful.” His cock thickened under her palm, and her excitement made her hands tremble. She felt desperate for him as she worked the belt open and unfastened and unzipped the slacks so she could nuzzle along his length through the boxers.
“Tell me you are mine,” she whispered as she hooked her thumbs into the waistband of his red boxers and pulled them down, slowly exposing the golden pubic hair, and then slipped both her hands in and wrapped them around his cock. He didn’t deny her or resist—didn’t tease her. Anyone could walk in at any moment and catch them. Her heart raced at the prospect of getting caught on her knees with his massive dick in her hands.
“Yours, Vanderbilt.” He said her name in a sexy snarl before sucking in a sharp breath when she slid the swollen cock head along her lips, applying the shine of pre-cum over her lips like gloss. “Fuck.” Spreading his legs wider, he looked down at her, sliding both hands through her hair.
The touch was not gentle. He handled her roughly, knowing she needed it. His grip pulled against her scalp with a delicious, painful throb. Pins fell, ringing softly against the marble floor, and she knew her hairstyle was ruined. Looking up his body, she felt her heart warm under the need that showed raw in his face, overriding his usual reserved control.
He bared his teeth at her as she licked along his length, but she could see the warning in his eyes—she was not to tease him too much. She could feel him beginning to coil her hair around his fist as he hissed out through his teeth while she bathed his balls with her tongue.
And she wanted him, too! She needed him!
When she opened her mouth, he guided her onto him, whispering a soft moan when her lips wrapped around the head and her tongue swirled around the tip. He thrust his hips forward, driving into her mouth and down her throat in a quick, graceful plunge before drawing back, then withdrawing from her lips.
“How daring are you feeling, brat?” His cock pulsed against her lips. “I want to…hurt you.” His voice shook with barely restrained desire.
She whimpered and her eyes rolled back. “Yes! Please, Sir! Please, yes!” she begged him, lapping at his cock when it came into range of her eager tongue. Her arms wrapped around his hips, her hands cupping his tight ass.
He gave her a moment longer to process his threat. She had several pounding heartbeats to take back her consent, but she craved his rough attention too badly. Many times, he’d teased her about slapping her, but never followed through, despite her begging. The delicious prickle of uncertainty tightened in her stomach; she could only hope he wouldn’t hold back this time. She thrilled at the building anticipation. Travis slowly untangled one hand from her hair and swung it back before bringing his open palm down against her cheek with a resounding smack.
She saw a flash of stars for a moment, yelping out a startled cry at the sharp strike. He stared down at her, pre-cum drooling onto her lips where he pushed his dick forward, smearing sweet cream up the cheek he’d struck.
“Fuck, baby.” His whole body shuddered, and the hand still in her hair gripped even harder.
“Yes!” she moaned, toes curling. A hot flush of warmth trickled down her thighs from her sex down to her knees. The sting from the slap was almost too erotic, the throb of pain attached directly to her swollen clit.
He cupped her burning jaw and pushed his cock forward, into her mouth and down her throat. And he fucked her. Fucked her fast and hard. Claiming her there as he had her sweet pussy their first night together. The slapping sound of his balls smacking her chin made a lewd echo ring through the empty dining room. Faster and harder, he took her, never taking his eyes off hers as his cock stretched her mouth, not quite giving her time to catch her breath between the pistoning of his cock between her lips and deep into her throat.
With a choked cry, he came, giving her no warning, not even stopping his thrusts as his cock swelled and bucked. As he came, his cum smeared around his length as it plunged into her repeatedly, thrusting fast and deep. She whimpered once and tried to swallow his flood of cream, but there was too much. He was too far gone in those almost-violent thrusts to allow her any chance to collect herself.
She felt his effort not to cry out with his release and sucked harder against him, rolling her tongue around him while cum dribbled down her chin and throat.
Strong hands pulled her to her feet, drawing her mouth off his cock, and he lifted her into his arms, cupping her ass in his hands. He coaxed her legs to wrap around him. “Hold on to me!” he ordered, voice broken.
As she obeyed his command, she felt him shift to withdraw the condom from a hidden pocket. His eyes never left her face as he tore open the wrapper. Smiling widely, his gaze trailed the devastation of her cummy mouth and chin. He moaned when she licked her messy lips. “You beautiful, sexy brat!”
He lowered her onto his cock the moment after he got the condom on. As he slid into her
, still aching hard, he kissed her despite his cum smeared on and inside her mouth. Somehow, that kiss was more desperate this way, his tongue as eager to have her lips as his cock had been!
Her pussy was dripping wet, coating her thighs with her passion and need after the nearly savage throat fucking. He felt harder than he had before he came. She moaned and came around him before he’d even slipped halfway into her.
Her cries of pleasure were muffled in his mouth as he shoved his cock fully into her, bouncing her hard onto his curved flesh. He answered her moans, squeezing her ass tighter, pressing her into the window with the force of his driving thrusts, the movements arching deeper as her orgasm tore through her.
His fingers gripped her ass hard enough to bruise and that only intensified her pleasure. The kiss broke, his head drawing back, eyes glazed and hungry as he slammed into her.
“Mine!” He snarled it low and huskily—a possessive growl. “I want nothing but you. This. Only this.” Every word underscored a harder thrust of his hips, a deeper plunge of his cock. His thumb swept over the red mark his hand had left on her cheek and his whole body shuddered with pleasure.
“Yes, Sir! Yes! Yes!” She tried to keep her voice low, struggled to whisper it, but the pleasure and the pain of his thrusts were almost too much. Her fingers raked over his back, clawing at his suit jacket as she shuddered against him. “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop!”
His eyes burned into her, and his lower lip quavered with a depth of emotion she’d never seen, caught between fractured control and this deeper desire.
“I love you,” he growled against her mouth, forcing his cock into her. His heavy balls slapped up against her wet, abused pussy, grinding in so hard she was afraid she might break rather than shatter into the orgasm.
His mouth consumed her cry as she came again at his words, joined by him the same dazzling instant. His cock swelled, throbbing in her in time with her squeezing, fluttering cunt. She writhed against him, savoring the cold window against her spine. He pushed her into the glass so hard she feared it might break. Right now she didn’t care!
Paying the Dragon's Price Page 3
