by Susanna Carr
His mouth was following a slow, meandering journey along her collarbone. Did he realize that his lazy touch was her anchor in a darkened world? She didn’t think she could take much more of this. Curling her fingers in his short hair, Katie was about to thrust her breast in his face when she felt Ryder give a decisive, almost savage yank of her sash.
Her wraparound dress billowed open. Katie sensed Ryder stepping away. Her dress flapped and it was almost as if she could feel his gaze. Her breasts felt full and heavy as her skin heated. A naughty thrill zipped through her veins before pooling in her hips. It was exciting being almost naked while he was still fully clothed. She was on display for his pleasure and she wanted him to take a good look. She was tempted to pose for him. Arch her spine, adjust her hip or thrust her breasts. But she didn’t move, unsure of his reaction. She really was beginning to hate the blindfold.
“It’s like unwrapping a present,” he said softly.
She bit her bottom lip as a wave of shyness swept through her. She was thrilled at the pleasure in his voice, but, damn, she wished she could see his face. Was he merely smiling, or did he look like he’d been run over by a truck?
Still, he didn’t touch her. Maybe she should thrust her breasts, but she was feeling a little vulnerable. Did he like what she was wearing underneath her dress? Could he see it? It wasn’t what the “old Katie” would have worn, but he didn’t need to know that. Let him think she always wore sheer, frothy lingerie that would make a man blush.
She hoped he was blushing. No, she hoped he was on his knees and thanking the stars for his incredible luck.
“Ryder?” She tilted her head to one side, listening intently, but the only thing she could hear was the fire.
Oh, my God. Had he left? She slowly moved her head as if she could scan the room, but the blindfold revealed nothing. She didn’t hear his breathing, but her heart was pounding loudly in her ears. “Ryder?”
He didn’t answer. She brought her hands to the blindfold and hesitated. Should she risk taking a peek?
CHAPTER SEVEN
Katie wavered, her fingertips clenching the blindfold. Did she really need to take it off? If she was completely honest, no, she didn’t. Not now. Deep down she knew that Ryder wouldn’t leave her. He wouldn’t do that. She was curious and vulnerable, but she wasn’t scared.
Wouldn’t she have heard Ryder leave? He must still be standing in front of her. She lowered her hands in front of her and her fingers collided with Ryder’s rock-hard chest.
“There you are,” Katie said softly with a smile of relief.
“I thought you were going to take off your blindfold.”
“You didn’t give me permission,” she answered primly, as she pressed her fingers into his chest, enjoying the warmth and strength of him.
“But you wanted to,” Ryder said.
“Because you didn’t answer,” she defended herself. “Why didn’t you? Were you testing me?”
“Yes,” he answered. “I wanted to see if you would take off your blindfold without permission.”
“No more tests,” Katie told him.
“No more tests,” Ryder agreed as he brushed a knuckle along her cheek. She frowned, almost certain that his hand was trembling.
Ryder let his hand drift down her throat until he reached the collar. He gently pushed her dress off her shoulders and it fell from her and landed softly at her feet.
Katie clenched her hands at her sides, but she didn’t move. She tried to imagine how she must look. She hoped her appearance was sexy instead of out of place, standing in front of the Christmas tree wearing nothing but a pair of black heels, a teeny pair of panties, a demi-cup bra and a blindfold.
“You are so beautiful,” Ryder said in a hushed breath.
“Thank you,” Katie shyly replied as the adrenaline rushed through her veins. She reached for him. “Now it’s your turn.”
He caught her hands. “No, not yet.”
“But . . .” Wasn’t he eager to get naked with her?
“I’m in charge,” he reminded her. “And you don’t get to touch me yet.”
She didn’t like the sound of that. “Why not?”
“You have to earn it.”
Who did Ryder think he was?
“I’m your master,” he said with supreme confidence.
Had she said that out loud? “I didn’t agree to that.”
“You will by the end of tonight.” His husky voice was full of promise.
Oh, she really hoped he would try to make that bold statement a reality. He wasn’t going to succeed, but finding out how he would try to convince her would be fun. “You haven’t done anything that would make me agree,” she taunted.
She felt his large, callused hand on her collarbone. He slid a finger under her bra strap and pushed it over her shoulder. Katie couldn’t see it, but she felt her bra falling from the curve of her breast. Could he see her light pink nipple puckering, waiting for his touch? Katie tried to calm her short, choppy breath as Ryder trailed his fingertips down the slope of her breast.
He didn’t delve into the demi cup like she had expected. Instead he traced the luxurious edge of her bra. His touch was light and teasing, part on the lace, part on her hot skin. Katie swallowed back a moan, her body shivering with anticipation as her nipples stung for attention.
She heard Ryder’s knowing chuckle. She really wished she could see his face. “Stop teasing me,” she said with a smile.
“Why? You teased me all these years.”
So he knew. Her skin flushed from the knowledge. She hadn’t been as clever or as sneaky as she thought.
Ryder covered the front closure of her bra with his large hand. She felt the expert flick of his fingers, and suddenly her bra was undone. She held her breath as he peeled the lace and silk away from her curves. She didn’t exhale until the straps fell from her arms.
Katie took a step forward, wanting to share his body heat, enjoy the contrast of her soft curves against his hard chest. She didn’t get very far. Ryder held her upper arms, preventing her from moving.
He said nothing, but she sensed his hot gaze on her breasts. Her nipples were hard tips and she was desperate for him to touch them with his hands and mouth. She wanted to feel the edges of his teeth and the rasp of his tongue.
Why was he just looking? What was holding him back? Her self-confidence took a little dip. She needed to regain some control, and she would play nice if that was required. “May I take off my blindfold?”
“No.”
She tried not to pout. “I asked nicely.”
“You could ask with your mouth around my cock, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to get your way.”
She pursed her lips with frustration before saying, “At this rate, I’m not going to get anywhere near your cock.”
“Is that a complaint?” he asked, and she heard a thread of amusement in his voice.
Whether or not he was amused, Katie knew it was not a good move to criticize a guy when you were half-naked and blindfolded. “Take it any way you want.”
“Oh, I will,” Ryder said, his voice dropped low. “I’ll take you any and every way I want.”
If Ryder meant it as a sensual threat and hoped she would call this whole thing off, then he wouldn’t get the response he was looking for. She wobbled, her knees caving at the dark, delicious promise. She would have tumbled back into the Christmas tree if Ryder hadn’t taken her into his arms.
She felt warm and protected as he gathered her close. His jeans were rough against her bare legs and his belt buckle rested on her stomach. But all she was aware of was his thick and hard cock pressing against her. Her core was slick and hot as she anticipated Ryder driving deep inside her.
Ryder walked her away from the Christmas tree. As the heat of the fireplace receded, Katie knew they were moving toward the doorway. He was heading for the bedroom. She wiggled impatiently, not sure she could wait that long.
Katie flinched when she felt the solid wal
l against her spine. She frowned with confusion. Had he missed the doorway? How was that possible? She was the one wearing the blindfold.
Ryder didn’t guide her away from the wall. She felt him leaning into her, his hands gripping the edge of her panties. “Where—where are you taking me?” she asked.
“I’m going to take you right here,” he whispered in her ear.
Their first time would be against a wall. The idea, the possibilities, uncovered the primal side of her. She didn’t want anything fancy or all the seductive trappings. She wanted Ryder to take her like she was in heat. It was the only way to quiet the sexual excitement and hunger that gnawed at her.
He cupped her sex. The move was bold and possessive. Katie bucked against his hand, silently asking for more. But he did the opposite and removed his hand. She growled in the back of her throat, only to feel his fingers curl along the lace band of her panties. Ryder shoved the fragile fabric down her hips and stripped them off her legs.
Her shoes came off with a clatter. She was now totally stripped. Nothing shielded her from his eyes but the blindfold. She was hot and eager for more.
He clasped her breasts with his hands, his fingers splayed and digging into her flesh. That was her first indication that he didn’t want to—couldn’t—go slow anymore. He rubbed his rough palms against her hard nipples. She felt the circular motion deep inside her and twitched her hips to alleviate the growing need. Katie gave a low groan of pleasure and almost grabbed for him, but stopped herself in the nick of time.
Ryder played with her breasts, squeezing and molding her flesh. She felt his warm breath gust over her nipple before he took it in his mouth. He pulled hard and a fierce cry of rapture escaped from Katie before she could stop it.
As he licked and nibbled, she realized her hands were tangled in Ryder’s hair, guiding him closer. She dropped her hands and flattened them on the wall before he stopped everything, but something didn’t feel right. She needed to take action.
If she couldn’t touch him, she would touch herself. She cupped her breasts and offered them to Ryder. In her mind’s eye, she looked shameless and inviting as she presented the wet and rosy peaks to his mouth. It didn’t matter that he could take whatever he wanted. She was offering herself to him.
Katie heard him mutter something low and raw. She felt the violent shaking of his body before he plunged his mouth onto one of her breasts, taking all she had to offer. His stubble scratched her skin, his teeth scoring her nipple. Katie loved it. This was what she wanted, she thought as she felt the bruising grip of his fingers on her hips. Ryder, rough and almost out of control. She wished she could see it.
“Do you want to take off my blindfold?” she asked.
His fingers stilled on her waist. “Not yet,” he answered in a rough and unsteady voice.
Katie gritted her teeth with frustration. As much as she enjoyed having his full attention, and all the focus on pleasing her, she wanted to watch Ryder. She needed to see the pleasure and desire in his eyes.
She jerked when she felt Ryder’s mouth against her stomach and inhaled sharply as he kissed a trail down to her navel. The breath hissed through her teeth when Ryder flicked his tongue along the indentation, but the air stilled in her lungs when he placed his hand over her sex.
The gesture was blatantly possessive, and just as effective as if he had shouted “Mine” for the world to hear. And who was she to disagree? Katie wondered as he stroked her.
She felt Ryder stand up to his full height while seeking her clit with his hand. She didn’t expect him to claim her mouth with his, but he thrust his tongue past her lips. Katie immediately surrendered. She widened her legs, wanting him to explore while he continued to rub her clit.
Katie moaned against Ryder’s mouth. Pleasure, hot and intense, swirled and twisted inside her. It sparkled and flickered under her skin before blooming into a heavy pressure that wanted to burst through and spring wildly free.
The climax took her by surprise and she lurched forward as she gave a very primal grunt. She never came that quickly. Katie shuddered, riding out the sensations, her muscles clenching as the ecstasy rolled and crashed inside her.
Ryder held her up, supporting her with his hand on her waist. His shoulder pinned hers to the wall. She appreciated his strength more than ever. She would have melted into a puddle on the floor otherwise.
Ryder didn’t stop stroking her clit. She shifted her hips, his delicate touch almost too much to bear. She bit her bottom lip, trying not to say or do anything uncivilized, when he slid his fingertips along the wet slit. Katie couldn’t smother the moan once he sank his finger inside her.
Her flesh gripped him hungrily and drew him deeper. She heard Ryder’s murmur of satisfaction before he pumped her faster. Katie arched against him, wanting so much more.
She was breathing hard, her nails scraping the wall, as he set a fast, unpredictable pace. Katie couldn’t refrain from widening her legs even more. She never knew when to expect a shallow thrust or a deep plunge. Her groans and guttural cries echoed in the room. Fragmented words spilled from her mouth as she rode his hand.
When he inserted another finger, Katie rolled her head back and slowly stretched her legs. She wanted the exquisite pleasure to stream and heat her from the inside out. She gasped as he curled his fingers, moving them in a come-hither gesture. Even in her fuzzy mind, she knew he was seeking her elusive G-spot.
She couldn’t take much more of this. She felt like she was going to explode. Shatter into a million pieces so there would be no way to put her back together whole. Katie wanted to see Ryder’s face. Was he ready to die of pleasure, too?
Katie reached for her blindfold and pushed it up and over her head. She blinked her eyes open, stunned to see his face so close to hers. Ryder’s features were harsh and rigid, but even in the shadowy room with the twinkling Christmas lights behind him, she could see his eyes glittering with desire.
The intimacy was too much for Katie. She almost looked away, but there was something about the way Ryder held her gaze that made her keep her eyes on his. She didn’t feel the need to speak, to touch him, as long as she could see his face.
Her panting breath sounded harsh to her ears as he continued to tap her G-spot. The pleasure was so extreme that it was almost painful. And yet she wanted more. She wanted everything Ryder could give her.
Katie hooked her leg over his hip and his fingers sank in deeper. She pressed her lips together, feeling incredibly emotional as tears welled up in her eyes. If Ryder saw the sheen of tears, he didn’t comment as he gave a wicked curl to his fingers.
He glided his other hand down her breast and pinched her nipple hard. Katie gasped as the hot sensations forked through her veins before pooling in her hips. Ryder let his hand slide down to her thigh. He rubbed her leg hard, obviously enjoying the smooth, silky skin as he pumped his fingers inside her.
Ryder continued to explore the length of her leg, then ran his hand over the curve of her hip before cupping her ass. When he gave her buttocks an unrelenting squeeze, it added to her heightened pleasure. She was so close to coming again. If only he would give his full attention to her clit while he filled her with his hand.
But he didn’t, even though he must have known that was what she wanted. Instead he ran his finger along the cleft of her buttocks. Katie’s eyes widened, surprised by his audacity, while at the same time delighted by his naughty move.
No man had ever done that to her before. And when Ryder pressed his finger hard against her rosebud, it was like a trigger. Her hips vaulted and she ground against his cock as the swift, savage climax took over. She stared at Ryder, his eyes her only anchor as she shook and trembled.
Ryder gathered her in his arms when she went limp. With the wall behind her and Ryder in front, there was no chance of her falling. She yielded to the explosive sensations until her body quieted.
Katie continued to stare silently at Ryder. If she responded like this to his mere touch, she couldn’t w
ait for the moment when he would tumble into her bed. Her hand was still a little shaky as she flattened it against his chest. She was pleased to feel the thunderous beat of his heart, knowing that it matched her own.
Katie let her hand drift down to Ryder’s lean waist and she tugged at his shirt. Ryder held her hand still. “No.”
“No?” Maybe she hadn’t heard him correctly. Her heart was pounding hard in her ears. “Don’t you think you’re overdressed?”
He shook his head. “You took off your blindfold.”
Oh, yeah. He noticed that. “It . . . fell?”
A wry smile pulled at his mouth. “You pushed it off.”
She wouldn’t be able to talk her way out of that. “So?”
