by Livia Grant
I licked him. He’s mine.
Jonah’s gravely growl in her ear told her how close he was to coming. His thrusts into her as he lifted and dropped her were becoming erratic just as the trio in front of them lost their choreographed rhythm when the men’s kiss turned almost brutal as they stilled, buried inside Emma’s mouth and pussy until she began to gag and sputter.
Jonah’s hard pinch on her clit came as he ordered her to, “Come for me!” Her core hugged his steel-hard rod deep inside her, tipping her into the strongest orgasm of her inexperienced sexual life. That she could feel Jonah’s warm spunk being spurt inside her enhanced her own pleasure. That she could see Chase and Jaxson’s final cum being shot onto their naked submissive excited her.
It took some time for them to catch their breath. She let her attention rake around the room to take in at least a half dozen other couples in the process of fucking each other in all kinds of perverted positions.
“You really aren’t freaking out?” Jonah sounded surprised.
She allowed herself to relax fully into his arms. Despite being on display to a room full of strangers, Sami knew in that moment she was exactly where she was supposed to be.
“Not even a little bit,” she replied truthfully. “But…” she shuddered remembering one of the sexual situations she’d observed as she’d scanned the room for Jonah upon her arrival. “Don’t you ever try to pee on me.”
Jonah’s hearty laugh in her ear was exactly what she needed to hear. “Got it.” He then added. “Congratulations, Sami. You just gave me your first hard limit.”
* * *
The next hour was a bit of a blur for Samantha. The adrenaline she’d mustered to chase after Jonah had been spent in their unconventional time at her first visit to a BDSM club. She remembered Jonah cradling her until she was almost asleep. His cock had softened inside her, eventually slipping out of her allowing the wet sticky mix of their combined orgasms to cover each of them.
Sam felt chilled for the few minutes Jonah left her alone, naked in the leather chair they’d been parked in for the show. He returned with a warm, wet cloth and had gently cleaned her and the chair of their cum before helping her dress. Unexpected tears pricked at her eyes at his tenderness. His attentiveness.
She’d forgotten how she’d loved the feeling of being wholly surrounded by Jonah’s larger-than-life persona. He’d always had a way of making her feel as if nothing could ever hurt her as long as he was there. It was why his desertion had nearly killed her. She’d not been prepared to go it alone.
Please God. I don’t want to lose him again.
He insisted on carrying her as they left. She didn’t fight him. He weaved them to the club exit through a different long, drafty tunnel she’d not seen when she arrived. She burrowed into his arms for warmth as they followed the head of security up narrow stairs and came out at the back of what looked like a psychic’s shop. The store was closed, but there were low-level lights on in the space lighting the way to the front door where another security guard waited for them, ready to open the door for their departure.
“Your limo is out on the curb, Mr. Carter. I took the liberty of directing them to take you to your hotel at the Four Seasons.”
“Good. Thanks.”
“Of course, sir. We’ll see you at your next visit.”
Jonah nodded to the men as she snuggled in closer, burying her face into the crook of his neck as the cold blast of wintery bluster whipped around them for the dozen feet they had to travel between the building and the held-open limo door.
She struggled to stay awake for the ten-minute drive through the city, not wanting Jonah to have to carry her through the lobby of the hotel. The silence in the small space was amicable between the lovers as they simply enjoyed the relief of being together.
The doorman who opened the door next to their seat in the hotel carport had to reach in and help steady her as she crawled from the back of the car.
“Welcome back, Mr. Carter.”
Of course everyone recognized the celebrity. Her Jonah was the world’s Cash. She’d almost forgotten, but the knowledge rushed her, waking her up as they stepped through the door being held open for them by another doorman.
She had no idea what time it was. It had to be after two and the lobby was thankfully empty save a housekeeper who was busy in the distance vacuuming. Jonah held her hand, pulling her closer as they waited for the elevator. It wasn’t until they were in the lift that they saw the grungy looking guy with a high-powered camera rushing towards them, his camera flashing bright just before the doors slid shut.
“Fuck. That guy has been dogging me since I got to town.”
“Is it like this everywhere you go?” She wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer to the question.
“Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon, no. You’ll get used to it.”
His words startled them both. She could tell when she glanced up at him he was thinking the same thing she was.
I hope I am around long enough to get used to it.
Jonah’s room was at the end of the long hallway on the top floor of the luxury hotel. By the time he found the keycard in his wallet and got the double French doors open, the ding of the elevator returning down the hall sounded the arrival of the persistent paparazzi.
“God dammit, this is ridiculous!”
Jonah pushed her through the open door just in the knick of time to get in and slam the door closed before they had an unwelcome visitor. Samantha stood stunned near the door while Jonah rushed to the bathroom and grabbed up towels, shoving them along the bottom of the door. He put on the deadbolt then and finally checked to make sure that the small hinged cover over the peep hole was closed.
He answered her unspoken question as he finally led her by the hand into the suite. “Assholes like that stop at nothing. They’ll put small cameras under the door jam or use cameras that can attach to the peep hole to take video.”
The opulent room was lit with soft lighting. He led her through the living space and into the massive bedroom where the king sized bed had been turned down, several chocolates left on the pillow. Only once he had her seated on the bed did Jonah go to the phone on the nightstand and dial zero.
He didn’t bother with salutations, launching directly into his rant. “This is Cash Carter. I need security to sweep my floor immediately. There’s an unauthorized reporter stalking me and I need him gone from the building.” He barely finished before hanging up.
As soon as one call ended, he dialed the next. She assumed it was room service when he launched into his order.
“I need a large pepperoni and mushroom pizza, a couple beers and a large glass of milk.”
Sam must have scrunched her face at the order of what she assumed was her drink. Jonah grinned into the phone. “Make that chocolate milk.”
He’d remembered. She pressed her luck. “Can you make it hot chocolate?”
He covered the phone receiver, “No, but I can order both for you.” To the phone he added, “and add on one hot chocolate with marshmallows.” How ridiculous was it that his remembering her love of marshmallows made her insanely happy?
“Now, I think we have just enough time for a hot shower before the food arrives.” Jonah grabbed up her hand, but she tried to stop him.
“Can’t that wait until tomorrow? I’m too tired. In fact, just the thought of eating pizza makes my tummy churn.”
“That’s too bad. You need to put on some weight. You’re too thin. Don’t think I’ve forgotten that not too long ago you passed out on your bathroom floor. You aren’t taking care of yourself, Samantha,” he chastised.
In some sick way, his lecture had her heart fluttering, in part because it meant he cared, but more so because she suspected how Jonah would deal with her lack of self-care in the future. She was pretty sure it might be the same way Jaxson had dealt with Emma’s own gaff earlier. It was insane that Sam’s ass tingled at the thought.
She was happy when her revela
tion went over Jonah’s head. He was too busy pulling her along behind him by the hand to the luxury bathroom. She hadn’t exaggerated how tired she was and when she dawdled at undressing, Jonah was there to help her shed her outfit, placing small kisses along her flesh as he peeled her clothes off.
He was naked in a flash, pulling her into the shower that was large enough for at least another couple. Hot water jutted out from three sides as well as above them, filling the glass enclosure with steam. Rather than actively showering, they merely fell into each other’s arms, still getting used to the fact that they were really together… in the same place… alone.
Sam was pretty sure she’d have toppled over if it wasn’t for Jonah’s strong arms holding her against him as water shot them from all sides and above. She closed her eyes, enjoying the pounding of his heart against her ear she had pressed to his chest.
Only when they could hear the pounding of the room service delivery person did they snap out of their trance. Jonah turned off the water and reached out to the shelf just outside the shower to grab up two oversized towels, taking the time to towel dry her and pull her along to sit in the chair near the whirlpool before throwing on a robe and handling the food delivery.
By the time he came back for her, she was falling asleep.
“Poor baby. We need to get you to bed.”
She didn’t argue, that was until he led her, wrapped only in her towel, to the dining table instead of the bed.
“I can’t eat. Save it for breakfast,” her words slurred.
“A few bites. And you need to drink more. You were dehydrated earlier.”
She opened her mouth to complain, but he shushed her easily with his finger to her lips. When she was quiet, he sat in the chair next to her and reached out to hold both her hands. The gold flecks shone in his intense eyes, looking serious. “We have a lot to talk about, baby, and I know you’re too tired now. But think back to the club tonight. Who was in charge?”
“You, but…”
“Me. Who was in charge back at your apartment?”
“You, but…”
“Me.” He hesitated before his next question. “Who was in charge when we were in high school?”
His question shocked her. This one was harder. It hadn’t been as obvious back then, but there was no denying the truth. “You, but…”
“I get it, Sam. You’ve been taking care of yourself, but here’s the thing. The cutting. The fact you no longer are prepared with your medication when you had an episode at the club Friday night. The fact that in spite of being dangerously thin, you didn’t eat or even drink for two days for Christ’s sake. The fact that you’ve been living in poverty to the point of hurting yourself. It’s all enough to tell me you need help, baby, and I’m applying for the job of your caretaker.”
The serious atmosphere lightened when he broke into his sexy grin, literally knocking the breath out of her. He was devastatingly perfect. She let his words seep into her heart, trying hard to believe that not only was Jonah really there, but he was sweeping her off her feet, saying the right things. Doing the right things.
God help me if he leaves me again. I will surely die.
As afraid as she was of getting hurt, submitting to his control felt as natural as breathing to Samantha. Without even really thinking about it, she let her relieved “Yes, sir” spill out.
The mega-watt smile he flashed at her acquiescence would have toppled her over had she been standing. Oblivious to the effect he was having on her, Jonah reached for a glass of water, insisting she start by downing at least half before she ate.
She wasn’t sure how long it took him to get the large slice of pizza down her, but he was patient, holding the food to her mouth when she’d refused to feed herself. It was absurd, but there was a part of her deep down that reveled in being babied by the man the world knew as Cash Carter.
By the time she’d drank half of the hot chocolate, her tummy was stuffed and her eyes barely stayed open. She snuggled into him when he scooped her up and carried her to the bed, placing her in the middle and pulling the towel away, leaving her naked until he pulled the covers up to her chin.
Samantha enjoyed the soft brush of his fingers across her cheek as he leaned in to kiss her. “Get some rest, baby. We’ll talk more in the morning.”
“Hmm-mm,” she mumbled.
She was almost asleep when fear gripped her, causing her to open her eyes in panic to search for him. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, just watching her sleep, a funny look on his face.
She blurted, “You promise you aren’t going to leave again, right?”
He swished her hair out of her face and smiled down at her. “There is nothing in this world that could convince me to leave this room. Not now. Not without you, Samantha.”
She let relief spread through her like warm butter, loving the sound of her name on his lips.
Chapter 11
Jonah awoke with a start. It had taken him forever to unwind enough to fall asleep. He’d seen four fifteen on the bedside alarm clock before he’d finally nodded off, exhausted. He’d spent over an hour just cradling a sleeping Samantha in his arms, rehashing every minute of their time together since the second he’d seen her in the crowd Friday night at Runway.
Had it really just been a few days ago? In some ways, it felt like they’d never been apart. The ease at which they’d fallen back into their intimate bond was nothing short of miraculous considering how he’d carried hatred of the Stones around like a fucking badge, wearing it where the world could see. He wove his hostility into the lyrics of his songs and into the decisions he made on everything from where he traveled to what he spent his money on.
As he’d lain awake, he’d tried to convince himself he could just let go of the loathing now that they’d found their way back to each other. Instead of making things better, he discovered his anger flaring hotter than ever before when he realized how the Stone men had not only fucked with him, but they had hurt Samantha in the process, and that was unacceptable to Jonah.
Now in the light of the new day, he recognized a new emotion closing in.
Guilt.
He should have known seven years ago that they’d lied to him. He should have trusted his gut that Samantha wouldn’t have walked away from him as easily as they had made him believe. In his immature insecurity, he’d allowed the powerful lawmen to not only destroy him, but to drive the very woman they claimed to be protecting to the point of cutting her own body. He didn’t understand the draw to cutting itself, but he sure as hell understood the seduction of self-destruction during times of despair.
Samantha had needed him, and he hadn’t been there for her. His failure was a kick to his balls.
He’d been wallowing in his own thoughts when the ding of an incoming text message sounded muffled from the heap of Samantha’s clothes on the floor next to her side of the bed. He rolled to see if she were awake to find himself alone.
Jonah shot from the bed in a panic. His brain told him she wouldn’t have left him, but their reunion was too new. His emotions were still fragile.
He ran naked out into the living room area first, finding it empty. He glanced towards the entry and was relieved to find the towels he’d layered in front of the door still there.
She hadn’t left the suite.
He took a calming breath and headed back through the bedroom towards the bathroom door. He hesitated, knocking softly, but didn’t wait for her reply. The sight that greeted him when he opened the door brought a grin to his face.
“Jonah! Get out! I didn’t say you could come in!” Samantha’s face burned beet red at being caught sitting on the side of the whirlpool tub, razor and shaving cream busy at removing hair from her legs and pussy.
“Hey, I’m missing the show. You should have woken me up.”
Sam grabbed a loofa from the top of a nearby basket of bathing supplies supplied by the hotel and threw it at his head. He caught it easily and threw it back at her. While she was
busy reflexively catching it, Jonah moved in closer to get a better vantage point to watch the exhibition in progress.
“You’re terrible. Can’t a girl get a bit of privacy around here?” she teased turning back to her job at hand.
“Nope. Your privacy days are over, my dear,” he countered as he took a seat in the same chair she’d sat in the night before. He had the perfect angle to watch the sexy sight.
What started as fun, soon turned dark as Sam’s scars were uncovered one razor swath at a time on her thighs.
His guilt returned. In that moment, he knew without a doubt that had he fought the Stone men harder seven years before, there would be no scars marring her perfect body.
Lost in his own thoughts as he stared at her body, he missed Sam’s sad look as she looked back at him. When he looked into her eyes, her words made him feel worse. “I’m sorry they’re so ugly.”
He was on his feet and sitting next to her on the ledge next to the whirlpool in a flash. He pulled her torso close, smearing shaving cream on himself as he made sure she was listening. “Nothing about you is ugly, Samantha, other than your bastard of a father and uncle. I should have been there. You wouldn’t have hurt yourself if I’d been stronger.”
Her eyes widened at his passionate words. He watched her struggle to know what to say before pressing him. “Tell me what they did, Jonah. I swear to you, I don’t understand. I need to know so I can process it.”
He agreed she did deserve to know, but, “Later.” When she opened her mouth to complain, he held a finger to her lips. “I promise, I’ll tell you, baby. But later. We have so many things to catch up on and I want to wait until you’re stronger.” When she looked like she wanted to argue with him, he added reluctantly, “Until we’re stronger.”
That she seemed to understand. He was relieved when after a few long seconds, she let it drop. “Fine, if you’re gonna stay, then you can help. I forgot to bring a wet washcloth with me and I was trying to avoid doing the whole bath thing. Can you get a warm cloth?”
