by Nikki Steele
“Looks like I win,” Jax observed with a wry smile. He turned to me and raised an eyebrow. “That last gutter ball was suspiciously bad luck.”
I shrugged, fighting down shivers on my arms and neck. My body had moved of its own accord—knowing what I truly wanted, even if my head was in denial. “So what will you do with me?” I asked.
He heard the anticipation in his voice, and smiled. “I have a few ideas,” he murmured. I felt his eyes travel over my body. Goosebumps sprang wherever he looked, as if by physical touch. Whatever the penalty for losing, it would be worth it.
* * *
“You want me to do what?” I gaped at him, and at the trench coat he was holding.
“You heard me,” he said. I had heard him, indeed; I also heard a change in the tone of his voice. He was still pleasant, but there was a decided undercurrent of assertiveness now too. I couldn’t help but respond to it, physically.
I took the coat in my hands and looked back up at him. “So I have to wear this? Just this?”
He nodded. “Just that… and your boots,” he added. As if that was some sort of consolation. “And together we’ll walk to the coffee stop just down the road, and we’ll order coffee, and we’ll walk through town before coming back here.”
“It’s freezing outside.”
He burst out laughing, throwing his head back. “I love it!” he chortled. “Most women would complain about being naked in public before they pointed out the temperature!”
I blushed. “Well, that goes without saying,” I said defensively. “But let’s be practical.”
He frowned slightly. “Fine. We’ll compromise. To the coffee shop and back, no walk through town. But!” He held up a finger. “We sit down and drink our coffee, no matter how crowded it is there. And that’s it. Those are my terms.”
Instead of answering verbally, my hands moved to the bottom of my tunic sweater. But then I hesitated, and moved outside the room, just beyond and to the side of the door. Now my sweater came off—I dropped it in the doorframe, grinning as I imagined his frustration at missing the show. The jeans came next, and I swear I heard an intake of breath as they dropped to the floor, too.
I didn’t hesitate unclipping my bra. The old me, the one before Jax, she would never have done this. But around him I could be a different person.
The bra dropped to the floor in a lacy pile, atop the denim. I heard a strangled cry, and bit my lip. It wasn’t that I could be a different person. I was a different person. Jax didn’t know the old me. Here, she was the stranger. I pushed moist panties down excited thighs. My leg appeared in the doorway, holding them at by a toe. I flexed, and they dropped too.
“Good god!” I heard Jax whisper.
I grinned, then appeared with trench coat wrapped around me. “Shall we go for a walk?” I asked.
* * *
“How do you feel?” he asked as we left his property and turned right, toward the town. He was fully clothed, of course, while I wore nothing but a pair of knee-high riding boots and a navy blue trench coat.
I realized my knees were knocking, and it wasn’t from the cold. My earlier bravado had gone with my first step outside the door. “Cold,” I replied, “and extremely exposed.”
“Now, now,” he said softly. “You don’t look exposed at all. In fact,” he growled, pinching my buttocks, “you look incredibly sexy.”
I slapped him away, some of my previous confidence returning. “Touching wasn’t part of the deal, remember?” I knew this was driving him crazy, and that knowledge had a strange effect on me; it was like the freedom I’d felt when I thought we wouldn’t see each other again. It was strangely liberating, knowing that I could do this to him.
The coffee shop was blessedly close; my nipples were hard as rocks by the time we’d arrived. We walked past a group of people as we approached, and I felt a little thrill knowing that I had a secret they weren’t aware of.
Jax slid an arm around my waist, and leaned toward me to whisper in my ear. “Sort of thrilling, isn’t it? Don’t tell me you’re not excited, knowing that luscious body is bare under your coat.” He let his hand slide over my butt again and gently squeezed it. This time I let him, with a wicked smile. I was excited. I had a fire between my legs keeping me warm.
The smile fell when we reached the shop’s door. There were dozens of people inside! I hesitated, but he took my elbow and led me inside. A coat rack stood just beyond the door. “Can I take your coat, m’lady?” he asked. I blushed furiously, and gave him my filthiest look.
As at O’Hoolihan’s, Jax seemed to know everyone. I felt conspicuous with my trench coat wrapped tightly around, like a spotlight had suddenly been placed upon me, but I forced myself to control my breathing and smile at those who introduced themselves.
“You’re a popular guy,” I murmured when we got in line for coffee.
“You make that sound like a bad thing.”
I shook my head. “Oh, no, not at all. But it must be hard sometimes; it would be for me, anyway. I guess I’m just an introvert.”
“An introvert wearing nothing under her coat,” he pointed out quietly. I blushed and looked the other way. Again I felt his hand brush against my backside, almost casually. I shivered – and not from the cold.
He ordered two lattes; choosing mine for me. “Um, sure. A latte sounds fine. Even at night,” I pointed out.
There was no apology in his face. “Maybe I want to be sure you’re wide awake, for your next lesson,” he said. The smoldering in his eyes made my knees weak. He leaned in. “Because if you think I’m finished with you, you’re sadly mistaken,” he whispered. It was all I could do to keep from moaning audibly.
My next lesson. I shivered. This was where I should say no. This was where I should say things had gone far enough, and were spiraling out of control, and we shouldn’t sleep together, not again. But I couldn’t. I tried to open my mouth and say the words, but my body wouldn’t let me. It knew how good those lessons were. My brain might say different, but my body wanted more.
Maybe nothing will happen when we get back to the mansion. Maybe I can say something then. It was a flimsy excuse, but I stuck to it. Because it gave me more time now.
Just as he had at the bar, he was able to find us a table despite the high volume of customers. The first time I’d wondered, of course, at how he’d managed it. Now I knew it was out of respect. I arranged my coat carefully when I sat, which wasn’t lost on Jax. “Comfy?” he asked. I gave him a sarcastic smile back.
“How does it feel?” he asked quietly. His eyes cast about the room, taking in the crowds around us. “All these people around you, and none of them know your secret. None of them know that only a few buttons stand between them and your naked body.” I felt my heartbeat quicken.
“I wonder…” he continued. “How well are those buttons sewn on?”
My eyes widened. I looked down.
“I mean, there’s a chance they could be loose. I haven’t worn that coat in forever; I don’t remember. Wouldn’t it be something if one of them popped open?”
I searched for the truth in his eyes; there was a mixture of laughter and danger there. “I swear, Stephen…”
“What? What do you swear? What would happen if one of the buttons fell off and everybody here got a look at those gorgeous breasts?”
I gulped, and took a sip of my coffee. My mouth had suddenly gone dry.
But the tigress took over. Because two could play at this game. “What if they got a look?” I asked. “Would you be jealous?” I toyed with one of the buttons. “I mean, something that was all for you… now everybody would be able to see.”
His eyes grew slightly wider. “You mean that? They’re all for me?”
I had him. I nodded, and leaned forward slightly. My hand ran up his leg. “Of course I do. And not just them.” I reached the growing bulge in his pants and squeezed it, gently, under the table. “All of me. I’m all yours.”
He bit his lip and covered my ha
nd with his own. He looked around, but not a single pair of eyes was paying us any attention. “We need to get out of here. Now.”
I giggled and released him. “You sure about that?” I asked, sipping my coffee. “With everything you, ahem, have going on right now?” I glanced down toward where my hand had just been.
He made a disappointed noise. “Maybe… we should talk about other things til I… calm down.”
I smiled, feeling smug.
“So, let’s talk about you. Very seriously,” he said, folding his hands on the table. “Remind me why you’re not cooking professionally?”
I felt my smile fade, and my eyes focused on my coffee cup. “I told you why. My sister needs me.”
“How long will she need you?” he asked. I shrugged, having no idea.
“You’re a great cook; more than that, you enjoy doing it. I loved watching you even more than I enjoyed eating your food. And believe me, I really enjoyed dinner. And that croissant?” He rolled his eyes and moaned. I had to smile.
But then he was serious again. “I just hate to see you putting everything on hold, indefinitely, when you could be doing something you really love.”
I decided to share my protein ball idea with him. “I thought that maybe, since there’s been an interest without my even trying to spread the word, it might be a good idea to make a batch.”
He leaned back in his chair, grinning. “That’s a great idea! See, there’s thinking for yourself. You need to do more of that. And this is what I mean when I say cooking is what you’re meant to do—you can’t even avoid it if you try. You’re gifted.”
I felt yet another blush reddening my cheeks. I wanted to leave all of a sudden, too. I needed to take this coat off. With him.
Chapter 6
Snow was beginning to fall as we walked up the driveway to Jax’s mansion. “Good timing,” he announced. “The fire in the library will be perfect.”
He took me by the hand, holding the door and then following behind. The library was ahead and to the left—I found it by following the warm flicker and loud crackle of burning logs.
My eyes boggled when I entered; all four walls were lined with books from floor to ceiling. I could easily spend weeks, if not years, happily cocooned here. There was even a wheeled ladder leaning against each set of shelves.
“Wow,” I breathed. “Ever since I first saw Beauty and the Beast, I’ve wanted a library so big it needed a ladder on wheels.” I wonder would he push me along the wall while I sang? I decided against asking.
I turned toward Jax, standing on the other side of the room.
Coffee had been much more fun than I’d imagined; and I knew why he’d done it. It was awakening a side of me that hadn’t existed before meeting him. I knew I shouldn’t do this. I knew I shouldn’t be here. But suddenly, I also knew that my opportunity to change the course of tonight had slipped away a long, long time ago.
The moment I’d taken off those clothes in the doorway, I’d let the other side of me out. The tigress. She was with me right now, awakened by the walk and his whispers in my ear. It was time to stop feeling guilty, and start enjoying.
I began to walk slowly across the room toward him, swaying my hips from side to side seductively. As I walked, I untied the belt around my waist, then started unbuttoning the coat.
He swallowed, eyes glued to my body. By the time I reached him, I could see his erection straining against his clothes. It made me feel confident… and powerful.
“You’re better than any fantasy I could dream up,” he whispered. “Turn around.” I did as I was told and heard him murmur his approval. His fingers found my shoulders, then slid the coat off. I shivered in pleasure as it pooled at my feet, then felt his arms slide around my hips from behind. His body pressed into my back. His lips brushed across my neck.
“Are you ready for your next lesson?” His fingers glided lightly up my sides, then caressed the underside of my breasts. I nodded, barely daring to breathe.
“Do you remember what lesson number we were up to?”
I nodded again, too afraid to talk in case it came out in a squeak.
“I do too. I’ve thought of nothing else, these last two days.” His hands circled my breasts, gliding gently over them. “Lesson number one,” he murmured into my neck, “was relax and enjoy. Do you remember that lesson, in the hot tub?” I nodded, legs trembling at the memory.
“Lesson number two was,” Jax whispered, hands caressing my nipples, “your body can turn pain into pleasure quickly, in skilled hands.” He tweaked the nipples suddenly, sending lightning bolts through my body. I groaned in pleasure.
Now one of his hands began to travel down. “Lesson number three was, it’s much more fun if you let me be in control.” His hands moved between my legs. “You do want me to be in control, don’t you?”
My only answer was a moan, as his fingers brushed across me. It felt so good! Just the lightest of touches across my wet center; a contract of future pleasure, written by his fingers. Already my legs felt like buckling. His fingers became firmer, and I swayed as formless noise escaped my lips.
“Do you remember lesson four?” he asked. I think I nodded.
“Tell me,” he said, one set of fingers continuing to work my center as the others cupped my breasts.
“P.. pleasure zones,” I managed.
“Very good.” His lips began drifting up my neck, his hot breath tickling as he spoke. “There are many different pleasure zones in the body.” His tongue darted out to run the length of my earlobe, then he seized it between his lips. He bit down gently as, between my legs, one figure slid inside.
My body was wound so tight I almost collapsed—the sweet pain above; the intense pleasure below. His finger began to dip in and out as I stood before him, unable to do anything but clench my hands as I faced an empty room and he worked me harder and harder.
Another finger slipped inside. I could feel the heat building now, moving from my thighs to my head in a rush that was making me dizzy. I was his to control, and in that moment if he’d commanded me to walk back out into the snow completely naked, I’d have done it. His hands and lips upon me felt too good. The crescendo I could feel building inside, was coming on too fast.
He pinched a nipple. I cried out.
His fingers pushed deep inside at the same time as his thumb pressed just above. My breathing quickened, and then with a wham the orgasm hit me. Suddenly he was the only thing keeping me upright as I fell back against him, and contracted against those fingers over and over again.
When I was able to stand, I turned to kiss him savagely. “I want lesson five, now.” Lesson five was him. In me.
He shook his head, still fully clothed. “Not yet, though we’ll get to it. It’s time for a new lesson.”
He grinned as he saw my eyes widen. “You didn’t think there were just five lessons in the whole world, did you? We’re going to explore them all, one by one.”
I sucked in my breath.
He bent down to pick up the belt of the trench coat. Then he pushed me back, until my naked body was reclining against the sharply angled ladder. “It’s time for lesson number six,” he growled. Then he lifted both my arms above my head, fastening them to the ladder with the belt.
“What is this?” I asked, wide eyed.
“Lesson number six. A little restraint can go a long way.”
I swallowed, adrenaline spiking through my body. He’d tied me down. And now he could do whatever he wanted.
“The safe word is apple. If you say it, I’ll stop immediately.” His nails drifted lazily up my exposed skin. “But you’re not going to want to say it. Not after I get started.” They curled up around my neck, and then the back of my head.
Suddenly, he grabbed the hair at the base of my skull. He pulled it back firmly, exposing my neck. Staring up at the roof I felt hot breath and then his lips in the hollow of my shoulder, and broke out in shivers.
The hand let go as his mouth trailed down my body, k
issing my collarbone, then breasts, and then suckling at my nipples. The heat was back between my legs now, if it had ever left. I was aching for him to reach the end of the trail.
His lips moved lower, until they were at my thighs. I sighed with pleasure as his hand slid between them, parting them, and then groaned as his mouth replaced them. His tongue began to lap, delicately, like a tomcat enjoying cream.
I was back on that ocean of pleasure, sailing the high seas at his command. I could see him, if I looked down, that sexy mussed up hair above broad shoulders, his face buried between my thighs. The sight turned me on more than I’d thought possible. I shifted on the ladder, watching, and moaning.
Now I saw a hand snake up. There was nothing I could do about it. I could only observe. His lips remained where they were, but the hand… oh the hand climbed. It reached up past my stomach until it had grasped a breast. It began to knead it firmly. Then it found the nipple, and pinched.
I drew in my breath with a sharp hiss; there was pleasure in the wake of the pain.
I fought my bindings. I needed to touch him, to seize his head and pull it up for a kiss, or maybe push it down harder. But try as I might, I couldn’t break loose. I had to succumb to his tongue and his hands and his will.
Now the hand moved down again, moving below his flicking tongue. It began to push inside slowly. I nearly fainted, the thrill was so powerful. By the time it was fully inside, his tongue was flicking faster, and I was rocketing upward, closer and closer to the peak. I writhed as delicious sensation swept through me. He began to slide it in and out, moving faster and faster until it matched the speed of his tongue. The climax hit me like a speeding train.
I screamed out, wrists tight against my restraints, hips arching up to meet him. My breathing came in ragged gasps as I recovered. I was vaguely aware of him untying me, my hands reaching around his neck. He kissed me softly as the fog slowly blew away from my eyes.
He stepped away, hand moving to his belt. “Now it’s time for lesson number five,” he growled. His pants slid to the floor to reveal white Calvin Klein’s straining in his excitement.
