Fueled by Lust: Cato (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Celeste Prater

Two cups of cocoa and one hour later, Cato glanced to Luna. “Well, what’d you think?”

  She looked up at him and smiled. “I liked it. Even though it’s a TV show, it was accurate when showing that no matter where you’re from, everyone uses the exact same facial muscles to display emotion. I wish it was easier for me to see those little…what’d he call them?”

  “Microexpressions.”

  “Yeah. Those are the key since they can’t be faked. I guess if you spent enough time with someone, you could pick up on it. I tend to focus more on people’s eyes than trying to figure out if their cheek muscles flinched. Bryan had a microexpression that I learned very quickly. When he glanced down and to his left, he was about to lie to me. He looked left quite a bit.” She swiveled on the couch and faced him.

  “Have you lied to me, Cato?”

  Chapter 25

  Cato felt his stomach knot, yet he stared her directly in the eye. This was the moment of truth, or as much as he could tell. “No. I haven’t lied, but I’ve kept some truth from you. And before you get defensive on me, let me explain.” Luna nodded and her eyes widened.

  Cato swallowed and Luna pointed to his throat.

  “That means you’re nervous. This must be bad.”

  Rolling his eyes, Cato laughed. “I should’ve never let you watch that show.” Luna punched him on the arm and smiled.

  “Okay. Tell me. Why did you feel like you needed to hold back the truth?”

  “I didn’t want to scare you away before you got to know me. And no, I’m not married, don’t have a mistress, not wanted by the police, and I’m not in the mob. You were already petrified when you woke up and didn’t know who I was. After that attack, I can’t blame you one damn bit. I want to share my secret with you, but it scares the shit out of me that you’re going to bolt on me and I won’t find you next time.”

  Luna leaned forward and whispered. “Damn, Cato. You’re scaring me. This sounds serious. Are you dying?”

  “No, sweetness. I’m not dying. I don’t have any deadly diseases. It’s my background.” He reached down and clasped her hand. “I want you to meet two close friends of mine. Their names are Cassie and Lina. They’re going to love you, by the way. I want them here when I tell you. They are ma…married to my best friends. It’ll make more sense if they’re here.” Cato swiveled around on the couch to face her.

  “Sweetness. Have you ever had a secret that once revealed, it could possibly change everything that someone thinks about you and might even cause them to never want to be around you again? Unless you have, then you can’t understand why I’m so hesitant.” He was surprised by the tears that glittered in her eyes and clasped her hands to his chest.

  “Baby! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry. I should’ve never said anything until Cassie and Lina could be here. I’ve messed this up.”

  Luna shook her head and never moved her eyes away from his. “No, that’s not why I feel like crying. It’s because I know exactly how you feel. I have a secret buried so deep, that I finally had to write about it in my journal or I’d bust. It’s the main reason I freaked when I thought you’d read it. Bryan eviscerated me over it. He embarrassed me and I almost threw my journal away, but I couldn’t. I realized that it’s a part of me and I wasn’t going to let him take that from me, too.”

  Cato stroked her arm and nodded. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me. It’s yours to keep.” He was surprised when she shook her head and leaned closer.

  “No, you don’t understand. I want to tell you. If I share my deepest secret with you right now, will you tell me yours?”

  He swallowed hard and didn’t care that she thought him nervous. He was. Plain and simple. If he wanted to know more about this amazing woman and gain her trust, he’d have to get over his fear of losing her.

  “Yes. I’ll share mine as well.”

  * * * *

  Luna briefly closed her eyes and steeled herself. Now or never. If he laughed or got the same look in his eye that she’d seen in Bryan’s, she’d know where she stood and every moment from that point forward would be to learn how she could move on with her life and never think of him again. She stared into his thickly lashed, incredibly sexy eyes and spoke on a hushed whisper.

  “I want to be tied up when I have sex.” She tried not to blink so she wouldn’t lose a second of his expression. She was surprised when all she got were a quick raise of his eyebrows and an expectant gaze. His voice sounded a little gravely before he cleared it and tried again.

  “Okay. Go on.”

  It was her turn to swallow hard. “I’m not a doormat despite what Bryan tried to make me into. I don’t want to be beaten or abused. I just want to lose complete control in the bedroom. I’m not into pain and have no desire to go full tilt into the world of BDSM like being a sex slave, wear a collar, kneel in submissive poses, or experiment with wax play. And god help anyone that wants to pee on me. All they’d get is a swift kick in the nuts.”

  She jumped at Cato’s bark of laughter and smiled in relief when she realized it wasn’t directed at her exactly.

  “Ah, sweetness. That’s what I love about you. Even in the most serious of conversations, you can immediately make me comfortable. I have no desire to be peed on either.”

  She shared a mutual laugh with him and was thankful it untangled her nerves enough to continue. She stood up and was relieved when he let her. He sat back against the cushions, and she felt his eyes on her the whole time she paced back and forth in front of him. It had always been easier to talk if her hands were engaged with her words.

  “Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve had to be in control. I took care of my mother when she was dying of cancer. I missed a majority of the typical high school fun because she needed constant care. Don’t get me wrong. I loved my mother and would do the same thing again with no regrets. When she passed, I had to handle all the arrangements since we had no other family. I continued raising my brother and working multiple jobs to pay the bills. When he died, I was devastated and jumped right in with Bryan to fill this suddenly empty hole in my heart. Instead, I ended up having to care for him, too. I handled paying the bills, cooking, cleaning, and bringing in a paycheck. I don’t know if this is what drove me to want to give up control, but it’s the only thing that I can figure. I’ve read up on this and there’s been a lot of studies done, yet I can’t really find the box to check that says ‘hey, that’s me.’ It’s just this fantasy I’ve always had. I wrote about it extensively in my journal. I should let you read it. My dreams always have the same elements. I have my hands tied behind me or they’re attached to something. Sometimes I’m even blindfolded and I get this euphoric feeling that I can’t explain. I’m not sure if it’s a release of endorphins or—”

  “Luna. Look at me.”

  A long shiver rode up her spine and she froze where she stood. His voice had reached out and blanketed her like a silk net. It was husky and commanding and she immediately wanted to do whatever he asked. She wasn’t surprised when her clit throbbed as his voice filled the air again.

  “Turn around and look at me.”

  She slowly turned and instantly wanted to drop to her knees. Not as a submissive, but because he was so god damn sexy her legs were about to buckle. He still sat back against the couch cushions and one arm was casually propped up on a pillow. The other lay unmoving on his flat belly. His legs were splayed wide and she could see he had a massive erection pushing against his jeans. Despite the lure of what he displayed, it was his eyes that caught and held her.

  Those deep pools of cerulean blue were narrowed, not in anger, but in a hooded, sensual way. With one sweep of his gaze, she felt naked and exposed. When he unconsciously swiped his tongue along his chiseled lips, she began to tremble. All she could think was how anyone could be that damned good looking and not be an ass of the highest order. He would so get away with it if he were.

  Luna felt her breath catch and her heart lose a few beats as soon as he stood up. Even
the way he walked toward her screamed sexy, virile man, and she had no hope of escape. She tried to loosen her muscles and appear nonchalant, yet knew her body was in fight or flight mode. She discovered she had no desire to do either. He’d snared her and she was ready to be gobbled up. When he came abreast of her, all false bravado fled as the coward it was, and she dropped her gaze when heat flushed across her face.

  The situation was surreal. It was as if the air in the room was a living, breathing entity and was pressing her from all sides. She let loose a small gasp when his warm fingers grasped her chin and pulled her head up. She locked onto his eyes and couldn’t move. A maestro had control of his voice and mesmerized her with the sensual, rhythmic sound.

  “Have you wished for a man that would control your pleasure as he saw fit?”

  She nodded.

  “Have you dreamed of someone that could anticipate your needs from just a simple touch or a whispered cry?”

  She sighed softly and bobbed her head in agreement.

  “Could you trust someone enough to release your fears and set your pleasure free?”

  “Yes.” It was a plea and she didn’t give a shit if he knew it.

  He leaned down and whispered across her skin. “Tell me, Luna. Have you ever reached orgasm that wasn’t by your own hand?”

  She glanced away and answered honestly. “Only in my dreams.”

  “Look at me, Luna. What do you mean by that?”

  She brought her gaze back to his and steeled herself to be honest. This was not a time to lose her nerves. “I’ve always had to cause my own orgasms. I’ve only been with two men and it’s never happened for me. I gave up trying.” Luna closed her eyes and shivered as his fingers drifted along her jaw and traveled down her neck. The sensation stopped just above the pulse point on her throat. His breath brushed against her ear, and she was thankful he’d placed a hand on her back or she would’ve dropped to the floor.

  “Luna. You have to know that I feel something for you. I can’t give you the measure of it or you’d run from me. I can tell that you’re attracted to me and I’ll take that, for now. It’s in the way that you look at me and how your breath catches when I touch you. Can you trust me enough to explore this together? Can I be the man of your fantasies?”

  Luna moaned into his mouth when his lips captured hers. He sipped at her lips and took his time exploring. His tongue was warm and soft as it stroked languidly along hers. He was unhurried and talented. She twisted her fingers into his soft hair and wished he would press his body tight against hers, yet he kept his distance and focused strictly on the kiss. She drank in his scent and sucked gently on his tongue. Their bodies barely brushed against each other and he pulled back, causing her to moan in protest. He pulled her hands from his head and she felt him step away. She opened her eyes and saw his palm extended out to her. His voice was a drug.

  “Come with me, Luna. Let me be with you. I can show you how it is to be truly loved.

  She took his hand without the least bit of hesitation.

  * * * *

  Luna found herself standing in the very room where she’d first laid eyes on him. She marveled at the vast difference in her emotions from then to now. He’d led her through the door and left her standing in the darkness while he walked unhurriedly around the room and lit several candles. The flames threw a hazy golden glow against the shiny wood and reminded her of the day she sat at the fireplace and mused about this very thing.

  She lost her ability to think when he focused his gaze back on her and strolled across the large room until he was standing close enough for her to catch his scent. A bout of nerves struck her squarely in the stomach and triggered her instinct to prattle until something righted itself.

  “I’m nervous, Cato. I don’t know what to do. Am I supposed to call you master or something? I’ve read where ‘Sir’ is acceptable. Should I be silent or do you want me to talk? Crap. I’m talking too much already, aren’t I?” She was comforted when a small smile crossed his face. He reached out and pushed a stray hair away from her temple. His fingers lingered for a second, then he moved his hand away.

  “This isn’t a game, Luna. I have no list to check off. I’ve read a little about varying protocol between a dominant and submissive, but I don’t work within any boundaries or definitions. I’m ruled by instinct and what feels good to both of us, nothing more. You can call me Cato or anything else that feels natural to you. All of this is about you and me. Not someone else’s perception of a role to play, but two people that want to connect and experience each other.”

  Luna felt the anxiety melt away from her body, yet she trembled with expectation just from the intensity of his eyes. He stayed close, just inches away. Even though they didn’t touch, she could feel a humming sensation between them. It was mesmerizing and erotic. Every inch of her skin reacted with chills and a flush of heat between her legs and across the tips of her breasts.

  He walked slowly around to her back and bent to whisper in her ear.

  “I’d like to blindfold you. I want to heighten your experience. Close your eyes, Luna.”

  She did as he asked. She heard a drawer open and felt soft material cover her eyes. He pulled something over her head and she realized it was the string to hold the blindfold in place. He lightly stroked her arm.

  “Comfortable?”

  She nodded.

  “Tell me, Luna. I need to hear you. I won’t always have my eyes on your face.”

  “Yes. It’s comfortable.”

  “That’s good.”

  She felt a light stroke across her jawline and flinched.

  “It’s okay, baby. I’m going to touch you often. Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you. This is all about pleasure.” She felt a light touch to her shoulder and was pleased with herself when she didn’t jump.

  “I’m going to undress you now.”

  “Okay.”

  She was surprised when she felt him lift her hand and place it on his shoulder. He had kneeled in front of her. He lifted her foot and removed her tennis shoe and sock. He did the same with the other side. She sensed him rising up. Broad hands landed lightly on her hips, squeezed gently, then moved away. She felt her shirt being lifted at the hem.

  “Pull your arms up, sweetness.”

  She lifted her arms and the material moved up her body and away. She felt her nipples bead beneath her bra as she dropped her arms back to her sides. She stood there for what felt like several minutes and wondered why he wasn’t saying anything. Anxiety filled her at the thought that he’d been disgusted with what had been revealed and was trying to figure a way out of this mess. She’d battled her weight when younger, but had trimmed to a relatively decent size. She wasn’t flabby, yet she wasn’t a cover model either. Doubt crept into her thoughts and she started to lift her hands to cover herself. His low, husky words halted her movement.

  “No. Never hide yourself from me. You’re beautiful. I’m enjoying you. Don’t deny me that.”

  Luna tilted her head and strained to reason why the words sounded familiar. She was quickly diverted when she felt a slight brush across her belly and a warm hand land directly over the tattoo that she’d designed and placed on her own skin. The caress was almost reverent and her heart melted into a puddle at his feet. His words rumbled from his chest as he massaged her belly.

  “This is my favorite part.”

  She’d felt this before, heard these words, and experienced this connection. Her mind screamed to understand how that was even possible.

  Chapter 26

  Luna’s confusion slipped away when she felt a gentle pull on her bra straps and they fell softly down her skin. Would he still think she was beautiful when her breasts weren’t held high on her chest by the bra? She’d always had large breasts and knew that gravity ruled their position. She shivered when she sensed a tug at the front and the cups fell away. Her nipples drew up and hardened into tight peaks. She was instantly comforted by his low moan.


  “You have gorgeous breasts, Luna. They’re full and rounded with pretty pink nipples. I want to spend time with them, but I want to see the rest of you, now.”

  Relief suffused her body, and her belly quivered at the scrape of warm skin along the waistband of her jeans as he popped the button from its hole. The rasp of the lowered zipper sounded loud to her ears, as did her heart when it tried to jump from her chest. Every sound in the room had amplified. She heard the light patter of rain striking the windows, the steady rhythm of his soft breath mixing with her own gasps, and the clock next to the fireplace as it softly ticked out the seconds of anticipation toward his next touch.

  She couldn’t hold back the moan escaping her lips as he languidly drew her jeans over her hips and down her thighs. The tips of his fingers traveled softly behind the material as it slid to her ankles. He placed a palm on one hip and tapped the top of her foot. She lifted each leg in turn and the jeans were gone. Her skin pebbled as his fingers traced the edges of her thong from her hip to the juncture of her thighs.

  “Ista istuc tam formonsa, Luna. You are so beautiful,” he whispered.

  His voice was mesmerizing and sensual. She gasped when he pressed his nose to her covered mound and inhaled deeply.

  “I love your smell. Lavender and citrus. I’ll taste you soon.”

  Her breath hiccupped when he ran a finger slightly inside the edge of the material and brushed against the sensitive lips before retreating. She reached out to touch him, but he’d already backed away. She could feel the slightest movement of air as he slowly moved around her body and stopped close to her back. His quick intake of breath brought her head up.

  “Unbelievable. This is fascinating.”

  Her skin shivered and she forgot how to breathe as he traced the delicate lines of the tattoo extending from the small of her back and curving over to her left shoulder blade. Each twig of the branch, every twist of a stem, and all cherry blossoms felt his reverent touch. Her breath returned in short pants when his lips touched her ear and his low, sexily accented voice drifted into her senses.