Hot for Him

by Amy Armstrong

  “Do it, Elena,” he ordered, his voice about an octave lower than usual. “Kiss me.”

  She shivered visibly and the tip of her tongue appeared through her lips. Charles had to curl his hands into fists, pressing them against his thighs to prevent himself from reaching for her and plundering that goddamn perfect mouth. When her eyes lifted once again to his, they were hooded with desire. She was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Elena moved in closer, but then a gasp left her mouth and she shook her head as though to clear it. She pushed him away.

  “It isn’t going to happen. I’m sorry, but I’m not into…”

  “Pleasure?”

  Elena frowned. “Pain.”

  Ah. “I would never hurt you,” Charles promised. “That isn’t what this is about.”

  “Oh? Then what is this about? What do you want from me?”

  Charles took a few steps back, putting more distance between them and willing his erection away. “We could be good together, Elena. You and I, we’re a perfect fit. I would take your mind and body to places it has never been before. I guess the best way to describe it is as a kind of power exchange.”

  When Elena stayed silent, Charles continued, his eyebrows raised. “It’s about exploring each other, testing our emotional and physical limits, but you can be sure that I would never harm you, neither am I into humiliation. Dom/sub relationships are all about trust. You just need to let go of your fears and put yourself in my care. If you allow me control of your sexual and emotional needs, I assure you the results will be satisfying for us both. I want to pleasure you, Elena, to drive you insane with desire.”

  Elena folded her arms across her chest and a range of emotions passed over her face. Doubt, confusion, disbelief. When she finally met his gaze she looked resigned. Charles wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. But he had needed to be honest with her. There was no point sugar-coating what he wanted from her.

  “I’d be lying if I said that didn’t sound great, but I don’t know how to give up control. I don’t know if I can.”

  Charles was surprised by how small and exposed Elena’s voice became when she’d replied. He had never heard her sound so vulnerable. He took another step closer.

  “Look inside yourself, Elena. Wouldn’t it feel good to submit to me? Don’t you want to let go? Just think how freeing it would be. I can teach you, if you’ll let me.”

  Elena shook her head and put more distance between them. “I need to think about this.” She turned to leave and said over her shoulder, “I’ll be in my room if you need me.”

  Charles couldn’t keep in the chuckle that bubbled up in his chest. “Now that’s one hell of an invitation.”

  Elena spun on her heel and stared at Charles, her eyes wide. “I didn’t mean…”

  “I know what you meant,” he interjected, unable to keep the grin from his face. “Couldn’t resist. Take your time to think about my proposal and think long and hard. I’d treat you right, I’d treasure you. Think about it.”

  Charles’ words seemed to have a calming effect. Elena’s shoulders relaxed and she let out the breath she must have been holding.

  Her mouth curved into a genuine smile. “Thank you,” she said. “I think that’s just what I needed to hear.”

  Charles returned her smile. “Be down here at six. I’m taking you to dinner on the Croisette.”

  Charles could practically see the inner debate raging inside Elena. He realised his words must have seemed contradictory, but just because he thought she should take her time to decide on embarking on a relationship with him didn’t mean he wasn’t going to do his damnedest to try to persuade her how good they could be together. Finally, she straightened her shoulders and nodded. “Guess I’ll see you at six.”

  “Oh and, Elena? Wear something sexy for me. Don’t even think about covering up those beautiful legs of yours.”

  His request was met with a look of incredulity, but Elena said nothing further before marching to her room. Charles would bet his last billion that she would adhere to it. She was going to look sexy all right, but how in the hell was that going to help him? He already had a hard enough time keeping his hands to himself whenever he was within touching distance of her. If she had those gorgeous pins on display, his hands were going to be all over her, stroking up her smooth thighs, inching higher until he reached the ultimate prize.

  Now there was an idea. Charles smiled to himself as he went to make a call. It was certainly going to be an interesting dinner, but food was the last thing on his mind. Tonight was going to be a good test of how well Elena could take a command, how easily she could submit to him. He suspected she was going to love every goddamn minute of it.

  Chapter Four

  When Elena walked through the hall a few hours later, she knew she looked good. Damned good. Her silky blonde hair hung loose over her shoulders and the sexy, black Vivienne Westwood dress sat just above her knees, clinging luxuriously to her every curve. When she’d been deciding what to wear, she’d sworn to herself that she wasn’t choosing the slinky dress to please Charles, but that had been a lie. She’d wanted to look good for him, had wanted to make him happy, even though she couldn’t understand where the need originated or why she was suddenly so comfortable with it. What had changed?

  Elena had never done things to please others before, especially not men. Since her parents had died, with no brothers or sisters or anyone she was close to other than her uncle Henry, she’d looked out for number one. The burning desire to give Charles what he wanted—to satisfy him and to please him—was a revelation. She recognised it might be partly because Charles hadn’t demanded anything. He’d made his intentions clear, but he hadn’t been forceful. He’d put the decision in her hands. He’d essentially handed her all the power and that had been unexpected. Elena didn’t know a great deal about Dom/sub relationships, but she hadn’t expected Charles to be so thoughtful or understanding of her needs. She’d wrongly assumed he was selfish and that it would all be about what he wanted.

  When she met Charles at the front door, Elena knew she had made the right choice about her outfit. Charles looked immaculate. He was wearing a dark grey suit, with a lighter-hued shirt and matching tie. But it was impossible to pay too much attention to the way he was dressed when she saw the heat in his eyes as he took in every inch of her body. It caused a deep pull in her stomach and a glorious sense of satisfaction. His low growl sealed the deal. Clearly he approved of her attire. Elena gasped as he pulled her to him, his body tight and hard against her own. He slid his fingers into her hair as he tilted her head and trailed passionate kisses along her throat.

  “You look ravishing,” he rasped. He took her earlobe into his mouth and nibbled it before trailing his tongue over the sensitive juncture below.

  Elena’s senses came alive as though awoken abruptly from a deep slumber. The feel of his hard body pressed against hers, the low, gravelly tone to his voice and the wet glide of his tongue sent her into orbit. And that was without the heady scent of his aftershave lotion—a rich woodsy odour with leathery undertones—the perfect aphrodisiac. Elena was practically panting. She was tempted to tell Charles to forget the dinner and head straight to the bedroom, but all too soon, he pulled away with a satisfied smirk.

  “Come, or we’ll be late for our reservation.” Much to Elena’s disappointment, Charles took hold of her hand and led her outside to the waiting limo.

  The tension between them sizzled on the ride down to the Promenade de la Croisette. Though she could barely lift her eyes to look at him, Elena sensed that Charles was watching her for the entire journey. She’d never been more grateful for the tinted windows so that he couldn’t see her blush. Just what was it about this man that made Elena revert to a fifteen-year-old with her first crush? When she finally chanced a look at him her arousal ratcheted up a notch and she was powerless to look away. Charles’ long legs were stretched out in front of him—lean and powerful. Elena had no doubt they would
be corded with muscle, just like the rest of him. Wide shoulders led down to a broad chest and tight, flat stomach. But when she looked down his long arms, the fingers of his right hand were tapping a hasty beat against his leg. His left hand, the hand closest to Elena was clenched into a tight fist, his knuckles white from the pressure.

  “Something wrong?” Elena enquired.

  Charles studied her and for a split second his eyes lowered to her mouth and a frown creased his brow, but his expression cleared quickly and his unbelievably sexy grin returned. “No. Everything’s perfect.”

  Why the frown? Elena lifted a curious eyebrow. “You sure about that?”

  Charles huffed out a heavy sigh. “You have no idea of the effect you have on me, do you? Do you realise the restraint it takes me not to get down on my knees, part your legs and go to work on your pussy? That I want to suck hard on your clit and push my tongue deep inside you when I make you come.”

  A rush of pure, aching need shot through Elena’s system at Charles’ crude words. Suddenly there was nothing she wanted more in the world.

  “Are you wearing panties?”

  Elena was so surprised by the question she could do nothing but answer it truthfully. “Yes,” she breathed, amazed by the husky cadence to her voice.

  “Take them off.”

  Elena’s first instinct was to protest, but the idea sent a thrill coursing through her body and her blood felt as though it were broiling in her veins. She held his gaze as she slowly lifted the hem of her dress until it reached the top of her thighs. Lifting herself off the seat, she grabbed the thin elastic of her thong and tugged it down, inch by painstaking inch. Charles watched the action and a choking sound left his throat.

  “You’re shaved,” he remarked.

  Elena gave a small nod. “Completely.”

  “Jesus, restrain me,” Charles muttered, leaning forward to help her slide the soft material down her legs. She sucked in a breath as his head neared her lap and her hand stuttered while she waited to see what he would do. The thought of his tongue sweeping through the folds of her pussy then penetrating her sent a shiver racing down her back and liquid seeping from her core. But instead of giving her what she wanted, Charles slipped the thong off her feet then sat back against the cool leather seat. He put her underwear into his breast pocket with a satisfied smile.

  “Well done, Elena,” Charles said appreciatively. “You see? This isn’t as difficult as you feared.”

  Frustration and impatience warred within her. She needed to come, was desperate for it, but Elena had to concede that it hadn’t been at all difficult to follow Charles’ instruction, not in the least. If this was all that was required of her then maybe they did have a chance of forming a relationship. But it would be presumptuous of her to think that. She suspected they hadn’t even touched the tip of the iceberg of what he wanted to do to her.

  There was more to the Dom/sub lifestyle than just a power exchange, surely. What about the toys, the floggers, the chains and whips? How important were they? Was Charles even interested in those things? The questions made Elena realise how little she knew of Charles or the lifestyle he favoured. A small dose of fear tried to force its way into her mind, but it was overshadowed by anticipation. For the first time since she’d known Charles, Elena was excited by the prospect of giving in to her desire for him. If she was this wound up by the idea of his mouth on her then how was she going to react when they finally fucked?

  “No,” she agreed. “It wasn’t difficult. But you are a terrible tease.”

  Charles grinned in reply and turned to look out of the limo’s window. “Ah, perfect,” he said. “We’re here.”

  Elena wasn’t nearly as thrilled by the development as Charles appeared to be.

  Chapter Five

  Charles held the restaurant door open for Elena then walked in behind her. His cock was like a lead pipe inside his pants and he had to check that no one was looking before reaching a hand down to move it into a more comfortable position. Elena was going to be the death of him. He’d been desperate to put his hands on her in the limo and had to clench them into fists to prevent it. When she’d adhered to his request, removing her panties and baring herself to him, he’d nearly fucking lost it. He’d got a good look at that smooth, glistening pussy and it was all he could do not to get her on her back, pull out his cock and thrust it inside her, fucking her hard and deep until she cried out his name and came all over it. She’d been so wet for him. Ready. The dominant side to his personality gave him excellent control, but that had been a true test of his restraint. He was proud of himself. But how long could he last before taking what he wanted? What they both wanted.

  Elena was the first woman to affect Charles in such a way and he’d certainly had his share over the years. But it was hard to find a woman who wasn’t just after his money. The sex had been fun on occasion, but he hadn’t been able to connect with any of them on a deeper level. Yes, he wanted a woman who could play a submissive role to his dominant, but he didn’t want a doormat. Most of the woman he’d ‘dated’ were eager to please, but it was difficult to believe it was for any other reason other than wanting a slice of his fortune. Charles wanted a strong-willed woman, someone who would challenge him, someone who had their own life and interests. Elena was that woman. He’d known it from the moment Henry had introduced them, but she’d been younger then, just out of university, and she’d been on a mission to carve out a career for herself. Charles could understand that, and he’d waited. He’d been the epitome of fucking patient, but not anymore. It was time to stake his claim.

  The crazy thing was, Charles would be happy to share his wealth with Elena, probably more so because he knew she didn’t want it. Elena loved the South of France as much as he did, they’d spoken about it previously. The apartment he kept in town had always suited him, but it wasn’t a home. His parents had passed some years ago and he spent less and less time in New York where he’d grown up. Though he was still very much involved in the investment business he’d set up with Henry, he wanted a more permanent base. He could envision himself spending more time in France, a lot more time. If Elena consented to sharing her life with him, he’d find her the most luxurious house money could buy and that would be a home, because Elena would be in it.

  “Ah, Mr Hunt, welcome,” the maître d’ said, his smile bright. “Let me show you to your table.”

  Charles nodded. “Thank you, Pierre.”

  They followed him through the dimly lit restaurant then out to a small terrace at the back, which overlooked a well-maintained garden. The terrace had been decorated exactly to Charles’ specifications. White fairy lights adorned the wooden beams and trellises, and dozens of tapered candles flickered gently in the soft breeze. Charles’ chest swelled with pride at Elena’s sharp intake of breath.

  “It’s beautiful,” she whispered reverently.

  When they’d taken their seats and Pierre had handed them the wine list then left them alone to decide, Elena leaned across the table, suspicion evident on her proud and striking face.

  “Why is the restaurant empty?”

  Charles grinned. “Because I paid a lot of money to ensure we wouldn’t be disturbed.”

  “Do you always get what you want?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why am I not surprised?” Elena shook her head. “You can’t buy everything, you know.”

  “I’m afraid we’ll have to agree to disagree on that point.”

  Elena frowned and straightened her shoulders. Sitting back in her chair, she appeared to consider his statement. “You can’t buy me,” she said with conviction.

  “Nor would I want to. I was rather hoping you could see past the money and the material things it can buy. I figured you were the type of woman who could see me before all the trappings of my wealth.”

  “I do, Charles. But then why all this?” she asked, sweeping her hand around to indicate the adornments to the terrace and the empty seats.

  Char
les shrugged. “Because I can. Because I wanted it to be perfect for you—I wanted it to be special. Nothing but the best for my Elena.”

  Elena was smiling even as she raised her eyebrow. “Your Elena.”

  “Damn straight you are.”

  Charles held his breath while he waited to see how Elena would react to that little display of ownership, but to his relief, she shook her head, a delightful peal of laughter escaping her lips.

  “Just what have I gotten myself into with you?”

  Charles leaned in until he was so close his lips were nearly touching her earlobe. “Nothing you don’t want.” As he pulled back, he saw the shiver that ran over her body leaving goosebumps in its wake. “Isn’t that right, Elena?”

  Her eyes were hooded when they next met his, her cheeks flushed with the delightful hue of desire. “Yes,” she breathed.

  Her reply was all the invitation Charles required to close the distance between them, but he still wouldn’t kiss her even though he was impatient and felt a driving force to take what he wanted. She had to come to him or at least follow his direction. It was time to see just how well she would respond.

  “Give me your mouth, Elena,” he instructed.

  Without pause, Elena moved that extra inch closer. She wet her lips then pressed them against his. Charles bit back a groan. Instinct took over and he immediately began to dominate the kiss, deepening it. Her gasp offered him the perfect opportunity to push his tongue inside and take what he so desperately needed. He pulled her against his body, kissing her deeper still. Soon, Elena wrapped her arms around his neck. She gripped his hair, holding him in place as she kissed him back with a hungry, insatiable need. There was plenty of ownership in the kiss, but it didn’t all come from Charles. Elena was staking her claim too and didn’t that make his cock throb like it was trying to fight its way out of his pants.

  Charles slid his hand down Elena’s neck then over her breast. He cupped it firmly. She wore no bra under the delicate silk dress, which made it easy for him to slip his hand inside and pinch an already erect nipple, rolling it between his thumb and forefinger, making her shudder and moan into his mouth. Charles was sure if he reached down he’d find her pussy soaking wet, but he couldn’t chance it. If he pushed his fingers inside her wet channel, he’d want his cock inside it too. And that would have to wait until later when he had time to fuck her properly.