"Tomorrow it is then."
Chapter Three
Driving through the lush neighborhood, Luc contemplated his surroundings. The streets were lined with picket fences and oak trees. The gardens neatly trimmed and tidy. It was a far cry from his humble beginnings in Texas. Shaking off thoughts of his past, he lost himself picturing Tessa.
Tessa at the club—feisty, fighting off the dickhead who thought he could put his hands on her body.
Tessa sitting behind the desk in her office—cool, calm, collected. Professional. The look on her face when she mistook him for a gigolo.
Tessa pliant in his arms—the taste of her innocence, the reaction of her body to his touch.
Already there were so many images of her in his mind. Luc grinned. He looked forward to beginning their lessons. She would make a poor student, constantly fighting him. He knew from the way she resisted him at the club. It was his duty to gain her trust, something he looked forward to achieving.
He glanced at the lilies on the passenger seat. Usually, in a situation such as this, he would bring roses. A dozen red ones. But in Tessa's office, he'd seen a number of lily paintings. The flower suited her. Elegant, regal, virginal—at least to the BDSM scene.
The woman fascinated him on a number of levels. Beautiful, intelligent, yet she fought her base desires. He would enjoy the challenge her initiation provided. In one month, Tessa would be ready to live the sexual lifestyle of a submissive. If she chose to.
After their arrangement ended, she could choose any dom she wished.
The thought of her with another man, another dominant, a master who commanded her body in every sense, set off stabs of jealousy.
Why should he be jealous? She was just a way for him to get back into the scene. There would be no lasting relationship between them. They had a contract, nothing more. He didn't want to get involved. Relationships were messy. He avoided mess. He liked his nice, comfortable life without entanglements. Yet Tessa had an innocence he wanted to exploit, a glimmer of submission he wanted to keep to himself.
Not wanting to analyze such complex emotions, especially not tonight, he switched on the radio. Classical music blared out, the moody yet seductive tones fitting.
Seeing Tessa's house, he slowed down and pulled into the driveway. Luc knew she was surprised at the dinner invite. Tonight he would tantalize her senses. Gain her trust. Reaching for the flowers, he slipped a hand into his pocket and fingered the black, silk blindfold.
Tonight was just the beginning.
* * * *
Toying with her hair, Tessa lifted up a stray bang and sprayed. She aimed for sultry, funky and sexy. What she got was bed hair, messy and very unsexy. Letting out a squeal of frustration, she started again.
She hated this, the nerves of a first date. Glancing at the clock, she smoothed down the front of her black shift dress. He would be here shortly. If he made it on time.
After Luc's proposal, Tessa had changed her mind a dozen times. She couldn't give herself sexually to a complete stranger.
Could she?
The question plagued her dreams and every waking moment since making the deal. What the hell was she doing? She was a professional. A sex therapist at that. If a client came to her with this situation, she'd tell them to think deeply about the decision. As long as they were safe, Tessa usually encouraged clients to pursue whatever made them happy.
She realized now how much that advice was a crock of shit.
The doorbell rang, invading her thoughts. Too late to back out now—he was here.
Taking a deep breath and one last look in the mirror, she walked downstairs and opened the door. Luc stood on her porch, leaning casually against the railings, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a bunch of white lilies. The grin lighting up his face melted her body into a pool of swooning female jelly.
She almost let out a sigh. Almost.
Silently chiding herself for acting like a lovesick teenager, she stepped out and joined him. “Hi. I guess those are for me?"
"Actually they're for the nice old lady next door, but since you got to me first, I guess you can have them.” He handed her the flowers. The mischief dancing in his eyes made them sparkle, and she laughed despite her nerves.
Leading him through the house, she told him, “Mrs. Madison is more of a roses girl.” Filling a vase with water, she unwrapped the flowers and arranged them. It felt good to have something to do with her hands.
He looked devastatingly handsome. The midnight blue suit and black button-down shirt suited him. She could just make out wisps of dark hair peeking from beneath his open collar. She imagined ripping open his shirt and licking her way across his chest, a voyage of discovery to see if the lush dark hair really did go all the way down.
"And you prefer lilies?"
Turning, she gave him a weak smile. “I've always been a little unconventional."
He leaned in and toyed with a strand of her hair. She could smell his cologne. Something woodsy, spicy and oh-so-masculine.
"Lucky for me.” He held out a hand. “You ready to go?"
Was she? Hell no.
That didn't stop her from slipping her hand into his. His grip was firm and warm. Electrifying. One small touch sent electrical zings sounding off in her nerve endings. At that moment, they could have plugged her into the national grid and she would have lit up the entire U.S.A.
Tessa gulped. If that was one mere touch, what would sex with Luc do to her system? Yikes!
"Let me just grab my purse, and I'm all set."
He smiled an oh-so-knowing smile that said he was the wolf and she was poor little red riding hood, waiting to be eaten.
Well ... she was waiting to be eaten, but in an entirely different sense.
A blush rode high on her cheekbones. She locked up, and Luc escorted her to his car. He held open the door like a true gentleman. Her thigh brushed against his as she slipped into the passenger seat and she heard him moan. The whole sexual attraction thing wasn't a one-way street after all.
Tonight was definitely going to be interesting.
* * * *
The restaurant was a small, chic place she'd read about in magazines. It had rave reviews. What struck her most was the intimacy. Small booths, big enough for two to four people, lined the walls. Most of them were full.
Once they were seated in a booth of their own, menus in hand, Tessa told Luc, “This is a nice place. I never had the chance to eat here."
He wasn't looking at the menu. He stared at her instead, watching her every move as if fascinated. “I've been here a few times. It's a good place. Great food. Nice atmosphere. Friendly. Discreet."
She nearly asked what he meant by discreet, but the waiter came to take their order. With the wine poured, they were once again alone. Tessa took a small sip of her wine. It wouldn't do to gulp it down. She didn't want Luc to think her a drunk. He already thought her the kind of gal who made sexual deals with strangers. “So, I guess we should talk about this arrangement."
Despite the smart suit, the fancy car and the expensive restaurant, Luc had ordered a bottled beer. He reached for it. Condensation ran down the frosted glass, and he trailed a finger up, catching the droplet of moisture. Tessa's gaze followed his finger as he slipped it into his mouth, sucking suggestively.
Everything about this guy screamed sex. Her pussy clenched and tightened. She squeezed her knees together, and a slither of moisture gathered in the crotch of her panties. An image of Luc between her legs, sucking her clit in the moist cavern of his mouth, flashed into her mind. His tongue coating her nether lips as he gave her pussy long, languid licks.
"We'll get to that.” Lifting the bottle, he took a sip. “How about we start with something simple. Something normal, like your work, life, friends, family. The usual stuff."
Fascinated by the way his lips fit around the top of the bottle, she took a while to answer. “Something normal...” She reached for something to tell him. “You already know I'm a sex t
herapist.” She sipped at her wine between statements. “I have a mother and a father in Boston. No siblings. I have a few ‘best’ friends, a number of acquaintances."
Luc raised an eyebrow. “Lovers?"
Choking on her wine, she spit some of it back into the glass. Not very classy, but hell, he'd just asked a very personal question. Something she did everyday to her clients. Now that the tables were turned, she mentally squirmed in her seat. “Lovers. Well ... yes ... I've had lovers."
Luc leaned back and toyed with the beer label. “How many lovers?"
"Two, three maybe."
"How many, Tessa?"
She shrugged, a nonchalant gesture, hoping to appear more casual than she actually felt. “Two. One in college. One more recently."
"And why did that end?"
"Look.” Anger began to bubble. “I really don't think that is any of your business."
Quick as lightening he reached out and grabbed her wrist. The gesture should have been menacing, but it wasn't. Instead, it felt erotic. His fingertips caressed her pulse point. “It is my business. More than you think. As your dominant, I need to know everything that's happened in your sexual past. I need to know how far to go. We need to have mutual trust."
She gave him a withering stare. “I know about submission and dominance, Luc. I'm a sex therapist, remember?"
He grinned. “How could I forget? So, Doctor, tell me what you know about BDSM."
It was her turn to raise an eyebrow. “We'll get to that later. First I want to know about Luc Campbell."
"Nothing much to tell."
She nodded at his beer. “You drink beer from a bottle. Not expensive beer, but average guy beer. Yet you wear extremely expensive suits and drive a car costing more than my house. You frequent BDSM clubs, yet you feel no need to indulge yourself in the fashion of the scene. You, Luc, are an enigma."
Laughing at her analysis, Luc started to answer. The waiter interrupted, bringing their meal. The scent of hot, spicy food made her stomach growl. Luc looked at her, and she pressed a hand to her traitorous stomach, apologizing for the noise.
"Please, never apologize for your body's needs."
They ate in pleasurable silence. Occasionally the other would speak, making small talk about the exquisite taste of the food or the awful weather. Once the meal was over and dessert had been served, Luc continued their conversation.
"I drink beer from a bottle because it was the way I was taught to drink beer back in my home town.” He raised a beer in mock salute. “We Texans know how to appreciate a fine brew."
She laughed as he mimicked a heavy Texas accent.
"Sometimes I like to wear nice suits. I'm a guy, so obviously I like to drive nice cars. I used to frequent BDSM clubs, now I just stick the small parties run by friends and Inferno. I don't feel the need to wear the ‘clothes of the scene,’ because when I'm working, I like to keep things semi-professional.” He tipped his beer in her direction. “See, I ain't an enigma. Just a normal guy from Texas, trying to make a living."
"Working? You work at Inferno?” She wondered what he did. Bartender? Manager? Stage show organizer?
"Why, sugar, I don't just work there. This Texas hick owns the joint."
She tried, and failed miserably, to hide her surprise. “I'm sorry. It's just ... well ... I never expected..."
"You never expected a young, handsome guy like myself to also have a brain?"
She grinned at his self-depreciating humor. “Something like that. So Inferno is yours?"
He nodded. “Lock, stock and dungeons worth of goods."
"Impressive. I hear it's doing well."
"I get by.” He drummed his fingertips on the table. Once. Twice. “Now, I answered your questions. Time for you to answer mine. What do you know of BDSM, Tessa?"
She settled back into her seat. The booths were very plush. Anyone could feel at home here. Although other couples were in the room, Tessa felt like they were alone in their own private world. They really got the atmosphere right in this place.
"Dominance and submission is all about trust. Mutual trust. It is about consent and pleasure, for both parties.” She smiled. “I could give you a whole text book analysis of the lifestyle, but I know it would bore you.” She pushed back a stray strand of hair. “Now tell me what you know on the subject.” She imagined from his experiences he knew a whole lot.
An image of him as a kinky dungeon master, top to toe in leather, complete with mask and wooden paddle, flashed into her mind. If she were honest, it wasn't a bad image.
"A relationship of this kind is grounded in mutual respect, and as you said, trust. Ultimately, it is the submissive who holds the most power. Or that's the way it should be. In a perfect relationship, the submissive should be proud to submit to her dominant, while the dom should be proud to receive the gift of submission. A good dominant should know his sub's needs, anticipate them. Trust and respect are the key issues."
Obviously, he knew a lot. Unprepared for the stabs of jealousy that coursed through her body, Tessa couldn't stop herself from blurting, “How many women have submitted to you in the past, Luc?"
If he said hundreds, she was out the door.
His eyes spoke volumes, I know exactly what you are asking, Tessa. She looked for a chance to escape. Though the meal so far hadn't included any talk of sex, she became increasingly aware of Luc's presence. Every shift of his body caught her eye, from the way his fingers literally danced across his beer bottle to the graceful shrug of shoulders. Every time he smiled, her gaze gravitated to his lips. He just oozed sex and masculinity.
At times she wanted to defy his effect on her. She wanted to walk out, cancel the arrangement and never look back. The rest of the time, the majority of the time, she wanted to drop to her knees, nip at his ankles and scream, “Take me now!"
"I choose my partners carefully. There have only been a few over the years. All of those have been long term. I'm not in the habit of using kink as a cheap trick to get laid.” A dazzling grin made him look like the devil incarnate. “I can get laid all by myself."
Usually arrogance in a man made her roll her eyes and groan. It suited him, mainly because she knew he spoke the truth. Luc Campbell was the type of man women threw their panties at.
"Hmph. I have no doubt.” Tessa frowned. She drummed her fingers on the table gently, gnawing at her lower lip. “So, why did you choose me? How did you find me for a start? I didn't tell you my name at the club. In fact, I don't recall talking about anything personal."
He titled his head to the side, pondering for the length of several anxious heartbeats. “Why did I choose you? How could I not?” His gaze locked with hers, bored into her intently. The power of his gaze branded her soul, the conviction in his voice made her heart pound with nervous excitement. “You were so pliant in my hands. I could have done anything I wanted to you.” The grin spread across his face. “And you would have let me."
"I don't think—"
"I don't mind you lying to me, but don't lie to yourself, Tessa. You were like warm clay, ready to be molded.” He shrugged. “As for how I found you? Simple. Inferno takes camera shots of everyone who walks through the doors. I scanned in the image and did a net search. It's amazing what you can find on there these days."
"But why? Why go to all that trouble.” Her voice sounded needy even to her. She should mentally kick herself, but deep down she really wanted to know.
"I wanted you."
Who knew three little words could mean so much? Flushed with a strange sense of pride, and a whole lot of sexual attraction, she was lost for words. What did a woman say to that?
Thank you very much, now get out of those pants so I can see if the bulge really is that big...
The subconscious mind could be a traitorous thing.
His voice shattered her erotic thoughts. “I think it's time for your first lesson in the ways of submission."
Chapter Four
Luc unfolded his body from the booth, and
Tessa quickly swept her gaze around the restaurant. None of the patrons were taking any notice of them. Whatever lesson he had planned for her initial submission, they wouldn't be disturbed.
He slid into the seat next to hers. His warmth seeped into her. His breath on her neck made her body tingle with anticipation.
An arm across her shoulders, he leaned in. “Trust is the most important element in our relationship. I'm asking you to trust me, Tessa. Right here. Right now. Put your trust in me."
Nuzzling the strands of her hair, he inhaled her scent, and gooseflesh rose all over her skin. Electric zings went into overdrive, setting her senses alight with barely contained desire. Her breathing hitched. Blood pulsed through her; her heart beat wildly in her chest. She missed this, this animal attraction. The base desire to fuck, to be taken, to give up control to someone else.
She swallowed hard, trying to find her voice inside a barren mouth. “Right now? What did you have in mind?"
"Trust me, Tessa.” Reaching into his pocket, Luc pulled out a piece of thin, black silk.
Fascination coiled inside her as he fingered it gently, rubbing the silk between his thumb and forefinger. She imagined him rubbing those graceful fingers against her skin, rolling her nipples, pinching them into hard, puckered buds before taking them into his warm, expectant mouth.
Nodding her consent, she gave herself over to him. Luc. Her sexual dominant.
After this lesson, her dominant is exactly what he would be. Could she handle it? Her heartbeat thundered around her body, beat loudly, throbbed against the flesh of her clit. Right now she'd die of sexual frustration if he didn't do something. Anything.
All the thoughts, doubts and emotions could wait. Right now she wanted his hands on her. Any way she could get them.
She watched him raise the silk and gasped as the material covered her eyes. Although it was silk, the dark color blocked out her vision. No outline of Luc or the other restaurant patrons was visible. She was blind to the world. Instinct made her lift her hands. She wanted to touch the silk, reassure herself.
Devil's Dance Page 3
