Lovers and Other Strangers Box Set: The Boston Stories

by L. C. Giroux

  "Allyn, you should have taken one of us with you to get your glasses. These frames are too..."

  "Stuffy? Boring? Old-fashioned? I am not some French pop star La Reine. I am old-fashioned, and a little stuffy and I suspect even a bit boring. These glasses are fine." He smiled and felt the box of contacts in his pocket. Boring Allyn Bellows might wear glasses that didn't mean mysterious and sexy Mr. Smith needed to. He smiled again just to think about her saying it. He hoped to hell she wasn't disappointed when she found out it was just him.

  Chapter 2

  "Marie, you don't have to do this. As I said he is perfectly normal but has some strange notions sometimes, this would be one of them." She smiled at him like she was being given some wonderful treat.

  "Non! It is interesting. Very mysterious, I like the idea. Will I have to stay blindfolded the entire time? How will I eat? Eh, we can figure all that out. Do I look good?"

  "You look wonderful." She did too in her own disheveled perfectly French way, faded slightly too short denim skirt in tatters at the edges. A boy's white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up just below the elbow showing off her tanned arms and those silver bracelets. It was also unbuttoned in a deep V that left no doubt she'd gone without a bra as usual. Her hair cascaded down her back leaving him itching to run his hands through it now. If he weren't the one she was dressed for he'd be horribly jealous, as it was, he felt he should play at the stern protector anyway. "Isn't that skirt a little short?"

  "Bouf, what do you know about fashion? It makes my legs look good, non?" She had him there and her legs didn't need any help looking good. He looked at the shirt again and saw the faintest blush of her nipples through the fabric.

  "Um, your shirt is... perhaps a sweater?" She looked down at her chest and then back up at him.

  "It is suggestive mais, not risqué? I will be blindfolded, Smith will not, oui?"

  "No, No he will not." At least if she was blindfolded she wouldn't see his erection all through dinner. "He will be here soon. Do you want help putting the blindfold on?"

  "Oui, If you tie it you can avoid my 'air. You can help me to the study so I can wait for 'im?"

  "Certainly, I'll bring him to you and make sure you are comfortable before leaving you. Again, you don't have to do this."

  "Allain, I am not a child and I like that he is making this first meeting interesting. Usually they are so strange."

  "You mean awkward?"

  "Oui, that is the word. Now help me with my blindfold, I am excited to meet 'im." Her nipples were now tight buds under the silky cotton fabric. He took a deep breath and pulled one of Violet's silk scarves from his pocket.

  "Turn around." He folded the scarf in a wide strip and secured it behind her head. "There is it comfortable enough, can you see?

  "Oui, I am comfortable and non, I can not see." Her skin was actually flushed from the excitement. He wanted to pull her into his arms now and kiss her as he'd dreamed but he restrained himself. "Give me your arm and I will take you to the study."

  "Allain, you will be here, non?"

  "Of course. I will always be here for you."

  "Bon, take me to the study." He took her to his study and put on some music for her to listen to while he changed in to other clothes and put in the contacts. When he got back to the study he cleared his throat and announced 'his guest' and told her again he would be nearby if she needed him. Then he stepped forward and greeted her. He felt more than a little ridiculous. This charade would fall apart if she recognized his voice so he used the worst, most over bearing accent he could think of.

  "Well, howdy darlin'! Doncha look just pretty as a picture." It hurt his own ears and he almost laughed when she cringed at the badly done heavy Texas drawl. "I hope y'all don't mind my little game, I promise y'all, my momma raised only gentlemen, so y'all have nothing to fear. Allyn said dinner was ready for us. Can I take your hand and escort you in?"

  "S'il vous plâit, monsieur." She extended her hand and he took it in both of his and kissed the back of it. She could feel his eyes rake over her body. "I don't know how I am going to eat monsieur, I am going to be completely in your 'ands."

  "Ands? Oh, you mean hands. In-that the cutest thing y'all don't say those Hs. I'll take care of all your needs tonight." He nearly choked on the double entendre. "Are you comfortable darlin'" She shook her head yes. "If this is too much for y'all, I can just leave. I'm not gonna lie to you it would hurt to leave a beautiful woman like you but I don't want you scared of me either." She kept her face placid but she had every intention of seeing just how far he was willing to take this amusing game of his.

  "Monsieur, I think I will enjoy your little game. I was thinking about your need of it. I fear you must think you are ugly. However, French women like their men mmm, not too pretty, it makes us look more beautiful. You 'ave seen our Président, non?" He burst out laughing. "Ah, so that is the secret of a French woman's beauty. I may never look at them the same way again. I don't know if I would be considered handsome but ugly? No, I don't think I am that either."

  "Will you let me touch your face, monsieur, that way I could judge for myself."

  "If it would make you feel more comfortable...Darlin'" She smiled he was already forgetting to use that awful accent.

  "Oui, I would very much like to." She felt him take each of her hands in his, pressing a kiss into each palm and then hold them against his cheeks. When he released them she began to feather her fingers across his brow. The poor man carried the weight of the world. His sad lost boy eyes were next. She stroked her thumbs over his cheeks and smiled. She had known all along but now she was positive.

  There it was on his left cheek just below the corner of his eye. The scar she had given him when she was eight years old. One of her pranks went very wrong and he had gotten hit with a metal bucket. She had run away and howled in grief that he would never love her now because she had hurt him. He had found her and assured her all the girls were going to think he was much more dashing because of it. She had howled louder. It was not nice but she did think he looked dashing with it and especially knowing she had given it to him even if it was unintentional. It was as if she had marked him as hers even then.

  His nose was straight and strong, a little bump to give it gravity. His jaw was also strong and defined. She wanted to run her lips along it, not yet, maybe after dessert. Last were his lips, such a sensual mouth that made a lie of all his restraint. That mouth was for making love to a woman.

  "You are a liar, monsieur. You are handsome, though your mouth I sense is a little cruel."

  "Cruel?"

  "Oui, Monsieur, I will not know for sure till later."

  "Why later?"

  "When you kiss me, bien sûr." She heard him give in to the slightest gasp.

  "Oh, of course. Dinner first though?"

  "Mmm, yes, you will have to feed me unless you want me to take off the blindfold?"

  "Not yet, I like the idea of feeding you. I will sit here so I can reach you more easily. The chef made some wonderful food. Here try some of this." She felt a spoon at her lips and opened them to taste Lobster Bisque. Unfortunately the spoon was too full and some dribbled down her chin. She heard him suck in his breath and then he leaned forward nibbling the drip from her chin to the corner of her mouth. Her head swam with the contact. Her blindfold was making him more daring also.

  "I think Smith, you should kiss me now so I can see if you are cruel or not." She felt him shift and give her a quick peck on the cheek. "Ah, so now I know why you wanted me to wear the blindfold, you are not a good lover."

  "I... That is not how I would make love to you."

  "Then you should kiss me as you would make love to me." She felt his arms around her as he pulled her in to him. He had changed his clothes, no longer did he wear his stuffy suit but a polo shirt and linen pants. She ran her hands over his chest. The muscles under her hands surprised and pleased her. He had not gone soft as he had gotten older. She felt the lightest brush of his
lips at the corner of her mouth. When she sighed he moved and deepened the kiss. She clutched at him to pull him closer, she needed more contact. Not just with her hands but with her body against his. She whimpered with need. The sound set off his own urgency.

  He swept her mouth with his tongue stealing her breath. He must have wanted to be closer too because when she pulled away to drag in a breath he pulled her on top of him. Again he claimed her mouth, cradling the back of her head. His kiss held both tenderness and raw passion. Both made her ache with longing. His hands stroked the back of her neck and the base of her spine and she turned liquid under his touch. The silk tied across her eyes seemed to have heightened her senses. Her skin glowed with heat where he touched it. Finally she pulled away.

  "Mon Dieu!" She was panting to get enough air. She turned so that she now straddled his thighs. It was now her turn to kiss him and she was going to make it count. She began at the V on his chest. She swirled her tongue against the skin there and smiled at his soft moan. She memorized the feel of his skin in minute doses. She had been waiting too long for this to have it be over so soon. She found the notch at the base of his throat with her fingers and leaned forward to dip her tongue there. She felt more than heard him growl. Her body responded before she could think, grinding her hips to his, brushing the hard points of her chest against his, answering with a growl of her own. Then she was clawing at his shirt even as she nipped at the cords of his neck. Finally she worked the hem of his shirt loose so she could get to him. His skin tasted of heat and male. She needed to touch more of him. It was like being able to breath after being underwater. She skimmed over his chest and felt the muscles twitch. Her tongue worked along the muscles in his shoulders. She moved to sculpt his face and neck with her hands when she felt his large hands around her wrists. Gently but firmly he removed them from his neck and pinned them on his knees behind her.

  She could imagine what she looked like, her back arched, pushing her breasts out, flushed with her arousal, her shirt open, and the silk scarf blindfolding her. She could hear him trying to catch his breath.

  "So beautiful." The words were like a caress against her skin. "You must not move." His voice was quiet but commanding, she had never heard him speak to her like that.

  "Oui Monsieur."

  "Good girl. Are you comfortable enough?" He soothed the clenched muscles in her back. One of his hands was always there to steady and support her.

  "Oui, Merci Monsieur."

  "Good, you must tell me if you are uncomfortable. Now do as I say and open your mouth." She startled at the command but she was sitting on top of him so there wasn't a lot he could do. She opened her mouth tentatively and felt him reach behind her and then he placed something cool on her lips. "Bite it." She did as she was told and the taste was peppery and earthy, the texture was crisp. "What do you taste?"

  "Radish, but it is delicious, usually I do not like them. Are you going to kiss me again?"

  "Not yet, I am afraid you make me more vulnerable than I am comfortable with. Besides, I was invited for dinner and the chef has prepared such good food. Still I may have to steal a few kisses." She felt his breath before the kiss. The heat of it on her sternum made her whimper. When she did, he chuckled against the sensitive skin and she knew he was tormenting her. Bon, she would have her turn eventually. She gasped when she felt his lips push aside her shirt.

  "You had a taste, now it is my turn." He traced the curve of her breast with his tongue and then placed a chaste kiss on the fullest part. It was all she could do not to scream in frustration.

  "Monsieur, May I move to be more comfortable?"

  "Of couse, my sweet." Now she would inflict her own little torture. She slid forward and canted her hips back so that she was pressed firmly along the ridge of his erection. Her breath caught. He was more than she had expected but now when he bent forward to tease her he would grind against her sex. With nothing but a few bits of cloth between them he would be tormenting himself as much as her.

  "Ah much better, less strain on my back. Merci, Monsieur" She almost laughed when he tried to answer and it came out in a strangled voice. "Pardon Monsieur, am I 'urting you?"

  "No. Not hurting."

  "Bon, are you going to feed me something else?" She heard him take a deep breath.

  "Yes, Yes, of course." He reached around her to cut something on the plate behind her and they both warmed with the contact between them. This was going to be a battle of wills, at least there wouldn't be any loser in the fight. He fed her small morsels of steak au poivre. It was cooked to perfection or at least what she considered perfection. Most people would consider the meat undercooked.

  "Parfaite, the cook should be rewarded."

  "I will... tell Allyn."

  "Bon, will I get to feed you monsieur? You 'aven't eaten anything."

  "You can't feed me with your blindfold on."

  "I can be creative, look." She turned slightly and lightly brushed some of the serving dishes with her fingers. She found mashed potatoes and put a finger full in her mouth. The cook had made them with cream and roasted garlic. She scooped another large finger full out and turned back to him. She paused for a second to make sure he was watching, then she slowly smeared the rich, savory food down her neck. "There, now you can taste it."

  She felt him hesitate before he reached forward again, tormenting them both, licking and sucking the food from her neck. When he was done she was on the verge of climax.

  "Monsieur Smith, please make love to me." came out as a whisper. He hesitated again and then she felt his hands on her thighs. When she moved before, her skirt rode up high on her thighs. Now he skimmed her inner thighs with his thumbs. His hands were so warm, his touch both sensual and comforting. Her hands were still on his knees and she used her position to lift her hips to him. The stroking stopped.

  Allyn steeled himself for what he was about to do. He had dreamed of a moment like this for far too long and to deny himself of it hurt physically, not in his groin, though that was definitely causing him pain. No, it hurt in his chest like his heart was tearing. He wanted her, needed her but not like this, erotic though this had been he would not have the first time he made love to her be on a table during dinner. He smiled ruefully, better to save that for the honeymoon or surprise her some Saturday night after they were married a while. Still he'd started this and she needed release.

  "I can't do that darlin'" He felt her flinch at the accent. She made a noise that was half moan, half sob. He slid her further down his thighs and reached down for her ankle. He folded her leg up and over him so she now sat on his lap but across him. He lay her back across his arm cradling her against his chest. His erection was pinned against her hip. If nothing else she now knew the effect she had on him, even if it was by another man's name. He nibbled her neck then moved to her ear. She groaned.

  "Monsieur, you will not make love to me or you can't make love to me because..."

  "Oh, I think you can tell I can. I won't, not here, not yet. I want the first time I make love to you to last hours, that is not going to happen tonight." He slid his hand slowly up the inside of her thigh. "But I wouldn't be a gentleman to leave you in this state either." His voice had become a growl in her ear and part of him thrilled at the shiver that ran through her at his words. His thumb found the edge of her panties. He followed the satin down and found it soaked. Even with her blindfolded he buried his smile in her shoulder, pressing his face under the collar of the shirt to reach her flushed skin. He followed the satin edge down further to where the cording slipped between her cheeks. When she gasped he bit gently on the crook of her neck to keep from laughing. He swept his thumb up and under the lace that made up the front of the G-string.

  Such a silly little garment, it seemed to serve no real purpose beyond decoration of that portion of the female anatomy. It represented everything he loved about her. She had been teasing him by rocking against him, now he wanted to return the favor. He stroked his thumb slowly up and down
her outer labia. Of course she had waxed herself bare. His mouth watered at the thought of tasting her. Not now, next time when he wasn't so needy himself. Tonight was about introducing her to what he could give her, just a taste so she would want more. His lips found one of her breasts and she hiss at the contact.

  "Merde! You are teasing me!" His only answer was to use his teeth on her pearled nipple. She arched against his lips and hand to try to increase the contact.

  "Patience sweetheart, all in good time. You take things too fast." When she settled down he finally slipped his fingers past her outer labia to her inner folds. She was so wet. He circled her vagina with first one finger then another. She was shaking with the effort to hold still. He moved to her ear. "Relax, enjoy this. I want to give you the attention you deserve." He felt her slump against him, her head grew heavy and she slid one arm around him.

  "Good girl, let me take care of you." She murmured something in French he couldn't tell if it was an endearment or curse but she kept her body relaxed. He slowly slid one finger inside her. It wasn't nearly enough contact, he was sure, but it seemed to appease her. He rubbed the pad of his thumb across her clit and she jumped.

  "I'm sorry Monsieur."

  "It is fine, try to ignore what I am doing. The longer you let the sensations build the better it will be."

  "Oui, I will try, mais it is difficile."

  "Shh now." He kissed her to distract her from what he was doing with his hand. When she had gotten used to his touches he added another finger to the first. Now she could feel the fullness. She was young and while he knew she wasn't a virgin, she would need a little preparation to manage him comfortably. The thought of being inside her made him ache worse than he had been. As much as he was telling her to slow things down, he needed a reminder too. He found her breast again and started sucking in time to the slide of his fingers. After a minute he added a third finger and heard her hiss in her breath.