“All these years, Tiffany robbed you of a different kind of love ... from a healthy relationship, but she didn’t ruin you. I hope you’re able to see that or will.”
Damon kisses my forehead.
“I thought I was ruined until I started caring for you. Maybe there’s hope for me yet.”
I smile warmly at him. “Of course there is. Does Seth know about this?”
“Yes. I was a mess after it ended with Tiffany. Since he and Martin were my roommates at college, they knew about her. They were truly there for me at a time when I didn’t know if I wanted to live.”
I cup his face. “We’ll get through this, and in the meantime, this can be a mini-vacation. I do have to edit my book. I’m behind, and I imagine you have work to do, but I’m sure we could fit some research in for future writing.”
He grabs my wrists and holds them between us.
“Research, huh? If I recall, you were not going to be, what was it? Oh, yes, one of my writing tools,” he says, grinning.
I roll my eyes. “OK, I’ll admit it does help with the writing, but I didn’t share our encounters. Well, not exactly.”
“Baby, you’re asking for trouble.”
“I got you to smile, didn’t I?”
His grin is still evident, and I love it.
“Yes, that you did, and you also got me turned on. Um, I don’t want to think about the media, so will you shut off your phone while we’re here?”
“Damon, if you’re on the news, my family is going to call. At the least, they’ll want to know I’m OK.”
“Text them. Tell them you’re fine and won’t be reachable for a couple of days.”
I’m balancing on his lap as he leans over and gives me a kiss. His lust pervades, spreading the fire throughout my needy body.
He never lets my wrists go, which has me excited, too. His mouth is warm and tastes of scotch as he hungrily caresses my tongue.
Damon’s silent messages ring louder than his words, his touch always telling a story. Greedy lips move to my neck and onto my shoulder.
“Give me twenty-four more hours with you, Alayna, without the outside world intruding.” He lets my arms go and shifts me to where I’m straddling him.
“OK,” I say as his tongue circles back up my neck. His fingertips hug my hips while my hands massage both sides of his waist. I feel his erection beneath me, and I can’t help but rock against it.
This causes Damon to growl into my ear and squeeze my hips harder. He might be my gladiator, but he’s softening under the armor. We’ll come out of this mess together.
Chapter Five
Damon
I’m selfish. I couldn’t tell her everything ... the parts that could wreck our lives and my family’s. I can’t overwhelm her and risk her leaving again. Although, I’d find a way to drag her back.
She’s mine, and I refuse to let her go. As long as I keep her away from the television and her phone, she won’t learn of the rest until I tell her.
I growl in her ear as she rocks against my erection. This woman does mad, crazy things to me, yet I welcome it now. The feelings I have for Alayna make what I had with Tiffany insignificant. I just couldn’t see it back then.
I let her lips go. “I ordered some things.”
“What kind of things?”
Damn, I could stare at her and that smile all day. That shirt off her shoulder and those fiery ringlets are sexy as hell. “You know how I said I don’t have a playroom here?”
“Were you fibbing?” She gives me a sly grin.
“No, young lady, but I’m a huge fan of the idea. We could put one to use here ... an enticing retreat.” I loop one of her long curls around my finger and twirl it.
“I’m surprised you don’t want it at the penthouse.”
“Too tempting. I’d have you tied up in that room daily.”
“What did you order?” she asks, blushing.
I pat her on the ass. “Up.”
Hopping off of me, she grabs her phone from the table.
“Let me text my family.”
After Alayna is finished messaging her parents, I convince her to shut off her cell. Taking her by the hand, I have her follow me through the house and up the stairs to my bedroom.
I go to one of the suitcases I brought and take out the box. When I turn around, she’s standing near the door.
“Why are you standing in the doorway? I won’t bite. OK, that’s a lie.” I smile at her.
“I guess because it’s your room, and I know how you were at the penthouse in the beginning.”
I set the box on the nightstand and go to her. My fingers run up into her hair and stroke her scalp like they’ve done so many times.
“I believe we’re past that, Alayna. I’d like you to stay in here with me. You saw that I placed your things in here. Do you not want to?”
Those vivid, green eyes tilt up at me.
“Of course, I’d like to sleep next to you.”
“Then this is your room, too, so feel comfortable in it.” Dunking my head down, I capture her lips and hold onto them. They’re sweet like wine ... like her. I take hold of the bottom one with my teeth and savor the fullness of it. My pulse quickens, and I’m getting excited again.
“I believe I could stay hard for you twenty-four hours a day if I didn’t fight it. I want you this instant, so I think I’ll surprise you as we go.”
Alayna
“Tie me up, so I can be free.”
The butterflies in my stomach think it’s springtime, and every nerve on my head is stimulated from his talented fingers. My blood flows faster, and the throbbing between my thighs has returned.
His hands move from my hair and glide along the sides of my chest, waist and hips while his tongue circles my earlobe. It migrates to my neck and collarbone and then the corner of my shoulder.
“Damon,” I whisper as my head falls to the side.
“Alayna,” he whispers back as he lifts his head. He cups my face, and those thirsty lips hover in front of mine. His gaze is intense and zealous.
“I’m going to make you feel pleasure in new, exciting ways, and I can already hear you moaning ...” he presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth, “and crying out my name.”
Words breeze across my stinging lips before his tongue is skimming along it, making me wetter and weak. Gripping the bottom of my shirt, he casually pulls it over my head.
Hooded eyes flash to my black lace bra before his thumbs are circling my nipples. He says he could stay hard all day, well, I have to change my panties at least twice in a twenty-four hour period when Damon is in my vicinity.
I reach out and pull his sweater off before gliding my hands through the hair on his firm chest. Reaching the top of his pants, I run my fingers inside and glide them across his ripped stomach. His stare darkens, and he drops to his knees.
Yanking my pants and panties down, he tells me to step out of them. Fingers dig into the back of my thighs, his nose whisking across the front before he’s rising along the path he’s making up my body.
Lips graze across my stomach, causing a shiver, and my hands can’t help but find his shiny, silky, black hair. His tongue circling is replaced by teeth. He bites, pulling my skin away between his teeth.
It causes me to tug on his hair and moan, which only makes him sink farther into my skin. I hear a guttural sound as he lets go and moves up my body. Refusing to cut loose with his hair, my hands move with it as he rises.
“So daring and brave,” he says in my ear before he’s dragging my lobe between his teeth. Letting me go completely, he moves to the bed and pulls back all the covers.
“Bed, Alayna, now,” he orders. After climbing into the center, I watch him move to the corner and reach under the mattress.
“Surprise number one.” The next thing I see is a black ankle restraint that’s attached to a vinyl strap. “Under the bed restraints. Easy to put away when not in use and easy to retrieve when you decide to be defiant and pull my hair.�
��
He yanks my ankle toward him and fastens the restraint around it. Oh, no. I’m in deep shit. He has turned into sir, and the authoritative expression has blanketed his face, his brow furrowing.
He’s going to make me pay for touching his hair, but if the punishment is a cocktail of pleasure and pain, then it’s well worth it. After securing the other ankle in place, he moves to my arms. Taking out more restraints from under the mattress, he does the same with my wrists.
“I might have to purchase a special bed for this, and would it ever be special to see you tied to the posts.”
I’m spread eagle, his for the taking. He’s tied me up before, but he’s becoming more aggressive with each sexual encounter, pushing my limits.
My eyes dart around the room, taking in my surroundings. It’s even more spacious than the one at the penthouse and is decorated in white and greys.
After walking to the end of the bed, he studies me as he finishes undressing. His erection is iron-hard and pressed against his stomach. “This is how you belong, Alayna, tied up and waiting, so I can pleasure you any way I see fit.” I take an agonizing breath. My lungs cling to it, eyes close, and my body trembles.
“Oh no you don’t. Open. Your eyes are gorgeous, and I want to see the desperation in them when I bring you close to an orgasm.”
When I open them, he’s getting something out of a box. What the hell are those?
“These are tweezer style nipple clamps.”
My eyes widen, and I see him trying to cover a smirk.
“Those are going to hurt.”
“Those are going to hurt, sir. And yes, they are. But I have a strong suspicion you’re going to enjoy it, and I absolutely know you’re going to look magnificent wearing them.”
I examine the clamps as he brings them closer. There are two, and they look like tweezers I’d use on my eyebrows, except these have red rubber tips. Also, there is a long chain connecting them.
Carefully, he slips my left nipple between one. At once, I feel the tug and sting. I’m not sure what I think about this yet, and I believe I can hear my heart thundering in my chest.
He clips on the other one, and an image of a car battery flashes in my mind. I can’t control the smile that spreads across my face.
His forehead crinkles, and his eyes are stern.
“What do you find amusing about this, Alayna?”
“I’m sorry, but I feel like you’re jump starting a car battery, sir.”
“That thought will be forgotten soon.”
Climbing over my legs, he settles on his chest between them and grazes his nose along my inner thigh. “Your scent is arousing, especially when you’re this wet. I can still see your bruises but they’re fading, and that displeases me. You know what else displeases me?”
“No, sir.”
“When you pull my hair.”
“Ouch!” Oh, god, that’s what it’s for. Damon just yanked the chain down toward him that connects the clamps.
“Are you going to keep pulling my hair?”
“Fuck ... yes, sir.” Another yank sends pain straight to my nipples, but it’s erotic as hell.
“Mmm ... you’re making me want to stick something in that dirty mouth of yours. Why are you determined to keep pulling it, Alayna?”
“I love the look and feel of your hair, sir, and once you bite me, I can’t help but tug on it more.”
“Thank you for the compliment. As long as you don’t mind my reaction, you can pull my hair.”
Oh, no big deal. Ugh, his nonchalant tone is annoying.
“You look angry. How about this ...” he pulls the chain but barely this time, “Better?”
“Yes, sir.” I still feel a sting from the first two, but that tug felt surprisingly good. It also tugs on the desire in my core that’s anticipating the pleasure Damon routinely unleashes on it.
I’m no longer waiting as his tongue begins licking, stroking and sucking my flesh. I’m curling my toes and chewing on my lip. He lifts his lids and stares at me with lust swimming in his eyes. He’s working me over, his tongue taunting my clit as he draws me closer to the peak of the cliff.
Occasionally, he pulls on the chain, sending a thrilling sting to my nipples. I jerk my wrists, looking for something to ground me as the sensations take reign over my body.
Luckily, these restraints are snug but soft. Damon splays his hands across my upper thighs and firmly clasps his fingers into them, attempting to stop my movement.
“Still, Alayna. Relax, so you can enjoy the pleasure.”
Drawing a deep breath, I settle and allow the tingling and prickling to claim me. The heat tramples across my being, his tongue ravishing, pushing me inch by glorious inch closer to the ledge.
I happily jump off and soar blissfully, but I can no longer lie still or keep my eyes open as the climax blasts through me. Damon pulls the chain one more time, and I gasp before he’s removing the clips.
Plunging inside me, he delves his fingers deep into my hair. He fists it and yanks downward as he pushes into me, which allows him to bury himself farther.
Dying to wrap my arms around him, I shake my wrist restraints but it’s useless. It excites me beyond belief to be tied up, but I want to touch him so badly.
He’s staring into my eyes as he drives into me, and it’s no time before he’s extracting another earth-shattering orgasm from me. My muscles tighten, and I can feel them squeezing over and over.
He slams his lips to mine and groans against them as he comes deep inside. This is what he lives for, what he needs. He has to be in control, and now I understand why. Damon has spent thirteen years being overly cautious to protect his once broken heart, and I’ve tripped up his world.
His large muscles might prevent another physical beating, but what he’s been trying to tell me without words is that his heart can bleed as easily as mine, and he couldn’t take it twice in his lifetime.
Damon kisses me passionately before he’s planting his lips around my face. They land on my cheeks, forehead, temple and nose. Sir has left the premises, and sweet Damon is back.
Chapter Six
Damon
After making coffee, I go to my study. I had to peel Alayna off of me this morning. We were completely intertwined, and I have to admit, it was nice waking up with her warm body snug against mine. Of course, I had to find the willpower not to wake her up for sex.
I’m planning on keeping the rest of my news from her for another day, but I know that’s all I’m going to get. George has already been trying to reach me, so I call him back.
“George, it’s Damon.”
“Damon, I’m glad you called. It’s definitely out. We’ve been slammed with phone calls this morning. PR is swamped with newspapers, magazines and shows wanting a story.” George is animated, and the guilt from what he’s been left to deal with weighs on me.
“As we suspected, the focus is on the fact you changed your name. I’m sorry, but they’re talking about your assault and what connection your father had to it.”
“I figured they wouldn’t waste any time, and if they search far enough into the police records, they might get someone to talk. I’m praying those involved at the time will keep their damn mouths shut.”
“So, what did Alayna say?”
“I only told her about what happened with Tiffany. I didn’t want to overwhelm her.”
“Are you crazy? It’s all over the news. Someone’s going to tell her.”
“I convinced her to shut off her phone for a day, so I should have until tomorrow. I’ll tell her the rest then.”
“You need to tell her the rest today, Damon. Why don’t you ever listen to me?”
“I’ve got another call. I’ll speak with you later.” I switch over, and it’s the security patrolling my home. They inform me that Margaret is wanting in, so I tell them to let her drive up before I go to greet her.
“Good morning, Margaret,” I say when she reaches my front door.
“Good mo
rning, Mr. Lear. I brought you some things.”
I take the bags out of her hands, and she starts back toward her car. I’m about to leave the kitchen when she comes in behind me with more bags, so I quickly grab those from her.
“We’re not staying a month, but I appreciate it.”
“I don’t know about that. When you see what’s happening at your other place, you might want to stay here forever.”
“What do you mean?”
Taking a deep breath, she brushes her grey hair from her face. “There are news crews everywhere. They keep trying to get Doris to cough up information on your whereabouts, and Albert is ready to lose his mind with the revolving door he’s dealing with.
“When I left, management was trying to get the police involved to keep the media out of the building.” She’s moving around my kitchen, putting food away as she speaks.
“Margaret, I’m very sorry. I’ll make it up to everyone.”
“Don’t apologize. I hate what you’re going through. I also hate that Ms. Wynn has been brought into this, too. She’s a sweet woman.”
“What did you hear?”
“Oh, the news seems more interested in a possible love affair between a male erotica author and a female romance writer. Everyone’s dying to hear that juicy story. You know, if there is one.” She’s looking at me speculatively.
“Shit. This is bad.”
“Maybe having their attention on that is better than the alternative. You need to watch. I wouldn’t be surprised if I was followed out here.”
Margaret glances around as if she’s going to see paparazzi in my home. She’s a kind, funny woman, and I think I like her because she doesn’t take shit from anyone.
“Thank you for driving all this way.”
“You’re welcome, Mr. Lear. You’ve been more than generous to us over the years, so it’s my pleasure.” Her smile is broad, and I see her glancing around. Oh, she’s looking for Alayna.
“When are you going to start calling me Damon?”
“When you’re not my employer. Do you need me to take care of anything while I’m here?”
One Urge, One Plea, Keep Me Trilogy Page 23
