Austin frowned then took her chin in a hard grip. Her eyes widened a bit before her pupils dilated. Ah, that’s what he wanted to see. So she liked him in control, did she? He’d have to be clear about what he was and what he liked before they went further, but if his instincts were right, she’d be perfect for him.
Fuck. He couldn’t wait.
“I’m too old for games, Sierra.”
She didn’t pull away from his hold. Good.
“I’m not playing games. I’m honestly confused and wondering how we got here. How are you in my apartment with your hands on me? I don’t know what happened.”
He took his other hand and collared her throat as he let her chin go. She sucked in a breath, her pulse fluttering beneath his thumb.
“I want you, Sierra. That much is obvious. Tell me you want me to.” He lowered his voice at the end, putting as much order in his tone as possible.
“I don’t know,” she lied. Oh yes, he could tell it was a lie.
“Be honest. Don’t lie to me.”
“I…I want you too. But I don’t know what that means. Want you for how long? For what? We need to talk it out first because I’m not jumping into bed with you only for you to leave right after and never see me again. I’m not that person.”
He brushed his thumb over her pulse again, narrowing his eyes. “You think I’d leave you right after I’ve tasted you? You don’t know me as well as I thought.”
She finally pulled away, and he let her. She crossed her arms over her chest, and shook her head. “See? That’s exactly the point. I’m not going to lie and say I don’t feel this heat between us. That much is obvious, but I don’t know if I can handle more. Do you understand that?”
He nodded, getting a clearer picture of the woman he wanted in his bed, and from the direction things were going, in his life as well.
“You don’t want this to be only for a night, but you don’t know if you’re ready for everything that comes with it if we last longer.”
She let out a breath, her shoulders sagging. “I didn’t come to Denver for a relationship. In fact, I’ve done my best not to be with another person in so long that I don’t even remember what it’s like to be in one.”
He let out a breath, then brushed her cheek with his knuckles. She leaned into his touch, and he held back a groan. Oh yes, she would be perfect under his dominance. He only hoped she knew that. Or would at least be open to it.
“I’ve tried to be in serious relationships, but they haven’t worked out. I’m not the kind of person to love ’em and leave ’em, but I haven’t been serious about anyone truly.”
“And do you want that? A serious relationship?”
He nodded even as her eyes widened. “Yes. That’s what I want. But me saying that doesn’t mean we have to jump in headfirst. Sierra, it’s okay to start off as exclusive then work our way toward what we become rather than focusing on the end and dreading the way there.”
“So you’re saying we see each other and find our way, knowing it might end up in tatters because I don’t know what I want?”
He shook his head then cupped her face. He brushed his lips against hers, craving her taste. When he pulled back, her eyes had darkened again. “I’m saying that we take it one day at a time. Stop worrying. Just know that I’m not going into this with an end date in mind. I’m not going to leave like a fucking bastard. I’m not that man.”
“I don’t believe you are,” she whispered, and he held back a fist pump. Well, at least he was getting somewhere.
“Then we can date, get to know one another, and find our way. Freaking out about a future we can’t control won’t help us.”
She rolled her eyes then ran her hand through her hair as she pulled back. “Tell me about it. I’ve been trying to control my destiny for so long, it seems like no matter what I do, life happens the way it wants.”
He wanted to know more about what she was saying and find out all her secrets, but he knew it wasn’t the time for that. He’d find out. Soon.
He was done with the Shannons and Maggies of his past. He’d known that before he went to New Orleans to see Shep. Now he had a future with Montgomery Ink, a fucking scary path to travel with his father, and now this.
If he was saner, he’d pull back from Sierra and focus solely on his job and his family, but he never claimed to be sane. Although he was through burying his head in the sand when it came to his dad, he wasn’t ready to face it fully. Not without someone by his side. That was fucking crazy to think, but for some odd reason, he was ready for that.
Now he just had to get Sierra to agree.
“I’m going to feed you, and then we can come back here and…talk.”
Her eyes widened before she threw her head back and laughed. “Talk, huh? Is that code for something?”
Well, he needed to talk to her about his needs and what he saw of her needs as well, but yeah, code worked. He didn’t answer, merely kissed her again, this time a bit harder. He nipped at her lip, and she sighed and flowed into him. He nibbled at her jaw, wrapping her hair around his fist so he could tilt her head to gain better access. She shivered in his hold, her breasts pressing against his chest. Her nipples pebbled, and he held back a groan. He couldn’t wait to feast on them, biting and licking until they reddened. Maybe she had darker nipples that would fill to a nice plum color. As soon as he could, he’d make a study of her breasts and explore every inch of her.
Austin damn sure needed to know the color of her nipples.
The color of the blush of her pussy.
He couldn’t hold back a small groan at that thought and pulled back, his chest heaving. Sierra breathed hard as well, her cheek resting on his forearm since his hand was still tangled in her hair.
“We need to do that again,” she whispered, and he chuckled deeply.
“Yeah...yeah we really do.” He pulled back, releasing her hair. The tousled look made her look even sexier. He couldn’t wait to see what she looked like after a long night of him buried deep inside her.
“Lunch.”
Austin blinked, his gaze moving from her mouth to her eyes, which were filled with need and humor. “What?”
“Lunch. Take me to lunch, and then we can come back and…talk.”
He grinned then. “Lunch it is.”
He took her hand, and she stepped readily into his space. This could be good. Fucking good if he let it. He just hoped when they talked for real his needs didn’t screw it all up. He might not need to be in control every time he was in bed, but with Sierra and this connection, he knew he couldn’t ignore it.
Only time would tell, and from the way his cock tented his jeans, he knew lunch would be a fucking long one.
She smiled up at him even as she raised a brow at his hard-on.
Yeah, the wait would be worth it.
Chapter Nine
Lunch at Gregorio’s was surprisingly relaxed. Sierra had expected to sit through an achingly long lunch while shifting in her seat. She’d been aroused, yes, her body begging for release even from the small touch of Austin’s hand on her chin, her neck, her lips, but Austin made lunch…pleasant.
He hadn’t touched her under the table beyond tangling his legs with hers. They sat across from one another, the distance helping cool her down slightly.
Not that she’d ever be completely cool when she was around Austin. Oh no, that ship had long since sailed. Sure, she could be the serene, put-together owner of Eden with others, but as soon as she got near the bearded man, she wanted to melt.
Or kneel and lower her gaze.
That had been ingrained in her from her time with Jason, and it seemed that her inner need found what it wanted in Austin.
There was no denying Austin was a Dominant. While that should have scared the hell out of her, she found herself curious as to how he’d handle the situation.
How he’d handle her.
While she’d never be a twenty-four/seven sub who trusted her Dom to make all of their choices, she
had enjoyed giving Jason control while they were in the bedroom. She liked being his first priority and the way he cared for her before, during, and after their scenes.
They’d never visited a club or ranch or anything like that. They preferred to do things in private, and that was exactly how she liked it. They also didn’t play every time they had sex. Sometimes it was just the two of them and their own needs. She hadn’t needed to give up control and relax—if one could call it relaxing—each time they made love.
Everyone’s kink was different. Needs changed as the person changed. As long as it was safe and consensual, it could work.
However, she hadn’t participated in anything like that in ten years. It had taken five years after the accident for her to even have sex again. Even then, it hadn’t been worth it. Yeah, it scratched an itch, and the two men she’d slept with since were nice but nothing to do cartwheels over.
If she let herself think about it, then she’d worry it was her and her lack of heat, but she’d been good to herself. It was a lack of chemistry, a lack of true desire beyond a need to comfort that led her to those mediocre couplings.
Austin, however, would be anything but mediocre.
They made it back to her place after having, in her opinion, the best burritos in town. They had reached an unspoken understanding that whatever needed to be said, whatever would be done, would be in her place first. She might not love her place—she hated it—but it was hers. For their first time—even if it was just talking about what they wanted—she needed it to be in her own place.
Yes, that was clearly her not giving up the control, but it had been so long since Jason…
She mentally slapped herself. This wasn’t about Jason. This was about her and Austin. No matter where their future ended up, she needed to keep Jason firmly rooted in the past. He was gone. Austin was not. The girl she was all those years ago wasn’t the woman she was now.
She was stronger, scarred, and had finally come into her own.
And now she was alone in her living room with Austin Montgomery of the gorgeous blue eyes that saw far too much.
“Where did your mind go just then?” Austin asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.
“Everywhere and nowhere,” she answered honestly.
He raised both brows then sat on her old wood coffee table, pulling at her wrist so she sat on the couch directly in front of him. Their knees brushed, and she wanted to pull away and scoot closer at the same time. Yes, they truly needed to talk.
“That is an oddly cryptic answer, but I’ll let that go. We need to talk anyway.”
If anyone else had said those words she’d have thought it was the clear sign of a breakup. However, they hadn’t been dating for more than an hour. Well, maybe longer considering she’d been territorial over him since the first time she saw him, but that wasn’t something she was going to think about. She had a feeling she knew what he wanted to discuss.
There was no hiding the alpha in Austin Montgomery.
“Okay, then. I’m ready.”
He searched her gaze. “I think you are.” He cleared his throat then took both of her hands in his. “Do you know what BDSM is?”
He looked so worried. Yes, his face was set and relaxed, but she could see in his eyes he wasn’t.
She squeezed his hands. “Yes, I know. And before you start to worry if you’re scaring me away, I was in a D/s relationship before.”
The shock that crossed his face wasn’t a surprise, but the jealousy was. Seriously?
“Really?” he growled out.
She sighed but didn’t pull her hands back. She had been the one to jump right in, so she’d have to deal with the consequences.
“Yes. It was over ten years ago. I haven’t played since.”
He pulled his hand back, and for a moment, the loss made her ache until he cupped her face. “Not in ten years?”
She swallowed back the pain, the memories of what she’d lost because of one careless action. “Jason—that was his name—and I were a couple, and I was his submissive while in the bedroom. We weren’t twenty-four/seven, and that’s how we both preferred it. I can’t give up complete control, but I think you know that about me.”
He narrowed his gaze, his thumb running along her cheek. “On the one hand, it’s good to know that you’re aware of the lifestyle and have experience. I could tell you were a sub, but not about all of your experience. That’s probably because it’s been so long.”
Ignoring the memories, she rolled her eyes. “You have sub-dar, do you?”
His grip tightened on her chin, and she sucked in a breath. She hadn’t realized how much she missed this. Damn him if this went sour. Damn them both.
“Sub-dar? It’s a thing, but it’s not like you glowed or I heard little pinging sound when you were near me.”
She snorted then rolled her eyes. “Good to know. I think I’d have to get that checked out.”
“Insolent,” he muttered then leaned closer. She could scent him, the musk that was Austin and pine. “It’s the way you lowered your eyes when I touched you, the way you came closer in certain ways and pulled away in others. Your body, your soul was made to trust a Dom to take care of you in bed.”
“Not all the time,” she added in. She needed to make that clear.
He nodded, understanding filling his gaze. “I understand. I’m wired the same way.” He grinned then, and she held back a sigh. He really was a gorgeous man. Not that she’d tell him. He was already too sure of himself as it was.
“So it seems we’re on the same page,” she whispered.
“It seems. But we’re not done talking yet. Open communication in any relationship is important, but even more so in this case. I don’t need to inflict pain or control on my partner unless they desire it. That need is what drives my own. So every time we’re making love—because Legs, we’ll be making love soon—we don’t need to be together in a D/s way. We won’t need the flogger, the nipple clamps, or the way I want to tie you up each time.”
She shuddered out a breath, her pussy growing slick at his words alone.
Dear God, she wanted all of that.
She hadn’t known how much she wanted that.
“Sometimes, Sierra, sometimes I’ll want you to be on top as you ride me, rocking your hips as you take my cock deep inside that pussy of yours. Other times I’ll be soft and on top, pumping into you as we just let ourselves go, no control, no dominance, just us.” He paused, and she held back the need to squirm. “Does that sound like something you’ll need? Something you’ll enjoy?”
She nodded.
He shook head. “Say it, Sierra.”
“Yes…Sir?” She wasn’t sure what he wanted her to call him.
He grinned then, cupping her face. “I’m just Austin, Sierra. I don’t need to be called Sir or Master for you to be under my gaze. That works for some, but it’s not my kink. If you need to call me that, then you can, but I want to hear my name on your lips as you come.”
She licked her lips. “Austin.”
He grinned. “Good. Right now, since I don’t have any of my things and I know we both want to ease into that part of our relationship, I’m not going to tie you up, flog you, or make you scream.” He paused. “Oh, I might make you scream, but only when I’m thrusting inside you.”
“What if I make you scream?” she teased.
He snorted. “I intend to shout your name, Sierra. I promise you. Now, before we start, we need a safe word.”
She raised her brows. “I thought you said we weren’t starting that part yet.”
He shook his head. “But it’s always good to have one. You know that.”
“I think the standard red, yellow, and green will work.” It was what she’d used with…no, she wouldn’t think of him. Not here.
He narrowed his eyes. “You need a strong one, Sierra. There’s a ghost between us. One you’re not ready to talk about.”
She sucked in a breath.
“Pick a differen
t safe word.”
There was only one word she could use, and they both knew it.
“Motorcycle,” she whispered.
Austin nodded, his eyes carefully blank. Had she hurt him? Maybe, but he’d asked for the safe word. It was something they’d both have to deal with when they were ready.
He stood then, holding out his hand. She took it and stood so her chest brushed his, her body flush to him.
“I want you, Sierra Elder. Say you want me too.”
She knew this was big. A step she hadn’t been sure she was ready to take as late as that morning. However, she’d been hiding for so long, neglecting what was inherent to her being that she knew she needed to take this risk.
“I want you too.”
“Good.”
He crushed his mouth to hers, and she moaned. His hands were in her hair, forcing her head to stay in one place as he devoured her mouth. His tongue pressed against hers, controlling the kiss, and she gave in. They might not get into the truly D/s things this first time, but she wanted—no, needed to let herself give in and see if she could trust him.
Not fully.
Not yet.
But soon.
His lips trailed along her jawline, and she closed her eyes, reveling in the feel of his lips, teeth, and tongue on her skin. He bit her earlobe then placed small kisses right behind it, sending delicious shivers down her spine, her knees going weak.
“Austin,” she whispered.
“Yes, that’s my name,” he growled against her neck, one hand on her head, the other on her lower back. “You’re going to be saying it over and over again soon.”
Before she could respond, his mouth was on hers again as he cupped her breast. She gasped as he rolled her nipple hard between his thumb and forefinger. It didn’t matter that she still wore her shirt and bra, the exquisite pain and sweetness went straight to her core, and she shuddered.
Oh, how she missed this.
“I want to suck your nipples, learn their taste.” He pulled up her shirt, and she lifted her arms, letting him strip it off her head, leaving her in her tank and bra. “Earlier, I was mesmerized by just the thought of them. I wanted to know their color and what they’d look like after I’d sucked and nibbled on them. Then my thoughts went to your pussy, and I wanted to know what you’d look like swollen and wet, ready for my cock.”
[Montgomery Ink 00.5 - 01.0] Box Set Page 25
