Despite her efforts to hold him prisoner, Eric lifted his head and propped himself up, disentangling himself from her octopus grip. He grinned down at her, his gaze taking in her heaving chest while a satisfied smile curved the corners of his mouth. "Tomorrow we'll start." Before she could grab him again, he pushed up to his knees and then stood.
"What? You're leaving?" Marina pushed herself up, frustration seething in her veins.
"For tonight." He took her hand and helped her off the sofa. "You need to rest." He guided her to the front door, which was good, because her knees were weak. "Lock up and set the alarm after I leave. I'll be here tomorrow at two." He dropped a fast, hard kiss against her lips then he opened the door and strode out.
Eric stood outside Marina's front door willing his dick to settle down. Damn, Marina could arouse him faster than any other woman. Her openness along with her innocence was a heady combination. It took incredible willpower to pull himself away from her grinding hips. But he had to demonstrate he was always in complete control of himself. That was the only way for her to trust him enough to totally let go.
The sound of the deadbolt being thrown put his mind at ease a bit. He didn’t like leaving her alone. He strode to his vehicle. He'd teach her as much as he could this weekend because starting Monday he had best man duties and their time would be limited. But after the wedding was over...Marina was his.
Chapter Two
Eric strode up to Marina's front door right at two Saturday afternoon. He'd spent the morning going through his toy bag. After cleaning it out and making a few new purchases he was ready to teach Marina.
He raised his arm to knock and the door was flung open. Marina stood there, her hair in a messy bun, t-shirt clinging to her breasts and a frown.
"About time you got here." She huffed out a breath, and marched away from him into the living room.
Eric took a calming breath, reminding himself he'd left her aroused last night without any satisfaction. He shut the door behind him and engaged the locks. Then he sauntered into the living room.
Marina stood near the wooden bookcase staring at him, arms crossed over her breasts. She was no longer frowning, but didn't look happy.
"I said I would be here by two." He glanced at his watch. "It's one minute after."
She huffed out a breath. "Why did you walk away last night?"
"Because it was the right thing to do." He dropped his bag next to the sofa and strode over to her. He framed her face with his hands, palms on her cheeks. "You'd flown across country yesterday, then had dinner and listened to the wedding plans. Then you and I talked. You were exhausted." He wouldn’t mention the part about his proving he had self-control. She didn’t need to know any of that. She did need to know he would take care of her.
"You could have stayed."
He shook his head. "You needed rest, not play." Inclining his head, he brushed his lips over her cool ones. "Today we'll play. But only if you drop the attitude."
"Bossy." She smiled.
"You have no idea." Eric grinned at her, released her face and stepped back.
"I think I might. Do you want something to drink?"
"Do you have bottled water?"
"You should know, you bought me three cases yesterday." He kept her in sight as she walked into the kitchen to get the water. Once she was back, he looked her over with a critical eye.
The t-shirt was fine, having her hair up and out of the way was good, but the jeans would need to go. But he was getting ahead of himself. They still had a bit more talking to do.
He gestured to the sofa and waited until she sat down. "How much do you remember from last night?"
"Safewords, flogging, bondage and toys."
"Very good." He strode around the back of the sofa, when Marina turned her head, he stopped her. "No. Keep eyes straight ahead."
She took a breath then did as he said. Eric's pulse increased. She obeyed him without question. A shaft of pleasure cut through his body.
He placed his hands on her shoulders and asked, "How many lovers have you had?"
Her body jerked, but she kept her head straight. "I'm twenty-eight years old. Enough."
"And I'm thirty-two. How many?"
This time she shivered. "Three." Her voice was low.
"Who were they?"
"Do we have to?" She squirmed beneath his hold and he tightened his grip, not so it would hurt her, just to keep her still.
"I don't need names. Your age and how long you were lovers."
She exhaled loudly, but he let it pass. He could wait all day if necessary. "Eighteen, one time after the prom. Twenty-one, my entire last year of college. Twenty-five, two years."
"Thank you." He massaged the tension out of her shoulders, before scooting around the sofa where he knelt in front of Marina. "I've had one long-term relationship which lasted six years starting when I was twenty. Otherwise not more than a night or two for a total of about ten women."
Her blue eyes widened and he grinned. He was very aware people thought of him as a playboy. He dated lots of women but that didn't mean he slept with them.
"Didn't expect me to be so honest?"
"No."
"It's a two-way street." He took a seat beside her. "Today is about getting to know each other better, introduce you to some of the items I want to use on you, and get comfortable with each other."
Marina frowned. "You're not going to...do anything today?"
"Maybe and maybe not." He slipped his hand behind her neck. "We've only kissed once, and not much else. How would you feel if I told you to stand up and strip?"
She jerked in his hold. "Gotcha."
"Good. So let's take this one step at a time. Tell me about yourself."
Three hours later, Marina wandered out onto the back patio and leaned against the railing. The night air brushed lightly over her skin in a soft caress. She stared out into the trees.
Eric had ordered pizza for dinner and ran into town to pick it up. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, allowing the scent of pine and fresh air to fill her lungs. She'd learned quite a bit this afternoon.
Marina shifted from one foot to the other, breathing in the forest air. Eric was an only child, his parents divorced when he was fourteen. He'd gone to live with his mother, whom Marina thought of as a serial man-eater. While Eric was matter-of-fact about his mom's dating and sleeping habits, she began to understand why he was a player.
Then there was Jessica, his long-time lover during college and after. Marina's hands gripped the railing. Even though it was in the past, the relationship knotted her stomach. Jealousy? Because it had been serious. Marina didn’t like that, which was totally irrational. Her hands gripped the railing. Why was she possessive of Eric suddenly? He'd met Jessica while taking a history course, they hit it off and began dating. By the end of the semester, they moved in together.
But then Jessica, stopped going to school, relied on Eric for everything. Eric was already working a job to help put himself through college, now he had to support her as well. He did what he could. When he graduated with his architecture degree with a minor degree in engineering, he went to work for a small firm.
A smile crept over Marina's lips. He talked with such passion about being able to draw plans to build houses and buildings. He really enjoyed his work. But Jessica took his work as a meal ticket. The more he worked the more Jessica demanded things. Red flashed before Marina’s eyes. Eric deserved a lot better.
That wasn't all, after his college years, he'd learned about kink and found he liked some of it. He enjoyed being able to tie a woman up, tease her with toys or his fingers or his mouth. Flogging filled him with energy, to see his partner react with pleasure not pain.
Jessica didn't like when he was gone learning how to be a good dominant partner and she wasn't interested in kink at all. Eric glossed over some of his relationship with Jessica, but the end had come in a spectacular fight at a business dinner.
Marina shook her head.
The kiss of death, confront your significant other in public in front of people he worked with. Eric hadn't said what the fight was about, but he'd taken Jessica home, packed his things and left that night.
In a way, Marina understood why he didn't want another relationship after seeing his mother go through men like tissues, and then Jessica did a number on him. Marina hoped he understood not all women were like that.
Look at Mark and Lisa, they'd been together since they were twenty, and now eight years later are getting married. The sound of an engine filled the air. Marina turned from where she stood and walked back into the house.
She opened the front door as Eric sauntered up the walkway. Her heart stuttered. Damn, this man affected her. Lust, desire and a little bit of love coursed through her veins.
"Got your favorite, chicken and garlic, pizza."
She stepped back so he could make his way into the house. Instead he stopped next to her, and when she tilted her head up, his head descended. Cool lips brushed her warm ones.
A shiver of anticipation swept over her skin. Jerry had never been this affectionate with her. And looking back it should have clued her into what an ass he was.
"That's an appetizer," Eric whispered as he swept past her and into the kitchen.
Marina let out a laugh, shut the door and set the alarm. "Sounds like you have plans for after dinner."
That I do."
"Rise and shine," said a cheerful male voice.
"Go away." Marina pulled the covers over her head. "It's too early." Then she realized Eric was talking to her. She sat up and the events of last night floated into her mind.
After dinner, they'd gone through his bag and he explained his toys. Vibrators, bullets, clamps, rope and restraints for bondage, and two different floggers. Throughout it all Marina's core clenched and her panties stayed wet.
Then they spent time kissing and touching, but nothing more than that. Marina had been very frustrated when she went to bed.
Wait a second. "You're still here," she blurted out. He said he'd spend the night in her spare bedroom, but she hadn't really expected him to stay.
"I said I would be." He frowned at her.
"Sorry," she mumbled. She was used to men lying to her. Jerry was an expert at it. "I need coffee." She slid out of bed.
"I have it brewing." He cupped her chin and dropped his head.
Her hand rose stopping the descent of his lips. "I have morning breath."
"Who cares?" His free hand captured hers, gently removing it as his lips covered hers.
Awe, damn. The man didn't care if she had morning breath. His lips were warm and soft as they moved over hers. Marina melted. Her arms crept over his shoulders to entwine around his neck, her body making contact with his.
Eric broke the kiss. "Enough." He gazed down at her, his eyes dark with desire. "By the time you get a shower and dressed, breakfast will be ready, so get a move on." He released her, but first gave her a swat on the butt.
Marina jumped at the sting, then smiled. "You cooked me breakfast?"
"You have to eat. Now go." He turned to leave.
"Why don't you join me?" Marina froze. What the hell had she just said?
Eric grinned at her. "I'd love to, but not today. We have a lot of ground to cover." With that he left the room.
She blew out a breath and all but danced into the bathroom.
Four hours later in her bedroom, Marina stuck her tongue out at Eric.
"Bad girl," he said in a playful tone.
"This is so not fair." Her hands were bound behind her back, and her naked breasts thrust out. Not that she minded, what bothered her was Eric had yet to touch her. For the last twenty minutes or so, he'd used a feather, a soft bristle brush and small rabbit flogger on her breasts. Her tits ached with the need to be touched, and her nipples...her poor nipples were hard and tight, begging for attention.
"I never said I would be fair." He turned away from her and rummaged in his bag.
Marina fought against sighing. She'd done that earlier and he'd tortured her by running an ice cube all over her upper body. Okay, maybe not torture, but she still shivered remembering the sensation. Eric took foreplay to a whole new level.
A cell phone rang. "Damn I forgot to turn my phone off." Eric stood and crossed the room to pick up his phone where he left it on the table and glanced at the display. "Hello, Mark."
Marina groaned. Mark was calling, this couldn't be good. "Okay, got it. See you in an hour." He ended the call and looked at her. "Sorry, sweetie, best-man duty calls."
"Damn," she whispered.
"You have no idea." He unfastened her hands, wound the rope, put it back in his bag and zipped the bag shut.
She found her shirt and slipped it on as goose bumps popped out on her skin. "Will I see you tonight?"
"I'll call or text you." He straightened and pulled her into his arms. "This wasn't how I wanted to end today."
"Me either." She snuggled closer to him, craving his warmth. In a short period of time Eric became important to her. The thought didn't scare her. Instead, it empowered her. "If not tonight, dinner tomorrow night. I'll make you something special."
"That's an offer I can't refuse." He brushed a kiss against her lips before they separated. He picked up his bag and strode to the door.
Marina followed him, then stood in the doorway as he climbed into his vehicle. "Lock up," he ordered before he shut the door and drove off.
Chapter Three
Saturday had taken forever to arrive. But now Mark and Lisa were happily married. Eric glanced over at Marina on his right. They'd finally finished their best man and maid of honor duties. It was time for them once they were done with the reception.
After Mark's call Saturday night, Eric had spent most of his time dealing with Mark and his upcoming wedding. Eric grinned at Marina. She'd been a good sport. While they'd been able to take some time on Sunday so he could learn about her likes and dislikes, all week their time together was limited to a couple of dinners and some foreplay.
Not that he minded foreplay, but his desire for Marina was overflowing. Thank goodness the wedding was over. Now, toasts had been made, the first dance was about to begin. Soon, they'd be able to escape.
He leaned over and whispered, "I can't wait to get you alone."
"Soon," she whispered back, as her hand came to rest on his upper thigh.
His dick jumped.
"I have no idea of how we managed to get through this week," she said. Her fingers lightly caressed him beneath the fabric of his tux.
"Baby you keep doing what you're doing and everyone in this room is going to know how hard I am for you." Her hand froze, then withdrew. Regret burned through him when she removed her touch, if he was going to get through this evening without sporting a boner the size of Texas, she had to keep her hands to herself.
"Sorry."
This time he captured her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed her knuckles. "Never be sorry. I love your hands on me, but right now is not the best time." Hell it might take months before he could stop sprouting an instant erection around her.
The music changed. "That's our cue." He kept a hold of her hand as he stood. Together they walked out onto the dance floor, before he pulled her into his arms. More torture.
Soon the dance floor was full, which gave him the excuse to pull Marina even closer. She rested her cheek against his shoulder as they danced, her hand on his chest. In this last week, she'd wormed her way into his heart.
Who was he kidding? Marina held a place in his heart for a long time. While they hadn't done much but kiss and a little foreplay, she'd been open and honest with him about her wants and needs.
Tonight, they'd explore their kink together. A hotel room and unlimited time. Her hand slipped from his chest heading south as they danced.
"What are you up to?" he asked.
"Nothing." A wicked smile curved her lips as her hand continued to move, until she cupped him right there on the
dance floor.
Damn. He missed a step and stumbled, before making a quick recovery. "Marina," he groaned her name softly.
"I can't wait until we're alone. I want this." She squeezed him again. "I want you."
He glanced around the room. Everyone was dancing, not paying attention to them. "How long before we can leave?"
We Love Kink - Erotic Romance Anthology #1 Page 18
