"Depends on Mark and Lisa and how long they dance. Once the cake is cut, they'll leave. At least an hour or more."
"And we can leave?"
"Yes. I have to help Lisa with her wedding dress, then I'm all yours." She snuggled closer to him, her hand still cupping his cock.
"I'll never survive if you keep doing that."
"I enjoy feeling your need for me."
"Damn woman." He spun her around forcing her to remove her hand. He couldn't take much more.
Marina's face was alight with laughter when he brought her back into his arms, and in that moment his heart was lost.
Marina couldn't stop smiling. After a week of only seeing Eric at dinner and a few quiet moments with him, they'd hardly been alone. Her body was on fire. Hell, it had been all week. Fire for the one man who made her burn.
Now they were on the dance floor. The music flowed from one song into the next, and they still danced and she was teasing him. Payback would be a bitch, but worth it. He'd been teasing her all week.
Tonight will be a fun night. Eric had told her Mark had given him a suite so he wouldn't have to drive home. Lisa had done the same for her, not that she told Eric that. She hated her friends were going to spend money unnecessarily, but unless she wanted to announce she and Eric were going to sleep together tonight, there wasn't much she could do.
Plus knowing Lisa, she booked the room months ago, when she booked the rooms for her and Mark's family. Things had changed since then. Boy had they. Marina glanced up when Eric stopped dancing.
"They're going to cut the cake."
"It's about time," she whispered.
Eric chuckled. "You're more impatient than I am."
"You bet." She grinned as hand in hand they crossed the room to stand by the cake to help if needed.
Thirty minutes later, Marina excused herself. Eric raised an eyebrow. "Bathroom," she whispered.
"Hurry back."
Marina made her way to the bathroom. She washed her hands and was checking her makeup when another woman entered. Marina had noticed her earlier because of the dress she wore. A lowcut, deep red, evening dress. A little odd for a wedding, but whatever.
She met the woman's gaze in the mirror and smiled.
"You won't keep him."
"Excuse me?" She blinked in shock.
The woman lifted her nose in the air. "Eric. He'll leave you after tonight so don't get too comfortable."
Marina's skin bristled. "What is between Eric and me is none of your business." Who was this woman? Marina ran the guest list through her head, it wasn't that extensive, but still couldn't come up with a name.
"I'm trying to save you some heartache, sweetie." The woman propped her hip against the counter right next to her. "Eric isn't going to settle down with one woman."
Fighting to keep her patience, Marina turned, crossed her arms over her chest and gave her best cold stare at this woman. "Who says I want to settle down?"
"It's written all over you." The woman patted her arm and Marina recoiled from her cold touch. "Eric and I had a fling back in February when he and Mark visited."
"So?" But despite her nonchalance, cold spread from Marina’s arm through her veins. Eric and Mark had gone to Mark's home town to work things out with Mark's parents before the wedding. Mark's parents hadn't been happy when their only son moved across country and opened his own business instead of coming into the family business.
"So, Eric and I hooked up. We had a great time together." The woman turned to the mirror and started applying lipstick. "Has he tied you up yet?"
A gasp escaped. The woman's gaze shifted to Marina’s, eyes gleaming.
"He's so good at bondage, and other things. Enjoy what time you have with him, because it won't last." The woman turned and marched out of the room, her spiked heels clicking on the tile.
Marina gripped the counter, then she found the small stool and sat before her legs gave out. Jerry had left her for another woman, what made Eric so different? Her expectations, that’s what. Her stomach cramped. She'd fallen for Eric. What was she going to do?
Confront Eric. She wasn't the same woman Jerry left a year ago. She was stronger now. Taking a deep breath, Marina stood and marched out to the ballroom. She stopped in her tracks.
Eric was dancing with the woman in red from the bathroom. What the hell? The woman said something and he laughed. Marina’s heart seized. No, she wasn't going to put up with another cheating man.
She glanced around until she found Lisa and strode over to her. "Lisa," she said softly. Lisa turned and then frowned.
"What's wrong?"
Marina shook her head. "I'm not feeling well. I'm going to go to my room, will you be okay?"
The frown turned into concern. "Mark can help me if necessary." She touched Marina's arm. "Feel better. I'll text you tomorrow."
"You'll be on your honeymoon. Concentrate on your new husband." Marina turned, her gaze found Eric and the woman still dancing. Without a word she left the room before the tears she was holding back started.
Eric scanned the room. Where was Marina? She'd been gone way too long. He'd been waiting for her when a wedding guest cornered him for a dance. To be polite, he didn't say no. He fully expected Marina to show up and cut in, but she hadn't.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and texted her.
Where are you?
Marina responded. I need some time alone
What? He shook his head. Sweetie, what's going on.
Please Eric, I can't deal with you right now.
He stared at his phone. She couldn't deal with him? What the hell had happened?
Talk to me.
After ten minutes of his text being unanswered, he understood she wasn't going to say more. He'd wait until Mark and Lisa left, then he'd find her.
Two hours later, Eric entered his hotel suite. He dropped his duffle bag on the floor and walked straight to the mini bar. He needed a drink.
He'd searched high and low for Marina. Sweet, sexy, fiery Marina. The woman who boldly squeezed his cock on the dance floor then disappeared with a text she needed time alone.
Eric pulled out a small bottle of whiskey and twisted the cap. He looked at the glass. Damn, no ice. He snatched the ice bucket from its place, slipped out of the room and down the hall to the machine. One stiff drink, then he'd try Marina again before hitting the shower.
With the bucket filled, he returned to his room. He kicked off his shoes and poured the whiskey into the ice filled glass. The alcohol burned its way down to his stomach, but it took the edge off.
Where was Marina? Why had she left the wedding? He hadn't asked Mark or Lisa, not wanting them to worry. Marina had traveled with Lisa to the wedding, so she didn't have a car. She might have hailed a cab. But he'd asked the doorman at the hotel where the reception was and he didn't remember anyone fitting Marina's description.
He set the empty glass back on the mini bar and snagged his duffle bag. He'd made a quick trip to his favorite adult store early this morning. He wanted some special toys for Marina tonight.
Shaking his head, Eric made his way into the bedroom. The drapes were open allowing some of the night light to filter into the room. He stopped inside the doorway. His senses alert. Something wasn't right.
His gaze flittered around the room until he made out a small lump on the bed. What the hell? Had Mark given him the wrong room key? He turned to leave.
"Oh God, Eric, why?"
He froze. He knew that voice. Without thought he sat the duffle down and marched over to the bed.
"Marina?"
The form on the bed jerked into an upright position. "Eric." Her voice husky he wasn't sure from sleep or something else.
"Yes." He sat on the mattress.
"What are you doing in my room?" Her voice was raspy.
"We can figure that out later." The muted light caught her face. The tears on her face stopped his heart. "Why are you crying?"
She shook her head causing
her red hair to fall obscuring her features. With measured movements, Eric leaned forward and pushed her hair back. "Honesty, Marina."
"Like you were honest with me."
The hurt in her voice caused him to pull back. "I've been honest with you."
"Really?" She knocked his arm away from her and pushed herself up even more on in bed.
"You went with Mark back to Kansas in February, correct?"
"Yes." Eric rubbed his chin. He'd helped his best friend patch things over with his parents.
"And while you were there you had a nice little fling with the blonde bimbo you were dancing with tonight."
"What?" He flung himself to his feet. "You think I had a relationship with the woman I was dancing with?"
How the hell had she gotten that idea? He hadn't been with a woman in over a year.
"So you deny it." She crossed her arms over her breasts staring at him.
"Hell yes, I deny it." He paced the room. "I have no interest in anyone but you."
"Then why were you dancing with her?"
Eric stopped and took a deep breath. The pain in Marina's voice was his undoing. He shoved his own despair away and concentrated on her. There was something lurking in her past that had her doubting him.
"I was being polite." He returned to the side of the bed and sat. "Marina, you are the only woman I want in my life." He reached up and brushed his fingers over her wet cheek.
"But...." Her voice trailed off as she turned her face into his touch. "I'm so afraid." The words where whisper soft.
"Of what, sweetheart?" He shifted closer to her.
"What if I'm not enough for you?"
Shock rocked his body. "Not enough?" Who the fuck had done a number on her confidence? He never thought Marina would think that. She was such a strong, confident woman. "Marina." He drew her against his chest. She didn't resist.
"I mean it, Eric."
"I know you do." He cradled her in his arms. "I want to know why you think you aren't enough for me? Because I'm telling you right now you're a handful."
Her small laugh vibrated through her body and Eric let out a sigh of relief. She wasn't pushing him away.
"The blonde you were dancing with confronted me in the ladies' room." While Marina's voice was soft, the hurt poured from her tone. "She told me while you were with Mark in Kansas that the two of you hooked up."
Ah, that's why the blonde looked familiar. "I can honestly say I did not hook up with that woman." Why would this unknown woman make so much trouble?
"She made it sound like you did. Eric, she knew you were into bondage."
He stiffened. His kink wasn't something he advertised. "Tell me exactly what she said."
"She'd asked me if you'd tied me up yet. And then said you liked bondage and other things." Marina leaned back.
"I do like those things." Eric racked his brain thinking back to the trip where he and Mark were, what they did, and...Oh hell. "Damn, now I remember." Marina stiffened in his arms, but he held her tight. "I didn't sleep with her, that's not what I remembered. I remembered where I'd met her."
"So you do know her."
"A brief introduction. Mark and I had gone out to lunch at some local diner, she'd come up with another friend, they both knew Mark and Mark introduced us. Heck, I don't even remember her name after we finished dinner. We left Mark's hometown two days later."
"Then how did she know you liked bondage?"
Eric gazed down at Marina's upturned face. He didn't want to betray a confidence, but he figured Mark would forgive him. "Mark asked me if I'd ever tied up a woman and how to do it."
"Oh." A gleam came into her eye. "Lisa is going to have an interesting honeymoon."
"Yes." He shifted. "So tell me why you believed this woman's lies without confronting me?"
Marina sighed. "Jerry." There was bitterness in her tone when she mentioned her ex's name. "I should have known better than to doubt you. You've been nothing but up front with me. Honest with me." She touched his cheek with soft, cool fingers. "Jerry lied to me constantly, even when I confronted him and then before he left he told me I wasn't woman enough for him."
"What an asshole." Eric tightened his arms around Marina. "You are more than woman enough for me and tonight I plan to show you just how much."
"Really?" Her eyes brightened.
"Yes."
"So you forgive me?"
"Of course." He brushed a kiss over her nose. "I understand how you could think what you did. But next time you have doubts confront me, don't run away."
"Yes, sir."
His cock jumped. "I'm going to hop in the shower. When I come out I expect you to be naked and waiting in this bed." Releasing her, Eric stood and marched into the bathroom.
Marina sat on the bed staring at the bathroom door. He forgave her. Warm relief slowly eased her pounding heart. Without accusing her of being selfish or stupid, Eric helped her get over her hurt and was honest with her.
She shook her head. He was a one-in-a-million man. The sound of the shower coming on caused her to grin. Maybe she should give him a show when he came out. Scrambling off the mattress, she quickly stripped out of the nightshirt she'd slipped on, and her panties. Then she climbed back onto the mattress and waited.
It wasn't long before the water shut off. She slid her hand down her stomach to her mound. She was wet. A grin played around her lips as she caressed her outer lips.
The bathroom lights went off and Marina let out a breath, closed her eyes and thrust her fingers into her pussy. Her mouth opened on a moan. Soon Eric's cock would be there, filling her up.
"Oh Eric," she whispered.
"Easy, my sweet." Eric's soft voice in her ear made her jump. Her lashes lifted, to see him leaning over with mischief dancing in his eyes.
"I..." She swallowed past the lump in her throat as she removed her fingers from her wet core.
"Shhh." His fingers brushed across her lips, then his rough palm cupped her chin. He tilted her head to the side. She watched in a daze as he lowered his mouth to hers.
Every nerve sprang to life. His tongue invaded her mouth. She lifted her arms and entwined them around his neck. His kiss was better than any of her fantasies.
Eric's tongue dueled with hers, both fighting for domination. Her skin tingled with anticipation. His fingers trailed from her face, over her neck until he rested his palm on her bare breast and pinched her nipple. She gasped into his mouth as pleasure shot straight to her wet pussy.
She broke the kiss. "Eric..." She paused, trying to find the right words. They'd been building toward this all week.
"My beautiful, Marina." His breath brushed her cheek. "Nice, perky nipples." His fingers toyed with the right one and then the left. She fought to remain still and not push her breasts into his palms.
"Your skin is so soft," he whispered, nibbling at her neck as his palm slid over her stomach, inching closer to her wet pussy. "I want to play with you."
"Play?" The word came out in a squeak. Oh God, yes, they'd been building to this moment all week.
"Yes." He took her lips in a hard, fast kiss. "I want you so much. I want to tie you up on this bed and play with your body any way I want, until you scream with pleasure. Then I'm going to fuck you until neither of us can move."
Liquid heat spread through her veins with each word. Her heart beat erratic while she toyed with his thick dark hair. Excitement tingled up her spine. "All tonight?"
"All tonight." He straightened and crossed the room, where he picked up his bag. "Good thing I went shopping this morning." He dropped the duffle at the foot of the bed.
"Shopping?" Her eyes widened as he began pulling packages out of the bag and her breath caught in her throat.
"Safewords?" He opened two packages. Cuffs and rope.
"Green, yellow and red." Her heart rate sped up and her core clenched.
He threaded the rope through the D-links on the cuffs before dropping to the floor and the bed frame rattled, then he stood
up and threw one end of the rope over the top of the mattress. He walked around the bed, and tied off the rope underneath the opposite side of the bed frame.
Eric adjusted the cuffs on the white sheets, and then tightened the rope. He did the same at the end of the bed. "Scoot into the middle of the bed and lay down."
A shiver of pleasure slid through her veins as she followed his orders, and in minutes he had her arms and legs cuffed. She fought the urge to squirm, but Eric grinned at her.
We Love Kink - Erotic Romance Anthology #1 Page 19
