by Sarah Bale
“Dear? Is everything okay?” Mrs. Ingram asked, concern filling her voice.
Shannon opened her eyes. “Sorry, I’m still tired. Working two jobs was really taking a toll on me.” She looked at the food spread out before her and picked up a roll. “Everything looks great. Thank you.”
Mrs. Ingram seemed satisfied and left her alone in the large dining room. Shannon took a bite of the warm roll and then gasped in surprise. It was coated with honey butter, her favorite. She took a closer look at everything in front of her.
There was pot roast with little baby carrots cooked with it, the mashed potatoes were made using red potatoes and the green beans were French style. All her favorites—or everything she had liked eight years ago.
Silent tears began to fall as she took another bite of the roll. Dev wasn’t going to come out and say it but he obviously still cared about her. She set the rest of the bread down. She might not be able to take back the past but she could do everything in her power to please him for the next month.
She grabbed the contract and left the dining room with a new goal in mind. Dev made an effort to pick things she would like and now it was her turn to do the same. She ran into Mrs. Ingram in the hallway.
“Finished already?”
“Yes, everything was delicious.” She bit her lip and then asked, “Is it possible for me to have some strawberries and whipped cream brought up to my room?”
Mrs. Ingram’s face lit up with a knowing smile. “Of course. Give me five minutes and I will bring them up. I’ll also add a bottle of champagne.”
She shook her head. “No champagne please.”
“All right, dear.” If Mrs. Ingram found her request odd, she had the courtesy to hide her surprise.
Shannon took in a deep breath and went upstairs. Alice looked up from the bed when Shannon entered the room. Hmm, where on earth could she put Alice while she and Dev…worked on things?
Mrs. Ingram knocked and walked in. “Here you go, dear.” She set the tray with the goodies on the bed. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“I hate to ask but do you know where I can put Alice for the rest of the night?”
Lord, if Mrs. Ingram didn’t know what she was up to before, now her plan was clear.
Mrs. Ingram didn’t miss a beat. “Why that sweet little puppy can stay with me. I used to have a Chihuahua and I miss her so much. I can bring Alice back in the morning, if you like.” She paused and then added, “Or you can come and get her whenever you want.”
“Thank you so much. Come here, Alice.”
At the mention of her name, Alice’s ears perked up.
“Oh look at you, you angel,” Mrs. Ingram cooed as she scooped up the puppy.
Shannon held her breath as she waited to see how the dog would react. Alice simply licked Mrs. Ingram in the face and then went back to sleep in her arms.
Shannon laughed. “I think she likes you.”
“The feeling is mutual.” Mrs. Ingram walked to the door. “If you need anything else, just ring.”
When she was gone, Shannon walked into the massive closet and went to the dresser filled with lingerie. Before, she had been too embarrassed to examine the articles of underwear too closely. Now she was excited to find the perfect thing to wear. It had been a while since she had a reason to dress up and wanting to please Dev fueled the fire she felt in her belly.
She pulled out a teal bra designed to resemble two flowers. The centers of the cups were cut out in circles so her nipples would be bare. She grinned. Perfect. She opened the next drawer and found the matching thong then chose a pair of silver high heels.
“Devlin James, you are in for a treat,” she said with a grin.
Now all she needed to do was wait for him to come. She giggled. In more ways than one.
Chapter Nine
Dev sat at his desk, staring at the wall. Shit. For the second time since Shannon’s arrival he found himself hiding in his room. She hadn’t even been there twenty-four hours and she was already turning his world upside down.
He looked at the clock and saw that it was ten. Being a man of his word, he finished off his protein drink and stood. His cock jumped in his pants and he had to smile. He had always been able to get hard at the thought of seeing her.
He walked up the stairs, taking his time. Part of him was excited but the other half wondered if he was playing with fire. Was it really worth it to spend time with Shannon or would he be better off if he let her go?
He reached her door and paused. A soft glow came from underneath it. He opened the door and stood with his mouth hanging open. The room was flooded in candlelight and Shannon stood in front of him wearing the sexiest piece of lingerie he had ever seen. His gaze ran her body up and down, not wanting to miss anything.
The high heels she wore made her legs seem longer and lean. One of her hands rested against her hip. He knew if she turned around, her ass would look just as good with that sexy lacy thong. He looked at her flat stomach. She inhaled as if she felt his gaze.
He continued to lift his gaze up the line of her body and his cock jumped to life at the sight of her full breasts in the barely there bra. Her nipples hardened under his stare. Holy shit. He needed to give his personal shopper a raise. She had outdone herself with this outfit.
Shannon stirred slightly and he noticed she held a strawberry dipped in whipped cream. She smiled at him and then let the whipped cream hit her nipple. He thought it was an accident until she did the same thing to the other breast.
Without saying a word she stepped toward him. Her heels made a familiar clicking sound on the marble floor and he closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them she stood in front of him.
She took a bite of the strawberry and then held it up for him to do the same. His lips closed over the piece of fruit and the juicy sweetness exploded in his mouth. He held onto her hand and then licked her fingers. Oh, he wanted to lick more but she pulled away.
He started to open his mouth to say something but she pulled his head down to hers. Their tongues were dancing before their mouths even met. He could taste the strawberries on her and he groaned.
“Dev,” she whispered. “I think you forgot some.”
She took a step back and pushed back her shoulders, thrusting her chest forward. Her nipples stood erect, begging for his attention. He leaned down and caught one with his mouth. The whipped cream and the taste of her skin made his stomach flip. God, she was so sweet.
Her fingers wove through his hair, urging him on. He gently scraped her nipple with his teeth. A throaty moan filled the room and he couldn’t be sure which one of them made the sound.
“Harder,” she whispered.
He lifted his eyes to look at her and she nodded. Excitement coursed through his veins and he began sucking her nipple, pulling his head back and forth.
“Yes,” she moaned. “More.”
He continued to tease her nipple and moved his hand down to her thong. He knew without dipping into her folds that she would be wet for him. She always was and he found it so sexy.
“Spread your legs.”
She did and he began to tantalize her other nipple in reward. When they were younger Shannon had always shied away from anything other than missionary sex. He wondered how far she would be willing to go now. He pulled her thong aside and spread her juices around. Her clit was budded and he flicked his thumbnail over it.
Her body jerked in response and she pressed herself closer. He smiled against her breast. Oh if she liked that, then she was going to love what happened next. He flicked her clit again but this time he scraped his teeth against her nipple at the same time.
“Oh!” she cried out.
He pulled his mouth away from her breast. “Turn around and keep your legs spread.”
She was spinning around before he finished speaking. He grinned. He liked this new, willing Shannon. The whipped cream sat on a tray on the bed. He walked over and picked it up. When he turned she was watching
him with fire in her eyes.
He put some cream on his finger and held it out to her. She wrapped her full lips around it and moved her head back and forth. God, he would have her mouth around his cock before the month was over.
She must have been thinking the same thing because she asked playfully, “When do I get my treat?”
Her gaze landed on the bulge in his jeans and he grinned. “Later, babe. Right now I want to enjoy getting to know your body again.” He put his hand on her hip and patted her.
She laughed and he loved the sound. Her true laughs were rare and he missed hearing them.
“I’ll hold you to that,” she replied.
He caught her mouth in a quick kiss and then went behind her. She started to turn but he stopped her. Not seeing was half the thrill.
“No peeking. I’ll blindfold you if you look. Understand?”
She nodded and he took a moment to appreciate the view before his eyes. She stood with her hands planted on her hips. Her curvy ass was rounder than he remembered but he loved it. And her legs…god, they went on for miles in those heels.
He stood behind her so they were almost touching but not quite. Heat radiated from her. There had always been heat between them, which had been part of their problems in the past.
Sometimes the heat had led to arguments. Sometimes he had become so pissed he left in a rage. His mother used to get so angry with him for being so much like his old man. He swallowed. He never wanted to be like his old man. He shook his head. Now wasn’t the time to think about that.
He pushed her hair over her shoulder so he could see the tattoo on her neck. The small kitten winked back at him and he touched it.
“I remember when you got this,” he said. “I thought your old man was going to shoot me when he found out.”
She laughed. “Dad never understood why a person would want to ‘destroy’ their body in that way. He didn’t believe it was my idea to get the ink.”
Dev chuckled. “I think I was more shocked than he was that you went through with it.”
“Oh? I think people just tend to underestimate me.”
He didn’t reply but leaned forward and wiped whipped cream over the tattoo. She jumped as it hit her skin and then goosebumps popped up.
He grinned and made a trail of cream from her neck all the way to her ass. He wanted her to know where this was going. And he wanted her panting by the time they got there. God knew he was.
Shannon forced herself not to look over her shoulder as Dev made a trail down her back. Oh, his meaning was clear and she shivered. She heard him set the can down and then the room fell silent.
After a moment, curiosity got the better of her and she glanced over her shoulder. The minute she did, his hand slapped against her ass cheek. He hit hard enough to sting but not enough to really hurt. The sound of the spanking was what shocked her.
“Dev! What—?”
His hand landed against her skin again. This time a little lower.
“If you look one more time, I will spank you right here, right on your pussy. Understand?”
His hand cupped her mound and her hips lifted in response. What would it feel like to have him spank her there? Her heart pounded and her stomach churned with excitement. Without thinking, she looked over her shoulder again.
She watched as he lifted his hand. Her entire body jerked as his palm landed against her pussy and she cried out. The lacy thong created friction between his hand and her clit. Again he spanked her. She felt a tightening in the pit of her stomach.
“I’m so close to coming,” she panted. “More!”
He lifted his hand and her entire body waited for the sting against her pussy.
“Dev?”
He didn’t say anything but began licking the whipped cream from her neck. Her head fell to the side to give him better access. Her body was so tense from wanting more that even his tongue against her skin felt different. Maybe it was different this time. Before, she had been too scared to try anything like this.
“I’m not going to spank you again—you’re too close to coming,” he said against her neck. “It would reward you to come and you haven’t earned a reward yet.”
Was he serious or just teasing her? “What do I have to do to earn a reward?”
“Please me.”
Her body hummed and she replied, “How do you want me to please you? Do you want me to suck your dick? Give you a hand job? Ride you cowgirl style?”
His hot breath hit the middle of her back as he made his way down. “Oh, you will eventually do all those things but not tonight. Tonight you can please me by letting me enjoy your body. You won’t come until I say you can though.”
There was something about him being so…dominating that made her heart speed up. He had always known what he wanted but it was different having him tell her.
“I know your body as well as you, Shannon. I can tell when you get close. Each time that happens I will stop and pleasure another area of your body.”
“And if I come without your permission?”
She waited to hear his answer, both dreading and excited for his response.
“If you come without permission, then I won’t fuck you tonight. That will be your punishment.”
Oh, he was playing dirty! Just hearing him talk had her close to an orgasm.
“Understand?”
She nodded.
“Good. Now go to the bed and lie on your stomach.”
She started to take off her shoes but he stopped her. “Leave them on.”
She walked over to the bed and moved the tray with the strawberries to the side. Then she climbed onto the silky sheets and lay on her stomach. She turned her head to the side, making sure she couldn’t see him, but she realized she could see their reflections in the mirror.
He stared back at her with a smile.
“I had that mirror put in with you in mind,” he said as he walked into the closet.
When he came back he carried four silk scarves. She hadn’t noticed them before but now she wondered why he had them. He walked over to her right foot and tied one of the scarves around her ankle. He then tied the other end to the bed frame.
Her face flushed as she realized he was tying her up. He went to the other side of the bed and did the same to her left ankle. She tentatively moved them and found she had a little range before the scarves cut into her skin.
“Normally I’d tie you up on your back so you can see everything I’m about to do but not tonight. Tonight I want you to wonder what my next move is going to be before it happens. I want you to want my touch so badly you are crying out my name but are unable to reach me.”
She met his eyes as he tied her left wrist. Fire burned behind his stare and she trembled in excitement. She had never seen this side of him. He finished tying her up and then pulled one last scarf from his pocket.
Her heart pounded with the unknown as he put it over her eyes and tied it securely. The silk smelled of his cologne and she inhaled deeply.
“Okay?” he asked next to her ear.
She nodded then heard him walking away. Her ears strained against the silence, trying to figure out where he was and what he was doing. She held her breath. Something cold touched her foot and she jumped.
The sensation went from cold to warm to almost hot. Slowly the phantom item moved up her leg, past her calf and to her thigh. His hand went against her thong and pulled, ripping the flimsy material right off her skin.
She smiled. “I could have taken that off before you tied me up.”
“I wanted to take it off, Shannon,” he replied as the item touched her skin again.
Slowly he moved it to her ass cheek, then lower. Her hips lifted and she strained, trying to feel the sensation against her pussy. She was so wet she could feel her juices running down her thighs.
Suddenly he pulled the item away.
“I can tell you’re getting close to coming, Shannon. Your skin is flushing that sexy shade of pink so no more ice
right now.”
Ice? The phantom item had been a simple piece of ice? How could something so familiar seem so exotic? She waited for him to touch her again but nothing happened. He was still near her though. His cologne kept drifting toward her.
“Dev?” she asked.
Suddenly his hand landed against her ass. Her pussy clenched in response and she cried out in pleasure. The ice had cooled her skin and the smack felt as if he’d ignited an inferno. He did it again and she struggled against her bindings to be closer to him.
His deep chuckle set her body on fire.
“I can see you need some time to cool down. I will come back in exactly five minutes. Understand?”
She nodded. Five minutes didn’t seem that long.
Chapter Ten
Dev grinned as he watched Shannon from the doorway. According to his watch she still had two minutes left and he could tell waiting was killing her. Her shoulders lifted as she took in a deep breath.
The bra she had picked out tonight was probably torturing her, rubbing her bare nipples against the silk bedding. Her skin still looked flushed, which meant she was still close to an orgasm. As if sensing the same thing, she clenched her thighs.
He watched in arousal as she held them together and went still. If he were to enter her right now, she would be more than ready. She would also probably come right away too.
The ice he used on her was melting on the floor. He’d thought about leaving it on the small of her back to melt but she wouldn’t be able to handle that right now. He could tell that while she wasn’t inexperienced she had never done something like this. And he liked that he was the one showing her new things. The thought brought him pleasure in ways he hadn’t known possible.
Her five minutes were up and he pulled his shirt over his head. He let it fall to the floor and then took off his shoes. Her head lifted as they hit the floor. She would be anticipating his next move, which is exactly what he wanted.
