by Mandi Beck
“Again,” I pant. When he doesn’t give me what I want right away, I wrap my legs around his waist and lift up. Offering as much as I am demanding.
“You want it, love?”
Jasper leans back on his knees, wrapping his large hands around my waist, his fingers digging into the flesh of my ass. He’s stunning. He looks like a feral beast as his hooded gaze locks on to where our bodies are joined. Again, watching him watch us is so fucking hot. I give an impatient roll of my hips, urging him to move. Never have I been so demanding in bed. Usually I take care of myself when all is said and done because whoever I was with didn’t get me there. That won’t be happening tonight. Jasper will make sure of that. As if he can read my mind he thumbs over my clit, causing my legs to tremble. Jesus. Seeing my reaction, he does it again, this time following it with a long, slow slide of his cock.
“Tell me you want it, Fannin, and I’ll make you come. It would be so easy.”
He presses down on my over-sensitized nub, rubbing in a counterclockwise movement before changing it up. The trembling in my legs is out of my control. I’m not sure if my reaction is because I haven’t had a man-induced orgasm in so long or if it’s that I’m bound and at his mercy or if it’s just the man in front of me. It might be all three. I don’t really care. Torturing me with another shallow thrust, I whimper.
“Make me come. Make me come all over you and then I want you to come all over me.” My words. My crazy, totally out of the ordinary for me words break a dam in both of us. With a grunt, Jasper let’s out a string of words I can’t quite catch, his accent thick. I don’t need to understand the things he’s saying—his body is telling me all I need to know. He has me pulled tightly against him, pounding into me with a fierce, rhythmic pace. Not allowing either of us catch our breath, it takes only a moment for me to fall right over into the abyss. Stars flashing behind my lids, I scream out his name, my body quaking and straining against him as I come with a power I’ve never experienced. Near the brink of passing out, he plucks at my clit at the same time he pivots his hips, hitting a spot inside me I wasn’t sure any man could reach, making another orgasm explode and chase after the first. Delirious with sated pleasure, I open my eyes as Jasper pulls from my still pulsing body and rips off the condom covering him.
“Open your mouth, love,” he growls, giving me no other option but to obey. Quickly he moves up my torso until the head of him is pushing past my lips and into the hot velvet of my mouth. With my hands still tied and Jasper all but sitting on my chest, cock down my throat, I’m close to coming again. Moaning around him as he fists his hand into my hair and guides me over him, his hips pump faster as he nears his own climax. He loses his rhythm, allowing me to take him even deeper, the scent of me on his skin tickling at my nose. When my throat begins to close around his length, he hisses between his teeth, retreating, but I follow as much as my restraints will let me, not allowing him to get far. “Fannin, I’m going to come and it’s either going to be all over your gorgeous face or in your wicked mouth. Make a decision. Now,” he orders in a pained voice. He’s a man on the brink of control and I brought him there. Opening my mouth wider around him, I suck him in deeper, harder. It’s the only answer he needs as he laces his fingers with mine on the headboard and explodes into my mouth. His warm come coats my throat in long spurts as I flatten my tongue against him, pulling and milking every last drop. With a shudder, he backs away, easing his cock from my mouth and untying me at the same time. Silently I rub my wrists to bring feeling back to them as he settles beside me.
“You okay, love? I didn’t hurt you, did I?” His lips brush against my shoulder, my chest, a still-taut nipple, and back to my mouth.
I sigh against his lips in contentment and shake my head no, brushing my fingers through his mussed hair. After the best sex of my life, I can’t muster up the energy that words require.
“Good. Get some rest. I’m only just getting started,” Jasper whispers into my ear, pulling me into his chest with one hand covering a breast and the other languidly finding its way between my legs.
“Really?”
“Aye.”
It’s a grunted promise that leaves me feeling giddy. Maybe Jasper will bring an end to the vibe drawer. Seeing the pink marks on my wrists, I smile. Then again, maybe not.
Chapter Fourteen
Jasper
It’s been nearly thirty-six hours since I’ve seen Fannin. I don’t like it. Normally I would go days, sometimes weeks, without talking to the woman I was shagging, but Fannin is different. Ten minutes after I let her out of my bed, I wanted to drag her right back. Now, dressed to the nines for this shite wedding that I know is going to be a nightmare, I’m in the back of a luxury town car, a black tuxedo strangling the life out of me with a bouquet of thistle, the same color as Fannin’s eyes and nearly impossible to find, on the seat next to me. I’m not looking forward to the un-joyous occasion mostly because I don’t think I can manage to keep my mouth shut when it comes to Fannin and all of the arseholes in her life. I felt protective of her before she let me inside of her, hated the way they all treated her. Now that I know what she tastes like, that I’ve tied her to my bed . . . she’s mine, and I’ll be damned if they’ll treat her poorly in front of me. The fact that I’m proper taken by her should worry me. Especially after the stunt Lorna pulled, but I’m not worried. This fake relationship has become one of the realest things in my life.
The car rolls to a stop in front of Fannin’s building in the heart of Manhattan.
“Just circle a bit, if you don’t mind. I’ll phone you when we’re on our way down,” I tell the driver as I step out onto the curb. A doorman opens the door, nodding in greeting. At the concierge podium in front of the elevator, I’m met by a smiling older man, tufts of white hair looking like soft cotton on his head. “You must be here for Miss McGuire,” he says, picking up the phone.
“Aye. I am. What gave it away?”
He chuckles, “The monkey suit. She told me she would be going to the wedding tonight and that she had a date.” He waggles his eyebrows, the same cottony tufts as on his head, at me. “I’m glad she decided to take someone. Shouldn’t nobody have to attend a wedding like this alone. It’s like one of those soap operas my wife likes so much,” the chatty man huffs. He’s about to go on when Fannin picks up the phone.
“Miss Fannin, your date is here, want me to send him up?” I can’t hear what Fannin says but she must give him permission because he nods at me, smiling conspiratorially like we have some kind of secret. I like him. “Will do.” Placing the phone back he turns to the elevator and opens it for me, reaching in and pressing the button for the fifteenth floor. “Not quite the penthouse, but close. Number three is her.” He winks.
When the elevator slides open, I’m let out in an elegant foyer, not what I was expecting. It all feels like a swank hotel really. Walking down the hall, I come to a stop in front of Fannin’s door and give a knock. Almost immediately, the door flies open and I’m stunned stupid. Fannin is before me in a two-piece dress thing. The top is black sparkly lace with some kind of nude material behind it that makes it look as if she’s naked beneath the tank. I let my eyes roam over her bared stomach to the shiny champagne-colored skirt that hits just at her knee. Just enough to tease. Her legs are so long as it is, but add to it the four-inch nude heels and they look like the path to heaven. My heaven.
“You look stunning, love.” That’s an understatement. Handing her the bouquet of thistle, I press a kiss into her cheek, her scent more intoxicating now that I know what it smells like on my sheets.
She smiles, pleased, and smooths a hand over my lapel while clutching the flowers to her chest. “You don’t look too bad yourself. I half expected a kilt.”
Cheeky. “I’ll not be busting out the plaid skirt for the likes of these arseholes.”
With a laugh she pulls me into the apartment. “Thank you for these. They’re absolutely gorgeous. Thistle, right?” Fannin asks as she takes a vase off
a shelf and fills it with water and the flowers.
“Aye. You left your hair down,” I say into the silky curls, making her jump at my sudden closeness.
Looking over her shoulder, she peers up at me. “You don’t like it? I was going to put it up, but I know how Bethany hates when I wear it down so—”
I quiet her rambling with a kiss. Just a quick peck really, otherwise I’ll be bending her over the counter instead of escorting her to a wedding. “I like it best this way. My wild beauty. Like you can’t be tamed by the likes of them.”
“How about you? Can I be tamed by you?” Her voice is soft, inviting me to tame her right here, right now. She’ll be the death of me.
“Aye. I’ll show you later just how good at taming you I am.” Taking a step back, I tip my head to the door. “You ready? If we don’t leave now, we won’t, love.” My voice is gruff with my need for this woman.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” She goes to slip past me, and I snag her elbow, stopping her.
“Are you okay? With today? The wedding? I should have asked earlier, I’m sorry.”
Fannin places a hand on my cheek, her eyes lit with appreciation. “You still taking me?”
“Aye.”
“Then I’m fine.”
***
Fannin opted not to attend the church ceremony, telling her father that she would see them at The Plaza for the family pictures which I think is shite. The fact that she has to stand next to these lying cheats and smile burns my arse. When we arrive and enter the Grand Ballroom, we don’t take three steps into the room before we’re stopped.
“Fannin. There you are—we were starting to worry.” A tall man of about sixty says, makes his way over to us. Her father, I’m guessing. I can’t help but go a bit rigid beside her, my hand clasping her a little tighter around the waist.
“Hi, Dad.” The warmth in her voice has me relaxing. I’m ready to slay all of her dragons—all she has to do is point them out.
Fannin’s father beams as he takes her into his arms for a hug. “You look beautiful. Just like your mother.” His tone holds some reverence. Fannin told me her mum had died during child birth and her father had never quite recovered.
“Thanks, Dad.” She reaches for me, looping her arm through mine. “Dad, this is Jasper James. Jasper, this is my father, William McGuire.”
Her father takes the hand I hold out to him in a firm but warm handshake. “Sir.” I nod.
“Jasper, I’ve heard a lot about you. Seems you’ve made quite an impression.” His smile is genuine. “I’m glad that you could make it.”
“I wouldn’t dream of being anywhere else,” I say. Meaning every word.
“A Scotsman, eh? Fannin didn’t mention that.” The large man grins. “That’ll earn you some points with me.” Slapping me on the back he turns his attention to his daughter. “I know you don’t want to, but Miriam would really love it if you came and took some pictures. I promise it won’t be long.” His tone holds sympathy. Maybe he’s not so bad. It must be awkward for him. The only ones that seem to not be bothered by the whole thing are the bride and groom who I see making their way toward us from over William’s shoulder. A petite woman follows behind, fussing with Bethany’s gown.
Fannin stiffens beside me. I cover the hand gripping my forearm with mine. She glances ups and gives me a grateful smile.
“Ah, speak of the devil,” William booms. “Miriam, I was just coming back with Fannin for pictures.”
Fannin’s stepmother comes from behind her daughter’s ridiculous dress to stand beside her husband. Her gaze rakes over Fannin from head to toe, clearly not approving of her attire. Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree then.
“You look lovely, Miriam,” Fannin, being the bigger person, says. “And you, Bethany. Congratulations. The both of you.” Like a proud father, my chest puffs up a little. I’m not sure why. I certainly don’t feel fatherly in any way toward her. The two just nod their thanks. Fucking cowards can’t even be arsed to give her proper thanks.
“We missed you at the church,” Her stepmother says. No “Thank you.” No “You look nice.” No “So happy to see you.” Just right to chastising.
“That would be my fault. I was running late. Had a bit of an emergency.” The lie comes easily.
“At the bar?” Bethany asks snidely.
“Yes, actually.” I don’t bother greeting her or issuing congratulations. This is me, slaying dragons. Fannin’s knight in shining armor. Or rogue beast, as she likes to call me.Whichever. To think for one minute that she was going to come here alone makes me crazy.
Bethany and Adam look at each other, a little eye roll and smirk between them. I’m struck again by how much they deserve each other.
“What happened? Run out of coasters?” she snickers.
I smile, little more than a flash of teeth, more like an animal baring its fangs.
“Careful, Bethany. Your ugly is showing. Remind me again what you do for a living?” Fannin defends.
The bride narrows her eyes, linking her arm through her husband’s. “I’m on the board for several different charities. One day, if you ever get married, maybe you can do the same.” She looks over at me and gives a nasty smile. “Then again, probably not.”
“How cute. You’ve taken your unemployment and turned it into a positive thing. Well, at least we know Adam here is good for something.”
Looks like I’m not the only one slaying dragons tonight.
“That’s enough, girls,” William says firmly before Bethany can reply to Fannin’s last barb. “You’ll have to excuse them, Jasper. They’ve always fought over every little thing.”
“Only because Fannin was always taking my things.”
Fannin’s smile is condescending to say the least. “I’m pretty sure it was you who always took what didn’t belong to you. I guess some things don’t change.”
Glancing at William, I see that he’s feeling like a proud papa himself. Smothering the smile behind his hand, he tries again to cut in before it gets any uglier. “Oh, Bethany, there’s your grandmother. Go show her to her seat and then we can take some pictures.” He ushers the group away, kissing Fannin’s cheek as he passes by.
“Well, that went better than I expected.”
Fannin looks at me like I have three heads. “You’re kidding, right?”
“No. I half expected a real girl fight. Complete with scratching and hair pulling,” I tease, wrapping my arms around her, locking them at the small of her back. “You did good, Fanny.”
“Night’s not over yet. There can still be some hair pulling.”
“Oh, believe me, there will be, love.”
Maybe sooner than she thinks.
Chapter Fifteen
Fannin
Dinner seems to take a lifetime. My dad goes out of his way to include Jasper in conversation at the table. Miriam has a stick up her ass which is her usual lately. I’m not sure if it’s guilt, maybe embarrassment over what Bethany did that’s making her act a certain way or maybe that Bethany’s just turning into a total bitch, but Miriam wasn’t always like this. In fact, she and I have always gotten along very well. After the third snide remark about my dress, I’m done with her and this whole wedding. The first two times, Jasper comes to the rescue as has become his thing. On the third, my dad must’ve hit his limit because for the first time in the dozen or so years they’ve been married, he reprimands her. “Get off the girl’s ass already, Miriam. Be thankful that she had the decency to show up. Most people in her shoes wouldn’t have.” My stepmother, looking properly scolded, excuses herself from the table, only coming back after my father goes to find her for the toasts and first dance. We finally make it through all the pageantry of that, and I’m just counting the minutes for when we can escape.
“I’m really glad you’re not into this—this is bloody awful,” Jasper whispers into my ear, glancing around at the ostentatious decor. Chandeliers and gilded columns, gold flecked everything. It’s a
ll too much for me.
“My father will be happy to know that he won’t have to pay for this whole thing again. I can see the appeal to some, just not me. Like I said, I’m more of a JP and whisky girl.”
“You’ve got good taste, Fanny.”
The band starts playing again, making it nearly impossible to talk. At least they’re really good. Old school blues band. The choice shocked the hell out of me really. Makes me wonder if there’s been a mistake. This group is way too cool for the likes of Bethany and Adam. When they start playing “I’ll Take Care of You,” Jasper takes my hand, pulling me onto the dance floor and into his arms. Pressed in tight, swaying side to side, his scent surrounding me, my hand clutched to his chest, the couple on the stage singing soulfully to one another, and this song just became foreplay. My lips find the small bare patch of skin right above his collar. Just that brief contact is enough to add fuel to the fire already beginning to burn inside me. Jasper’s arms tighten around me, closing all space in between us, the bulge in his dress pants telling me I’m not the only one effected. The moment the song ends, Jasper leads me off the dance floor, right past our table, and out of the Grand Ballroom.
“Jasper, where are we going?” Thankfully I have long legs and can easily keep up with his carpet-eating strides. He stops abruptly, still not answering me. I nearly collide right into his back, but he moves us into a small storage room before I do. Table linens of every color line the shelves.
