The Arrangement 13

by H. M. Ward

  “Are you sure this is safe? What if it’s something bad?”

  “It’s not. I know what it is. You can open it.”

  I grin at him. It’s one of those ear-to-ear smiles, and I pat the palms of my hands together as I decide which part of the super-thick box to pull apart first. What the heck is in there? I can’t even imagine what would make him blush like that, after everything we’ve already done.

  Sean pulls a knife from his waistband and slices through the tape. Well, it’s good to know what he was reaching for before. He tucks the knife back behind him before saying, “Well, open it. I want to know what you think.”

  I squeal and yank at the cardboard, pulling back the sides of the box. The inside is reinforced and filled with a ton of packaging peanuts. I nearly fall into the container trying to swipe the little bits of foam away with my arm. Sean watches me silently with his arms across his chest and one hand by his lips. He’s nervous. It’s so cute, I could die.

  I stop and look up at him with packaging peanuts clinging to my arms. “There is something in here, right? Or did you just send me an empty box? Because I’d be okay with that.” I’m ready to dive in when Sean laughs and steps towards me.

  He grabs my waist and yanks me back. “There’s something in there. You can’t jump in the box, you lunatic.”

  “I’m so playing with the box.”

  Sean laughs lightly and looks over his shoulder as he reaches into the box, digging around for whatever is in there. “Kids never want the toy, only the box. Maybe I should send this back?” When he stands, he has the corner of something. It’s wrapped in opaque plastic, but it looks like the end of a couch.

  Seriously? I stand there, staring, my jaw hanging open as he lifts out a backless sofa and puts it on the floor by the old one that’s covered in Amber germs. The shape of the thing is really weird and not very tall. It looks like a bench that fell out of a Salvador Dalí painting.

  Sean lets out a rush of air and turns to look at me. “Well?”

  “You bought me furniture?”

  “Not exactly. Open it.” Sean steps away and slips his hands into his pockets. I can tell he’s super proud of this present. I try to smile, like it’s better than beans, but it’s furniture. How’s that romantic? Besides, there’s a big empty box filled with packaging peanuts and it’s totally calling my name.

  I step toward the couchy thing and pull the wrapping off. When I’m done I’m looking down at a very modern piece of white furniture. It has sweeping, smooth lines that form two separate humps with a little place to sit in between. I start to smile, but try to repress my grin as I drag my fingers across the supple leather surface.

  “Well?”

  Oh fuck. He’s so excited and I want to laugh my ass off. Why does this turn him on? Does he have a furniture fetish I’m unaware of? I have a goofy smirk on my lips when I sit in the center dip and look up at him. My mouth hangs open for a second, but the grin doesn’t fade. I pat the curves of leather and finally manage, “Sean, I don’t know what to say. I think you’ve seriously rendered me speechless.”

  His certainty fades. “Why?”

  “Because, you bought me a camel-toe couch.” I’m sitting there with an incredulous look on my face when Sean bursts out laughing. It’s not the kind of light laugh when you think something is mildly entertaining, either. It’s a full blown, belly laugh. I should have been a comedian. I’m a riot and seriously have no idea why he’s laughing, because this is the ugliest couch I’ve ever seen. I’m not into modern. Even Marty knows that.

  When Sean stops laughing he gives me a look. “You seriously don’t know what this is?”

  Obviously not, assuming his belly-laughter was any indication. So I pat it again and smile up at him, saying more certainly, “Of course I do. It’s a one of a kind, camel-toe couch. For when yoga pants aren’t enough. Do you have some weird thing for large horse-like animals with boobs that I need to know about, or does this stem back to a deranged camel-toe fetish?”

  Sean doesn’t reply. Instead the smirk slips off his face as he moves quickly. Before I know what happened, he’s lifting me and then lowers me onto his lap. Sean sits under me in the center of the dip and my legs are wrapped around his waist. I gasp as he pushes me back against one of the leather humps and runs his hands up under my shirt, and cups my breasts. “It’s a sex chair, one of the best in the world. Now I can have you anyway I want.”

  I’m still not getting it, so he shows me. He lifts and pivots me, before I sit back down on his lap, facing away from him. My feet reach the floor, making it easier to do things—like ride him hard and fast. He directs me to lean forward and lean against the larger curve of the couch. I do so and he kneels behind me, pressing against my backside. I can feel how much he wants me through his pants as he whispers into my ear, “Thinking of being with you on this chair has been driving me crazy.”

  My mind is filled with a lusty fog and my eyes are half closed. “I retract my previous statement. I like the chair better than the box.”

  “You never said you liked the box better.”

  “Oh?” I glance back at him and he pushes his hard length against my thigh, pressing me into the leather and stealing my breath.

  “No.” The corner of his lips twitch, as if he wants to smile. He tickles me until we’re tangled together and I’m twisted back looking at his beautiful mouth, wanting things that we shouldn’t do right now. “When does Amber get back?”

  I shrug. “Sometimes she’s gone for a few days at a time. She’s kinda whorey and takes a bed wherever she can find one.”

  Sean doesn’t wait for me to stop talking. His lips mash against mine as his hands slip under the hem of my shirt. In an instant, it’s over my head and my bra is gone. Sean’s warm hands run over my body, feeling my curves until he reaches my jeans. Breathing heavily, he nips my ear. “Turn away and stand up.”

  I do as he says and Sean strips me completely. I lean over the round part of the chair with Sean sitting behind me. I hear him moving and assume that he’s getting rid of his clothing. Before I can look back I feel his hot mouth inching closer to my lower lips. He slips his tongue along my seam and I grip the chair harder, hugging it with my arms, as Sean teases me. Pressing his face between my legs, he licks deeper, and caresses my most sensitive parts.

  Gasping for air, I dig my nails into the chair as his tongue goes to work, licking, sucking, and nipping me. Desire swirls through my body in hot waves as I try to hold back. I don’t want to let go yet, but when he adds fingers I can’t keep it together. My hips slam against his hand as he pushes inside of me, first one finger, and then two. I can’t get enough of him.

  “Come on baby.”

  “Not yet,” I breathe.

  “Oh? Do you like being teased?” I nod and his fingers disappear, followed by his hot mouth.

  “No!” I feel frantic and am ready to turn around when I feel his fingers wrap around my inner-thighs and push my legs further apart. He presses his naked body against mine, sliding his length against me. I moan and try to shift so he slips inside of me, but Sean holds my hips in place.

  “We’re teasing you right now, Miss Smith. Be still.”

  I don’t listen and try to shift and make him press into me. I’m rewarded, uh, I mean punished, with a slap to my backside. My right cheek stings and I stop moving. “Good girl.”

  Sean drags his hardness against me, shifting his hips and pushing, but never slipping inside. One of his hands presses my back down while the other reaches around to the V in my legs. His fingers stroke the slick folds at the very front. I can barely tolerate it. My body tries to writhe, but Sean holds me down, pressing his elbow into my back. I clutch the sides of the chair harder and beg him for things I’ll never admit. I want him so badly that the teasing has turned to torture. I’m begging for him anyway he’ll take me, and feel no shame.

  That’s when he moves me. I don’t ask what he’s doing for once. I just follow, still pleading with him to fill me
with come. “Please, baby.” I say the words over and over again as he directs me to lay back and lean my head off the top of the chair.

  Before I can ask what he wants, his dick is against my cheek. I take him in my mouth and wrap my tongue around his hard, hot shaft, licking and sucking as I do so. Sean’s body stiffens as he moans. I reach for his hips and encourage him to push in farther and he does. His length fills my mouth all the way to the back of my throat. I want to take all of him. I want him to ride my face and cry out my name as he fills my mouth with his sweet taste.

  My nails claw into his ass as I rock his hips. Sean pushes in and pulls out, slowly at first. I suck him and push his hips harder toward me every time he pulls away. When he pushes all the way in, I suck in at the same time, and his length slips deep into my mouth and down my throat. Sean sighs and holds my head in place for a moment before pulling out. Then he does it again. Each thrust makes me wetter. I want to taste him and feel that hot, slick come pour down my throat. Sean presses deeper and faster, moaning as he does it. I think he’s going to lose it, but then he pulls away.

  Sean’s gasping for air as he yanks my wrist and positions me without words. I stand against the back of the chair and lay down against the leather, facing away from him. Sean always has me facing away from him. One day, I hope he’ll want to see me while he rides me. For now, this is enough, and it’s sexy as hell to feel like this. He controls me, commands me, and I like it that way.

  Sean spreads my legs after leaning me over the edge of the chair. He rubs himself against my hypersensitive, slick skin before sinking deep within my silken core. At first he holds my neck down and rides me from behind, pushing long and deep. Each thrust shoots tingles through my body, and builds my need for him. I beg him for more and his hand leaves my neck and finds a wrist. Then his other hand does the same and he pulls my arms back behind me, lifting me from the chair so that my breasts hang in the air. I moan as he does it, feeling him touch me from within, rousing sensations that I’ve never felt before. Sean remains still for a moment and then starts to rock. His hips push harder and faster.

  I cry out, begging him for more. “Please, Sean. Please.”

  Until this point, he’s been holding back, controlling himself, and it’s totally obvious the moment he lets go. His body slams into mine with more force, pushing his shaft deeper and deeper within me. His hands clutch my wrists like iron, yanking me backward toward him with each thrust. My breasts bounce as my hair flies. I glance up and notice Sean watching me in the mirror. Our gazes lock as his speed increases. Neither of us looks away.

  I don’t think about what I look like or anything but how much I want him to come inside of me. I want that hot liquid to fill me and release me from my torment. As if he can read my thoughts I see the tension increase on his face. He pushes harder and faster, shoving deeper, until I lose it. My body reacts to his and there’s nothing gentle about it. I scream his name, coming hard, and feel the rush of my excitement dripping between us.

  Sean growls, clutching my wrists harder, and slows his thrusts as he loses himself. I watch his face in the mirror as his eyes clench closed and he uses my body to sate his need. When I feel Sean’s cock pulsing, his eyes open and he watches me. Slowly, he pushes in and holds himself deep within me.

  We stay like that for a moment and it’s perfect, with both our bodies covered in sweat and locked together. I don’t want to move. I don’t want it to be over. Sean seems to read my mind, and we stay like that, watching each other in the mirror. When my arms begin to tremble and ache, Sean releases me and pulls out. I lay face-down on the chair and run the pad of my finger along a seam.

  A moment later, Sean is there, crouching in front of me. “Miss Smith.”

  “Mr. Jones.” I smile with a lazy sated grin.

  He leans in with a devilish look on his lips that makes butterflies erupt in my stomach. “Now that we’ve tried out the chair, I think it’s time to sample the box.” He stands and holds out his hand.

  I giggle and sit up, not quite understanding him. Taking his hand, I ask, “Sample?”

  “Yes, sample.” He takes my hands, sweeps me up in his arms, and twirls around. I shriek and cling to his slick, naked body, before he stops over the box. “First we need to fill it with something.”

  “Do you mean me or the box, because I think you already filled me rather well.”

  Sean kisses my nose and drops me. I fall the short distance into the packaging peanuts and yelp. When I look up at Sean, I stick my tongue out at him. “Very mature.” He finds his phone and asks, “May I?”

  My heart skips a beat. I have no idea what he wants to do, but I say, “Yes.”

  CHAPTER 9

  A boyish smile crosses Sean’s lips as he takes a picture. “One to remind me that the box can be as much fun as the present.” The corner of his mouth tips up and he laughs, before pushing his dark hair out of his eyes. It’s damp and laying in thick waves, almost as if it wanted to curl.

  The moment is surreal. I’m lying in a box, surrounded by those earth-friendly packaging peanuts, half covered. My breasts are bare and my hair is over one shoulder. My body is still slick with sweat and the little pieces of foam are sticking to me.

  As I lay there, breathing slowly, I twist a lock of hair and look up at him from under my lashes. My mind wanders into the future, of what it will be like to become this man’s wife. He bought me a sex chair for an engagement gift, and then this. I’ve never laid in a box naked before, and certainly not with someone watching, and that’s what Sean does—watch. His eyes sweep over my bare curves, drinking in each one, savoring the glimpse as if he might not get another.

  Every time I breathe my lungs fill and my chest lifts. His gaze drifts back to my breasts and lingers. His lips part like he wants to say something, but he doesn’t. The phone remains in his hand, but he doesn’t take more pictures or record anything. Instead, he stares until he finally says, “Avery, there’s something I want to tell you.”

  I feel so sated and serene. My mind is lost in Lustland and all serious thoughts are scattered. I extend my hand toward him, inviting him to join me. Sean steps forward and takes my hand, but that’s it. “Avery,” he tries again and I can tell that the conversation is going to wipe that look off his face, so I stop him. I want him to be happy and it’s so damn rare.

  I won’t let the moment go. I can’t. “Close the lid.” I know those three words will stop him. It’s a total derailment and I can see the mental train wreck on his face when I offer.

  “What did you say?” his voice is a breath, barely audible.

  “Close me in.” I take a deep gulp of air and bite my lips. The claustrophobic girl is asking to be locked in a box. I’ll be terrified, just the way he likes it. The offer is too great to pass up.

  “You’re diabolical.” He doesn’t blink and I can tell he’s torn. Part of him does not want to do it to me, but the side of Sean Ferro that loves to dominate and instill fear is prowling, ready to pounce. I see that dark hunger in his eyes, the need that’s been evading him for too long.

  “You know you want to do it. I won’t offer again. Close the box.” My lips part, and I breathe harder as my heart picks up the pace. If he closes me in, I’ll totally freak out. The corners of my lips twitch as if they wanted to smile.

  Sean watches the movement, but says nothing. He stands over me and takes one side of the box top and lifts it up before lowering it into place. My heart lurches inside as my hands tense at my sides. Our eyes are locked. It’s almost like I’m daring him to do it and I have no idea how long he’ll leave me in here. Even so, I don’t look away. My chin lifts slightly as I fill my lungs. Sean reaches across me and grabs the other flap. He lowers it slowly, increasing the effect of the shadows closing in around me. My pulse picks up as my eyes dart around the box. Suddenly, I want to jump up and stop him, but I don’t. I force myself to remain still, my eyes are glued to his.

  Sean leans in close. When he speaks, his voice is so deep.
“Last chance to bow out, Smitty.”

  I love it when he calls me that. I shake my head. “I’m as twisted as you are, remember?”

  “I know, and I love it.” His eyes are hungry, and I know how much he wants this—how much he needs it. I wonder why he hasn’t asked. I would have let him. Before I can say another word, Sean closes the lid.

  CHAPTER 10

  I’m fine. I tell myself even though I’m already beyond nervous. There is a tiny shaft of light that slices through the darkness, so I know that there’s air in here, even though it doesn’t feel like it. I try to close my eyes and forget where I am, but I can’t. The foam peanuts remind me that I’m inside a tiny space with very little air. There’s no breeze across my skin, nothing.

  My hands have found the sides of the box and just before I push on the lid, I hear a noise—tape. The seam of light across the top of the box disappears. I gasp and try to sit up as my palms splay against the top of the box. He wasn’t supposed to trap me in here.

  Yes, he was. You knew he wouldn’t let you out. It’s part of the game.

  Even so, I can’t stand it. I try to calm myself and lay back in the foam. I count my fingers and toes until each one is so tense that I can’t tolerate it. I feel my mind unraveling. When I open my eyes it looks the same as when they’re closed. I can’t see anything. There’s not enough air. That’s when the panic rises up my throat and starts to wrap its fingers around my throat. I reach out and claw at the sides of the box and start kicking and thrashing. I call for Sean to let me out, but he doesn’t answer. The tape doesn’t rip away and the lid doesn’t open.

  My chest constricts as my heart pounds harder, faster. Pressing my palms above my head, I push hard. When that doesn’t work, I try my legs. What the hell did he use to seal the box? The lid won’t budge. I call his name again and bang on the crate, but no one comes.