“Do you trust me?” he asked, his voice a little harsher than he’d intended.
She blinked up at him, surprised. “I . . . Why?”
“Just answer me, Violet. Do you trust me?”
Violet stared up at him for so long that he thought she would answer in the negative. Her gaze searched his face, and then after what felt like forever, she nodded slowly. “I trust you,” she whispered.
“Good.” That surge of possessiveness slammed through him again. His fingers worked through her hair, then cupped her sweet face. “Good.”
She tilted her face toward him, eyes closed, implicitly trusting him.
And that gave him an idea.
“I want to tie you up, Violet.”
Her eyes widened. “W-what?”
But as soon as he said it aloud, he knew it was a perfect idea. “You trust me, right? Let me tie you up.” It would push her trust past just verbal assurance and into a physical realm. She would truly have to trust him to let him tie her up and do what he wanted to her. It would require more than just lip service. He wanted to be absolutely sure that she trusted him. That she wasn’t just saying it.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and he watched indecision cross her face. Then, after a long moment of doubt, she slowly nodded. “I . . . All right.” She glanced at the bed, then at him. “How do you want to do this?”
“Get on the bed,” he told her. “Remove your clothes for me.”
She trembled visibly, but nodded. He loved her willingness. He wanted to shower her with kisses all over again, but that would have to wait.
As she moved toward the bed, he turned to his dresser and pulled out two silk neckties. He carried them with him at all times, in case of impromptu meetings or important business visitors, and now they were perfect for what he wanted. He tied the smaller ends together to create one long, soft rope, and then turned back toward Violet and the bed.
She sat on the edge of the bed and had removed her silky, flowing top and cast it on the floor while he’d been preoccupied with his neckties. She’d pulled off her leggings, too, and now wore nothing but a black pair of high-cut panties and a black lacy bra that seemed designed more for enticement than functionality. Had she dressed with the intention of seducing him, then? The thought sent a thrill through his body, that the woman he’d lusted after and dreamed of for so long was in his bed, and had come after him.
He was determined not to disappoint her.
Approaching the bed, he extended the ties in his hand out to her. “Are you sure you wish to do this, Violet? I won’t hold it against you if you change your mind.”
She looked down at the ties, licked her lips, then gazed up at him. “I want this.”
He brushed his fingers over the curve of her cheek. “If you get frightened, what’s your safe word?”
Violet thought for a moment. “Stop?”
He chuckled, still tracing her face with his fingertips, fascinated by the way she leaned into his touch. “It’s supposed to be something you wouldn’t call out in the heat of passion.”
“Well, I should hope I wouldn’t be screaming out ‘stop,’” she told him, sounding a bit peeved.
“Pick something unusual, that I wouldn’t expect you to call out.”
A wicked gleam shone in her eyes. “Daddy?”
“You’re really trying to kill my erection, aren’t you?” But he laughed.
She grinned, and that weird tension between them dissipated. “Who was the poet from earlier?”
“Pushkin?”
To his surprise, she gave a prim shake of her head. “Sounds awfully close to ‘push it in.’ Maybe I should pick a different safe word. Let’s go with Ozymandias.”
He grinned. Count on his Violet to give a safe word—something he didn’t intend on her needing to use—such thorough consideration. “All right then, Ozymandias it is. Now, give me your hands.”
She held them out, wrists up and together in the air, the look on her face full of trust and nervousness.
He felt like he was being given a gift. Jonathan took her wrists in his hands and gently placed a kiss on each one. “Before we begin, I want to say thank you, Violet.”
She looked surprised. “Thank you?”
“For trusting me.” The ache in his throat left it knotted. Did she not realize how much her trust in him moved him?
She gave him a tremulous smile. “I do trust you. I’m just scared to.”
He’d make sure he never betrayed that trust again. Carefully, he wrapped her wrists in the silk of the tie in a figure eight motion and then wove the fabric through the middle again. “Too tight?”
She tested her hands. “No, it’s fine.”
“Good. I want to tie these to the headboard now.” He moved to the side and fluffed the pillows on his bed into a big stack, then gestured that she should lay back on them. “Here.”
Her eyes widened but she nodded. Glancing behind her, she scooted back on the bed with little wiggles of her body that made him hot with need. When she finally backed up against the pillows, she lay down and experimentally raised her hands above her head.
“Perfect.” Jonathan grasped the tie dangling between her wrists and examined the headboard. It was thick, heavy wood with a cutout Greek key design that was ideal for him to secure his knots. He slid one end of the tie through and knotted it. “Still good?”
She nodded. “Do you do this a lot? I feel like I should ask that.”
“Never,” he told her. “Never had the urge before now.”
She thought for a moment. “I’m guessing this is a bad time to ask, but . . . did you have anyone seriously after we, you know . . .”
“No,” he told her honestly. “For me, there has never been anyone but you.”
“I don’t know if that makes me feel better or terrifies me.” Her hands twisted against the ties, testing them.
“Why should it terrify you?” He trailed his fingers down one extended arm. Her skin was so soft.
“Because I feel like I can’t live up to any image in your head you have of me from back then. I’m not the same person.”
“I know.” This Violet was more guarded, and when she let him in under her walls, intensely more vulnerable. “I don’t mind the changes. In fact, I love them.”
“My ass isn’t as small as it was—”
“Your ass is beautiful.” His hand moved down her side, skimmed her hip.
She snorted.
“It’s true. It’s big and juicy and I’d love to take a bite out of it.”
She gave a nervous giggle at that.
“What?” he asked, chuckling a bit himself. “I can’t want to sink my teeth into that creamy skin of yours?”
“You make me sound like dinner.”
“No, you’re dessert. Sweet, delicious, and I can’t wait to taste you on my lips.”
Her breath caught in her throat and he watched her lashes flutter again.
“Shall I get undressed?” he asked her, skimming his hand down one lovely thigh.
She nodded, silent.
His hands went to his belt and he began to slowly unbuckle it. Jonathan was pleased that her gaze went to his waist and she watched him, eyes hot, as he slid his belt out of the loops and dropped it to the ground, then unbuttoned his pants and dropped them. His cock was hard and aching through his boxers. It would have to wait for relief. He intended on making Violet come until she was limp with pleasure. And then maybe once more after that.
With that thought in mind, Jonathan dropped his boxers and stepped out of his clothing.
Her eyes widened and she licked her lips at the sight of him, which just made him harder. “I forgot how good you look naked. That’s so unfair.”
“How is that unfair?” He took his cock in hand and slowly stroked it, tip to balls, just to watch her react
ion. Sure enough, her gaze followed his hand, riveted. He liked that.
“Because you shouldn’t look that delicious. Here I was trying to get over you, and you look better than ever. I mean, you’ve got a six-pack practically up to your throat.”
As he stroked his hand down his cock again, her gaze followed and she licked her lips once more, then made a soft whimper in her throat.
“Are you just going to sit there and tease me?” she asked.
“Nothing wrong with a bit of teasing,” Jonathan told her, and gave his cock another fierce stroke with his hand, enjoying the way her eyes gleamed in response. “Whets the appetite.”
“But I already had a healthy appetite,” she told him.
“Mmm. Healthy, but not ravenous.”
“And are you ravenous?”
“For you, I am.”
She gave a little shiver. “Then show me.”
How could he resist that suggestion?
Jonathan took a few steps toward the bed and crawled in next to her, his gaze locked on her face. He watched her nervous eyes flicker over his body as he draped his bigger form over hers, and then he was on all fours over her helpless form. Her body was trapped below his. Jonathan grinned down at her, feeling wickedly in control. He liked that Violet was his to do with as he liked, and he intended to exercise that control. “Still trust me?”
“Of course.” She sounded more confident than she looked.
“Good.” He leaned in and gave her a light, nipping kiss.
She lifted her mouth, her tongue slicking against his, and he lost himself in the taste of her. Violet was delicious. Everything about her—the soft feel of her lips, the tease of her tongue against his, her hot, wet mouth—everything was perfection. Jonathan groaned against her, then took control of the kiss, slicking his tongue against hers and intensifying the kiss until it felt as if they were devouring each other. Violet gave little whimpers underneath him, whimpers of pleasure and need, and they made his cock ache. He longed to press it against her, but with her tied up and laid flat, maneuvering was limited. Still, this gave him the opportunity to crawl all over her and do as he pleased, and he certainly would.
Reluctantly, he ended the kiss, then couldn’t resist biting down on her lower lip and sucking on it even as he pulled back.
She gasped, her eyes sleepy with desire as she gazed up at him. “Oh, man, you’re a good kisser. I’d forgotten how good up until a few weeks ago.”
“And then I was so good that you kneed me in the balls?” He kissed along her jaw, reminding her of their first meeting.
She gave a girlish giggle that delighted him. “It’s your own fault. You don’t just maul a woman you haven’t seen in ten years.”
“Not even if she’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen and I’ve fantasized about her for a decade?”
Violet moaned as he bit down on her earlobe. “Not even then.”
“Now that’s unfair,” he told her, licking down her throat. Her breasts brushed up against his chest, and he could feel how hard her nipples were even through the fabric of her bra. That would be coming off very soon. He wanted to feel her bare skin against his chest.
“Jonathan?” she asked, breathless.
He continued to kiss down her throat. “Hmm?”
“You haven’t asked me if I had anyone else in the last ten years.” Tension vibrated through her body.
He hadn’t, because the thought drove him insane. “Do you have anyone else you’re seeing?”
“No! Of course not!”
“Then no one else matters, because from this moment on, you’re fully mine. Body and soul.” He pressed his mouth to her throat and sucked. He wanted to mark her, brand her as his, though he knew that was crazy. His intense love for Violet drove him to madness though. She’d been his first and only love, and having her back in his arms was a dream made reality.
“Oh, Jonathan,” she sighed, arching her throat so he could continue to kiss and suck on it. “Sometimes you know just the right thing to say to make a girl’s knees weak.”
“I’m not saying it just for a reaction, Violet. It’s how I feel. It’s how I’ve always felt. You are, and have always been, mine. You have always owned all of my heart. I’ve never stopped loving you.”
She bit her lip and then gave him a teasing smile. “You’ve never stopped talking, either. I thought we were going to make love?” She gave a little shake of the bonds over her head.
Was he making her uncomfortable with his vows of love? He’d silence them, then. Anything for her. He just wanted her to know how he felt. “I didn’t realize you were so eager,” he murmured, lifting his head and dragging one hand over her breast and cupping it. Her nipple was pointed through the lacy fabric of her bra.
“Of course I’m eager,” she said, her words sweetly sarcastic. “I’ve been throwing myself at you all day.”
“Is that what the bikini was for? It covered less than this.” His finger slid under the edge of one of her bra cups, teasing the skin underneath. “I liked it.”
“That was the point,” she said, her voice a little more breathless at his touch.
“To entice me? Minx.” He kissed the delicate skin at her collarbone. “I am flattered. And, I’ll have to make sure you’re amply compensated for your efforts.”
His hand slid under her back, and she arched, allowing him easier access to the clasp behind her. She was breathing rapidly, excitement coloring her skin a pretty, flushed pink. He undid her bra with one hand and began to push it out of the way.
“You did that rather easily,” she murmured. “Lots of practice?”
“If you’re fishing for answers, the one you seek is ‘professionals.’ No relationships. Just lots and lots of working girls.”
“I . . .” She shook her head. “I can’t decide if I’m appalled or amused. I thought you were a playboy.”
“Only for show.” He’d taken the odd girl with him to high-profile events when a date was required, but usually a friend of a colleague, and never the same girl twice.
“I’m just surprised. Professionals? Really?”
“They’re easier than a relationship,” he explained, sliding her bra up around her collarbones so he could admire her newly-exposed breasts. God, they were glorious. All soft and cream and pink. “They require nothing more than a condom and money. If I had an itch that needed scratching, I’d call up a service that had clean, vetted girls and get it taken care of.”
“You make sex sound like a business transaction.”
“That’s all it was,” he said bluntly. “There was no emotion involved.”
“And . . . with me?” There was a soft catch in her voice.
He leaned down and licked the slope of one breast, nearly groaning at the delicious taste of her skin. “With you, I’m making love. There is no comparison.”
“Is it . . . weird that I’m glad? That there’s no one else?”
Only if it was weird that he was glad of it, too, if only so he could be free for her here, now. “I never pursued anyone else. It wasn’t fair to them if my heart was still yours.”
“God,” she murmured, and her body clenched underneath his. “Are you trying to seduce me with words alone?”
“No, I plan on using my tongue quite a bit.” And to prove it, he took one lovely nipple into his mouth.
She moaned, arching against him, her arms pulling against the bonds over her head. The little tip was tight with need, and he swirled his tongue over it, teasing her. He knew the touches she liked the best—rough, quick licks on the underside of her nipple—but he wanted to draw out the pleasure. He wanted her entire body to quiver and ache.
His mouth worked on the one nipple while he shifted his weight, easing his body over hers. He wanted to press the entire length of his skin against hers, to rub his cock against her sex and feel her
rock against it. All in time, he told himself. He needed to pace himself. The most important thing was blowing Violet’s mind. That was his goal.
He wanted to palm her other breast and work it even as his mouth worked the first, but he needed the hand to prop himself up on the bed. For a moment, he cursed his “great” idea of tying her hands up. He wanted nothing more than for Violet to touch him, to show that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Christ, he was dying for her touch on his skin.
As she wiggled underneath him and moaned, again he regretted his idea. He wanted Violet wild and writhing in his arms, fully participating. She was helpless while tied down to the bed—
Then an idea hit.
He pulled his mouth from her nipple, pleased with her murmur of protest. “Tell me what you want me to do to you, Violet.”
Her gaze was unfocused, passion-glazed. “W-what . . . ?”
He leaned down and kissed her breast. “Do you like my mouth here?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
“Then tell me where you want it next.”
She stared at him for a long moment, as if incredulous that he was going to make her take the driver’s seat. Then, she flung her head back and groaned. “Can’t you just . . . wing it? You’re doing great so far.”
“I want you to lead me,” he told her. “This is about your pleasure. You tell me where you want it, and I’ll put my mouth there.”
She sucked in a breath at that, but was silent.
Was Violet . . . shy about asking for what she wanted in bed? He tried to remember, but his memories were of equal partners, of greedy hands and passionate kisses stolen after long days at the dig. But now, Violet had gone silent.
He rested his chin on her soft, lovely skin and waited.
She shifted. “You . . . you’re really going to make me say it?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because I’m not as thin or as pretty as I was when I was younger. I’m not . . . exciting.” She bit her lip. “I grew up and got boring and dowdy.”
Was she insane?
“And I was fine with that until I saw you and you turned all breathtakingly gorgeous, and now I feel like . . . well.” She sighed. “I feel like I’m not holding up my end.”