Dimitri

  I gulped as Dimitri reached around behind my back to unhook my bra. He carefully peeled it away from my chest and down my arms. I started to put a hand over my naked breasts but he stopped me.

  "No," he whispered. "I want to see you." He brushed his lips over my nipple. "All of you."

  I gasped as his tongue slowly traced the dark bud. He suckled me gently, pulling my nipple between his warm lips and laving it with his tongue. My hands flew to his shoulders as he tormented me with his mouth. Tummy violently wobbling, I gripped his upper arms and held on for dear life.

  His hands moved to my hips and he pushed my panties down my thighs. I stepped out of them and squeezed my knees together. Awash with anxiety, I tried not to focus on my hang-ups but it was so hard. He gently stroked my naked hips and legs as if petting a skittish creature. "I wish you could see how beautiful you are to me."

  I stared into his pale eyes and realized he was dead serious. He wasn't trying to be kind or flattering me for some ulterior motive. It occurred to me that he didn't see all the little things that drove me crazy about my body. He saw me, the real me.

  And he thought I was beautiful.

  His lips skimmed my collarbone. "Luckily, I've got the whole night to show you."

  I shivered as the weight of his words settled upon me. This was going to be a night I would never forget.

  *

  Dimitri was hard enough to pound through concrete as he led Benny into the shower. The urge to lift her up, wrap her petite legs around his waist and sink into her hot, willing flesh threatened his control. Somehow he found the strength to keep those primal urges at bay. She deserved something tender and easy, to be seduced and shown real pleasure. He wanted to watch her come undone and surrender to the passion inside her—and that was a thing that took time.

  He still couldn't believe the night was unfolding in this way. When he'd asked her up to his apartment for dinner, he'd truly only wanted to keep her safe and help her unload some of the burdens weighing so heavily on her shoulders. He'd thought maybe he would finally work up the courage to kiss her, if the time was right. Not in his wildest dreams did he imagine she would present him with the perfect opportunity for making his move.

  He'd seen the embarrassment on her face the moment she'd admitted how long it had been since she'd had a lover. In that moment, he'd recognized his chance and seized upon it. Hearing her say that she wasn't in his league had cut him deeply. He sensed that she would need reassurance tonight. Before this night was over, he would make sure she rid herself of those silly notions.

  Stepping under the hot spray, Dimitri let the pounding water splash over him. Benny stayed near the glass door and wound her ponytail into a messy bun. The second she was done, he reached for her. She came willingly, sliding into his arms and pressing her cheek to his chest. His eyelids drifted together as he relished the feel of her small, soft body.

  Arousal and excitement gave her silky brown skin a pink tint. With her dark hair and dark eyes, Benny favored her Hispanic mother more than her blond-haired, green-eyed father. Johnny, on the other hand, looked more like their late father. Dimitri often wondered if that was why he'd thrown himself into the Hermanos gang. The kid was overcompensating and trying to prove that he was just as Latino, if not more, than the other boys.

  Not wanting to let thoughts of that little bastard ruin their night, Dimitri shoved them aside and concentrated solely on Benny. He soaped up his palms and took his time swiping his hands along her curves. Her naked skin felt so damn good under his fingers. He couldn’t wait to get her in his bed so he could do more than just stroke her.

  Benny's breaths deepened and her eyes seemed to darken. He captured her mouth and carefully backed her up against the tile. She whimpered when his hands moved along the gentle slope of her belly to the vee between her thighs. Almost instantly, he felt her tense. He broke their kiss and peered down into her brown eyes. There was no mistaking the glint of panic there. Not moving his hand, he asked, "Do you want to stop?"

  She gulped. "No."

  He nuzzled her nose with his. "But you're afraid to keep going?"

  "Yes." Her whispered reply ghosted against his ear.

  Understanding her mindset, he decided that perhaps it was time to take a more dominant role with her. Until she was comfortable asking for the things she wanted or surrendering to the passion blossoming within her, Benny would need him to guide her.

  "We're going to play a game."

  She blinked with surprise. "What?"

  "A game," he said and kissed her tenderly. He felt some of the tightness leave her as he gently caressed her belly and brushed his lips across hers.

  Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "What kind of game?"

  Smiling, he said, "The kind of game you're going to enjoy very much." He traced her nipple with a soapy finger, coaxing the dusky bud to a hard peak. "For the rest of the night, I'm taking away your right to say no."

  She gasped with outrage but he quickly ambushed her with a kiss. He stabbed his tongue against hers. She tasted of wine and the slight sweetness of the berries he'd served with dessert. Palming her breast, he tweaked her nipple, pinching it just enough to make her moan.

  When she was pliable and ready to listen, he explained, "I'll ask you how you feel when I'm touching you or kissing you or making love to you. You can say red, green or yellow and I'll adjust accordingly."

  He watched the warring emotions play out across her face. For a woman who always had to be in control, this wouldn't be easy for her. He expected her to put her foot down and refuse but she surprised him by lifting her chin and nodding. A bit breathless now, she said simply, "Green."

  A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He let his hand slide along her hip and down to cup her backside. She had the sweetest ass, the kind of soft, supple flesh that begged to be squeezed and swatted. The image of her bouncing on his lap, of him clasping her backside to guide her up and down on his shaft, made Dimitri's balls ache.

  Soon, he promised himself. But right now? This was all about Benny and her needs.

  Holding her gaze, he let his hand slide lower. He forced her thighs apart and cupped her mound. She inhaled a sharp breath as he dragged his fingertips up and down the seam of her pussy. Wanting her on edge, he continued to do tease her. "Are we still green?"

  "Y-yes," she stammered, her breaths coming faster now. "We're very, very green. The brightest green you've ever seen," she added with a little laugh.

  Dimitri chuckled at her playfulness and gave her exactly what she wanted. He parted her tender folds and exposed her clitoris. The swollen nub responded to his swirling fingertip and left Benny shuddering. Her hands squealed against the tile as they flew back to the wall and desperately searched for purchase. He dropped his forehead to hers, their breaths mingling, and slowly circled her clit.

  He watched in wonder as her expression changed. Committing the small details to mind, he studied her as she climaxed, her strangled cry echoing in the tiled stall. He memorized the way her neck flushed and her lips parted. He noted the way her upper body tightened and her breaths became almost panicked just before she came.

  The sight and sound of her climax whet his appetite for more of her. He wanted to watch her come again and again. And he wanted to do it now.

  Chapter Three

  I still hadn't regained my ability to breathe normally when Dimitri shut off the water and helped me out of the shower. Dripping onto the bathmat, I welcomed the warmth of the towel he wrapped around me. I tried not to let anxiety invade my belly but not even that shockingly quick orgasm he'd just given me in the shower could dull my crazy self-consciousness.

  I think Dimitri sensed it too. He secured a towel around his waist before turning back to me. I couldn't believe he wanted to help me dry off but I wasn't about to say no having his big hands moving all over my body again. His touch soothed my raw nerves.

  When I was dry, he took my hand and led me into his bedroom. My mouth went dry as I stared a
t his bed. The orgasm he'd coaxed out of me in the shower had been hotter than any I'd ever managed to give myself. Coming wasn't easy for me. In the back of my mind, I recognized it was a power issue. It's hard to let go and enjoy the moment when you're constantly overthinking every single second of a sexual encounter.

  Back in the shower, I'd been forced off-kilter by Dimitri's commanding presence and my inability to say no. The idea that he was simply going to take what he wanted from me had made me so wet. I couldn't understand it. I started to wonder if maybe I was one of those girls. I'd read about them in some of my steamier books but I'd never considered that I needed or wanted to surrender control to a man.

  Or maybe it was simply that I wanted to surrender control to Dimitri. Maybe he was the reason this experience felt so different and so exciting.

  He stepped so close the tip of his cock brushed against my lower back. My clit throbbed mercilessly as his body heat wound around me. I closed my eyes as he expertly uncurled the bright yellow elastic wrapped around my hair. He ran his fingers through my dark waves, his nails scratching lightly against my scalp and making my skin tingle.

  His hands moved to my shoulders and I tensed. I knew he felt it because his fingers instantly lessened their slight grip. Feeling embarrassed, I whispered, "I'm sorry, Dimitri. It's not you. Really. It's just me. I'm so—"

  "Shh." His hot breath moved across my ear. He peppered feather-light kisses along my neck, causing goose bumps to break out on my skin. "I understand. I'm going to help you relax."

  "How?"

  He stepped away from me and yanked the covers right off his bed. They ended up in a pile in the corner. "Get on my bed, Benny." His voice was low and husky. "On your back."

  Trembling now, I did as told. I swallowed hard and watched him disappear into his closet. I heard a drawer open and close. When he returned he had strange black straps in his hands. My belly did a wild dance. Restraints?

  Dimitri put a knee on the bed. "I'm assuming by the look on your face you know what these are."

  I gulped. "Yes."

  "Have you ever used them?"

  "No but I've read about them."

  He laughed. "Remind me to browse your bookshelves the next time I'm at your house."

  I heard the tearing sound of the hook-and-loop closure as he unlatched one of the cuffs on the restraint straps. Feeling really uncertain now, I started to protest. "Dimitri, I don't think—"

  He clicked his teeth and wagged his finger. "Red, green or yellow?"

  I frowned in annoyance but knew he wouldn’t be swayed. Finally, I said, "Yellow."

  "Good girl." Seemingly pleased that I'd followed his instruction, Dimitri let his hand drifted along my calf and up toward my knee before doubling back. "You enjoy reading stories where women are restrained by their lovers but you aren't sure you want to try it in real life."

  He'd nailed it in one try. "Basically."

  "Do you know what I think?"

  "No but I'm sure you going to tell me."

  He gave my thigh a playful pinch. "Be glad I'm not into spanking, Benny. Otherwise I might have to put you across my lap."

  Even though I knew he was joking, my tummy fluttered. The idea of being spanked by a lover seemed so erotic and naughty.

  "I think you need to learn to let go and relax. Your mind is constantly racing." He lowered his mouth until it touched my knee and then my thigh. My toes curled into the mattress and I held my breath. "Tonight, you're here to feel. Just feel," he added. "Can you do that?"

  "No," I answered honestly. "You know I can't."

  "And that's why I'm going to restrain you." He crawled over me, planting his knees on either side of my thighs, and teased his mouth over mine. My breasts rubbed against his hard chest and his stiff cock nudged my navel. I experienced a quiver of panic at being pinned beneath his massive frame but he kissed the fight right out of me, reminding me who was boss tonight.

  "I'm going to restrain your legs and arms so you can't twist or pull away from me when the sensations become overwhelming. I want you to feel them all, Benny. I want to see the passion locked up inside you set free." He trailed his fingertips along my cheek. "I want you screaming and writhing and begging for mercy when I bury my face between your legs and when I fuck you."

  Electric bursts zipped along my skin as he described what he was going to do to me. It should have scared me but the idea of Dimitri ravishing me left me panting and pulsing with need. I wanted it. I wanted him.

  Understanding that he wanted my permission, I lifted my lips to his. He kissed me ever so gently and then I whispered, "I trust you."

  His eyes widened slightly. "I will never betray that trust, Benita."

  Hearing him use my real name made the statement so powerful. I understood that he wasn't just talking about here in his bed.

  I held my breath as Dimitri took my wrists in one of his big hands and dragged them up and over my head. He expertly wrapped the stretchy restraints around my wrists and fastened them to the wooden slats of the headboard. Unable to help myself, I gave an experimental tug. Though the cuffs were tight, they didn’t hurt but there was no way I was escaping from them.

  "Oh!" I shivered and tried to twist my hips as Dimitri ran his fingers down the undersides of my arms. The ticklish sensation made me giggle. Try as I might, I couldn't pull away from him. Those strong legs clamped around my hips and the restraints binding my wrists overhead made it impossible.

  My tummy swooped as he skimmed his lips over the swell of my breasts and playfully tickled his way down my body. Kneeling between my thighs, Dimitri grasped my left ankle and wrapped the cuff around it. He did the same to the right ankle and then made quick work of securing the loose ends of the restraints to the headboard.

  With my feet in the air, I felt totally vulnerable and so incredibly exposed. There wasn't much slack on the restraints securing my ankles and I tensed.

  "No," Dimitri instructed gently. "Don’t tense up, Benny. Let the straps do the work." He massaged my thighs and calves. "Relax your muscles."

  I closed my eyes and concentrated on the feeling of his strong fingers kneading my legs. By slow degrees, I let the tension leave my body. Just as he'd promised, the restraints did all the work.

  "What color are we, Benny?"

  I licked my lips and looked at him. He waited patiently for my answer. Without a doubt in my mind, I knew that if I said red, he'd tear away the restraints.

  But I didn't want him to do that. I wanted to stay bound to his bed and completely at his mercy. I wanted him to show me all the things he'd promised. I wanted to know what it felt like to be fucked into submission and left shuddering and boneless with pleasure.

  "Green."

  "You can change your mind at any time." His hand swept from my belly to my breasts and down again. His mouth curved in a mischievous smile. "But I hope you don't."

  I was still giggling when he leaned down to kiss me. In that moment, as his lips sealed to mine, I surrendered totally. In the back of my mind, I couldn't shake the fear that this was only a one-night stand. If it was, I damn sure intended to get the most out of it. I wanted to walk out of Dimitri's apartment with no regrets.

  A pleasured sigh escaped my lips as Dimitri nibbled and kissed his way down my body. He spent time tormenting my breasts, tugging my nipples between his lips and grazing his teeth over them ever so slightly. I shivered and arched into his sensual assault.

  By the time he was done with my breasts, they felt so heavy and ached. My nipples were tight little points that seemed to buzz. His mouth made a slow trail down my belly. He kissed my navel and each side of my hips before sliding down the bed.

  I bit my lower lip when his shoulders nudged my wide open thighs. My face flamed with embarrassment as he stared at that most intimate part of me. His thick, long fingers gingerly separated my folds. He framed my throbbing clitoris between two digits and brushed his lips across it in a teasing swipe. I let my head drop down to the mattress and tried to remembe
r how to breathe.

  "Do you like having your pussy licked?"

  His blunt question stunned me. Even more embarrassed now, I admitted, "I've never been on the receiving end of oral sex."

  His head lifted and our gazes clashed. Frowning, he asked, "But you gave it?"

  I nodded. "Sure."

  His lips settled into a grim line. "That sort of selfish bullshit doesn't fly in my bed."

  Before I could figure out how to reply to that, Dimitri's mouth dropped to my clit. I hissed with surprise as his soft, warm lips engulfed the pulsing bundle of nerves. He took up a leisurely rhythm, licking one side of the pink pearl and then the other. The wicked sensation of his tongue moving over me down there made every nerve-ending in my body tingle.

  Ever so slowly, he changed his tactic. His tongue swirled around my clit a few times before he sucked it between his lips and tugged on the little nub. I cried out at the sharp pleasure. My hips lifted instinctively, pressing my hot pussy right up against his mouth.

  With a hungry groan, Dimitri slid both hands under my ass and gripped my backside. He feasted on my pussy. I couldn’t think and gasped for air as he lashed my clit with his skilled tongue. My fingers tightened into fists and my thighs clenched as that shudder of panic raced through my core. Any second now…

  "Dimitri!" I shouted his name as the climax hit me hard. Rocking atop the bed, I moaned as the waves crashed down on me again and again. Dimitri's tongue kept up that perfect pace, licking me in just the right way until—suddenly—I came again. "Ahh!"

  He attacked my clit and forced the orgasm right to the brink of breaking me before easing off with tender flicks. I sagged against the mattress, my body limp and my head buzzing as the post-orgasmic hormones saturated my bloodstream.

  But Dimitri wasn't done with me yet.

  His nimble fingers explored my pussy. "So fucking beautiful," he murmured with awe. "You're so pink and wet." His tongue swiped me. "I can't get enough of you."