Page 17 of Craved By You (Dark Desires Duet #1)

Astrid

I leaned up on my elbow and watched as Colt strode toward me, biting my lip as he got closer, tossing the claws on the bed. They taunted me, challenging me to a duel.

The way this man makes me feel... I swooned and rolled over onto my stomach, this time propping myself up on both elbows.

He stood there. The silence between us interrupted by the clinking of his belt buckle as he undid his belt, removing it from his pants with such grace that it would put angels to shame.

I watched as he folded it up and brought the belt closer to me.

My breath hitched for a moment but I was able to pull myself out of it and I quickly reminded myself that I was safe.

Colt paused for a moment and raised his brow, waiting to see if I had anything to say.

“ I’m good,” I assured him and he gently placed the belt beneath my chin and guided my face up higher to meet his. “I promise.”

Colt still didn’t say a word.

He pulled back the belt and tossed it to the side before kneeling down on the floor before me so that our faces were even.

Colt used his finger to direct me to come closer to him and I scooted forward until we were almost nose to nose.

He reached up and grasped me by the back of my head and pulled me forward so that his lips were touching my head.

“ Don’t ever hesitate to tell me to stop, sunshine,” he growled. “I know you’re trying to work through things by pushing yourself, but don’t you ever go beyond what you can handle.”

“ I’m not.”

“ Good girl.” His voice was still low and gravelly. “Now, get off this bed…” He paused and walked over to the stereo, turning it on. The haunting sound of Heartbeat by Isabella LaRosa began to play across the surround sound and I felt myself falling into a trance. “And strip.”

I stared at him blankly for a moment while his command registered.

Was he wanting me to dance for him? I flushed red.

I couldn’t dance. Even if I could, there was no way I would feel comfortable or confident enough to do it for him.

That sounded silly, this man had seen me naked dozens of times by now, and I knew how he felt about me.

He loves me, after all.

Soon, the beat of the music consumed me and I was up on my feet, swaying my hips seductively to the music as I stripped down into the black skull bra and cheeky panty set I had worn for the night’s post-concert festivities.

My hands glided over my body, touching every inch of skin of the parts I hated most, only this time the negative thoughts remained at bay.

Colt took my hand and escorted me over to the bench and I took my place, kneeling. Arching my back, I presented myself to the man who had taken over my heart and soul with only slight hesitation and excitement over what was going to happen next.

He walked over and slid one of the drawers out of the trunk, just out of sight from where I was so I was unable to see what he had grabbed before he disappeared behind me again.

I waited a few more moments, the anticipation inside me growing to be more than I could bear.

What was he doing that was taking so long?

I felt myself starting to have doubts. We had just instigated a sub-drop and now we were going to be playing again? Was that even safe?

I still had so much to learn, and I knew that he did as well.

As I looked around the room I took note of the clock on the wall and noticed that it was only eleven-thirty.

With everything that had already happened tonight, it felt like it should be later, but time always seemed to slow down when we were together.

I wasn’t complaining one bit. After a brief wait, Colt returned with what appeared to be an ice bucket in his hand and several bottles of water.

“ If you get thirsty, you need to let me know,” he insisted and I agreed as I felt him pressing himself into me. His body enveloped me whole as he leaned over and whispered in my ear. “You are going to make a beautiful canvas.”

Then he was gone, and with no warning I felt a sting across my ass.

I couldn’t help but smile. It felt so wrong, but so right all at the same time.

For the first few smacks, Colt would sting me once and then gently glide his fingertips over me which created an entirely new sensation that I didn’t know how to explain.

It sent chills up my body. Then he really started getting into it.

Each stroke became harder, and with each mark he created I found myself experiencing a mental release that I didn’t know was possible.

It made me hopeful that I could experience another form of release.

He began to slow his rhythm with the stingy implement, pausing for a brief moment before he began to use something a bit heavier and a new sensation came over me.

This one gave more of a thud, it felt similar to what I would think a rubber mallet would feel like, though I was no expert.

I almost preferred this feeling more, but the two together provided a complete experience, unlike anything that I could have imagined in my wildest fantasies.

“ Oh!” I shrieked as the cold touched my skin. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“ I wasn’t expecting you to start bleeding all over the place.” Colt let out a chuckle. “You’re tough, I had expected you to tell me to ease up.”

I teased. “You weren’t even going that hard.” His movements had felt so good, some strikes landing where others had left off, and I could tell that my ass was going to look like a piece of art. I couldn’t wait to see.

With that, I felt a sharpness digging in underneath my cheeks and the feeling between my thighs started to intensify with a greater need.

The claws.

It had to be them. That was the only thing that I could think of that would feel this way. My question was quickly answered when I felt them digging down my back, sending a greater sensation through my entire body.

It burned. It stung. It felt so good. A new sense of relief was pouring from me.

He was right. It reminded me of the times when I would self-harm, and the mental release that I would get when doing so.

Only this was in a controlled situation, one where it wasn’t harmful.

No longer did the negative have to hold onto that light and I could feel myself slowly healing with each new thing that Colt introduced me to.

Colt was attentive, watching me as he performed each new thing. He allowed me to push myself and see how much I could take but I could feel him ease up a bit if he felt that I was going too far. We made a great team.

I shook my ass at him in a silent plea for more.

When he stopped I could feel his rock-hard erection pressing between my cheeks as he lightly rubbed his fingers over his handiwork.

I whimpered, desperate to feel him inside of me.

Surely a few strokes is all it would take before I had finally reached euphoria.