Page 19

Chapter eighteen

Master of Lust

Karma

“Hurry up, Karma.” Josh yanks me across the threshold of his apartment, kicking off his shoes next to the coat closet. He tugs on my hand, trying to pull me farther into the roommate-free zone. “Come on, I have a surprise for you.”

Another surprise? I almost didn’t survive the last one. If the sexiest underwear on the planet was his first gift, there’s no telling what Josh has in store for me this time.

I dig in my heels. “Why are we here, Moonbeam? We don’t have much time left to work on your speech. Shouldn’t we go to the student writing center?”

“I finished my speech,” he admits. “I’ve already turned it into Dean Owens, and he approved it.”

Holy shit. “Congratulations!” I scoop him up in my arms and spin him around. “I know how hard it can be to find the perfect words. May I read it?”

Josh bites his bottom lip. “I was hoping you’d hear it for the first time at my graduation. You helped me find my ‘divine fire’, and I want my speech to be a special surprise.”

That’s my surprise? That’s so sweet! For a writer, there’s nothing better than the gift of words.

He pulls me into the living room, then pushes me onto the couch. “Sit. Relax. I’ll be right back.” He rushes into another room.

Wait, what’s going on? Does he have another surprise for me besides his speech? Maybe I shouldn’t let my guard down… the last time I did, I got side-swiped by a pair of lace undies. One look at that tempting scrap of fabric and I lost all self-control.

Not this time. I can be a gentleman—I can and I will . I’ve got a plan to handle temptation from now on. Whenever I feel my self-control slipping, I’m gonna picture my Fairy Godmother turning me into a frog. She might do it, too. Evie takes her compadre duties seriously.

Josh comes back into the living room with a gift bag. “You’ve been working so hard. Besides helping me with my speech, you’ve got classes, TA duties, and a job. It’s time for you to relax—you’ve earned it.”

Well, he’s not wrong. But I’m not sure I trust that little bag with its shiny gold bow. It could be a trap. It might be full of more pairs of lace undies.

Josh reaches inside the paper tote, pulling out a candle. “I bought some things to help you unwind after a busy day. Aromatherapy is said to be very soothing.” After lighting the sandalwood scented candle, he places it on the end table next to the couch.

“Thanks, Moonbeam—that’s so thoughtful. Mmm… it smells really good.” I guess I shouldn’t be so suspicious.

“You’re welcome, Karma—but that’s not all.” He pulls another item out of the bag and shows it to me. “This eye mask is infused with chamomile. It’s supposed to reduce stress. May I put it on you?”

Wow, another considerate gift. With finals approaching, everyone at Spartacus is stressed out, including me. “Yeah, let me try it for a couple of minutes. I bet it feels great.”

“I hope so.” Josh steps behind the couch and slips the mask over my eyes. “I want you to relax and unwind. May I massage your neck, My Prince?”

Uh oh. The last time he called me his prince, he whispered a very naughty suggestion in my ear. My senses go on high alert, waiting for the first sign of trouble… until his hands glide over my shoulders, up my neck, and into my hair. “Oh god, that feels good,” I groan.

“You deserve it,” he murmurs as his fingers massage my scalp. “Just relax and enjoy.”

Mmm… I could get used to this. The soothing mask covering my eyes only seems to heighten my other senses—the smell of the candle, the feel of his hands in my hair. I hear a click of a bottle opening. “What’s that?”

Josh wafts something under my nose, its scent soft and alluring. “It’s massage oil. Let me rub a little onto your shoulders.”

My ears perk up at the sound of his hands rubbing together. When his fingers stroke my shoulders, spreading the warm oil across my skin, my muscles automatically start to loosen. I focus on the feeling of his thumbs as they search for hidden knots, rubbing small circles into them until they release.

“Let go,” Josh whispers in my ear. “Allow your mind and body to relax. Let me take care of you.”

Yaas. I melt under his touch. When was the last time someone pampered me? I tend to be kind of a giver—being on the receiving end feels decadent.

“You must be tired from standing at WLL,” he says as his fingers work their magic. “Why don’t I rub your feet for you?”

That would be amazing . I hear the sound of his steps as he circles to the front of the couch, feel the touch of his hand as it slides down my arm. Even though my sight is blocked, I can sense his presence as he kneels on the ground in front of me. When he slips off my shoes and socks, touching my feet with his oil-slicked hands, I let out an involuntary moan. “Holy shit, Josh. Thank you—but you don’t have to do this.”

“I want to,“ he murmurs. “Let me, My Prince. Your King insists.”

My resistance crumbles when his thumbs press into the sensitive arches of my feet. Fuuuck , that’s it, right there. As Josh massages my tired feet—the balls, the tops, even my ankles—I become as loose as a wet noodle. By the time he rubs each one of my toes, I’m practically a puddle on the floor.

“Your hands must get sore from all the writing you do.” Josh lifts one of my boneless arms, turning my hand over so that the palm faces up.

I hear a click, then feel a warm drizzle of oil on the center of my hand. He presses our palms together, rubbing his hand against mine. Our fingers twine for a moment, the oil sinking into every crevice. When he pulls his fingers away, I don’t want to let them go.

Starting with my wrist, he massages my right hand, pulling and rubbing each finger. When he’s done, he lavishes the same attention on the left. Once that hand is completely relaxed, he skims his thumb along the edge of my palm, circling a path to its sensitive center. “Mmm, this oil smells so good. I wonder how it tastes?” Josh licks the hypersensitive flesh in the center of my palm with the pointed tip of his tongue.

Ho. Ly. Shiiit.

“Uh, Moonbeam?” I draw in an unsteady breath, trying to sit up.

“Shhh, let me taste you.” His tongue licks a trail up my middle finger. Drawing it into his mouth, he sucks on it and hums. “Mmm...”

What little blood I have left in my brain rushes south. I shift on the sofa, my jeans suddenly tight. “Josh, I—“

He sucks my thumb into his mouth and swirls his tongue around it, his hand sliding up my thigh toward my crotch.

Oh no. “Tolk—“, I swallow hard, my safeword stuck in my throat. “Tolk—”

Josh lets go of my thumb. “Am I your master?” he asks, his fingers touching the button of my jeans. “Tell me. Say it.”

I gulp. “Yeah, but I—“

“Say it,” he cuts me off. “Tell me who your master is.”

Time bends for a moment. Every cell of my body cries out for his touch, drowning out the doubts in my mind. My thinking brain shuts off as my physical nature takes over. I’m flesh—mere blood and bone—and Josh owns me.

“You’re my master.” I submit with a grateful sigh.

“And you’re my loyal subject,” he says. “ Mine .”

My head nods of its own accord. “Yes, Sir. I’m yours.”

That earns me a purr of approval. “Very good, My Prince. If you continue to obey me, I’ll reward you… but if you disobey, there will be punishment. Do you agree to my terms?”

I nod my head silently.

“Verbal consent,” Josh demands.

“Yes, Sir,” I say without thinking.

I can’t see anything behind my mask, but I can feel everything . His fingers unbuttoning my jeans and easing down the zipper… his hand reaching into my underwear and pulling out my cock… his mouth wrapping around its head and sinking down my shaft…

“Wait!” I gasp. “Stop, Moonbeam. I—“

His teeth nip my flesh, a reminder of who’s in charge. “This is my cock— mine —and I want to suck it. Are you saying ‘no’ to your King?”

“No, Sir. I mean, yes. Oh god, I don’t know.” A warning flashes in a corner of my mind while my body begs for me to ignore it. To allow the heaven of his mouth to continue. To let go of all resistance.

“You’ve tasted my cum, and I want to taste yours. I will have it. It’s mine.“ Josh’s firm voice demands my submission.

So I give it to him.

“Yes, Sir. Oh god, yes. Please.” I quit fighting and surrender to his will.

My reward is the feel of his lips as they slide down my hard length, sinking low then pulling back up. The suction is almost more than I can bear. My hands grip the back of his head as he lowers it again. My entire world narrows down to the feeling of Josh’s mouth on my cock.

As he bobs his head up and down, he hollows his cheeks and hums. The friction, suction, and vibration are enough to curl my toes. When he finally releases me with a wet-sounding slurp, he dips his tongue into my slit and laps up a dribble of pre-cum. I barely have a moment to gasp before I feel the touch of his hands. One of them slides up and down my length while the other one caresses my balls.

Oh my god, so many different sensations… The gentle stream of air that he blows across the head of my dick… The tight grip of his fist as it pumps my shaft… His fingers fondling my balls before nudging against my taint. I can smell the light scent of the candle hidden under the stronger musk of my arousal. I can hear his soft murmurs of praise over my louder moans of pleasure.

“I’m yours, Josh. Do whatever you want,” I tell him. I don’t need self-control—I need his control.

Josh licks a wide swath up my cock, then kisses the tip before sinking back down onto it. My dick is squeezed into the narrow space between his tongue and the roof of his mouth, the head of my cock hitting the back of his throat. Saliva drips onto my hard flesh as his lips glide up and down. He sucks, and sucks—and when he swallows, my eyes fly open behind my mask.

“Josh, wait! I’m gonna—” Ecstasy floods through me as cum erupts from my cock. I’m swept away by the raging river of my orgasm, gasping for breath as it goes on and on.

Sometime later (moments? years?) I shiver as his lips release me. Over the pounding of my heart, I hear Josh whisper, “ Mine .”