Page 16

16

SAWYER

W hen we reach his place, Jamie leads me inside on the main floor. My eyes shift to the stairs where rock music pours down like an avalanche. My spine stiffens. For no good reason, I assumed his housemate would be out.

Jamie strides past the seating arrangements. “This way, Sauce.”

I’m relieved when, rather than heading upstairs, Jamie cuts to the left down a hallway.

He opens the door of a guest room and flips on a light. The room’s large, accommodating a king-sized bed with an impressive burgundy leather headboard, chest of drawers and end table.

After swinging the door closed, he sets my backpack next to the dresser and turns to face me. “There are some issues we need to deal with, but first…” Bending his fingers toward his palm, he beckons me closer.

Once I’m directly in front of him, he pushes my coat off, so it drops onto the bed’s silky silver duvet.

His hands rest on my hips, and he licks his lips. “I had a good time over the weekend, except…” Deep blue eyes trap my gaze. “I wanted to see you.”

“That’s unfortunate,” I murmur with a small smile forming.

“Yeah, I see you’re all broken up about it.” He draws in a slow breath and exhales, his hands sliding up to my sides.

“Would it help if I told you I missed you, too?”

“Hell no.”

My smirk widens. “Then, I won’t.” My brow cocks. “And, you know, why would I?”

He flashes his gorgeous smile for a second, and then it disappears. “I’ll take a kiss before we get into what happens next.” His intent expression makes me shiver, and I wonder what is coming next.

Putting my hands on his shoulders, I rise onto my toes. He lowers his head, so I can press my lips against his. A low growl emerges from his chest as he pulls me against him and sucks my tongue into his mouth. Tasting cinnamon and mint, I lean into him.

It’s the longest kiss I’ve ever had, and it’s not long enough.

Jamie takes my arms and sets me back away from him with a low curse. “You make me forget what I’m about, Sauce.” Exhaling a slow breath, he squeezes my arms then releases me. “Right, okay.” His Irish accent sends chills down my spine. I swear it’s become more potent every hour since I’ve known him.

I extend my arm so my thumb can rub my plum-colored lip balm from his lips.

He crosses his arms over his chest. “You were supposed to keep our relationship quiet, especially from my cousin.”

“Tried.” I shrug. “I haven’t told her the nature of the arrangement. That’s the main thing I’m supposed to keep secret, right?”

“Mmm. True enough. And you haven’t spilled details?”

“Of course not.”

“Nor even hinted?”

“No.”

“Which I suppose explains why she’s tried to put me on notice that I need to buy you presents.”

Rolling my eyes, I make a derisive sound in the back of my throat. “You could’ve just said no.”

“I could, yeah.” His thumb rubs his lower lip and then he sucks the tip, as though he’s looking for traces of our kiss. “Ever been spanked, Cranberry Sauce?”

My brows rise. “Never.” As my heart kicks into high gear, I tilt my head.

“Normally, the thought of punishing someone doesn’t turn me on much, but in this case…” His predatory look provokes both anxiety and arousal. “We’ll try it, then decide if it’s right for our arrangement.” He rolls up his shirtsleeves to the elbow, showing off toned forearms. “Take off everything except your knickers.”

His cool blue eyes make it clear he intends to bend me to his will. Deep inside, things clench and ache with need.

I rub my upper arms, giving myself a hug.

One of his brows rises in a stern, slightly mocking expression. “Are you stalling? After popping up at this house uninvited to leave a note, when I made it clear I would reach out when I was ready?”

Blowing out a breath through pursed lips, I shiver. “Special circumstances.”

“No.” The finality in his tone makes me wince. “You could’ve gone to the dorm’s RA, right? And you did go to the campus police. So, coming ‘round to my place, not necessary.”

Warmth burns my cheeks. He’s right. I had alternatives. My subconscious—and not so subconscious—motives are clear. I wanted to connect with him.

“Strip, Sauce.” He inclines his head for emphasis. “Or use your safeword, and I’ll drop you home.”

With a shudder, I jerk into action, tugging the sleeve of my sweater to free my arm. He steps back, giving me room to undress. He’s so businesslike I wonder whether agonizing over my lingerie was a waste of time.

Spotting the hunger in his eyes as I raise the hem of my sweater, though, makes me decide it wasn’t. Pleasure courses through me as he watches my every move. I pull the sweater over my head slowly.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I remove my shoes and socks. As I peel off my leggings, he licks his lips, apparently enjoying the show. When I stand again, I pause in a subtle pose. My indigo satin lace bra and panties look great with my skin and hair. Since I wore the set for him, I want him to get his fill.

He doesn’t disappoint. “Christ, you’re gorgeous.” When his gaze locks on my body, his breathing deepens and the heat in his eyes could burn the house down. “Bra off.”

After reaching back and removing it, I set it on the dresser.

He’s already seen me topless, but you’d never know it from his unblinking countenance. There’s gravel in his voice as he says, “Come over here.”

When I do, he brushes his thumb along the curve of my breast.

“Your nips would look great in clamps.”

My pussy clenches. Nipple clamps? That sounds like it would hurt, and yet… I can’t explain why I’m so intrigued. “Do you have them here?”

“Yeah.” A slow smile emerges. “Curious, huh, Sauce? Always a great thing to find in a play partner.”

In a fluid motion of pure athletic strength, he grabs me and carries me to the bed. Sitting on the edge, he tips me over his lap. All the air rushes from my lungs as my head and upper body tilt toward the floor.

Jesus, he’s strong. Which causes another blaze of lust in my pelvis. But also, I’m now positioned over his thighs with my ass pushed up. Unable to keep from squirming with embarrassment, I start to slip from his lap.

Instantly, Jamie’s arm snakes around my waist and hauls me closer, so my hip is pressed against his hard abs. And it’s not the only place he’s hard. His erection beneath my belly causes my pussy to cream.

“Be good.” The warm masculine tone draws out another small shiver from me.

Then his strong hand lands on my ass in several swats. It isn’t until the third smack that my body registers the sting.

At first, the pain doesn’t bother me. I’m too enthralled by his show of dominance.

When his fingertips catch the elastic of my panties and pull them down to my knees, I gasp as my vulnerability increases exponentially.

Suddenly being naked from the waist down, with my whole ass and between my legs exposed causes me to squeeze my thighs together. “Hold on,” I whisper.

Jamie pauses, but when I reach for my undies, he grabs my wrists and pins them against the small of my back. That easy show of power causes my breath to catch. I can’t stop him, not physically. As I squirm, he moves a leg to trap me, keeping my bare upturned ass in perfect position.

“You’re not in control, little girl. Relax and accept it.”

Shivering uncontrollably, I exhale. “I need a minute.”

“No, you don’t. Try to get out of your own head. There’s freedom in giving up control. Remember?”

My mind races, and I realize he’s talking about when I didn’t resist his squeezing my throat during sex. He’s right… I completely let go, and that blind faith felt amazing.

His thumb strokes the skin of a wrist he’s holding captive. The small touch is reassuring. “Lean in to your helplessness, Sawyer. I’ll take care of you. All you need to do is feel whatever feelings arise.”

It’s tempting to relinquish control. Sometimes, I’m exhausted from always holding myself in check. “Okay, I’ll try,” I whisper. Concentrating, I force my body to go limp.

“Good girl.”

The spanking begins again with a slow, steady intensity until heat blossoms throughout my ass and pelvis. Arousal brews in my core until at least half my focus is on his erection and how great it would feel to have it inside me.

When his hand lands the next time, the real discipline begins. Spanks ring out as sharp cracks, and the burning pain is unnerving. After one hard swat, I gasp and try to twist free. And fail.

Jamie pauses to squeeze my flaming ass cheeks possessively.

“I’m—”

“Unless you need to use your safeword, stay quiet.” His tone isn’t brutal, but it doesn’t need to be to cause my lips to part in shock. He’s got all the power now, and he wants me to know it.

With something explosive building in my body, I’m not ready to stop yet. Pressing my lips between my teeth, I force my ass and limbs to relax. Instead, I focus on each sensation… My hips grinding against his thighs, his hard cock that’s hungry for sex with me, the flames that ignite every time his palm compresses my soft flesh.

The game stretches on until my body is vibrating on the precipice between pleasure and pain. My thoughts start to unravel. The pain is a key that unlocks… something .

My body gives up its struggle. I’m breathless and bite my lip as my eyes brim with tears. But my mind floats, aware of the humid heat between my thighs, aware of the way his hand strikes a spot that causes my hip to rub against his hard-on over and over.

When he finally stops and rubs my blazing ass, I can barely catch my breath.

How can anything that hurts so much also make me so hot for him? I want him to bend me over the end of the bed and use me hard.

“Good girl,” he whispers. He repositions me, so I’m on my knees, my crying face in front of his groin. Leaning forward, his lips graze my scalp. “You’re all right.”

I look up through wet lashes as he unzips his expensive trousers. “I need you,” I whisper. Shaking as though I’m outside in the freezing cold, my teeth chatter. And yet, I’m not cold. In fact, my ass is scalding the heels of my feet.

Jamie’s cock springs free, and he grips it in his fist, pumping it several times.

I open my mouth. Instead of shoving his cock into it as I expect, he puts his fingers onto my tongue. I suck them, and the look of satisfaction on his face ignites a wave of pleasure inside me.

He pulls his fingers free of my mouth. “Stand up,” he orders, towering above me. His voice is pure dominance and masculine need. The part of me I’ve hidden for so long revels in it.

Rising, I lick my lips. His right hand grips my hair and tips my head back. When he kisses me, I cling to him.

“Lie on the bed and spread your legs.”

I crawl onto the mattress. When I lie back, the sheets are cool against my swollen ass.

When Jamie joins me, he pushes my knees apart and kneels between them.

Lowering his head, he tastes me, causing my body to vibrate with desperation. His tongue on my clit makes me writhe and moan. I lift my hips to press against him.

In the grips of some kind of primal need, I abandon my senses.

He sucks while penetrating me with his fingers. When the orgasm hits me, my pussy clenches over and over until my legs shake. The air in my lungs emerges as a long, slow shriek.

When my body goes limp, Jamie crawls up the bed and rolls me onto my side. Rubbing his cock against my lips is all the guidance I need. My lips part.

As he feeds me his cock, the smooth head passes my lips and glides over my tongue. Salty pearls of pre-cum trigger a need to eat him alive. Hollowing my cheeks, I suck on the length of him.

“Fuck,” he groans.

My fingers grab the back of his thigh in an attempt to pull him in even closer. Jamie thrusts, giving me what I want—more of him. His hand slides into my hair, tangling and twisting until my scalp stings from his grip.

“Christ that’s gorgeous.” He drags my head forward on his cock, so I’m taking him to the root.

My throat convulses, and my eyes water. Moaning, he eases his grip long enough for me to pull back enough to take a breath. Then he drags me forward again. I fall into the rhythm he sets.

It’s gritty and raw and out of control. The world blurs, until there’s nothing beyond the way we’re joined, the way I’m consuming him.

“Swallow it,” he orders in a harsh rasp. Thick strands of cum fill my mouth, and my throat spasms as I struggle to keep up.

My nails dig into his thigh.

By the time he releases my head, I’m dizzy. A little liquid has escaped the corner of my mouth. He catches it with his thumb and smears it on my lips. We lock eyes, and I suck the cum into my mouth.

The bed creaks as he lies down on his side and pulls me against him. Being skin to skin feels so right. Every time his chest expands, his muscles graze my soft flesh.

His panting breaths gradually slow. “Jayzus. Are you all right, C Sauce?”

Hugging him so tightly that I’m risking osmosis, I press a kiss into the hollow of his throat. Moving to the muscles under his jaw, I suck on his flesh. His fingers stroke the back of my neck soothingly.

Jamie cocks his head and pulls back from the vortex of my mouth. “Easy there, baby vampire. If my teammates spot your marks on me, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Not my problem.”

That tears a small chuckle from deep in his chest. He rubs my lower back and then rearranges me so I’m under the covers. After he strips out of his clothes, he climbs under the covers and lies on his side, so we’re facing each other. His left hand slides over my hip to fondle my still-warm ass.

“How are you, Sauce?”

“Great,” I say, leaning closer.

The warmth of his body and our blanket cocoon feel lovely. And strangely safe, in a way not many things have since I lost Celine.

“You can tell me anything.” His lips graze my forehead. “More importantly, tell me if something isn’t a good experience for you. These kinds of games rely on honest communication.”

Tipping my head back so I can see his face, I say, “I don’t understand why something that hurts makes the sex even better.”

With a rueful smile, he shrugs. “When the tension is higher, so is the release.”

Lowering my head onto his outstretched arm, I close my eyes. “I guess that must be it.” Raising my lids to half mast, I stare at the pulse in his throat. “I had no idea I’d like this kind of thing. Important discovery for me.” My breath blows against his skin. “Even though the arrangement’s temporary, I’m really glad we met and hooked up.”

His thumb strokes my spine. “Same.”

A small dagger of disappointment pierces my heart when he doesn’t suggest making things more permanent. I manage to keep from pressing him. We made an agreement, and so far, I’m getting as much from his side of the bargain as he is.

It’s enough.

Because it has to be.