Lillian Feisty

Turning, she smiled at Mark. “You’ve seen me naked.”

“Don’t think I’m not thinking about it.” The corners of his mouth lifted in a mischievous smile as he took a step closer to her.

She lifted her chin a fraction then jumped into the unknown. “Now it’s your turn. Do you just admire the art you buy, or do you play?” Her heart was racing like she’d just had a triple shot of espresso.

His hand went to his belt buckle, where he lightly stroked the brass. “I love the aesthetics of Shibari, but I’m more interested in other aspects of the power play.”

Her bones turned to liquid. God, she wanted to sink to her knees before him, wanted to feel the concrete dig into her skin. Wanted to give herself to him. She’d forgotten what that craving was like, how encompassing it could be.

How could this be happening so fast?

He pulled her to him and took her chin in two of his fingers, tilted her face up. “I’m going to kiss you, but only if you promise to come to the show and then wait for me afterwards.”

“What if I hate the way you kiss?”

“You won’t.”

“You’re so sure of yourself.”

He lifted her chin a fraction. “Yes.”

She loved the way a man’s neck felt in her palm, and when she pulled him down towards her she closed her eyes and savored the seconds before their first kiss. Then his lips touched hers briefly before she opened her mouth, slid her tongue gently towards his. She tasted him. Took pleasure in the easy way they connected.

She’d forgotten what a kiss could be like. How it could make her legs tingle. How it set loose butterflies in her belly. How it melted her.

Desire hit her like lightning, shooting through her veins in a hot bolt. Their kiss became harder, more intense. His hands held her steady as he explored her mouth. She groaned against his lips.

The fingertips of his right hand moved from her shoulder to trail the outside of her breast, down her ribcage and over her hipbone until his hand clenched around her upper thigh. He pressed his body against hers, backed her against the warm wall. She went limp as he covered her, increasing pressure until she was sandwiched between his hot body and hard concrete.

He pulled away and she let her head drift aside as he trailed his lips over her neck. His hand on her leg climbed higher, taking the hem of the dress with it. She wanted to spread for him a little, but she didn’t.

“Nice ink.”

Opening her eyes, she followed his gaze to her now-exposed leg, where a tattered rope was tattooed around her thigh.

Her heart leapt into her throat. She’d gotten that tattoo when she and Ash had been together. When she’d thought they’d be together forever.

“Ruby? You okay, baby?”

She slowly nodded. “Yes.” She took a deep breath. “I keep meaning to have it covered.”

“Why?”

“That was another life.”

He just looked at her. “Really?”

She wanted him back, to feel his mouth on her skin. She shrugged. “I was young.” It seemed so long ago.

“You still are.”

An image of herself, tied up and helpless for Mark, flashed before her eyes. Her nipples tingled and hardened.

Out of the blue, she had been given the chance of one night with this man. This man who caused her blood to heat, who knew what she craved.

It was ideal. He was the perfect man to get her back into things. One night, and then he’d be gone. Her self-deprivation would be over.

She raised her gaze to meet his. “Kiss me.”

He came at her again. His hands were in her hair, stroking and pulling, pulling until she gasped from the sharp sting. Her legs quivered and he brought her closer, tilting her how he wanted her. How easily she followed his lead. How easy it was to give into the freedom of him directing her. So simple. She didn’t have to think, her body simply responded. No matter how young this man was, he was starting to rule her, if only for the night.

He reached his hand into the neckline of her low-cut dress and found her nipple. She gasped into his mouth as he pinched, twisted. The pain shot through her, straight to her sex. Ash had always been gentle.

She did not want Mark to be gentle.

She was getting wet. Wet between her legs but she didn’t want anything to touch her there, not yet. She wanted to feel the void, feel the want. She never wanted that craving to end.

“Dude, we gotta—oh, shit—“

Mark pulled away from her mouth but his gaze remained on hers. Discreetly removing his hand from inside her dress, he spoke. “Be right there.”

“Right, man. Sorry.”

Closing her eyes, she took a few fast, ragged breaths. He’d had her panting.

“You okay, baby?”

“Yes. I am.”

“Good.” Mark encircled both of her wrists in one of his long, strong hands and brought her arms over her head, pinning her to the wall. The bricks scratched at her skin.

She opened her eyes to find him staring at her.

“Come tonight, Ruby.”

“Yes.”

With his free hand he encircled her throat, his palm pressing against her clavicle. His eyes were dark as they drilled into hers. “I’ll leave a pass at the door. I want you to come to the show, find a spot to the right of the stage and wait for me there.”

“Yes,” she breathed, loving the way his hand enclosed her neck. Loving everything.

“I’ll tell the bartender to have a drink waiting for you.”

“Thank you.”

“If any men approach you, I want you to ignore them. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“If you don’t do as I say, I won’t be happy.”

A shudder ripped through her body. How would he respond if she displeased him? Her pulse jumped with excitement. A part of her wanted to find out what he’d do. Would he punish her? She’d never been punished like that, but it had been a secret fantasy of hers.

Pinned to the wall, his large hand on her throat, she sank into him as he kissed her. His mouth gently belied the rough grip he had on her body and the juxtaposition of sensation nearly killed her. Sometime during the evening her brain had floated away, leaving her fixated on this handsome young stranger.
With his hand gripping her behind the neck, he led her back inside the house. “See you later, baby.”

He kissed her under the ear and she nodded. Then she watched him walk out the door.