Free Silk and Champagne by M.M. Brennan Page B

certainly not for the pages of a Nicolas Sparks novel. Probably fair to say I was bitter, holding a hard kernel of resentment for... well, for men in general. I'd been cheated on, lied to, beat up, knocked down, and abandoned and that was just the treatment I'd endured from my third grade crush. Things had only escalated from there. So, when he claimed he would take care of me, of course I was reluctant to believe him. But, he'd said it before... so many times before. It seemed to be his mantra. I want you. I need you. Let me take care of you. I adore you.
     
    I shut my eyes and my niece's face flashed behind my lids. My heart splintered a little further and I extended my arms toward him. He took them in his hands and ran his fingers along my wrists.
     
    "So thin, so delicate," he whispered, and I didn't think I was meant to hear. "Lay back."
     
    "Whatever it takes," I told myself. Whatever it takes.
     
    I laid back and released myself to him. He wasted no time wrapping the necktie around my wrists. He pulled the cloth taut. I winced and he released it slightly. He kept his dark eyes on mine, taking in everything about me. I knew he could sense my fear, and he fed off of it. I could see his erection swelling inside his pants. It pleased him to know he held that power over me. He kissed me gently then pulled my arms over my head and tied the end of the necktie to the headboard, securing me tightly. Fear and arousal swirled inside me, an intoxicating mixture. My head swam, lost between apprehension and longing, lust and shame... and an ever growing sense of desire.
     
    He pushed my dress up, bunching it around my waist. His hands weren't the rough, harsh hands I was used to feeling on my body. Instead, they were soft and gentle, with long, delicate musician's fingers. He ran those gentle fingers along my rib cage, drawing a gasp from my throat. He smiled knowingly. I looked away, embarrassed that I was growing wet beneath his touch. It had been so long since a man had touched me. Even longer since I'd felt a touch so gentle, so kind, so... intimate.
     
    He traced a string of kisses beneath my ribs, down my belly to the hem of my lace panties. His mouth found my hip bone and lingered there, licking, sucking, teasing. I shivered, unable to control my body's natural reaction. He inched down until his face was between my legs. I could feel his breath on me, warm and wet. My skin tingled with anticipation. His tongue found my clit and he licked me through my panties. My hips moved up to meet his mouth, thrusting gently against his face. He growled, pleased at my reaction. I moaned, surprised by it. He sucked hard on my clit, soaking my panties with his mouth and my own moistness.
     
    "Please," I whispered.
     
    He lifted his head just slightly. "Please, what?"
     
    "Take them off."
     
    He smiled, something dark and devilish. "I will when I'm ready."
     
    He moved away from my clit, leaving me wet and wanted. Leaning back on his heels, he unbuttoned his shirt to reveal a chest sprinkled with dark curls. He wasn't rock hard and rippled, but lean and sculpted. I watched as the shirt fell away from him, exposing wide shoulders and slim hips. His hands moved to his pants and he undid them with nimble fingers. There was nothing beneath, nothing to cover his erection. It was long and thick and only grew harder as he ran his hand along the smooth shaft. He abandoned the rest of his clothing and moved on top of me, working his body between my legs.
     
    I felt his cock throb against my clit. He rocked up and down a few times, until my legs settled around him.
     
    "That's it," he whispered, slipping his hands beneath my dress. He cupped my breasts and his fingers found my nipples. He massaged them gently at first, then harder. Pinching, pulling, flicking. "Do you like that?"
     
    I did and that surprised me. I didn't think I'd feel anything more than shame, but I did. I felt hot, and wet, and... I wasn't sure what I was