Heat flushed through Kate, warming her from head to toe at the possessive, confident tone of his voice. “And that is?”
“A man who will make all your fantasies come true.” He moved his thumb across her lips. “A man who won’t be intimidated. A man who can teach you to surrender.” Her eyes widened. She started to protest but he pressed his hand over her mouth. “Don’t lie to me, Kate.” He leaned close and whispered in her ear. “Inside you’ve imagined what it would be like to be dominated, haven’t you? To submit to a man, sexually, in every way.”
Kate closed her eyes, trembling with raw passion as Nick voiced the fantasy she’d never told a soul. Only in her imagination, when she was using one of her assorted vibrators, had she allowed that fantasy to come alive.
“Say it.” He nipped at her lobe, dark passion in his demand. “Tell me you’ll submit to everything and anything I ask of you.”
Her lips trembled and she hesitated before saying, “I’m afraid.”
“Open your eyes,” he commanded. Kate complied and stared up into his aqua gaze. “You’ll have a safe word,” he said in that even, definitive voice. “If you’re uncomfortable with anything I demand of you, then say ‘fire’ and I’ll stop immediately. All right?”
She nodded, the tempo of her heartbeat increasing. Oh, she was on fire all right.
“I won’t give you more than you can handle—but you might think I will. Test yourself, Kate.” He hooked his finger under her chin, the current between them wild and electric. “Submit to me.”
How could she trust a man she barely knew? But, as she looked into his eyes she felt entirely safe and protected. The strength and control evident in his expression, the sureness of his touch added to that sense of security. And after all, all this was only fantasy, and she could get out any time she wanted to by saying, “fire.” And god, how she wanted him.
“Yes, Master.” The word just slipped out as she fell into the playful domination.
“Mmm,” Nick brushed his lips over hers. “That’s a good girl.”
Opening her mouth to him, he pulled away. When she gave him a disappointed frown, the corner of his mouth quirked. Then, he stepped back, flicked a switch on the wall behind him, and the room literally came to life.
Kate gasped as she absorbed her surroundings, then moved away from Nick, her heels wobbling as she walked down a series of stone steps leading to a large pool at the room’s very center. Palm trees, ferns and other tropical plants filled the area, so dense that she couldn’t see any walls.
Even the canopy of branches above was so thick the ceiling was obscured with only gentle ‘sunlight’ seeping through. Orchids in muted hues grew in clusters, their sweet perfume lending a heady fragrance to the air. Red, yellow, and orange hibiscus blooms splashed across the landscape.
A soft rainforest mist had begun to fall, the moisture dampening her silk dress, blending with the sweat of her excitement, and the fabric clung to her like a second skin. Lilies and lily pads floated on top of the pool’s crystalline green surface, stirred by the current caused from a small waterfall at one end. The whisper of the waterfall blended with the other jungle noises. She smiled. In a room like this, a woman could be anyone. Do anything. Do...everything.
“Like it?”
She jumped at the sound of his voice so close behind her. She’d been so lost absorbing everything in the room that she hadn’t heard him approach. “It’s gorgeous.” She turned and found herself in his embrace. “I love it. This must be like
Christmas Island
sung by the Andrews Sisters.”
“With Guy Lombardo,” Nick added with a grin. “1949.”
She smiled. “I always wanted to go to the tropics for Christmas. Get out of all this snow.”
He grinned. “Now’s your opportunity.”
She laughed. “And I intend to enjoy every moment of it.”
“After we’ve had a bath, we’ll enjoy a little room service.” His look became dark and dangerous as he released her. “But now strip, wench.”
A thrill coursed through Kate and her clit throbbed. Wench, eh? Well, she could be that. She could be anyone. And she’d do everything. And she’d give this arrogant bastard a strip show he’d not soon forget.
Smiling, she moved her palms up her hips, along the curve of her waist and over the swell of her breasts. His gaze followed her hands, and she had to hold back a laugh at the pained expression on his handsome face.
Satisfaction filled her, realizing she held as much power over him as he held over her. Maybe more. If he was turned on by the mere idea of her designing erotic fashions, then how could she disappoint?
Nick’s muscles tensed beneath his snug T-shirt and he clenched his fists to hold himself back from reaching out and ripping Kate’s clothing off her delectable body.
“Faster,” he demanded, his voice hoarse with his desire for this woman. “I have to see you.”
With movements he knew were designed to drive him out of his mind, she brought her hands around to the back of her dress and he heard the soft hum of a zipper. A sensual spark lit her brown eyes and she moved her hands from her back to the clasp at her neck. Her eyes focused on him as she eased the clasp of her silk dress apart. In achingly slow motion, she brought the top of her dress down to the swell of her breasts and stopped.
He swallowed hard. In a rough voice he commanded, “Drop it.”
She released her hold on the fabric and the crimson fell around her high heels.
Nick sucked in his breath as his gaze traveled down her body. Her breasts were large, the deep rose nipples peeking through the delicate red lace of her bra. Her scrap of panties barely covered her mound, and damn but she looked sexy in those black garters, sheer stockings and lipstick-red high heels.
“Come here.” He gestured to the grass directly in front of him.
Her breasts strained against the skimpy bra as she stepped out of the pool of fabric and moved forward. He only wished those gorgeous breasts would bust loose so he could touch and taste them now instead of drawing out the torture.
“Here?” Kate stopped so close to him that he felt her body heat and caught the scent of her arousal. She ran her tongue along her lower lip and added, “Master.”
Nick reached up and slid his fingers along her jaw, feeling the tiny tremors in her body as his hand continued over her ear and to the back of her head. He removed the clip and her blonde hair tumbled around her shoulders, giving her a sexy just-got-out of bed look. He tossed the clip onto her abandoned dress, and then raked his fingers through her hair. Honey silk, soft and luxurious.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured.
Kate turned her cheek into his palm, her gaze lowered. “Do you get paid to say things like that?”
He clenched his hand in her hair and gently pulled her head back until her brown eyes met his. “I say it like I see it. Got a problem with that, sweetheart?”
She licked her lips. “No.”
“Good.” He brought his mouth to Kate’s, gently brushing her moistened lips and then pulled away. “You’re one incredibly sexy woman, and it’s time you realized that.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
His hand still clenched in her hair, he drew her closer and nipped at her lower lip. She moaned, placing her palms against his chest, her hands burning him through the T-shirt. He crushed his lips against hers, thrusting his tongue into her mouth. Tasting, devouring, demanding everything she had to offer.
Lost in the moment, she gripped handfuls of his T-shirt just to keep herself steady. His spicy male scent surrounded her, filled her. When Nick pulled away, she could only stare up at him, dazed and breathless. Her mouth raw from the scrape of his stubble and the erotic bites he’d taken of her lips.
He studied her with heavy-lidded eyes as he released his hold on her hair, and said, “Undress me.”
She yanked his T-shirt out of his jeans, and he helped her pull it over his head. She brought the material to her face and breathed deep. “Smoke, I can’t quite place it though.”
Nick gave her a lopsided grin. “Just got off a real worker before coming here. Didn’t get a chance to shower yet.” His expression grew dark and intense. “That’s your fault though, so no complaints. Once I caught a glimpse of you, I couldn’t wait to have you.”
Wild sensations curled through Kate’s belly and down to her core. And then it dawned on her what he’d said about a worker. “What’s that? A worker?”
“A fire.” He brushed her hair away from her face with a gentle hand. “A multi-alarmer on West 55th.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re a firefighter?”
Cocking his head, he studied her. “Does that surprise you?”
“A little.” She moved her hands up over the hard muscles of his chest. “It never occurred to me that the men who work here had jobs outside TLC.”
He smiled as he toyed with a strand of her hair. “Just here to grant a woman’s every wish and desire, right?”
“Something like that.” Kate’s cheeks grew warm, and she concentrated on rubbing her hands along his powerful biceps. “Was it bad? Did everyone escape in time?”
“We got everyone out.” He slid one finger under her bra strap and tugged lightly on it. “Building’s a total loss, and there were some minor injuries and smoke inhalation. But what’s important are the lives.”
“New York’s Bravest,” Kate leaned into him. “I named some of my edible undies after you all.”
Nick grinned and his aqua eyes sparkled. “Now that I gotta see and taste.”
“If only I had my luggage here,” Kate glanced around the jungle as if her suitcases would appear by magic. “I’d love to use you to try out some of my designs.”
He gestured to a path that led into the jungle. “Follow that, and it’ll take you straight to the bedroom. Cheryl sent your things up already.”
“Okay.” Kate started to move away from him, but he caught her by one arm.
“Not yet.” When she glanced back at his handsome face, he gave her a dark and sexy look. “First, I need a bath.” Just the thought of seeing Nick in the buff made her want to moan.
“On your knees.” His tone reverted to dominating and he stepped away from her and sat on a boulder beside the pool. “Take off my boots.”
A memory came to her, of the chocolatier and how he submitted to the masked woman. Kate’s nipples tightened, her clit throbbing at the thought of submitting to Nick and eating a pair of her edibles off of him. She eased onto her knees in the grass at his feet.
“Hurry.” He fairly rumbled the warning. “Or I’ll have to punish you.”
Kate’s fingers trembled from excitement and nervousness. She pushed up the leg of his jeans so she could unlace his work boot, and fumbled with the laces. Finally, she managed to remove his boots and then peeled off his thick socks. “That’s better.” He slid his feet into the soft grass and beckoned to her with one hand. “Now for your punishment.”
Tingles raced along Kate’s spine. “A punishment?”
Nick gave her a mock frown. “Now.” He beckoned to her again and she went to him, barely keeping steady on her heels in the thick grass. When she reached him, he grabbed her by the waist. She cried out in surprise as he pulled her toward him, and in the next moment she was face down across his legs, her hair falling forward into her eyes.
“What are you…?” She gasped as he tugged at the waistband of her panties, pulling the crotch up into the folds of her pussy. “Oh my God.”
Nick kept her panties tight with one hand and rubbed her ass with his other. “Are you going to perform your duties better next time, wench?”
She was so turned on that she could hardly focus on his words. His jeans felt rough and sexy against the bared flesh of her waist and through her lingerie.
“Well?” He bent close and his warm lips and tongue kissed and licked her bottom.
“I—ah—” She cried out as teeth sank into her ass and he pulled her panties up at the same time. “You bit me,” she said in surprise. Yet at the same time she almost climaxed.
“Uh-huh.” He nipped at her again and she moaned. “Now, answer the question.”
“Question?” Kate’s mind was so fuzzy she could barely comprehend what he’d said, much less remember any questions.
“Bad girl.” Nick slid the hand from her ass down along the crotch of her panties. “Although you are nice and wet for me.”
She wiggled on his lap, “I can’t take it anymore, Nick. Make me come.”
He stopped moving his hand along the panties’ crotch. “You’re forgetting your place.”
She whimpered. “Please, Master. Make me come.”
“Maybe.” He slid one finger beneath the hem of her panties and entered her slick wetness. “Oh, yeah. Good and wet, sweetheart. You are so ready for my cock.”
“Yes.” She dug her fingers into his thigh. “Now, please.” He slid one finger into her core and she moaned. If this was punishment, what would he do to her if she was good?
He continued to thrust his finger into her, as she rocked against his hand. “Harder,” she begged as her breasts and belly chafed against his thighs. “I’m so close.”
Nick complied, ramming his finger into her. “Now for your punishment.”
“What—” She cried out just as the flat of his hand met her ass with a loud smack. “Nick!” she shouted. The sensation of being spanked while he had his fingers inside her was so incredible that it shoved her closer to the edge of climax.
“Do you like that?” He kept thrusting his finger deeper and swatted her again.
“God, yes.” A thundering sound grew in her ears, louder and louder, as though the waterfall’s gentle murmur grew to a roar in her mind.
He spanked her a third time, and she screamed. Her body vibrated with an orgasm so intense for a moment she saw stars sparkling behind her eyelids. He didn’t let up, moving his finger in and out of her, drawing out her climax until she couldn’t take anymore.
“Master, please.” She could hardly breathe, much less see straight. “Mercy?”
“Since you asked nicely.” He eased his finger out of her core, gently sliding her off his lap so she was on her knees beside him. Kate’s body still trembled as she stared up at him, her breathing hard and irregular. His aqua eyes focused on her as he brought his hand to his mouth and licked her juices from his finger. Just the sight of his tongue darting out and tasting her on his hand made her clit twitch with a mini spasm.