Angel in Scarlet: A Bound and Determined Novel (15 page)

Could it be more relaxing to be with someone than to be alone? She’d certainly never found it so before, but with Colton it felt as if she could just be herself. Had it been this way before she’d begun the game? She rather thought it had not. Always before she’d felt such pressure to be the perfect young lady, the quiet prospective bride. Now it was hard to define what had changed.

She was still playing a game. She should have been less herself, but somehow in promising to do what he wanted, she took all pressure off herself. If he was not pleased with her, it was his fault, not hers.

“I like the smile. It suits you. Now take off your clothes.” There was no change in his tone between the first statement and the last.

Already?

She pulled a deep breath in, seeking calm, even as the first spike of excitement swept through her.

Her lips parted to speak, but she’d learned the rules of this game. Still, another minute to adjust to his command was needed. She stood and turned her back to him. “Would you mind loosening my laces? I can manage, but it is really more efficient if you help.”

He didn’t answer, but she felt the brush of his fingers at her back, and then the dress fell loose. Without turning, she shrugged it from her shoulders and then loosened the front fastening of her corset. She let that drop to the floor to join her dress. She started to pull her chemise up over her head, but his rough voice stopped her.

“No, leave it for a moment. I enjoy how the sun shines through. Walk forward and place a hand on each of those two columns. Yes, stretch your arms over your head. Perfect. If the day were warmer, I’d have you splash yourself in the lake. There are few sights more tantalizing than a breast through wet linen. Unfortunately, although I’d enjoy seeing your breasts cold and damp, I’d rather not see you with a red dripping nose on the morrow.”

The humor of his words should have hindered the desire that continued to sweep through her, but she was beginning to learn that when she was with Colton, nothing could stop the burn that began low in her belly. An icy rain would probably do nothing but cause her skin to steam.

The sun was hot on her face as she stood looking out over the lake. Her eyes closed as she soaked it up, letting her mind wander. She felt like a pagan goddess, displayed for all, awaiting the prince who would come rescue her—or the master who would steal her. Now, that might be even better than rescue. She was more than ready to meet her fate.

Colton’s boots scraped against the marble floor and she sensed that he had come to stand behind her. Her belly quivered.

“Slip your chemise off, but do not turn about.” Ahh, definitely the master and not the prince. “Yes, just like that, slowly, up and over your head. Bare yourself to me slowly. Yes. Yes. Now stay stretched up like that, place your hands on the columns. Yes, move on to your tiptoes even. Perfect.”

His boots scuffed against the stones as he stepped away.

It was strange to stand in the sunlight bare as a babe. In some ways it was even stranger than what they had done last night. Daylight added a whole new feel to this adventure, a rawness, a realness. Again she let her mind move to fantasy. If before she had dreamed of soldiers and spies, now she returned to that image of goddess and capture.

A single finger trailed down her back, steadying as he traced a whirl of patterns, before continuing downward, reminding her who was in control. Her master stopped just above the cleft of her buttocks. His finger held still and she waited, resisting the cry to urge him on.

Still he did not move.

What was he doing? What was he planning?

“I had considered something even more adventurous for this afternoon, but I have decided that wisdom lies with caution. We will not yet do anything that cannot be undone.”

A deep breath left her. Translating those words was not difficult; her master was not yet ready to take her completely, to make her fully his.

“Is that relief or disappointment?”

“I do not know.” And that was the complete truth. The goddess’s body longed to know the secrets that she sensed only he could teach her, but Angela did understand the consequences of losing her virginity.

His finger left her back. “Turn around.”

The master had returned.

With a nervous swallow, she did, letting her mind drift again to that world where only this moment mattered.

He was so close. If she breathed deep, her breasts would brush his chest, tease him.

He stared down at her, his eyes half closed. She could feel the weight of his consideration.

His breath was warm and soft upon her cheek. He took a step away, his eyes sweeping over her. Small fires burned wherever his gaze touched. The goddess stood tall and proud, her hands still resting high on the two columns, aglow with desire. Her master enjoyed her, enjoyed the sight of her body in the sun. Her shoulders moved back, her breasts thrusting even higher, a pagan sacrifice to his need.

“You look like an offering,” he said, unconsciously echoing her thoughts. His gaze focused on her tightly peaked breasts.

“I am yours,” she whispered, eyes dropping.

“Then it is time to claim my bounty as I see fit, time to take my spoils.” He walked to the satchel and pulled out several short lengths of rope and a piece of tarp. He dropped the tarp to the floor a few feet from the marble bench.

He turned to her, holding up the rope, a last question in his eyes.

Ahh, the expression on her face was worth a fortune, anxiety and want combining. He had read her fantasies correctly. Colton stepped forward, holding out the rope, and lifted his arm to rub it against her cheek. “It’s very soft. Cotton. Nothing that will abrade your fragile skin. I wanted to give you a chance to explore what it feels like to be bound, to be helpless as you were in your dream of your lieutenant.”

She swallowed, her eyes growing even wider. He could sense her nervousness but also her intrigue. For a moment he was tempted to pull her into his arms, to crush her to him and cherish her.
Cherish her
. He stared down at the rope. Swallowed, hard. He lifted the rope higher, feeling her gaze follow.

Then her eyes returned to his, asking a question he dared not explore. She nodded once, biting down on that full lower lip.

“Turn around.”

She did, the lush curves of her ass jiggling with the movement.

He swallowed again, but this time for a different reason. “Bring your hands behind you.”

Again she complied, although a shiver took her, and he caught her delicate hands easily between his much larger ones, wrapping the thick rope from her wrists halfway to the elbows. He pressed her arms tight together, noting the strain. After waiting a moment, he pivoted her to face him, looking for her response.

She took the time to consider. Her arms pushed against the ropes, but not hard. Yes, she definitely could feel the pull and the strain.

Her eyes rose to his again. She continued to bite down on her lower lip but did not protest. She shivered—not from cold. Using his hands to rotate her, he wrapped another rope tight about her. He spun her again, and then again, crisscrossing her chest with the rope, forcing her breasts high. “Very, very pretty,” he said.

Her whole body was quivering, more and more with each tightening. He could feel the frantic beat of her heart beneath his fingers. He placed a finger on her neck, savoring the strength of that beat. His angel was frightened, but in the best of ways, her every sense heightened.

He leaned in, whispering in her ear. “Do you like this? Do you like being helpless before me, knowing that at any moment I could do anything to you?”

Her whole body shuddered, trembling with desire and that sharp edge of the unknown. Her head nodded once, firmly.

He turned her back to the lake. “Do you know that sometimes they take boats out in the afternoon? At any moment someone could come rowing past, and think what a view they would get.”

She gasped but still did not seek to move or hide.

He pressed his hips forward, bringing his rampant erection to rest between her buttocks.

She stiffened and then pushed back into him, rubbing against him like a cat.

He pressed tighter, bringing a hand in front to hold her pelvis still. “I could open my trousers right now and have my way with you, and there is nothing you could do.”

Her body grew still. He could feel the full awareness of her situation seep into her.

“And even if you screamed, then what?” he asked quietly. “What would happen if we were discovered like this?”

Still she did not move.

“You seem no more eager for a forced marriage than I, and so you are my prisoner, helpless to my desires.”

He stepped away, placing a hand on each of her shoulders and turning her to face him. It was so easy to become caught up in want, but it did not matter. “I give you one last chance to escape. No? Then step between the columns and let us find the moment again.”

Her head bent slightly, her neck long and delicate, she moved into the sun. It lit her hair like a cloud of fire about her, her pale skin glowing warm and lovely.

He swallowed as he focused on the bonds that held her, on her breasts pushed up and out, begging for his touch, for his glorious punishment.

Control. He needed control.

He took his seat on the cold marble bench again, spreading his thighs wide. Seeing Angela tied in his ropes, her blue eyes dark, her lips parted, a flush rising up her chest and face, had him ready to burst. The strength of his response was far greater than he had ever experienced.

Angela shook slightly as the wind picked up, her nipples bobbing. His mouth went dry. He splayed his thighs further, his feet moving forward to rest on either side of the tarp he had placed on the floor.

“Walk toward me slowly,” he commanded, keeping his whole focus on her.

She took one step and then another, her hips swaying. She stumbled slightly and caught herself, not used to having her arms held so tight behind her.

“I do wish you could see yourself. If you looked like an offering before—well, now you truly are.”

Her eyes lifted to him and then dropped again.

The sun was lower in the sky now and even as she moved forward it followed her, caressing her creamy skin.

When her toes touched the edge of the tarp, he held up a hand for her to stop. Her body halted, her shoulders pulling back, her breasts lifting. He had tied the ropes tight, and each breath she took pressed against them, causing them to swell further.

He reached out a finger and touched the tip of one rosy nipple. She started, and he could see the sensation race through her. He drew his nail across the tender tip, and her whole body tensed. He moved to the other breast, repeating the process.

Her eyes widened, and despite their earlier words he could see the moment that she first understood how helpless she was. He could do what he wished to those tempting breasts and there would be no recourse.

He plucked at her nipple, pulling hard and then releasing.

Her breath sucked in and then out.

He let his other hand trail down her belly, stopping to pluck at her nest of curls.

“Have you been touching yourself as I suggested?”

Her eyes jumped up to his and then hurried down again. Embarrassment showed in the nervous uptilt of her lips. A very slight nod.

“Do you know what I dream of when I stroke myself?” He stroked her breasts one more time and then leaned back, bringing one hand to his lap. He pressed down, outlining his length.

Her eyes moved from her feet to his hand.

“I dream of how you look right now. I dream of having you before me, ready and wet. I dream of knowing that I can do what I want. I dream of looking into your eyes and seeing your need. I dream of you begging me, pleading with me to give you your release. And I dream of your lips, your mouth.”

“My mouth?” The words slipped from her lips. Her gaze traveled up to his and then dropped to his sex, which pressed tight against the front of his breeches.

He reached to the side, unbuttoning one side of his flap and then the other. “Yes, your mouth.”

Her eyes stayed focused downward. He folded back the material of his trousers, watching her eyes follow his every movement. Her lips parted, drawing his complete attention. “Kneel now, on the tarp.”

She began to lower herself but wobbled slightly. He reached out and with great care helped her down.

And wasn’t that the image he’d dreamed of all these last nights, his angel on her knees, her hands and breasts bound, her lips parted and damp.

Wrapping his fingers about his length, he drew himself out.

Her lips opened farther.

He could feel the soft flow of her breath upon him. A single drop of cum seeped at the head of his prick. “Do you know what I want you to do?”

Her tongue flicked out. “No.” It came out a sigh.

“Can you guess?”

Her eyes darted up and then back to his cock. Another lick. “No.”

“I think you can.”

Could he mean what she thought? Angela gazed down at his penis and considered, her eyes lingering on its powerful length, on the deep color, on that drop of moisture marking the tip. Her mouth watered. He was beautiful, beautiful and strong—so strong.

She leaned forward, trying not to overbalance. The strain of having her arms behind her was beginning to tell, the tightness making her very aware of the arch of her back, the thrust of her chest—of her utter helplessness.

They ached but not too badly—and there were other parts of her that ached far more. She peered up and realized Colton was staring down at her, his attention focused solely on her mouth.

She wet her lips again and saw his eyes follow her tongue.

Oh, he did mean that. He definitely meant that.

And she had no choice. She was his captive. She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry as she focused on him and let her imagination roam.

The drop of seed still clung to the tip, his hand stroking up and down slowly.

She wanted to, but did she dare?

More moisture pooled between her legs as she pulled against her bonds. She was his. If he wished, she would do anything. She was in his power and therefore her decisions were not her own; she was free from worry.

And what did it taste like?

Curiosity formed deep in her mind. Her mouth watered. She could touch him. She could taste him.

Without awaiting further command, she leaned forward and flicked her tongue across the tip.

His whole body jerked.

She licked again. Another jerk.

This time she parted her lips slightly and sucked.

His thighs squeezed about her shoulders, causing her to fall forward, her face pressing against him. She tried to shift but had no leverage, no way to push herself.