His Desire, Her Surrender (12 page)

"Do you want to take a look?" She held out the papers.

Marcus took the document from her hand. "Sure. Are you done?"

"For the most part, yes."

Marcus examined her choices. "No piercings, huh? That's a disappointment."

"Really?" Tabitha hadn't considered that choice at length.

Marcus laughed. "No, not really. I'm teasing. If you want a piercing, fine. But you don't seem the type. You'd probably already have some if you were into it."

Tabitha calmed as he teased her. "Oh. I suppose you're right about that."

"Did you have questions?"

Tabitha tapped the paper with her fingertip. "Yes. Electrical current. That wasn't obvious to me."

Marcus nodded. "I can show you if you want."

"Show me?" Visions of cords and sockets came to mind.

"Yes. Wait here." He left the room and returned quickly. He held out a tube toward her with an electrical cord attached. "This is a violet wand. It's one implement for electric current play."

"Oh. Interesting." Tabitha turned the wand over in her hand. It looked quite innocuous. She handed it back to him.

Marcus plugged in the cord. He flipped the device on and tapped it against his own arm. "This way it produces a pleasant warmth, a sort of tingling."

Tabitha extended her arm and Marcus placed the tube on her skin. Her skin tingled and the hairs on her arms rose.

"There are a couple other things it can do." He removed it and changed the setting. "You can allow the charge to build slightly. It will give a shock." He touched it to his own arm.

Tabitha heard a tiny snap. She held out her arm.

Marcus touched the rod to her skin.

"Oh!" She jumped as the shock traveled into her arm. "It's rather like a shock of static electricity, but a little stronger."

"This one is mild. Just moderate sensations and little shocks. However, it will turn up a bit more. Not much is needed on a sensitive area."

Tabitha pondered how the wand might feel against her clit. She thought she'd be willing to try it. The idea lodged in her mind, creating an irresistible desire to test it. She refrained. Some things would have to be saved for later if they were to make it through their discussion.

Marcus set the wand to the side. "Anything else?"

"There are a lot of various … implements."

"Yes. Just because you're up for a paddle doesn't mean you're open to a cat 'o nine tails. They do different things. One might be more intense than the other, but it also depends how it's wielded, and that requires communication."

"That makes sense. And the toys … such a very long list. I must admit, my mind wandered a little reading through it." The fantasies created by her imagination, the two of them entwined and perpetrating naughtiness, still flowed through her mind.

Marcus's eyes took on a wicked glint that signaled his sensual thoughts. "Did anything in particular interest you?"

Tabitha blushed.

Marcus's lips curved. "Oh, I see something did. Which thing?"

Given all they'd done together, Tabitha wondered how she still possessed any inhibitions. "Well, there was the … uh, shaving."

"Is that something you've done?"

Tabitha wrinkled her nose. "I had a bikini wax once, but it was so painful. Never again."

Marcus offered her an encouraging smile. "Shaved can be an interesting change of pace."

"Is that something you like?"

"Yes, but it doesn't have to be all the time. It can make particular activities more enjoyable. Certain areas more accessible."

Tabitha warmed to the thought of smooth, bare skin. "Okay. But you have to do it. I'm afraid of cutting myself."

"I don't think you'll cut yourself, but I'd be happy to assist. Come." He motioned for her to accompany him.

Tabitha started. "Now?" Marcus never ceased to surprise her. Her mind planned for the future and dwelled on the past, but he was grounded in the present, living for now. It was a great gift he gave her, the gift of being in the moment.

"Why not?"

"You're right. Why not?" Tabitha rose and followed Marcus into the bedroom.

"Take off your clothes. I'll get what we need." He ducked into the bathroom.

Tabitha undressed and waited. What would it feel like?

Marcus came back and spread a towel on the bed. "Lie down." He arranged a bowl of water, his razor, a cloth and a shaving mug with a brush on the nightstand.

Tabitha crawled onto the bed and situated herself on the towel.

Marcus dipped the washcloth into the water and wrung it out. "Bend your knees and spread your legs."

As Tabitha complied, Marcus placed the hot cloth against her pubic area, letting it sit a moment, warming her skin and opening her pores. He removed the cooling cloth and set it aside. Picking up the shaving brush, he dipped it into the water bowl. Marcus returned the brush to the mug, circling around and around against the soap cake inside, building lather. He swept the soft bristles against her, saturating her coarse hairs with shaving soap.

Tabitha relaxed as the brush tip left lingering tingles in its wake.

Marcus dropped the brush in the mug and picked up the razor.

Tabitha tensed. She wasn't sure sharp razors and tender parts mixed well.

"Don't worry. I'll be very careful." Marcus placed his hand on her thigh and slid it up to her mound, stretching the area taut. He drew the razor across her skin with slow deliberation. He rinsed the razor in the bowl and resumed the shave. Stroke after stroke, he sliced away the twisting hairs.

Marcus's movements were confident, and the tender touch of his fingers converted fear to pleasure. Having someone attend to her personal needs was quite erotic, she realized. Her own wetness mixed with the shaving cream and she struggled to remain still.

After a few more swipes of the razor, only smooth, bare skin remained. Marcus grabbed the wet cloth and wiped the remaining residue away. "That looks incredibly inviting."

Tabitha shivered with anticipation. What would Marcus do?

Marcus brushed her with the tip of his finger. "What do you want?"

Tabitha feigned ignorance. "What do you mean?"

His finger drifted closer to her growing wetness. "What do you want? You choose."

"I … ah … okay. Kiss me." Why was it so hard to articulate what she wanted? Was it fear of rejection? Inhibition? Regardless, time with Marcus appeared to be purging her of both.

Marcus bent over the bed and pressed his lips to hers, his tongue skirting the edge of her lips. "Is that what you wanted?"

Tabitha smiled. "It was lovely, but it wasn't what I meant, and you know it."

"Tell me what you want."

Now was the time to be bold. "I want you to kiss me. Lick me."

One masculine fingertip parted her labia. "Where?"

"My clit. Please, Marcus." Tabitha contemplated the unfamiliar sensation of the cool air against her clean-shaven flesh. She decided she liked it. The novelty stimulated her imagination to produce naughty thoughts. Wonderful, naughty thoughts.

Marcus dropped to his knees beside the bed. He grasped her legs and pulled her to the edge of the mattress, hanging her legs over his shoulders. He dove into her, his mouth moving freely over her most private spot. He fastened his lips to her, sucking gently, and licked his way down. He plunged his tongue inside, swirling around her sensual threshold.

Marcus laved his way back up to the top of her slit and flicked her swelling bud with his tongue, side to side and up and down. He latched on, kneading her with his lips. He pushed her thighs wide, then slid one hand below his mouth. His fingers dipped into her, one, then two. Moving his hand in rhythm with his mouth, he propelled her higher until she broke, bucking against him with a high, keening cry. He stilled against her, but didn't move away.

As Tabitha floated down, her body convulsed with orgasmic aftershocks.

Marcus got to his feet, unfastened his pants, and dropped them to the floor. Grasping her ass in his hands, he lifted her as he drove himself inside. After a few deep thrusts, he emitted a hoarse groan as he reached climax.

Marcus enfolded her in his arms and repositioned her on the bed, still buried inside her. He rolled onto his side, taking her with him, entangled together. "You make me so crazy. I can't wait to get inside you."

Tabitha lips quivered with a smile. "I can't wait for you to get inside me, either. I feel like I'll explode if you don't touch me and I'll explode if you do."

Marcus chuckled. "I wonder if we can survive going through everything on the list."

The agreement crashed back into Tabitha's consciousness. "There's no hurry."

Marcus paused. "No. There isn't. Is the whole contract idea making you nervous?"

"I … I don't know. Maybe I just need time to mull it over."

Marcus pulled away from her, disengaging their bodies. "What are you concerned about?"

Tabitha sat up, sorry she had ruined the moment. "Nothing. Everything. It's a big step."

Marcus moved off the bed, his back to Tabitha. "Yes, it is. Of course you should think about it. You absolutely should not do anything you don't feel completely sure about. I don't want that."

Tabitha tried to make herself understood. "I mean, I know this isn't new to you …."

Marcus broke in. "It is new to me. I've never had a formal agreement before. Never offered one. It wasn't necessary."

Tabitha recognized his emotional withdrawal. "Oh. I didn't realize."

Marcus brushed her off. "It's not a problem. Take the papers with you. Look them over. We can discuss any issues and, if you decide you're not ready, that's fine."

"It doesn't sound like it's fine." His coolness unnerved Tabitha.

He shrugged. "Tabitha. It's fine. It's not a big deal. It needs to be something we both want."

Tabitha searched for the words to express her thoughts more clearly. "I do want it. I just want to be sure."

"I want that, too." He kissed her on the forehead. "I have meetings early tomorrow. What about you?"

Was he hinting for her to leave? Tabitha loved falling asleep in his arms, but it appeared he didn't want that tonight. "I have work. Maybe I should … ah, head out. Let you get a good night's sleep."

"That sounds fine. We can get together later in the week when things wind down." Marcus's flat expression conveyed nothing of what he was feeling.

"Right." Embarrassment crept in as she gathered her things. Marcus left the room and Tabitha dressed.

Tabitha wandered the apartment until she found him. "Marcus?"

He looked up. "Yeah? Are you going?"

"You indicated you wanted me to." Her hesitant words communicated her hurt.

Marcus shook his head. "I'm being an ass. I'm sorry." He embraced her. "Don't go. Stay."

Tabitha smiled. "Yes." Always, she added silently.

Chapter 10

The phone rang on Tabitha's desk and she picked up automatically.

"This is Monica Granger. I'm in the neighborhood, and I'd like to meet you for lunch, if it's convenient."

Stunned surprise filled Tabitha. Marcus's sister? "Monica?"

The abrupt tone of Monica's voice softened. "Yes, I know this is a little unexpected, but I'd like to meet with you."

Tabitha managed a tentative answer. "Okay."

"When are you taking lunch?"

"12:30."

"I can meet you at the deli on the corner. Does that work for you?"

It appeared Monica had a plan in mind before she'd called. Tabitha was wary but saw no real reason to refuse. "Yes. All right."

"I'll see you a little past 12:30."

Tabitha hung up the phone, uncertain what to think. Should she call Marcus? No. She didn't need his permission, but she didn't plan to keep it from him, either. She wanted to meet Marcus's sister and not just because she was part of Marcus's family. Maybe Monica had something to say about this whole proxy mess.

Tabitha finished the most urgent items on her desk and checked her watch. She had just enough time to freshen up before leaving the building.

*****

As Tabitha entered the deli, she looked around, trying to spot Monica. She'd seen her in Hawaii. She'd been model gorgeous and perfectly groomed but not on her best behavior. Tabitha's observations flooded back into her mind. Spoiled. Petulant. Great hair.

Tabitha found Monica immediately. The small deli featured limited seating and Marcus's sister stood out in most any setting. It wasn't only her looks, but her whole bearing. She'd cut her long, glossy hair and it now fell into an attractive sweep as she worked on her phone.

Tabitha approached Monica's table.

Monica looked up and rose to meet her, extending her hand. "I'm Monica Granger. Thank you for coming." She'd dressed for business in a flattering suit.