The Man's Outrageous Demands (17 page)

How could he! She slipped out of the sitting room where everyone was enjoying an after dinner drink or coffee. She was too angry to stay and chit chat with the other women who were in attendance for the night. And she was also afraid Sam would try more of his possessiveness out on her and she just wouldn’t stand for it.

Marabeth was furious with Sam. Their engagement hadn’t been announced yet. And if he kept this up, it definitely wouldn’t. It had started when she’d walked into the sitting room and he’d walked up to her and put his arm possessively around her waist. He was all but claiming that she was his property.

She didn’t want to be claimed. Not yet anyway. But as she slipped into her room that night and took off her evening dress, if she was going to be claimed by anyone, Sam was definitely the man she wanted the most. Reflecting on the other men in the room, she knew that Sam stood out, head and shoulders above the rest, both figuratively and literally.

With complete honesty, she knew that she loved the way he made her feel small and precious. And wanted. Boy, he’d definitely done that tonight. She remembered the way she’d felt during dinner when he’d stared at her breasts. If he’d asked her to leave the room at that point, she would have gone willingly. Marabeth smiled in the darkness. He made her feel loved, she thought. He’d never said the words and he probably didn’t feel the emotion, but sometimes it didn’t matter. She felt it and wanted to pretend it was true.

She was reaching out to take off her pearl choker when she heard a deep voice spoke up from the doorway. “Leave it on,” Sam said.

Marabeth jumped a foot and swung around, searching for and finding him in the light coming into the room from the full moon through the large windows. She hadn’t turned on any lights, knowing her way around even in complete darkness.

“Leave on the bracelet too,” he said. His jacket was tossed over his shoulder and hanging behind him by his finger but he tossed it onto a chair.

“You were pretty bad over dinner tonight,” she said, lowering her arms, leaving the necklace on. She watched him walk over to her, smiling at the arrogance in his walk. “You think your caveman tactics are a turn on?” she asked, looking up at him now that he was standing over her.

His eyes were heated and she could see the desire in his eyes in the darkness. “I know that you want me,” he said, one finger running down between her breasts. He smiled as she shivered and his finger moved back up, circling her nipple but not touching it. “I know I want you.”

“What are you waiting for?” she asked breathlessly.

Sam needed no further encouragement. He tossed his clothes onto the chair and then pulled her down beneath him on the bed. Marabeth went willingly with him, all thoughts of admonishing him for being so possessive falling from her mind as he entered her with swiftness. Her climax came just as quickly and she fell asleep, content, in his arms. Moments before her eyes closed, she told herself to make sure she talked to him about his behavior in the morning.

Unfortunately, she woke up alone the following morning. She looked around, noting the indentation on the other pillow. She didn’t remember when he left but sighed, looking up at the ceiling in frustration.

He wanted her, that was something, she thought to herself as she pulled herself out of bed and headed to the shower. And she now accepted that he found her pretty, beautiful, even. He’d said so several times last night, not just with words but with the way he reacted to her. It was flattering, and she told herself that was enough.

But years of living under her father’s domineering attitude and George’s suffering presence and Marabeth knew that it wasn’t enough. Her father had treated her and her sister Anna as if they were prized possessions. He showed them off to the crowds but he didn’t really interact with his daughters. He knew that he was extremely important but she noticed that he always made time for Max.

And then George. Marabeth sighed and wished she could finally be rid of the man who had repulsed her so much. She didn’t know what it was about him that had made her so against their union but from the first moment she’d met him at ten years old, she knew she’d genuinely disliked the man. George had been so full of himself and for no other reason other than the fact that he had been born into the aristocracy and would someday inherit a dukedom.

George hadn’t worked a day in his life. He didn’t even manage his own estates which had initially confused Marabeth and then horrified her. She had been raised to consider her position and title a responsibility as much as a gift. When she’d become and adult, she’d found a niche for herself in promoting worthy causes and fighting for the underdog. George had found a niche for himself but it was in the stores. George was a shopper. He liked to see and be seen and had hated being seen with Marabeth since she’d worn awful clothes.

Marabeth supposed that the reason she had such a low opinion of her physical attributes was because George, the one man who had been permitted to date her since they would eventually marry, had disparaged her so constantly. He would flirt with waitresses right in front of her. It hadn’t bothered Marabeth though. She had her own ways of dealing with the useless man.

So when Sam started treating her like a possession, although a prized one this time, but one without a head on her shoulders, Marabeth didn’t want to let her self esteem go. She’d had enough of it from George doing it overtly and her father doing it subtly.

She looked at her desk and saw the note. It was from Sam. It was simple enough, letting her know he would be gone for another few days but he promised her something when he came back.

Marabeth smiled slightly. He was sweet. And very kind. But all of it wasn’t enough. She wanted the whole thing. She wanted love and respect. Not just desire and one sided trust.

Three days later, Marabeth again picked up the phone. Sam was back and she was eager to see him, but not sure exactly how she was going to initiate the conversation she needed to have with him. She still hadn’t been to the palace designer to choose her wedding dress. Her mother had told her the choice needed to be made immediately but Marabeth was holding back until after she had the conversation with Sam. If he didn’t understand, then the whole wedding idea was off.

“Are you decent?” his deep voice asked through the phone.

Marabeth smiled, despite her intent to talk with him. “Yes. Sorry about that,” she said, tapping the pencil against the papers on her desk.

“Want to go for a ride?” he asked mysteriously.

Marbeth was instantly sidetracked. She remembered the last time he’d suggested an adventure and the way it had ended. “What did you have in mind?”

“Get on a pair of jeans again. No, we’re not going hang gliding again. Not this time,” he said before she could question him. “But I think you’ll like this just as much.”

Marabeth hung up the phone, completely forgetting her intent to have a talk with him yet again. She rushed from the office, scribbling an note on the absent Stacy’s desk before rushing down to her room to change. She pulled on a pair of jeans and tennis shoes, topping the outfit off with a simple, flannel shirt since there was a slight chill to the September air. Already, she could feel her stomach fluttering in anticipation of seeing Sam. She wished she could tell herself it was because of whatever adventure he was going to take her on, but she knew she’d be lying.

Marabeth’s stomach tightened when she entered the garage and saw Sam. He was wearing a pair of jeans again and she admired the incredible sight of him in the apparel. He could model for them, she thought to herself. If Calvin Klein could see Sam Montrose in a pair of jeans, the man’s butt would be plastered all over magazines and billboards worldwide. She suspected sales would jump dramatically. At least her pulse did, she thought.

“Ready?” he asked, pulling her into his arms for a hard kiss before releasing her. He guided her to the passenger seat of the same black SUV they’d traveled in for the hang gliding adventure. Her guards piled in behind them and Marabeth waived to them excitedly. She hadn’t seen them much lately since she wasn’t permitted yet to leave the palace.

The afternoon was bright and sunny with just a small chill to the air. Marabeth slipped on a pair of sunglasses as Sam drove out of the capitol city and into the mountains once again. He didn’t drive to the cliff as he had last time though. He drove to a quaint house looking out over a picturesque valley. In fact, he drove right into the garage, turning off the engine.

“Come on princess,” he said and got out of the car.

Marabeth climbed out and walked around the SUV, wondering what was going to happen next. She didn’t have to wait long. Inside the garage was another small, vintage car but there was also a motorcycle. Sam climbed on top, then tossed her a helmet. “You’re stalling, princess,” he said as he strapped on his own helmet.

“I don’t remember this being one of my prerequisites,” she said, smiling eagerly as she snapped the chin strap in place. She then swung her leg over the back of the motorcycle only moments before Sam turned the key, revving the motor. Marabeth had moments to grab onto Sam before he sped out of the garage, leaving her body guards lounging near the bottom of the hidden driveway. She waived to them as she passed, a silly, broad smile on her face.

Sam drove her around the mountain streets, going fast around the curves and initially, she was nervous, hanging onto his back and pressing herself against him. But once she understood that he really knew how to ride a motorcycle, she let herself be thrilled with the ride. Halfway through, he stopped and pulled over to the side.

“Come on,” he said and leaned back. “Ride in front of me,” he suggested.

Marabeth licked her lips, and her excitement increased tenfold. Up front? Where the wind would be whipping through her hair, directly into her face? She wouldn’t have Sam to protect her and hid her face in the sharp curves. The idea definitely appealed to her and she moved quickly to climb in front of him. She also liked the mischievious look in his eyes. What was he up to? She couldn’t wait to find out.

“Okay, sir. Ready when you are,” she said.

“I know,” he said, loudly enough so she could hear him through the helmet.

He was off with a slide of the rear wheel, and her hands, which had been resting on her legs, moved to his thighs, gripping them painfully at first, but then relaxing slightly, only tightening when the curves were tight or he sped up on the straight ways.

He turned around after about an hour and the ride back to his house was slower. That was because his hand moved from the brake, to rest on her thigh, moving higher occasionally. It was so erotic, the feeling of the speed and the danger plus Sam’s hand moving along her body, resting close to the juncture of her thighs. Her whole body was tingling with awareness and need when he pulled into the garage.

She jumped off the motorcycle and, just as she had with the hang gliding, she wanted to rip his clothes off. Sam carried her into the house, her legs wrapped around his waist. She was stripping him of his clothes while he walked, opening and closing doors.

Thankfully they were in his house this time but even if they hadn’t been, Marabeth was so turned on, she didn’t care. She just wanted Sam, inside her, moving in her.

They only made it to the kitchen before he stopped, putting her on the counter. He quickly removed her clothes and then set her on the island. “Lean back,” he ordered.

Marabeth was beyond arguing. She needed him and the fastest way she figured she’d get him was to follow his commands. She leaned back, closing her eyes as his hands stroked down her body. She gasped as his fingers touched her thighs and she automatically opened for him. The next thing she knew, his mouth was closing on her and the feeling was too intense. She sat up, pulling his head back with his hair. “I can’t,” she cried out.

But Sam was having none of that. “Lean back princess,” he said. “Or I’ll stop,” he threatened. His hand moved slightly and she groaned in her throat. She obeyed simply because she had no alternative. Leaning back, she held her breath in anticipation and wasn’t disappointed. His mouth came back to her, his tongue flicking through the folds while his fingers moved inside her. “Let go, Marabeth,” he ordered. “Let it happen,” he encouraged.

His words removed the last barrier to her release and she shivered, crying out as the orgasm hit her head on. A moment later, she was lifted in his arms and carried into the family room where he sat down, moving her so she was straddling him.

Marabeth needed no more encouragement. She took him fully inside her, her eyes dilating with the passion he could give her with his touch and his body. She started moving, slowly at first, then gauging from the look on his face, she moved faster until she knew he was about to reach his own orgasm. But he slowed her down, leaning her back again and using his hands to help her come once again. It was even more powerful than the last time and a small tear rolled down her cheek at the pleasure he was able to give her.

They didn’t say a word for a long time. Eventually, he got up and started a fire, then put a movie into the DVD player. He wrapped them up in the blanket that had been resting on the back of the sofa and they snuggled together as the movie went on.

Afterwards, she had no idea what movie played. All she heard was Sam’s heartbeat and felt his hands touching her softly along her arms and back.

He made her dinner which consisted of sandwiches, which was the only thing in the refrigerator, and a bottle of wine. She showered and dressed while he made the sandwiches. While they ate, he told her stories about vacations in this house, how he’d sneak away from school with his friends and spend the weekend here without his parents’ knowledge. Until one weekend they were caught.

“What happened?” she asked, laughing at his grimace.

“We had extra homework each weekend for about a month,” he laughed. “My parents thought that, since I didn’t have enough to do at school, they’d make sure that changed. There were five of us that weekend. So all five of us spent the next four weekends in the library cranking out reports on various subjects.”