GRUDGE MATCH (Love Challenge) (2 page)

             
“This sounds like a grudge fuck.  Do you plan to chain me down and parade a bunch of men or women through?”  His tone suggested he wasn’t completely joking and a thread of trepidation colored his voice.

             
She gave him an evil grin at his comment.  He was off guard and she enjoyed a minor flair of power but said, “No humiliation, but possibly chains.”

             
His jaw dropped.  “The idea of you all dominatrix is killing me.  I don’t think I’ve ever been this hot.”

             
His obvious excitement was making her brain fritz on her.  She had to lay out the law before she forgot what the point was.  “No repercussions.  No revenge.”  He had to agree to her terms so she didn’t have to worry about his taking revenge against her later on. 

             
“Agreed.  Anything else?”

             
“I will teach you to make love.”  She thought a moment and leaned toward him, “You tell no one of this, or us, unless or until I say so.  There is no we.  No us.”  She stabbed him in the chest with her index finger, “Got it?”

             
“Yes.  I do.  When do classes begin?” 

             
“Right now,” she flung the dishrag from the table at his head, which he unfortunately caught, Holly had wanted to see the cloth hit him in the chest.  She turned and walked away saying over her shoulder, “clean up the front while I finish the kitchen.”

             
“Yes, Ma’am.” 

H
ustling to the back to finish putting the restaurant to bed for the night, she concentrated on each individual task because she didn’t want to think about what she had just agreed to.  She had been a strong woman, independent and in control until Mason walked in.  Damn.  He didn’t appear upset when she took a minute to watch him work.  As close as she could tell, the front had never been cleaned so thoroughly or so fast. 

             
Holly smiled at him, a devious feeling of glee making her want to chuckle. 

Chapter Two

             
“Breathe,” Holly mumbled to herself as she closed out the kitchen with practiced efficiency.  He’d agreed to her terms.  She still couldn’t believe it.  He may not like taking orders, but he’d agreed all the same.  A surge of feminine power and arousal tingled through her body.  She swore she could feel the brick wall she’d placed against her feelings for him crack.  Mercy, they crumbled to bits with nothing more than his simple yes.  Did that make her easy?  She didn’t know, bud didn’t care at that moment either.  She wanted him to know how to love her.  She must be strong enough to demand what she needed in bed and not be afraid to ask for the loving she desired.  If he could handle that, then there was hope for a relationship, if not, she’d let him go for good and frankly, no worse off than before.  This was an opportunity for her to finally let go too.  Her passions ran deep and she desperately wanted to explore them with Mason.  She needed him to be more than a missionary guy.  She didn’t mean to hang all her hopes on his prowess in bed, but a willing adventurer sounded excellent.   

             
The ride home seemed to take forever.  Holly made sure Mason took his own truck to her house.  Old images of Mason naked kept intruding into Holly thoughts.  He was beautiful then.  His muscles bunched beneath her fingers.  His hard working body over hers heated her, seared her.  Every point his skin had touched created fire.  Back then, she’d have done anything for him.  She loved him beyond common sense all this time, ten years.  Why did he suddenly want to be with her now?  What changed?  She’d ask him when he was tied up and at her mercy.  A thrill shot down her spine.  Excitement and anticipation vied for dominance.

             
Finally her house came into view.  Usually the rural country highway she lived off was quiet, tonight was no exception.  She had a longish dirt road that put her house a ways above the highway and offered a grand view of the Shasta River below.  None of that knowledge penetrated the images of Mason on her bed, her couch, her floor.  By tomorrow, she would have him expunged from her memories.  Holly wanted a real relationship with Mason, but realistically her chances were nil.  Maybe he’d learn to treat women better.  Maybe his next woman would appreciate him.  Somehow the thought of the next woman benefitting from her training, didn’t make her feel warm and fuzzy.  Instead, she only saw herself with him.  Love sucked.  Stupid hormones.

             
Holly parked in the front carport, leaving room for Mason next to her.  Unlocking the house door, she turned to watch Mason get out of his truck and saunter toward her.  She stood one step above him, their height equalized.  Reaching out, she placed her right hand to the nape of his neck, his short hair soft beneath her fingers.  The silky texture sending sparks of desire through her.  Gently, she pulled him to her and brushed her lips softly, a teasing test.  Her eyes stayed open, watching him.  His eyes fired with appreciation and arousal.  When Mason would have deepened the kiss, she backed away, releasing him.  “My lead.   My way.”

             
Nodding, mason’s eyes intent upon hers, passion flushed his masculine features.  “Come inside,” she invited leading him in.  Her purse and keys fell to the kitchen table and she shrugged out of her jacket, tossing it toward the back of a chair. 

             
Turning to Mason, she licked her lips, her mouth dry as the reality of what she planned began to register on a deeper level.  Throbbing in time to her heart, her core ached.  She gave herself a little pep talk for courage, and then grinned at Mason’s sudden unease.  He shifted his weight from one foot to the other waiting for her next move. 

             
“Take off your shirt,” her voice husky, but strong.  While he began to unbutton his shirt, she put her hands on his shoulders and pushed gently against him.  He took a step back.  Holly thrilled at his willing display of obedience.  She traced her hands down his bared shoulders, his large biceps bunched as she kneaded their taut surface leading to an answering dampness between her thighs.  Moving behind him, she pulled her hands back, grasping his now open shirt from the neck and pulled it away from his body, exposing his powerful back.  Her hands moved over his lats, she relished his tanned skin.  He had always been tan, even in the deepest months of winter, a gift of his half Native American father.  She breathed over his back, letting her hands travel up and down.  She had to taste him.  She wanted him so badly, she didn’t know if she could continue this venue, but she had promised herself she would make him see what possibilities lay between them and she hated to make a liar out of herself.  He needed this and so did she.  Letting her lips caress his back, she took in his scent, spicy, woodsy like a wild thing, all masculine and warm.

             
“I love your back.  Your muscles bulging for me.  Seeing the sweat begin to form and knowing I did that.”  Her voice purred.

              Mason groaned.  A deep rumble more than an audible sound. Holly leaned in close, her nipples meeting his back as she leaned into him, touching his neck with her lips, scraping her teeth lightly against the base of his neck.  Sliding around to face him, she gazed at his bare chest sporting hard nipples of his own, she smoothed her hands over both his flat nipples, feeling their stiffness in her palms.

             
Looking up, she stared Mason in the eye.  “This is where you never let me touch you before.  You are mine while you’re here, just as much as I am yours.”  His throat worked, making his Adam’s apple bob a few times.  “Don’t speak or I’ll have to gag you.  I forgot to mention that.”  Tonight was her night.  She didn’t want to hear any protests or rejections.  Not tonight.

             
Mason nodded hesitantly, his breathing became shallow, rough.

“Your safe word is red.  You know how to use a safe word, yes?  You may nod.”

He nodded.  “We’re not going to be playing that hard, but you never know.  We’ll keep it in reserve for later.  Right now, I have plans for this gorgeous body of yours.”  She ran her hands down from his ribs to his incredible washboard abs and proceeded to unbutton his jeans, Five-O-Ones.  Pushing the tough material down his thighs, she let out a surprised laugh as his cock sprang free.  Mason went commando.  How could she forget that little detail?  She stroked his long, hard cock up and down, enjoying its smooth hardness.  He was huge, she had to give him that.  Her pussy wept in anticipation of the feel of him sliding inside her, touching her so intimately. 

             
Leaning down, she lapped at the pre-come beading on the slit of his shaft.  His flavor she remembered the spicy, mildly salty mix that had her pulling him further into her mouth.  Hands pumping in time to her tongue laving up and down his thickness.  She sucked harder and worked him down to the back of her throat and swallowed several times.  He bucked and cried out a huff of breath.  Looking up, his eyes were wide open, staring holes into her mouth if it were possible.  Enough for now.  She pulled back she wanted him to come inside her.  They’d play this game later.

“You and your big cock are going to learn how to please instead of how to take.
”  She looked up at him.  “Ready?”   

             
He nodded.  His face had a ruddy hue and the veins in his neck stood out, but he remained silent. 

             
“Good.  I thought I might catch you there.”  She gave his cock a lick as his reward for good behavior. 

Having Mason at her mercy, the intense
feminine power and her audacity to wield that power, surprised her more than she thought she’d surprised him.  She had never in her life been a dominant lover.  “I always waited for you to take the lead, now that I have the rains, what do you think?”

             
Nostrils flaring, Mason reached up to caress her cheek.  The touch pulled at her, drawing a tender spot of hurt from her bruised heart and she felt it vanish.  Her throat tightened, a lump of emotion choking her for a moment.  She laid her head against his chest, wrapped her arms around him and felt his arms encircle her.  There was no crying in tonight’s activities.  She chanted ‘no tears’ to herself until the urge to cry slipped away.  His tenderness briefly eased her fears.  He was allowing her to exact revenge.  He didn’t know what she had in mind, but had agreed to let her do anything she wanted to him.  She determined to make his sacrifice worth his while.  His trust moved her one step farther to putting away the past. 

             
Holly pushed him into a chair, knelt down and removed his boots, socks and the jeans that had him hobbled. 

Finally.
 

Naked
. 

H
e was gloriously naked.  “I think we can move into my room now.”  Holly led the way, not touching him.  Still fully dressed she turned to him.  “Do you feel awkward or vulnerable naked while I’m fully dressed?”

             
Mason tipped his head sideways, but didn’t show any move to answer her question.  “This is how many women feel all the time.  I felt this way ten years ago.  I wanted to be on equal footing, to explore you and you never gave me any way to do that, to feel like an equal.  It’s simple really.”  She turned on the bedside lamp.  Enough light brightened up the room, but no harsh glare like if she turned on the overhead light.  “Come here.” Patting the bed, he sat down.  “Unbutton my blouse.”  Moving to stand between his parted thighs, she gave his cock a quick pat.  In his sitting position, his head hit at her chest level.  She stopped Mason from removing her blouse completely, catching on her elbows, she left it there, encouraging him to kiss his way from one breast to the next, taking a long moment to suck each nipple into his mouth and work it hard with his tongue.  Pulling back, she leaned into him, hugging his head between her breasts.  She leaned her head atop his, hugging her to him, absorbing his warmth.

             
“Do you feel my heart racing?” 

             
He nodded. 

             
“These touches and hugs you should give me all day long, in front of witnesses.  It says you’re not ashamed of me.  You’re not hiding me.  You failed this last time too.  The only time you touched me was when we were alone and the lights were off.  You made me feel like your dirty little secret.”   She pulled away from him and his fingers which had stilled on her hips to peer into his eyes.  She saw remorse and sorrow and maybe what she hoped was a little understanding mixed in with his raging arousal.  “This is what tonight’s for.  When we’re done with your training, you will know how to love a woman.” 

             
“Slide my shirt off now.”  He gently removed her blouse, caressing her arms with every inch of exposed flesh.  “Mmm, that’s nice,” her knees weakened.  She stepped out of her shoes, but let him finish undressing her.  When he closed in to remove her panties, he took a deep breath, ran his tongue in her belly button and circled her little indent a couple times.