Her Guardian Billionaire (Forbidden First Time Romance) (5 page)

“Yes, miss. Mr. Davenport trusts me.”

“Then tell me.”

“Anna, I—”

“No, Malcolm, listen. If whatever happened in the past is what’s keeping him from me, I want to know. I need to know.”

He breathed out, softening the lines around his mouth as he looked down at her. “I’m sorry. I’ve said too much already. I can’t betray his trust. But please, don’t take what he said last night to heart. Mr. Davenport didn’t mean it. He’s pushing you away because he’s protecting you. And hurting himself.”

Standing up, he smiled down at her. “Don’t give up on him. You could be the woman to slip past his armor. You just have to find a weak spot to break through.”

Anna swallowed and tried to smile. It’d been hopeless, but in a few minutes, Malcolm had turned it all around. Just like he always did. “Thank you, Malcolm. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Hopefully you never have to find out. Good luck, miss.”

Anna watched the butler walk out of the room before setting the empty mug on the tray. She flopped on her bed, arms outstretched and mind soaring. She longed to know what James’s secret could be, why he pushed her away, and how on earth she could force him to see her. Not the little girl he’d taken in all those years ago, but the real her. The woman who wanted him and all his broken pieces.

Sitting up, she made up her mind.
I’ll find him and confront him. Prove I’m not some innocent little girl he can’t touch
.

A half an hour later and Anna’d tugged on a dress from her luggage, pulled her hair back into a messy braid, and walked out the front door. Scanning the property for James, she thought about his routine. He always went riding Saturday mornings and not even a fight with his ward would change that.

After traipsing down the cobblestone drive, she turned off and veered into the grassy hills that surrounded the house. She’d loved the estate since she’d first set foot on it—acres of manicured lawns ringed by native forests. A girl could get lost on the property for hours and never get bored.

A smile spread across her face as she walked. The sun warmed her skin and she remembered running through the grass, climbing the trees, watching a deer graze in the dew. She’d miss all that if she left, but none of it held a candle to James. Not when a single glance her direction sent a bolt of pleasure through her veins.

No other man ever made her giddy with a smile or hot with a stare. Not like him. She needed his forehead pressed against hers, his hair falling into her eyes, his short beard scraping her jaw. She wanted him—any way he wanted to have her.

Bondage should scare her. A paddle and a flogger—thanks to the internet she’d figured that one out—should send her running for the nearest Bentley. But they didn’t. Instead, an ache consumed her. A need to be restrained and controlled—to be dominated by James and no one else—filled her body.

Cresting a hill, she heard the horse nicker before she saw it and she slowed down. James’s favorite black stallion grazed in the grass, riderless and saying hello. She smiled and walked towards him, holding out her hand before rubbing his nose. “Hello Dante. Is your master around?”

The horse nuzzled her hand and flicked his ears toward the gazebo. Anna glanced up and bit her lip. Even from fifty yards away she could see James standing inside, hands on his hips, surveying his property. She rubbed the horse in thanks and walked towards James, stopping at the gazebo’s entrance.

“Hello, James.”

“Hello, Anna. I thought you were leaving today.”

“I’m not leaving until you talk to me. Until you see me—the real me and not the version you see in your head.”

The riding crop in his hand twitched, but he didn’t turn around. “You shouldn’t be here.”

Anna swallowed but didn’t stop. “Don’t push me away because you’re afraid.”

“I don’t base my decisions on fear, Anna.”

“Now who’s lying?”

He swiveled around, eyes boring into hers, and she fought the urge to step back. “You’re just a girl with a crush. You don’t know what you want.”

“If I were still seventeen, I’d agree with you. But I’m not. I’m twenty-one today. I’m an adult and I know exactly what I want. And it’s you.” Climbing the stairs, Anna walked toward James, stopping a foot away.

“If you knew more about me, you’d change your mind.”

“I know enough. I know that you’re focused, determined, dominant.” She took a deep breath and slid closer, looking up into his dark brown eyes, begging him to see the truth behind her lashes. “I know that you have certain…likes.”

He snorted, but she pressed on. “It doesn’t turn me off, James. If anything…it only makes me want you more. Watching you—the things you did to that woman—I’ve never come so hard in my life.”

“You’ve never even been with a man, Anna. I can’t ask you to step into that world with me.”

“What world? Bondage? Domination? I want it. I want you to do those things to me—tie me up, make me yours. I’ll submit. I won’t run. And what I said last night stands. No one has to know.”

“That’s what you say now, but in the moment—when you’re exposed and vulnerable—you’ll change your mind. And it’ll be too late.”

“Stop telling me what I’ll feel or think or do. I’m stronger than you give me credit for, James.”

“I never said you weren’t strong, Anna.” He reached out, fingers a breath away from her cheek, and she closed her eyes. “But people change their minds all the time. They get too deep, too fast, and they panic. I won’t go down that road again.”

She popped her eyes open and looked up at him. “Whatever happened to you in the past—whatever it was that caused the rift in your family—I’m no part of it.”

He dropped his hand and stepped back. “What do you know about that?”

“Nothing, other than something bad had to happen. Something tragic and terrible that made you who you are.”

“I made me. Nothing and no one else.”

“You know what I mean.” She stepped forward, reaching for him. Wrapping her fingers around his arm, she squeezed, hoping he’d finally understand.

“I don’t think I know you at all, Anna.”

“I want you to. I want you to know all of me.”

He grabbed her by the wrist and tugged until she crashed into him, chest pressing into his, belly rubbing up against the unmistakable erection inside his pants. Tightening his grip, he ground his hips into hers and she moaned out loud. He wanted her. His hard cock proved it.

“Are you sure?”

“Completely.”

Before she could say another word, something flicked against her leg.
What the—?
Anna glanced down and choked back a gasp.
The riding crop
. James ran it up her inner thigh with his free hand, flicking it against her skin in little bursts, tickling instead of hitting.

A shiver coursed through her body and Anna leaned into him, rubbing against him as she forced herself to breathe.

“So tell me, are you frightened?” He edged it higher, flicking between her legs a little harder every time.

“A bit.”

“Do you want me to stop?”

“No. God, no.” She wanted him to bend her over, rip her panties off and take her right there.

“Good.” He let her wrist go and she stepped back, swallowing a lump of excitement as another wave of arousal washed over her. He stared at her—the deep brown of his eyes alive and dangerous. “Bend over, grab the column.”

Anna glanced up at the painted wood and took a deep breath. She’d asked for it. She couldn’t back out now. She nodded and reached out, wrapping her hands around the post as James stepped up behind her.

They were out in the open and the risk thrilled her. That a gardener could pop over the hill and see them, see her—she shivered at the thought. As she bent over, James fluffed her dress up over her backside, exposing her panties to the bright morning light.

God damn
. She was beautiful. Strong and naturally submissive. Scared and excited at the same time. Part of him wanted to ravage her. To give her everything he had until she broke beneath him. But he couldn’t. Standing there with her ass jutting out and her hands gripping the weathered wood, she was still his ward. Still someone he’d agreed to care for. And he would. One spank at a time.

“Let’s take these off, shall we?” Slipping his fingers beneath the nude lace, he tugged and the scrap of fabric fell to the floor. It pooled around her feet and James whistled in appreciation. “What’s a virgin like you doing with a waxed little pussy, Anna?”

“I—I swim. It’s easier.”

“I see—all of you. And that pink little snatch of yours is begging for me. I wish you could see it. I haven’t even touched you yet and you’re so wet and swollen. Eager.”

“Yes, sir.”

A flash of heat surged through James, straight to his cock. “Don’t call me that. Not yet.”

“I’m sorry, James.”

“Better. Now, I’m going to ask you again. Are you sure you want this? Are you sure you want a taste of my world?”

“Yes. I’m sure. Please, James.” Her legs trembled and her voice turned desperate. “I need you.”

Smack!
He flicked the soft leather against her ass and she cried out.
Smack!
He hit her other cheek and she gasped.
So fucking hot
. “If you want me to stop, say ward. That’ll be your safe word. Can you remember that?”

“Yes, James. I can remember.”

“Good.”
Smack! Smack! Smack!
He hit her with the crop again and again, each time a little harder, a little faster. Her ass colored pink where he’d struck and each time she let out a keening moan. She loved it. He could tell. Brushing the crop across her ass, James drew a whimper from her and he stilled.

“Too much?”

“No…It’s just…I need…”

James slid the riding crop between her legs, rubbing it against her swollen lips as he pushed her wide open with his knee. “You need what? To come?”

“Yes!”

He chuckled and tapped the crop against her bare mound. “You will. But have some patience. We’re not close to done yet.”

With expert precision, he tapped her swollen flesh, using the soft leather to ramp her up, send her higher, flood her body with the edge of bliss. Never touching the spot she needed, never giving her relief.

“James, please! Make me come!”

He fought the urge to strike her, bend her to his will in an instant. But she didn’t know his usual rules and he couldn’t punish a novice. A virgin. Instead, he pulled the crop away and leaned over to whisper in her ear. “I give commands, Anna. Not you.”

“I’m sorry, James.”

“Apology accepted.” With gentle pressure, he used his hand to stroke her tender flesh until she moaned again in unsatisfied lust. “Now, let’s give you what you’ve been wanting, hmm?”

He stood back up and slid the crop back between her legs. She tensed in front of him, legs quivering and ass clenching, until the first flick of the leather hit her clit.

“Oh god! Yes!” She hung her head and he flicked again, drawing out groans and moans and uncontrollable spasms.

On and on it went, him driving her orgasm through her body, her moaning and shaking and losing control. With a final tap of the leather on her clit, she came, crying out in euphoria as he pressed the crop into her swollen, little nub.

He stepped away as bliss took over, waiting until her trembling subsided before bending to pull up her panties with gentle fingers. He slipped them all the way on and pulled her hands off the post, hugging her to him as she collapsed into his arms.

“You didn’t tell me to stop.”

“I didn’t want you to.”

“Did I scare you? Was it too much?”

“No. That blew last night out of the water. James—don’t you see?” She pulled back and looked into his eyes and he could see admiration and trust and not a hint of regret. “I want all of you. Every part—not just what you show to the world.”

James smiled and kissed her forehead. Screw his nagging fear and doubt. She took what he had to offer and never once backed down, never once doubted him. If she could trust him with her body, maybe he could trust her with more.

“If you want me, you’ll have me. All of me that you can take. Let’s go inside. I have things to show you.”