Hunted (3 page)

No Jared.

She headed back toward the door, assuming he hadn’t arrived as yet. It was wonderful to see men turn to check her out, to feel her bare thighs rub together and know she was almost naked in their midst. Her puss throbbed with anticipation.

She could meet someone else tonight.

She could take a different lover.

She didn’t have to wait for Jared, after all.

The possibilities were almost endless and she looked over the crowd, trying to figure out which man she’d choose. She was in the darkest part of the bar when she felt someone behind her.

Following her.

She would have turned around to look, but a hand fell on the back of her waist.

A man’s hand.

Jared! Her heart fluttered in anticipation.

“Gorgeous,” he murmured and blew softly on the side of her neck. The strands of feathers moved across her skin, a thrilling sensation, but then he touched his lips below her ear.

Shara caught her breath sharply. His lips were warm and firm, and his hand felt possessive on her waist. He slid his fingers into the slit in the back of the dress and caressed her bare skin. At the same time, he kissed her right below her earlobe. He grazed her ear with his teeth and Shara shivered in delight.

“You know the saying,” he whispered, and she almost moaned aloud at the leisurely stroke of his tongue on her skin. His voice was deep and sultry, his caresses slow, and she tried to swallow the lump in her throat.

She was so wet she was going to make a puddle on the floor.

“Blow in my ear and I’ll follow you anywhere,” Shara said, closing her eyes when he did just that. Her knees quivered and her puss throbbed.

“Exactly,” he breathed. “But first, you have to be prepared.”

He turned her so she was facing one of those mirrors.

It was Zorro standing behind her, his expression set with intent. His lips were firm, his jaw square. There was something familiar about him, but Shara couldn’t figure out what or why. Was it Jared? If so, the disguise was really good.

She didn’t actually care. She was mesmerized. He was clearly a man with a plan, and one who wasn’t going to do anything in a hurry. It was both excruciating and incredibly seductive to watch him. She observed their reflections in the mirror as he untied the drawstring that held the neck of her dress. He didn’t just unfasten it—he drew the drawstring out of the fabric, then eased the cloth over her shoulders. It fell to her waist, and spilled over her hips, the neckline trapping her wrists against her sides. His gaze flicked from her eyes to her breasts as her skin was revealed. That smile broadened when he had bared her breasts completely to his view.

Shara saw her mouth open in a little O of surprise when she felt the cool evening breeze on her breasts and saw herself half-naked in the mirror.

She was being undressed in a bar.

And no one was paying much attention.

“Nice,” he murmured and she wasn’t sure whether he meant her breasts or the lipstick.

It didn’t matter. She would have lifted her hands free of the dress, but he stopped her with a fingertip. She did as instructed, curious as to what he would do. He touched his lips to the back of her neck again, and she saw him close his eyes briefly, as if he were overwhelmed by the sight of her nudity. It was good to know she wasn’t the only one who was so fired up. She felt him take a deep breath, then his hands rose to her breasts. He cupped them in his hands, his skin warm against her own, then his thumbs moved in unison to caress the tight peaks of her nipples.

She was being fondled in a bar.

Now, a few people were looking.

Shara leaned back against him, weak in the knees. She could feel the hard strength of him against her back, and his erection against her butt. He was huge and hard, which gave Shara a good idea of how this could end. She studied his reflection in the mirror and knew he couldn’t possibly be Jared.

That was probably good then, as she wouldn’t be breaking any rules about meeting the contestants early.

She could be Zorro’s fantasy for tonight.

Jared could wait until the next day.

He massaged her nipples, teasing them into tighter peaks as he kissed the back of her neck. He tasted her and teased her, as if he had all the time in the world, as if they were in a private room instead of a bar.

“Tell me what you like,” he invited.

“Restraint,” she admitted immediately. “Games of capture.”

He ran the tip of his tongue up to her ear and whispered there again. “I knew it. I can always spot a woman who likes to be pursued, caught and tied up tight.” His tongue flicked across her earlobe and his breath made her shiver. “What do you do when you’re trussed?”

“Struggle,” Shara said immediately. “Fight to free myself.”

He chuckled. “Squirm and wriggle.” His fingertips were rolling her nipples, pinching them just a little. “Prove to yourself that you’re helpless.”

“Yes.”

One hand rose, those fingertips gliding over her lips. “Do you like to be gagged?”

“It’s the only way to make a victim completely helpless,” she said, her voice husky.

Those fingertips slid lower again. “Some say it prolongs the pleasure,” he murmured.

“I suppose there’s only one way to find out.”

“I suppose there is.”

Shara shivered in anticipation. She was ready to drop her head back, just savoring the sensation, when he lifted one hand away from her breast. With the other hand, he pinched the nipple between his finger and thumb, teasing it to a point more aggressively. Shara gasped and caught the first glimpse of a smile on those firm lips.

Then her eyes widened at the sight of the silver nipple clamp. He fastened it to her nipple with quick expertise, then let the weight hang. Shara moaned softly, her agitation rising.

“A restraint of the teasing kind,” he murmured, his hands running over her as if he’d reassure her with his touch.

Then he put a second clamp on her other nipple. It was sweet torment to feel the tender tissue pinched so tightly, a sensation that made her want to squirm. She couldn’t decide whether she wanted to tug them off or tighten them more.

“Don’t move,” he instructed and Shara struggled to do as she’d been told. She was quivering from deep inside and couldn’t fully control it, and hoped that didn’t break his rules. There was something about his way of commanding her that made her want to do as he demanded. She liked how masterful he was, and was surprised to find herself wanting to please him so much.

She’d never felt small or delicate. She’d always taken care of everything herself and been fairly demanding about her needs. To have someone anticipate her desires and command her to fulfill his was a new adventure, one both exciting and strangely luxurious. All she had to do was enjoy.

And that was incredibly easy.

When his hands came around her waist again, he held a pair of long leather gloves. They were black and looked as if they’d go up to his elbows, and she remembered seeing them hooked into his belt. He tugged them on, holding her in the circle of his embrace, taking his time to ensure every finger was securely sheathed. He put his hands on her waist, holding her in place, then smiled at her reflection.

There was something dangerous about that smile, a confidence that made Shara’s heart race.

“Lift your skirt for me,” he commanded in a low growl.

Shara couldn’t believe it, but his gaze locked with hers in the mirror. His fingers flexed as if he’d do it himself and she had a feeling that wouldn’t be nearly as much fun. Shara swallowed and did as instructed, pulling up the front of the dress so more of her thighs were revealed.

“Higher,” he said and she felt the crowd lean closer.

Much higher and her pubis would be revealed in that slit. Shara hesitated.

“Show them your wet puss,” he murmured, and she knew she hadn’t misunderstood him. “Let them see how much you like this.” She eased the dress higher, amazed she was doing such a thing and thrilled that she was. She watched his eyes glitter with satisfaction as her pubis was revealed. Those watching this seduction eased closer to look.

She was displaying herself in a bar.

And she liked it. This vacation was going to be all about new adventures, it was clear.

Would he put another clamp on her clitoris? Shara wasn’t sure she could stand it, not when she was this aroused.

“Take a step to one side,” he said, and his voice was harder. She felt the tension in him and knew he was excited as well. She liked that he sounded more commanding and wondered about repercussions.

“What if I disobey?” she asked and he smiled darkly.

“Then I’ll have to punish you.” He touched his lips to the side of her neck again, then grazed her skin with his teeth. “Would you enjoy that as much as I would?” he asked, then gave her a little nip.

Shara caught her breath. “I don’t know,” she admitted. She’d never played that game, but if someone had asked five minutes before whether she’d find it exciting to be bitten, she would have said no.

And she would have been wrong. The touch of his teeth, that tiny bite on her flesh, the mark of his teeth on her skin, was incredibly hot.

“Maybe we’ll have to find out.”

Shara watched as he locked one arm around her waist, drawing her back against him. His other hand eased down the front of her, moving ever so slowly, until his gloved fingers slid into the wet folds of her labia. The leather was soft and smooth, his caress sinfully sweet and demanding. He worked her clitoris leisurely, deliberately teasing and driving her crazy with his touch.

She was being fondled in front of an audience, and she loved it.

Shara was trembling in his arms within moments and thought he couldn’t do anything more but make her come. He proved her wrong, rubbing the seam on the finger of his glove along her clitoris with such agonizing slowness she wanted to scream. She moaned aloud, unable to stop herself, and the patrons who were watching them began to applaud.

“You’re not allowed to come, of course.”

“I won’t have a choice if you do that again.”

His voice dropped lower, sounding more dangerous. “There’s always a choice, Shara.”

She was startled he knew her name. But then he lifted his hand away and she shook, wishing he hadn’t stopped. She thought they might dance then, or he might feed her an appetizer or a drink, teasing her even more until he was ready to give her relief.

Or until she was ready to beg.

Instead, he stepped back from her. He took drawstring he’d removed from her dress and wrapped it around her left wrist. Before she knew it, her right wrist was bound to her left behind her back, the drawstring wrapped around multiple times and knotted tightly.

She was being tied up publically.

Those watching the festivities cheered their approval and made a few lewd suggestions. Zorro held up a hand for silence, his gaze boring into hers.

“I like how compliant you are,” he whispered and kissed her shoulder again. He slid a gloved fingertip across her lips, his eyes filled with warning. “I like how quiet you are. They won’t care here if I have to gag you.” He was completely confident of that and Shara knew it was true. “In fact, they might enjoy the sight. But I have plans for that mouth tonight.” He watched his finger move across her mouth, smearing her lipstick. His satisfaction was so clear, though, Shara didn’t want to protest. “Do you like your costume?”

Shara nodded, not understanding why he asked the question. Did he know Jared?

“Does it make you feel like prey?” he asked, his voice a melodic low murmur.

Shara nodded again.

“I thought it would.” He smiled again. “That’s why I chose it.”

Shara was shocked. “
You
sent it to me? But you’re not Jared!”

His hand clamped hard over her mouth for a moment. He drew her back against him, almost making her fall off her heels, letting her feel his strength. She understood then why he both looked familiar and why he knew her name.

He was Damon.

The one who loved control.

The hunter she’d chosen for that very reason.

Her clit was humming in anticipation of how he would control her.

Damon waited a moment, as if to let her reason it through, a new heat in his eyes. “You
are
captive,” he said softly, trapping the other nipple the same way. “You’re claimed and you’re
mine
. Nod your understanding and agreement.”

Shara nodded, hiding her mutinous reaction. The hunt hadn’t started yet, and it had rules. Her rules. And she wasn’t going to let one of the contestants change the rules early. He lifted his hand from her mouth, making even more of a mess of her lipstick. “Why did you send the note as if you were Jared?”

“I thought you would meet him. He looks friendly.”

Shara shivered, realizing he’d anticipated her response well.

Damon released her, keeping her within the circle of his arms as he showed her a glittering silver chain, one that had two clasps fastened to it. “Your fantasy is to be hunted,” he said, as if talking about flavors of ice cream. “Mine is to capture repeatedly and completely.” He hooked the chain to the nipple clamps, one after the other, again moving with a slowness that ensured Shara felt every bit of the chain’s weight. She thought she might scream at the tension. Either that, or she’d come with a single touch. He smiled, watching her reaction as if he’d read her every thought. “Catch and release, Shara. That’s the game we’re going to start to play tonight.”