Reverence (6 page)

“Nina, alone is exactly what you will be with a crowd like that. Come on, let’s salvage our night.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“To the water,” I answered as I buckled her belt then mine.

“I love the water,” she said softly.

“I know.” I grinned at her with a wink. She winked back and returned my smile, wiping her tears away.

I drove to the Isle of Palms and we removed our shoes as we walked along the beach. I grabbed her hand as she stayed silent, still upset, but with each passing minute, I could feel the water working its magic, calming her. She’d told me a long time ago she grew up a water baby. All of her favorite memories were held at the beach. I understood the allure. I felt the weight of the world shift slightly as the water traced the shore. It was becoming warmer.

She laughed out of nowhere as she turned to me. “How did you know what it was, the rubbing board?”

“History major,” I said, chuckling with her. “Though that wasn’t in any of the books. I can’t believe that was up for auction.” I smirked, turning to her. “Planning on using it?”

“Absolutely not,” she said on a childlike giggle. “I wouldn’t even begin to pretend to know how. I should demand full disclosure. It looked like some sort of, I don’t know. It’s made of brass and wood, how would they even begin to …” I gestured with my fingers how the women would impale themselves on the board, facing each other as Nina’s large eyes rounded and her mouth formed an “Oh” of understanding.

We walked a bit longer and I felt her hand relax in mine.

“Feel better?” I asked as she turned on me at the same time with a question.

“Why didn’t you call?”

“I can’t give you more than sex and friendship.” She didn’t hide her disappointment, and I didn’t offer her more. “A friend would call,” she said, stepping toward me. “I was planning on it.”

“I was holding my breath,” she mouthed as she eyed me carefully. Her dress outlined her body as the excess material flew in the wind, and I felt the pull, as I always did, to have her beneath me.

“What are you thinking?” She smiled as I let my eyes appreciate her.

“I’ve never let a woman so damn beautiful have this much effect on me.”

“Well, what are you going to do about it?” She put her hands on her hips, an awkward gesture for the dress she was in, but that was Nina, a square peg trying desperately to cram into the round hole.

“I’m going to eat your perfect ass.” She took a step back and burst out laughing.

“You won’t be laughing while I’m doing it.” Catching the lust clear in my eyes, she stopped her laugh abruptly, her eyes wide.

“I don’t like the way you make me feel,” she said, unsteady on her feet.

“No, you love it, and that scares you more.” I pulled her to me, tasting her and fucking her mouth with my tongue. Pulling away, she searched my eyes and I gave her nothing.

“Let’s go.” She nodded and bit her lip. I scooped her up, running with her down the sand we had just walked. She laughed hard, wrapping her arms around my neck.

“Thank you,” she said as I slowed, lowering her to the ground.

“For what?”

“Trying to save me…again.”

“One day I may succeed.”

She smiled as I held open the door for her. “One day I might let you.”

In the now freezing shower, I fisted myself over and over, thinking about that night and the number of ways I had violated her, carrying out my promise and doing much more. I stilled, letting go as I spilled over, the burn in my chest staying with me.

NINA

Aiden decided to take me home in his Jeep with the top down, but not before pulling up next to Carson in his monstrosity and honking obnoxiously. Carson rolled down his window, his eyes wide.

“I’ll be escorting Ms. Scott home tonight, sir.”

“Please, call me Carson.”

“Will do,” he said, knowing full well the spectacle he was making. “If I may, Miss,” Carson added quickly, “please fasten your belt.” My heart squeezed at his concern as I pulled the strap away from my chest and showed him the inch that it gave. Aiden took off like a bat out of hell and I saw Carson’s face pale before Aiden raced us out of sight.

“Hey, you want to get along with me, better get along with my sidekick.”

Aiden smiled as he pushed shuffle on his iPhone. “Will do, Miss.” He pulled the cuff of his shirt out of his jacket, straitening it out to tease me and I punched him in the arm.

“Damn, woman!” His eyes bulged.

“I had a little brother. I had to condition on the regular,” I warned.

“I’ll keep that in mind as well.” He rubbed his arm in mock pain and I rolled my eyes. We stayed silent as we drove through the night, the moon low and surreal as the breeze whispered through the cabin of the Jeep. The Church’s “Under the Milky Way” came on and I thought it fitting. It was absolutely perfect.

“Do you know where you are going?” I asked as he picked up my hand, kissing my fingertips.

“Yep, we are going for a drive. We can’t waste this moon.” I nodded in agreement as he avoided stoplights and continued to drive over every bridge in Charleston. We rode for some time, Aiden always the perfect maestro, seducing me without words and a simple playlist.

“It’s unreal what you do to me with music,” I whispered in his ear, leaning over into his seat and stroking his lap suggestively.

“Time for bed.” He suddenly exited, heading back toward the direction of my house and I laughed loudly as I gave him short directions. Minutes later, he looked over at me and I saw his need and leaned over again, kissing his neck briefly before pulling away.

Looking up at the larger than life moon, I lifted my phone and took a snap shot. I frowned at the picture. It wasn’t a damn thing like what we were seeing. Aiden noticed my frustration after several attempts.

“Some things are to be lived in the moment only, they can’t be captured.” I looked over at his golden hair as it played in the breeze, his tender smile, and understood immediately.

I was going to fall for this man.

At home, Aiden stayed silent as he surveyed the expanse of my house. He didn’t seem impressed and walked through it with me, opening each door as I guided the tour. I finally let out a long loud breath after several minutes of silence.

“Well?”

“I’m going to bet you only use two or three rooms in this house on a daily basis.” He looked pointedly at me and I nodded.

“This isn’t the right house for you,” he said, dismissing it.

“Well, I designed it, and I happen to love it.”

“No, you don’t,” he said, studying me as we stood in a spare bedroom. “You defend it. If you loved it, you wouldn’t try so hard and you wouldn’t be asking for my approval.”

I rolled my eyes and he closed the distance between us. “Don’t do that, beautiful. I’ll make you cry.”

“What?” I said, looking into his fiery eyes.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me. It’s disrespectful.”

“Respect is earned,” I muttered as I rounded the corner of the room into the carpeted hall, still on edge because of his assessment. I heard the air whoosh next to my head before I realized I was on the floor with my hands pinned above me. I looked up as Aiden towered over me. “And you are about to earn mine.”

I giggled as I fought his hold in vain and he held my hands with his one as he tore my dress away from my chest. I paused, hearing the material rip, and looked up at him in shock. He snapped the strap of my bra away and pulled the cups down, revealing my peaked nipples.

“Still not taking me at my word, Nina?”

I fought him hard, then turned my body and ripped my wrist free as I attempted to crawl away. He held on to the material as I struggled to move from him, my back and thong covered ass now bared to him as he won the war with my now ruined dress. I felt the sting of his slap on my thigh and screamed out.

“Aiden!”

He lunged for me just as I was about to break free, pressing me down with one hand on my back while tearing away my panties. Seconds later, I felt his hand separate my legs easily as he lifted me on all fours. I was dripping as he landed another painful slap. I looked back to see him removing his jacket and tie as he held me in place with his hand on my hip, his fingers digging in painfully. I moved to get away when he stopped me with the boom in his voice.

“Don’t even think about it. I already owe you for the first time.”

I lay my head on the carpet, my ass in the air, waiting for my punishment. I felt the ache to be filled as I panted, unsure of his next move. A sudden burst of cold air hit me as I realized we were under an air conditioning vent. I moved slightly to keep the chill from my skin and screamed as Aiden bit me hard on the back of my neck. Pain washed over me just as he thrust into me from behind. My body exploded in sensation as I called out to him. Overcome by the sudden intrusion of his long, thick cock, I twisted my ass to try to accommodate his size.

I felt the strap around my neck before the squeeze as he tightened his belt, thrusting into me full force.

“If you want out of this, Nina, you tap the floor with your palm, understood?” His voice was raw, angry, and full of lust. “Let me see you do it,” he pushed out through clenched teeth.

I tapped the floor with my palm and he rewarded me by tightening the belt. I was leashed now as he pounded into me, pulling on the belt for leverage. He slowed his thrusts and tightened it further, cutting off my air, but only for a few seconds before releasing the hold to slam in again.

Thrust, thrust, squeeze.

Thrust, thrust, squeeze. I bit my lip as the orgasm built deep inside of me. I was dizzy with lust, only able to feel him. The powerful thrust of his hips forced me to collapse forward and I was rewarded with the painful squeeze of the belt and another hard slap on my now bruised ass as he again lifted me back to my knees. With one more push of his punishing cock, I came and he squeezed and slapped as the current raced through me, leaving me completely drained. I fell forward again, unable to care about the consequences. The belt was released and I was turned over in time to see Aiden’s eyes blaze.

“I’m going to treat you so nice,” he whispered, tracing my neck with tongue-filled kisses while his fingers eased in and out me, pulling the moisture from my orgasm. “I’m going to need to fuck this pussy well and often.”

“Yes,” I breathed out in reply. Succumbing to his touch and his promising words, I shuddered as he traced my folds softly with my slick juices. He pulled away, catching my eyes as he drew back, pulling my legs up around his shoulders, hooking them behind his neck while lifting my upper half off the floor. He slid into me slowly, so slowly, as I choked on a gasp, completely full of him.

“Aiden,” I whispered hoarsely.

His hand slid down my chest over my breasts, caressing them as he made his way down to my aching clit. “I know, baby, you still need me.”

I nodded, knowing how desperate I seemed, knowing that no matter how good it was, I was insatiable. No matter how hard I came, I would always want more. I was addicted.

“Watch it, baby. Watch my cock,” he murmured soothingly. I followed his eyes to where we met intimately and I watched his length go in and out, coated with my orgasm. He pushed in deep, his reach slightly painful, caressing the spot deep inside stroke after stroke. The sight of his cock covered in me had me coming again instantly and he sped up as we both watched ourselves connect. My skin was on fire as I watched his coat of armor tattoo flex with his exertion and admired the sharp contours of his chest. There was nothing but menace in his eyes as he punished me with harsh licks over and over, pushing me to the brink. His knowing smirk was sinister, as if he knew exactly what I was feeling and how to take it away.