Page 13 of Mine to Tease

The only people who call me Ana are my brother and my closest friends. Damon’s use of my nickname is disarming, so much so I believe every word he says. He wouldn’t hurt me. He wouldn’t be too rough. He wouldn’t be impatient. All the things I feared he would be.

“What would you do to me?” I ask, finally certain I don’t want him to leave.

14

As Anastasia looks up at me with hungry eyes and parted lips, the way her tiny finger wraps around mine is nothing but a tease. I want more. I want her. But none of this makes sense. I understand my desire for her. She is an exquisite beauty like a red velvety rose that’s been stuck on a vine just waiting to be plucked and enjoyed. She is naïve and innocent, which makes the thought of what we could do together all the more exciting. Thoughts of the things I could teach her makes my dick swell. And yet, she is a challenge, a bucking horse resistant to submission. I’d enjoy taming her just as much as I would teasing her, pleasing her, and teaching her how to reciprocate. It’s her desire that has me confused.

“What do you want me to do to you, Anastasia?” I ask, my voice hoarse as I fight my arousal. I won’t touch her again without clear consent. I won’t pick her up, carry her inside, sit her fine ass on that kitchen island of hers, and kiss every inch of her body without her explicitly asking me to. Though, as she takes a step toward me, moving her free hand to my stomach, resting it just above my belt buckle, it takes everything in me not to.

“I want you to touch me everywhere a woman should be touched.”

“Why me?” I ask, moving my hand to the small of her back. I pull her closer as the chilly breeze lifts her soft curls. Her sweet scent fills me as I wait for her response.

She hesitates, though only for a moment. Finally, she says, “Because I believe you when you say you won’t hurt me. But also because, despite this act of chivalry tonight, you’re not a gentleman and I’m not your princess.”

As her words reach me, I drag my teeth over my bottom lip, sucking on it as my body fills with fire and the appendage between my legs swells even larger. No, she isn’t my princess. And with that simple assertion and her permission, I take pleasure in doing as I’m asked.

Pulling my finger from her grasp, I quickly move my hands to her bottom and lift her up. She gasps, her lips parting and eyes widening at my swift action. Yet she instinctively wraps her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. As she does, I’m acutely aware of the way her underwear rides up and her skirt bunches as her body presses against mine, leaving her bare ass cheeks sitting atop my arm. As our eyes meet, she searches mine as if wondering what will happen next. I narrow my gaze as the muscles in my arms contract. Tonight, she is my prey and I’m ready to ravage her. Yet I’ve waited too long for this to rush it.

As a test of our patience, I allow my gaze to wander, letting the anticipation build. Having her this close to me, I take note of every little detail. The way her curls fall forward, daring to hide her beautiful face. The way her green eyes have flecks of yellow in them that I’m only noticing now underneath the glow of the streetlight. Her small, baby smooth ears. The tiny freckles on her chest. The way her arms wrap around me, the way her breasts rise and fall against me with each breath she takes, the way her legs tremble as the wind picks up around us.

“Are you ready, baby bird?” I ask. She only nods, moving her eyes back and forth between mine and my lips. Oh, yeah. She’s ready. I strengthen my grip on her, and as we move down the alley, she fumbles in her purse for her key. She hands it to me as we reach the door. Once inside, we are met with a reprieve from the midnight chill, a serenade of yaps, growls, and barks from Brinkley, and an insatiable urge neither one of us can refrain from satisfying any longer.

Ignoring Brinkley as he nips at my heels and the lock on the door, I round the corner to the kitchen and place Ana on the island’s edge. She keeps her legs and arms locked around me—good girl—and without a second’s more delay, our lips meet. Kissing is the angel’s dance. Somewhere deep inside, we all know the movements, the rhythm. Though the chemistry isn’t as natural with every partner. As Ana’s lips move against mine, with the same intensity and hunger as her eyes held before, it feels like she was made for me. She bites and sucks my bottom lip, just like I like it. I slip my tongue into her mouth, and she moans and reciprocates. It’s as if we’ve kissed a thousand times. She is familiar, like a love from a past life. And yet, the ache in my chest and yearning in my gut reminds me it’s our first time.

I lean forward and place my hands on her hips, prompting her to lean back without parting my lips from hers. She follows my body’s cue, lowering herself onto the countertop. Finally, she is forced to break our kiss. But I’m not ready to release her yet. I want her lips red and raw before I move on to the rest of her. I pull her hips toward the edge of the island as I lean over her. As I reinitiate our kiss, her pelvis presses against the cold steel of my belt buckle. Mmm, I wonder how that feels for her. Perhaps she’s too distracted to even notice.

As I bite her bottom lip, tugging on it with my teeth, I move my hand up her body—from her hip to her waist, sliding over her breast until I reach her throat. She moans as her nipple hardens beneath her shirt. The soft feel of her lets me know she isn’t wearing a bra. I pull away from her then, a smile spreading across my face. “You like that, sweetheart?” I ask.

“Mm-hmm,” she moans. Her cheeks are red and her skin is hot to the touch as I press my fingers into the side of her neck. I take note of her sensitivities so I can exploit them later. Still, I take my time.

“Good,” I say and return my attention to her lips. This time I choke her, softly at first, and then more intensely as she realizes this is meant for pleasure, not pain. “That’s my good girl,” I moan as she takes it. She gasps, struggling to continue our kiss. I steady my lips just above hers so as not to make it too easy on her. I love feeling her struggle and hearing her moan as she does. Finally, satisfied with the way her body quivers beneath me, I release my grip on her throat and redirect my attention to her breasts.

As Anastasia gasps for air, I steal it from her once more as my hands find her nipples. I rub them between my fingers as if I’m making a snapping motion. She arches her back in response, and I take the opportunity to slip one of my arms beneath her so I can hold her in place. That’s when I bring my mouth to the little peak poking through the right side of her shirt. I suck, harder than I would if she were completely naked since the fabric gives her a little protective barrier. Next, I tease her with my teeth before softly biting and sucking at the same time. She squirms in my arms, writhing in pleasure as I continue my assault on her chest.

Unable to keep myself from her flesh any longer, I move to a standing position, pulling her along with me. I place my fingers on the hem of her shirt and lift my eyes to meet hers. She gives me a nod, and I gently remove the garment, tossing it on the floor. It must’ve landed on Brinkley because it occurs to me then how quiet it is.

The only sounds are our heavy breathing. Though perhaps he simply knew enough to know he shouldn’t witness what’s about to happen to his mother.

As I lower my gaze, taking in Anastasia’s pale skin now turned to blush, her small, perky breasts, and nipples the color of ripe peaches, desire boils inside me. My dick throbs in my pants so intensely it aches against the zipper on my jeans. I want nothing more than to slip it through her folds, sinking deep inside her, making her mine in every way. I want to fill her body with my cum instead of just cover her in it. But that’s not what I do. Not with her, not with anyone. Doing my best to quell my primal urge, I bring my hand to her throat once more. Though this time I am gentle. I rub my thumb along the length of her neck just as I did before. Keeping my eyes focused there, I give her a moment to catch her breath and become comfortable being naked in front of me. I know this is all new to her and I don’t want to push her too quickly. Though, strangely, this feels new to me too.

I’ve been with women before, when I was younger, before my life became consumed with the Mafia, before I learned what it feels like to lose someone you love. Nothing serious—I was too young for that. Right about the time I started to think I was ready for something more, I lost my mom. And that’s when I decided I never wanted to feel that pain again. So, I created rules and boundaries for myself, a way to be intimate without being intimate, without getting attached. With Anastasia, I fear I’m already growing attached and I haven’t even had her yet.

It’s then that Anastasia mimics my movements by bringing her hand to the side of my neck, and I meet her gaze. I find she watches me the same way I watch her. Her eyes dance across the features on my face and take in the art visible above the collar of my black long-sleeve tee. Her hands move with her, up my neck, to my cheek, to my lips. She even runs her fingers through my mop of brown hair in a way that squeezes my heart. Her touch is so gentle, so soft. She caresses me as if I’m fine china, so delicate I may break at any moment. I guess I need to remind her that I’m the bull.

“Take off my belt,” I say then, drawing her eyes back to mine. Anastasia’s lips part as she anticipates what will happen next, at least what she thinks will happen. I can practically see the wheels turning in her brain as she slowly moves her hand to my belt buckle. “Don’t worry, baby bird. With me, you don’t have to think. Trust me, do as I say, and relax. Can you do that?” I ask, lifting her by the chin so I can see the truth in her eyes.

“I think so. I—I’ll try. I’m just not good at this.”

“Good at what?” I ask.

“Not thinking. Relaxing. Cumming. And as far as the actual sex part, I’m probably not very good at that either. I’m just not experienced enough at it to make that judgment call yet. There was this one time in college, but it only lasted five seconds and since then…”

I watch her as she rambles, surprised to see her shy and vulnerable. Gone is the fiery redhead I love going to war with. Before me is my baby bird with a broken wing in need of mending. The thought and the expression on her face eases some of the throbbing between my legs, though I’m anything but soft, and allows me to regain the sense of control I crave. Enough so that my mind drifts from her to thoughts of her first time. Seems big brother doesn’t know everything. It’s good she can keep a secret, because tonight and anything else that may come of it will have to remain one.

Anastasia looks at me then, exasperated as she recounts her past. I wish I could replace the sour memories of her first time. I wish I could show her what it’s supposed to be like and make her forget that any other man has ever touched her. But tonight was never about sex. No night for me is. Instead, I prefer other forms of pleasure. Or maybe it’s just my preference for detachment. Regardless, the kiss may be the angel’s dance, but I’m about to introduce her to the Devil’s.

“Well, it’s like I said, you don’t have to think,” I reassure her, bringing my hand to her cheek. “You don’t have to do anything other than lie back and submit to me. Can you do that for me? Can you trust me to make you feel good?” I lower my thumb to Anastasia’s lip, tugging on it as she nods. A small smile spreads across my lips in response. I’m about to cross an uncrossable line, breaking every code of honor that exists in our world. And she doesn’t even realize it. She’ll hate me for this if she ever learns I’ve been lying to her about who I truly am and why I’ve taken up such a presence in her life. She’ll feel betrayed and that everything between us is a lie. But it’s not. And despite all the reasons why I never wanted to know Anastasia Cross, one thing is certain—there’s no one else I’d rather bury my face in than her. And nothing and no one is going to stop me from doing it now.

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