Page 14 of Savage Romance
“Relax.” He stroked the side of her face and she caught herself before rubbing her cheek against his palm. She didn’t recognize the woman she became with Ben like this, and she wasn’t sure she liked how she felt.
Ben shimmied between her and the headboard and pulled her against his hard chest. His breath tickled her ear, and tension built inside her.
Her heart rate sped up when Ben began to stroke the hair from her face.
“What are you doing?”
He kept up his leisurely stroking and drawled in her ear, “Whatever I want. Let go, Zoe. Stop trying to control this.”
“But—”
He nipped her earlobe. “You do not have permission to speak.”
Her eyes widened and her mouth snapped shut.
“Good girl.” He continued stroking her forehead, hair, and temples in gentle, soothing motions. Zoe tried to stay upright, but under his gentle touches she allowed herself to relax and enjoy their connection. Her breathing slowed and she leaned more of her weight against his chest.
An arm like an iron band around her middle, Ben pushed her forwards with his chest against her back. Compliantly, Zoe allowed her body to tip forward, her trust in his strength to hold her with one arm absolute.
Pulling her arms to her back, he tied them with quick and efficient movements. Her eyes now closed, Zoe swayed as Ben wrapped the rope around her body.
“Do you remember your safeword?”
Huh. Somewhere in the foggy recesses of her mind, his question registered. “My—” Her voice croaked. She licked her lips and tried again. “My safeword is red.”
“Very good.” He looped the rope around her torso, over her bare breasts, under them, creating a diamond-like pattern.
As he hummed in pleasure, Zoe wanted to purr like a cat. Every time he wrapped the ropes around her body, his weight anchored her against the bed, and his strong arms surrounded her. More than the tug and pull from the bindings, something tugged deep inside Zoe she didn’t dare to put a name to.
Never before had she felt this secure and cherished, and Zoe gave up the control and let go of her responsibility and her quest for vengeance.
“Beautiful,” he murmured, “just like I imagined. The black rope is stunning against your skin.”
Zoe didn’t reply. What could she have said anyway? She floated on a cloud until he maneuvered from behind her and settled between her legs—her widespread legs!
She froze when the cooler air hit her wet and exposed pussy, and her breathing stuttered.
Caressing her inner thigh, Ben waited.
With an effort, Zoe pulled in a breath and let it out slowly. Her muscles unknotted. A hot mouth closed around her right nipple and teased the bud with the tip of a tongue. A soft buzzing in the air was all the warning she got as something molded around her clitoris, and it was like someone was feathering kisses over the little nub. With Ben’s mouth around her nipple, that wasn’t possible. He was using some kind of sex toy on her. The power between her legs increased to a firm pulling and sucking.
She moaned as the intense combination of sensations skyrocketed her toward orgasm.
Ben lifted his head and blew hot air over her cooling nipple. The skin tightened and Zoe squeaked in surprise as he latched onto the other side. All the while, the insistent pulling and sucking and whirling against her clit continued. Her world narrowed as she allowed her body to take over from her mind. Every muscle in her body tensed in anticipation of the moment of sweet release. Her ears started ringing, higher and higher, her insides coiling tighter until the hold she had on her climax snapped. “Oh, oh, oh.” Zoe slumped against the headboard as she came down from the most powerful and toe-curling orgasm she’d ever had.
Chapter Eleven
Taking in the well-dressed man beside her, Zoe smoothed some imaginary wrinkles from her dress and tried to calm her nerves. They were attending a Christmas party at Nolan House, one of Ben’s acquaintances’ office buildings. It would be the first time for her acting as Ben’s plus one, but her unfamiliar role wasn’t the only issue that had her on edge. The organizer of the Christmas luncheon was Byron Nolan, one of the names that had come up in her investigation into Michael’s death. A twitch of shame raked over her spine as she reminded herself why she’d come to Kansas City. Today she would rub shoulders with all the big influencers in the city.
Ben’s large palm covered her restless fingers. “It is going to be just fine, darlin’. They are going to adore you.”
Zoe shifted for what had to be the fortieth time on the buttery leather seat of the Bentley. The street noise barely penetrated the thick windows of the luxury car and she peered outside, unable to meet her husband’s gaze. Outside, happy and excited people wrapped in coats and shawls filled the streets, and the city hummed with the special holiday spirit. Even though it was mid-day, illuminated Christmas trees and strings of bright lights lit up houses, shops, and entire blocks, giving the outside a cheerful ambiance that didn’t resonate with Zoe’s inner turmoil.
Ben lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles with so much tenderness it made her eyes burn and her throat tighten. She glanced over at the husband who had her questioning almost everything she believed in. His eyes crinkled at the corners, making the hard lines of his face soften.
Then his eyes narrowed, and his body stiffened ever so slightly.
“What?”
