Maya Banks - Sweet Temptation

She saw a kindred soul when she looked into his eyes. Could he see one in hers? Did he recognize her?

The whip came up and flicked across her belly, not as hard as he’d struck her back, but the shock sent her flinching away. Before she could process the sensation, he flipped his wrist and the whip stung across her right breast, perilously close to her nipple. Then her left breast.

She found herself pushing forward, wanting the contact, her nipples surging, tightening, wanting to feel the kiss of the whip.

He feathered welts in a distinct pattern across her chest and abdomen but always missing her nipples. She panted and then sucked air through her nose. She needed. God, she needed.

The whip went silent, and in the next moment excruciating pain and the most indescribable pleasure assaulted her. Her nipples felt pierced by hot needles. Her eyes flew open and she looked down to see a clamp with vicious little teeth attached to each stiff, distended nipple.

Her entire body burned, an inferno that raged across her welted skin. Arousal was savage within her. If she hadn’t been bound, she would have taken Micah before he could ever take her. It was a need so fierce she felt she might die from it.

As if sensing how close she was to absolute overload, he dropped the whip, stalked forward and threw her legs over his forearms, standing to his full height.

She was spread and draped helplessly over him, and he wasted no time possessing her. He yanked her onto his cock, plunging through her swollen tissues like a hot knife through butter. She enveloped him, swallowed him, welcomed him with every particle of her being.

Over and over his hips slapped against her ass. He fucked her savagely, his features drawn tight in agony. He was hard, brutal even, and still she wanted more.

Power rolled through his big body and bled into each thrust. His cock battered her, ramming without mercy. He yanked her forward even as he stepped into every thrust.

Her arms pulled and stretched. Her muscles burned. Her abused flesh protested his every movement.

Without warning, he dropped her limbs, her feet hitting the floor. She stumbled, her hands flexing as her bonds held her upright.

His hand curled around his engorged cock, nearly purple the skin was stretched so tight at the head. He yanked, aiming at her body.

He directed his release onto her skin. It splattered her breasts and rolled between them down to her belly. It splashed onto her thighs and trickled farther downward.

His. He marked her in the most primitive way he could. She loved the feel of his liquid heat sliding down her skin. She felt empowered. She felt beautiful. She felt like she belonged.

He reached up to untie her hands and she collapsed downward. Instead of catching her, he urged her down to her knees and placed a hand to her forehead to tilt her head back.

With his other hand he guided his still erect cock into her mouth.

“Suck me,” he said huskily.

His taste exploded into her mouth, and she ran her tongue along his length, cleaning every drop of fluid from his skin. He rocked back and forth, stroking her cheek with gentle fingers.

After several moments, he pulled free and let his softening erection drop. There wasn’t a spot on her body that didn’t throb, and she couldn’t control the wince when he helped her to her feet.

He released the clamps from her nipples, and she cried out in agony as feeling rushed hot and wicked back into the tips. He lowered his head and licked gently at each one until the pain lessened to a dull throbbing. Then he raised his head again and kissed her lightly on the lips.

“Let me draw you a bath, Angel girl. You can soak while I fix us dinner.”

The gentleness was back in his voice, and his eyes glowed with ... She swallowed, not wanting to speculate on what he might be feeling. She’d have liked to say love, but he’d never made any pretense of the fact that he was done with love.

Angelina curled up on the leather couch in one of the sitting rooms of The House and stared out of the window at the lush landscape. They were up on a hill, and the terrain sloped gently down until it met the high iron fence that separated the property from the highway.

Her body still throbbed, but she savored the sensation. She felt utterly content this morning, as if all was right in the world, which was a pretty stupid sentiment given there was some creep out there watching and waiting. It was a testament to how Micah made her feel, though. Safe and cherished. Protected, and yet he didn’t treat her gently. No, he was content to push her to near the breaking point. As she’d known he wouldn’t, however, he hadn’t pushed too far. He’d taken her to the brink and gently pulled her back.

His voice came over the intercom system. “Angelina, come down here.”

There was strength in the command. He expected her to obey. He’d been in Damon’s office most of the morning making phone calls and getting updates.

They still hadn’t talked about Mama Rose or his reaction to finding out she was the woman behind the mask who’d flogged him in the Miami club. Maybe they would talk now?

She rose, her stomach in knots. He’d been so angry the night before, but then he’d been angrier because she left.

When she got to Damon’s office, the door was open and she stepped inside. Micah was sitting behind the desk, leaned back in the chair as he waited for her. To her surprise, Cole was sitting in one of the chairs by the window just to the right of the desk. When had he arrived? Micah must have let him in when she was upstairs dressing.

Her gaze drifted to the left, and she came to an abrupt halt. Her mouth fell open as she stared at the equipment just a few feet away. Specially designed stocks. The highly polished wood told her the stocks were new, and the fur lining the hand and neck holds told her they’d been designed with some comfort in mind, but holy hell. She didn’t need an overly active imagination to figure out their uses.

“Take off your clothes, Angel,” Micah said.

Though she complied immediately with his quietly voiced command, her fingers shook nervously as she pulled at her jeans. Adrenaline jumped through her veins, leaving her flushed—and excited.

She paused at her panties and bra and looked to him for direction. He nodded. “Those too, Angel girl. We want to see you naked.”

Her eyes slanted sideways to look at Cole in her periphery. He was sitting forward in his chair, his gaze lean and hungry.

She slipped out of her underwear and then reached behind her to unclasp the bra. The cups fell forward, and she slowly pulled the straps down her arms and let the bra fall to the floor.

“Come here, Angelina,” Cole said.

She quickly glanced at Micah, and he nodded his permission. She walked over to where Cole sat. As she neared, he leaned back and reached to pull her between his thighs.

His hand slid over her hip and to her back. With gentle force he pushed until she leaned forward, her breast just an inch from his mouth. His lips closed ever so gently over the budding crown of her nipple. He didn’t pull hard or bite. He sucked lightly, his tongue lapping at the point.

She drew in her breath and put her hands on his shoulders to brace herself as he continued to feed gently at her breast. It was slow and sensuous and erotic as hell.

“You taste so good,” he murmured as he pulled away to stare into her eyes. Then he lowered his head once more, to take her other nipple into his mouth. He lapped and kissed, worked the soft flesh between his teeth, but he never exerted any pressure. She moaned and arched into him, seeking more.

The sharp slap on her ass with his open palm startled her.

She looked down into his eyes to see a reprimand glittering in his pale blue orbs.

“What do you think we’re going to do to you today, Angelina?”

She swallowed. “Whatever you’d like.”

He smiled. “Good answer. That’s very true. Micah is being very generous with you. I think he knows how much I desire you. He and I have much in common I’ve found. Though it’s not in my nature to share a woman—I tend to be very possessive—I find that being allowed to fuck another man’s woman is very satisfying. Very, very satisfying.”

He pulled her down onto his lap and cupped her cheek. He was such a contradiction. His actions and words were firm, but every time he touched her, he did so with exquisite care.

“Do you like it when he watches, Angelina?” Cole whispered. “Are you turned on when he gives you to another man, or do you secretly wish he would keep you all to himself?”

“I like to please him,” she replied in an equally soft voice. “I understand him. He understands me. We aren’t threatened by each other’s kinks.”

She turned to look at Micah, seeking confirmation. He stared at her, a warm smile on his face. Open desire reflected in his eyes, but there was also pride.

“Do you see how he looks at you?” Cole asked. His voice lowered as he said the next. “He knows how lucky he is even if he won’t admit it.”

Her breath caught and hung, her lungs squeezing. Cole’s hands smoothed over her belly, rounding the curve of her hips and then sliding up her spine to her nape. He gripped the slim column and massaged before forcing her to his mouth again for a long, breathless kiss.

Then he stood, carrying her with him. For a moment he held her in his arms, and then he let her slide down his body until her feet met the floor.