Bryce reached for my hands and as I tried to pull them away, he said, “Alex, give me a second, please.”
Swallowing, I nodded.
“Thank you for helping me.”
“I-I’m not…”
“You are. More than you know. It was bad—the police, the station, the holding cell. I can’t go back. I can’t. I’m telling you what I’ve never told anyone. I was scared, more scared than I was of Nessie.”
I clenched my teeth. “I’m sorry, but I’m not helping you or anyone else cover up a crime.”
“Then you’re going to make a lousy lawyer.”
I knew he was kidding, but I was tired of people telling me what to do with my future, what to become, and how well I’d do. I pulled my hands away. “I will make a great attorney, because I’ll stand up for what’s right.”
“There are two sides to every argument.”
“Why did you do it?”
“I didn’t.” He ran his hand through his blond waves. “We had sex. She wanted more than a few dates and sex. I didn’t. She had some grand illusion about marriage. When I told her we were done, she promised she would get back at me. She said I’d led her on.”
“Bryce, Alton said there were bruises.”
He shook his head. “She didn’t have bruises the last time I saw her. I swear.”
I paced a few steps and turned back toward him. “I don’t know.”
“Yes you do. You know me. I’m the guy who was afraid of Nessie. Please consider transferring to Savannah Law.”
“What?”
“New York is far away. Not as far as California, but still far. If you’d transfer to Savannah Law, we could…” His voice trailed away.
“We could what?” I asked, with more attitude than I intended.
“Just see where the future leads.”
The caterers were gone by the time we made our way back up to the manor and lights were off in many of the rooms. It wasn’t until after Bryce was gone and I headed up to my room that I heard the voices—his voice. The tenuous calm that had settled over me at the lake’s edge disappeared. I wrapped my arms around my midsection and tried to drown out his shouting and her tears.
As I quietly shut and locked my bedroom door I realized that I was a child again, and at Montague Manor that’s what we do, we pretend not to hear and not to see. We live in the illusion hidden within the smoke and mirrors.
OUR DATE AT 333 Pacific was everything Nox promised and more… down to the sea breeze. Our covert scandalous behaviors had me twisted tighter than I’d ever been. Everything was erotic: the scent of his cologne, the thundering rumble of his voice, and the confident, assured touch of his skin against mine. Though part of me knew what we were doing—what I was allowing Nox to do to me—went against everything Alex stood for, I was virtually on the edge of explosion. Sometime during the evening, the tightening inside of me moved from pleasure to pain. I needed release and knew my only source was the man beside me. However, instead of offering relief for the smoldering fire, Nox simply continued to fan the flames.
The menacing gleam in his eyes was the spark. The way the navy swirled in the paleness as he leaned close and whispered in my ear turned butterflies into bats. At first his directives were simple, almost mundane: take a sip of your drink, tilt your head to your right, spread your legs, wider. Then I realized his plan. He was testing me step by step, to see if I would play his game.
I did.
I wanted to.
By the time our main course arrived my thighs were slick with my dedication to Nox’s entertainment, yet he’d barely touched me. My stuttered breathing and noticeable arousal was mostly accomplished with merely his words and velvety tone. On the few occasions he’d ventured to ease his skilled fingers higher and lightly brushed my folds, I squirmed involuntarily toward his touch. Instead of rewarding my effort, he’d calmly rebuke me, reminding me that he was the one testing my limits. This was his night. My part was to follow his rules. Though I did everything but verbally beg for more, his teasing continued, never delving deeper or satisfying the part of me that longed for his attention.
After dinner he took my hand and led me out past the palm trees to the long Oceanside pier. Despite the beautiful atmosphere, my frustration had grown beyond want to need. I silently cursed myself for the last few wasted nights. I cursed him for what he was doing and what he could do. My urgency was palpable. I wanted—no needed—to hurry back to the resort so that he could explore my limits in private.
“Patience,” he murmured close to my ear, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine. As if he could read my thoughts, he added, “We’ll both get what we want. But before we do, I need to be sure you’re ready.”
Ready?
“I’m ready. I promise.”
His deep chuckle was quickly lost to the roar of the surf.
The water and sky were no longer blue and sparkling. Old-fashioned street lamps, every fifty or so feet, cast circles of light upon our path. The soft illumination gave the illusion that the boardwalk was suspended in space. With the cover of night, the sea had become a black tide, invisible but for the whitecaps and the gentle rocking of the pier. The sky shimmered with stars. We paused at a simple wooden bench just outside a circle of light, and Nox gestured for me to sit. My pulse quickened and mind spun when instead of sitting beside me, he knelt before me. Electricity ricocheted through me as he leaned down and kissed the inside of my knee.
“Nox?” I asked. Drawing out his name, the one-word question revealed a hint of my hidden Southern drawl. With his warm breath skirting my thighs, I nervously looked from side to side, wishing we were alone.
Ignoring my silent plea, the menacing grin I’d grown to adore made Nox’s eyes sparkle as he gently pushed my knee to the side. I sucked my lip between my teeth, stifling a moan. The cool sea breeze was a stark contrast to his warm breath against my drenched sensitive skin. Slowly, he brushed his large hand over my leg, moving it down, and capturing my ankle. Just as I was about to speak, though I wasn’t sure what I would have said, he lifted my foot and removed my shoe. Then he did the same with the other one.
“Damn,” Nox said, standing and offering me his hand. “Even in the dark, that was a fucking fantastic view.”
A rush of blood filled my cheeks as I stood, barefoot, short, and confused. “Why did you…?”
He touched my lips. “Remember, tonight is about no questions, just trust.”
I nodded against his finger. He took my hand in his and began walking toward the end of the pier, while my shoes dangled from the long fingers of his other hand, the hand that I wanted somewhere else. After a few steps I understood what he’d done and why. It was the wooden slats of the pier. In the dark it would have been difficult, if not impossible, for me to walk without getting my high heels caught. I leaned closer to his arm as the strong wind blew inland, pushing the skirt of my dress against me. It wasn’t just my skirt. The cool air made the evidence of my arousal tingle, reminding me how close Nox had been, yet still so far.
As we walked, we talked casually about the ocean and our shared love of water. Our fingers intertwined as we discussed dinner. It was as if I wasn’t nude beneath my skirt and our lives wouldn’t diverge in only two more days. We laughed about the people around us and made up stories about their lives. Nox was certain that I wasn’t the only woman in my predicament, confident that each one who passed in a dress was enjoying the sea breeze as much as I. Though my vulnerability was potentially public, with him I felt safe and private.
By the time we made it back to the car, my tension had mellowed, but I was still ready to return to Del Mar. The man who’d placed my shoes back upon my feet was indeed my prince charming; however, my best friend was wrong: the clock would strike midnight.
Not wanting to think about the end to this fairytale, I concentrated on the here and now, on us, in a bubble, traveling back south on Highway 101. Only the headlights and the illumination of the dashboard dared to lessen the dark
security that surrounded us.
“Charli?”
I turned my mindless gaze from the star-blanketed ocean toward Nox. “What? I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening.”
He reached for my thigh, skillfully moving the hem of my dress upward. “I asked if you enjoyed the restaurant.”
Enjoyed?
“Dinner was delicious.”
“The atmosphere?”
I bit my lip. “It was beautiful and so was the pier.”
“Then why do you seem…” He hesitated. “…unfulfilled?”
Because I’m freak’n aroused and you’ve done nothing but tease me.
“I’m not.”
A small gasp escaped my lips and my body twitched as Nox’s hand moved higher, nearing my core. “You’re not?” He quickly turned my direction and back to the road. By the glow of the dashboard and oncoming headlights I saw the accusing stare as his lids narrowed. “Do you know what happens when you break my rules?”
I’m not sure I could think about that. Would the answer push my limit?
My pulse quickened. “I’m not breaking your rules. I’ve done everything you said.”
“So you were just truthful? You’re not horny? You don’t want relief?”
My eyes widened. Shit! “I didn’t say that. I do.”
He flipped my skirt higher. “Then do it.”
I shifted in the seat, my untethered hair blowing around my face. “I-I don’t know what you mean.”
“You’ve never pleasured yourself?”
“I have. But…”
“But what?” he asked.
I sat straighter. “Isn’t that your job, to pleasure me?”
“It is. And I will. Like I said, I want to be sure you’re ready.”
“Shit, Nox,” I practically spit the words out before I gave them any thought. “I’m ready. I am.”
“Put those fancy shoes I carried up and down the pier on the dash.”
I contemplated his demand. On the dash? Does he mean while I’m still wearing them?
“Don’t make me keep repeating myself. I don’t like to repeat myself. Put your shoes on the dash and lay your seat back. Not all the way.”
Shit! He does mean while I’m still wearing them.
“Nox?”
“My night. Have I surpassed your limit?”
I didn’t answer, not verbally. My tummy fluttered as I found the button and reclined the seat.
“That’s enough. I want to be able to see everything, including your beautiful face.”
I released the button and one by one put my feet on the dashboard. The position gave me the sensation of a gynecological appointment. That was, until the velvet voice began.
While expertly steering us toward Del Mar, Nox’s commands choreographed my every move. Step by step, he verbally moved me, to his optimum viewing pleasure, and to the promise of my relief. By the time he was satisfied with my positioning, my dress was bunched around my waist, my knees were awkwardly spread to the side, and my fingers were working feverishly. It wasn’t like I’d never done this; however, I’d never done it with an audience.
“Don’t think about it.”
My fingers stilled.
“Charli, don’t stop and don’t think—feel and listen. Listen to me.”
I closed my eyes and concentrated on the rush of wind around the car, the rumbling timbre of Nox’s tone, and the tension building inside of me. “Listen to me.” His voice dominated my thoughts. “Don’t stop. Think about the sound of my voice and the touch of my hand. Imagine it’s me working that beautiful pussy. Pretend it’s me: my fingers, tongue, and cock.”
My fingers moved in circles, small and slow, sliding my essence across my core. Faster and faster they worked, concentrating on my sensitive nub. A moan echoed through the night as the passing cars and trucks disappeared and my back arched.
“That’s it. I’m going to be the one doing what you’re doing. But first, beautiful, you need some relief.”
I plunged in one finger, then two, as I shifted my weight to my shoulders and sucked my lip.
“Oh that’s it. You’re close, aren’t you?”
I am. I’m so freak’n close.
I tried to respond, but when my answer emerged more as sounds than words, I merely nodded.
“Stop.”
What the hell?
I heard his command, but my orgasm was too close. My fingers had a mind of their own.
“Stop.” He seized my hand and pulling it toward him, sucked the evidence of my pleasure from my fingers. “Put your seat up. We have a stop.”
Stop? I couldn’t comprehend.
“Put your feet down and adjust your skirt.”
The dark, isolated world inside the Boxster turned bright as the tires bounced, and Nox turned the car off the main highway. We were at a gas station. The car needed gas? You had to be kidding me.
I was wrong. This man wasn’t my prince charming. He was a sadist.
Before I could do much more than right the seat and myself, we were parked but not at a pump. I gasped as my door was opened and Nox pulled me from the car, my feet doing their best to maintain his gait. The fluorescent lights assaulted my eyes as we passed the counter filled with lottery tickets, and watched over by an attendant. There may have been other people. Were there cars? I couldn’t think or remember as he tugged me forward.
He threw open a door and pulled me inside. Disinfectant assaulted my nose as the lock’s tumblers reverberated through the small bathroom. I stared up at Nox, confused as hell.
“Wha—”
Gleam and want shone from his pale blue eyes, making the world beyond us disappear. Our breaths, shallow and fast, filled the silence. I didn’t have a chance to finish my word, much less my question, before my back collided with the cold tile wall, and Nox pulled my tangled hair, tilting my head.
A gasp escaped my lips only a moment before his mouth captured mine, swallowing the sound of my protest.
Protest?
I couldn’t fight him off if I wanted to. But as my body melded to his, I knew it was all right. I didn’t want to fight.
The scent of disinfectant was soon lost to the musk and desire that filled the air. His movements were no longer refined as his hunger overtook him. Nox wasn’t hungry—he was ravenous, a man on the brink of starvation and I was his meal. Tugging at the zipper of my dress, he released the fitted material and freed my breasts. They were his first course as he kissed, sucked, and abraded my sensitive skin with abandoned disregard for the coarseness of his cheeks.
“You are a magnificent woman,” he praised, “a princess in another life.” His words came between kisses—no, nips and bites behind my earlobe, collarbone, and breasts. “You deserve a man who worships and makes tender love to you.”
My entire body trembled with need.
His gallant words were in severe disparity with the roughness of his actions. He spun me around to face the sink and his voice lowered. “And I think you’ve had that. You’ve had chivalry. Charli, tonight I’m going to give you the opposite. You deserve candlelight and walks on the beach.”
Nox forcefully placed my hands on the edge of the sink and yanked my ass backward. Looking up to the mirror, I watched the erotic scene unfold. With my breasts exposed and auburn hair mussed, I looked into my own eyes and saw the golden color clouded with desire. Spreading my legs with his knee, he pushed my feet apart.
I closed my eyes and willingly surrendered, knowing that what he was doing was wrong and went against everything Alex had worked to become. That didn’t change the reality: I wanted this. Nox was right. I’d had sweet, and just like the woman in the mirror, I was his for the taking.
He bunched the skirt of my dress around my waist. “Our first time,” he said, “because there will be more than one time, won’t be what you deserve.” His words skirted in hot breaths against my ear, making my knees tremble and skin pepper with goose bumps. He lowered his lips to my collarbone. “Our first time will be what you
want, what you fantasize about. I’m going to take you, right here, right now.” He tugged my hair, bringing my eyes back to the mirror to make our gazes meet. His blue swirled with dark navy as he stared into me, into my soul. His tone demanded honesty. “Limits, Charli. I’m going to fuck you like you’ve never been fucked. Tell me now if I’ve crossed that limit. Tell me now if you don’t want this.”
Words didn’t form; instead, I pushed my ass backwards until it brushed against his erection. Sometime during his speech he’d freed it from the confines of his slacks.
“Last chance, Charli.”
“Please.” My word was barely audible.
He tugged my hair again. “What did you say?”
“Please, Nox. I want you. Take me.”
He didn’t need to be sure I was ready. The evidence glistened under the awful fluorescent lights. The sound of the condom package tearing was soon replaced by my whimper as he plunged deep.
I tried to brace myself against the sink, but his unrestrained passion was more than I could handle, and my grip began to slip. Just then, his strong arm wrapped around my waist and held me steady as he fulfilled every desire. In two, three, no, four thrusts, my back arched and he buried himself inside of me.
“I want to hear you.” The command came out as a growl against my neck as he moved slowly in and out.
The tension, building since our drive to Oceanside, intensified. Those flames that earlier he’d only fanned began to rage. The friction inside of me was the fuel feeding the growing blaze. I bit my lower lip to stop my screams. I was almost certain there were people out there.
Nox thrust over and over. Reaching forward, his fingers on my clit masterfully added to the growing wildfire.
“Oh!”
“That’s it. I want everyone out there to hear us.” He continued to move in and out. “When we walk out of here, everyone’s going to know exactly what we did.” His fingers mimicked the movements I’d done in the car. The waves building within me blocked out the cramped bathroom, the terrible lights, and even the world. It was only us and what he was doing and saying. “They’re going to know that I fucked you, not like a princess…” He continued to move in and out. “…but like a slut in a public bathroom. And every one of them will know you wanted it.” He slapped my ass, the sting kindling to the ever-growing inferno. “Now, Charli, say it. Tell me you want this.”