Chapter Seven
Gabrielle
The next day I was back at the shop, the 'closed' sign on the door, but the kitchen humming with activity, as I had every appliance going trying to get everything made for the gala. I had called Skylar that morning, pleading for her to come help me, but one of her children was sick and her husband wasn't able to get away for the day to take care of them. She apologized over and over, but the sound of the whimpering baby in the background and the worry in her voice trying to rush me off of the phone told me that being here with me was the last thing on her mind. And rightfully so. She was exactly where she should be. I was the one that was two truffles and a pot of edible body paint away from being completely without a chance of finishing on time.
I heard a light knock on the door and I didn't bother to look up from the display case where I was storing trays of truffles to set. I gestured at the door, hoping that whoever it was who was standing there would notice the 'Closed' sign. I was counting the bourbon-filled chocolates, making sure that I had made as many as I thought I had even after an incident involving the toe of my shoe, in a fit of irony, catching on the edge of the non-slip mat and sending several of the candies soaring across the kitchen, when I heard a more insistent knock.
I sighed.
"We're closed," I shouted.
Who is 'we'?
The knock came again and I let out a distinctly more growling sigh before looking up. The unladylike string of words that was about to come out of my mouth stopped sharply when I saw Jackson standing on the other side of the door. He waved at me and I made an apologetic face as I came around the counter toward the door.
"I'm sorry," I said, opening the door and stepping out of the way so that he could come inside. "I didn't know it was you. Why didn't you call me?"
"I tried to," he said. "You didn't answer."
I stuck my hand in the pocket of my apron but didn't find my phone. I felt my pockets, and then paused.
"Did you lose your phone?" he asked.
"Honestly," I said, "at this point, I'm just hoping that I didn't drop it in the vat of buttercream."
He laughed as I dropped my head back and started for the kitchen.
"Are you doing OK?" he asked. "You're not overwhelmed are you?"
I didn't want him to think that I couldn't handle the job and risk him calling in reinforcements to take some of the work, and some of my commission, so I plastered on a smile and looked back at him.
"No, not at all," I said. "I'm just tackling a lot of things today. It's going really well."
I hoped that I sounded convincing enough, but I didn't have a chance to see his reaction. I turned back around and went into the kitchen and by the time that I turned around to look at him, I noticed that he wasn't right behind me anymore. I walked back up to the door and pushed it open, finding him standing right where I had left him
"I lost you," I said. "You can come in here. See where all the magic happens."
He gave a quick smile but shook his head.
"I can't," he said. "I actually have to get to a meeting."
"Oh," I said. "OK."
I didn't understand why he would come to the shop and be so insistent on coming in if he wasn't planning on staying for more than a couple of minutes.
"I just wanted to ask if you wanted to get together after the gala."
I felt frozen in place, stunned by the request.
Did he just ask me out?
I didn't know how to react. Inside I was bouncing, thrilled by him wanting to spend more time with me. On the outside, though, I stayed casual. It was entirely possible that he just wanted to talk about another party or event that he wanted me to cater. At this point, I had provided chocolates for his clients and his brother's birthday and was feverishly preparing for a gala that was apparently one of the most important social events of the year for the incredibly exclusive Westchester Club. I had somehow stumbled into being his chocolate connection so it seemed only logical that he may want to talk about another event. If I was to gush over spending time with him only to find out that he just wanted to go over another business opportunity I might just have to either die of embarrassment or become a hermit, whichever felt more appropriate in the moment.
"Sure," I finally said.
However this turned out, I figured that there were plenty of other worse ways that I could spend Valentine's Day, considering I was alone. Spending some extra time looking at this sexy man cultivating the deliciously dirty thoughts I had about Jackson and his brothers was a much more appealing prospect than anything I could be binge-watch.
He gave a single nod
"Good." He started toward the door, but then turned back to me. "I wanted to mention...the guys and I were thinking that since it's going to be such a late night, maybe you should stay over the night of the gala."
"Stay over?" I asked.
Was this a slumber party situation?
"At the Club. We'll make sure that you have a room ready for you in our family's private wing."
"Private wing?"
"It's less impressive than it sounds. The founding families just have sections of the Club set aside for their private use. Ours has a lounge and a couple of bedrooms. We'll make sure that one of them is ready for you so that you can just sleep there that night."
Because that doesn't sound at all impressive.
"Alright," I said, unsure of what else to say.
He gave another short nod and headed out of the shop. I followed and locked the door, leaning close to the glass to watch him walk down the sidewalk toward a sleek black car waiting for him. I went back to the kitchen, excitement filling me at the thought of not only spending time with Jackson after the gala but sleeping in his family's private wing.
The day of the gala came far too quickly for my liking and an hour after I should have left the shop with the last of the desserts, I was still hastily packing them into my car and trying not to worry that the ones I had sent ahead in the vans that the brothers had rented had been crushed or slung around during transit to the Club. Finally, I had the last cupcake carrier secured with seatbelt into the backseat and hopped behind the wheel. My original timeline had had me arriving at the Club with plenty of time to start setting up the chocolates and desserts, then go settle into my room for the night and get ready, and still be able to supervise the final touches of the gala and be ready to start welcoming guests. At this rate, however, I would be lucky if I could toss my trays into the ballroom, slither into my dress, throw some makeup in the general direction of my face, and make it to the gala in time to watch some stuff rich people paint each other with chocolate.
I considered not going. I thought that perhaps I should just call Jackson and tell him that I would drop off the desserts but wouldn't be able to be there for the gala. As soon as I thought that, however, I realized that that wasn't really an option. I had already promised that I would stay near some of the stations and answer questions about the desserts. They were expecting me to be there, and he was expecting to see me after. I couldn't bow out just because I was running late.
I handed the gatekeeper the credential that Jackson had given me, feeling much more official than I had my first visit when I had to tell him my name and wait for him to check a list on a clipboard, and then drove around the Club looking for the vans. When I finally found them I saw uniformed staff scurrying back and forth carrying the trays and boxes I had carefully packed inside. Watching them go in underscored the sheer volume of sweets I had crafted over the last week and I allowed myself a few moments of self-indulgent satisfaction before sliding into place behind the vans and jumping out. Two men appeared at my side.
"Can we help you?" one of them asked.
I had the distinct feeling that they had been stationed outside the service door for the express purpose of assisting me when I finally got there. I pointed toward the backseat.
"If you could grab those things and bring them inside. Please be careful."
I ran around to the passenger side door and took out my garment bag and overnight bag before scurrying inside.
"Gabrielle!"
I turned toward the sound of my name and saw Aiden coming toward me. My eyes locked on his vivid green gaze.
"I'm sorry I'm running late," I said. "I just need to get ready really fast."
"It's alright," he said with a smile. "Don't worry. The party starts when we say it does. Let me show you to the room that we chose for you."
Feeling relieved that he wasn't angry with me, I nodded and followed him as he led me through back hallways until we reached an elaborate arched wooden door. He reached into his pocket and took out a large key. Unlocking the door, he held it open for me and gestured for me to go inside. The door closed heavily behind us and Aiden stepped in front of me to lead me down the narrower hallway. I watched our feet walk down the thick navy blue carpeting and wondered what this portion of the building must have looked like when the club was first established. It was obvious that many modern touches and luxuries had been added throughout the entirety of the Club over the years, but much of the aged charm and mystery remained. The room that Aiden finally showed me was the perfect example of that.
"Each of the four of us has a key to the wing," they said. "Tonight when you're ready to go to bed, just let one of us know and we'll let you in."
I stepped inside the room and felt briefly speechless as I looked around at the exquisite surroundings. The walls were draped in rich tapestries and a canopied four-poster bed stood on a raised platform to one side of the room. The rest of the furniture in the space was heavy, dark wood, creating an image that would have been perfectly at home in the illustrations of a gilded fairytale manuscript.
"Thank you," I said. "It's beautiful."
"Perfectly suited to you," Aiden said.
He gave me a flash of a mysterious smile before walking out of the room and closing the door behind him. I wished that I could have just stood there and admired the room, but time was quickly disappearing and even though Aiden had been casual to the point of dismissive about the intended starting point of the gala coming so quickly, I couldn't put myself in the same mindset. I wanted to make sure that everything was being set up properly and that I felt completely ready before anybody was allowed in the ballroom. The brothers had made it clear that my chocolates and desserts were the central focus of the gala, and I felt like my reputation and the future of my business hung in the balance. If this went well, I could find myself with more business than I could handle at the shop and a thriving catering business as well. If it went badly, I might find myself at a point where the closest thing I had to making chocolate was stirring syrup into a glass of milk.
I draped my garment bag over the gold and burgundy bedding and then brought my overnight bag over to the vanity table against the opposite wall. I opened the bag and placed my cosmetics case on the vanity. Feeling like I was finally fulfilling a fantasy of my eight-year-old self, I perched on the cushioned stool in front of the vanity table and began to do my makeup in the massive scrolled mirror in front of me. I forced myself to slow down and take my time putting my makeup on. I told myself that I wanted to look presentable and professional for the guests at the gala, but deep down I knew that I just wanted to look good for the brothers. I found myself wanting them to see me in a different light tonight, to think of me as more than just the girl in the candy stripes.
I had just slipped into my dress when I heard a light knock on the door to the bedroom. I tore the zipper up as quickly as I could and then glanced over my shoulder.
"Come on in," I called.
The door didn't open and I took a few steps toward it.
"It's unlocked," I called.
Again the door didn't open and I sighed, looking into the mirror to make sure that my hair was staying in place. I had forgotten to bring along my hairspray and I just had to hope that it would remain in the coiled style out of sheer will and Valentine's Day Magic. I walked over to the door and opened it, but didn't see anybody on the other side. I was about to close the door behind me when I noticed that there was a box sitting on the floor. The black container nearly blended with the dark navy blue of the carpet, but a shimmering gold ribbon around it made it easier to see. I leaned down and pick the box up, carrying it inside with me and placing it on the bed. I opened the box and drew in a breath when I saw the elaborate black lace mask sitting on a gold cushion inside the box. I suddenly remembered that the brothers had mentioned they wanted the gala to be a masquerade to emphasize the sexy, mysterious tone that they had wanted to create.
People are braver in masks, Aiden had said. They are more willing to explore.
I picked up the mask and carried it over to the vanity so that I could look in the mirror as I used the smooth black ribbons to tie it over my eyes. The lace covered from my hair down over the bridge of my nose and wrapped around the sides of my face. I thought that it would make it so that I wasn't able to see, but once it was in place I realized that it only slightly faded my vision, creating a veiled effect that still allowed me to see but created the sense that I was hiding, as though I wasn't as visible. It was the heightened, adult version of peekaboo and it instantly made me feel sexier, more adventurous.
I perched on the edge of the bed and wrapped the straps of my shoes around my ankles, buckling them into place. Finally ready, I headed out of the room and along the hallways that Aiden had led me down until I reached the ballroom again. The room looked completely transformed when I stepped back inside. Tables had been positioned throughout the room and draped with black and burgundy velvet. Matching ottomans and curved couches were scattered in the corners, backed by hidden lights that created isolated enclaves that would lure guests into them with a promise of anonymity and privacy.
I watched for a few moments as the staff put the final touches on arranging the truffles and desserts on displays throughout the room. Though I had originally envisioned that they would be on tables, the brothers had taken the displays to another level, integrating them into the decor of the rest of the room so that they fit seamlessly with the rest of the experience, almost seeming to be a natural-occurring part of the environment. It was as though the gleaming chocolates and tempting desserts had grown out of the intricate sculptures and display stands that had been installed amongst the tables and furniture like darkly whimsical trees.
The touch of a hand on my lower back startled me and I turned around to see Jackson standing behind me. He wasn't wearing a mask, but I could see one dangling from his fingertips beside him.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi," I said. "I'm sorry that I'm so late."
He shook his head just as Aiden had.
"It's fine," he said.
"No, no, it's not fine. I should have been here to help set everything up and make sure that it was in the right places and everything. It took me longer to get ready than I thought it would."
"Well," he said, looking around. "Is everything in the right places?"
"It looks like it is," I said.
He leaned forward and kissed my cheek just below the lace of my mask.
"You look gorgeous," he said. "So I think that it was time well spent."
I felt a shiver of pleasure roll through me and smiled. Before I could say anything, I heard music starting across the room. We glanced over and saw a string quartet adjusting their places on a small black platform nearly hidden in the shadows of the back of the room. Jackson smiled at me and lifted the mask to his face.
"I think that that's our cue," he said. "Let the debauchery begin."
He walked away and I looked up to see the doors to the ballroom open and guests start to stream in. I didn't know how they were going to react. From what I had heard from the brothers about past Valentine's Day galas at the Club, what we had created this year was nothing like what they would expect. I was hoping that they had at least tried to give them some sort of warning that they weren't going to come into a tastefully decorated room and enjoy a gourmet dinner by candlelight. As the guests walked past me I noticed that most of them were wearing masks, some more elaborate than others, and I started to feel more confident.
I roamed around the room, watching as the guests became accustomed to the environment and started to assimilate themselves. Some of the more adventurous ones immediately walked up to the different stations that had been created throughout the room. Interspersed with the dessert displays, these stations encouraged the guests to interact with other sensory experiences that complemented the theme of the gala. At one, guests were using tiny droppers to blend oils to create custom fragrances while at another partners used different objects to stroke along the inside of each other's arms to create different sensations. Some lingered around the desserts and gradually I noticed guests beginning to feed each other.
Jackson appeared beside me again wearing his mask and I saw his lips curve up.
"It's going well," he said.
I nodded.
"Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves."
"It doesn't look like anybody has discovered the body painting area yet, though," Jackson said.
I looked up at him and shrugged.
"I'm sure they'll find it," I said. "Maybe they just need to warm up to it a little bit."
"Maybe they don't know what they're supposed to do," Jackson said. "I think that they need a little demonstration."
He took my arm and started guiding me over to the curved counter where the paint brushes and chocolate paints had been set up. Then he took one of the packages of paint brushes from a black lacquer box positioned at the ends of the counter and opened it. Taking one of the paint brushes, he dipped the end into the pot of the darkest chocolate and reached for my arm. I gave it to him willingly and watched as he turned it over and painted a lazy swirl across my skin as I had when I first demonstrated the chocolate paints. He hadn't tried to get it as pretty I did, and I was too focused on the feeling of his hand supporting my arm and the warmth of his breath touching my skin as he leaned down to run his tongue along the painted swirl to care.
I felt somebody step up beside me and I looked over to see another of the brothers. He was wearing an identical mask to Jackson, making it difficult for me to tell which one he was. In the dim lighting of the room, I couldn't see his eyes well enough to tell the color. I thought that it might be Lucas, but I couldn't be sure. He reached over to the paint brushes and took one from Jackson. Dipping the end in the white chocolate, he drew a meandering line down my other arm and licked it away. Jackson responded by dipping another brush into a lighter chocolate and drawing a line along one of my collarbones. I gasped slightly when I felt his mouth closed over the chocolate and claim it away from my skin.
They continued this way for a few moments before I felt a hand come around my waist and flatten on my stomach. The pressure guided me to turn around and face a third of the brothers. Slightly larger than the other two. I felt that this one was Talon, though he wore the same mask as the other two brothers. Without saying a word, he guided me by both hands toward the dance floor. I went with him, feeling as drawn by the energy of him as I did by his pull on my fingertips. When we got on to the dance floor, he placed his hands on my back and drew me up against him. I could feel his chiseled body through his suit and the simultaneously darkly romantic and stiffly formal hip-length cape he, like the other three, wore, swept forward on either side of me as if to surround me even more in his presence. I was barely aware that we were dancing, but I could feel his body moving and mine began to respond in time. We were pressed closely together on the dance floor, our bodies swaying to the music that swelled around us, and suddenly I felt something warm and smooth on my back. I glanced over my shoulder and saw that one of the other brothers was standing close behind me, a paintbrush in his hand as he traced my spine with chocolate.
Just as that brother touched the tip of his tongue into my back and licked away the chocolate, another stepped up beside Talon and drew another pattern along the side of my neck. I tilted my head to the side to offer easier access and moaned softly as his lips nibbled at my skin. Suddenly I was in the arms of another of the brothers, our bodies tightly pressed together as the music around us grew in intensity. My eyes drifted closed as we danced and a moment later I felt him turn me so that I twirled across the floor and into the arms of another of the brothers. I opened my eyes and, in a momentary glow from candles as we danced past them, I saw Lucas's intriguing hazel gaze staring back at me. As the music carried on, smoothly transitioning between strains that brought with them different thoughts and emotions, I was handed between the brothers, spun breathlessly into their hands and held in their arms. Their hands ran along my bare back and their breath danced along the sides of my neck and between my breasts. Soon I realized that I had lost track of which of the men was holding me. I tried to look into their eyes, but the lights had been dimmed even further and the candles were starting to fade. I became lost in the experience, enraptured by the attention of the men. I wanted all of them even more than I had before and I felt my mouth watering with my desire to taste their kiss.
I felt one of their hard, muscled bodies mold to my back and lips brush along the side of my neck, coming to rest at the soft place beneath my ear.
"Go back to your room," he whispered. "The door to the wing is unlocked."
The whispered tone and the music made it impossible for me to decipher the voice, but I assumed that it was Jackson, ready for the meeting that we had planned. Now I was sure that it was more than business, more than him wanting to talk about another job. I nodded and stepped away from the brother I was dancing with. I glanced around the room, aware of the eyes that had fallen on us, and started toward the door. I felt my heart pounding in my chest and my body buzzing with excitement as I walked toward the door to the ballroom and glanced back toward Jackson. He smiled at me, his lips curving so that the mask lifted slightly on his face. I gave a subtle nod of my head and then left the room, hoping that he would follow me. As I made my way down the hallway, I felt nervousness coiling in my belly, wanting to make me turn and look over my shoulder to see where he was. All four men were still gathered where I had walked away from them, but Jackson met my gaze and took a step forward.
Feeling suddenly playful, I turned away and left the ballroom, starting to run lightly through the hallways, hoping that I would remember how to get back to the private wing. After a few seconds, I made it away from the open space in front of the lobby and into a hallway that was empty. I continued on, finally hearing Jackson's footsteps behind me. I giggled and ran a little faster. I could feel him getting closer to me and I had just gone through the large arched door into the private wing when I felt his hands grab my hips and turn me around to face him. The pressure and strength of his body pushed me back and I gasped when I hit the wall. He pressed against me, enveloping me in the feeling of him. He lifted one finger and traced the side of my face. The pad of his finger brushed across my lips and I parted them. The tip of his finger slipped between my lips and I cautiously touched it with my tongue. I was concentrating on his lips and soon they were drawing closer to me. I tilted my face up and accepted his kiss.
Jackson's mouth was warm and sweetly spicy against mine and I sighed into it, letting my eyes close. I had wanted this from the first moment that I saw him and I wasn't going to hold back. I felt a need for him, a craving deep inside me that only his eager mouth and strong hands could satisfy. I was rushing toward something that I didn't know, that I didn't understand, but I wasn't afraid. My body felt alive and aware, and my mind was spinning, open, eager, and willing for whatever I was going to discover next.
Our mouths parted and he wrapped his hand around my wrist, pulling me down the hall and toward the bedroom. When we got inside he brought me into the center of the room and wrapped his arms around me again, bringing his mouth back to mine in another deep kiss. When it ended, he stepped back and took my hands in his, lifting them to the back of his head where I felt the ribbons that tied his mask in place. I released the mask and let it tip forward away from his face. I stepped back to see him and gasped when I looked into his face for the first time.
"Lucas," I said, stepping back slightly.
"What's wrong?"
"I thought you were Jackson," I admitted.
"Is that a problem?" he asked, taking a step toward me to close the space between us.
I wasn't sure how to respond. I had thought that he was Jackson when he followed me out of the ballroom and kissed me, but in the back of my mind, I knew that even if I had been fully aware that it was Lucas who had followed me out of the ballroom, I wouldn't have hesitated to kiss him.
"I told him that I would get together with him after the gala."
"Oh, did you?" he asked. "Well, don't worry. My brothers and I are very good at sharing. I promise he won't mind."
"He's right."
I gasped at the sound of Jackson's voice and looked around Lucas to see him standing at the door. He pushed away from the doorframe where he had been leaning and came toward us. Lucas stepped aside and walked out of the room, pausing at the door just long enough to give me a smile before closing it. Jackson looked at me.
"I thought that he was you," I said.
"That's alright," he said. "Like he said, we are very good at sharing. I don't mind sharing you with him as long as you don't mind."
I definitely didn't mind. In fact, their openness was only more enticing. He closed the space between us and caught my mouth with his. We kissed deeply for several long seconds before I took a step back from him. I felt suddenly nervous. Not at the thought of him touching me or even that something added to find me for so long it's about change, but rather at his reaction. He deserved to know, but in that moment I was worried about how he would feel.
"Is something wrong?" He asked.
"There's something that I need to tell you," I said.
His hands slid up my arms and along the sides of my neck until they reached the ribbons that kept the black lace mask tied over my face. He released them and pulled the fabric away from my eyes. I could see him more clearly now and my heart trembled slightly in my chest. As if he could see its rhythm there, Jackson leaned down and touched a kiss to the center of my chest, letting the tip of his tongue lightly glaze across my skin before he lifted his head again to look at me.
"You're a virgin," he said.
My mouth fell slightly open and my eyes widened.
"How did you know?"
"I can see it when I look at you," he said. "And when I touch you."
"Does that bother you?" I asked.
My voice felt powdery and unsure in my throat, but Jackson shook his head, reaching for me again.
"Not at all," he said.
There was a smile on his lips and I realized that as unsure as I was to tell him, he was happy.
Suddenly Jackson's mouth was on mine again. He leaned forward and pressed his body against mine, covering me so that I felt the pressure of his body touching mine from my shoulders to my knee. The insistence of his hardening erection nudged into my belly and I felt the muscles there beginning to tremble. His mouth crushed against mine and he drew my tongue in against his, sucking on it gently and yet insistently. He kissed me until I felt breathless, and then took his lips just far enough away that I could hear him speak without him fully taking his mouth from mine.
"I want to be the first one to touch you," he whispered. "I want to know that I am the only one who has felt your body that way."
I drew in a breath.
"You are," I said.
We were rushing, moving faster than I ever could have imagined. Yet it felt completely right. I couldn't explain it. I wouldn't be able to justify this to myself, much less to anyone else, but I felt that this was where I was supposed to be, and what I was supposed to be doing.
I smiled against his lips as his kiss pressed against my mouth again and reached out to wrap my arms around Jackson's neck. His hands came to my hips and pulled me up against him, pushing his hips forward so that the pressure of his erection was even stronger against me. The feeling made my mouth water and my body responded to him in a natural, primal way. I suddenly ached for him, feeling bright and alive, yet also empty and reaching for him. I have been waiting for this opportunity to be alone with him since he asked me to get together with him after the gala, and now that we were not only alone, but I could feel and taste the combination of his kiss and Lucas's in my mouth, I felt as though I couldn't control myself. I needed him like I could never imagine needing anyone, except for the three other gorgeous men who waited in the ballroom.
I pulled Jackson closer against me, my fingertips pressing into the back of his neck and digging into his hair, but I suddenly felt him press against my hips so that he eased me away from him. He shook his head at me and I felt my heart clench.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Slow down," he whispered, "you don't have to go so fast."
He gently took my arms away from his neck and I realized that he wasn't stopping me. He was guiding me, easing me along.
"But I don't want to slow down," I said.
"Yes," he said. "Yes, you do."
His mouth brushed across the side of my neck and then ran along the curve of my shoulder. As he kissed me, his hands moved to the back of my dress and slowly eased the zipper down. He was moving with torturously slow precision, carefully parting the sides of my dress and bringing them forward down my arms so that he could peel the slinky black garment away from me. When it was away from my arms, he drew it away from me even more slowly. He revealed my breasts, then my ribs, and then my shaking belly before it finally pulled at my hips. He paused there for just a moment before pushing the dress the rest of the way down off of my legs. I stood in front of him now only in my pantyhose, heels, and lace bra. He touched the tips of his fingers to the soft dip between my collar bones and ran them down the center of my chest and on to my belly, continuing until they reached the waistband of my pantyhose. He then leaned forward so that I could feel the warmth of his breath along the swells of my breast.
I shook slightly, my skin tingling. He ducked his head down further so that it was now his lips that brushed along my skin. I drew in a trembling breath, arching back slightly to lift my chest closer to him and grant him fuller, unhesitating access. The tip of his tongue touched my skin and I remembered the feeling of each of the brothers licking the chocolate away from my body as we stood on the dance floor in the ballroom. Knowing that there were other people around us who could see the attention that they were giving me had been scintillating, but the reaction wasn't lessened now that we were alone. His body so close to mine and so much of my skin available to him was bringing my arousal to a fevered pitch and I whimpered, wanting to tell him what I was feeling. Even if he knew what I wanted, Jackson remained slow and patient, exploring me with exacting focus.
It was my turn to make a move, to exert myself. I brought my fingers to the buttons that held the cape around his shoulders. It slid down his back and to the floor and I began to release the buttons along the front of his shirt. When I reached his belly, I gathered his shirt in my fingers and pulled it out of the waistband of his pants. I released the rest of the buttons and pushed the shirt back off of his shoulders so that I could reach out and touch the smooth, warm skin beneath it. I kissed the center of his chest and then up to his shoulder, enjoying the feeling of his heartbeat and muscles on my lips and breathing in the smell of his skin.
Suddenly Jackson took me by my upper arms and led me to take several steps back until I was pressed up against the door. He ran his hands along the sides of my ribcage and brushed his palms over the lace cups stretched across my breasts to the clasp between them. His fingers deftly snapped the clasp open, allowing the cups to fall away from my heavy breasts and taut, desire-reddened nipples.
Jackson eased down to his knees in front of me and pressed his face to my stomach, kissing his way up until he opened his mouth and took in one of my breasts. I dug my fingers into his hair and arched slightly, my eyes fluttering closed as one of his hands cupped my breast and he pulled his mouth away to swirl his tongue around my nipple. He then drew it between his teeth and sucked on it before switching sides and sucking my other nipple. His free hand ran down the side of my leg and onto the buckle of my shoes. He released it and helped me to step out before repeating the process with the other. He tucked both of his hands around the backs of my thighs and guided me slightly away from the door so that he could dip his fingers down into the waistband of my pantyhose and peel them away. As he withdrew my feet from them, I pulled my bra away from my arms and dropped it to the side. Suddenly I was completely bare in front of him and Jackson leaned back so that he could look at me. He made a sound of appreciation low in his throat and covered both breasts with his hands, kneading into the flesh as he let his vibrant blue eyes take in every inch of my vulnerable, exposed body.
His mouth settled on the center of my belly again and I groaned when the tip of his tongue dipped into my navel. New, surprising sensations rippled through me, creating a surge of desire that shot through my entire body and settled between my thighs. I knew my body was getting hot and wet, readying itself for a deeper, more intimate touch, and I instinctively let my thighs drift slightly apart. His fingertips pressed into my skin as he kissed down my body and I could feel the heat of his lips searing into my belly.
Finally, his mouth reached the apex of my thighs and I felt Jackson's tongue dip down to draw through my petals in a slow, low lick that made me nearly crumble. His hair was thick and silky in my fingers and I held him tighter to steady his head in place, encouraging him, desperate for more of the dizzying, nearly overwhelming sensation. His hands slid up my thighs to rest on my hips and hold me more tightly in place as he coaxed me with the tip of his tongue. He took one of my knees in his hand and pulled it to part my legs even further, allowing his mouth easier access to the most tender, sensitive parts of me. His tongue immediately slid further and my head dropped back, a cry escaping my lips. I felt my hips lift away from the door and Jackson filled his hands with my butt, both holding me steady and tilting me forward so that my core pressed further into his mouth and he was able to explore me thoroughly.
When Jackson's tongue delved inside of me, I screamed out, unable to contain myself. This did nothing to quell Jackson. Instead, it seemed to motivate him, to fuel him even further. He moved his tongue within me, plunging it deeper and deeper before gliding nearly out and beginning to swirl it in a circular motion. He brought his hand onto my lower belly so that he could use the pad of his thumb to massage into the incredibly sensitive bundle of nerves at my peak, the sweet pearl that he had brought forward with his patient coaxing. I closed my eyes, giving myself over completely to the intense feelings that Jackson was introducing my body to as he touched me without hesitation and with total abandon. Soon he withdrew his tongue from my body and eased it up higher so that it replaced his thumb, picking up the rhythm to continue building the tension that was coiling tightly inside of me.
Jackson shifted slightly so that he was off of his knees and balancing on the balls of his feet. I heard the sound of his zipper and my desire spiraled only higher. The masterful, precisely controlled and yet overwhelming attention that he was giving me was bringing me close to the edge of oblivion at dizzying speed and there was nothing that I could do to withhold the sounds that were pouring out of me. My hips rolled against his mouth, simultaneously trying to ease the intensity of the sensations and seek relief from the powerful tightening of the muscles through my hips, thighs, and stomach. He was intently attuned to my body, seeming to know exactly how I needed him to touch me and adjusting his mouth and hands in slight but impactful ways to keep the pleasure rolling through me and yet tempering me so that I never quite toppled over that edge.
I felt Jackson shift again and realized that he had kicked off his pants. I then heard a tearing sound and felt the back of his hand brush against my leg. I lifted my head away from the door just enough that I was able to glance down and see Jackson rolling a condom down his thick, delicious-looking erection. He returned his full attention to me, pushing me further until I felt like I was totally losing control. Just as I reached the edge, feeling myself spiraling into blissful release, Jackson rose to his feet. He lifted one of my legs to wrap around his waist and I felt him sink into me. I let out a strangled cry as he filled me and the tension immediately dissolved into an earth-shaking orgasm. He pushed deeper as each contraction drew him further into me and then began to roll his hips in long, controlled strokes to further the intense sensations washing over me.
As I began to come down from the blistering peak of my climax, Jackson carefully picked me up and wrapped me fully around him so that he could carry me across the room and to the bed. I felt him step up onto the platform and then gently lay me across the comforter. I opened my eyes so that I could look up at him, lost in the combination of his bright blue gaze and the feeling of him so incredibly hard and deep inside of me. I released the tension in my legs so that they slipped away from his sides. Allowing my thighs to part fully opened me even more to Jackson as I offered myself to him without hesitation. I saw desire flare in his eyes and he rose up over me so that he drove even more deeply, pressing hard against the tightness of my body to make my walls accustomed to him. There was pain as I stretched to accommodate him, but it was delicious, delirious pain and I lifted my hips slightly to meet it.
He positioned his arms on either side of me and I could see the muscles bulging with each rock of his hips against me. He groaned with each thrust and my desire began to build again. I reached up and placed my hands on his back, allowing them to slide over the slickness of sweat. His muscles shifted and tightened as his thrusts became more insistent and faster. The strokes became more intense as his sounds grew louder and stronger. I was rushing toward another climax and I knew that he was right there with me. I lifted my hips higher, allowing my instincts to seek new levels of pleasure created each time I adjusted my angle. The hit of his engorged cock against my back wall hummed through my body, making me feel as though he was reaching every inch of me, seeping into my very being. Suddenly he gave a final thrust and held himself there, hovering over me as he pressed as deeply within me as he could reach. His head fell back and he gave a roar of pleasure. I felt him throb and pulse and the thought of him experiencing his own pleasure sent me toppling over the edge into another powerful orgasm. I milked him until he collapsed down into my arms, our breath uneven and trembling, our bodies sweaty and spent. I felt as though we were melding together, creating a higher level of existence.
Jackson held me close to him and kissed along the curve of my neck. His head rested over my heart and I felt his breath trailing over my breast, feeling intense on my highly sensitive nipples. I wrapped my arms around him and let out a happy, satisfied sigh.