Too shocked to do more than gasp, it took Tara a full moment to understand that he was serious. Trapping her in his powerful gaze, he motioned to the place in front of him and said softly, “You heard me, Tara. Do as I said. Please come here and stand right there.”
Later, Tara would struggle to answer her disbelieving question of how she could have possibly done what he told her to do. She would ask why she hadn’t found the biggest rock she could and thrown it at his arrogant head. Instead, she admitted that she’d done her best to strengthen her shaking legs and, as if she were in a dream, had walked toward him. When he lifted his glass toward the designated place and said softly, “Mm-hmm. Right there, sweetheart. Where I can see the only thing hotter than that fire blazing behind you. That would be your sexy body that you have been aching to show me since you first accosted me at the fucking Whispering Pines Motel.” Rather than take issue with his absurd and insulting taunt, as if he were a magnetic field that she couldn’t escape, she complied, to her surprise and likely his.
Doing his best to quiet his straining dick, Griffin drew a deep breath, seeing her confusion and then obvious anger melt into what he could only hope was her arousal. At least that’s what her flaming cheeks and flaring eyes foretold as she took one hesitant step after another until she was standing in front of him—as close to the spot he’d indicated as if it were marked with a large, red X. Nodding approvingly, he said softly, “That’s a good girl, sweetheart. Stand right there.”
Taking a languorous sip of his scotch, he motioned to her dress. “Now, Tara, take it off. Slowly, so I can truly appreciate your extraordinary body.”
To his surprise and the delight of his surging dick, she held his gaze, then, biting down on her already puffy bottom lip, she reached behind her and slowly unzipped the clingy fabric sheathing her curvy frame. Holding it against her, she shot him an uncertain gaze. At his insistent nod, she visibly swallowed, then eased the dress over her hips, letting it fall to the floor. When she stood up straight and tall before him, he managed to shutter his agonized groan. He’d intuitively known that she’d choose sexy underwear. While he was certain she was a relatively inexperienced lover, she’d been more than willing to flaunt her impressive wares. At least to the legions of men he’d seen openly lusting after her. Even so, the black lace strapless bra that couldn’t contain her overflowing breasts stole his breath. As did the miniscule lacy thong with a single patch of fabric over her mound, promising an even more abbreviated covering over her curvy ass. Her four-inch stiletto heels only served to make her toned, silky-skinned legs seem miles long.
Taking a long, slow sip of his potent scotch, Griffin nodded in approval, then said quietly, “Take off your bra, Tara, and show me your breasts. I want to see the glorious globes I have been lusting after since the first time I laid eyes on your luscious chest, imagining the treasures that you taunted me with. And, honey, when you bare them, lift those gorgeous mounds and present them to me like the extravagant gift that they are.”
Delighted at the rosy color that flushed her cheeks and was now spreading to her aroused chest, Griffin held his breath when she reached behind her and unhooked the contraption that had done a yeoman’s job encasing her overflowing breasts. Not able to contain the abundant flesh that escaped her small hands, Griffin met her beseeching gaze, acknowledging what he was sure was her first striptease. Underscoring his approval, he murmured, “Jesus, sweetheart, you’re even more beautiful than I could have imagined.”
Gratified by her relieved expression, he commanded, “Put your hands at your sides, Tara. I need to see those proud beauties uncovered.” When she did as he said, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of pink, he shook his head in stunned approval. “Damn, honey. I can only imagine how those gorgeous nipples are going to swell and tighten when I suck on them.”
At her soft cry, he said, “Now, sweetheart, turn around and bend over as you take off that wicked thong. And, baby, leave on those four-inch fuck-me shoes when you do. Not that I need a reminder of what I intend to do to you.” At her hesitation, he repeated softly, “Now, Tara, bend over and show me your superlative ass in all its naked glory.”
Not sure that she would do as he ordered, he sucked in a lungful of air when she turned and bent over, revealing the enticing crack between her curvy cheeks, then stripped the miniscule thong over her hips and turned to face him. Holding the scrap of material in her hand, she stood up straight and tall, revealing the most beautiful body he’d ever seen—Hustler centerfolds be damned.
Setting his half-empty glass on the table beside him, Griffin rose to his feet. Holding her flushed gaze in his narrowed one, he was gratified to see the excitement in her eyes fighting with her obvious embarrassment. He knew that if he never did another thing in his life, he intended to chase away any shred of mortification she felt standing naked before him. Having made that pledge, he reached for her, drawing her astonishing body next to his, and captured her in his arms.
Her muffled cry when she buried her face against his chest was music to his soul, not to mention his engorged prick.
Nuzzling his lips against her pale throat, he ran his tongue over the sensitive skin below her ear, delighting in her shiver. Gently nipping at the tender skin, he bit down on her earlobe, gratified by her startled cry. Murmuring in her ear, he said, “Ah yes, the erotic mix of pain and pleasure.” At her startled gasp, he drawled, “How do I know that is a combination that will turn you on, Tara?” At her soft moan and desperate negative shake of her head, he laughed softly. “Do you think maybe it was that tremor that shook your body when I bit your tender lobe? Or perhaps that soft moan you couldn’t squelch?” When she shook her head fiercely in denial, he tightened his hold. “Uh-uh, love, best you know who you are toying with. You can’t fool a master, Tara. When it comes to reading your sensational body and knowing what you want, even if you don’t yet know it, you need to understand. I am an expert forager. And I intend to forage in every part of your glorious body, waken every sensitive nerve ending, no matter where they are hiding. In the process, I intend to inflame every passion you’ve ever dreamed to feel.”
Tara shook her head and cried out. “No, Griffin. You don’t understand. I . . . I’m not like that.”
He laughed. “Like what, sweetheart? A hungry woman who craves sensation? Who flaunts her wares for hungry men to lust after? And then pulls back? Horrified by the things she craves, has always wanted to feel, or do, but never acknowledged them even to herself, much less to a lover?”
When she pushed harder against him, trying to free herself, he tightened his hold. “I don’t want to frighten you, Tara.” At her unintended shiver, he chuckled. “But then again, maybe that is exactly what I want to do.” He laved the sensitive skin on her neck with his tongue, then bit her earlobe, harder than he had before. Her startled cry confirmed he’d touched a hidden nerve that masked her carefully contained desires. He reveled in the passion underlying her surprised response. Forcing himself to contain his throbbing arousal, he murmured, “How about it, sexy woman? Do you want to feel things, do things you have always wanted to do but were afraid to ask for?” At the frantic shake of her head and attempt to push him away, he teased her. “Or perhaps, Tara, you’ve never allowed those wicked desires to surface in your own head, much less give voice to them.”
Tightening his hold on her writhing body, Griffin picked her up in his arms and turned toward the hallway leading to his master suite. He allowed his voice to drop dangerously low but didn’t hide his taunting humor. “I think it’s high time we explore those hidden desires of yours, Tara, don’t you agree?” At her frantic disavowal and twisting attempt to free herself, he chuckled. “Just so we are clear, sweetheart, whether you admit it or not, I’m the man that you have been waiting for. The man who is more than willing to test your boundaries, take you to passionate heights that you’ve never before climbed.”
Reaching his bedroom, he kicked open the door and entered the enormous suite. In seconds, he deposited her on the king-sized, four-poster bed. When she scrambled to the top of the bed, her eyes flashing with anger and what he hoped was only a modicum of fear and perhaps even a little uncertain interest, he moved up beside her. Ignoring her attempts to push him away, he pulled her up next to him and held her, rubbing her back until she stopped struggling. His voice was soft, intentionally so. “I know you don’t like small spaces, Tara, but please know, while I do intend to blindfold you and tie you to my bed . . . ”
He stopped when she cried out and tried to push him away. Stretching out alongside her, he captured her in his arms and murmured softly, “Uh-uh, sweetheart. Not so fast.” When she continued to struggle against him, he was firm. “Listen to me, Tara. All you have to do is tell me to stop, and I will.” He chuckled. “Or at least I will stop reasonably soon after you tell me to.”
When he felt her resistance lessen at his attempt at humor, he upped the ante. “Do you think I’m not on to you, Tara? On to the fierce control you use to keep men at bay? Keep them in their place?” At her negative murmur as if contesting what they both knew was her MO, he rubbed his hand over her naked ass and gently smacked it. At her soft moan, he wrapped his hand around the top of her thigh and tightened his hold. “Oh yeah, honey, if that wasn’t an indication of interest, I don’t know what the hell is.” Putting his fingers against her lips, preventing her from taking issue with his on-target assessment, he brushed his beard shadow against her cheek and murmured, “How about it, sexy lady? Are you willing to let go, darlin’? Let a master lover show you what you’ve always wanted to do, what you’ve always wanted to try, but never had a man who was willing to take you in hand and not let you push him away?”
Not waiting for her to respond, Griffin quickly laid her on her back, then expertly slipped the cuffs attached to the head posts around her wrists and tightened them, pulling her arms above her head and out to the side. Ignoring her shocked cry and attempt to free her upstretched hands, he said, “I’m not going to tie your legs, Tara—at least not now. But I am going to do this.”
Whipping a blindfold from the drawer in the bedside stand, he put it over her eyes and tied it securely. At her frightened cry, he said, “Give in to it, Tara. Give in to the darkness. Don’t let anything keep you from feeling all of the passionate things I’m going to do to you.”
When she stopped fighting him, he said, “I changed my mind, baby.” As he spoke, he moved to the bottom of the bed and quickly slipped the ankle cuffs over her feet and tightened them, laying her out in a spread-eagled position on his bed. At her angry cry and attempt to free her hands and feet, he held her face between his hands, stopping her struggle.
“Listen to me, sweetheart. I wasn’t lying to you. And I will free your legs when I begin to attack your pussy.” At her startled yelp and attempt to fight against the cuffs, he explained, “You need to know that you can do this, Tara. That you can give up your fierce control. More important, that you will give it up to me.” Lying beside her, he murmured in her ear as he gently stroked his fingers over her breasts, then down across the top of her thighs. His whisper was hoarse. “Jesus God, Tara, do you have any idea how fucking gorgeous you are? I swear to God I have never seen a more beautiful woman. Or a woman who I’m more intent on making love to in the most intimate, passionate ways possible.”