Part 36 (1/2)
She sighed.
They went into the backyard to eat, and he had to concede the place was gorgeous.
He uncapped the beers, and they touched the tops together.
She demolished a couple of wontons and an eggroll before diving into the Mongolian beef. The amount that she consumed before taking a drink surprised him. ”So the choking thing on the crushed red peppers last night was an isolated incident.”
”I told you.”
For a few minutes, they sat together on the swing, and he understood what she meant about her house. It was an ideal place for backyard barbecues, for family time. Definitely a contrast to his urban fervor.
”Only thing that could make it perfect is a hot tub,” she said.
If he lived here, he'd definitely install one.
They returned inside and she cleaned up the kitchen.
”What are the most important things for you to take for now? We need to get through the next few days and we should get back to my place as soon as we can to give us adequate time to work. We can come back over the weekend and take care of the rest of the stuff.”
She nodded. ”Shoes. Clothing. My notebook computer. Well, all my electronics. Running shoes. Workout clothes. My curling iron. Brushes. Makeup. Shampoo.”
”Magnolia soap.”
”I think I left some at your house.”
”It will be all gone tonight.”
”It will? Okay, then. Magnolia soap.”
”What do you want me to pack?”
”Actually...none of it. I want to be sure I have what I need.”
”Okay. You pack. I'll load the car.”
”That will work.”
”But first...”
She was headed toward the bedroom, but she stopped. ”Yes?”
He cut off four pieces of the electrical tape and lined them up along the kitchen counter. ”Unfasten your bra.”
”What...?” she asked, but her voice had a dreamy, rather than outraged, quality.
”I want you aware of addendum A. And nipple clamps would be cruel. You'll be aware of the tape, though.”
”Connor... Sir...”
”Unfasten your bra, Lara.”
She reached beneath her s.h.i.+rt and did so.
”Now lift your s.h.i.+rt.” He picked off two of the pieces and went to her.
He squeezed her nipple gently, then harder. Then, when she closed her eyes, with even more force. He tugged it, yanked it, made it hard, pulled her onto her toes and caught her when she moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He kissed the side of her neck, inhaled her scent, unable to get enough of her. She'd said she'd had a rough night, but the truth was, so had he. He'd wanted her with him, thought about her, considered all the ways he wanted to claim her and make sure she knew she was his.
He set her back from him. While her nipple was still like a tiny rock, he put the tape on, in the shape of an X.
”That's...”
”How is it?”
”Tight. Uncomfortable.”
”On a scale of one to ten. The lower end merely being an irritant.”
”Two,” she replied after some consideration.
”Good. Now the other one.” He repeated the process, tormenting her until she moaned and begged him to either stop or let her have an o.r.g.a.s.m. ”That's the reward for finis.h.i.+ng the move,” he replied. He went over to the kitchen counter for the other pieces of tape. After the second X was in place he nodded, pleased. ”Incentive,” he told her. For both of them. ”You're welcome to refasten your bra or leave it off, your call. But if I had my way, you'd wear a white T-s.h.i.+rt and that demi-bra you wore to my office last Friday.”
”I think a sports bra,” she countered, ”so I feel nothing and my b.r.e.a.s.t.s don't move at all.”
He followed her into the bedroom and watched her change into a pair of shorts. She hesitated before pulling out a white T-s.h.i.+rt. Then deliberately, very deliberately, she opened her second drawer and selected a demi-bra.
He was reminded, again, that she was the perfect sub.
She pulled off her blouse and tossed it onto the covers of her unmade bed. Then she removed the bra she'd worn to work.
Finally she put on the demi-bra, and he moved into adjust it for her, folding down the little line of lace and positioning her b.r.e.a.s.t.s in the cups so that he could see most of the electrical tape.
She didn't protest, and she kept her gaze on him. Trust was there, and he treasured it. Through her s.h.i.+rt, he traced the X on each of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. ”I can't wait to take it off later.”
”I think it will hurt.”
”I'm sure it will.”
Lara closed her eyes and pressed her lips together.
”Your responses are intoxicating,” he told her.
”I think the tape feels tighter.”
”Even better. Now let's get on with it.”
She turned away, and he swatted her a.s.s. Giving a yelp, she headed for the bathroom.
A few minutes later, he took a box to her. She'd piled a bunch of personal effects on the vanity, and he said, ”Go ahead and pack other stuff while I handle this.”