Chapter 12

12

All I could do was feel.

No, that wasn't true. I could feel and smell and taste.

I was completely surrounded by Valentine. Stripped down to my panties and spread out on Valentine's bed while he was fully dressed. One of his hands was cupping my ass, the other was lifting my breast to his mouth and his tongue was teasing my nipple. My hands were on a voyage of discovery, roaming his back under his tee.

I'd won.

Now I was cashing in on the spoils.

But I wanted more.

We'd been at this a long time. Touching, licking, nibbling, groping, stroking.

I tugged at his shirt and demanded, "I want this off."

His lips closed around my nipple. He sucked deep, and he shook his head.

"Please."

I was not above begging. Hell, I would get on my knees and worship at his feet if it meant he'd put me out of my misery.

"Not yet," he said as he moved to my other breast.

I forgot all about his shirt and got lost in what his mouth was doing. With my thighs clenched, I shifted under one of his jean-covered legs pinning me to the bed. My clit pulsed, pleading for friction. I was close and getting closer with nothing more than Valentine playing with my nipples.

His hand moved from my ass and over my hip, and his fingertips dipped under the lace of my panties.

Finally.

My pussy spasmed in joy.

No.

"Wait." I grabbed his wrist.

Everything stopped.

His hand did not move a millimeter. His mouth disengaged. His body was perfectly still when his head tipped back and he looked at me.

"You okay?"

No, I was not okay.

I was the very definition of not okay. I was mortified.

"Um…"

"It's all good, baby."

I could feel my face flame.

"It's just that…"

I trailed off again, wishing there was a way to travel back in time five hours, fix my mistake, and wind up right back here where I was without the embarrassment I now faced.

"Sophie, baby, you owe me no explanation."

My hand tightened around his wrist when he started to roll away.

"I didn't shave," I blurted out.

Valentine blinked.

The heat that had been concentrated on my face rapidly spread down my body until it felt like my toes were on fire.

He looked like he was now waiting for the explanation he said he didn't need. Though in all fairness that was when he thought I'd stopped the festivities for other reasons. And Valentine, being a good guy, had stopped immediately without question.

Now not so much.

Sweet Dolly P, I was such an idiot.

"As you know, I don't have a man and I wasn't planning on being here." My mouth was speaking words but my brain was praying for a meteorite to hit Valentine's house. "Here being in your bed with your hand getting ready to go into my panties."

"Yeah, baby, my hand's going down your panties." He smiled his confirmation. "And?"

Well, that was going to be embarrassing.

"And since I didn't know I was going to be here in your bed I didn't shave or…trim up."

Good God, that smile turned wicked.

His fingers skimmed the skin above my panties. His other hand regained purchase on my breast and his thumb swept over my nipple. Both movements were slow and gentle but heady, nonetheless. My clit throbbed, uncaring I was in the middle of a horrifying situation.

"Are we talking full 1980's bush?"

"No." I meant to sound haughty but my answer came out breathy. "What's 1980's bush?"

"Don't worry, baby. I can find my way through the jungle."

Ugh .

"Valentine," I snapped.

Another smile, this one amused.

"Here's a tidbit of information for you; men don't care."

I didn't think that was true.

"Correction. I don't know what other men like but I don't care."

His thumb grazed over my nipple again and I was beginning not to care.

"You'll care when you're spitting out pubes."

Ohmigod, did I say that out loud?

Yes. Yes, I did. I was blaming Valentine's hand on my breast, and his earlier kisses, and what his tongue had done to my nipples for my fuzzy brain and big mouth.

"Don't worry, I've got a water pick."

I wanted to laugh and I would've if I hadn't been so mortified. Not that I would've had the chance because he was up on his knees, dragging my panties down my legs, tossing them aside, then Valentine was on his stomach between my legs. Before I could catch my breath his hands went to my ass and yanked me to his mouth.

My back bowed off the bed and my mind blanked out everything except his mouth sucking my clit deep. And when he added a thick finger I was lost to him.

"Spread wider." His demand vibrated against my clit and that, too, brought me closer to climax.

I spread as wide as I could. Valentine went in and ate .

He didn't nibble.

He devoured.

He sucked my clit hard and fucked me with his fingers deep.

My thighs trembled.

My muscles tightened.

On a long moan, I shattered.

And Valentine would not relent until I was groaning and begging him to stop, or never to stop, or to keep me in this place of perpetual mind-blowing bliss forever. My words were unintelligible, garbled, incoherent. His grunts and growls prolonged my pleasure.

Then he was gone.

In my haze of euphoria I vaguely watched him shed his clothes. Later I would kick my own ass for not pulling myself out of my daze. I was positive it was a sexy show but I was too blitzed out to do anything but to bask in the glow of the best head I'd ever had.

But I didn't miss that big dick of his when it sprang free .

Holy hell, how did I forget about that?

"Baby." He chuckled as he climbed back on the bed.

It must be said, that was sexy as hell—him climbing onto the bed, coming up over me, his dick bumping the inside of my legs as they opened for him.

Valentine said nothing more, but he did reach out to the nightstand. When he came back to hover over me, he hooked me around my shoulders and rolled to his back.

Nope, I was wrong. Me straddling his hips while his dick was hard between us, and his eyes blazed with need was sexy as hell.

He tore open the condom wrapper while issuing orders.

"This is how this is going to go. You're gonna take me—like this." He nudged me back to roll on the condom. "As slow as you need. When you're ready I'll take over."

I swallowed past the thick desire that had wedged in my throat and nodded.

"Hands on my chest," he bossed. He didn't have to tell me twice. I broke the land speed record I moved so quickly. "Take me, slow, baby."

I didn't have much say in how I took him, with one of his hands on my hip guiding me down and his other positioning himself between my legs. I hadn't realized how rigid Valentine was holding his body until I took the wide head of his dick inside of me. Then he turned to stone. His brows pulled together and his stormy blue eyes turned steely.

"Honey," I panted .

"Slow," he reminded me.

"I need more."

He slid his fist down his cock, giving me more room. I took another inch and puffed out a breath.

"Slide up, Sophie, then take more."

The up part felt good but the glide down felt amazing.

"Keep going, baby," he grunted.

Up and down I went, Valentine feeding me his dick an inch at a time. The stretch was the best kind of pain. The kind that made you crazy with need. The kind that made you feel insane with yearning and stole your thoughts.

I needed him.

All of him.

I slammed down, taking more, needing the pain so badly I cried out in a plea.

"Almost, Sophie, just a little more," he gritted out.

My excitement surged at his rough tone.

"More?"

There was more?

His hand tightened on my hip and I hoped he left bruises. I wanted to wear his mark of need on my skin. I wanted to remember the way he took excruciating care not to hurt me. I never wanted to forget the way his eyes held mine as my body welcomed him.

I wanted this moment forever.

"Sophie, baby, I need you."

Okay, that , I wanted to remember forever .

Slowly I glided up; even slower, I glided down, groaning as I took the last of him.

"God. Fuck . Christ," he bit out.

I panted.

"So goddamned beautiful."

I panted more.

"Prettiest eyes I've ever seen."

His hand skimmed over my thigh, went between my legs, and his thumb zeroed in on my clit.

My hips jerked.

"Stay still, Sophie."

I wasn't sure that was possible, but for him I'd try as long as he kept at my clit.

"Good, baby." His thumb pressed harder. "You're gonna come just like this."

Yeah, I was.

I rocked my hips and cried out when he pinched my clit.

"Be still, Sophie," he demanded.

Oh, God, that was hot.

Seriously freaking hot.

His thumb went back to circling. His eyes never left mine. The intensity with which he was watching me would've been frightening if it didn't make me feel so desired.

Right then it was just us. Me and him. There was no one else in the world. Nothing more important than us and the way we were connecting .

"You feel so good," I groaned. "I need to move, honey."

"Not yet."

I thought about disobeying him. I thought about how good it felt when he pinched my clit. I thought about how good the downward glides felt. The only thing that stopped me was the wave of pleasure that had consumed me.

"That's it, Sophie," he growled.

"Valentine." His name came out in three syllables.

My neck arched back. Valentine knifed up and demanded, "Tit."

In my fog I lifted my breast in offering. His mouth gladly accepted and pulled deep. My orgasm rippled through me when suddenly I was on my back but still connected.

"Wrap tight."

I hooked my ankles at his lower back and wrapped tight.

"Fuck, you feel gorgeous."

God, I loved he thought so.

"So do you," I whispered.

"Tell me if I go too far."

"I will," I lied.

I would take whatever he wanted to give me if it meant he got what he needed.

"I'm serious, Sophie. I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't."

"Baby— "

"Fuck me, Valentine. I want you to feel as good as you make me feel. You won't hurt me."

With a groan he dropped his mouth to mine and kissed me.

It was nearly as brutal as his thrusts.

It was glorious.

It was beautiful.

It was powerful.

Every grunt, every glide out and drive in, overwhelming.

My hands roamed his back, my heels dug in, my nails grazed. All of this without thought. There was no time to think—it was about touch.

Learning.

Memorizing.

It was the single most intoxicating experience of my life. Surrounded by Valentine's power went beyond sex, beyond pleasure and orgasms. In that moment, it was about being the center of his universe. And that was what it felt like. I was in control of all his dominance.

Me, Sophie, had Valentine at my command.

He'd deny himself pleasure if he thought I was hurting.

He'd stop at a moment's notice if I needed.

He'd give me really great orgasms and let me take him slow while it pained him to wait.

He broke the kiss. I felt his labored breaths on my cheek before I felt his lips brush there.

"Watch, baby. "

I didn't know what he wanted me to watch and I wasn't sure I had it in me to concentrate on anything beyond what was happening between my legs.

Valentine shifted his weight to his elbow, allowing his other hand to skim up my ribs over my breast, up my chest until he gently used his hand at my throat to keep my face where he wanted.

That's when I saw it.

Steel-blue eyes unfocused with pleasure.

"Come for me, honey," I begged softly.

With a groan he drove his cock so deep, I fought to keep my eyes open.

Then I watched.

Oh, yeah, I watched as his eyes rolled, his lids went heavy, his face in rapture as he emptied himself inside of me. It felt like it went on forever. His cock twitched and jerked, his body above me stone-still, the grunts of relief filling the room.

I was well and truly addicted. I wanted to see that again and again and again.

Maybe for a lifetime.

I never wanted anyone else to ever witness the beauty that was him.

It was mine.

All mine.

I wanted that with a fierceness I'd never felt.

"Fuck," he snarled.

The severity of his tone had me blinking.

"What— "

His hand tightened on my throat. His features no longer held the vestiges of satisfaction; his eyes were still lit but anger was hedging out the desire.

Fear gripped my insides.

"Shh, Sophie." The softness of his tone contradicted his actions. "Did I hurt you?"

"No."

"Are you lying?"

"No."

"I took you hard, baby. You didn't stop me but I lost control."

He looked pained as he said the last part.

"I don't want you to keep your control," I told him. "I want you just as mindless as you make me. I want you with me, feeling what I'm feeling. So totally out of control all you can do is chase the pleasure."

His eyes flared in a sexy way that made putting myself out there worth it.

"Mission accomplished, baby."

That was good news.

"Then why do you still look pissed?"

He relaxed and dropped a kiss on my lips before he pulled back and gave me his undivided attention.

"I'm not pissed. I was scared I'd hurt you. I was worried I got so lost in you, I didn't have a mind to you."

"Well, you didn't."

His lips curved up and I didn't give the first shit his smile was arrogant. As far as I was concerned he'd earned it .

But I did note, "You look pleased with yourself now that you know you didn't hurt me."

"Yeah, baby, I'm pleased to know you can take a solid fucking and get off watching me blow for you. I'm also pleased to know that you go wild when my mouth's on your pussy. And I'm seriously fucking pleased to know that all it takes is you sitting on my cock while I play with your clit and you'll go for me."

I couldn't say anything about that, since it was all indeed true.

His thumb stroked the side of my neck as he asked, "Are you alright with this?"

"With the hand necklace?" I asked and he nodded. "I never thought about it. So I never thought it would be something I'd like. But yeah, I like feeling your hand on my throat. But more, I like knowing you want my attention. I also hope that I have your fingerprints on my hips so I can wear your bruises."

"Jesus, fuck," he growled.

His praise again made me safe to share honestly.

"Not now," he started. "But soon. When you're used to me and feel comfortable and safe with me you're gonna wear my marks on your ass."

That time I didn't verbally share how much I'd like that.

Yet, I still shared.

"Your pussy clenching mean you're down for that?"

That sex-rough voice was going to do me in .

"Yeah, Valentine, I'm down with that. But just to say, I'd like that to happen sooner rather than later."

"We got all the time in the world to play, Soph. No need to rush."

All the time in the world.

God, I hoped so.

"I'm gonna get rid of this condom," he said but didn't pull out. I knew why when he asked, "You sore?"

Since he was still close, therefore he'd read my lie in a heartbeat, I was truthful.

"Right now, no."

Those sinful lips stayed curled up in a smirk when he muttered, "Right."

"You know you once threatened to fuck my smirk off my face," I reminded him. "I think at this juncture I should warn you, I could rally and fuck that smile off your lips."

"Fuck, you're adorable," he groaned. "And tomorrow, you can try to make good on that threat."

"Try to?" I huffed.

"Soph, if you think you fucking me is a threat, you're wrong. If you think I won't be sporting a satisfied smile after your pussy milks me dry, you're again wrong. If you think I won't be anything but fucking thrilled after I wring a few orgasms out of you, you're seriously mistaken. But for tonight, we're done. Tomorrow after you're done fucking me we can discuss your disappointment."

As if I'd be disappointed .

Valentine's hand around my throat loosened and slid up to cup my face.

"That right there, that look you just gave me. So fucking pretty."

I had no idea what look I just gave him but I needed to know so I could give it to him again—thus giving it to myself—because the way he looked at me was the kind of expression I'd fight tooth and claw to keep forever.

"How am I looking at you?" I asked.

"Like you think I'm worth it."

I didn't like the way that sounded.

"You are worth it."

He abruptly kissed my lips and slowly pulled out. Meaning I lost concentration on our conversation and groaned.

Sue me, he was still hard and the outward glide felt good.

"Fuck, you feel good," he grunted.

" You feel good," I corrected.

"Let me toss this condom and start the bath. I'll be back."

Valentine shifted, rolled, and was standing beside the bed when I got a good look at his back. It was hard to focus on what I saw, with the acres of muscle my gaze encountered. But now that'd I'd seen them I couldn't not.

"Holy shit," I muttered.

I watched in morbid fascination as Valentine froze. Muscle by muscle he stiffened, his back ramrod straight. Woodenly, he looked over his shoulder at me.

"Sophie—"

"Oh my God, Valentine. I drew blood."

I was out of bed in a flash, stopping at his side long enough for me to tag his hand and pull him toward the bathroom.

"Do you have a first aid kit in here?"

"Sophie—"

"Why didn't you tell me I was hurting you?" I accused irately.

"Because you didn't."

"I drew blood, Valentine."

Good Lord, I knew I'd dug my nails in but I didn't know I'd clawed his back to shit.

How had I clawed his back? I'd never done that before. Though I'd never been fucked within an inch of my life.

I flipped on the light, gave him another tug, and tried my best to forget I was naked. I didn't have any hang-ups about nudity, it was just Valentine was perfect and I was not. Actually, maybe I did have hang-ups because suddenly I became very aware I had a poochy belly and my legs weren't toned. And while I had large breasts they were too big to be perky. And if all that wasn't enough, the mortifying no-shave issue reared back up.

Thankfully, Valentine turned to face me and pulled me close so our bodies were almost touching and I had to tip my head back to look at him.

"Listen to me, Sophie. I liked it."

"I liked it, too, but that doesn't mean I get to inflict?—"

"No, baby, you're not hearing me. I liked it."

You didn't stop me but I lost control.

He'd said that like he'd committed a mortal sin.

"I'm hearing you, but I don't think I'm understanding," I admitted.

His face changed. That's the only way to describe what had happened. It became guarded, unsure, and hesitant. One of the things I really liked about Valentine was when you had his attention, you had it—period. But right then in the silence, his focus so acute, with him looking so uncomfortable, I wanted to close my eyes and forget I was seeing what I was seeing.

"I liked it," he repeated like a confession.

I still didn't get it. Especially the part that sounded like he'd admitted a deep, dark secret.

"I didn't hurt you?"

"That's the part I liked, Sophie."

Puzzle pieces shifted. But I wasn't fond of his tone.

"And you think I'll judge you for that?"

He blinked.

Oh my God . He did. He thought I was judgy.

"That doesn't feel good, Valentine," I whispered.

He remained silent and that didn't feel good either.

"I need you to talk to me, Valentine. I feel like I'm missing something here."

"I just told you I liked you tearing up my back with your nails."

So maybe the puzzle I'd worked out wasn't depicting the same picture as the one he was trying to lay out .

"Okay?"

Another blink.

"The pain of that, Sophie. I got off knowing you were so out of your head you were marking me. And fuck yeah, it hurt. I got off on that, too. The pain you were inflicting while taking my cock. I needed you mindless, I needed your nails digging in, I needed the control that gave me. Then I got so lost in you and it scared the fuck out of me."

Everything he said had been exactly what I'd been feeling. I had been mindless, so much so I hadn't realized I was hurting him.

"And here's more for you," he spat. "Those bruises you said you wanted? Careful with that, Sophie. You have no idea what you're asking for. I'll give you my mark. I'll sink my teeth into your tit and mark it as mine. I'll dig my fingers into your skin until you wear my prints. I'll smack your ass while I fuck you hard until you beg me to stop. Then I'll worship every inch of you so you know you belong to me and you'll beg me do it again. I'll work hard at it, Sophie. I'll make it so you'll never come again unless it's at my command. I'll wrap my hand around your throat, collar you, and make sure you know down to your soul that hand around your neck belongs to the man who owns every fucking part of you. And while I'm giving you that, you'll be mindless. You'll bite, scratch, draw blood, and I'll get off on that, too. I'll control every part of you while you're taking my cock, my fingers, or my tongue. Now, Sophie, do you understand? "

I understood my pussy was convulsing and excitement was leaking down my thighs.

"I understand," I confirmed.

Then because he was Valentine and he'd just laid it out and he'd made it safe for me to be me, I returned the favor.

"I understand that if you don't fuck me again right now I'm going to make you watch while I get myself off because I'm in desperate?—"

I got no further.

Valentine bent forward, planted his shoulder in my belly, and hoisted me up into a fireman's hold. I grunted. He tore the spent condom off and tossed it into the sink before he carried me back into the bedroom.

He bent again, unceremoniously dropped me onto the bed, and demanded, "Spread wide. Knees bent. Feet on the edge."

I did what I was told with my eyes glued to the hand stroking the long length of his cock.

Valentine fell between my legs, one hand near my head holding himself up, the other jerking his cock.

"Hand between your legs, baby. I'm gonna watch you play with my pretty pussy while I jack off for you."

Yes! Please .

With anyone else I would've been embarrassed. But there was no discomfort with Valentine, not with his eyes on me making me feel like I was the most beautiful, precious thing he'd ever seen.

I jolted when my fingers grazed my clit.

Valentine's neck bent and he looked down between us where my hand was working.

"Fuck, that's hot."

He pumped his cock fast. I dipped my fingers into my pussy, getting them wet, then went back to circling my clit.

It wasn't going to take much more for me to go.

"Do not slow down."

Alrightly then, it would seem Valentine already knew my body as well as I did.

I rubbed hard. My breath came out choppy. My gaze stayed focused on the way Valentine worked his cock. The sight was primal, beautifully vicious the way he stroked, taking himself much harder than I would.

"God, you're beautiful," I rasped.

I could see a bead of come dripping from his swollen head and that was what sent me over the edge. Knowing he was getting off watching me. Knowing I once again had the control he'd claimed to desperately need. I vaguely wondered if he knew he gave it to me. It was my pussy, my hand toying with my clit, that was getting him off.

"Honey," I groaned and arched.

My empty pussy grasped at nothing but the heady goodness still washed over me.

"Knees," he growled and tugged me up. "Right fucking now."

I'd barely slid off the bed when my hands went to his thighs to stop myself from pitching to the side .

"Open."

I opened my mouth, then the tip of his dick was on my tongue. Hot jets of come splashed the back of my throat. I closed my lips tight, swirled my tongue around his head while he jerked off, swallowing until he finally finished.

My eyes tipped up and my lungs seized.

"Do not move."

With my lips still wrapped tight, his hand left his dick, went to my jaw, and gently, reverently stroked.

"I'll never forget how fucking beautiful you look on your knees." His hand slid into my hair. "I'll make it worth it, Sophie. I promise."

I could hardly answer with a dick in my mouth.

But I hoped he understood he'd already made it worth it.

And furthermore, I really didn't like how he'd mentioned the ‘worth it' thing again.

I filed that away for a conversation for a different day. Right after I processed why the thought of Valentine owning my body had my stomach tied in knots and my heart thumping in my chest.