Chapter 3

Chapter

Three

C leaning the kitchen, John opened the fridge to put away leftovers and spied a pie plate that looked like it contained tiramisu.

“Is that for later?” he asked.

“If you want, or we can have it now if you prefer. You choose.”

Sensing her nervousness, he crossed to where she sat and took her face in his hands before kissing her deeply and sensuously.

“Are you anxious because I spanked you, because all of this is new to you, or because we haven’t made love yet?” he asked tenderly.

There it was again, the L-word. Couldn’t he just call it what it was, fucking, sex… anything but making love.

“I’m anxious on a variety of levels,” she said, instead of giving voice to her concerns. “I’m tense because my ass still hurts, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to focus on something other than that in order to climax.”

“Not to worry, sweetheart, I’ll take care of that. I’ll put a soft pillow under your bottom. My guess is, considering how wet you were when I was done spanking you, you’ll be more than ready when I finally bury my cock in you. Next?”

“Okay.” She smiled. “I’m nervous I won’t react the way you want me to, and you’ll be disappointed.”

“Mandy, I could never be disappointed in your response to me. Again, seeing how aroused you got from your spanking, I have no doubt, giving you several orgasms won’t be an issue. When I focus on seeing to your pleasure and not disciplining you, all you’ll be thinking about is how much better it feels than getting spanked. Next?”

“I don’t understand why you spanking me got me all hot and bothered. I’m really not into pain. I just keep thinking, I should think it’s wrong.”

“But it didn’t feel wrong, did it?” He waited for her to shake her head before continuing. “It isn’t the pain you’re reacting to, it’s the knowledge I’m dominant, and you aren’t.”

“So, now what?”

“That depends on what you want. We can stay down here, go upstairs, or you can tell me you need time to think and ask me to leave.”

She couldn’t help glancing down at the bulge in his jeans.

“And you’d leave? Just like that?”

“Just like that. I wouldn’t want to, but just because I’m the dominant partner doesn’t mean your wants and needs aren’t important. I get this is the first time you’ve had the man in your life hold you accountable, and I don’t doubt it’s unsettling.”

“It is.” Mandy found herself relaxing. It was so easy to talk to John. “My brain keeps telling me to ask you to leave and never talk to me again, but there are other parts of my body that are screaming, no, make him stay , and that wet place you had your finger in earlier is begging you to take me upstairs and spend the rest of the night letting you lead.”

John laughed. “So, upstairs?”

She nodded. In the same way, it had seemed natural to surrender to him as he spanked her, his sweeping her up in his arms off the stool felt just as right. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she enjoyed his strong, romantic embrace as he carried her up the stairs. She directed him to the master suite, and he set her down next to the bed.

“This is what you want?” he asked softly. “Understanding that I’m going to be the dominant one in our relationship?”

“More than anything else in my life,” she said, drawing his head down, so she could lose herself in his kiss again. “Sure you don’t want me to get you some dessert?”

John smiled—an exceedingly predatory, yet somehow reassuring, smile.

“No, the sweet treat I want is between your legs. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable on the bed? We’ll put one of these extra pillows under your bottom, then you can spread your legs. I’m quite capable of serving myself.”

Mandy blushed, smiled seductively, and did as he asked. She winced as he put the pillow under her and watched as he removed his clothes. John’s body was well-muscled with a few scars here and there. He had a broad chest and shoulders, but his torso displayed defined abs that led to a V pointing to the best part. His cock was fully erect and larger than she had anticipated. John wouldn’t be the only one getting what he wanted.

John crawled across the bed, slid his arms underneath her thighs, and tilted her pelvis. His eyes locked with hers as he wrapped his lips around her and sucked hard. Swirling his tongue around her little nub, he nipped her lightly before drawing it into his mouth again.

Mandy threw her head back and called his name. It had been a while since she’d been intimate with anyone and never with a man who took charge of the encounter the way John did. He kept her braced and locked in place, so he could lick and suck all she had to offer as he reached up to play with her nipples.

J ohn could feel her sheath spasm as she pushed herself up into his face. He nipped her again, causing her first orgasm to explode. No doubt about it—Mandy liked a little dominance and a little pain to go with her pleasure. She had surrendered to his keeping and would withhold nothing. Suckling her pleasure bud, he enjoyed the feel of her writhing under his attention. Her fears about not responding to him were completely unfounded, as he’d known they would be, but her reaction to his fondling far exceeded his expectations. He prolonged her pleasure, ensuring she climaxed a second time for him.

Licking and sucking her clit and all around her labia, it was deep pink and swollen with need. He smiled as the sweet honey from her orgasms dripped from her pussy. He lapped it up, which only caused her to produce more. He was rewarded to hear her breathing once again become labored as he thrust his tongue inside her and brought more of her honeyed essence to his mouth.

Mandy was responsive, and he meant to ensure she produced a copious amount of that viscous fluid, so when he breached her for the first time, he would minimize any discomfort. John knew he was generously endowed and always made sure his partner was well prepared.

He licked the ceiling of her cunt with great strength and speed, enjoying her response. As she began to climax again, he moved up her body and lined up his cock with the entrance to her core. Reaching between them, he played with her clit, penetrating her wet heat with two fingers, and thrusting them in and out. As her body slipped over the shimmering edge of ecstasy, he guided the head of his cock to her pussy and surged into her. She called his name again as he buried himself deep. Her sheath spasmed all up and down his length, and he knew any pain she felt had been fleeting and minimal. He rested on his forearms as he kissed her and nuzzled her neck, allowing her to come back into herself as her body accepted his.

Mandy clung to him as he stroked her. Everything about her was beyond his wildest dreams. She held back nothing and revealed herself to be the sensual bedmate he thought she would be. His mouth captured hers, and their tongues danced to the same rhythm. She spread her thighs even wider, so he could fuck as deep as possible as she wrapped her legs around him and moaned incomprehensively.

As another orgasm overtook her, John reached under her to cup her buttocks gently in his hands, steadying her, so he could plunge into her with the speed and strength that would trigger his own release. She called his name as he drove into her. As she reached her peak a final time, his cum rushed up from his balls, igniting an electrical charge up and down his spine as he spent himself in her. Her pussy clamped down hard, milking his cock for all it was worth. When at last he was finished, John held her close as he rolled over on his back, taking her with him as he, loathe to withdraw from her. He brought his hands up to stroke her back, then cradle her face as he kissed her and was taken aback when he tasted salty tears.

“Did I hurt you, sweetheart?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I just never… I mean, it’s never felt… I don’t know what I mean.”

Holding her, he let her rest her body on his.

“But you’re all right?” he asked softly.

“I’m a hell of a lot more than all right.” She raised her head to look down at him. “That was the most amazing thing ever. Nothing… nobody has ever made me feel that way.”

“And we’ve only just begun. It’ll get better. I promise.”

“I’m going to hold you to that, but just so you know, if it gets much better, I may die from sheer ecstasy.”

“I’m willing to risk it if you are.”

“John?”

“Yes?”

“You weren’t planning to just get up and leave, were you?”

“No, and trying to throw me out at this point will get your pretty ass spanked for a second time tonight. I have to go in to work tomorrow, but I think I’ll just catch up on paperwork since I’m pretty sure I’m going to be exhausted.”

“Planning to leave me in the same state?” she teased.

“I am, indeed.”

“Then it’s a good thing I can pretty much take the day off and do anything worth doing from home.”

Mandy snuggled into his arms and fell into a peaceful slumber, nestled against him. When he finally uncoupled from her, he slid her onto her side next to him and wrapped his arms around her.

M andy woke up a bit stiff and sore but happier than she could ever remember. John had awakened her once during the night, then again early this morning, each time better than the last. John’s dominant lovemaking seemed to have awakened something deep within her soul.

He wasn’t rough or uncaring, but he was in command, and she reveled in it. As he had said, he led, and she followed. She had climaxed for him more in their first time together than she had with any of the other men in her life and had been left aching in places she didn’t know she could, yet experienced a wonderful sense of harmony and well-being.

Reaching out for him, he wasn’t there. She didn’t remember him telling her goodbye, but she knew he’d need to go home and change, so maybe he just hadn’t wanted to wake her. She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was still early. Maybe she’d go down and get her cell phone and text him good morning.

Mandy had just thrown her legs over the side of the bed to sit up when she heard him coming up the stairs. He nudged the door open with his foot, and she grinned. He had a huge tray in his hands, and the aroma coming from the plates was decadent. Still holding the tray in his hands, he leaned down and kissed her deeply.

“Good morning, sweetheart. Why don’t you get back into bed, and we’ll have breakfast?”

“It smells divine. What did you make?”

“Very thin pancakes wrapped around the tiramisu I whisked together to make it into a filling, drizzled with a hazelnut chocolate sauce, some mixed fruit, coffee, and bacon.”

Mandy scooted over to the middle of the bed, and John put the tray down, which held the plates, utensils, and napkins. He poured her a mug of coffee he’d made in her French press, then added a smidgeon of cream and made her comfortable, so she could eat.

“You remember how I like my coffee,” she said with wonder. No man had ever paid attention to the small details the way John did.

“Part of my job is paying attention to small things and putting that knowledge to good use.”

She grinned and leaned over to kiss him, then took a bite of the pancakes and sighed.

“Oh my God, these are delicious. I want these at least once a week.”

He laughed. “You make the tiramisu, and I’ll make the pancakes.”

“So, Marshal Hampton, besides saving damsels in distress, spanking them when they misbehave, then spending the night ensuring they have the best sex of their entire lives, what exactly do you do? For the marshals, I mean?”

“The US Marshals are tasked with capturing fugitives, serving federal arrest warrants, transporting prisoners, and overseeing the witness protection program.”

“Well, doesn’t that sound official and right out of the brochure,” she teased. “Isn’t that dangerous?”

“For the most part, not if it’s done right. There’s an element of danger to be sure, but we’re well trained, careful, and know what we’re doing.”

“I would think the job puts you up against some of the most dangerous bad guys.”

“I won’t lie, it does. There will be times I won’t be able to come home or be able to call you. Anyone who partners up with a marshal has to be resilient, smart, and able to do for themselves in some situations. But I don’t take relationships lightly. You’ll know as much as I can tell you, and I will always ensure the job doesn’t touch you.”

Mandy stopped breathing for a moment. She couldn’t believe he’d said that, couldn’t believe she believed him.

“If you’re going to share your life with me,” she said tentatively, “it has to be all of it. You can’t shield me from the ugly side of what you do.”

“I didn’t mean it that way. I meant if it gets dangerous, I’ll get you to safety with people who can make sure you stay that way. So, the idea of sharing a life with me doesn’t sound so bad?”

“Honestly? It scares the crap out of me. And in the spirit of honesty, I could do without getting my ass spanked, but the sharing your bed portion has a lot of appeal.”

He laughed and kissed her again. “You can avoid getting spanked by behaving yourself.”

“Now, where’s the fun in that?”

“Fair warning, Mandy, I’ll hold you accountable for what you do.”

“Yes, Sir, Marshal Hampton, Sir.” She saluted him.

They finished breakfast while sharing their schedules and making plans for the week, then he glanced at the clock on the wall.

“Babe, I’d much rather stay here, but as it is, I have to go by my place, and I’m going to be late.”

“I understand. I appreciate that you didn’t just leave, not to mention fixing my breakfast. I don’t think anyone has ever fixed me breakfast in bed.”

“I’ll see you tonight,” he promised as he headed to the door.

“John?” He stopped and looked at her. “While you’re home, why don’t you pack some things to just here, so you don’t always have to go home? That way we can sleep in.”

“Why is it, I think sleeping wasn’t what you had in mind?”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” she said, smiling at him.

“US Marshal, remember? Trained observer? Your nipples, Ms. Adams, are hard as pebbles, and my guess is if I put my hand between your legs, I’d find you’re more than ready.”

“You got me there. Have a good day, and be safe.”

“I will be. Nothing but paperwork at the moment. You behave and take it easy. Give me a call if you need or want me to bring anything when I come back.”

“Just you. A change of clothes would be nice, but if I get you, I’ll be fine.”

“That you already have,” he said as he left and trotted down the stairs.

Mandy got up and walked over to her window, which overlooked where he was parked. He looked up at the window, and she blew him a kiss. Oh, good Lord. I never blow kisses to men. But then Marshal John Hampton wasn’t just any man.

As he backed out of the driveway, fear and doubt began to reassert themselves. Did she want what he was offering? Could she handle living with a man who spent his life fighting dangerous people? Did she want to take on a less than equal role in the relationship?

Did she want to fall in love?