DutyBoundARe (31 page)

“Yeah? What brought this on?” Secretly she was glad for it. This apartment wasn’t right for him or Gator, just a temporary way station while he mourned the death of his marriage.

“I’ve been wanting to for a while. It’s cruel to have Gator shut up in here like this. I really hate it and that crate.” Mathieu paused, staring at the wall, seeing something she didn’t.

She gave a sleeping Porkchop one last scratch and joined Mathieu on the sofa. After all the running around after the dogs, it was nice to just sit for a moment. He patted her thigh, the gesture somewhat mindless.

“It’s just time, ya know? I don’t like living here. I want a house with space for a playroom, a place for the dogs, and you. There just isn’t any of that here.”

Her? He wanted space for her?

Lisette licked her lips and mentally berated her pounding heart for misunderstanding him. He couldn’t possibly mean that he wanted her to stay with him indefinitely. It just felt like that right now. She threaded her fingers with his.

“You know you won’t have to take care of me forever, right? Someday I’ll stop being a burden and pay you back.” She said it with a smile, but a part of her withered saying those words. Living with Mathieu had changed her. Brought back her old self, from before Seth, and given her much of her happiness again.

“Right. My bad.” He turned to study her. “Have you thought about where you’ll go next?”

“I think I’ll stay in New Orleans. I’ve missed it, and I would really like to be close to Leo. You’d like him now I think. And who knows? Maybe if I’m here I can patch stuff up with the rest of my family.” The future was full of possibilities. She only needed a few more hours before she had her license, and then she could go into business for herself or join a practice.

Mathieu would still be close, and now that he was feeling more like his old self, he’d go out to the kink events again. She’d have to see him there, smile and pretend like it didn’t hurt when he took a new partner. He’d changed, but she didn’t know if he’d let go of Amanda, if she still tormented his heart. Someday he would love again and that woman, if she were deserving, would be a lucky girl. And Lisette would hate her.

His phone rang, slicing through the silence. The sound of it set her teeth on edge. When he answered it, she shuddered.

“
Ça viens
? …Hey… Nah, nothing. You see anything? …Okay, well, keep me posted.”

It was the patrol officers checking in.

She got up and paced into the kitchen, except she’d cleaned every inch of the scant counter space that morning with her nervous energy. She pivoted and stepped into the bathroom, but nothing was amiss there, either. Maybe she just needed a shower and a good soak to clear her head. Seth couldn’t get to her here, not with everyone watching and waiting for him to do something.

“Hey,” a deep voice said from directly behind her.

Lisette yelped and spun, staring up at Mathieu—not Seth.

“It’s just me. Sorry.”

“No, no, I’m just letting my imagination get away with me. I think—I think I’m just going to take a shower.”

“Okay, if you need help taking the ropes off, let me know. I’m right here.”

She nodded and mustered a weak smile for him before shutting the door. Alone, she blew out a breath and placed her back against the little linen closet door set into the corner.

She was alive. Seth hadn’t killed her. The police were actually looking for him. This hadn’t been swept under the rug. Not yet, at least. She didn’t dare to get her hopes up, but it wasn’t like she had options either. Her money would run out soon, so it wasn’t like she could flee to another city.

Lisette pulled her shirt off and began plucking at the knots holding the ropes in place. Her hands shook and the twist of rope slid out of her grasp over and over again. She balled her hands into fists and stared at the light, determined to not cry. She wasn’t helpless, just caught in a bad situation.

She yanked the door open and stepped out, running a hand through her hair to hide the shakes. Mathieu sat on the couch, remote in hand, his head twisted toward her.

“Can you…can you help me?”

“Of course.” He set the remote down.

“Thanks, I just couldn’t get a good grip on the knots.” She blew out a breath and crossed the floor to stand in front of him. Any other time she’d preen and enjoy his hands working rope on her, but right now she just wanted peace.

He sat on the edge of the couch, caging her between his knees and the coffee table, and began examining the rope. It had stayed almost exactly as he’d placed it on her. She really had enjoyed it this morning.

“Here we go,” he said quietly as he unknotted the first knot. She started to turn but his hold on the harness stopped her. “Let me.”

She’d let him take care of her so much, what was one more time?

He didn’t allow the rope to simply fall from her, not that it would with the looping and interlocking knot-work. He ran his fingers under the rope, as if they needed his touch to be unlocked from their design. She held back a shiver as his skin skated over her shoulder. He bent and kissed the place where the rope had rubbed her shoulder.

She turned in place and he pulled against the bindings across her shoulders. There was something about the vibrations of rope being slid against rope that had a hypnotizing affect. She let her eyes drift closed and just felt.

His hands were warm on her skin, his lips hot where he deemed worthy to place them.

“This pink rope looks nice with your peach bra.” He turned her again.

“Mm.”

They continued the dance, him twisting her this way and that, touching her, taking notice of the marks and bruises he’d left and kissing them. It was humbling to have this strong, dominant man go to his knees, his whole concentration on her well being.

“Almost done,” he muttered.

She turned to face him, watching as he released the last band of rope from around her ribs. He sat back on his heels, coiling the rope into a neat bundle and peered up at her.

He might not be her one true love, but she wanted to love him while she could, however long that might be.

Lisette cupped his face in her hands and bent, brushing her lips over his. He seemed to sigh and strain toward her. She opened her mouth and kissed him again, breathing him in, tasting him on her tongue as he kissed her back. Even on his knees, he was still undeniably the force in charge.

She released him, backing up until she hit the vanity. They stared at each other, breathing elevated, eyes dilated.

She wanted him. Always. There was no end to it.

“I’ll let you take that shower.” Mathieu rose slowly and turned.

“Shower with me.” She released the catch on her bra and shrugged it off.

He glanced over his shoulder and his gaze went straight to her breasts.

She reached into the shower and turned on the faucet while he mulled the thought over. Was there really all that much to think about? She didn’t think so. Mathieu closed the door behind him as she wiggled out of her jeans and panties. He watched her step into the shower before she drew the curtain. If he wasn’t joining her, he didn’t get to enjoy the show.

She heard a few muttered curses then the thud of something heavy, like Mathieu’s boots, being dropped on the floor, followed by the rustling of fabric. She grinned and turned her face up into the spray of water.

Mathieu stepped into the shower behind her. More than the sound of the curtain or his movements, she felt his presence. He crowded in close until his chest brushed her back. She turned, tipping her head back and letting the hot water soak her hair.

“You’re playing with fire,
bebelle
.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Lisette placed her hands on his chest and leaned against him. His hands swept up and down her back, into her hair and curled around her bottom. She could feel his growing erection against her abdomen.

He’d done so much for her. He’d sacrificed his comfort and privacy so she could have a place to crash. But more than that, she’d pushed him and he’d grown. She could think of a few ways to say thank you.

Lisette kissed his shoulder, his chest and stomach as she lowered to her knees. Steam billowed up around her, heating the tub and tiles, while the hot water splattered against her skin.

She pumped his cock, relishing the way he grew harder and longer in her palm. He was perfectly shaped, with a thick shaft and the flared mushroom cap crown. Even the veins seemed to create a design as they stood out the more erect he became.

“Fuck,” Mathieu muttered.

She took his cock in her mouth, sucking his length. Did he remember he was the first man she’d ever performed oral sex on? She’d learned a trick or two in the intervening years.

His hand dug into her hair, gripping the wet locks, moving her with him. She would have chuckled were she able to. Even in non-kinky sex he couldn’t give up control, but that was one reason they clicked so well. She liked what he did, how he directed her and accepted the things she wanted. There was no judgment, nothing out of bounds between them.

Mathieu thrust into her mouth, his motions short and tightly controlled. Always afraid of hurting her or triggering a gag reflex. She rubbed the thick vein along the underside of his cock with her tongue, sucking in her cheeks. He hissed and his fingers dug in a little tighter.

Even with him controlling the thrusts, there were other things she could do with her hands. She cupped his balls with both hands, massaging them gently in her palms, and rubbing the tender strip of skin between his testicles and the base of his cock with her thumb.

A shudder shook his body, but he didn’t falter on the pace he’d set. Even in passion he was controlled. The level of mastery over not just her, but himself, was astounding. All men had a breaking point, even Dominants in her experience, but not Mathieu. At least, it wasn’t sex-related.

Lisette circled the base of his cock with her hand and pumped in time to his thrusts, moving her hand with his hips so she stroked all of him, leaving not one inch of skin unattended.

This was about him. His pleasure. But he was too focused on her. This was about giving back to him, after all. It was time to turn the tables a bit. She grasped his hips and pulled when he thrust, taking more of his cock inside her mouth.

“Lissy.” He gasped and said nothing more. At least nothing that was intelligible.

She let his cock go all the way to the back of her throat, taking every bit of him that she could while her hands took care of the rest. She closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing around him, in counter to the thrusts. He tasted of man, slightly salty. The first drop of pre-cum hit the back of her throat and her rhythm faltered. He didn’t seem to notice. His hands were back in her hair and he thrust as deep as she’d let him.

Mathieu pulled out of her mouth suddenly, turning toward the wall. He braced himself with one arm, and stroked himself with the other. Lisette sat back on her heels, gasping for breath as she watched him expertly touch himself. He tossed his head back, groaning, as cum spurted from his cock.

She couldn’t help but smile. He was all muscle and sinew; a few scars just made him seem like a real person. He’d never be the type of man people photographed and drooled over, but to her, he couldn’t be more handsome. She saw his heart, and though it had been beaten, bruised and broken, the core of him hadn’t changed. He was still as good and honorable as he’d been when she’d fallen for him.

Mathieu leaned his shoulder against the wall. His gaze fell on her, half-hooded and unreadable. He was good at not letting people see too deep, but she couldn’t live in such close quarters and experience the depths to which he cared for others without exposing him for who he really was. It made her heart beat painfully in her chest to know he wasn’t for her, but sometimes the best part of loving someone was the act of love alone.

“Help me up?” She lifted her hands and he obliged her, pulling her to her feet and straight into his arms.

She hugged him to her, taking comfort in the affection he gave her so freely. Someday he’d realize he wasn’t broken any longer. That Amanda’s touch didn’t mark him except in memory.

He grabbed her bottle of shampoo and squirted it directly onto her head. The cold shot down her spine and she gasped.

“Hey, what are you doing?” She tried to run her hand through the mess, but he wouldn’t let her.

“Hurrying this along.”

“Why? Got someplace to be?” She grinned and tipped her head back. If she were lucky, she wouldn’t get soap in her eyes.

“Yeah. In bed. With you.”

“Oh.” She shivered at the heat in his gaze and her ignored clit throbbed. “Then let me.”

She laughed and pushed his hand away, working the shampoo through her hair. He made a few attempts to help her, which only resulted in trying to escape him in the confines of the shower. At last he retreated to one end and she finished conditioning her hair while he lathered his body with soap, watching her.

Lisette ran her palms down her chest, cupping her breasts as the water coursed over her body, rivulets flowing between her fingers.

“Enough,” Mathieu growled and pulled her forward.

She laughed as they shuffled around, trading places. She wrung out her hair before stepping out of the tub. Any longer in there and she’d start to shrivel, and there was nothing sexy about that. She grabbed a towel and swiped it over her body, acutely aware of every sound from the shower.

The tap turned off and Mathieu pushed the curtain aside. She felt his gaze on her and began to turn, except he swept her up in his arms.

“Get the door,” he ordered, droplets falling on her from his brow.

“Yes, Sir.”

chapter Twenty-one

Blogging

Mathieu laid Lisette on the bed and crawled on top of her. They soaked the comforter, but he didn’t care. Cool air tickled his wet skin, but he ignored that too. She was the focus of all that he was.

She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, arching up for a kiss he gladly gave her. She tasted of her berry lip gloss and his essence. He grabbed the towel hiding her body from him and yanked it open, baring her body to him.