Exposed by Fate (7 page)

She nodded slowly. “Where are we going?”

He grinned. “You don’t think I stretched you out for no reason, did you?”

Chapter Eight

Eliza preceded Oliver into his apartment, marveling over the fact that she’d resolved never to come back here after last night. Yet here she was already, twenty-four hours later.

She couldn’t be gladder.

Something had happened back at the gym, when Oliver’s voice had taken on that rough, commanding quality. She could still feel the effect in the very center of her belly, like a humming ball of electricity waiting to be flipped back to full wattage. Her breasts felt heavy and sensitive. With every step, she intentionally rubbed her thighs together, the friction sending shivers racing along her skin. Oliver’s frequent perusals of her body on the walk to his building, on the elevator ride up to his floor, made her feel hot and wanted. Like his plaything. She shouldn’t be turned on by that, should she? Too bad the idea of him using her for his pleasure made every pulse point in her body pound insistently.
Use me. Take me.

They hadn’t spoken on the walk back, nor had she felt the need. She liked the silence because it left room for anticipation to build. No doubt it had been intentional on Oliver’s part, but she didn’t mind. His methods were working in a major way. She felt off center, she felt in control…so many feelings…they were like a funnel cloud inside of her, twisting and storming. Oliver’s flexing jaw told her he wasn’t unaffected in the least. She’d never seen him like this. Didn’t know this side of him.

Oliver tossed his keys onto the dining room table and turned to her. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it on a hiss. Eliza had no time to react before he lunged for her, pushing her back hard against the door. Her sob mingled with his growl as their lips meshed together. The kiss felt almost angry on his end, as if he wanted to punish her for something she didn’t understand. He bit her upper and lower lip in turn, then sunk his tongue into her mouth. Somehow her legs managed to hold her up in the face of such skill, but just barely. Every nuanced stroke of his tongue caused a wicked, answering pull in her stomach, wetness trickling between her thighs.

He pulled away abruptly, gaze bright with what Eliza interpreted as lust. Crazy, white-hot lust. “Were you trying to kill me on the way here?” He gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her face up. “So quiet and obedient, looking at me with those big, beautiful, fuck-me-now-Oliver eyes. It was all I could do not to bend you over a parked car and give it to you.”

Her breath sounded raspy to her own ears. “It wasn’t on purpose.”

“That only makes it worse.” He dropped his hand down between them. Before he’d even touched her, she started whimpering. The sound seemed to drive him a little crazy, making him pound his free hand against the door behind her. At the same time, he ran a finger up the seam of her pants with a feather-light touch, such a contrast to the aggression of his other hand. “Go into the bathroom and turn on the shower. Hot, but not too hot. Take your clothes off and wait for me.”

It took her a moment to move in order to carry out his request. Feeling his gaze on her the entire way to the bathroom, she somehow managed to walk inside and close the door without looking back once. She pressed her back up against the door and breathed deeply a moment, giving herself a second to get her bearings before she turned on the shower and stripped down.

She paused in the act of removing her sports bra when she saw something hanging from the ceiling. The wooden beams that ran the length of Oliver’s loft continued into the bathroom and a leather strap had been thrown over one, leaving two wrist restraints dangling into the shower, ending just above the stream of water.

Eliza’s pulse danced, but she didn’t have time to prepare herself before the bathroom door opened and closed softly.

Just like earlier at the gym, she watched Oliver’s reflection in the mirror as he approached. By that time, steam from the shower had permeated the space, making him look like he’d been conjured from her fantasies. He owned his lack of clothing like he’d been born to be naked, all animal grace and swagger. His thick, jutting erection was already covered with a condom and that turned her on even more, knowing he wanted all distractions out of the way. She could only watch him with appreciation, doing her damndest to remember how many women had seen him this way. Had seen that predatory gleam in his eyes, knowing they were about to be his meal. Wanting to be his
only
meal, forever, even though it was impossible to tie a sexual creature like him down.
Just keep thinking that way, Eliza. Don’t get attached. Don’t be one of them.

“Eliza,” he said firmly, meeting her eyes in the mirror. His were narrowed, a hint concerned, as if he could read her mind. “Safe word.”

Worry slowly seeped her mind. This was Oliver, a man she trusted. “I remember,” she whispered back, afraid to repeat the safe word, lest he vanish into the steam.

He regarded her closely another beat before raising his hands. In them, he held a blindfold she hadn’t noticed before. Her world went black a moment later when he tied it over her eyes, but almost immediately, it expanded. She could feel the steam dappling her naked body, feel every trickle of moisture as it rolled down her skin. Her thighs slipped together as he led her toward the shower and brought her inside. The tile felt slippery against her feet, Oliver’s spicy soap scent invading her head, making her hyper-aware of his hands on her arms. They slipped up her slick skin, circling her wrists and bringing them high against the shower wall. Shower spray warmed the top of her head, coating her face and neck like a caress. Even under the onslaught of water, the blindfold stayed in place, tied just tightly enough to remain comfortable.

“Keep your arms raised and face me.” Desire throbbing in her mid-section, she turned to face Oliver, picturing his face and body in the center of the white fog. “Christ, you’re gorgeous,” he grated.

Even with her vision gone, she felt everywhere his gaze landed as sure as if he’d touched her. In his voice, she heard a thread of desperation, same as she felt. The observation sent her need for him skyrocketing, giving her no choice but to reach for him. Before she made contact, he grabbed her wrists. “You’ll do as you’re told. My palm is dying to make contact with your ass. Don’t give me an excuse.”

Yes. Tell me what to do
. She put her arms back over her head, commanding herself to breathe as he reached up and slid her hands into the leather restraints, buckling them tight with a metal
clink
. When she attempted to look up even though her eyes were covered, he held her chin steady.

“Relax, Eliza. Trust me.”

Relax? She felt a rush tearing through her system at a thousand miles an hour. In her mind’s eye, she could imagine how her position caused her breasts to jut out, a private display just for him. Her core suddenly felt so empty and desperate, she had to squeeze her thighs together
hard
. Right in front of her, she could hear Oliver’s breathing pick up speed, warm puffs against her lips. Turned on by the image of her bound? Trapped? When he didn’t touch her, she realized he was waiting for her signal to continue. “Yes…I’m okay,” she finally managed.

“Good girl. Just feel.” The concern had fled from his tone, leaving his voice haunting, dark. So low it almost got swallowed up by the drumming shower spray. With a single finger, he traced a path from her collarbone down, around her stiff nipples and lower…until he reached the apex of her thighs. Eliza held her breath as he spoke. “I’ve wanted to lick between these thighs since the day we were introduced. That probably makes me sick.” He slid his middle finger through her damp folds, then pushed it deep, ripping a cry from her throat. “Ask me if I care.”

Oh God, oh God
.
I’m dying.

“Your first day of college. So nervous and unsure.” He worked his finger out, then slowly, torturously drove it deeper. “What did you need, babe? Did you need me to stay behind and take off your jean skirt like I wanted to? Would you have let me fuck you on your dorm room bed?”

If her restrained hands weren’t holding her up, Eliza knew with total certainty, she would have been in a pile of boneless limbs on the tile floor. How had she known him for so long and never suspected he’d felt the same attraction? Just an attraction.
Just
an attraction.

“Answer me. Would you have spread your legs and let me break you off?”

“Yes,” she sobbed, grateful she couldn’t see anything. Admitting the secret didn’t seem to count when her world was entirely dark. “I would have.”

The most exquisite pleasure caught her off guard when he sucked her right nipple into his mouth, growling around it like the taste was driving him insane. As insane as she felt. Myriad sensations shot to her core, making her writhe helplessly against the wall, wrists clanking above her head. She wanted him to stop, to keep going, she didn’t know. Relief mixed with denial when he pulled back, his mouth making a
pop
noise as he released her nipple. “I like when you’re honest with me, Eliza. Maybe a little too much.” She heard something land heavily on the shower floor, then his hands were on the insides of her thighs, pushing them apart. Kneeling. He was kneeling.
Oh, please.
“Are you as tight as you look? We’ll find out as soon as I kiss all this pink.”

With very little effort, Oliver settled her thighs on his shoulders and licked straight through her center, groaning the entire way. A scream broke past her lips when he found her tiny bud, licking it sweetly one second, sucking it through his teeth the next. His hands were punishing on her thighs, squeezing hard enough to leave bruises as he drove her to the brink of insanity with his mouth. Heat coiled inside her, tighter and tighter, promise of incredible relief so close, they were on a first name basis.
Holy, holy shit.
She pulled the bonds at her wrists taut to give herself leverage, and then she bucked against his mouth, all the while picturing his dark head moving between her legs. He gave her clit one final, long draw, and she screamed at the top of her lungs, shooting her past a glittering line she’d never managed to cross. Her eyes were covered, but she could see bright explosions going off in front of her eyes, in perfect timing with her frantic, joyful sobs.

“God. Oh
God
. Oh, please.”

“Please what, babe?” His breath was at her ear now, telling her he’d stood up. When? She couldn’t even remember him setting her feet back on the floor. His voice was muffled through the water still raining down on her head. “Is this what you want?” The unmistakable feel of his erection slipped across her belly and lingered. Full, smooth…heavy. “What you were begging me for at the gym?”

“Yes,” she pulled at the restraints, conflicted over wanting to be freed, but
needing
to remain restrained. “I want to touch you too.”

He dragged the head of his arousal through her ultra-sensitive center. “We’re touching everywhere it counts.” She felt his tongue in the valley of her breasts, licking upward, ending at her throat where he nipped at her, with enough bite to make her whimper. “Would you like to know what has already earned you your first punishment, Eliza?”

The flesh between her legs clenched. Do it now. “Yes, I want to kn—”

Her legs were wrenched apart. Oliver’s hips were suddenly wedged between hers, boosting her up against the slippery wall. “Wrap more of the leather around your wrists and hold on,” he growled at her lips. Eliza’s mind struggled mightily to grasp his directions. How could she think beyond his huge erection throbbing insistently at her opening, his entire muscular body plastered against her own, head to toe. Any minute now, he’d fill her. Finally.
Finally.
He pumped his hips against her once. “
Do it
.”

She fought through the haze in her brain, realizing her elevated position left slack in her restraints. No sooner had she doubled up on the leather wrapped around her wrists, removing the extra slack, that Oliver plunged inside her. Deep. Completely. Her scream echoed in the enclosed tile stall, ricocheting like a bullet fired from a gun.

Oliver’s own groan was long and drawn-out against her ear. “Oh, fuck
. Fuck
.” He withdrew and sunk back in on a controlled thrust, sounding as though he was groaning through gritted teeth. “I know what your second punishment will be for. Keeping this tight-as-fuck pussy away from me as long as you have. I ought to pull out and redden your ass right now.”

Her breaths were so labored, she couldn’t tell if she was crying or moaning. She didn’t care. Just wanted him to move.
Move.
“Y-you still haven’t told me what the first punishment is for.”

When he starting thrusting into her, she thought he’d decided to ignore her. Just as she’d seriously forgotten to care—because,
ohhh God
, the feel of him—Oliver spoke harshly against her ear, never pausing in his quickening drives. “The first time we met, you were so shy…you actually called me Mister Preston. I’m six goddamn years older than you, Eliza.” He hefted her legs higher around his waist so unexpectedly, she cried out. “Made me so hard. I can still you hear you saying it in that breathless little voice. Mister Preston…Mister Preston.
Say it now
.”

Her teeth rattled with the force of his drives. “Mister Preston.”

“You can do better than that.” He licked her ear. “Say,
fuck me, Mister Preston
.”