Perfect Picture [The ShadowDance Club 7] (Siren Publishing Classic) (16 page)

Feeling Ilaina’s soap-slickened body sliding against his own nakedness was like a small taste of heaven. Her tightly peaked nipples were the deep dusty rose they always turned when she was aroused and he loved how she moved herself against his chest so the light dusting of his chest hair further stimulated her sensitive breasts.
Go right ahead and take what you need, cara. Tonight is all about taking care of you.

Ilaina Red Cloud’s body was as close to perfection as any woman he’d ever known, and as a professional photographer he had seen many amazingly beautiful women. But there was a mystique that was unique to Ilaina. Her Native American heritage had provided her with classically high cheekbones and a certain elegance that can only come from a serenity of spirit. People of both genders and all ages were drawn to her like moths to a flame. Her movements were fluid and graceful—she had always reminded him of a dancing angel.

Bringing his mind back to the feeling of her wet heat enveloping him he thought about how he hadn’t planned to take her in the shower—he’d actually only wanted to soothe her. But as any good Dominant knows plans are only as good as the reactions and needs of the woman he is topping. And right now, seeing to her needs was far more important than following any preconceived notion of an agenda that he might have had. When she had looked up at him with her tear-stained face and asked him to make love to her so she could forget everything that was weighing so heavily on her mind—even if for just a little while—all of his best intentions to let her rest had vanished in a white-hot flash of desire.

“Don’t think about anything other than this moment,
cara.
Let your mind empty itself into me, I’ll take it from your shoulders and give you exactly what you need.” Covering her lips with his own he felt their kiss go from tender to a total raging possession in a few seconds. She was testing his control in every possible way and he was having trouble just keeping his knees locked. Ilaina had always pushed every single one of his buttons. She was sensual beyond imagination, her heart was as big as any he’d ever known, and underlying it all was the soul of a true submissive. Her desire to put others first and to love those around her at all costs brought his protective instincts to the surface in every conceivable way.

Not even their passionate kisses could have distracted him from answering her request by lifting her into his arms and sliding her down over his aching cock. When he’d felt how wet and ready she was he’d moaned against her ear. “
Cara,
do you know how much it pleases me that you asked for me to take you and that your body had already prepared itself for me? You are mine to protect and pleasure. I may not always give you what you want, but I’ll
always
give you what you need. But in return I’ll demand your obedience and complete honesty. You will have to be completely transparent in all things with me, there is no room in a D/s relationship for hidden motives, fears or agendas. And that means I want you to tell me when you need to feel the connection of our bodies joining whether it’s making love, just being held and cuddles, or a burning need to be fucked into a mindless stupor.”

Noah was pleased to see the small grin that played over her lips. Knowing she had been willing to ask him to care for and love her in this way was a huge forward leap in the direction he’d been heading with her. And even though his heart had almost broken as he’d listen to her sob, there was a small part of him that rejoiced knowing she’d turned to him in her time of need. That glimmer of hope that he was beginning to rebuild the trust that he’d so foolishly lost a few years earlier made his heart sing.

“Please, Noah. I need you to make it all disappear for a bit…the worry and the fears for you and my family. I want to lose myself in your touch. Feeling you moving so deeply inside me is the most amazing feeling in the world.” She certainly had that part right. She was grinding herself on him and each rotation of her hips was exponential pleasure. Her curvy body was wrapped around him as tight as the bark on a tree. Noah pulled her arms above her head, trapping both of her wrists in his hands and then leaned back. Watching her eyes widen and her pupils dilate with desire sparked a raging inferno inside him. Reaching between them to pinch her tightly budded nipples he smiled when she arched closer to the pain that he knew would already be turning into a pleasure she wouldn’t be able to fully explain.

When she started speaking again, he noticed that she was panting for breath, and her words seemed to be directed more to herself than to him. “Everything sizzles…each stroke makes me want you more. I don’t know how to explain it and I don’t want to waste the moment trying to unravel it...this is a mystery that is only meant to be experienced and enjoyed. But I can’t do it myself. I need…” Her words might have been spoken during the heat of the moment, and he knew she’d stopped before admitting her need for his Dominance was what she was missing. Her words had been spoken from the heart and hearing her recognition of their D/s bond was just enough to send the last vestige of control he’d been holding onto right down the drain alongside the bubbles that were sliding down her peaked breasts like the world’s sexiest waterfall.

“
Mine,
” was all he managed to say before he set up a frantic pace of deep, pounding strokes. Gliding in and out of Ilaina’s heat as her honey continued to flow around him was mind bending and her soft moans lit him on fire like a match to kindling. Just as soon as he felt the first ripples of her release, he tilted his hips so the ridge around the head of his penis hit her G-spot with each stroke and then he watched—captivated in wonder as she shattered in his arms. “Beautiful. In a lifetime I’ll never tire of seeing you come, baby.
Again
.” He had nearly growled his command for her to come again for him and when she arched her back and screamed his name the tiny sparks of electricity that had been teasing his balls erupted into a full-fledged bolt of lightning that shot up his spine and then reversed itself to streak back down to the tip of his penis as he emptied into her. And Ilaina’s second shout let him know she had felt the hot splash of his seed against her womb’s opening and the satisfaction he felt at that was soul-deep.

Now as he stood beside the bed watching Ilaina sleep, his mind was floating between his deep sense of awe and humility for all she represented in his life and the fact that God had seen fit to give him a second chance to make her his own. The moonlight had always seemed to seek her out and tonight was no exception as it filtered through the high windows of the master suite to pay homage to the Princess of Light sleeping so peacefully in his bed.

When he was convinced she was sleeping he’d slipped from the bed, donned a pair of running shorts and made his way down to his office to check in with the ShadowDance team. There hadn’t been any change since he’d spirited Ilaina out of the Lamonts’ home several hours earlier. There wasn’t any doubt in Noah’s mind that they would find out eventually who was responsible for the break in at Ilaina’s small suite of rooms in her brothers’ home. What he worried about was how much damage her stalker would do before he showed his hand again.

Mitch had assured him that he had successfully accessed her email and phone so she wouldn’t be getting any more messages from the stalker Ilaina had nick-named Crazy Craig after the Craigslist Killer. Even though the man seemed to be simply obsessed with having Ilaina at his side so far, Noah worried that his presence would elevate the entire scenario to the next level quickly. It was a concern that the other members of the team had also expressed to each other, but none of them had mentioned to Ilaina for fear she would decide leaving Climax was the answer.

Just the thought of her being on her own—away from all of the people who could watch out for her sent chills racing up Noah’s spine. He was sure she was aware she was in danger, but he wasn’t sure she had a true grasp of how desperate an unstable personality’s choices could be. It was true that she’d traveled the world many times over, but she’d always been surrounded by managers, stylists, representatives from the publications she was shooting for, and her own assistant. Taking off on her own would be entirely different and he was sure Ilaina hadn’t thought about hiring anyone to handle her personal protection either.

Noah grabbed his phone and quickly sent a text to Colt and Jenna Lamont-Matthews as well as Colt and Melita Marshall asking for their help. Both women were experts in self-defense and he asked if they would be willing to spend some time with Ilaina. Despite the late hour, he had four affirmative replies within minutes.
Damn you have to love having kick ass friends who are willing to step up and help.
Through a flurry of messages they arranged for the women to meet at The Club’s gym the next day. Before he’d returned upstairs, Noah had sent a brief summary of the situation to all three of Ilaina’s brothers even though he was sure Colt would be forwarding everything to them as well.

The photo portrait of Ilaina that was in his office caught his eye just as he was reaching for the light and he found himself standing in front of it for several minutes. The shot hadn’t been staged in any way, but was by far the most sensual picture he’d ever taken. He couldn’t think of anything he wanted more than to see that look of vulnerability and trust in her eyes again. Knowing she felt safe and secure in his love for her would be his most valued treasure.

Sliding back into the bed she was warming was the sweetest feeling in the world and one he hoped to make permanent in short order. Feeling Ilaina snuggle up against him like a kitten seeking heat made him smile. Wrapping himself around her as if that alone could shield her from every evil lurking outside his walls Noah was finally able to drift off into the deep sleep he was only able to find when he held her in his arms.

Walking into the gym located behind The ShadowDance Club was like walking in to one of the more exclusive health clubs in any major city in the world. Lainy was amazed at the quality and variety of equipment. There must have been at least fifteen treadmills alone along one side of enormous room. The wall of mirrors made the huge room look like it went on forever. She could see a small lap pool at the other end that she would bet was one of those that pushed water toward you so its length was inconsequential. And one of the features she liked the best was the fact that the sound system was incredible.

Noah had escorted her into the gym and was pointing out the location of the women’s locker facilities when Kat Lamont bounced in behind them. “Hey, Lainy, welcome to Alex and Zach’s House of Horrors.” Lainy couldn’t help but laugh at the tiny, blonde bundle of energy. “Oh you laugh now, but you’ll soon see I’m not to be scoffed at. Jenna and Mia are wicked workout partners…well, they’re easier than my husbands, but there’s no sex as a reward at the end, so it’s not really worth it.” Looking up at Noah, Kat rolled her eyes and sighed, “You’re not going to snitch me out are you? Damn and double damn, that wasn’t bad subbie talk was it?”

“Katarina, language.” Lainy and Kat both jumped at the stern-sounding voice directly behind them. “That’s one, love. And of course Noah would have told us you were cursing, we Doms have to stick together if we have a prayer of staying ahead of the bratty subs our club seems to be attracting of late.” When he didn’t think Kat was looking, he’d winked at Lainy and she’d tried to stifle her giggle at his phony heavy-handedness.

“Are the other girls in the sparring ring?” Kat looked at Alex and at his nod she grabbed Lainy’s elbow and started down the aisle between the weight machines.

“Katarina, Zach and I would like a word with you before you go.” Lainy had known Alex all of her life and she had only heard him use that tone a few times. It was a measure of speaking that she’d heard from her oldest brother a time or two as well. She’d always called it his SEAL voice because it was calm but laced with steel. Anytime Cash had used it everyone in the room seemed to freeze in place.

Kat’s muttered “Fuck a duck” didn’t escape Alex or Zach’s ears. Evidently Kat’s more amiable-appearing husband was just as intolerant of her cursing as his twin.

Lainy almost laughed out loud when she heard both men growl, “That’s two.”

Noah stepped up and assured Kat that he’d make sure Lainy found the other women and he’d let Jenna and Mia know why she’d been detained. Kat’s face had flushed bright red and she’d ducked her head before turning back to her husbands.

As Noah walked her from the room, Lainy asked, “Is she really in trouble? She really didn’t do anything that bad.”

“No c
ara
, she isn’t in that much trouble—although neither Alex or Zach allow her to curse but it’s an ongoing struggle as I understand it.” Then he stopped them and turned her to face him. Leaning close to her ear he continued speaking so close the warmth of his breath brushed her ear and she felt her panties grow damp from the sensation alone. “It seems Alex and Zach’s sweet wife has a secret she has yet to share with anyone except her doctor. But you can’t hide anything from a good Dom, love. So they already knew that their lovely wife is expecting and they don’t want her in the sparring ring. If I were you, I wouldn’t be expecting her to make it in time for today’s workout.” He chuckled at Lainy’s shocked expression, smiling down at her he moved his hands so that he cupped the sides of her neck and used his thumbs to stroke the edge of her chin softly. “Don’t look so concerned,
cara.
They are thrilled because they know Kat has always wanted a house full of children and you’ll soon see, there isn’t anything those two won’t do to see their tiny tornado happy.”