The Highest Bidder (3 page)

He fed her dinner from his hand, taking immense pleasure in the fact she allowed him to take care of her in the most intimate of ways. He couldn’t help that his eyes kept dipping down to her mouth every time she parted her lips and took what he offered. He found the sight highly erotic and didn’t know if his shaft could take anymore torture. When he was satisfied she had taken her fill he set the tray aside and watched her from his position against the headboard. With his legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles he appeared relaxed and non-threatening. Of course it was the complete opposite, seeing as his dick was throbbing to be let free.

 
“You seem very content. It is a good look on you.” The smile he gave her was one of reassurance, and he hoped she took it as such. The blush hadn’t left her yet, and when she dipped her head and hid her small smile beneath the fall of her hair he couldn’t help how his grin spread wider.

 
“Yes, well, I was never allowed to be full while growing up. Putting on weight was frowned upon, seeing as we were virgin brides.” Kristoff felt the scowl cover his face. He knew all about how they trained the virgins, and it was something that he had never liked. He didn’t respond because frankly he didn’t know what to say. She lifted her head and he wished he would have schooled his features because a worried expression crossed her face. “I’m sorry. I need to learn to hold my tongue.”

“Stop it.” The fierce command had her sitting up straight and staring at him with wide eyes. Instantly regret filled him for raising his voice. He shook his head and closed his eyes, exhaling loudly. Kristoff wasn’t upset with her, but was angry with the things that were drilled into her. So many things she had learned were warped and wrong. Veronica was trained to be the perfect wife that knew how to please her future husband. He wanted the woman he had glimpsed hiding deep inside of her, the one that was shy and reserved, but had boundless heat and fire inside of her. He didn’t want her to say sorry for speaking her mind. That was something he admired in her and showed her spirit. If Kristoff wanted a puppet for a wife he would have specifically found a female trained that way. He wanted an equal. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice. I just wish you wouldn’t apologize for speaking with me. I’m your husband, Veronica. I want you to be able to speak to me openly without the fear of punishment. I am not that type of husband, despite what you may have heard about me.” He knew rumors were out there about him regarding Macie, rumors that had been twisted and brutalized until he was painted as some kind of monster.

Veronica was silent for several long minutes, and he gave her that time to process what he said. He wanted her to really understand what their relationship meant to him, that he wanted an equal partner and not some mindless droid that only knew how to speak when spoken to. It wasn’t lost on him that she was finding small things to do that would keep her occupied. Smoothing her hands down her robe, picking invisible lint from the material––all stalling tactics, which he let her have.

 
“How old are you?” That certainly hadn’t been what he expected her to say, but at least it was something. Placing his hand behind his head, he let his eyes travel to the ceiling.

“Thirty-eight.” Cutting his eyes to her, he smiled. Before she could ask him anything else, he decided to give her a piece of him a little bit at a time. “I have two brothers, Nikolas and Griffin. They live about thirty miles from here in the city of Hawkson.” She didn’t respond and so he continued giving her a little glimpse into his life. It was strange that they may have only been husband and wife for less than a day, but he hoped giving himself up to her little by little would make her share a piece of herself with him –– something that a file couldn’t tell him.

Chapter Four

“Am I your first wife?” The words tumbled out of her, and he shifted on the bed. Obviously he knew this was coming, especially when he saw her looking at Macie’s picture.

He glanced at the picture in question and then looked back at her, telling her what she wanted to hear. “No. I was married for five years.” He got off the bed and walked over to the bookshelf, grabbing the photo of Macie. When he was on the bed again he turned toward her and held the picture out for her to take. “That was Macie.” She took the picture and he noted her fingers shook as she wrapped them around the metal and glass. She stared at it for several long minutes and he wondered what she was thinking.

 
“I’m so sorry. When did she die?” Her voice was soft, distant. She was observant, because he may not have told her Macie died, but she clearly picked up on the past tense he used. Besides, one didn’t divorce a wife, not in this day and age. If a husband grew bored with a purchased wife, they simply bought another one, or so he was told.

It was hard talking about Macie, but he knew it had to be done sooner or later. It had been two long years and it was finally time to let go of the past and embrace his future. “Two years ago.”

Wide blue eyes lifted to meet his. “Can I ask how she died?”

He reached across the mattress and took her hand. “You are my wife now, Veronica. I told you to speak freely to me. I have nothing to hide.” And he didn’t. Their marriage would start out with honesty, even if the truth had her shying away from him, he wouldn’t lie about anything. “I didn’t have Macie on a leash like many of the husbands that purchase a wife do. I wanted her to have freedom, to explore the world.” God, was he really going to spill what haunted him to this innocent young woman on the first day they met? Yes, because he needed to. “Out back there is a garden, one that she planted and grew. She used to love going out there, especially in the evening when the night blooming jasmines were in season.” Her hand was so small in his and the skin so soft, like silk beneath his touch. Glancing down at their conjoined hands he drew lazy circles on her flesh.

“I was working late when I received the phone call. They found her body by the creek that runs parallel to the property through the woods. By the time I got there she had already been pronounced dead. They said she tripped on the slippery rocks lining the creek bed and hit her head. She had massive hemorrhaging.” He had never said those words out loud, and hearing it was like an arrow straight to his heart. Bringing his eyes up to Veronica’s he gave her a small smile. “The coroner told me she was pregnant.” Seconds later big, fat tears slid down her cheeks. Humbleness spread through him at the knowledge that Veronica cried for him. Never had anyone shown any kind of empathy for what he went through.

 
“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what it feels like to lose someone precious to you so tragically.” Tightening his hold on her hand he smiled. Right now he wanted her closer, wanted to feel her small body pressed against his.

“I’m sure you saw the way the other men at the auction looked at me.” She nodded. “They think I am a negligent husband, that if I had kept Macie under my thumb, shown her who was in control and hadn’t given her freedom she would still be here. I know what they thought when they saw me purchase you. I know that they are counting down the days until I fuck up again.” The depth of emotions coming off her would have brought him to his knees if he wasn’t already sitting. “When I saw you up there something inside of me opened. I have never had any intention of ever purchasing another wife. I’ve come to terms with her death and know that is my past. I knew that I had to move on, and have, but I just couldn’t bring myself to bring another woman into my house and risk letting her get harmed again.” The weight of getting that off his chest was monumental. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, projecting every ounce of humanity and compassion he had inside of him. “I can’t tell you what happened, but I knew I wanted you before I even saw you walk up on that stage. I wanted to try to be a husband again. I wanted to try with
you
.” Veronica had snared him from just the glance of a picture. She opened something inside of him, something that he thought was long dead.

Her tears broke his damn heart, but he had to tell her the whole story. “Several men wanted you, but there wasn’t any way I was going to let them have you. I felt my heart beat for the first time in two years. I don’t believe in love at first sight, but I do believe that what I felt for you when I first saw you goes against any logic and reason.” All he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and never let her go, but he took small steps with her and instead cupped her cheek. “I don’t expect you to have any idea of what I feel for you, of what I want to have with you, but I hope you’ll accept me and let me show you how good I can be to you.”

As soon as the words left him she moved closer to him. Her mouth pressed upon his and he breathed in her air. It was sweet and warm and filled him with hope. He couldn’t get enough of her and they were just starting. A hoarse groan left him and he curled his fingers into her. He wanted her on him, surrounding him with her heat and scent. He wanted to come in her so fucking bad, wanted everyone who came near her to know that she was his. The primal instincts going through him were intense and had confusion settling inside his scarred soul. Kristoff slid his hand down to her hip and clenched her pliant flesh, pulling her closer and kissing with fierce determination. He was harder than he ever remembered, and it was all for her. He didn’t have to break the kiss to know what her hands were doing between their bodies. A second later he gripped her shoulders, the silk of her robe soft and liquid beneath his touch. Tearing the material away had crossed his mind, but now that she loosened the knot he took his time and pushed it off, all the while kissing her. Their tongues fought one another, fucked like fiends until he could feel his pulse at the tip of his cock. There was nothing better than feeling her small hands on his chest, her nails digging into his body and sending shocks of pleasure and pain through him. And then she was undoing the buttons of his shirt and all he could think about was mounting her, spreading her creamy thighs with his hands, and sinking all the way to the hilt in her. A shudder worked through him at the erotic thoughts.

Deep inside he knew he had to go slow, coached himself on that over and over again. The flesh of her shoulders was as delicate as the rest of her, like the softest petals of the flowers that grew around their home. He worked his hands down her body until her breasts spilled into his hands. Her nipples, rock hard and scraping against his palms caused the blood to rush through his veins, and filling his cock to the point of bursting. Soft sounds erupted from her and she thrust her chest into his hands. Veronica wanted this and he had no intentions of denying her anything.

It took all of his willpower to break their hot, wet kiss, but trailing his lips along her satiny body and then kissing her pert nipples was a treat all in itself. God, she tasted fabulous, like peaches, honey and vanilla. He instantly grew addicted. Suckling on the mounds, he could hear her rapid breathing, could feel her heart beating right beneath his head. The little minx wound her hands in his hair, tugging at the strands until he grew delirious with desire for her. Alternating between her breasts, Kristoff savored her like she was his last meal and he was starved. He broke away only for a moment to look down at her chest. Her nipples were engorged and painted red, the areolas puckered from his ministrations. Letting his eyes travel down her nude body, he took in her bare mound and had to swallow his arousal down for fear he would take her right now without the thought of her comfort. He needed her good and primed for him. Kristoff slipped his hand down her body and covered her mound with his palm. “Let me feel you, Veronica.” Desire clogged his throat. The little shiver that worked its way through her body sent his basic need to have her rising violently to the surface.

Using the momentum from his upper body, he pushed her back on the bed and settled his hips between hers. She cradled him perfectly, like she was made specifically for him. Quickly undressing, he made sure to keep his some part of his body touching hers. He wanted, no
needed
to feel her. The way she looked at him was an aphrodisiac all in itself. She was beautiful and sweet and everything he could have ever imagined. There was something inside of her that calmed him, had brought him back from the brink. She didn’t even have to say anything. Just a look from her had done him in. The fact that she let her eyes travel up and down his body gave him immense satisfaction. She liked what she saw and male pride swelled within him. Kristoff took that time to look at her as well.

Skin the color of milk covered every square inch of her. Her breasts fit his hands to perfection, and the tips beckoned for the hard suction of his mouth. A waist slim and tucked in, was all he could picture as he ran his tongue around the gentle slope of her belly button and slipping it into the tiny dip. Mouth gone dry as he stared at the slit between her thighs, all Kristoff wanted to do was spread her legs and feast at the delicate folds that were hidden between the bits of creamy flesh. “Spread your thighs, Veronica. Let me touch my wife’s pussy.”

A buzzing started inside of him as he watched her part her legs, giving him a perfect view of the cleft at the center of her body. Her outer lips gently pulled apart and when he saw the delicate, redder flesh of her inner lips his mouth watered for a sampling. What he really wanted to do was lick her, kiss her pussy over and over again, and have her come all over his face. He didn’t do that, though. Instead he lifted his hand and touched her cunt. She was already slick with her need for him and his fingers slipped through her folds with ease. Moving his thumb to her clit and his finger to the opening of her body, he teased her mercilessly until she thrashed for him. He gently pushed his index finger into her body and exhaled roughly.

A ripple went through him and he bent closer to her. Her eyes were closed and little gusts of air left her. “So tight and wet.” She opened her eyes and the heavy lids couldn’t contain the arousal that snapped back at him like a boomerang. “You’re so ready for me, baby. I bet you taste even better.” Tearing his gaze off of her he looked down at where his finger slid in and out of her. Her tight little muscles clenched around his intruding finger, as if she wanted to suck the digit into her body deeper.

He couldn’t contain himself any longer. He moved down her body until his mouth hovered over her swollen clit. Pushing his finger in and out of her still, he took the slick bud into his mouth. His cock throbbed when she speared her hands in his hair and pulled him closer, smashing his face into her warm, wet cunt. “You’re so fucking sweet, Veronica.” He slid his finger from her body and replaced it with his tongue. “Your pussy tastes like ambrosia, like the sweetest berry. I could eat your out all night, savoring you until you were so swollen from my mouth you begged me to stop.” Flattening his tongue on her, he ran it up the length of her cleft. Her thighs shook on either side of him. “Tell me how much you want that, baby. Tell me you want my mouth fucking this sweet little pussy.”

 
“Yes, Kristoff,
yes
. I want your mouth on me. I want your cock in me.” Her response was so breathy, so erotic in nature that the feral sound that left him was all for her. She made him feel like a fucking animal, like if he didn’t watch himself he’d eat her alive. That was how powerful his emotions for her were. He felt unhinged, disconnected, like at the drop of a hat he’d snap and go crazy. It wasn’t sane, wasn’t logical to feel like this after only being with someone for such a short time.

Moving it back down to her opening he teased the rim before plunging his tongue inside. Her inner muscles clenched around him and he grunted in response. Damn, his cock was like steel and his balls heavy weights beneath it. Kristoff pressed his hips into the mattress, trying to alleviate some of the tension in his shaft. The rhythmic movements of his cock meeting the bed reminded him too much of fucking and he had to stop or he would have surely come right then and there. Continuing the slow circles around her hard little nub at the top of her mound, he moved his tongue in and out of her, picturing his cock doing the same thing.

Yes, yes, baby. Lift your hips. Use my body to find your pleasure.
He groaned against her mound as she came undone beneath him. The saccharine flavored cream that spilled from her pussy coated his lips and made its way down his throat. He swallowed every last drop, growing high from the candied flavor that was all Veronica. He couldn’t remember anything tasting as good as her orgasm. When the last tremor worked its way through her body and she was left lying there replete and satisfied, he moved himself beside her and ran the pads of his fingers over her silky thigh. He could have lain there beside her all night, but all too soon she was pushing herself up and looking down at him. The honeyed tumble of hair fell around her and coupled with her pale, yet vibrant flesh she looked like an angel before him. When her hands went for the button of his pants everything around him froze. Gone was the timid virgin that had just come all over his mouth. Here sat a wanton vixen, looking down at him like she was the one that was starving and he was her last meal.