His Gift 1(11)
What was I doing? Why was I obeying him?
Was it the soft animal whisper in his voice that said I want you? Was it that which tempted me?
“Jake.”
It was the first time I’d said his name. It seemed to stun him. His fingers froze their caress.
“Why did you call me that?” he asked.
“Your… it’s your name.”
“Don’t use my name.”
“What?” I furrowed my brows, confused. “Then what do I call y—”
“Don’t call me anything.”
“Don’t call you anything?” I repeated.
“You can call me Sir. But only if you must. Otherwise, try not to use my name.”
“I’ll try.”
That, at least, was one thing I could do. I could try to do this for him, no matter how weird it seemed. Don’t call him Jake. Alright.
“Let me see you, Lacey.”
“Should I… I mean, are we in private? The door’s not locked.” I bit my lip, a nervous thrill of fear sending strong vibrations through my nervous system.
“Does that matter to you?”
“What? Wh—yes! Of course it matters.”
“I’m a stranger to you,” he said. “Isn’t that right?”
“Yes.”
“And another stranger seeing you, wouldn’t that be the same?”
NO!
The voice in my head was louder than anything, even instinct. It sang through my skull.
No, it wouldn’t be the same.
No, you’re more than that.
You are different.
Different. Yes. There was a calm confidence to him that I still couldn’t place a finger on. He stood, his fingers stroking my skin in a slow contemplation. It seemed as though he was living entirely in this one moment, his senses soaking in all of the room. Soaking in me.
“If I’d known I was going to be putting on a show tonight, I would have worn matching underwear,” I said, smiling weakly.
“You’re doing fine,” he said. “More than fine.”
His eyes ate me up; they gnawed my body.
“I want to show you off,” he said.
“What?” Show me off?
“I want to peel you naked and lay you down in front of a hundred people and take you for myself. I want to lick your hot cunt.”
“Sir.”
The word was a shadow of a gasp. I had no breath in me. No, it wasn’t only one breath. It was the whole world. All of the air was gone and I was gasping at nothing.
The walls spun. I blinked, then again, trying to focus.
“Forgive me for being so blunt this early with you. I’m sure you’ll understand.”
“I have to go.”
The words tore from my throat. Jake stared at me with a blank look on his face.
“See, I have a new job,” I said, sputtering as I bent down to pick up the bra. I kept one arm covering my breasts. How effective it was, I didn’t know. I wasn’t about to look up before I had both arms crossed in front of me again. “I’m starting tonight, after I leave here.”
“Who says you’re leaving?”
His eyes turned dark.
“What do you mean? I say I’m leaving. That’s how it works,” I said. I pulled on my bra and had my dress up around my shoulders in two seconds.
“Lacey, you aren’t leaving.”
He said it kindly, but there was a certainty to the statement that made my pulse thud harder.
“You’re starting to scare me,” I warned. It wasn’t fear, though, that ran through me.
“Good. I’ll like that. I think you’ll like it, too.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take very good care of you. If I scare you, you’ll enjoy it.”
His tongue slipped over his bottom lip, wetting it. I couldn’t help but imagine what he would taste like. Mint and spice, rough like cinnamon bark.
It felt insane. I stood there calmly, barefoot. This man, this stranger had just seen me as close to naked as anyone ever had. And now he was telling me that he wanted to scare me.
Instead of fear, I felt stabs of curiosity when he spoke. He didn’t seem like he would hurt me. He seemed so calm, so assured. It was… it was thrilling.
I zipped up my dress quickly and tugged the hem back down around my hips.
“Really, though. I have to go.”
“I’ll let you go on one condition.”
“A condition?” I tilted my chin up toward his face. His cool emerald irises shimmered with silver specks. His eyes were cold, but his gaze burned my skin.
“Only one condition.”
“What is it?”
“Let me make you come.”
He smiled slowly, letting his words sink into me.
“Then,” he said, “I’ll let you go.”