…
With each button, Caroline’s heart pounded faster within her chest, until it drowned out her accelerated breathing. Every so often, his fingers would brush over the thin lace material of her bra, sending a jolt of electricity to her core. Her nipples were stiff, painfully so, by the time he finished. Between her legs, the heaviness grew intolerable. She could actually feel herself dampening second by second, a warm, delicious flood of heat that pressing her thighs together wouldn’t alleviate. Wanting to shout at him to hurry, she bit her lip to remain silent.
Jonah rewarded her by tossing the shirt onto the floor. Then in one swift motion, he yanked her skirt down to her ankles. The unexpected action made her gasp. Her eyes flew open. Suddenly, Jonah had her facing the wall and was flush behind her again. He’d removed his shirt, and being in contact with those muscles encased by hot flesh felt like nothing she’d ever experienced. He was smooth and hard and wonderful at the same time. She wanted to turn around and get an eyeful, but their positions prevented her.
“I told you to keep your eyes closed, Caroline.” Her eyes snapped shut, but not quickly enough. “If I were your master, this is when I’d be turning your perky backside a bright shade of pink. But I’m not. And why am I not enjoying that privilege?”
“Because I asked you not to,” she gasped.
He laid an open-mouthed kiss on her neck. “That will always be the case. Relax and try to trust me.” His palms smoothed over her bottom, molding the flesh in his big hands, turning her insides to jelly. “It’ll be worth it.”
His presence at her back disappeared briefly. Feet braced shoulder-width apart, hands high on the wall, wearing nothing but her black bra and panties and high heels, Caroline felt incredibly exposed. She waited for humiliation to streak through her system, but shockingly, none appeared. It felt as though someone else inhabited her body, someone who craved being on display, knowing with full confidence Jonah liked what he saw. If she were even one iota more conscious, Caroline imagined she would be ashamed of herself. But Caroline had apparently left the building. Her usual fastidious, control-freak self hovered above, watching with rapt interest. Yet Hover Caroline somehow experienced every lick of anticipation, heat, and incessant need just as intensely as her daring replacement.
Music began to play, filling the room. It was a Radiohead song. Dark, winding, and bass-heavy. A moment later, when Caroline felt the feather skim across her belly, her breath caught on a whimper, but the sound was swallowed by the pulsing music. Another simple, light dusting over her navel and yet somehow, it made her sag against the wall. Jonah gripped her hips and steadied her immediately. She wanted more of his touch on her fevered skin, but it left her, once again replaced by the feather. It swirled up and down her belly and ribcage until her stomach began to tremble.
Finally, she felt Jonah’s hand coast up her abdomen and unfasten her bra at the front with a twist of his wrist. Caroline somehow resisted opening her eyes to witness his powerful hand in such close proximity to her breasts, but she felt the wispy material caress her leg as it fell to the floor without a sound.
“I’m going to leave your sexy panties on for now,” Jonah rasped in her ear. He swirled the feather around one hardened nipple, and Caroline had to bite her lip to keep from moaning. “Another contradiction. I watched you sit down at the bar and cross your legs as tight as a drum. Now I see you’re wearing panties that barely cover your pussy.”
His use of such a raw term sent a shudder racing through her. “They came with the matching set,” she managed.
“Caroline?” He glided the feather up the inside of her thigh. “Shut up.”
Her surprised laughter came out in a rush, but it turned to a groan when Jonah dragged the feather against her damp panties. It was exquisite torture that made her sex clench. And it wasn’t nearly enough. The barrier of her underwear muted the sensation. Without second-guessing herself, Caroline curled her fingers around the edge of her panties and yanked them down her thighs, praying he would find some way to give her relief soon.
Behind her, Jonah growled. In warning or approval, she didn’t know. She felt his breath, warm and harsh, on her neck. “Impatient girl. I’m trying to take this slow and you’re making it goddamn impossible.”
“Touch me.” Caroline Preston was actually begging. She couldn’t care less. Throwing caution to the wind, she met his eyes over her shoulder. “Please, Jonah.”
His tortured gaze fell to her mouth. “I left your panties on as a reminder not to fuck you senseless against the wall. What’s going to stop me now?”