He fucking asked! Stupid.
“No… have you? Been with other women? I probably don’t want to know how many, right?”
“No, Ella. I haven’t been with anyone since you,” he admits and before he can watch her eyes reflect the dawning comprehension of what those words mean, he quickly dives down, kissing her between her legs, getting her mind off the exchange they should never have just had… but that he’s so glad they did.
She hasn’t been with anyone else. There was room for hope.
He’ll reward her for her fealty with an outstanding orgasm. The piece of lacy fabric between her clit and his tongue serves only to drive her frustration ever higher as it prevents a complete connection. Her body burns hotter, so hot it’s nearly on fire. When he thinks she’s had enough teasing, he slides the panties down her legs, gripping her thighs so there’s no room for her to move, no outlet for the tension, and his relentless tongue sends her into a screaming climax. He looks up to watch; he can’t remember ever being as hard as he is right now, seeing her come undone. When her breath returns, she looks at him with glazed eyes. “Why am I naked and you still have all your clothes on?”
He points to the top of the bed. “Move up, baby. My clothes are coming off.”
She sidles up to the top and center of the mattress as he sheds his clothes quickly and efficiently and unfurls a condom. Lying on top of her, he takes her hands and brings them over her head, wrapping her fingers around the iron posts of the headboard. “Keep them there, no matter what I do. Can you do that?”
She nods. He chuckles—she’d probably agree to anything right now.
“Open your legs. Wider.” She complies and he leans back to bend her knees, pushing her legs up as far as they’ll comfortably go. “Leave them in that position; don’t move them an inch.”
She nods again and licks her lips. “No cuffs or ropes?”
“I don’t need them—you’re bound by my will. Just as effective. Do you like it, Ella?”
“Yes. What happens if I move?”
“Torment.”
“No whips, right?”
Her question stings him. “No. Of course not.”
“So,” she says hurriedly, as if anxious to move past the moment, “torment.” She smiles sweetly. “Don’t move. Got it.”
“We’ll see,” he says, an evil smile animating his face as he moves in toward her.
Two hours in bed with Ella—Ian definitely considers it a night well spent. An entire year of wanting her and missing her, of monkish celibacy… but tonight all of the suffering seems worth it. He looks down at her, dozing in the crook of his arm and thinks that maybe, possibly, he could marry this one, make a life with her. But how would that ever happen if he were afraid to let her know how he felt about her? He just can’t do it.
She sleeps for about a half hour and when she wakes, he wraps her in a silk kimono and throws on his jeans and they go to scare up some food. They take the laden plates with them into the living room and he turns on the television.
“Well, you spent a lot of time in the UK. Want to watch Little Britain?”
“How did you know I did? I don’t recall mentioning it.”
“How did I know? Hmmm.” His grin is downright devilish. “I don’t suppose you’re aware of my superior stalking skills, Madame.”
“So you knew where I was then?”
“That time I actually had to hire a professional. You certainly covered your bases quite well.”
“If you went to the trouble of locating me, why didn’t you contact me?”
“Not that I’m avoiding it, but do you suppose we can table this conversation until next time? I’m not feeling up for it right now.”
“Okay,” she shrugs slightly and grins happily at him. “I feel agreeable tonight—for some strange reason.”
“Do you? I wonder why, Ms. Strong. Could it be the gentle waves lapping at the houseboat that are lulling you into a good mood?”
“Yes, I’m sure that’s it. Definitely. Okay, so Little Britain it is.”
Inching closer to her on the sofa, Ian flicks on the show with the remote and then angles his body so he could look at Ella.
“So now that you’ve had time to process it, what do you think about what you saw in the club?”
She shakes her head. “Still horrified. I just don’t understand why people put themselves through such humiliation and pain. The whole public aspect of it probably bothers me the most. Some things should be private—always.”
“Hmm, for some people, yes. Not for others.”