Crave Me Read online

  “And what have you been told about me?” I couldn’t help myself. My hands curled into fists to beat back the urge to press my hand to her waist, skim it up her ribcage to just beneath her breasts. Were they as full as they appeared? Would her nipples pebble if I brushed my thumb over them?

  Her confidence faltered and she licked her lips. Her champagne glass trembled before she held it tighter.

  “Well?” I asked when she didn’t answer. I took another step forward. Close enough to touch her. Close to enough to inhale the soft, fresh scent of her perfume. My dick hardened from the sight of her and the scent. This was how I liked my women.

  A little bit timid. A whole lot submissive.

  She rolled her shoulders back, trying to gather confidence that wasn’t there. A way to make herself appear taller even when she was almost a foot shorter than me, in heels.

  God, she was tiny. Breakable to someone like me. It only made me want to get closer.

  “I know you’re a man who knows how to please a woman in...unconventional ways.” She licked her lips and glanced away from me.

  No sense in getting shy on me now. I didn’t know whether to be irritated or yank her against my chest and scold her for being so forward. It was the last rule a woman who knew anything about me should do.

  “And what, Little Bird?” I gestured toward the cluster of peacock feathers sparking out from one side of her mask. “You want to play with me?”

  She stepped forward. There were only inches between us and heat swirled. It’d been a long time, possibly years, since I’d experienced this kind of connection with a woman. She was playing games and I was at a severe disadvantage. This wasn’t ever the role I took. But as she reached out and slid her small hand down my forearm to my hand, I didn’t care.

  She was beautiful. Tiny.

  I could teach her everything I liked. She obviously wanted it.

  “Yes,” she whispered, her soft voice gone husky and wobbly. Her gaze lifted to me and even in the dark night, the lights from the museum made her blue eyes sparkle and shine. “I want you to play with me.”

  Chloe

  Oh my God. I was doing this. I couldn’t believe I was doing this. I couldn’t believe I was saying these things, but as soon as I recognized Simon Delgado outside on the patio, and alone, I knew this could be my only chance.

  I wasn’t even expecting him to be here, but lucky me, here we were. Years ago, I’d met Simon and watched him fall in love with someone else. It had killed, but considering the woman had been my sister, I also hadn’t had a choice. When they broke up, that had killed, too. Mostly because the small friendship I had created with Simon had evaporated with their relationship. Perhaps it was wrong of me to approach him now. I’m sure in some Sister Code Handbook, or Guys’ Code Handbook, exes and siblings weren’t allowed, but I barely had a relationship with my sister anymore. Cassie took off from Grand Rapids shortly after they broke up for a job offer, and she was too busy and so focused on becoming partner at her law firm, she didn’t return home unless it was a holiday.

  Yet, despite my sister and how much I’d always cared about Simon, I still couldn’t believe how I was acting. None of this forward stuff, girls hitting on guys stuff, was how I behaved.

  When he stepped outside earlier, I’d excused myself from my friend, Tyra, and her husband before I lost my nerve. If he recognized me, he’d walk away from me so fast my head would spin.

  I’d already slipped by calling him by his name. From everything I’d heard about Simon, he made the rules. When he commanded, women listened.

  Except for one, anyway.

  His eyes had widened behind his black mask that covered half his face. He looked different without his typical plastic-framed glasses, but I’d recognize Simon anywhere. From the first night I met him, until he disappeared from my life three years ago, I had only seen him a dozen times, usually on my breaks from college. It was just enough time for him leave a deep and everlasting impression on me.

  Or in my fantasies when I was alone.

  “So, Little Bird.” Good Lord. His voice was as beautiful as I remembered it being. “What exactly would you like me to do to you?”

  We didn’t have time for me to list the things I wanted him doing to me, but I had started this and I had to follow through. I had to at least try.

  “I want you to teach me how to submit.”

  His shoulders jerked back at my bold declaration and his lips parted before he quickly erased the look of surprise from his expression. I had been too forward, too pushy. I recognized my mistake as soon as he scowled.

  “You don’t have a submissive bone in your body.”

  I reached out for him again, brushed my fingertips over his forearm. “Please, Simon.”

  His wrist twisted and he grabbed my hand, squeezing mine firmly in his tight grip. “Who are you? You’re familiar to me.” His gaze tore from mine and he scanned the patio before coming back to me. “I don’t appreciate these games. Either remove your mask, tell me your name, or walk away.”

  I couldn’t do either of those things. I wouldn’t. This was my only chance and even though I already assumed I’d blown it, I closed the space between us, brushed my chest against his. He was scowling at me, but not pushing me away. Seemed like a good sign to me.

  “I will,” I whispered. “But will you kiss me first? Just once?”

  I hated the pleading in my tone, borderline begging to my own ears, but I fought against cringing from it. His touch was too delicious. Warming my exposed skin through the heat rolling off him. The firmness of his chest against mine was everything I’d imagined. As he shifted his weight, brushed against me, my nipples hardened beneath my thin dress.

  His shoulders dropped and his fierce expression dissipated. He settled his other hand on my hip.

  “One kiss? That’s all you want.”

  His beautiful voice rumbled over me. His grip tightened, fingertips digging into the flesh just inside my hipbone.

  He was strong. Dominant. I wanted to be his more than I wanted my next breath.

  “Please.” A mere whisper of a breath was all I could summon.

  My body shivered from the freezing air and his closeness.

  “I shouldn’t. You’re trouble.”

  I couldn’t disagree. Everything about this screamed trouble and worst decision ever. It’d explode like fireworks when he found out.

  I said nothing. I waited. And soon, his head dipped, tilted to the side. His mask scratched against mine just before his breath skated across my cheek.

  Closer. So close I could inhale the scent of his cologne, the crisp lingering scent of champagne on his breath. I trembled as his lips brushed against the corner of my mouth. Warm and thick, full lips I’d imagined all over my body.

  “Enough?” His voice rumbled.

  I shook my head. It was too much and not nearly enough. My entire body was thrumming with need and anticipation.

  “Very well,” he whispered, in that deep growly voice of his. I’d imagined it directed at me for years. I shivered again, unable to stop it and his hand fell from mine before he pressed it to the side of my neck. Firmly, he held me in place.

  Then his lips were on mine, soft and exploratory. I melted against him, mewled when his tongue slid against my lips. I parted them eagerly, willingly, and then I tasted him. He was cold from the air and the time spent outside, but he quickly warmed as he deepened the kiss. His hand on my hip skimmed upward, running along the side of my ribs until it settled just beneath the side of my breast. His other hand dug into my hair and gripped me tighter.

  A groan slipped from my throat and I arched into him, pressing myself against his chest, his body. I touched him everywhere I could reach, caressing him until I landed at his lower back. I embraced him, taking and accepting and giving back everything he w
as doing to me, hoping like hell he was having the same response.

  His kiss made hope soar into my chest, tasted like dreams coming true and it was beautiful. So beautiful that when he ended the kiss and pulled back, I stumbled into him, my knees too weak to hold me.

  I reached for him, feeling his hands at the back of my head, but I was too slow to stop him.

  He set me back abruptly, a glare in his eyes only partially shielded by his mask, and in his hand, he held mine.

  “Chloe?” He growled my name like a curse. Blinking rapidly, he wiped the taste of me away from his lips with the back of his hand. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “Simon.”

  I could only imagine the tongue-lashing he was going to give me.

  I had no excuse for what I’d just done. No good one, anyway. I still tried. “Please. Just let me explain, Simon.”

  “You’ve got to be fucking shitting me, right now,” he growled and cursed again. Pain flashed across his face like I’d punched him and made him breathless.

  His hands went to his hair and he tugged harshly before staring at me and cursing at me again. “What game are you playing, Chloe? You plan this? Plan on running back to Cassie to tell her I assaulted you, too?”

  “No.” I shook my head and took a step forward. He stepped back, out of my reach, hands raised to hold me back.

  “Don’t. Don’t you dare come near me.” His voice rose with every word until he was almost shouting at me. “I can’t believe this shit.”

  “I know it’s awkward, all of it, this night, this moment, but if you’d let me—”

  “Hell no,” he snapped, making me jump back. “There is no way in hell I’m ever teaching you or touching you again, Chloe. I don’t know what in the hell you were trying to do tonight, but I’ve already been screwed over by one Reynolds sister. I’m certainly not going to risk it happening again.”

  He turned and moved past me, his pace brusque and fierce. I spun, watched him yank open the door to the museum and as it closed behind him, my gaze fell to the patio.

  Was it possible for your heart to be ripped from your chest and stomped on with only words?

  Tears blurred my vision.

  I’d just royally, completely, messed up any minuscule chance I had with Simon Delgado.

  Chapter Two

  Simon

  Six Months Later—October

  After a quick scan around the large meeting room at Luminous, the private kink club where I was a member, I sauntered to the bar intent on getting a drink. On the way, I ignored the interested looks from unattached submissives and gave quick chin lifts to other Doms.

  I’d been a member at Luminous for the last three years. After Cassie, I wasn’t willing to risk getting burned again by introducing the kind of sex life I wanted to just any woman. The threat of being charged with sexual assault after I’d spanked Cassie and scared the shit out of her was enough to send me running to the club. Never mind the fact we’d talked about everything we were going to do beforehand. I’d tried to make sure it was something she was willing to try. We’d had conversations, many of them, when I cautiously broached where my interests were heading during sex. She’d seemed like a completely willing participant until the second spank had seared her backside. Instead of stopping our experiment, something I totally thought she was up for based on previous conversations, she’d ended our relationship with the threat of sexual assault charges if I ever came near her again.

  At Luminous, I enjoyed the sex life I craved while searching for the kind of woman I wanted. Unfortunately, none of the subs I’d been with in private or outside the club walls, left any lingering desire to get to know them further once the sexual escapades were done and my heart rate returned to normal.

  Until six months ago.

  Enough. If I lingered too long on Chloe and the night at the museum, I could still taste her on my tongue, smell the cinnamon on her breath, and feel the silkiness of her hair between my fingers.

  She’d messed with my head and I was still pissed at her for throwing herself at me and for that one small kiss I still couldn’t forget.

  The bartender, Marissa, nodded as I grabbed her attention. She instantly went to work making my standard drink. It wasn’t just the benefit of being a regular at a private, membership-only club. I’d had her ass, currently clad in a tight and short leather skirt, in my hands on more than one occasion. Like me, Marissa was searching for something more than one night. We’d long since realized we weren’t a match outside the bedroom, but occasionally we found ourselves tangled up in sheets, generally while she was tied up.

  She slid a vodka tonic in front of me.

  “You’re looking particularly attractive tonight, sir,” she said, and winked. Her offer was clear and for a moment, I considered taking her to a room when her shift was over so I could paddle her. She loved it just as much as I did, and always chose the wooden paddle over a gentler flogger.

  But I wasn’t in the mood for her, not tonight, hadn’t been for six months. Her short, dark hair and amber-colored eyes were a complete contrast to the look of a woman I couldn’t forget regardless of how hard I tried.

  “Thanks, Marissa.”

  She took the brush off as I intended her to before turning to help another customer. I took a sip of my drink and set it down on the bar right as a hand slapped me on the shoulder.

  “Hey Simon, how’s the hockey season going?”

  I turned and grinned at Jensen Rhodes. He had left the club for over two years before he returned earlier this year. Now he had a beautiful brunette on his arm at all times. And in addition to her normal beauty, tonight she was extra sparkly.

  He’d collared her. Something like jealousy spiked in my veins as my gaze drifted from Jensen to his sub, Haley. She was sweet and kind, had only been a sub to Jensen, and was the main reason he’d returned to Luminous after his last relationship with a sub had gone glaringly wrong. Now, several months after being together, I’d never seen the man happier.

  “Starts next week.” I said hello to Haley and focused my attention on Jensen. He was an asshole lawyer, arrogant and one of the richest men in Grand Rapids. He was also a good friend. “Tryouts went well, though, and I think we have a shot at State this year.”

  On top of being a high school teacher, I was also the Varsity Hockey Coach. The love of hockey had run through my veins since I was barely old enough to stand, much less skate, and it was only one more reason I had to be circumspect with who I chose to play with. No way was I risking a woman misunderstanding my desires like Cassie had and finding myself on the front pages of the Grand Rapids Press for sexual assault.

  It’d kill my career. No one wanted a sexual pervert teaching their kids hockey, even if everything I did was consensual. Dirty, kinky, and rough, but always consensual.

  “You’ll get there, you barely missed it last year,” Jensen said.

  “Yeah, let’s hope. We’ve got the talent. I just need to rein in their determination and focus a bit.” I nodded toward Haley who was standing next to him, gesturing toward her collar with the tip of my glass. “I see you have your own celebrating to do tonight, though.”

  His grin went wicked. “You bet we do.”

  “Congratulations man.” I knocked my glass against his and we both took a drink. “Happy for you.”

  “Thanks, long time coming, I think. And speaking of...” He turned toward Haley and gained her attention. “Ready?”

  She dipped her chin. “Yes, sir.”

  Desire flared in my gut. Not for Haley, but for that. Her instant submission was a thing of beauty.

  Jensen’s jaw went tight and his shoulders pulled back.

  “Ready for what?”

  Another muscle jumped in his cheek. “It’s Haley’s birthday. Tonight, she gets to decide where t
o play.”

  His discomfort was obvious. Jensen was a man who didn’t like to share. He didn’t like anyone, men or women, looking at his woman. Tonight, with Haley dressed in a tight black dress that barely covered her ass and breasts. High stiletto red heels with ribbons crisscrossed her ankles and up her calves, tied with a bow in the back. They’d be the center of attention.

  “You’re playing? Publicly?”

  “Yup. And if I’m correct, I believe my sub is getting antsy.” His voice held a hint of humor, edged with irritation. It said a lot about him and the kind of man he was. He’d give Haley anything she wanted or needed, even if he wasn’t thrilled about it. I’d bet a hundred dollars he’d be punishing her for it later, though. I’d bet a hundred more she’d love every second of it.

  Haley shifted on her heels. She trembled, showing her nerves, but her teasing grin proved her excitement.

  “See you later, man,” he said.

  Haley was beautiful. A delicious sub, and from what Jensen had said, the only thing she was ever afraid of was disappointing him.

  I would give my left nut to watch him play with her, see her beauty in person. “Now this, I’ve gotta see.”

  As he walked away, I drained my glass and waited for a few moments before following them to the playrooms. Scanning the rooms as I went, disappointment tightened my stomach. In six months, I hadn’t found a woman I wanted to play with. The unattached subs had started melting together until they all appeared the same. Attractive. Too eager. Not blonde enough or tiny enough.

  Damn it.

  I needed a release, and if I could only get it from watching Jensen and Haley, it’d have to work until I could get home and take care of it myself. Hopefully, I wouldn’t envision Chloe and her full lips wrapped around my cock as I did so.

  * * *

  Three playrooms were upstairs at Luminous. The first room generally held monogamous or claimed couples and it was a place for them to show off their skills. Typically, the voyeurs in the room were newer to the life and it was an easy to way for them to grow more accustomed and comfortable with the lifestyle while they watched various forms of sexual play. I walked through the room and didn’t find Haley and Jensen where I expected them to be.