Beyond Eden (20 page)

“Maybe you just haven’t learned how,” Danny mused thoughtfully as he tilted his head back, blowing smoke upward.

“I’m almost thirty. I’ve been around the block a time or two. Trust me, it can’t be done. I’ve tried.”

“I bet I could make you do it.”

Eve looked to Danny, who had one dark eyebrow arched at her challengingly, but she forgot the challenge as she stared at him. He looked beautiful standing there barefoot and bare-chested with the lake behind him. The dying sun glimmered in his dark hair and reflected off his smooth, tanned shoulders. He matched the rugged beauty of the house and lake. He belonged here in this small haven of wild, untamed magnificence that had remained unscathed by supercenters and subdivisions.

“I want to paint you,” Eve said softly. “Would you let me?”

He lifted his eyes lazily to her, appearing to consider that as he took another drag off his cigarette. “I thought you were working on wildlife and scenery. You said that’s what sells in Florida.”

“I don’t care,” she said as she continued to study him. He was so nice on her artist eyes. It was making her muse go crazy. “I need to paint you. Please say you’ll let me.”

“I’ll make you a deal,” he said with one of his devious smirks that Eve had come to learn meant he was up to something. “You turn your body over to me for an entire afternoon and I’ll let you paint me.”

Eve laughed. “Sounds like a deal to me. I turn my body over to you every afternoon.”

“Oh, no,” Danny said in a low, taunting voice. “I’m talking total submission. I want to use your body as my own personal playground without an ounce of complaint from you. You’ll be my slave.”

“Kinky,” Eve said as she felt a hot rush of desire. The back of her neck burned and the hair on her arms stood on end. She enjoyed games as much as anyone but she had her reservations. “Are we talking bondage?”

“Bondage is a definite possibility.” Danny let his eyes run over her in a hot, possessive sweep as he gave her a dark smile. “Among other things.”

Eve felt her breathing fall shallow because she had never been opposed to a little bondage, quite the opposite in fact. It had been a very long time since she had found the right partner to play naughty games with. Eve liked things dark and kinky and Danny had proven to be a mind-blowing fuck no matter what they tried. There was no reason why this would be any different. The idea of adding something new to a menu that was already very satisfying was turning her on like crazy but she held herself back, wanting to make sure she knew what she was getting herself into.

“What’s your instrument of torture? I need to know before I agree.”

“Pleasure,” he said slowly as he licked his lips and let his eyes run over her once more.

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“You’re on,” Eve said with a smile. A surge of adrenaline shot through her as she reacted to the idea of putting herself completely in Danny’s hands, of letting him own her body for the afternoon and toy with it however he saw fit. Her boring lake painting was forgotten as her pussy throbbed. She was already wet for whatever pleasurable torture he had planned. “Let’s start now.”

“No,” Danny said in a hard, demanding voice that both shocked and thrilled her. “I’ll decide when and I’ll let you know.”

Eve’s mind had run wild with anticipation for their little exchange of favors. She wanted to capture Danny’s essence with paint and he wanted to capture her body with pleasure. Sounded like fun to her and she found herself pining for the moment when Danny would deem them ready.

He must have known how excited she was, how much she was yearning and anticipating being at the mercy of Danny’s talented, capable hands because four full days went by without a mention of their agreement. Eve got the distinct impression he was making her wait on purpose, torturing her with the anticipation. Sure, they fucked and it was awesome as usual, but it wasn’t what she had secretly been fantasizing about

ever since he had asked for permission to use her body as a playground. Even with the fucking, she still masturbated every night, rubbing her fingers against her clit and coming with her lip between her teeth to keep from crying out as she imagined it was Danny’s fingers tormenting her.

What she really needed was a vibrator. She was going to get early arthritis if she kept fingering herself as much as she had been. She used to have a whole closet full of fun things to play with, but that was back in New York, when she lived like a real grown-up without an overbearing mother who hovered and checked under her bed for anything that would give her a one-way ticket to hell.

“I need a vibrator,” Eve moaned over a late breakfast Danny had cooked for her. The food was good, but she wasn’t hungry. She gave in to the frustration that had been mounting all week and complained, “My fingers are sore. How can I paint if my fingers are sore?”

She stuck her bottom lip out to pout and looked up at Danny who had turned around from his work at washing the dishes.

“Why are you masturbating?” he asked, his voice ringing with disappointment as he grabbed a towel to dry his hands. “Don’t I fuck you enough?”

Eve nodded, her bottom lip still pouting in misery. “You do, but I’m still frustrated. I have to sleep alone and I miss you. I need a Danny replacement for when you’re not around.”

He snorted and shook his head sadly. “You are a dirty girl. You want it all the time, don’t you?”

“Yeah,” she said slowly, giving him a lazy, indulgent smile. “You want to give it to me now?”

He looked down at her plate. She had only eaten a few bites of her Spanish omelet and her home fries were untouched. “I might—if you eat your breakfast like a good girl.”

“You’re gonna make me fat,” Eve said as she picked up her fork and took a bite. She chewed quickly and then grinned. “Good enough?”

“You work out six days a week. You won’t get fat. Eat at least half,” he said as he sat down next to her and reached under the table, caressing her thigh. “Then I’ll give you a surprise.”

“Really?” she asked, giving him a wide, excited smile. “You bought me something?”

“I did,” he said, his fingers trailing underneath the line of her shorts and rubbing back and forth against her bare thigh teasingly. “I wish you’d let me buy you a car.”

“No,” Eve said with a roll of her eyes as she stabbed at her potatoes. “You’re not my sugar daddy.”

“Your car is a piece of shit. I don’t think it’s safe. It worries me that you drive it,” Danny said imploringly. “Really, it bothers me. I don’t want to lose someone else I love like that.”

Eve looked up from her breakfast, giving him a soft look as her heart clenched in both happiness and sorrow. Danny really did love her. He cared and worried over her and she adored him for it. She hated that life had been cruel to him by taking away his mother so brutally. He didn’t deserve that.

She reached over, cupping his cheeks in her hands softly. “I love you too.” He smiled, his dark eyes glowing. “Let me buy you a car.”

“Kiss,” Eve said, putting her finger to his full, soft lips.

He kissed her finger and then grabbed her hand, tugging it closer and kissing the inside of her wrist. “You’re avoiding the question.”

“Kiss, kiss,” she said, pulling her hand out of his grasp and tapping her finger against his lips.

He kissed the tip of her finger twice and spoke against it, “You do that when you’re trying to shut me up.”

“Kiss.”

Danny growled against her finger but kissed it one more time and then stood. He went back to the dishes while Eve finished her food. Once she set her mind to it, she ate well, enjoying Danny’s cooking as always. Her plate was almost clean when she finally groaned in defeat and pushed it away from her.

“Now I’m full and lazy,” she complained. “I was supposed to get some painting done today.”

“You don’t feel like painting?”

“Not really, no,” she said, brushing the fine hairs that had escaped her braids away from her forehead. It was hot out and she usually braided her hair into pigtails when she planned to be outside and painting because it kept her long, heavy hair off her neck. “I know I’m finally making some money here, but I am so bored with scenic paintings. One can only paint so many sunsets and oceans and trees. Maybe I’ll do something cutesy, paint some sandals or something. Floridians love those beachy, sandal paintings. God, what I wouldn’t give to paint something really dark and erotic.”

“Like me?” Danny suggested with an evil smirk.

“Yeah, like you.” Eve stared longingly at Danny from across the table. “When are you going to let me paint you?”

“When you fulfill your end of the bargain.”

“I’m ready and waiting, big boy,” Eve said, holding up her hands expectantly.

Danny crossed his arms over his chest as he regarded her. There was something in his eyes suddenly, a sobering darkness she had never seen in him before. He looked sinister, like he was the god of his universe, one who got whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it.

He seemed more arrogant and cocky than usual and Eve felt a rush of fiery desire pool inside her and she had to fight the urge to shift in her seat. She was bold by nature, but she found herself lowering her eyes after a moment because the way he was looking at her felt positively sinful.

“Stand up, let me look at you,” he said in a voice that made it clear he expected her to obey him.

Eve pushed away from the table and stood. Danny crooked his finger to beckon her as he used his foot to push his chair back from the table. Eve walked around the table to stand directly in front of him. She tilted her head and gave him a look of annoyance.

“Like what you see?” she asked, her voice sharp with the edge of desire she was trying to hide from him. “Do I pass inspection?”

Eve wasn’t dressed in anything spectacular, just an old pair of rolled-up khaki shorts and one of Danny’s old t-shirts she used to paint in. She felt conspicuous under Danny’s intense stare, with his body slouched low in the chair, those long legs stretched out casually in front of him as if the whole world was supposed to bow at his feet.

“You look very cute today, Evie Girl,” Danny finally said in voice that was extra silky smooth, even for him. “Would you like to amuse me rather than paint?”

“Sure,” she said, her shoulders slumping under the heavy weight of desire washing over her. It was coiling in her now, tightening in pent-up frustration and again she had to fight the urge to shift in excitement. She wanted to rip her clothes off and jump Danny right then. She suddenly felt as if she’d die if she didn’t have him in her immediately because the throb between her legs had become insistent and demanding. “I’m all yours.”

He nodded, still staring at her as he slouched lower in the chair, his arms still crossed over his chest. “Sometimes you remind me of a puppy, so sweet and cuddly and full of energy. But your mind is all over the place. You lack patience and you have absolutely no concept of obedience,” he mused quietly, almost to himself. Then he lifted his eyes to her. That sinister aura was pulsing off him now, making a small chasm of fear open up inside her. “Am I going to have to break you to get your obedience?”

Eve shook her head as fear swelled up in her more, melding with desire and boiling up inside her, making all her nerves stand on end. She felt as if the threads of fear and desire were wrapping around her, making her want to shift and move to shake them off. Part of her wanted to flee, to brush him off and say she had painting to do, but she stood rooted to the spot because she had never felt such a rush of pure, unadulterated longing.

“Your cheeks are pink,” Danny said softly. “Are you scared?” “Yes,” Eve said, feeling her cheeks burn hotter. “A little.”

“Dogs trust their owners. Slaves trust their Masters,” Danny went on as he continued to hold her to the floor with his penetrating gaze. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes,” she rasped, finding that her breathing was shallow in fear and excitement.

He smiled, looking pleased. “Good. This will be a fun little adventure.” “Do I need a safe word or something?” she asked curiously.

“Nope,” he said, his eyes narrowed. “If you trusted me, you wouldn’t have asked for it. I’m disappointed.”

She lowered her eyes, finding herself genuinely hurt by disappointing him when this was only a game. Confusion welled up in her because this all felt shockingly real. This was more than role-playing. This wasn’t college kids tying each other up with silk stockings and blindfolds and fumbling their way through some bubblegum version of dungeon play. This was the real deal. Eve had been fucking Danny for almost two months and had no idea he had the ability to dominate like this. He was a master at this game and Eve was more than a novice, she was completely virginal.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her eyes still downcast. “I won’t do it again.” “Undress,” he said in a low, angry voice. “Slaves who don’t trust their Masters

don’t deserve clothes.”

Eve reached down, grabbing the hem of her shirt and tugging it over her head, happy to be moving and doing something rather than stand there being scrutinized.

“Slow down,” he said when Eve tossed her shirt to the floor. “Don’t just rip your clothes off. Take them off slowly, like you’re unwrapping something important. You’re supposed to tantalize me with your beautiful body. It belongs to me. I want you to treat it with reverence.”

“O-okay,” Eve said, blinking at him and then looking down at herself in her old bra and her painting shorts. “But there isn’t much left to unwrap. I should be wearing something different.”

“I
own
you, Evie. You don’t just blurt out whatever you’re thinking,” Danny growled at her, his eyes narrowed as if she had just slapped him in the face. “Did you or did you not sell yourself to me for the privilege of painting me?”

“I did,” she whispered as her heart thundered against her ribs and her breathing became ragged. “I do want to paint you.”

“Do slaves just rattle off to their Masters whatever nonsense is rolling around in their heads?”

Eve shook her head furiously. “No.”

“No, Master,” he corrected her. “You better learn very quickly to respect and obey me. If you don’t, I’m going to be forced to teach it to you.”