Gilded Lily (3 page)

The layover made Lily’s body ache from sitting on the thinly cushioned metal chairs in the terminal. After taking an uncomfortable nap and trying to work out the kinks in her stiff neck, she was finally able to board the plane that would take her home. By the time they landed in Baton Rouge, it was three in the morning. She wearily made her way to the baggage claim as the other eager passengers rushed by to grab their luggage. By the time she reached the escalators, her body was ready to collapse. Overwhelmed with emotions and physical exhaustion, she held on to the wide rail as the moving stairs carried her down.

She looked up just in time to step off the last step. The heavy clutch in her chest eased. Tony was standing by the row of plastic chairs. A gentle burst of energy carried her over to where he was waiting.

“Tony,” she whispered as he encased her in his strong arms and pulled her against his warm chest. The tears that had threatened to fall all day soaked her cheeks. “He was my friend. I feel so empty. He’s not going to be there when I get home. He’s gone, Tony. He’s gone.” She wiped her eyes. “What are you doing here?”

He took her wet cheeks into his hands. “Poppet, I couldn’t leave you alone the whole night.”

Lily’s throat tightened. “Where’s Renee? I’ve never known a girlfriend to let her guy stay away from home so much. I’m surprised she hasn’t walked out by now.”

“She’s at home. She knows your training comes first. Don’t worry about anything. Let’s get you out of here and into bed.”

His voice sounded reassuring and full of comfort, as it always did. He let her lean on him as he held her close with his arm wrapped around her waist. He took the carry-on bag from her shoulder and walked her to his car.

“I was going to take a cab,” she said.

He helped her get settled and shut the door before letting himself in on the driver’s side. “I know, but I’m here to take care of you.”

Chapter Two

Tony left Lily next to the bed so he could start the bath water. As he walked through the large, cozy bedroom, he remembered the first time he’d been in her room. Lily had been so nervous that night. The memory of her naked, standing next to the bed brought a smile to his face.

She was so nervous the first time he gave her any type of instruction. The innocent way her tiny voice asked if she was doing this
right
or did he like when she did
that
was his undoing. Know her tender heart had prayed for so long for someone to train her properly brought him to his knees.

He flicked the light on the bathroom wall. The blush-pink and off-white colors sprang to life, making him feel at home as he sat on the edge of the marble tub and turned the brass knobs. She liked the bath water hot enough to blush her ivory skin. He’d learned that early on. Bath time was one of the things he enjoyed most about their visits. Renee, his girlfriend, had grown to love it too.

He reentered the bedroom to find Lily leaning against the bedpost, her shoulders slumped in exhaustion. “Sit down on the bed.”

Without a word, she did as he instructed and sat back on the covers. He knelt to remove her sling-back pumps. As he pressed his thumbs into the arches of her feet, he felt her legs start to bend. She closed her eyes as she tipped her temple against the bedpost. He knew she was tired. Since Nicholas’s death she hadn’t been sleeping well at all. Hell, she’d been a terrible sleeper before she ever got the devastating phone call. The news had only escalated the problem. He’d have to stay tonight so she could get some rest.

He gently urged, “Lie down.”

He helped her to recline into the nest of crimson-and-gold pillows as he managed to pull her skirt free and over her ankles. She had done as he’d asked and hadn’t worn panties. The simple command had eased a bit of her anxiety as she’d fumbled through the closet and drawers, trying to find something to wear. Watching her go through the motions was agonizing. Thoughts had raced through his mind. Taking the pain away was out of his control. The immense torment that he was failing her ate away at his core. He was her dominant trainer, here to ease the overwhelming feelings surging inside a heart so tender yet so strong. This would be his balm to soothe her. Letting the grief take a reprieve, the time had come to give her the one gift he had left. Himself.

The backs of her knees rested against the side of the mattress. His whole body tensed with the feel of her against him. She lay still as he unbuttoned her blouse. Taking a moment to admire her naked body, he pulled in a calming breath. Her breasts were round and plump, hips flared from a soft waistline. His gaze stalked the gentle slope of her stomach that led to the neatly trimmed patch of dark hair covering the lower part of her mound. Not fucking her was torture. Fucking her would be their destruction.

“Come with me,” he said and took her hand to help her up. The water was almost to the edge of the marble wall by the time they entered the bathroom. “Get in.”

“Thank you,” she murmured as she sank into the water. “I know you really don’t have time to do this.”

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You don’t have to thank me. Have I not always made time for you?”

She rested her neck on the edge of the tub as Tony took the soap from the metal dish on the small side table and lathered it between his hands. “Yes, you always make time for me, but I know the day’s going to come when you can’t.”

“Relax.” Tony tried to change the subject. “Just be quiet and rest.”

The first night he’d bathed her, it had taken him two hours. The way her soft laugh echoed reminded him of that night.

“What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing,” she said, and he sluiced the water over her breasts. “I like to watch you.”

“You like to watch everybody.” He placed the slippery soap back onto the tray. “Roll over.”

She moved and let the hot water receive her belly, making her wince. Her body melted as the pressure from his fingers massaged the small of her back and down farther over her backside to her thigh. A soft purr rippled from her lungs. He knew that only his hands could take away the pain, force her to relax.

“I’m sorry Renee couldn’t come this week,” he said as he lathered the soap between his hands. “She had a meeting and wasn’t able to get out of it.”

“I understand.”

Tony knew she understood, but he could still hear the disappointment in her voice. “She told me to help you tonight. That you needed a release.” His hand slid over the back of her thigh to rest against the inner slope of the firm flesh. It would only take the slightest slip and his fingertips could slide along the smooth skin of her pussy lips. “Do you?”

Lily turned her head to meet his stare. God, she truly was beautiful. Sure, she had the perfect hourglass frame. And those tits. But it was her eyes that always got him—as blue as the sun-drenched sky. They were haunting when the light hit them.

“Tony, you don’t usually—”

“I know, poppet. I know. But you could use the distraction right now.”

“Are you sure?”

Could she see how badly he needed to touch her? Had she seen the pain he felt on that first afternoon he’d given the task to Renee? “Don’t question me, poppet. You’re still my student, and yes, I’m sure,” he said. “Turn over.”

With soapy hands, Tony massaged her tender shoulders and down her arms, being careful to avoid her flushed breasts and taut nipples. He wanted to make her wait. Lily was right. He didn’t touch her often like this. He instructed Renee on his submissive’s pleasure. Tony didn’t want to confuse the situation between them. It had gotten confusing enough before Nicholas had arrived.

Lily was Tony’s, and he didn’t want anything to ruin their arrangement. She trusted him, and he’d never do anything to break that trust. Including letting her fall in love with him.

He handed her the bar of soap. “Now, wash your pussy for me. Slowly. I want to see your fingers.”

She lifted her hips out of the water so he could see every touch. The soap slipped between her slender fingers, making him think of how they’d wrap around his dick to slide up and down. His cock surged, forcing his balls to tighten and feel unbearable. He rubbed the heel of his palm against the front of his pants. Nothing fazed him. Not a bleed in the operating room. Not an angry patient. Not even Renee when she went on a rant. But this—watching his sub slide her fingers between her plump folds, washing the small nest of curls as he’d instructed—was his undoing. This fucking fazed the hell out of him.

Tony watched as she slipped one finger down the side of the pink folds. He groaned when his cock twitched in his briefs. She withdrew her finger to slide down the other side just the same.

He shifted on the edge of the tub, his gaze fixated on her working finger. She lathered her hands again and slid two fingers down the middle of the swollen lips. He could feel his underwear dampen as the tip of his cock leaked precum. The swollen head was dying to get inside his beautiful sub. It was getting harder to refuse the urge to plunge into her warm depths.

She swayed her hips back and forth. He knew she ached to feel the relief her exploring fingers could bring. Three days had passed since he’d allowed her to come. Her supple body writhed with need. He could see it—the flush of her creamy skin, the slight tremble of her belly. All the signs were there.

“Don’t put your finger inside, poppet. Let me.” He got up and took a towel from the stack on the shelf. “Stand up.” The struggle for patience made his muscles tremble as he took as much care drying her off as he had washing her. He always took his time with her. In any matter, he was patient and careful. A fragile sub needed security and encouragement as much as she needed pleasure.

Lily followed him into the bedroom. He pulled back the covers from the bed. She dropped the towel and crawled toward the headboard where she found the pillows fluffed and waiting. As she began to turn over and settle in, he took her by the waist and held her to keep her in the position she’d been crawling in.

“Just like that,” he said.

Tony took a moment to admire the welts he’d left three days ago. He loved the way her pale skin still took the lash so well. The raised pink marks would stay for at least another two days. He’d been rather harsh with her this week. He crossed his arms over his chest.

“Did you put the cream on?”

She shook her head. Shit, he thought, Renee hadn’t come this week. There was no way Lily could’ve reached the marks on her back. He’d have to tend to them when he was done. He pinched one of the more painful-looking stripes on her ass. He smiled when she winced. She didn’t pull away; instead, she leaned farther into his hand.

He patted her on the head and brushed his hand over her arching back. The lash had reached all the way to her left shoulder. Tony traced her waist with his hand before wandering to the mound at the crest of her thighs. The tender flesh was warm and already slick.

“That’s it. Get wet for me,” he encouraged as he spread her labia wide so his other hand could trace the portal to her body. Tony rested his knee on the edge of the bed. “Let me in, poppet.”

He rested his cheek on the tortured flesh of her backside. The warmth radiated through his skin to trap his groin. He’d caused this. To think only three years ago she’d been lost in pleasure under his flogger for the first time.

He slid his index finger into her pussy, easily followed by two more. The song of her moan drifted over his ears, driving his fingers in even farther. As her hips began to grind the pleasure from his firm thrusts, he withdrew and spread the round cheeks of her ass. He loved the way they overflowed in his hands. Her body shuddered as he slipped his arm around the sweet curve of her waist and steadied her against his torso. He circled the tight pink ring, wetting it with the juice her pussy had given him.

She groaned as he rubbed the tight bud, gently pressing until the sensitive ring eased, letting his fingertip inside. She curled her hips in, trying to get away. He knew she liked to be touched like this but was always apprehensive. Tony had to ease her into it.

He licked his other thumb and pressed the pad of his finger against her clit. As soon as he began to circle the awaiting flesh, Lily eased her legs open farther to allow him the entrance he wanted.

Soon, he was able to slide the rest of his finger into her backside. She shamelessly rocked her hips back and forth. He slipped the pad of his thumb over her sensitive clit until he could feel the wetness dripping from her pussy. Her supple body trembled against him. She was ready to come.

“Lie back,” he said and withdrew his attentions from her, allowing her to roll over. Her lazy grin didn’t match the sparks of wildness in her eyes as she reclined on the pillows. Lily’s pupils were taking over the greater portion of her clear blue irises. “I want to taste you.”

He spread her legs so far he could see the tendons in her inner thighs strain. He knelt between her crooked knees to admire the seductiveness of her flushed pussy. He hadn’t tasted her in a long time. Renee had taken over the task. He had to admit he missed this the most. Lily wiggled her hips. He lay down on the bed between her thighs.

She lifted her bottom to sit on her hands. Before she could rest back down, he licked her swollen flesh. With both hands he spread her dusky-pink lips and licked the smooth skin of her pussy until he reached the top, where her clit throbbed beneath his tongue. He tickled the little fleshy bundle. Lily moaned and bit her bottom lip. God, he loved teasing her. Her torment was his greatest treasure.

The way her body bowed, frantic pants coming from her open mouth, Tony knew she was ready to burst. He’d taken time learning every nuance of her body, every way to bring her pleasure, with and without pain. He slid the tip of his tongue along the seam of her sex, delving between the wet folds to lick deep inside the tight slit.

The soft mews and sighs echoing through the room grew quiet. Her hips went rigid. The wave of her orgasm was cresting and her body’s need couldn’t be stopped. As she jerked beneath him, something reached inside his chest and clenched his heart. The joy of his loyal sub was always a revelation. With every release, she gained another precious step toward discovering courage. Her soft body seized and wiggled until the final rhythm of her orgasm washed away. Nothing was left but her panting breaths and slight whimpers.