Lucia Jordan's Four Series Collection: Chosen, Whipped, Lick, Risk (13 page)

“Yes.  But Adam isn’t so little any more.  He’s just about to graduate from college.  He’s leaving for San Francisco after the summer to start a job with an IT company.”

Burke already knew this.  The company Adam would be working for was his.  He’d made sure that when Adam started looking for jobs in his senior year that his company made the young man an offer he couldn’t refuse.  “That’s exciting.  You must be so proud.”

She nodded bleakly and she looked down at the napkin in her lap.  “Yes.”

Burke didn’t like the sadness on her face.  He reached across the table, put his finger beneath her chin and forced her to look at him.  “This upsets you.”
Avery sighed.  “Yes and no.  I’m happy he’s moving on with his life but…it kind of leaves me at loose ends.  It’s been just Adam and me for the past ten years.  And now he doesn’t need me any longer.  He’s grown up, starting his own life.”

He caressed her cheek.  “He’ll always need you.  You’re his big sister.  You just don’t have to take care of him any longer.  You can focus on yourself now.”

And that was the problem.  If she wasn’t taking care of Adam, what was she supposed to do?  She realized she was bringing down the energy of the evening and needed to change the subject.  “Enough about me.  Aren’t we are supposed to talking about what furniture you need for your house?”

“We’ll get to that when we go home.  Right now, I’d like to feed you,” he said, just as a waiter brought out several dishes and set them on the table.

“But we haven’t ordered anything yet,” she protested.

“I ordered for us.  It’s a sampling of several of their signature dishes.”

That was a little presumptuous on his part but she didn’t say anything. 

The waiter removed the lids off the dishes and steam filled the air.

“Smells delicious,” she responded as she inhaled the scent of spicy tomato sauce.  “Oh, before I forget, you need to come back to the shop. Margot was very upset when she returned and you were gone.  I told her you’d be back tomorrow.”  She looked at him pleadingly, hoping he’d agree.  “Please?”

Burke looked at her with a critical eye.  “She’s not the easiest person to work for, is she?”

Avery only spoke ill of Margot to Adam, but she didn’t want to lie to Burke.  She shook her head slowly.

“Then why do you stay?”  Burke questioned as he dished out a small portion of pasta onto her plate.

She shrugged.  “I won’t be there much longer.  I just need to get my brother through school and then I can start looking for something else.”

“What do you want to do?”

“Well, I’m…rather limited.”  She didn’t want to admit to her lack of education.  Margot constantly reminded her of this shortcoming.  “I like antiques.  I’ve studied my ass off trying to become more familiar with them and I think I’ve done a pretty good job.  Not that Margot would ever say that, but I have a real feel for them.  Knowing what would look good where, spotting a reproduction or a forgery, valuations.”

“That’s a talent,” he encouraged.  Then she licked a spot of sauce off her lower lip and his libido took over.  “Hmmm.  What other…
talents
do you have?”

“None, really.  Working for Margot is the only job I’ve ever had,” she admitted quietly, then noticed the lascivious grin on his face.  “Oh.”

He reached across the table and took her hand.  “I think we should try to discover what other hidden
talents
you might have,” he offered with a wink.

She quivered at his words and the indecent look he gave her.  She would definitely like to explore anything Burke wanted.

***

“Your house is beautiful, Burke.”  Avery was in complete awe.  She’d driven by the house hundreds of times over the years but had never seen the inside.  So far, she’d seen the foyer, parlor, dining room, living room, den, library and Burke’s office.  All these were on the main floor.  The kitchen had been recently updated and there was nothing she could add to it to make it any better.  But there were so many pieces she could suggest to him that would help complement the rooms.

“I can hear your wheels turning.  Have you come up with some idea?”  He hung back a little just so he could watch her reaction, and watch her ass.

“Oh, god yes.  I’m just making mental notes of all the pieces we have both on the showroom floor and in storeroom.  I just uncrated this beautiful late sixteenth century mirror that would look great in the foyer and…” 

He was staring at her with a small grin. 

“What?” she asked.

“You look like a kid in a candy store.”

“I’m going to take that a compliment,” she responded with a smile.

Burke chuckled.  “You should.  You’re completely wide-eyed and absolutely beautiful.”

She felt that shiver again.  She wasn’t sure if it was the two glasses of wine she’d had at dinner or the fact that he didn’t hide that he wanted things to go further, but she suddenly felt bold and she closed the distance between them.  On her tip toes, she reached up and gently brushed her lips over his.

Burke lingered for a moment, loving the feel of her soft mouth against his, then drew away.  “I think we should talk a little.”

“Oh.  Okay.”  She retreated sadly.  Had she done something wrong?  Misread his desire for her?  She thought his suggestive comments and his constant caresses were an invitation.

“Stop whatever you’re thinking.”  He wanted her more now than ever but he needed to prepare her.  He took her face between his large hands and looked deeply into her hurt eyes.  “I think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.  And I would love to take you to bed but…I want to make sure you’re ready…for what I like in the bedroom.”

The fact that Burke admitted he wanted her put Avery at ease, but she was confused by his last comment.  “What do you mean?”

“I…I’m not like other men,” Burke started. 

“No, you’re not,” she agreed with a small smile.

She was so incredibly warm and willing.  How had he gotten so lucky to have this woman return his affection?  But he needed to tread lightly.  Could he reign in his need to dominate, at least for now, in order to quench the desire she stirred in him?  Yes, he would at least try, but his need for her continued to grow with every passing moment.  He knew he had to have her. 

“Come on,” he said.

Avery had no clue what he was doing or where they were going but she found herself being pulled down the hallway and up a large staircase.  They passed several closed doors before he stopped at the end of the hall and turned to her.

It would be easier to show her instead of trying to explain what he was.  But he knew he had to take it slow.  “Before we go in, I want you to know you can tell me no at any time.   You can tell me to stop, to slow down, whatever you need.  I want you so badly it hurts, but you have to promise me that if I do something that you aren’t comfortable with, you’ll tell me.”

What had she gotten herself into?  He sounded so serious and looked so stern that a shiver ran down her spine.  She wasn’t sure if it was from fear or from anticipation.  Finally, she nodded.

“No, I need to hear that you understand, Avery.”

“I understand.  I promise,” she agreed.

The anxious look on her face made his heart ache.  He didn’t want to scare her, he wanted to make her smile, make her laugh, make her scream with pleasure.  He scooped her up and crushed his mouth against hers as he opened the door and carried her inside.

“Mmmm,” he murmured against her lips.  “You taste incredible.  Like honey.”  He started nibbling on her mouth again and wondered if she tasted as sweet elsewhere. He hoped she would let him find out.

The determined look in his eyes made her tremble with need and eagerness.  She wasn’t sure why Burke had giving her that warning but at that moment, she didn’t care.  She just wanted this man to make love to her.

He set her gently on her feet beside the bed and stepped back.  Normally, he would have demanded that she strip while he watched, but making that demand might confuse her, might send her running away.  He wanted, needed, to take control, but for this encounter, he’d try to shelve the Dominant he was and ease her into it.

“Do you trust that I won’t hurt you?”

“Hurt me?”  She chuckled then sobered at his serious expression.  “Why would you hurt me?”

“I wouldn’t, but…I need certain things.  I’ll try to be as gentle as I can be but I may get…a little carried away.”

“Oh,” was all she could think to say.  She had no idea what he had in mind but she knew one thing, she wanted this man with every fiber of her being.  “I trust that you won’t hurt me.”

He started to unbutton her blouse one button at a time but he ran out of patience.  He needed to see her.  Now.  He gripped the material and ripped her shirt open, sending the tiny buttons flying in every direction.  As she gasped, he pulled the fabric from her arms.

“That was a fifty dollar blouse,” she protested in shock but she couldn’t deny the delicious feeling of decadence that coursed through her.

“I’ll buy you a hundred new ones,” he growled and yanked the zipper down on the side of her skirt and let it fall to the floor.  “Step out of it.”

She did as he requested and felt a little self-conscious standing in front of him covered in nothing but her bra, panties and a pair of high heels. 

He stepped back and let his gaze slowly roam over her body.  She was so much more beautiful than he’d ever imagined.  Her lace bra covered her ample breasts and he could see her pink areolas through the lace.  When she tried to cross her arms to cover herself, he pulled them down to her sides.  “No.  I need to see you.”

“You’re really bossy,” she accused but did as he asked.

“Yes, I am.”  He didn’t deny it.  In fact, she would soon see how bossy he could be.  “Get on the bed.”

She reached out and grabbed his shirt.  “But you’re still dressed.  I want to see…”
He pulled her hands away.  “I said, get on the bed.”

She started to object but the expression on his face told her to stay quiet.  His strict tone and determined look left her no choice but to obey him and she climbed onto the bed.

“Lie down.”

She leaned back into the pillows and looked up at him.  His passionate gaze made chill bumps jump up all over her skin.  His eyes raked over every part of her body, her breasts, her ribs, her abdomen, her thighs, her shins, her feet.  When his gaze settled at the juncture between her legs she felt her desire begin to pool at her apex and she squirmed.

“Absolutely stunning,” he whispered reverently.

She usually didn’t like being on display, didn’t like being the focal point.  But the hunger that was written on Burke’s face made her feel wanted, adored.  She watched as he reached for his crotch and adjusted his cock.  She couldn’t help the smile that curved her lips knowing she did that to him. Her body and his appreciation for it made him hard and needy.

“You like that, you little minx?  You like making my cock throb?”

Avery was a little shocked at his vulgarity but it didn’t turn her off.  She nodded.  “Yes.”

He leaned down and grasped the flimsy material of her panties.  He looked into her eyes to gauge her readiness, before he yanked her panties from her body with a satisfying rip and tossed them over his shoulder.  He walked around the bed and sat in the chair positioned at the end.  “Now, show me what you like.”

“What?”  He wasn’t asking her to…

“Show me what gets you off.  Touch yourself.”

“You’re kidding.” Avery laughed then stilled when she saw the stern expression on his face.  “You’re not kidding.”

Burke shook his head slowly.  “No.”

“But, I thought…”

“I need to know what turns you on, where and how you like to be touched.  I’m not used to asking for obedience a second time,” he warned.

Obedience?  Was he kidding?  What was she, a dog?  She should just get up, grab her clothes and walk out.  It
had
been a long time for her but not
so
long that she was willing to be ordered around like a pet.  Then a thought struck her.

“You’re a Dominant, aren’t you?”

Burke nodded slowly.  “Yes.”  He waited to see how she would react.

She should leave.  The idea that he was a Dominant and she was essentially his slave for the evening should have had her jumping up off the bed and running home.  But she didn’t.  She looked into his calm but decisive face and knew she would do exactly as he commanded.

He saw her acceptance and, on a sigh of relief, took control.  “Bend your legs, set your feet on the bed and spread your knees wide.”

She slowly did as he instructed, leaving herself open to him.  A wave of mortification coursed through her and she nearly closed her knees but the look of pure adoration on his face turned her mortification to wanton lust.  All he was doing was staring at her and he looked like he was ready to explode.  The power she felt made her head swim.

“Stunning,” he proclaimed with a wicked smile.  “Now, show me how you touch yourself.”

Avery hesitated.  It was one thing to be bold enough to lie before him completely exposed but another to perform for him what she rarely did in the privacy of her own bedroom.  She looked into his eyes for courage and felt a boost of confidence at his pleasure.  She reached down and slowly ran her finger between her folds.  They came away already coated and she knew it wouldn’t take her long to achieve orgasm.  With her other hand, he opened her lips and gently caressed the insides of her folds before going higher and zeroing in on her clit.  It was already swollen and she couldn’t stop the moan that escaped.