Sins of the Undead Patriot (16 page)

“We’ll meet up in a few moments.” He lifted her hand and kissed the top, then pointed down the opposite end of the hall.

She released him and turned her attention back to the young woman. Needy much?

“If you like, keep on your undergarments. Otherwise, strip down. Then put on the housecoat and slippers. I’ll bring you to him when you are ready.” The ebony women held the door open.

All right. Leera entered the vacant room. Large lockers lined the wall. Vanities were set against the far end. Gold lighting shone off the marble surfaces. A long-stemmed red rose lay at one of the stations with her name on a folded white card. She turned over the paper.

In Vaihan’s elegant penmanship was scribed:

Dawn to Dawn.

To wake delight once more,

That’s been too long asleep,

And worth that’s exiled deep,

To gather and restore: These thoughts I’ve labored for by Guiraut de Bornelh

How he’d managed to find a poem that summed up the very emotions she felt when she was with him amazed her. He awoke delight she’d feared had gone dormant for good when Jean died. Being with Vaihan restored her, making him the dawn at the end of her deep exile. Leera lifted the rose to her nose and inhaled, skimming the petal over her lips. Every moment she spent with him only drew her closer to him. She set the flower and her bag down.

A white silk robe hung on the hook to the side of her vanity. She loosened the rope to her coat, unbuttoned and slid the garment off. Her easy-access, cocoa-colored wrap dress required a single tug to the tie to remove. She draped the gown over her chair. Unclasping the hooks of her cherry red lace bra, she placed it on the seat. Her bronze skin and dark nipples in the mirror caught her off guard. What would he make of her body? So far, he seemed to enjoy his hands on her curves. A good sign. She rocked her hips and slid her matching panties down. The lines of her body were fit, yet voluptuous. She lowered the zipper of her boots and slid her feet into the soft slippers. A tease of her curls with her fingers turned the corner of her lips upward. Did her wild hair allude to her sexual appetite? She covered her figure in the housecoat.

Leera opened the door. The woman glanced up as she paced the hall. “This way, please.”

In step with her, Leera followed a pathway adorned in rose petals. One more touch he’d seen to.

Vaihan stood in a maroon tailored housecoat, which made her twist the corner of her mouth upward. How he managed to look dashing when in pajamas eluded her. But he did. Very.

“Thank you, Dee,” he said.

With her hand held out, she placed hers in his palm. He kissed the top and scooped her to his chest. A hint of wood and coriander emanated from his neck.

“What am I to do with you?” She leaned against his frame.

“Anything but return me to exile.” The soft flesh of his lips met with her forehead as he kissed her brow.

“I should say those words to you,” she replied, cupping his cheek.

The warmth of his body traveled into her. “I don’t intend to part with you.”

Maybe he would tire of her and the pit of need she so badly wanted him to fill. When he finally discovered what had pushed her into his arms, what would he think of her?

“Tonight, we shall share the pleasure of learning each other’s touch. The word
stop
halts all movement and the one touching must wait for further instruction. Okay?”

“Yes.” Somehow, his implying that he may be the one to ask her to stop intrigued her. Did he worry about his fluid having contact with her? Or did he have skeletons in his closet too?

Vaihan opened the door. Red and white candles lined the mantels next to the two beds.

A man stood to the side. “Welcome. I’m David Tanner and will be taking you both through this couple’s touch exercise.”

“Mr. Tanner created the couples touch exchange massage program.” Vaihan gestured for her to have a seat across from him.

“Which of you would like to learn how to give first?” Mr. Tanner asked.

“I would.” Leera didn’t know what to expect. Giving first put her in control of the touching. So when it was her turn, she’d know how Vaihan would reciprocate.

“Very good. I will teach you the technique on one body part, but the same may be used on any part of the body without concern.” He stood next to Vaihan’s bed. “I recommend that couples start with the receiving partner facing up. This allows for eye contact and open communication.”

Vaihan lay back as Mr. Tanner draped a cover over his lower body. The maroon fabric descended, exposing his lean-cut arms and his defined chest. Not a single hair. Did that extend to the rest of his body?

“Where would you like Leera to begin?”

“My chest.”

His words sent excitement rushing through her.

Mr. Tanner lowered the sheet to Vaihan’s v-cut waistline. A light rose dusting warmed the color of his nipples from the blue hue present in his skin tone. How sensitive was he there? Did he like little nibbles or more tongue? A tingle wisped up from between her thighs to her breasts.

“Leera, I want you to come stand in my spot.” Mr. Tanner stepped back, allowing her to stand next to Vaihan’s waist.

As she met his eyes, she smiled.

“Vaihan has asked that you learn his torso. As the giver, you aren’t passive. How do you feel about his request?”

“Nervous and excited.” She itched to touch him and know his body.

Mr. Tanner tucked his long sandy blond hair behind his ear. “How do you feel, Vaihan?”

“A lot of sensations are mixed inside.” Vaihan took her hand in his trembling ones. “I’m worried because I want you to feel comfortable with everything we share here. I’m unsure about my own physical appeal with less of me covered up.”

And yet he exposed his inner and outer vulnerability to her. His guts filled her with awe, and her heart pounded. She needed to reassure him. “In my opinion you are still too covered up.” Leera locked her fingers with his. “I’m looking forward to uncovering the rest of you.” In every way.

He parted his lips in a smile, bringing out his dimple. That thing was deadly, as her heart thumped irregularly every time it appeared.

“The receiver has a duty to the giver to provide directional information. In a nonnegative manner. Use the words lighter or harder, slower or faster, right or left, up or down, remain or revisit. The giver isn’t passive and may respond with my pleasure or pass. Stop is a complete halt, no pulling back or movements until the person who’s issued the request is able to provide further direction. At that point, both must check in with how they are feeling. I’m going to spend a few moments demonstrating the technique with each of you in both roles then how you spend your session is in both of your
hands
. Any questions or general feelings you’d like to discuss before we begin?”

Hopefully she’d be a good student and graduate to solo. “I’m good.” Leera wanted to get started.

“I’m ready.” Vaihan nodded.

Mr. Tanner moved toward the front of the room by the door. “Good. Let’s begin with a scanning of the surface area Vaihan has asked you to learn. Place your hands flat, side by side, from the edge of the cover. Move up to his neck, then slide your hands further in. Gliding them to his waist, and so on.”

Leera laid her palms against Vaihan and took a deep breath. Warmth entered her from the point of contact.

Gaze locked on his widening pupils, she skimmed her way upward. The depth of the rise and fall of his chest deepened as she reached his ribs. His nipples hardened. The heel of her hand brushed against the hard bud, sending heat to her womb.

Vaihan’s eyelids lowered as his inhaled breath hitched. “Revisit.”

“My pleasure.” She continued her path down his midriff over his belly button to the sheet. The blanket molded around the outline of his semierect penis. She liked supersized as much as the next girl, and he had to be double super or something. No scanning that right now. Concentrate. He’d simply have to take it slow with her. She swallowed at the thought of him working all of his girth and length in. Maybe fast and hard could work too. There had to be ways around this fluid thing. She definitely wanted to enjoy the feel of him in her mouth and between her thighs.

“How are you doing, Leera?”

Umm. A flush rushed to her cheek. She could blow off the request, but Vaihan had been so open with her earlier, she didn’t feel right about giving him less than the same. “Good. I got distracted by the outline of your well-endowed erection. Impressive.”

Vaihan grinned. “Thank you.”

“Oh, I’m sure the pleasure will be mine.” She scanned up his chest, over his heart to two facing crescent moons with bumpy flesh, which sunk in. Using her finger, she traced the shape.

A groan rattled from his throat. “Remain.”

With her nails, she grazed the ridges. “What happened?”

“The last scar of my mortal body. The mark that made me what I am. A curse or gift of immortality at a price.” His hand overlapped hers. “Are you disgusted?”

“No. Definitely not.” Rather, curious. Was she weird? “Do you enjoy being touched here?”

“Yes, very much.” As he swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple moved up and down his sleek neck.

“Good. Because I enjoy touching you here. Will you share the story with me of what happened?” She strummed over the marks in his flesh.

“When we are alone.” He squeezed her hands. “Why do you find pleasure in touching my scar?”

“I guess I’m assuming you don’t let many people see or touch the area. This feels very intimate to me. Sharing with me that you enjoy the stimulation and allowing me to pleasure you.” She stroked the bumps with her nails.

Vaihan groaned, pressing his hips forward with his searching stare locked on her eyes.

She scanned beyond to his rib cage, reaching his waist to find the shape of his fully erect cock lifting the sheet.

“Well done,” Mr. Tanner said. “Vaihan shared with you areas where he enjoys attention. To heighten his pleasure, you will give and withhold his access to the sensations he wants, elevating his anticipation of receiving those pleasures. Just as you’ve been doing, he will provide you direction, but you won’t always give into his request to continue. You’ll skim around the area, pass over it, and so on. Your thumbs will apply pressure to his direction of how much and your other fingers will grip him.” Mr. Tanner demonstrated the technique by cradling Vaihan’s flesh and kneading with his stroking thumbs. “Ready?”

Did being watched turn Vaihan on or was there safety in numbers? For her, knowing another male was there with them made another layer of eroticism simmer between her and Vaihan.

She nodded.

Vaihan smiled as her hands took up position to surf along his skin. Instinctually, she wanted to go to his scar and nipples since he’d indicated they were areas of pleasure, but she sailed her hands around. First, she avoided his scar then his nipples.

“The closer you edge the area without providing him the reward, the more you will elevate his need for stimulation.” Mr. Tanner’s eyes darkened with intensity, as he peered over at her movements.

So she did as instructed, cruised along the line of his interest and moved back away.

“Harder,” Vaihan demanded.

Leera pressed her thumb more firmly into his skin. With the tip of her index finger, she outlined the crescent shape of the mark and withdrew her caress.

He gasped. “Remain.”

“Pass.” She focused on her task with a smirk.

He searched her gaze.

“Nicely done, Leera. How do you feel?” Mr. Tanner asked.

Good question. Aroused and guilty. “Nervous and aroused...ashamed.” Why did she say that? Because she wanted to meet Vaihan’s openness with her own. But what could she really tell him, when everything between them was one big lie? She turned away. At worst he would be forced to comfort her as she lied to him. And he’d lied to her.

“Leera.” Vaihan sat up. His feet dangled over the side of the bed and his hands made contact with her shoulder. “Are you all right?” With his fingers, he guided her face to his.

“Yeah, just a little overwhelmed.” Since the incident with Rowley, her emotions were whirling.

“Was this encounter a mistake, am I moving too fast for you?”

Just what every man wanted to hear, that the woman wasn’t at the same stage in the development of intimacy.

“I’m confused by my own actions...I don’t want to stop, nor do I want you to.” Tears misted her eyes. “Does that make me horrible? That I don’t want to stop how I feel when we are touching?”

“No.” Vaihan traced her jaw line with his thumb. “I don’t want either of us to stop.”

When he touched her, she felt alive. She would work through her guilt. If all she had was this time before he found out she was deceiving him, she would make the most of it. Of course, he was working a case for the CIA. And everything he did was to gain her trust and get her to open up to him. Still, her emotions were running amok.

“We can slow down, though.” He stroked back her curls. “I don’t want you to do anything you aren’t ready for.”