“Do you like to be slapped around?” he asked, his thumb now tracing below her bottom lip.
Her words came out breathier than she intended. “I don’t think so.”
Don’t think so? The answer should be n-o!
His fingers massaged the back of her neck, and when she met his gaze, molten with desire, she tried to pull herself from the whirlpools of his eyes. She should stop this, explain she was still nervous, suggest he see how she felt tomorrow. But, Jesus, his hand felt so good.
It dropped lower, to the muscles that ran below her shoulders. She nearly purred as he worked the tension away.
“This isn’t your first massage,” she murmured.
He didn’t say anything, just pulled her to him till she rested against him with her head upon his chest.
Stop it now before it’s too late, a voice inside her warned. Just because he’s nicer than Jake doesn’t mean he’s safe to be with.
His fingers dipped into her shirt to work her upper back. His touch was firm, the perfect amount of pressure. Beneath her, she felt the rise and fall of his chest, heard the sound of his heart beating.
I’m supposed to be working on a story, not succumbing to one of the subjects!
The massage went on for a while, but she wasn’t stupid. This wasn’t a massage for the sake of a massage. This was a massage that was going to lead to sex.
And it was a long way down from the edge of the cliff.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Ben breathed in the coconut and almond scent from the shampoo she had used. She smelled good. Clean and refreshing. Not like Lisa and Ryan, who had drenched themselves in floral perfume.
She felt good, too. He liked her sturdy frame, which suggested she wouldn’t break into pieces if he fucked too hard. His jeans had become tight over his wood, but he didn’t do more than massage her shoulders and neck. Off in the back corner of the patio, Derek and Ryan were getting louder.
“Nice titties,” Derek was saying.
Ben had seen Kimani’s baps when Jake had her completely naked, and all the things he could do with her dark and beautiful nipples flashed through his mind.
“About tonight...” Kimani started.
“Shh. Don’t fret about what’s to come, just stay in the moment,” he said. He sensed she wasn’t as wary of him as she had been before, but she wasn’t completely at ease. He didn’t understand why she was so hesitant. Surely she knew the expectations of participating in the Scarlet Auction.
He continued to rub her back and shoulders as if she were a child in need of soothing. It wasn’t easy when he wanted to rip off her clothes and go to town on her body.
“What kinds of things turn you on?” he asked. Conversation would distract him from focusing on the way her ass curved into him.
“I should probably tell you, I’ve never done anything like the Scarlet Auction. This may take some getting used to.”
“We’re just making conversation. I want to know what things turn you on.”
She was quiet at first before answering, “Lots of different things.”
“Like what?”
“Like...sexy lingerie, good foreplay...Idris Elba...”
Shit. How was he going to top Idris Elba? At least she wasn’t entirely immune to Benjamin Dmitri Lee. He had sensed it. Her breath had stopped when he’d told her he wanted to fuck her. Maybe it was shock, but there wasn’t just fear in her eyes. There was interest. And arousal.
“What do you imagine doing with Idris Elba?”
“I don’t have any specific fantasies. He’s an engaged man.”
“If he wasn’t, what would you want him to do to you?”