“I like it like that. I can behave more instinctively if you don’t look at me.”
He closed his eyes. “Your wish is my command.”
“Hm.” She’d smelled him, now she wanted to taste him. She raised herself onto tiptoes and licked his neck. She could see the effect as the muscles around his eyes contracted further, as he sought to control himself. “I like commanding a king.”
“I think you like commanding everyone.”
She smiled as she followed her impulse and trailed her tongue down from his neck onto his chest, burying her nose as low as she could get with his shirt buttoned, and inhaled deeply. She couldn’t have described the innate maleness of the smell but it hit her at such a fundamental, animal level, she knew she needed more. She unbuttoned his shirt down to his navel, and forced herself to focus on what he’d said. “Of course, who doesn’t like to command everyone.”
“Not everyone, Ela, not everyone. You’d be surprised to learn that—”
His words were cut short as he took a sharp intake of breath, as she swept her hands across his chest and down, spanning her fingers so she could feel every dip and contour of his body. It felt forbidden, it felt like she was breaking down more than just the barriers between them, but something inside of herself.
Suddenly she plunged her fingers beneath the waistband of his trousers and felt the tip of his erection. She paused for a moment, then circled her finger around the head. It seemed to visibly swell beneath her touch. Power. She had it.
She stepped away and did what he had done, eyed him from top to toe. She liked what she saw. She smiled at his intense expression. “You were saying?”
“Nothing. I was saying nothing. You continue, do as you wish, because, for once, I believe it is me who will be commanded and I’ll enjoy it all the more.”
“Then you will indulge me?”
“Yes.”
She turned around so she had her back to him, and flicked her hair over her breasts. “Undo my dress.”
His fingers brushed her bare skin as he fumbled briefly with the zip, which was the only thing keeping her dress resting on her hips, before sweeping it down. She stepped out of the dress, her nerves returning as she turned around, dressed now only in her heels and underwear, which were neither luxurious nor the height of fashion. If he was amused at her plain bra and panties he didn’t show it.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm the pounding of her heart. She couldn’t believe she was standing half-naked before him. But, even more, she couldn’t believe how much it turned her on. She followed his gaze to her breasts where two needy nipples peaked with desire. It was just as well he couldn’t see between her legs where her arousal was also fully evident.
“Now, it’s your turn. I wish you to undress in front of me.”
A short grin was followed by a bemused shake of the head and then he did as she commanded. With one swift movement he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. For a moment he stood with his hands on his hips surveying her from under a lowered brow, as if challenging her. She nodded, grateful for those few moments of stillness in which she could admire his chest and strong arms. The flat muscles in his body and his chest hair tracked downward in a tantalizing line. She looked down at his fly and then up at him.
“You may take off your trousers now, if you please.”
“I do.” With his answering gaze equally as steady, he unbuttoned his trousers and then pulled down his zip. His erection was released and pushed out from his shorts. She blinked lightly, trying to subdue a sudden flutter of fear. It was larger than she’d imagined. But before she could imagine any further he’d stepped out of both his trousers and shorts with one quick movement.
She couldn’t prevent her hand from flying to her mouth. “Oh!” she gasped.
“I’m hoping that’s a good ‘oh’, and not a disappointed one,” he said, with a confident smile which showed that he wasn’t accustomed to disappointing.
She shook her head. “No, not disappointed. More surprised. It’s quite… large.”
His smile faded as if suddenly understanding her concern. “Don’t worry. It’s not going anywhere you don’t want it to go. Remember that. You have the power and control here. For now, at least,” he added, with a glimmer of a smile in his eyes.
She nodded, but for the life of her she couldn’t figure out what she wanted to do next. Her vision seemed to be filled with only one, very erect, thing. It caught at her intention, and pressed unwelcome memories against her consciousness, nudging them, willing her to turn away and run.
He frowned, as if picking up on some of her anxiety. “I’ll put my shorts on again. Yes?”
She nodded. “Yes, please. It’s just…” She trailed off.
“You don’t have to explain anything.” He was as good as his word and was soon covered. “Now, do you want to proceed?”
“Yes, it’s just”—she shrugged—“I don’t know what to do.”
“Okay, would you like me to take the lead?”