“You’re seducing me with mere words,” she whispered. “You always do. ”
He picked up her hand and pressed his lips to her wrist and then her palm, and then he kissed each fingertip until he curled her hand and brushed his mouth across her knuckles.
“You’ll sleep in my bed every night. The last thing you’ll feel before you go to sleep is me inside you. The first thing you’ll feel when you wake up is me inside you. ”
She jerked and shuddered against him, and her breaths came out in short little huffs like she couldn’t quite keep up.
“I’ll push your limits,” he said in a serious tone. “There’s a lot we haven’t done that we’ll do. Your body will be mine and that means that I’ll do with you as I like. I’m not a masochist. I have no interest in taking things so far that you’ll fear me or not enjoy what I do to you. But some of what I do will be for my pleasure and my pleasure alone just as there will be times when I’ll want to give you pleasure while taking none in return. ”
“Is that all?” she asked as she licked her dry lips.
He kissed those lips and ran his tongue over top and bottom until they glistened.
“No. There is something I’d like to mention and get out in the open. You’ve told me about your fathers. And now your brothers. I don’t pretend to understand the arrangement. You haven’t said a lot other than they were in a committed polyamorous relationship. I’m not even sure what that means in the real world. So I’ll just get this out. I’m not comfortable with sharing you. Ever. ” He snorted. “Comfortable is too soft a word to use here. You never hinted that you wanted a similar relationship to the one your mother and sister-in-law have, but it isn’t happening. Over my dead body. I’ll take apart any son of a bitch I ever find in your bed and then I’ll kick your pretty ass all over the country. ”
Callie shook with silent laughter. It was obvious she tried really hard to keep it in. Then she cracked and started laughing out loud. He glared at her the whole time as she wiped tears from her cheeks.
“Oh God, Max,” she gasped out. “You crack me up. That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. ”
“What’s so damn funny? Your whole family is involved in some weird relationship where the women sleep with multiple men. I’m just trying to save us all some grief by telling you now it isn’t going to happen, and if it does, someone’s going to die. ”
She snickered again and wiped frantically at her eyes. Then she clutched his face in both hands and kissed him hot, hard and breathless.
“I have no desire to sleep with more than one man,” she said. “I realize my parents’ situation is…unusual. ”
Max lifted one eyebrow. “Unusual?”
She scowled. “Okay maybe it’s strange but not to me or them. It’s what I grew up with. And the thing is my dads love my mom more than anything. That woman is pampered, spoiled and adored more than any woman I know other than my sister-in-law. And they all love me. ”
Max softened and pulled her closer to him until she was cuddled tight against his chest and her nipples poked through his chest hair. “I don’t doubt they love you with all their heart and soul, dolcezza. How could they do anything else? I don’t mean to demean them. I just can’t wrap my head around the idea of sharing you with two other men. I want you all to myself twenty-four/seven. ”
“Lucky for you I’m not looking to hook up with two other men,” she said cheekily. “Guess you’ll have to do. ”
He smacked her on the hip. “Watch it. ”
She glanced mischievously at him. “Or what? What happens when I’m a bad girl and don’t do as you tell me?”
“Depends on how badly you’re wanting to be punished,” he said dryly. “If you’re yanking my chain because you want to be spanked, I’ll just ignore you. ”
She stuck out her lip in an exaggerated pout. “You’re no fun. ”
“Not to worry,” he said lazily. “I’ll find plenty of reasons to spank that pretty ass, none of which have a damn thing to do with punishment. Remember I talked about the things I do solely for my pleasure and not yours? Seeing my mark on your sweet little behind is an example. Right before I fuck it. ”
She trembled again and her nipples hardened against his chest. He smiled. Somehow he imagined that he wouldn’t be the only one who got pleasure from spanking her.
Chapter Fifteen
“I have a present for you,” Max said. Callie was sucking air through her nostrils, so turned on that she shook in Max’s arms. And now he casually changed the subject. She wanted to growl in frustration.
But still, mention of a present perked her up.
“I’ll admit up front that it’s as much a present for me as it is for you. ”
She arched an eyebrow and leveled her stare at him. “Oh?”
He smiled and then carried her over to the couch. “Wait right here while I get it. ”
She watched as he rummaged in the bags that had been delivered earlier. He pulled out a white, nondescript box and carried it back to where she sat.
He settled beside her and opened the box. She frowned when she saw black material. Clothes? Hadn’t he just said he wanted her naked?
But when he pulled it out, it was apparent it wasn’t any sort of clothing she was familiar with. It looked like half a corset.
“Stand up,” he directed as he unfolded the item.
She rose and stood before him.
“Turn around. ”
Dutifully she turned until her back was presented to him. She heard him shove off the couch and the next thing she knew, he reached around her and positioned the wide band of material over her waist.
Maybe it was a corset. It was soft but stiff, like the material covered a harder object. But it was flexible and wrapped around to secure in the back.
He adjusted and pulled until it rested just below her breasts and fit snugly about her waist. She looked down, still unsure of what it was or what purpose it served.
She soon had her answer.
Gently he pulled one arm behind her and bent her elbow so that her wrist lay flush against her back. She jumped when a band wrapped around her wrist, securing it to the contraption she wore.
Her pulse leapt and sped up as he pulled her other arm and secured it in the same fashion.
“Turn around. ”
Slowly she turned and realized that the way her arms were confined by the apparatus forced her chest forward.
“Very beautiful. I think I’d like you in this when we eat so you’re completely dependent on my hand to feed you. ”
Her cheeks grew warm under his scrutiny. She rolled up on the balls of her feet but then flushed harder when she saw his gaze tracked the bounce of her breasts.
He lowered his head, and she closed her eyes just as his tongue flicked out and licked her nipple.
Desire crashed through her, jolting her senses into instant awareness. It was like being hit by a bus.
She was vulnerable in this position. Was it a test? Or was he simply trying to rebuild her trust? She wasn’t sure she liked being pushed. Or was he simply enjoying what he’d been so straightforward in saying he wanted?
Slowly he straightened, his brows drawn together as he studied her expression.
“What are you thinking?” he asked quietly.
She shivered under his scrutiny and swallowed nervously. Before, she would have thought nothing of letting him have it with both barrels. She’d never had any problem with speaking her mind. But now, she wasn’t in a position of equality.
She licked her lips and forced herself to meet his eyes.