wrapping her arms around herself, more out of self-protection than because she was cold.
When Gaby was a child, whenever her mother was sober and feeling “motherly,” she’d take her to the zoo.
Although those times were few and far between, Gaby had looked forward to them. Her favorite animals in the zoo had been the cougars. Even caged as they were, they were bold, sinister, fierce…and calculating. As though they were simply waiting for someone to be stupid enough to climb over and enter their lair.
In Sweet’s eyes was the same type of look.
The look of an untamed, caged animal with fresh hot meat placed at his feet. Hot sex on the platter…Gaby repressed a shiver at her own silly analogy.
“You’re still dressed.” His silky voice deepened.
A moan escaped from her lips.
Although the trips to the zoo had been rare, she still remembered how she’d wanted to be that person bold enough to enter the cougar’s lair.
Averting her eyes, she glanced down. Her hands began to fumble with the top of her skirt.
“Look at me,” he murmured and her eyes flew to meet his. He casually walked over and sat in the chair next to where she stood.
Oh, God, he wanted her to strip for him while he watched.
More than that, she wanted to strip for him. Wanted to see the look in his eyes when she shed her clothes.
She wanted to bare her body to him, offer it up for his inspection and for him to do whatever he wanted with her.
Her eyes began to flutter closed until she remembered his demand that she look at him.
She kicked off her heels and reached behind her waist, feeling for the closure before she eased the skirt down her legs.
“Don’t step out of your skirt,” he instructed, as she was raising her leg.
“What? How will we—” her eyes grew round.
“No questions,” he interrupted, one side of his sensual mouth curved, his shuttered eyes lazily surveying her body. “Keep removing your clothes.” She looked away and began to unbutton her blouse.
“Don’t look away from me,” he gently reminded her.
She inhaled a deep breath, and allowed her eyes to drift to his as she slowly unbuttoned her blouse. After she’d unbuttoned the last button, Gaby waited for him to tell her what to do next, surprised at her excitement that she needed to ask his permission before she continued.
His cool eyes assessed her, his smile one of approval.
“First take off your blouse, then your bra. Nice and slow,” he instructed.
She slid the blouse from her shoulders, watching him as she did so. The way he watched her so intently made her nipples pearl; the feel of the silk blouse sliding off her skin was unbearably exciting.
She unsnapped the front closure to her bra and allowed it to fall to the floor, joining her blouse. Trembling, she stood before him naked, her skirt pooled at her feet, wondering what he planned to do to her.
“What?” She stopped. Took a deep breath and exhaled, her heart beating a wild rhythm against her chest. “What now?”
Apprehensive but excited, she waited for his next command.
3
Completely nude she faced him.
He sat slouched in the chair, his hooded eyes inspecting her. A shiver ran through her, tightening her nipples, partly from the air-conditioning kissing her skin, but more from his watchful eyes observing her.
He rose from the chair, ambled over, and turned her around, standing behind her. She felt his hands in her hair before he deftly removed the pins that held it in its topknot. Surprised, she felt his strong fingers briefly massage her scalp.
She sighed in appreciation at the unexpected pleasure.
He removed his hands and seconds later her hair tumbled down to her shoulders.
He moved her hair to the side; his cool, spicy breath fanned the hairs at her nape as he brushed the side of her neck with a light, feathery kiss. Her eyes fluttered closed and her lips partially opened. A moan of lust and need escaped.
She felt his smile break across her skin. She could tell he liked the sounds she made.
She found that she liked making them even more.
One of his big palms cupped one of her breasts and her body responded as though on cue; her back bowed in response and she bit the inside of her cheek as anticipated pleasure washed over her heated skin.
He’d told her no questions. Dear God in heaven. Gaby didn’t think she could remain silent with what he was doing to her body. With just one kiss…
“You don’t have anything to fear,” he mouthed the words against the back of her neck and goose bumps danced like a million fireflies along her skin.
She remained silent, unsure if he wanted her to speak.
“Von,” he murmured and licked a hot path from the back of her ear, down her neck.
Confused, not sure why he said the name, she opened her mouth to ask, promptly closed it, and remained silent, not wanting the pleasure to stop.
He bit down lightly on her earlobe. The slight pain startled her.
“Say it,” he demanded, his voice low, hot against her skin.
“Von,” Gaby stuttered the word.
He rewarded her by lightly, slowly, stroking his hand over her breast, down the midline of her body, his hand brushing over the springy curls at the juncture of her legs. His hand trailed back up her body, just as slowly.
“If it gets too…much…for you, that’s what you say. When you say ‘Von,’ I’ll stop. I won’t do anything you don’t want done. But, you have to say it. Can you do that for me?”
She nodded her head, mutely giving him her assent.
Still cupping her breast, he grasped her stiffened nipples between two fingers and squeezed. It wasn’t hard enough to hurt, but enough that she felt a sharp sting. She blew out a shaky breath. Surprised at the pleasure the slight sting gave her, her body trembled. The painful pleasure caused an answering wetness to ease from her vagina and run hotly down her inner thigh.
“Hmmm, you like that.”
He gave her no time to react. His other hand moved from where it rested on her hip to slip around her waist until he reached her vagina.
Pressing his index finger deep into her moist core, he pumped in and out; the only sounds in the room were her panting breaths and the wet, slurping sound her cream made against his finger. Gaby squirmed against him when he inserted two more of his fingers deep inside her body.
He removed his hand from her breast long enough to pull her head back. As he slanted his hard mouth over hers, they exchanged long, heated kisses. His tongue thrust into her mouth, mimicking the action of his fingers deep inside her pussy.
Her breathing was labored, her body shaking as he continued to play with her breasts and pussy, toying with and gently tugging on her sensitive nipple.
Gaby feverishly bucked against him as she returned his kiss. Their tongues dueled while his fingers screwed deep inside her, his other hand alternating from breast to breast in hot massages. She placed a hand over his, covering her breast.
He released her mouth and nipped the lobe of her ear, chastising her. “No hands. Keep them at your sides. If you touch me, I’ll stop what I’m doing. Do you want me to stop?” he breathed the words against her ear.
Gaby shook her head no. She bit the inside of her cheek to prevent the cry of pleasure from erupting from her lips