Connelly sat in her car at the entrance to the parking lot and just stared at the house. She still couldn’t believe she was actually considering this. She glanced down at the bathing suit cover and tugged at it, trying to pull it lower toward her knees. She had the top up so the hot sun wouldn’t burn the fair skin on her thighs.
God, what the hell was she doing here?
All week she’d thought of nothing but Nathan and the things he’d said to her at Starbucks. Even thinking about it now had her stomach tightening. Her nipples ached behind the terrycloth cover. She rubbed at the back of her neck, arguing with herself over what to do.
She wanted to go in. She wanted to see and experience more of this dark world, but…God, Nathan was so… He intimidated her, and she didn’t like it. One crook of his finger and she’d be whatever he wanted her to be. That didn’t sit well with her. At all.
She didn’t want to be someone’s beck-and-call girl. She didn’t want someone having that much control over her. Even her husband hadn’t had that much control. Unfortunately, the possibility of sex with Nathan was too good to pass up. But how long could she do this before she became attached? And then got hurt?
“This isn’t good,” she grumbled to herself.
“Hey, gorgeous,” a deep voice said before knuckles rapped against the window.
Connelly screamed and put her hand over her heart. She turned to look out the driver’s side window and at first thought she was looking at Nathan, then realized it was Daniel’s more clean-cut face staring at her with curiosity.
“What the hell are you doing just sitting here?” he asked with amusement. “You have the parking lot blocked.”
She glanced quickly in her rearview mirror and noticed with embarrassment the large black SUV parked behind her. She rolled her window down to talk to Daniel. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I didn’t even hear you pull up.”
“You okay?” he asked as his gaze turned from amused to concern. “You look a little green.”
“I’m okay. Just nervous.”
Daniel smiled softly. “No reason to be nervous. Nathan can be a bit demanding, but he’s more interested in your pleasure than hurting you.”
“I know. It’s not that, it’s…”
“Come on, Connie,” Daniel said with a grin. “You only live once, right?”
She drew in a deep breath and nodded. “Right.”
“Valet isn’t out today, so pull up and park at the front. I’ll be right behind you.”
Connelly noticed her fingers shook slightly as she pushed the button to roll the window back up. Daniel was right. She fisted her fingers to stop the shaking, then put her car into gear and drove to the parking spaces toward the front of the building.
She did only live once. She hadn’t been having a lot of real fun lately, so this could be her new start. Fun sex with a man or men she would never see outside the confines of the club. Her lips twisted. Unless she ran into them at Starbucks and they put all kinds of wickedly kinky ideas in her head that she couldn’t stop thinking about.
She turned the wheel and pulled into an empty spot next to a blue BMW. Daniel parked next to her and climbed out. Connelly turned off the engine but remained behind the wheel. Why was she being such a wuss today? She wanted to have sex with Nathan. She had since he’d talked her through his bathroom scenario that had her masturbating twice that night before going to sleep as well as several other times the nights after.
She snorted softly. Don’t pleasure yourself, indeed. How the hell would he know anyway?
Her car door opened, and she jumped in surprise. Daniel leaned against the window and grinned down at her. “You never struck me as being a chicken.”
“I’m coming,” she grumbled.
“Not yet, you’re not, but I have no doubt you will be,” he drawled.
Connelly snorted. “Cute.”
Daniel shut her car door, and she let her gaze wander down his tall, broad frame. Although not as muscular as his brother, Daniel was definitely built. His blue T-shirt clung to his hard chest, and his matching swim shorts hung down past he knees. Flip-flops completed the look.
“Here for the party too, I guess,” she said.
“Oh, yeah. I wouldn’t miss it. Never been to a pool orgy.”
Connelly giggled. “Is that what this is?”
“You saw the club, Connie,” he said as he rested his hand at the small of her back and escorted her toward the front door of the massive house. “What do you think?”
“Orgy,” she agreed with a slight nod.
Daniel chuckled and smiled at the man standing at the door, dressed in a tux. “Afternoon, John,” Daniel said.
“Daniel,” John replied as they walked past him and into the entryway. “Your brother is with the other guests by the pool. You’re the last to arrive, so I’m supposed to lock up after you.”
“We’ll leave you to it,” Daniel said as he pushed her toward the hall that lead to the pool area. She didn’t realize she was resisting until Daniel said, “You’re like a child being led to her punishment.”
“Sorry,” she mumbled. “I’m just not used to this.”
“You’ll be fine.”
They strolled through the open patio doors and out onto a festively decorated pool deck. Japanese lanterns surrounded the deck, which would offer soft light later when the sun went down. A long table set up next to the house was covered with various finger foods and coolers of beer.
About thirty people gathered in several small groups, some talking and eating, some in the pool, a couple already playing in the small scene area that had been roped off.
She spotted Nathan by the deep end of the pool talking with a group of men. He’d apparently already been in the pool, for his hair was wet and slicked back, making his angular features stand out even more. Water glistened on his wide chest, and she had to fight the urge to lick the droplets with her tongue.
That probably wouldn’t be a good way to start the night. Hey, can I lick the water off your chest? Drop your swim trunks, and I’ll lick your cock too.
Her whole body heated with the visions running through her mind. Or maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad start after all. He turned in her direction, and his intense, knowing gaze locked with hers. Amusement danced in his brown eyes.
He said something to the men in his group and then walked over. His confident swagger left her feeling weak in the knees.
“I was beginning to think you’d changed your mind,” he said as he got closer.
“I almost did,” she said.
“I found her in the parking lot, debating with herself. I think she’s a little nervous,” Daniel said.
“She should be,” Nathan drawled. “She masturbated after I told her not to.”
Connelly’s mouth fell open before she quickly closed it back.
“I told you I would know.”
“You didn’t really know. You just said it to see what my reaction would be,” she replied.
“And your reaction gave you away,” Nathan said. “How many times, Connelly?”
She kept her features blank and remained silent.
Nathan continued to stare into her eyes. “You’re supposed to answer your Dom, pet. Honestly.”
She licked her lips, her determination wavering just a tad. “Seven times, I think.”
Nathan’s eyes narrowed, and Daniel snickered.
“Seven?” Nathan repeated and raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
Her stomach dropped. She licked her lips again, but then her eyes narrowed. Damn prick. Raising her chin, she answered, “No. It was ten.”
“That’s what I thought.” Nathan reached out and grabbed her elbow.
Connelly tried to pull her arm free, but his grip was too tight. “Wait! What are you doing?”
“I’m going to punish you,” he said as he tugged her with him toward a large pole set up at the far side of the pool.
“Punish me?” she exclaimed. “What?”
Nathan turned and gave her a stern look that brought her up short. “I told you not to masturbate, but you did anyway. Ten times. Is that correct?”
Connelly swallowed and, to her surprise, couldn’t stop herself from nodding. He again began pulling her toward her doom. Connelly frantically dug in her heels. Unfortunately, she wasn’t strong enough to stop him. She glanced over her shoulder at Daniel, who stood back and watched with a slightly amused, slightly intrigued look on his face. She scowled. Obviously no help from that department.
Should she use her safe word? Would it do any good? And did she really want to?
Despite her fear at what he might do, her body exploded with excitement she’d never quite felt before. She’d always heard fear could increase sexual desire, but never thought she’d be one of those people. Damned if she wasn’t incredibly turned on at the moment.