Alluring Tales

One

For the first time in over a year Grace Walters didn’t want to go home. She didn’t want to walk up the brick path and look at the pretty flower bed she’d planted just last week. She didn’t want to open the door to the small two-bedroom cottage-style house that she’d bought thirteen months earlier. The one and only place she’d let herself call home since she was fourteen and decided that she was better off on the streets than in a house where no one cared.

She didn’t want to go home, because she knew she’d see that small pile of clothes on the dryer that belonged to Chelsea, and then she’d have to accept that Chelsea hadn’t felt at home there. That no matter what Grace had done, Chelsea had still gone back to the street, and this time, it had killed her.

Grace didn’t want to remember. She didn’t want to think.

“Why don’t you get them both?”

She started when a deep voice broke through the thick fog coating her mind. “What?” She turned and found Lukas Martin behind her, less than a foot away. How had he gotten so close without her even noticing? Her instincts for self-preservation had always served her well before.

“You seem to be having a hard time deciding between ice cream flavors, why not treat yourself and get both?” Lukas said with a smile. A pale eyebrow arched and a playful gleam lit up his chocolate eyes as he leaned even closer. “But if you want a real treat you should let me cook you dinner.”

Grace started to say no, like she had so many times in the past month when he’d asked her out. But this time, the refusal stuck in her throat.

As if he sensed her weakness, he stepped forward, the playful gleam fading as his gaze took on a more intense heat. “Grace?”

Need blossomed from deep within. One she’d thought was long buried. She swept her gaze over his leanly muscled six-foot frame, and the energizing tingle of sensual awareness she always felt whenever Luke entered a room zipped through her. Grace knew intuitively that he could satisfy that need.

It was a bad idea. Her head knew that, but her heart, her aching heart needed to feel something other than the pain of failure, and there was one thing she’d always been good at. One thing she’d always succeeded at…and she was too tired to deny the pull that Lukas’ eager-to-please attentions awoke within her. “One night,” she whispered.

“One night?”

“One night. You and me. No dinner, and no promises.” She met his gaze and let him see the need she felt rising from deep within. “Tonight.”

Shock whipped through Lukas. She’d said yes! Adrenaline filled his veins and he fought the urge to shout out. Finally, after so many rejections, Grace had said yes.

His elation faded as her words sunk in. One night.

No dinner.

She hadn’t said yes to a date. She wanted a one-night stand.

Disappointment flooded him and he started to shake his head-then he took a better look at her.

“Grace, what’s wrong?” Her normally bright green eyes were dark and dull, the skin around them pinched and drawn. “Are you okay?”

She looked at the hand he’d placed on her shoulder, her head turning slowly, as if it took a lot of effort.

“I’m not hurt, Lukas.” She looked up at him from beneath those long sweeping eyelashes and his pulse jumped at the raw need there. She stepped closer and placed a small hand on his chest. “I just need to feel something. I need you tonight.”

There was no way in hell he was going to turn her down.

They left the grocery store quickly and quietly, neither of them buying a thing. Grace was amazingly passive as he led her out to the car and got her settled in the passenger seat. He’d never seen her so…dim before. As if the light from within had gone out.

The drive to her place was silent. Lukas wanted to talk to her, to ask her what had happened. What had made her change her mind about him, finally? But he wasn’t sure that was the smart thing to do.

He’d never been attracted to tough girls before, and when his father had told him Grace’s story it never occurred to him he’d be interested in her. But when he met the ex-stripper, he’d fallen hard and fast. The vibrancy of her personality softened the hard edges he knew she’d developed in her youth, and her love for the troubled kids she worked with was obvious to anyone with eyes.

The vibrancy was gone right now though. And so was the hardness. As a defense attorney he worked with all types of people and saw all sorts of things, and it almost seemed like Grace was in shock. If she wasn’t technically in shock, she was certainly close. Making her talk about whatever set her off wasn’t the smart thing to do.

And taking advantage of her vulnerability by sleeping with her wasn’t the right thing to do.

He’d been enthralled by Grace ever since he met her. Her personality, her background, her attitude…the whole package had hooked him from day one. Not to mention she was the first woman he’d met that had made his cock stand at attention just by being near.

Lukas wasn’t a fan of one-night stands. In fact, he wasn’t even sure what the big attraction to sex in general was. It was nice, but it never made him feel the way he thought it should. So in the five minutes it took to get to her place, he made a decision. As much as he wanted Grace in his life, he wasn’t going to change his ways.

Grace unlocked the door and entered her small house. She didn’t look around, she didn’t want to see what was there. Instead, she stepped inside, waited for Lukas to enter, then closed the door behind him. “Follow me,” she said.

“Grace,” he spoke softly as he followed her down the small corridor to her bedroom. “I don’t think this is-”

She spun around just inside the entrance to her bedroom, stopping him cold. “Then don’t think.” She stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed the full length of her body against him. “Just feel.”

Two

He tasted good.

Grace swept her tongue across his full bottom lip before delving deep into Luke’s mouth, enjoying his smooth clean flavor. His hands circled her waist, and for a minute she thought he was going to push her away. Then his grip on her tightened, pulling her closer. The hardness of his muscles against her had heat thrumming through her body, attacking the cold knot of failure that had settled deep in her chest hours ago.

She pulled back, twisted her hands in the front of his shirt, and stepped backward, pulling him into her room. His warm hands covered hers, and he tried to pull them away gently. “Grace.” He shook his head at her. “This isn’t right. It isn’t what I want.”

“It’s what I want.” She looked into his eyes as she walked. When the edge of the bed hit the back of her knees, she stopped. “I need to feel something warm, Lukas. I need you.”

She pressed against him, kissing her way up to his ear. She nipped at his earlobe and ran her tongue gently around the rim. “This is what I want. What I need.”

He pulled back slightly, and the emptiness inside her spread. She thought he was going to walk away. Their gazes locked and she knew the minute he gave in. His eyes darkened, softening as he lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers.

He was smooth and gentle when she wanted hot and hard. His tongue slipped between her lips, searching out her secrets and soothing her soul. His touch, his feel, his flavor was so much…more than she’d anticipated. A shiver danced down her spine and for a brief second she wondered if she’d made a mistake.

Then she stopped thinking.

A sigh of satisfaction welled up within her, and she reveled in the warmth his touch imbued. It seeped into her body, into her soul, reminding her just how good human contact could feel.

She wrapped her arms around him and fell back onto the bed, pulling him down on top of her. She’d thought she needed to dominate him; to tease and please him until he begged her to let him come, until she regained some sense of control. But really, what she’d needed instead was to remember what it was to feel. Wanting more of his warmth, she tugged his t-shirt free and reached beneath it to find hot smooth skin that shifted beneath her fingertips with every touch. Lukas nudged her chin, and she tilted her head, moaning at the fire that burned along her skin when he trailed nibbling kisses down her neck to her collarbone.

He was taking things too slow, teasing her when she didn’t want teasing. She wanted more, fast. She braced her heels on the bed, and with a heave and a twist had him right where she wanted. On his back and between her legs.

She whipped her shirt over her head, discarded her bra, and leaned forward, placing a ripe pink nipple directly above his lips.

“Take it in your mouth,” she told him. “Use your hands and your mouth, Lukas. Touch me.”

“Grace?” His eyes widened, heat flaring within their depths.

“Please me, Lukas.” The soft command echoed in the room.

Large male hands slid up her ribcage and cupped her breasts. When his warm mouth surrounded her nipple and he started suckling, Grace let her eyes drift shut and reveled in the sensations that swelled deep within with each tug of his lips.

She tightened her thighs around him and rocked her hips. Pressing down so the hard ridge beneath his zipper rubbed against her core, and the heat within her spread.

More, she needed more heat.

As if he could sense her thoughts Lukas shifted and sucked on her other nipple. His teeth nipped, his tongue swirled, and then he sucked and laved it. The fingers pinched and pulled at her other nipple and she gasped, her insides melting, her juices starting to flow.

“Oh yes,” she sighed. Taking a deep breath she pulled away and shed the rest of her clothes. She glanced back at Lukas to find that he hadn’t moved from his position on the bed except to watch her. His heated gaze ran over her nakedness, and a tight knot of arousal formed low in her belly.

“You’re more beautiful than I ever imagined.”

“Thank you.” She stepped to the edge of the bed and reached for the hem of his t-shirt. “Now it’s your turn.”

When Lukas was as naked as Grace, she straddled his lap once again. This time she braced her hands on his shoulders and pinned him to the bed. He reached for her as she leaned down, and put her lips to his as she spoke.

“Do nothing, Lukas.” She moved above him, the hard tips of her breasts brushing against his chest. Her belly rubbed against his as she took the head of his cock and nudged it between her swollen pussy lips. “Just enjoy the ride.”

With that she impaled herself on his rigid cock, welcoming the hot hardness inside her body. She closed her eyes, and shut out everything. The sounds of his passion, the scent of sex, the pure desire in his eyes-it all faded away as she concentrated on the heat of him inside her. She rocked her hips, rubbing against his pelvic bone, feeling the head of him nudge her special spot. The hot spot that spread more warmth through her with every touch.

She concentrated all her energy on that spot, panting as she rocked faster, harder. She was so close, almost there. Her muscles trembled, but in a delicious way as she pushed forward. Fingers gripped her hips and pulled her down roughly, holding her as Lukas shouted and arched on the bed, thrusting deep. A spark ignited, and she cried out as it burst into flames that fanned out to every nerve ending in her body.

When the fires inside her faded, Grace found herself cuddled up on Lukas’ chest. One of his hands was stroking her hair, the other her back. His heartbeat was strong and steady beneath her ear as he whispered soothing sounds and held her tight. It wasn’t until she tasted the tears streaming past her lips that she realized she was crying.

Three

Before Grace opened her eyes the next morning she became simultaneously aware of three things. The warm naked male she was sprawled over, the steady thump of his heartbeat beneath her ear, and an unusual sense of belonging.

Panic hit hard and fast, and she steeled herself to move slowly and ignore the loss of warmth as she eased away from Lukas.

No need to panic, she told herself. She crawled from the bed and padded quietly to the bathroom for her robe. She brushed her teeth and washed her face, avoiding the reflection in the mirror the whole time. With a last glance at the sleeping man in her bed she headed for the kitchen and the coffee pot.

Minutes later she slid the pot back under the still dripping spout and lifted a steaming mug to her lips. Everything would be all right. She’d laid out the rules to Lukas before they ever left the store, so he knew she’d only been looking for one night. Besides, preacher’s son or not, he was male. A one-night stand wouldn’t be anything new for him.

Footsteps sounded behind her announcing his arrival in the kitchen, but she stayed at the counter with her back to the room. A well-muscled arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her back against a hard body. A body that instantly awoke a sleeping hunger within her.

“Hmmm, you smell good.” He buried his nose in her hair and pressed a kiss to her neck.

She fought to control her body’s reaction to his nearness. “It’s the coffee.”

A rough chuckle sounded, and his chest vibrated against her back. Pretending not to notice the tempting hardness pressed against her butt, Grace shifted away from him and reached into a nearby cupboard.

“Here you go.” She handed him a ceramic mug and moved to sit at the kitchen table. He’d pulled his jeans on, but was still barefoot and bare-chested, and the sight was almost enough to make Grace forget why she couldn’t drag him back to bed. Their coupling had been almost magical in its intensity. When he settled into the chair across from her, the soft look in his eyes made it clear he wasn’t going to let her forget it either.

“Look, Lukas,” she said quietly. “I was…in a bad place last night, and I want to thank you for being there for me. But it was a one-time thing.”

He looked at her earnestly. “Why?”

Grace had expected an argument, maybe even some wounded male petulance. Luke’s simple question was a surprise. “Because you’re you, and I’m me, and we come from two very different worlds.”

His brow furrowed before he waved her words away. “We can talk about that later. I meant why were you in a bad place? What happened to shake you up so much?”

Clutching the coffee mug in both hands to still the minute trembling, she met his gaze and spoke in a flat voice that hid both her grief, and his effect on her. “Chelsea died of an overdose last night, and I had to go to the morgue to identify the body.”

“I’m sorry, Grace. I know how much those kids mean to you. My father thanks God in his prayers every night for sending you to his parish.”

She nodded. She thanked God every night in her prayers for leading her to Father John’s church that night fifteen years earlier. The sanctuary she’d found there had given her a new lease on life, and put her on the path to helping others. But that night was her secret. Hers and Father John’s. And as much as she knew Father John loved her for her work with the troubled teens that took part in their after-school program, she also knew he’d never approve of his son getting involved with her.

“It was a tough night. And when I saw you at the store, I was still feeling a little lost myself. You were great, but it was-”

“Don’t!” The firmness in his voice halted her. “Don’t you dare say it was a mistake.”

This was the argument she’d been waiting for. She stared into his darkening eyes and smiled softly. “Okay, it wasn’t a mistake. But it can’t happen again, Luke.”

His cheeky grin gave birth to butterflies in her belly. “That’s okay. Because next time we get together I’m going to take you out for a wonderful dinner, and maybe some dancing.”

The tension left Grace’s shoulders, and she allowed a small smile when she shook her head at him. He’d been incorrigible before, if she wasn’t careful he’d soon become irresistible. “There won’t be any of that either. Lukas, you know anything between us is impossible.”

“No, I don’t know that. And neither do you. I don’t understand what you’re so scared of.”

“I’m not scared,” she denied. She got up and moved restlessly to the counter. She dumped the last of her coffee down the drain and rinsed the cup, using her actions as an excuse not to look at him while she spoke. “It’s just not smart. Not only is your father my boss, but he’s a minister, Luke.”

“So what? My father loves you.”

She turned back to him, folding her arms over her chest. “He loves me as a teen mentor and probation officer who works hard to help kids find a better life. He won’t love me as the older woman fucking his son.” He flinched at her harsh words, and opened his mouth, but she pressed on before he could speak. “Neither would the community that I know means so much to both of you.”

“You’re a part of this community, Grace.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I’m an outsider. I live here and I serve a function, but I’m not a part of anything.”

He was in front of her in a flash. One hand cupped her cheek and the other her hip as he tilted her head up so she’d meet his gaze. “Last night you felt like the other part of my soul.”

Her breath caught in her throat. He wasn’t laying a line on her, she could see the truth of it in his eyes. Her heart pounded and the shell she kept it encased in cracked before she could shore it up.

“Don’t, Lukas.” She twisted her head and pulled away from him. “Don’t make this out to be more than it was.”

“You can’t honestly tell me it was just a one-night stand, Grace. This has been building between us since we met. What happened between us was special. It was right.”

She heard the anger starting to build in his voice and closed her eyes. She didn’t want to hurt him, but she had to make it clear that it had only been sex. “Sex is a normal way to reassert life when grieving, and that’s all it was.”

“Did you learn that in your psychology classes, or are you just trying to make me feel like shit?”

“No! I’m not trying to make you feel bad at all, Lukas. I just need you to be clear on what’s what.”

“You want it to be clear that you used me?”

Shame made her blush. “I’m sorry, but yeah, I guess I did.”

“You need to stop kidding yourself, Grace.” He shook his head at her. “You’re incapable of using someone like that, and nobody uses me unless I let them. I knew you were hurting over something, and I wanted to be there for you. I’ve been in love with you since the first day we met, and if you think I’m going to let you pretend that everything we shared last night was only because you were grieving, you’ve got another think coming.”

He reached out and pulled her to him. His hands warm and sure as they smoothed up and down her spine, keeping her body flush against his as his mouth came down on hers. His tongue thrust between her lips and claimed ownership in a primal way.

Grace reached out to push him away only to find her fingers digging in to his shoulders, pulling him closer as she wrapped one leg around his hip and rocked her pelvis against him.

He pulled back and looked down into her eyes. “I’m going to go now, but I want you to know that this is us, together. It’s not your grief, and it’s not going to be only one night.”

Before she could protest, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips and walked away. At the door to the kitchen he turned and flashed her a confident smile. “That’s a promise.”

Four

Lukas shoved his clenched fists deep into his pockets and fought the urge to go to Grace. A week had gone by since the morning he’d left her in her kitchen, looking shocked and a little scared. It had been a hard thing to do, but he knew it hadn’t been the right time to force the issue.

That time was now.

She was much too practical to ever believe in love at first sight, so he needed to find a way to convince her it was real.

Maybe if he told her it hadn’t really been at first sight?

Sure he’d been instantly attracted to her. She was a beautiful woman with an attitude who had him in an almost constant state of arousal. But it was only after spending that first afternoon with her and four of the kids she mentored, that he’d recognized the tightness in his chest for what it was.

His heart expanding and opening up to a woman that was tough as nails to the world, with a buried heart as soft as kitten fluff. So soft and willing she was to open her home to an addicted teen runaway when the girl refused the shelter of the church basement.

In the last month he’d spent as much time as he could at the church, taking part in the mentorship program, and asking Grace out. She’d refused him every time. She couldn’t, she told him. She worked for his father. She was too old for him. None of her excuses mattered to him.

Then he’d been in the right place at the right time to be there for her. He’d never meant to tell her how he felt right away. He knew her well enough to know that it would only scare her away. So, instead of forcing her to listen, he’d tried to stay away, to give her time to notice his absence, and maybe even miss him. A week had been all he could handle, and now it was time to change tactics.

“I hope you know what you’re getting into, Lukas.” His father’s voice was soft.

They stood side by side watching as Grace said goodbye to the last teenager. “I love her, Dad. It’s not going to be easy getting past the brick wall she has around her heart, but I know that once I do, I’ll find my own private heaven in her arms.”

“You have your mother’s poetic soul, Lukas.” Father John Martin blessed him with a soft smile few people saw. It was a blend of love, pride, and pain. It was the one that told of the loss he suffered since his wife had been killed in a convenience store robbery five years earlier.

Lukas saw that smile and clapped his hand on his dad’s shoulder. His parents had been soul mates and partners. When his mother had been killed, he’d worried his father would do something stupid, like hunt down the kids that had robbed the store and beat the crap out of them. Not something a typical priest would do, but his father wasn’t your typical anything.

Instead, once he’d gotten control of his anger and hurt, he’d looked for ways to get the street kids in their neighborhood the mentoring they needed. He’d made it his goal to give the kids options so that they didn’t get sucked into the shady ways of life that were all too common around there.

His dad met Luke’s gaze. “There’s a good reason she built those walls, son,” he warned.

Lukas let his gaze go to the fiery redhead that had a hold of his heart, before facing his father again. “She thinks you’ll never approve of her. Of us.”

“It’s not for me to approve or disapprove.” His father frowned. “But you need to be aware that what Grace works hard to instill in these kids, is something she often lacks herself.”

Lukas nodded. It was true. Grace exuded confidence, but he’d spotted cracks in it before, and the fact she denied her own place of belonging in their tight community made it apparent she wasn’t aware of her own self-worth. “Thanks, Dad.”

He turned from his father and strode across the cement floor of the church basement.

Grace saw him coming and straightened her spine. He’d been in and out of the church a couple of times in the past week, but she’d managed to always be busy, and he hadn’t been able to get her alone. No such luck this time though.

“Hello, Grace. How are you doing?” he asked politely when he stopped in front of her.

“I’m good.” She caught some movement out of the corner of her eye, and saw the minister watching them from the stairway. His father. “And you?”

“I could be better. In fact, I was hoping to talk to you about it over dinner?”

Grace’s pulse jumped at the request but she met his gaze and shook her head firmly. “Sorry, Lukas. You know what the answer to that is.”

He stepped closer, crowding her in the empty basement. “It’s just dinner, Grace. What’s the big deal?”

“The big deal is you said you were in love with me.”

He’d been so firm in his declaration. So confident and sure that what they’d shared had been right. It had been good, but deep down she knew he could never really love her. Not a teenage runaway who had turned to stripping naked and dancing for strangers to earn a living.

“I shouldn’t have told you that,” he said softly.

A flash of pain flared in her chest, surprising her.

“Well,” she muttered. “It seems you’ve come to your senses, so why the dinner invitation?”

He stepped closer, blocking her view of the room. “My heart hasn’t changed, Grace. I said I loved you and I meant it. I just realize that telling you so soon might not have been the best move.”

There was a strange flutter in her stomach and warmth spread throughout her body. She clenched her hands at her sides, and bounced her fists against her legs. She’d always felt an attraction to him, but now, after their night together, she was much more aware of him. There was a determination in his dark gaze that she’d never noticed before. The heat of his body reached out to her, giving birth to a yearning deep within to cuddle up to him, to feel that warmth seep through her skin and into her soul.

She shook her head and stepped back, bumping into the wall. “No, Lukas. I told you the other night, I just wanted sex. I just needed to feel alive.”

“And you don’t want to have sex with me again?” He stepped forward, putting his hands on either side of her head, trapping her against the wall.

Of course she did. She wasn’t dead. In fact, every second that went by she felt more alive. Panicked, she looked over his shoulder, but Father John was gone, and they were all alone.

Get a grip, Grace.

She closed her eyes for a brief second and took a deep breath. Big mistake. His scent filled her head, and her body responded with throbbing heat.

Okay. She pressed her hands, palms flat, against the wall behind her, and made a mental deal with herself. If she couldn’t control her body’s reaction to him, the least she could do was control the relationship. She could maximize the pleasure and minimize the damage to them both.

“I’d love to have sex with you again, Lukas.” She met his gaze head-on and spoke in a husky whisper designed to arouse. “But that’s it, no more talk of love. Can you handle a strictly sexual relationship?”

Five

His gut clenched and his cock twitched behind his zipper. Damn it, Lukas thought, this wasn’t the way the conversation was supposed to go.

He gazed into her eyes, searching for anything other than the lust she hid behind. Nothing. Only heat, and the flicker of something deeper within. Fine, if the way to Grace’s heart was through her body, he was willing to do whatever it took.

If he’d had any doubt about Grace being his other half, it had fled when they’d made love. Sex had just been sex before, but with her, he’d felt…free. Free to be himself, to experience every touch, every taste, every ounce of pleasure he could. She’d put her hands on him, and he’d finally understood what the big deal was.

They’d communicated with their bodies on a level that words could never touch. They’d connected. Now he just had to convince her of that.

“I can handle whatever you can dish out, Grace.” He leaned down and let his lips rub against her ear when he spoke. “I’m yours, however you want me.”

He felt the shudder that went through her at his words and stepped back before he could do something really stupid. Like take her up against the wall of the church’s basement.

Lukas thought he knew what to expect when they got to Grace’s. No talking, just sex. Instead, he got just the opposite. She invited him in, told him to kick off his shoes and get comfortable on the sofa, then disappeared into the kitchen. When she came back it was with a tray of cheese, crackers, and meats, and a jug of iced tea. She tucked one leg under the other as she settled sideways on the sofa, facing him straight on.

Her emerald eyes sparkled and her full lips tilted in a secretive smile. “So tell me, Lukas, what’s your favorite sexual fantasy?”

His jaw dropped. Then he burst out laughing. “You never cease to amaze me, Grace.”

She leaned against the back of the sofa and sipped her iced tea before replying. “What? You expected me to lead you straight to the bedroom and strip down?”

“Well, you did say strictly sexual. But food, drink, and conversation, is fine by me. You know I’m more than eager to build this relationship on all levels.”

“Yes. But what else are you eager to do?”

His body temperature spiked, and his heart skipped a beat.

He recognized her tactic. But her aggression only made him more certain that they were the right fit. He had to trust the interest in her gaze, and the invisible pull between them. It was time to trust his heart.

“I’m eager to do whatever it takes.”

Her cheeks flushed and she cocked her head to the side, nibbling on her luscious lower lip. “Whatever it takes for what?”

The way to her heart, is through her body.

“Whatever it takes to please you.”

He’d obviously said the right thing. Her reaction was instantaneous, and intoxicating. Her lips parted, her nostrils flared, and her eyes darkened. His cock stiffened at the idea of pleasing her, and he set his drink on the table before reaching out for her.

“Down, boy. We’re still talking.” Her tiny little fingers wrapped around his hands and pressed them back to his sides.

His cock swelled further at the command in her tone, and he blinked. Satisfaction eased through him, blending with his excitement, heightening it.

“I thought you were only interested in sex?”

“I’m into much more than just sex, Lukas. I said that our relationship would be a sexual one. But in order for it to be fulfilling for us both, we need to set some ground rules.”

“Rules like?”

“Before we get to those, why don’t you answer my original question?” She smoothed her hands up and down her thighs as she spoke, and it was all he could do not to reach out and do the same. His mind was drifting to naked thoughts and the urge to touch her was almost too strong to resist.

“Your original question?”

“Yes, I want to know what your favorite sexual fantasy is.” Her voice firmed, her words coming out like a command instead of a question.

Before he could think twice his mouth opened and the words tumbled over his tongue. “I want to be told what to do, like you did the other night. I want to be told how to please you like no other has, or ever will.”

Lukas’s admission was music to her ears. She’d been right. She’d tried to ignore the signs in the last weeks, but she couldn’t do it anymore.

Lukas was a natural submissive, and the temptation of making him hers had become too much to resist.

Rules be damned, she certainly would be for what she was about to do. She stood and held out her hand to him. “Then follow me,” she said simply.

Six

Grace led the way down the short hallway to her bedroom. Once inside she motioned for Lukas to stand at the foot of the bed as she flicked on the bedside lamps, bathing the room in an amber glow.

Her fingers hovered for a moment over the dial on the small stereo, but she decided against it. She could hear Lukas’ erratic breathing already, and it fueled the erotic haze starting to envelope her. She didn’t want any distractions.

With slow steps, she went back to Lukas. She reached out and trailed her fingertips across the width of his shoulder blades, as she passed behind him. She stopped in front of him, leaving almost a foot of space between them. “Strip for me, Lukas,” she commanded softly.

He bent down and removed his socks first, then met her gaze while he unbuttoned the simple dress shirt and pulled it from his jeans.

Grace’s pulse pounded and saliva pooled in her mouth when the shirt was gone and he reached for the silver buckle at his waist. His eagerness was clear in the quick work he made of his belt and zipper, shoving his jeans and shorts over his hips and down his legs in one smooth move that stole her breath.

He was beautiful.

She knew men weren’t supposed to be beautiful, but he was. He stood before her completely naked and eager. His dark eyes glowed and a lovely flush covered his neck and crept up his cheeks. When Grace’s gaze landed on his mouth, his lips parted and his tongue darted out.

Unable to resist the unspoken invitation she stepped forward, cupped his face in her hands and brought him down for a kiss.

She nibbled at his lips, before swiping her tongue across them and dipping into his mouth to taste him. He groaned, his breath mingling with hers as their tongues met and danced, tangling and moving together in a natural rhythm that soon had them both panting. She pulled away and became aware of his hands gripping her hips tightly.

“Hands off until I tell you, Lukas.”

His hands instantly dropped to his sides and he straightened.

If Grace had any doubts about his willingness to let her take control, they were dispelled then. She stayed where she was, close enough to breath in his scent and see his nipples harden when she blew a soft stream of air at them. “Lovely,” she sighed.

She reached between them and wrapped her hand around his cock. Not too tight, but tight enough that she would feel every telltale throb and twitch. “The ground rules are simple, and always in effect, Lukas. I’m not into pain and humiliation so you need a safe word. That word is red, as in stop-sign red. If I’m doing something you don’t like, you just shout that word out, and I stop. Okay?”

“Okay,” he replied, his voice thick with lust.

“And just so you know…I love to hear you beg…so don’t be shy.”

A small frown wrinkled his forehead, but he didn’t say anything. He was so innocent; the urge to open the doors to a whole new world for him was undeniable.

She stood on her tiptoes and leaned forward, deliberately breathing hotly as she whispered in his ear. “Do you enjoy oral sex, Lukas?”

His cock throbbed in her hand as he nodded. “I’m going to give you some instructions now, and if you follow them well, you will be rewarded.”

That made his cock jump. It swelled and throbbed against the palm of her hand and she was tempted to get on her knees and take it in her mouth. But he’d said he wanted to be told what to do. So that was what would happen. She released him and stepped back.

“Undress me,” she instructed.

She stood still as he lifted her t-shirt over her head, and his trembling fingers unsnapped her bra. Her nipples ached, begging for attention, but she held back. She wanted all of her clothes off before she let him touch her.

His knuckles brushed against her soft belly as he unsnapped her jeans. He bent at the knees and tugged the denim over her rounded hips and down her legs. A large male hand cupped one calf as he lifted the first leg to remove the pants, then the other. He looked up at her from his crouched position, his hand lingering on her calf as she said a brief prayer of thanks for the urge to shave that morning.

She reached out and stroked her fingers through the shiny locks of his hair. He pressed into her touch just like a cat being scratched behind the ears. “My panties too, please.”

Lukas’ hands slid up the outside of her legs to her hips. He fingered the thin elastic that held the front and back triangles of cloth together. In a surprise move he pulled hard and the elastic snapped. Her excited gasp echoed through the room as the panties fell to the floor.

His hands cupped her naked rear, and he dropped to his knees in front of her. Leaning forward, he rubbed his cheek against her bare skin and made a show of inhaling deeply before looking up at her. “I can smell how turned on you are. Can I taste…please?”

Grace’s knees almost buckled. The sight of him on his knees for her, the words he spoke, the fervent hunger clearly stamped on his face and in the tension of his body, it was like a dream.

“Please me, Lukas. Show me how eager you are.”

Fire licked at Lukas’ insides at Grace’s words. Please her. In that moment it felt like that was his whole reason for being. His needs, the throbbing of his cock, and the tightness in his balls slipped out of his consciousness. His fingers flexed, gripping her butt tightly and pulling her hips closer to his mouth. All that mattered was pleasing her.

Burying his face in the juncture of her thighs, he stiffened his tongue and snaked it into her slick heat.

“Oh, yes.”

Grace’s sigh was music to his ears. He shuffled forward, urging her back until he could lower her weight to the edge of the bed. When his hands were free, he slid them over her curves to her knees, and pressed them apart. He pulled back and looked at the beauty in front of him. Dark red curls were trimmed close to the skin, full sex lips with the tiny dark red nub peaking out. Using his thumbs, he spread her lips and enjoyed the view.

“Lukas,” Grace said. “If you don’t put your mouth on me right now, I’m kicking you out of my house, and never letting you back in.”

The playful note in her command surprised him, and brought a grin to his face.

“Just enjoying the view, babe. You are absolutely perfect.”

“Lukasss.” Her growl turned into a purr when he took a long slow lick before delving in. She tasted so good, so sweet and true. He stiffened his tongue and slid it inside her, going as deep as he could, before pulling out and circling her rigid clit. He flicked and nibbled at the hard little button and felt her hips press against him. One hand shifted upward, traveling over her belly to cup a heavy breast and roll the nipple between his fingers, while the other hand slid in under his chin to tease her entrance.

“More, Lukas,” she encouraged. “Suck my clit.” He puckered up and suckled on the button at the same time he slid a finger into her. Her hips jerked and her cunt clenched around him. “Yes, that’s it. Don’t stop!”

Desperately inhaling through his nose he sucked and then gently nipped at the pleasure pearl with his teeth. Her thighs tightened around his head, muffling the sound of her ecstatic moan as her scent filled his head and went straight south, hardening his cock to the point of pain.

He didn’t stop until her fingers wrapped in his hair and pulled his head away. He looked up at her and was happy to see that she was panting as hard as he was.

Her lips curved into a wicked smile and she petted his head lovingly. “Very good, Lukas, but now it’s my turn.”

His heart pounded and his muscles trembled as he wondered what was next.

“Get on the bed,” she commanded.

When she had him positioned on his back, his hands gripping the headboard, she smiled devilishly. “Do not move, until I say you can.”

Seven

Grace stared down at the naked man on her bed. Emotions that had nothing to do with sex swirled about her head and made it difficult to breath. She couldn’t let herself think…she had to turn off her brain. Don’t think, just feel. Isn’t that what she’d said to Lukas the other night?

She threw her leg over him and straddled his waist. Leaning forward, she braced her hands on the mattress next to him, and licked first one flat male nipple, then the other. She moved her head so that the curtain of her hair brushed against his skin as she went back and forth, manipulating each nipple with her tongue, her teeth, and her lips until they were rock hard and standing stiff like little miniature dicks.

Shifting her weight further back on her heels, she scraped her chest against his belly as she moved lower, nipping at his ribs, tonguing his navel. She stopped when she was between his spread thighs, her breasts surrounding the rigid cock and sandwiching it to his body. He gasped and his hips pressed up.

Grace lifted her head and gazed at his beautiful face. His eyes were watching her every move, but his lips were pursed tight.

“Talk to me, Lukas. I need to hear what you like just as much as you do.”

“Everything. I like it all. Nothing feels bad when you’re touching me.”

“You like this?” she asked and rocked her body forward, his cock stroking firmly between her breasts.

“Yes,” he hissed.

“What about this?” She dipped her head and her tongue flicked the head of his cock when it peaked out from between her breasts as she continued to rock.

His moan echoed through the room, thrilling her. Her tongue darted out every time, swiping at the sensitive tip. Through with teasing him, she pulled back and circled the base of his cock with her finger and thumb. She held the rigid length of him away from his body, and swirled her tongue all over him. She licked up the underside, following the throbbing vein there. She wrapped her lips around the head and sucked him like a lollipop. His hips thrust upward, and his sighs turned to whimpers. She waited…she knew it was coming.

“Please,” he gasped.

“Please what, Lukas?” She squeezed her thighs together. She wanted so badly to climb up his body and impale herself on his cock. She wanted to feel him touch her deep inside, feel his warmth spread through her once again. She wanted to feel…alive.

“Please…take me.”

Lovely, lovely, words. She opened her mouth and took as much of him in as she could. She sucked gently and stroked up to the tip, then swallowed him again. Her other hand cupped his balls, measuring their weight, their feel.

Suddenly the bed shook and Lukas’ voice reached her loud and clear. “No, Grace. Please!!”

She kept going, sliding her mouth up and down his cock, tasting his flavor and feeling him swell even larger in her mouth. “Grace, please. Take me…inside you…ride me…fuck me…love me!”

An arrow of pure pleasure went straight to her heart. It wasn’t that he was begging, it was what he was begging for, it was what she wanted too. Before she could think twice, she climbed on top of him, aimed his cock at her entrance, and sank down onto him. She had to bite her tongue to keep from shouting yes as their connection solidified and her world righted itself.

Grace braced her hands on his muscular chest and met his gaze as she began to fuck him. “Touch me,” she pleaded.

His hands immediately grasped her hips. He helped her find the right rhythm, before skimming them over her back, her front, her legs, her breasts. His hands were everywhere, but both of them knew that wasn’t the touch she’d been asking for.

She wanted him to touch her heart, the same way he had that first night. She wanted the magic she’d felt only with him. The warmth that had thawed her heart and filled her soul. And she got it when one hand cupped the back of her head and pulled her down to him. Their mouths opened, their tongues danced, and their cries of pleasure filled each other.

Eight

The next morning when Lukas opened his eyes and found himself alone in the bed, he wasn’t surprised. Sounds of movement reached his ears from the kitchen, and he wondered just how closed off Grace was going to be. He’d meant to keep things light between them the night before. Just sexual. But it hadn’t worked like that. Something about that woman reached deep down inside him and made it impossible to hide what he was feeling.

Stifling a groan he rolled from the bed, pulled on his jeans, and padded down the hall to the kitchen. When he got there Grace was sitting at the table in her robe, a steaming cup of coffee in front of her.

He bent down to kiss her on the cheek. When she didn’t pull away he nuzzled his nose into her hair and breathed deeply. She smelled of musky raw sex. She smelled of them.

He got his coffee and sat down across from her. Silent.

She met his gaze head-on, making his heart pound and his insides quiver. Her eyes were still guarded, but there was something new in them. Something that gave him hope.

“Grace?”

“I’d like to go out for dinner with you tonight.”

To an ordinary person, it wasn’t much. But they both knew what it was…it was the door to her heart creaking open.

Sassy women and sexy men are what Canadian author SASHA WHITE’s stories are all about. Gifted with a salacious imagination, Sasha enjoys working in several genres, such as contemporary, paranormal, suspense and science fiction. With a voice that is called “distinctive and delicious” by The Romance Studio, Sasha has over a dozen erotic stories published and is going strong. She loves to hear from readers, and can be found on her website’s blog most afternoons.

www.sashawhite.net