Chapter 7
1673 Words
His fingers trailed down from my shoulder, his fingertips grazing the back of my arm. I shivered. I wasn’t about to move, but my entire body was ready to jump as I felt his hands press on either side of my hips.
“This dress doesn’t fit you,” he said.
I gulped a breath.
“I know. It’s my friend’s dress,” I said.
He stepped closer to me. He didn’t touch me with anything but his hands, but I could tell that he was closer. His body heat radiated through the air between us, and his breath was warm on my neck.
“Take it off.”
“Excuse me?” I couldn’t believe that I had heard him correctly.
“Take it off.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re excused for your insolence,” Knox growled. “Now take off the damn dress.”
Before I could figure out how to respond, he pulled me backwards. I fell off balance and landed against his chest. His arms wrapped around me. His muscles were hard and
Oh, Lord, his c**k was hard, too. He was pressed up against me from behind and I could feel it, thick and throbbing against my lower back. My heart pounded in my ears and all the room seemed to spin.
This wasn’t… I couldn’t. I really couldn’t. I was a virgin.
He couldn’t have known it, of course. I had no idea what to do with a guy. I mean, I had an idea, but nothing specific or detailed. I’d never even gone past second base with anyone.
And now he was acting like he wanted… Well, I couldn’t imagine what he wanted. More than I was capable of, that’s for sure.
“Chloe.”
I took off the shawl. Already I felt bare. My cleavage was full to bursting out of the front.
“Now the dress,” he said.
I reached up as though in a dream and tugged on the zipper. I didn’t know how to stop him. Even the idea of asking him to stop seemed completely absurd, as though it was impossible not to follow his orders. That was how absolutely in control he was.
Harper had told me once, one night when we were staying up late and drinking wine with our cupcakes, that I ought to find a mature man who, in her words, “knew what the hell to do with your body.”
Well, heck, I thought. I didn’t even know what to do with my body. How could a man have any idea what to do with me? Now, though, with Knox standing behind me, I knew exactly what Harper meant. Because this man knew what he wanted. He would know what the hell to do with my body.
Once he saw what was under the dress, he might not want me anymore, though. And hey, as long as I got out of here alive, that was fine by me. But as I peeled the dress down over my body, I found myself hoping that he wouldn’t kick me out. Even with my blue bra and black panties mismatching.
I found myself hoping that he would want to keep me.
Could I do this? Could I lose my virginity to some random man?
Even if he was handsome as sin and richer than the world?
The dress fell down to my bare feet. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I turned to face him. He looked down, taking my body in an inch at a time. It was so long before he looked up at me, his lips parting slowly. He looked hungry.
“Take off your bra.”
“I… I don’t…”
“You don’t want to?”
He had me there. I wanted to. The desire in his eyes scared me, but it also made me feel something that I hadn’t felt before.
Lord, I felt so wanted.
“Take it off.”
I turned my back to him and unhooked my bra. Then I let it drop to the floor along with my dress. With my toes, I delicately kicked it away.
Then I crossed my arms over my chest and turned back around.
“You’re a temptress,” Knox growled.
There, again. That low thrum in his voice that turned my insides to thick cream.
“I didn’t think a man like you could be tempted.”
“By this? By you? Oh, Chloe. Chloe.”
Before I could react, he was in front of me. Knox raced his hand down my arm, skimming my bare hip. It came to a rest cupping the outside curve of my ass. I bit down hard on my lip, trying to push back the feelings that tangled through my body and tore at my nerves.
What was I doing? Why was I obeying him?
Was it the soft animal whisper in his voice that said I want you? Was it that which tempted me?
“Knox.”
It was the first time I’d said his name. It seemed to stun him. His fingers froze their caress.
“Why did you call me that?” he asked.
“Your… it’s your name.”
“Don’t use my name.”
“What?” I furrowed my brows, confused. “Then what do I call y ”
“Don’t call me anything.”
“Don’t call you anything?” I repeated.
“You can call me Sir. But only if you must. Otherwise, try not to use my name.”
“I’ll try.”
That, at least, was one thing I could do. I could try to do this for him, no matter how weird it seemed. Don’t call him Knox. Alright.
“Let me see you, Chloe.”
“Should I… I mean, are we in private? The door’s not locked.” I bit my lip, a nervous thrill of fear sending strong vibrations through my nervous system.
“Does that matter to you?”
“What? Wh yes! Of course it matters.”
“I’m a stranger to you,” he said. “Isn’t that right?”
“Yes.”
“And another stranger seeing you, wouldn’t that be the same?”
NO!
The voice in my head was louder than anything, even instinct. It sang through my skull.
No, it wouldn’t be the same. No, you’re more than that.
You are different.
Different. Yes. There was a calm confidence to him that I still couldn’t place a finger on. He stood, his fingers stroking my skin in a slow contemplation. It seemed as though he was living entirely in this one moment, his senses soaking in all of the room. Soaking in me.
“If I’d known I was going to be putting on a show tonight, I would have worn matching underwear,” I said, smiling weakly.
“You’re doing fine,” he said. “More than fine.” His eyes ate me up; they gnawed my body.
“I want to show you off,” he said.
“What? Show me off?”
“I want to peel you naked and lay you down in front of a hundred people and take you for myself. I want to lick your hot cunt.”
“Sir.”
The word was a shadow of a gasp. I had no breath in me. No, it wasn’t only one breath. It was the whole world. All of the air was gone and I was gasping at nothing.
The walls spun. I blinked, then again, trying to focus.
“Forgive me for being so blunt this early with you. I’m sure you’ll understand.”
“I have to go.”
The words tore from my throat. Knox stared at me with a blank look on his face.
“See, I have a new job,” I said, sputtering as I bent down to pick up the bra. I kept one arm covering my breasts. How effective it was, I didn’t know. I wasn’t about to look up before I had both arms crossed in front of me again. “I’m starting tonight, after I leave here.”
“Who says you’re leaving?” His eyes turned dark.
“What do you mean? I say I’m leaving. That’s how it works,” I said. I pulled on my bra and had my dress up around my shoulders in two seconds.
“Chloe, you aren’t leaving.”
He said it kindly, but there was a certainty to the statement that made my pulse thud harder.
“You’re starting to scare me,” I warned. It wasn’t fear, though, that ran through me.
“Good. I’ll like that. I think you’ll like it, too.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take very good care of you. If I scare you, you’ll enjoy it.”
His tongue slipped over his bottom lip, wetting it. I couldn’t help but imagine what he would taste like. Mint and spice, rough like cinnamon bark.
It felt insane. I stood there calmly, barefoot. This man, this stranger had just seen me as close to naked as anyone ever had. And now he was telling me that he wanted to scare me.
Instead of fear, I felt a stab of curiosity when he spoke. He didn’t seem like he would hurt me. He seemed so calm, so assured. It was… it was thrilling.
I zipped up my dress quickly and tugged the hem back down around my hips.
“Really, though. I have to go.”
“I’ll let you go on one condition.”
“A condition?” I tilted my chin up toward his face. His cool emerald irises shimmered with silver specks. His eyes were cold, but his gaze burned my skin.
“Only one condition.”
“What is it?”
“Let me make you come.”
He smiled slowly, letting his words sink into me. “Then,” he said, “I’ll let you go.”
- Writer
