Wrapped In Shadows Page 3

  “I know,” he whispered.

  I was about to ask him how, but was distracted by the knuckles trailing along my jaw and passing slowly down my neck. He turned his hand and the pads of his fingers rested lightly on my collar bone, the touch like an inferno on my skin. I didn’t know if it was the darkness that heightened my senses, but my skin seemed infinitely more sensitive than usual. Every stroke of his finger left an electric trail behind. He drew small circles, slowly widening the arc until they slipped beneath the neckline of the dress just above my breasts. I arched my back, suddenly desperate for his touch to go lower. My breasts throbbed, heavy with longing, and my nipples twisted to painfully taut bullets. He pulled his hand away with another soft chuckle, and my tense muscles thawed with disappointment.

  “Soon, beautiful…”

  I sucked in a breath, surprised at the need quickly replacing my anxiety. My vagina sang happily, saying, ‘even if you leave, I’m staying.’ It didn’t have to worry. I wasn’t going anywhere. I rose slightly in the chair when I felt him drawing up my dress, and my arms automatically lifted so he could pull it over my head. I frowned, almost disappointed that my undressing had not been accompanied by some practiced seduction. I’d have thought these men had a routine for everything.

  The fact that I was now sitting in the chair in just my panties, though, was enough to set her nerves thrumming. Cool air kissed my naked skin and I hugged my torso, covering my breasts in the dark. The figure stepped away and I heard the rustle of clothing and knew he was undressing. I tried to imagine what he might look like, then scolded myself because not knowing had been my specific stipulation. Although, I hadn’t expected this total darkness—a party mask for us both maybe—but not this. I knew he was big. That I could tell by the large contortions in the shadows. I wondered if he could be one of the men I’d seen, but the height and width of his shadow didn't fit.

  “Lean back.”

  I obeyed the hypnotic voice and shifted my shoulders back against the afghan. A long moment passed where all that could be heard was our mingled breathing, feathery music that filled the dense space with anticipation. Apprehensively I chewed on my bottom lip. This time when he touched me, I didn’t jump. He was directly in front of me, leaning over slightly. His palms cupped my shoulders and brushed down my arms, warming my skin. Silently he unfolded them and drew them away from my breasts. I knew he couldn’t possibly see me through the thick darkness, but I could feel the heat of his eyes searching, probing, and gliding over my body like a caress. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling absurdly exposed.

  I sensed a shift of movement and a sudden intrusion on my senses kick started my vocal cords, causing me to cry out. A long, wet stroke slowly made its way up my belly, quivering the ambivalent muscles.

  Oh, God! Was that his tongue?

  My eyes flew open. The shadow was crouched low, hovering over me now, barely touching except for that persistent tongue creating an extraordinary path, licking and fluttering and dancing against my skin, scattering a fiery buzz through my flesh. His head grew closer as he traveled up my body and the scent of sandalwood sat heavy in the air. I inhaled deeply, trying to capture more of the drugging fragrance. His lips settled between my breasts and my lungs stilled mid-breath. The tip of his tongue flicked lightly over one nipple, then he suctioned it hard into his mouth and nipped gently with the edge of his teeth.

  My back jerked and I moaned, tendrils of pleasure spiraling deep into my wet sex. My hips bucked as silky slickness coated my folds. He did the same to the other, coaxing another sound from my throat. My body was trembling, shaking with tiny ripples of pleasure. I felt like a leaf caught on a breeze, floating in a hazy abyss of wonderful sensation. I was lost…seeking…searching…trying to grab hold of something.

  With a groan, he took a step back, taking my palms and pulling me from the chair. I gasped when I crashed against his body. He was indeed a large man, much taller than my five-six frame. And he was completely, gloriously naked. Hard tight muscles flexed against my body, and there was a distinctly large protrusion pushing into my belly. The heat of his thick cock burned into my skin and the solid feel of it had my senses whirring and my empty channel shivering with longing.

  “I want to kiss you,” he whispered against my ear and I tilted my head in invitation.

  His fingers curved under my chin and I thought I would dissolve into a puddle of lust when supple lips crushed down on mine. That skillful tongue swept into my mouth, playful at first, then delved deep for a smooth tango. He tasted wonderful. Rich. Masculine. Decadent. I moaned and pushed into him, my palms gliding over thick shoulders and enticing hills of muscle. There was erotic mystery in the darkness, and my senses were acutely honed, trying to absorb every nuance of this man. I was suddenly eager to feel all of him, to learn his image with my touch and commit it to memory. My hands mapped his body as my fingers roved over his face, our mouths where they were fused, and the strong column of his neck.

  They boldly coasted over smooth skin and tight muscles, plotted a descending course over tight abs, and then drove into a nest of textured hair. Eagerly I circled the wide root of his cock, both hands gripping him hard and learning his shape. He groaned low and I loved the sound. I fought to tame my breath, enjoying the heavy weight and burning heat of his flesh in my palms. I closed my eyes and moaned into his mouth as his cock kicked hard against my fingers and leaked sticky pre-cum into my palm.

  He swallowed the sound and ate generously at my lips, grunting when I fisted his pulsing shaft and squeezed hard. I moved lower and cradled his balls while I whipped my hand up and down his cock. If I weren’t so aroused, I would have been shocked by my boldness. His size was substantial and I wondered vaguely about the hiring requirements that Michelle had alluded to. The thought of him inside me sent a shock of tremors rippling through my pussy. It did a happy dance, bragging, Mine! Mine! Mine! I corrected, Ours! Ours! Ours! I couldn’t wait for us both to get what we wanted.

  He licked the seam of my lips then pulled away with a groan. I allowed him to guide me to the edge of the bed where he sat me down after peeling away the underwear from my trembling legs.

  Oh, God. I wanted him—badly. Had I ever been this turned on? He was a complete stranger! I figured it must be the extraordinary situation coupled with the underlying turbulence in my life. My emotions were severely warped and now hammered brittle thin with raw lust. Shit, I was having conversations with my vagina. Yeah, definitely in a strange space right now.

  The shadow folded low and his fingers found the soft flesh on the inside of my thighs, persuading them apart with the slightest pressure.

  I started to hyperventilate, my breath panting from my lips. I was suddenly frightened, rattled by these overwhelming sensations and the intensity of my sexual need. Liquid seeped from my body to coat the inside of my thighs and I could smell the potent fragrance. My body stiffened. My vagina bellowed, Now? Now, you get nervous?

  “Relax, beautiful,” he whispered. Soft lips pressed against my thigh, planting tender kisses. “I’ll give you what you need.”

  You heard the man! My vagina sighed.

  The power of his whispered voice was all consuming. It was warm caramel pouring over my heated body, and I reacted instinctively to its honeyed sweetness. I melted back onto the bed in one languid stretch. I felt him press his face to my center, heard him inhale deeply, and then he groaned lustily. That tongue, that instrument of superlative talent plunged through my folds and invaded me with a voracious kiss. I gasped as white-hot pleasure blasted my body, a full blown assault on my senses. He maneuvered the very tip just over my clit, then vibrated it with perfect pressure that had me clawing at the sheets and arching my back high. Pleasure knifed through my pussy, gloriously sharp as he drew tight figure eights with his tongue over the bulb of straining flesh.

  “Oh. My. Gaaaawwuuud.” That husky guttural cry could not have come from me, I was sure, but he did it again and I groaned, long and hard like a woman possessed by d
emons. He was making long fluid swipes now, dragging his tongue from bottom to top, insinuating it into and between my folds.

  My nails dug into his scalp as I fisted the short waves of his hair. I bucked my hips hard against his face, uncaring now about the inarticulate sounds coming from my throat. The pleasure was unbelievable, the heat of his mouth and the glide of his tongue. I slipped into a passionate euphoria that quickly enveloped my body.

  “You taste so fucking good,” the voice whispered passionately. “I want to eat you up.”

  He latched onto me and sucked, then lapped his tongue furiously against my swollen flesh. Pleasure burst inside me, brilliant white stars zooming across an infinite black sky. I arched my back and shouted into the darkness, my body jerking and seizing hard with a powerful climax. I collapsed back onto the bed, the breath dragging from my lungs like I’d just run a marathon. My limbs quaked, determined not to follow commands as I tried to steady them.

  “I…I…God, this is…is…” What did I want to say? Why wasn’t my tongue working? Why did I want to crawl inside this man and never leave?

  He moved up my body, his strong arms caging me. His lips found mine in the dark and his tongue mated with mine, thrusting and sweeping slowly.

  “Do you see how good you taste?” he whispered fervently.

  “Umm…hmmm,” I rumbled against his lips, the flavor on his tongue a surprising aphrodisiac.

  “Did you like my mouth on you?”

  Hell, yeah! The thought came from down below.

  “Umm…humm.” I smiled lazily.

  “I could spend all night between your legs,” he admitted between kisses.

  “It was sooo…good.”

  “Yeah?” He placed gentle kisses on my cheek, then traced his soft lips along my jaw.

  I smiled again, loving the feel of his warm breath so close. “I like that you pay attention to detail.”

  I felt him return the smile, then he chuckled lightly before he swept his tongue deep into my mouth. We kissed slowly for long, languid moments and I adored the soft firmness of his lips and the sensuous play of his tongue.

  “There appears to be a particular detail in need of attention.” He flexed his hips and his stiff cock slid against my abdomen, hot and pulsating.

  Mine! Mine! My greedy vagina chanted. Ours!, I corrected again. And if you start referring to his dick as ‘precious’, we are no longer related.

  “Please…” My voice trembled, shaking like my limbs. He moved away, and I heard a rustle of clothes followed by the soft tear of foil.

  His heavy weight settled over me again and I held my breath, waiting and wanting…almost desperate to have him. My sex ached and throbbed, and I clenched tight to assuage the maddening emptiness. Strong arms enveloped me, cradling me skin to skin, gently wrapping me in masculine warmth. I buried my face in his neck and my teeth mindlessly caught his shoulder as he entered me in one deep, wet stroke. My words withered against his hot skin, my cry a lost, desperate whimper. Sensation crashed into me, raw and potent as it raced through my body and exploded fire in my sex, bursting in long, undulating waves. I arched my hips, greedy for every possible inch as he slammed into me hard and ground into my pussy. I convulsed with scorching pleasure, again thrown headlong into climax.

  His deep groan rumbled through me, his hips setting a quick pace. He whispered into my ear, his tongue teasing the shell. I had no idea what he said, so lost was I in our connection. The thick fullness of him, the delicious stretching, the glide of slippery skin, and the heady scent of sandalwood. My senses were hijacked and held hostage in a place where this man driving into me was the sharp focus of every molecule of my being.

  His fingers cupped my buttocks and he tilted me, holding me steady for a deep, rough pounding. My nails scratched down his back, following a beautiful curve of sinuous muscles as he captured my lips. He claimed my mouth, moaning deeply as his shaft swelled and pulsed in throbbing waves inside me when he found his own release. We stayed like that for long sultry moments, tongues slow-dancing, limbs entwined, and our hearts slamming together in synchrony. I realized there were tears in my eyes and blinked rapidly, confused as to why I was crying. When his weight shifted and he pulled away, I felt oddly bereft, instantly missing his touch.

  I shook my head to clear it, trying to make room for rational thought. This man was very good at what he did. Waves of pleasure still rippled through me and I felt wonderfully sated. He was beside the bed now, and I could hear him taking care of the condom. Would he be able to see to put his clothes back on? The room was still very dark. Would he slip out quietly? I gnawed on my lip, unsure of what to say and surprised by the sadness that had settled in my chest. What did one say in a situation like this? Thanks? Good job? Should I make small talk? Compliment him on his talents? Joke about his training for this line of work? Did he get tipped? I’d have to write him a check for like a zillion dollars. He was amazing.

  My eyebrows gathered when I felt a dip in the mattress, and I startled when the large shadow snuggled closely behind me and fitted my back against his torso. He tucked my head beneath his chin and his corded arms snaked around my waist.

  “Uhh…I—aren’t we…done?”

  “Shh, beautiful…I just want to hold you.”

  Wow, he was good…okay, a gazillion dollars.

  A slight smile tickled the corner of my lips and my body relaxed against him, enjoying the comfort of his big body. Every part of me was content. I drew in his scent and closed my eyes, a strange warmth filling my chest. The darkness folded around us, cocooning us in silky silence. As I listened to his soft breaths shuttling in and out and felt his fingers trace slow intricate circles on my abdomen, I let my mind languish in this temporary heaven, feeling strangely…found.

  A knock on the door startled me awake and I bolted upright in bed. For a moment I was disoriented and jerked my gaze around the room. A mild soreness below caused the night to come rushing back in vivid detail. The down comforter slipped to my waist and looking down, I realized I was still naked…and alone. I’d fallen asleep. Yes. But…he’d awoken me and we’d made love again. He’d been behind me that time, holding me close and taking me slowly. I closed my eyes, reliving the pleasure. I must have fallen back to sleep afterwards. There was more light filtering in through the drapery now and although hard to tell, I surmised it was early morning.

  “Kay? Kay? We have to go!”

  Michelle’s voice chased away my remaining confusion and I jumped out of bed. Groping around the floor, I found my dress and pulled it over my head as I made my way toward the door and cracked it open.

  “Are you okay?” Michelle asked instantly. She was standing in the ante-room.

  I nodded, avoiding my friend’s searching gaze.

  “Are you alone?”

  I nodded and pulled the door wide, allowing Michelle to come in. I combed fingers through my hair, my gaze scanning the floor as Michelle spoke.

  “I’m sorry, hon. But Eddie said we should go now. Something is going on downstairs. He’s not sure what it is, but he heard shouting in the hall. We can go out the back exit.”

  I paused from shaking out a comforter. “Is everything okay?”

  Michelle shrugged. “Yeah, probably some disgruntled guest. I’m sure it happens.”

  I turned over another comforter and patted it down, trying to ignore the lingering scent of sandalwood on the sheets. Michelle walked over and bent to the floor. She emerged with a pair of panties dangling from a finger and a smirk on her face.

  “Looking for these?”

  Heat warmed my cheeks as I reached over and claimed my underwear. I again ignored Michelle’s probing gaze as I stepped into them and drew them over my hips.

  “You’re missing an earring,” Michelle noticed.

  “Shit.” My fingers flew to my empty earlobe as my gaze scanned the floor. “These were my grandmother’s pearl earrings.”

  After searching for a few minutes, I abandoned the task, deciding my atte
mpts were futile.

  “It could be anywhere.” I sighed with disappointment, then found my shoes and slipped them on. Straightening, I caught the beam of Michelle’s assessing gaze.

  “Maybe it’ll be found. We can ask later. You sure you’re okay?”

  I pursed my lips and nodded, unable to sort out the emotions jostling inside me.

  “Well? How was it?”

  I paused for a moment, then returned my friend’s wide smile. “Freshly baked pumpernickel. Lots of crust.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  The limo pulled up to the Vandercamp estate in Scarsdale, NY, and my family’s chauffeur exited and rounded the car. I sat staring out the window. I didn’t see the rolling lawns covered with a thin layer of melting snow, the giant evergreens reaching for the balmy sky, or the stately mansion that had been in my family for generations. The family seat was at the end of a long tree-lined drive, a massive home reflecting the beauty and grace of Roman neoclassical architecture. Towering columns framed the stone entry and supported a two-story portico while sweeping steps ended in a cobbled courtyard. I had many memories of growing up here. Not all of them good.

  My mind was swirling with thoughts of the conversation to come, my heart filling with dread. I tried not to think of the three hundred and fifty people who were to attend my wedding in a few months, the French chef and his entourage my mother had arranged to fly in, the wedding orchestra that had been booked months ago, or the expense my wedding party had already incurred. I’d had a brief conversation with my mother on the phone yesterday, trying to explain why I couldn’t go through with the wedding. Diana Vandercamp had been too busy to discuss it over the phone, so I had re-arranged my schedule in order to come home today.

  “Ms. Vandercamp?”

  I startled, turning to see James patiently holding the door open for me. A gust of cold air swirled around my neck, and I adjusted my muffler. I smiled slightly, reaching for his proffered hand.