now?
“How?”
“What do you mean how?” She’d bet her skin and hair were the same shade. “Like most people do, I guess. You know one of each or two of the same if that’s your fancy, and in and out. That sort of stuff.”
“Hmm.” He stroked her arm. The hairs stood to attention. If they had voices they’d be shouting more, more and me next. Jess shivered.
“So it’s always been vanilla, no contemplation of bondage or blindfolds?” he asked her in a mild tone. “You said one of each first, so no same sex fantasies? No threesomes or voyeurism? Strange after you admitted you and Kath had once been a couple. No more, pure basics now, eh? That’s your sex life in a nutshell is it?”
Her heartbeat faltered and she swallowed, trying to work some wetness into her mouth. He made it sound boring, not safe.
“In, out and roll over?” David smiled. “ That seems weird to me.”
What does he know? “Yes, well, no and don’t go on. It’s what I want, so sue me. Nice, ordinary,”
“Boring.” David interjected.
She glared. “As I was saying, nice, ordinary, safe sex, thank you. Yes, there was a time when I had a female lover, and no, I don’t want one now. Nor do I want whipped, flogged, bound or gagged. Waxed, scored, scratched or whatever else goes on. Not. For. Me.” She knew her breathing was choppy, and it wasn’t just from fear.
David nipped her wrist. The pain was unexpected and Jess squealed. “That bloody hurt.” She pushed his hand away and rubbed her skin. “What the fuck did you do that for?” He was seriously heading for an assault charge if he wasn’t careful.
“Because I haven’t got time to put you over my lap and give you the spanking you deserve for lying. Open and honest, remember.”
Oh, she remembered only too well, and he could go fly. “Well if you want to go spank someone, go find yourself a sub, mister. This is as open and honest as you’ll get. What the fuck are you doing?” Jess took his hand and moved it from where he’d been tracing erotic circles around her breast. “Listen, mate, I don’t subscribe to the three strikes and you’re out. I subscribe to the touch me and I’ll sue you school of thought. You’re out of order. Don’t touch me.” Her voice rose and ended on what to her annoyance was a sob not a defiant shout. “I cannot take this.” Jess put her hand onto the cushioned seat and tried to lever herself upward. The sofa didn’t cooperate, and she settled down again and glared at him.
He grinned. “Even my furniture is against you, eh? C’mere.” He pulled her close and hugged her. Not in any way sexual but a nice comforting hug. To her amazement, Jess relaxed. For the first time in longer than she dare think about, she let herself be held. She didn’t shake, didn’t feel sick and didn’t pull away. It was nice. Of course it wouldn’t last. Jess hated the way he’d lulled her into a false sense of security. She turned her head and let her cheek rest on the fine, soft silk of his shirt. He stroked her hair and Jess was nigh on ready to purr. Her nipples puckered and she was darned sure more than her underwear would be damp. If this is him not coming on to me, heaven help me if he does. And let me pray there’s no tell-tale stain on my trousers. I’d die of shame.
“So who hurt you?” David used his free arm to hold her across the shoulders, and kissed the nape of her neck. He spoke casually, as if he was asking her the time.
All of her contentment dropped away like a stone flung into a river. She struggled against him.
“No one, just you. Let me go, you asshole, you’re hurting me.”
Chapter Six
Jess stiffened and David tightened his hold on her. Whatever she said, he was not hurting her body in any way. Maybe her mind, and that was only because he was damned sure she was lying through her teeth. Someone had hurt her badly, and he suspected it was all tied in with her antipathy toward anything he enjoyed.