One and Only Read online

  “Then you don’t have to sleep all day?”

  “Like anyone, I do need some sleep, and I’m lethargic during the day, but I can stay up if necessary. It’s not the easiest thing, but I am ancient, my dear. Over time, I’ve gained abilities my younger brethren cannot claim. I can be awake during the day and caneven stand low levels of indirect sunlight for short periods, every once in a while. I don’t dare go out of the house during the day, but I can always invite people here. Though I admit, I do look tired. My rare mortal guests probably attribute the circles under my eyes and the occasional giant yawn to my carousing lifestyle.” He chuckled.

  “You like having that bad boy reputation, don’t you?”

  He pretended innocence, enjoying her teasing. “It’s a cross I must bear.”

  She turned in his embrace to face him. “Well no more, Atticus. You’re a reformed rake now, and you’ll be spending every night with me. Newlyweds are allowed a lot of leeway. I’ll keep up the illusion around the house during the day—at least until I become…like you.” She drew back to look up into his eyes. “Speaking of which, I want you to do it on our wedding night. I want it to be my wedding gift to you.”

  The very idea stole his breath. That she’d be so willing to give up the sun for him was humbling. Atticus kissed her, unable to put his thoughts into words and needing to express his undying love in the most elemental way.

  He lowered her to the plush padding of the overstuffed chaise, coming over her in a way that made her feel delicate and cherished. He had such a commanding presence, he overwhelmed her in many ways, but it was a delicious sensation and one she was surprised to discover she really enjoyed.

  Atticus pulled back, smiling down at her. “So you like being my woman, eh?”

  Lissa blushed as she realized their thoughts were twining as closely as their limbs. At times like these, the mental barrier Atticus held in place between them broke down. She felt his delight with the thoughts running through her head about his possessive actions. She also read the naughty images he sent her way—images of submission and tantalizing pleasure she’d only dreamed of to this point.

  She considered herself a widely read woman and had even delved into a few erotic works of fiction. Some of the things that had intrigued her in those books surfaced in her mind as she saw the vivid images in her mate’s mind. He’d done more than just read about those things, though he was cautious enough to withhold specific memories of other women from her. It was a wise decision on his part, considering their position.

  Still, the thought of his vast experience rankled. Compared to him she was the next thing to a virgin.

  “But I like virgins.” Atticus leered at her in a comical way and she had to join him in laughter, punching his arm in a playful way. “Shall we play school girl and lecherous uncle? Or harem girl and sultan? Name your pleasure, sweet, and it shall be yours.”

  Unbidden, an image formed in her mind, even as her cheeks heated. His eyes flared with heat as he moved over her with predatory motions. She was his captive, and they both knew it.

  “Ah, I see. You want to play captured lady and pirate rogue.” He grinned and she could’ve sworn his eyes gleamed in the semi-darkness of the grotto. He looked around for a moment as if considering his options. “The setting is perfect, don’t you think? I’ve taken you prisoner and we’re hiding out in the lee of some Caribbean island. I like the way your mind works, my dear.”

  “Well it is rather…tropical in here.”

  “And you’ve read a good many pirate books, haven’t you?” He winked at her. “I’ll have to investigate some of those tomes. Purely for research purposes, you understand.”

  She laughed. “I’d be delighted to assist with your…uh…research.” He swooped in to nibble on her neck playfully, then retreated with an abruptness that left her gasping.

  Atticus stood and offered her a hand up from the lounge chair. She followed where he led, more than willing to let him guide her in this secret fantasy.

  He tugged her into his arms and looked down into her eyes, suddenly serious. “I’ll spend the rest of my days fulfilling all of your fantasies, my love, as you’ve already fulfilled mine, just by existing and being here with me.”

  “You say the sweetest things, Atticus.” She stood on tiptoe to place a gentle kiss on his lips.

  When she pulled back, he bent and scooped her into his arms, carrying her toward the lush foliage surrounding the well-camouflaged pool. He made a beeline for a young palm tree that had numerous vines growing around it.

  “You’re my captive, milady,” he said as he dumped her onto her feet and placed her back to the tree. He tugged one of the vines free and used it to tie her hands behind her back around the tree. “In short, you’re mine. Best get used to it.”

  Leaning back, it wasn’t uncomfortable. The tree supported her and the vines were strong, but soft against her skin. A few quick tugs told her it wouldn’t be easy to get out of the bindings. The vines were stronger than they looked.

  Atticus backed off slightly, surveying her. She was wearing a lightweight cotton dress that was like many she owned. This one had buttons down the front, all the way to the hem.

  “A real pirate would tear that pretty dress off your luscious young body,” Atticus mused. “But we haven’t any spare female clothing aboard and I don’t like my men lusting after what’s mine. They’ll do that enough just having you here. No need to make it worse by having you traipse around naked.”

  He was getting into this role and Lissa found it easy to believe he might’ve once been a pirate. As the thought flashed across her mind, she saw a tall ship in his thoughts.

  “You were a pirate!”

  Chapter Nine

  “You’ll soon discover that once a pirate, my dear…” he winked at her and tugged at the bodice of her dress, “…always a pirate.”

  He made short work of her dress, unbuttoning it completely and pushing it down her shoulders to tangle on her bound arms. She wore a bra and panties beneath. The bra had a front closure, so it followed the dress, sliding down her arms and getting stuck about halfway to bunch between her shoulders and the tree. The panties, he slid down her legs, kneeling before her as he lifted first one foot and then the other to remove them completely. With a devilish grin, he tucked the pink satin into his pocket, and remained on his knees before her.

  Lissa shifted on her feet, uncertain. He had that pirate gleam in his eyes again.

  “Atticus?”

  “You’re to call me captain, wench!”

  Lissa jumped at the steel edge in his voice. He was staring at her crotch. When she noted the direction of his interest, he licked his lips, making her squirm. Reaching out, he slid one hand between her thighs, coaxing them apart. That hand rose up the inside of her thigh, tickling, teasing, tantalizing, until it reached the soft curls at their apex. He pet her then, watching her reactions as she trembled.

  “Do you like this, wench?” Atticus slid one finger into her folds, stroking the nubbin that was already excited and awaiting his pleasure—and hers.

  “Yes, captain.”

  “Say ‘aye’,” he corrected her in a throaty purr.

  “Aye, captain.”

  “Good girl.” He stroked her more firmly in reward, making her gasp. His fingers moved deeper into her secret folds, spreading, testing and pinching her with practiced finesse. “You’re very wet, lass,” he observed. “I think you’ve done this before, haven’t you? I’ll lay odds you’re not virgin. Tell me, has your sniveling betrothed back in England been in here?” He rammed two fingers into her wet hole. “Has he had his cock in this wet pussy? My pussy?”

  “No!” she keened, her head rolling from side to side against the trunk of the tree as he pulsed in and out of her tight core with his fingers.

  “No?” He didn’t let up, but redoubled his efforts. “Then who was it? The footman?” She continued to shake her head. “The stable lad?” He pushed her harder, driving her higher. “The deck
hand on the ship I took you from?”

  Lissa climaxed on his hand, unable to stop herself. She came in a rush, gasping for air as he watched in approval.

  “Ah, so it was the deck hand after all. Tell me, milady, did you like it? Did he make you come like I just did? Or was it a fast screw against the wall?” He took his fingers from her core, but moved closer, using both hands to spread her lips wide. “Did he lick you like this?” Dipping his head, he made her gasp as his tongue licked over her clit, stirring her passions once again. He ruled her pleasure. It was as if her body knew only his touch and would respond to him in ways it had never responded for any other.

  He delved deeper with his tongue. She could feel his teeth beginning to elongate into the fangs that would pierce her skin and bring the brightest climax she’d ever known. He was gentle, but firm, and careful with those sharp fangs. He gave her just enough, never too much, but always just the right stimulation at the right time.

  “Such are the benefits of sharing our thoughts,” he said in her mind as he continued to drive her passions upward once again. “And now it’s time to fulfill the rest of this little fantasy.” He drew away just as she would have peaked, shaking his head and clicking his tongue in disapproval.

  “You’re a greedy wench, aren’t you? With a greedy pussy that needs to learn who its new master is. Get on your knees, girl!”

  Lissa was confused at first, but managed to sink onto her knees, her arms still drawn behind her around the tree, her dress pooled around her and under her knees, providing some padding. By necessity, her legs were spread, her ankles finding space on either side of the wide trunk.

  When she looked up from securing her position, Atticus had undone his pants and was using one hand to stroke his hard cock, hovering just in front of her face. He smiled that devilish smile at her and she was lost.

  “I can see you want this, wench. Tell me, did you suck your deck hand’s cock? Did he give it to you day and night?”

  “Aye, captain,” she said boldly. It was time she started participating in this fantasy, she decided. Maybe there was a way to turn the tables on her lover. Eyeing him with a new, saucy attitude, she looked forward to trying.

  “Naughty wench.” He chuckled as he stepped forward, placing the tip of his cock against her lips. “You know what to do with this then. Swallow me down, girl, and do your best. If you please me, I’ll go easy with the lash.”

  He’d surprised her with that last bit. Was he going to whip her? The thought should have sent her running for the hills, but coming from Atticus, the threat made her hot. There was something seriously wrong with her, but it felt too good to worry about it now as she opened her mouth and took him deep.

  Atticus groaned when she used her tongue on him. She teased the crown of his impressive erection, licking and sucking until he was ready to come. She felt the tremble in his limbs, but he refused her. He pulled from her mouth with an audible popping sound as she sucked hard to the last second. She was disappointed, but it was forgotten when he reached behind her and released the vines holding her wrists and untangled the dress and bra to let them fall to the ground.

  He lifted her to her feet and turned her around to face the tree trunk.

  “Hold on, wench. I promised you the lash and the lash you’ll get for being such a disobedient tart.”

  “What did I do, captain? I’ll be a good girl. I promise.” She was getting into the fantasy as he pressed her nude body against the rough bark of the palm.

  “You gave your virginity to some slobbering deck hand. You gave away what was mine, wench.” He used the vine to smack her bare back. It stung, but it didn’t hurt too bad. Lissa was shocked to feel her arousal, which had faded a little while she pleasured him, return tenfold. “You need to learn your place and how to please me, wench.” Another lash with the ropey vine landed on her backside, stinging the soft flesh and making her hotter.

  “From this day forward you will fuck only me. And those I give you to,” he added as an afterthought before the next blow landed on her upper thighs.

  “You’ll give me to others, captain?” she couldn’t help but ask.

  “Impertinent wench. Do not think to question me. That’s earned you another lash.” And the blow landed in the middle of her back, lighter than the others, but just as exciting. “You won’t question me again, wench. If I tell you to suck my first mate’s cock while I fuck you from behind, you’ll do it and no question. Do you understand?” Another blow landed while he awaited her answer.

  She was gasping with excitement by the time she managed to answer. “Aye, captain.”

  “And you’ll spread your legs for any man I choose to give you to while I watch, whether it be my first mate or my cabin boy. Do you hear me, wench?”

  “Yes!” she shouted when he landed the next blow right over the crease of her ass.

  “And you’ll take me up the ass while the cabin boy licks your pussy if I ask it, won’t you, lass?” He used the vine differently this time, bending it in half and riding it up the inside of her thighs, pressing hard against her pussy as she rubbed all over the tree, the vine, anything she could to give satisfaction to the flame burning her alive from the inside out.

  “Aye, captain!” She cried out as he pulled the vine away and lifted her by the waist, positioning her on her hands and knees in front of the palm. In less than a minute he was pushing inside her, thrusting deep from behind.

  “You’re a feisty wench, love, but I’ll tame you. You’re mine, do you understand?”

  “Yes!” She cried out as he pulsed within her, stroking deep and fast and hard, just the way she needed it. She was so close, it would take little to push her over the edge of the most intense arousal she’d ever known.

  “Say it, wench! Say you’re mine.” He bit down on her neck from behind, taking her blood and stealing her sanity.

  She screamed as she came, hurtling toward the stars in an explosion of passion unlike anything that had come before and took Atticus along with her. She felt the wet spurts of his climax as she twined her mind with his, experiencing his bliss as she shared her own.

  “I’m yours.”

  They stayed that way, both panting and basking in the glow of a magnificent climax for a long time before Atticus stepped back. He lifted her in his arms and took her over to a chaise lounge off to one side. They lay there together for long minutes, basking in the afterglow of the most glorious love she’d ever made. The wide chaise lounge was soft under her bare body and Atticus was warm against her.

  “Were you really a pirate?”

  Atticus chuckled in reply. “Until recently, passage by sea was the only way to get from one continent to another. So, yes, I’ve sailed, but it wasn’t a profession or way of life for me. Spending the daylight hours in the hold was often uncomfortable and hard to explain.”

  “I hadn’t thought about that. Is it so hard? To live without the sun?”

  “Sometimes it’s the most difficult thing in the world. But sometimes…like now, since I found you, I wouldn’t trade my existence for anything. You are my sunshine, Lissa. All else matters not.”

  “I love you, Atticus.” She kissed his cheek and rested her head against his chest, closing her eyes, secure in his love. She drifted to sleep dreaming of the life they would have together.

  Chapter Ten

  “How’s the job search going, Kel?” Jena asked over crisp noodles in a local Chinese restaurant. Lissa and her friends were having dinner together, as they had every few weeks since college. The old group had stuck together remarkably well over the years after graduation. Their married friend, Christy, had even managed to make their dinner this month, though she was subdued as usual. Carly, owner of a small but successful software company, sat next to her, picking at appetizers as the conversation focused on Kelly.

  “Not good,” Kelly responded, dunking a noodle in duck sauce. “It’s the wrong time of year to get a teaching job. If only that other teacher hadn’t decided at the last
minute to come back from maternity leave. The school bent over backwards to accommodate her and hung me out to dry.”

  “That stinks,” Carly said as she sipped her iced tea.

  “You got a raw deal there,” Jena agreed as the waiter brought their entrees.

  “How’s it going at the hospital? Did you get the cut in hours you wanted?” Lissa asked Jena after the waiter had gone.

  “We made a compromise. I get more on-call time and less on-duty time, but the hours are still about the same. Killer. I think it’ll be next year before I can really scale back the hospital obligations and pay more attention to my private patients.”

  “You know, even when you own your own company, it’s hard to scale back.” Carly sighed as she sat back in her chair and looked at her friends with weary eyes. “I’m thinking of taking a breather from the installations.”

  This was big news. Lissa knew all about Carly’s work, designing and installing custom software packages. The job took her all over the country and she’d be away on an installation for weeks at a time. Lissa thought Carly had enjoyed the work and the travel, but she could see the lines of fatigue around her friend’s eyes and the shadows beneath.

  “You work too hard, Carly. I think it’s a good thing to delegate some of the work to the people you hired. That’s why you hired them after all.” Jena wasn’t shy with her opinions.

  Carly nodded. “I think you’re right, but it isn’t that easy to get out of entanglements. I’ve got one more contract I have to work on myself out in Wyoming. I liked the area when I went to make the proposal. Maybe I’ll stay there for a while and get away from it all.”