Dark Perception: The Corde Noire Series Read online

  “Tear it out? Why?”

  He stopped in front of his open double doors. “I’m going to expand my office into there. Then you and I won’t have to use this hallway anymore. I told you about this yesterday morning.”

  “I forgot.” She giggled. “I guess I got distracted.”

  He kissed her cheek. “I really liked watching you come over and over again.”

  “Did you?”

  “Very much.” He ushered her inside. “I have so many wonderful games planned for you.”

  An uncomfortable twinge turned in her belly. Was that because she was excited or concerned about his games?

  The aroma of butter and spices soon enveloped her. In the center of the living area, a circular table had been set with a white tablecloth and an array of white china, crystal, and a vase filled with red roses. Melinda was transfixed by the way the spotlights placed in the old cypress beams in the ceiling made the crystal glasses on the table glisten.

  Nathan browsed the assortment of silver chaffing dishes on the breakfast bar. “We have roasted sirloin tips, new potatoes in a rosemary sauce, salad, broccoli tips in some kind of cheese sauce, and for dessert …” He dramatically bobbed his eyebrows. “Dark chocolate crémeux tart.”

  Melinda marveled at the chaffing dishes and the fancy table sitting in the middle of the room. “I can’t believe you did all of this.”

  He pulled out a chair from the table for her. “Have a seat and I’ll get the champagne.”

  She kissed his cheek. “Thank you … Sir.”

  “I have a fantastic idea.” He lowered his gaze to her body. “Let’s get you out of those clothes.”

  “But I thought we were going to eat first,” she declared as he slid the zipper of her jeans lower.

  He shoved her jeans and underwear down to her ankles. “We are.” He stood up and reached for her T-shirt. “You’re just going to eat without your clothes.”

  She kicked her jeans away. “Why do I have to eat without any clothes?”

  After dropping her shirt at her feet, Nathan unhooked her bra. “Because I want you to be naked in my presence.” He kissed the black collar on her neck. “And you must always do what I want.”

  * * *

  After they had finished their chocolate crémeux tart and half the bottle of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, Melinda stretched lazily in her chair. Glancing down, she realized she had forgotten about her nudity. Somehow, being with Nathan made the uncomfortable act feel natural.

  “I’m going to get as fat as a house if I keep eating like this.” She patted her belly.

  Nathan ran his fingers down the stem of his crystal champagne glass. “Please don’t. I want you to keep your slim figure. I’ll buy you a treadmill so you won’t get fat.”

  “What if I get pregnant?” snuck out from her lips before she could stop it.

  He lifted his glass. “That would be very different and very wonderful.” Nathan finished the last of his champagne.

  She rested her elbows on the table and put her head on her hands as she studied him. “I still find it hard to believe you haven’t found a woman to settle down with.”

  He shrugged and set his crystal glass on the table. “After Yvette, I didn’t really want to be committed to anyone. I spent time with a lot of women … some nice, some not so nice.” He cocked an eyebrow at her. “The kind you don’t bring home to Mother. But I’m done with all that. I’m ready to settle down with one person, have kids, and own a minivan.”

  Melinda lifted her champagne glass from the table. “I can’t see you driving a minivan.”

  “People change, Melinda. I’m getting too old to try and keep up the pretense that I’m having fun when I’m not. You get to a certain point in your life where you want to please yourself and not wonder what everyone else is thinking.”

  Melinda sipped her champagne. “That’s easy for you to say … you don’t know what everyone else is thinking.” She put the glass down on the table with a thud. “I’ve had people in my head since I can remember. My first day of school, Mary Ellen Karlin thought my dress looked cheap. She didn’t tell anyone my dress was cheap, she actually thought it. That was the first day I realized I could read people. After I punched Mary Ellen in the stomach, I discovered there’s a real disadvantage to knowing what people think.”

  “But look at all the lies and deception you have been spared from experiencing.”

  “I’m not spared from feeling the pain everyone else feels, sometimes I just know it sooner. Then there are times when I’m just as clueless as the rest of the planet.” She sighed. “I don’t know why they even call this thing I have a gift. If it were a gift, I could see or know hurt and pain before it entered my life. I could have known what was going on with Josh, and maybe things could have turned out differently for me.”

  Nathan tilted forward in his chair. “But then you wouldn’t be with me.”

  She pushed her chair back from the table, grinning. “No, I wouldn’t. Maybe we were meant to be.” Melinda picked up her plate and reached across the table for Nathan’s.

  He grabbed her wrist. “What are you doing?”

  “Clearing away the dirty dishes.”

  “Leave it.” He stood from his chair. “The restaurant people will be by in the morning to take everything away.” He came around to her side and removed her plate from her hand. “Our evening isn’t over,” he announced, placing the plate on the table.

  When his ravenous eyes turned to her, Melinda’s insides caught fire. Never before had a man turned her on with simply a look.

  He picked up the bottle of champagne from the silver ice bucket on the side of the table and clasped her hand. “Come with me.”

  Nathan led Melinda to his bedroom and set the champagne bottle on the nightstand by his bed. “I thought we could continue the fun in here.” His arm went around her slim waist.

  As she fumbled with the knot on his tie, she skimmed her lips temptingly over his chin. “I like the sound of that.”

  Nathan slipped his hand into the front pocket of his black suit trousers. “I have a surprise for you.” He pulled out a ball of red ribbon and held it up to her. “This is for you.”

  Melinda eyed the wad of silk ribbons and dropped his necktie to the floor. “It’s lovely, thank you. What am I supposed to do with it?”

  “Unwrap it and find the surprise inside.”

  Melinda took the ball from his hand and began unraveling the ribbon. Several minutes later, when she finally came to the center, she discovered a sapphire and diamond cocktail ring twinkling back at her. She picked up the ring as the last of the ribbon fell to the floor.

  “Nathan.” She admired the round-cut diamonds and sapphires arranged in an oval design. “It’s beautiful.”

  “I wanted to get you something to show you how special you are to me.” He kissed her forehead.

  She slid the ring over her middle finger on her right hand and was amazed that it fit.

  “I had to guess your size, but we can take it back to Adler’s to get it sized for whatever finger you want to wear it on.”

  She stood on her toes and kissed his lips. “You’re too good to me.”

  “I could say the same about you, darling.” He stooped down and gathered up some of the long red ribbon in his hand. When he stood, he held up the ribbon to her. “I thought we might find another use for this.”

  Melinda gave him a puzzled frown. “Like what?”

  Nathan gently wrapped a long piece of ribbon around her right wrist. “We could play with it,” he replied, tying the ribbon securely. He raised his eyes to her and seductively smiled. “Wanna try?”

  Melinda gazed down at her bound wrist and knew what he wanted. A sinking uncertainty entered her belly. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for this kind of play.

  He must have sensed her trepidation because he leaned over and kissed her cheek ever so softly. “You said you trusted me, Melinda. Do you still trust me?”

  She raised her green e
yes to him, debating the question. Did she trust him?

  “Yes, Nathan,” floated from her lips after a brief hesitation.

  He motioned to the bed. “Lie down.”

  Melinda gave him one last worried glance and then mumbled, “Yes, Sir.”

  After she reclined on the bed, Nathan took the ribbon in his hand and tied it to the post closest to him. He quickly retrieved the rest of the ribbon from the floor and went around to the other side of the bed. He secured her other wrist and then tied the ribbon to the opposite bedpost. After he was done, he sat on the bed and teased the skin along her inner thigh with his fingertips.

  Melinda closed her eyes when his hands became more aggressive, kneading the muscles in her thighs. The bed dipped as he climbed onto it and reached underneath her butt, lifting her hips in the air.

  She uttered a loud sigh when his lips kissed her inner right thigh. His teeth nipped their way to her folds. When his mouth closed over her, Melinda lurched against the restraints. His tongue mercilessly swirled over her delicate flesh and she called out his name. Nathan’s assault was ruthless and before she knew it, he had her spiraling toward a powerful climax. Her body tensed as her hands tugged against the ribbons.

  “That’s it. You have my permission to let go, Melinda,” he mumbled against her thigh.

  His tongue flicked against her clit, sending the final release blazing through her.

  After an ear-splitting scream, Melinda fell back against the bed and looked up at him. He was staring down at her, smiling.

  “Did you like that?”

  “That was amazing, Nathan.”

  Nathan lifted her hips and roughly flipped her over. Still tied to the bedposts, her arms were twisted painfully above her head as he sat on her thighs. Contorted into an uncomfortable position, she wasn’t that surprised when he slapped her right butt cheek.

  “It’s Sir, baby.”

  “Yes, Sir,” she said into the white comforter squished against her face.

  He smacked her left butt cheek until she whimpered and writhed beneath him. After the spanking, Nathan lightly caressed her ass, first massaging it, then raking his nails over her skin. He slipped his arm underneath her stomach and raised her up on her knees.

  Taking in a deep gulp of air, Melinda watched as he stood from the bed and went to the nightstand. He picked up the champagne bottle and took a long sip, letting the liquid dribble carelessly down his chin. After setting the bottle back on the nightstand, he undid the buttons on his dress shirt. She waited as he lowered his pants and briefs. When he opened the drawer of his nightstand, she figured he was getting a condom.

  “We’re going to try something different tonight. Something I know you will love.” Melinda opened her mouth to speak and his hand came down hard on her ass. “No. You’re my willing captive and you can’t say a word. You must take everything I choose to do to you.”

  Melinda jerked against her tethers, suddenly afraid of his game.

  He rubbed her back. “You have to trust me, remember?”

  Climbing back on the bed, his hand came around to her left breast, and then he pinched her nipple.

  Melinda recoiled from the pain.

  He kissed her back. “Relax, baby. I’m not going to hurt you.”

  Nathan’s lips drifted down her back to the curve of her ass. While he nipped her ass, his hands spread her cheeks apart.

  Melinda arched her back, her heart beating wildly. She was terrified of what he was going to do next.

  His tongue slid between her butt cheeks. Melinda groaned as his tongue rimmed the edges of her anus. When she felt his finger gently penetrate her, she clenched her fists.

  “Easy, go with it. Don’t tighten up,” he instructed.

  Melinda tried to obey, but the thought of what he might do frightened her. She knew a lot of women were having anal sex, but could she?

  His finger was moving slowly in and out. It felt odd, but then again as she relaxed and went with it, the strange feeling slowly grew into something much more powerful.

  Just as she was getting used to his motion, a small whirring filled the room. Before she could register the noise, Nathan removed his finger and inserted a vibrator into her ass.

  Melinda struggled against her ties, but Nathan held her to him. “Ease into it. Relax and it will be easier.”

  She was overwhelmed and wanted to scream as her mind roared with protest. Just when she began to give in to the vibrator, allowing him to push it in deeper, she felt Nathan’s fingers at her folds.

  “You’re so wet. I know you want this.”

  His fingers rammed into her, intensifying the sensations caused by the vibrator. His penetrations were hard and rough, but it felt wonderful to Melinda. She pushed against him as the tension grew exponentially in her body. Her hips were grinding frantically. Nothing had ever felt like this. As Nathan skillfully carried her closer to her climax, she broke out in a light sweat and her body trembled, teetering on the edge.

  When he thrust his fingers deep inside her, he breathed, “Time to come.”

  Melinda lost all control. She bucked and screamed, pulling hard against the ribbons.

  When she finally collapsed on the white bedspread, Nathan was chuckling behind her.

  “See, I know what you like.”

  He removed the vibrator and eased her over to her back, careful to untwist her arms. She opened her eyes and saw him hovering above her.

  “It’s my turn,” Nathan whispered, and climbed on top of her.

  He reached for the champagne bottle next to the bed and took another swallow. After he returned the bottle to the nightstand, he lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist. Melinda grabbed on to the ribbons, readying herself.

  Nathan spread her folds apart. “You want me, don’t you?” he murmured, fingering her wetness.

  He slammed his hips into hers, entering her with such force, Melinda grunted with discomfort.

  “Yes, Sir,” she cried out. “Harder.”

  Nathan let loose an eerie, malicious-sounding chuckle as he pulled out of her. “I knew you’d like it rough.”

  He pounded into her again and Melinda arched her back, crying out, “Again.”

  Nathan grunted and slapped his hips against her, going deep. Melinda shuddered with relief. She loved having him inside her, especially like this.

  When he thrust into her flesh once more, Melinda’s body began to tense.

  “That’s it. You’re getting close.” He squeezed her butt cheeks together. “Let’s see how many times I can make you come.” Then Nathan mercilessly buried his cock in her wet flesh.

  She pulled at her ribbons, screaming when the powerful orgasm rushed through her. Her arms were aching, her hands were going numb, but she didn’t care. She wanted more.

  Nathan tasted her right nipple as he stilled within her. He waited for her breathing to calm and then he pulled out and entered her again.

  Melinda yanked against her restraints when he plunged into her deepest reaches. He bit hard into her neck as he cruelly sank into her again and again. Her orgasm was coming even faster than before. Soon she was screaming a guttural, almost animal-like cry.

  She throbbed momentarily with relief, but before she could catch her breath, he entered her again. His brutal penetration was just as hard and as fast as before. Melinda screamed as he pounded into her, swept up with the wild fervor of his lovemaking. When he brought her even faster to another heaving climax, she lost all ability to call out. Too exasperated to resist him, she gave herself over to him completely. She was so sensitive, so raw that his every thrust was torture. When Nathan groaned and grabbed at her hips, she was amazed he had lasted so long.

  Gasping, he lowered her legs from his waist and collapsed on top of her. “That was fun.”

  “Your definition of fun is beginning to worry me.”

  He reached for her left wrist and began undoing the ribbons, but struggled with the knot. “You pulled the knot so tight I can’t get it off
.” After a few choice curse words, he rose from the bed and went to the living area. He came back with a steak knife and cut the ribbon away. “Next time, I’ll use something easier to get you out of.”

  Melinda sat up in the bed and worked her numb hands. She noted how the welts where the ribbon had cut into her wrists were growing darker.

  “You’re going to bruise,” he remarked, running his fingers over her wrists.

  “I bruise easily.”

  He brushed her red hair aside and kissed her neck. “I’ll have to remember that.”

  She caressed his muscular chest. “So you like to tie women up and torture them.”

  “I just like to keep the game interesting.”

  “What else do you like to do?”

  He sat back from her, appearing confused. “Are you interested in finding out?”

  Melinda glanced down at her wrists, catching the sparkle of the sapphire ring on her hand. “I never thought I would like this sort of stuff, but with you … does that make me a bad person for liking what you do to me?”

  He shook his head. “No. It means you’re enjoying it, and I want you to enjoy it. I want to please you in every way.”

  She kissed him, parting her lips. He wrapped her in his arms and darted his tongue into her mouth. Her hands traveled down his firm chest and washboard abs to his cock.

  “Let’s do it again, without the ties this time,” she begged.

  He pushed her back down on the bed. “I think I’ve created a monster.”

  Chapter 16

  Melinda was rushing to apply the last touches to her makeup as she tugged at the black cocktail dress Nathan had bought her to wear for the evening’s event. The beaded bodice itched and the long sleeves were suffocating considering the warm, humid weather outside. But she had happily donned the dress for him because he had seemed so excited when he walked through her front door carrying it earlier that day.

  “Darling, are you almost ready?” he called over the intercom in her bedroom.

  She glowered at the intercom. Over the past few days Nathan had taken great pleasure in paging her incessantly, wanting to be kept abreast of her activities. Initially, she thought the direct line between their apartments novel; now, she found it intrusive.