“Stand up,” he ordered softly. But oh, it was every bit menacing.
My body was his, my mind was his…and I obeyed instantly. There was no hesitation. His grip released my throat, and I stood up on shaking legs in front of Master.
“You broke my rules, Maria. The rules are there to protect you, and you consciously went against me. I can’t keep you safe like this.”
My chin wobbled against the effort to keep my tears at bay. I was ashamed. Embarrassed. And wanted nothing more than for Lyov to just hold me.
But he was angry. I’d made him angry.
“You know what happens when you break one of my rules. You are aware of the consequences,” he continued in the same harsh, rough voice.
I nodded silently.
“Your words,” he demanded. Each word hit me like a harsh lash against my fragile skin. Lyov was brutal.
“Yes. I am aware of the consequences, Master.” Maybe…just maybe that was why I did it.
He stared me down, his grey eyes icy. “Good. Undress then.”
Chapter 17
Maria
I went to quickly do as I was told, gripping my nightgown and starting to pull it over my head, but Lyov’s voice stopped me.
“Slowly, Maria. Undress slowly for me.”
His words sent a shiver down my body, all the way to my toes. My thighs clenched. Lyov sat back lazily and watched me intently. Without taking his eyes off me, he took a bottle of scotch from the small table beside him and poured some in a glass.
His head was cocked to the side as he brought the glass to his lips and sipped slowly. The darkness in his eyes didn’t disappear. It was still there and more. Intense. Furious. Dangerous.
There was a fiery need inside of me. My hands trembled as I brought them up to unbutton my nightgown. My fingers fumbled with the buttons, and Lyov watched me with rapt attention, an eyebrow raised mockingly.
Finally, when all six buttons were open, I breathed out a sigh. My hands paused, and my stomach clenched. Slowly, like Lyov wanted me to, I pushed the nightgown down my shoulders and then my arms before it pooled at my feet.
I was left with only my bra and panties. The cold air caressed me, and goosebumps rose on my skin. I shivered even though Lyov’s heat was penetrating into my every pore.
His gaze was filled with danger, brutality…and need.
At the thought of Lyov being in complete control and seeing him exude dominance with just a mere glance, or just a simple word—it had my senses in override. My body was warm, too hot—and I could feel moist sweat dribble down between my ample breasts. My body responded to him, and I almost moaned. He hadn’t even touched me yet.
Master leaned forward, and I stood still, my lungs squeezing and my breath trapped in my throat. His hand reached out, and oh so softly, he touched my stomach. One finger, with just his tip, his touch whispered downward, and I fought against the urge to shudder, fall to my knees, and beg him to touch me more.
Our eyes never wavered from each other as he continued. Down and down, traveling to my thighs and then into the inner part of me. My legs spread just a little wider to give him more space. Now, his finger trailed up, and my lips parted into a silent gasp. Lyov stopped against the edge of my panties, his hand still between my legs. He didn’t touch me there, where I was dripping juices for him.
Master tsked darkly and almost mockingly. “I have barely even touched you and your panties are soaked through, Maria. I guess you like the idea of me taking what I want…and what is about to happen.”
He removed his hand from between my legs and sat up, taking away his warm touch.
My clothing seemed to tighten around my skin, making me itchy. My breasts swelled, and my bra was squeezing me, making it hard to breathe through my clenched lungs. My panties were pulled tight between my thighs, pressing and sticky against my aching pussy. I was becoming wetter, a pool of warmth gathering there. His eyes were dark and fierce, smoldering. His sharp jaw was steeled and intimidating.
Master snapped his fingers at me before speaking in that deep, cold voice of his. “Go on. Finish up your work, Maria. Take off your panties and bra. Show me what you’re hiding underneath.”
My hands traveled up my stomach to my bra. I unclipped it from the back and held the cups to my breasts for a few slow seconds before slowly peeling it away from my skin, watching Master’s reaction. His jaw clenched, and his fingers tightened around his glass.
My nipples were hard and aching for his mouth, his tongue…his teeth. The bra slipped through my fingers and fell to my feet. Lyov swallowed, and I saw him watch the rise and fall of my heaving chest.