“I’m going to ask you a few questions and you’re going to answer me as soon as you do as I’ve asked.”
With an endearing awkwardness, she draped herself over his thighs.
Because they were sitting so close, her head ended up in Kellan’s lap. He immediately cradled her head, smoothing her hair from her face. “Very good, love.”
She relaxed slightly, but he still felt a fine trembling in her body.
Eric ran a hand across her ass. So perfect. That ass was round and juicy. He let himself touch her through the thin yoga pants she wore, cupping and molding her flesh as he spoke. “Tell me about your sexual experiences to this point.”
She hesitated.
He gave her a few seconds more before he smacked her through her pants three times in quick succession. Belle stiffened for a moment, then released a shuddering sigh. Already, this was turning her on.
“Tell him what he wants to know,” Kellan said, petting her hair. “Withholding information is not an option.”
Tate knelt and kissed her forehead. “Belle, we really do need to know.”
“Once I have, are you going to tell me all of your sexual experiences?”
Eric repressed a smile. Her bratty mouth was going to get her in so much trouble. He delivered three more smacks, these a bit harder. When he’d finished, he pulled at the waist of her pants, lowering them over her backside and exposing it to the cool air. He loved the way she gasped and shuddered when he touched her hot skin.
“I’ll answer any questions you like later, but tonight is about you. We need to know what you’re seeking, Belle. What you respond to. I’m not asking you these questions to embarrass you. I know it’s not polite, but it’s necessary. So start spilling and don’t you dare give me sarcasm. Tell me why you waited.”
She hid behind her smart mouth. He’d figured that out a long time ago. She was bright and quirky and she usually made him laugh, but this wasn’t the time or the place for her sharp wit.
A long moment passed, and he worried she would ask to be released. Finally, she sighed. “I didn’t mean to. It just happened.”
Belle relaxed again, likely because Tate and Kellan were both stroking her. Kellan rubbed her scalp and massaged her neck over and over. Tate kissed her shoulder as he put his hand under her shirt and eased the muscles of her back. The touching seemed to ease her.
“No high school boyfriends?” Eric couldn’t deny his curiosity about how a woman as beautiful as Belle managed to stay a virgin for so long.
“I dated a little, but my father died when I was young. My mom needed help around the house, so I often did laundry and started dinner. I also worked a part-time job at the library and I went to school. I was on the debate team, and in high school, I got involved in academic decathlon. It took up most of my time.”
His heart softened further as he imagined a teenaged Belle, so sweet and studious. “You were a mathlete?”
Tate grinned. “Me, too.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.” Belle chuckled. “But I was more of a history and literature expert. I dated a guy on the team, but we mostly studied together.”
He gave her three more smacks, just for fun. “Keep talking. Tell me about college.”
“It was more of the same. I dated but I didn’t find the right man. I don’t know. Maybe I had an unrealistic vision of what a relationship should be. I wanted to be in love, but I’m too practical to fall easily. I’ve always wanted something that lasts.”
Eric wanted that too, and he knew he’d found it with her. He just had to make sure she saw it that way. “So there’s no particular reason you chose not to have sex.”
Her head came up a little. “There’s no dark past that made me avoid sex, guys. I just wanted it to be special and I didn’t find it.”
Kellan eased her back down and petted her. “Good. We were worried there was, so we all backed off. I’m pleased to learn it was just you being your picky self.”
“How are you feeling, Belle?” It was something Kellan had taught him: always ask where the sub was emotionally.
“I feel achy and a little scared. I want to feel the way I did the other night. Can’t I have it? I’m not asking for more.”
“Belle, I want to give you more,” Tate said. “A whole lot more, baby.”
“There’s more to this than an orgasm.” Eric soothed his hand over her flesh. “But you’ll certainly have that, too. How do you feel now, knowing that?”
“Better,” she admitted. “Talking about my past wasn’t as hard as I thought. I just don’t have that much experience, so it’s embarrassing. I mean, I’ve kissed before. I’ve had some heavy make-out sessions.”