Tess bit her lip. She wasn’t certain if that was a good thing or not.
“Go.” He indicated the bathroom door. “Come downstairs when you’re ready.”
* * * * *
An hour later Tess walked down the spiraling stairs, barefoot and wearing more clothes than she thought he would lay out for her but decidedly less than she wanted to wear. The long, silk negligee made her feel sexy, feminine. It covered her br**sts but was cut low enough that if he wanted them out, he would have no problems. There were no panties included, but the black silk shielded that fact. She would have been uncomfortable in something he could have seen right through.
His note had stated that he would await her in the kitchen, and there he was. Dressed in sweat pants and nothing else, his thick black hair still damp, looking sexier than any man had a right to look. And he was smiling at her. Even his eyes were filled with a lazy, comfortable expression as he set two plates of eggs, bacon and toast beside full coffee cups.
“Breakfast is ready, you’re right on time.” He pulled her chair out, indicating that she should sit.
Tess took her seat gingerly, the soreness of her muscles was much better, but her thighs and rear were still tender.
“Sore?” He brushed a kiss over her bare shoulder, causing her to jerk in startled reaction.
She turned her head, looking up at him as he straightened and moved to his own chair.
“A little.” She cleared her throat.
“It will get easier,” he promised. “Now eat. We’ll talk later, after you’ve been fed.”
Breakfast, despite her initial misgivings, was filled with laughter. Cole was comfortable and his easy humor began to show. His dry wit kept her chuckling and the wicked sparkle in his eyes kept her body sizzling, kept her anticipating later, praying he would f**k her. The longer he waited, the hotter she got. She didn’t know if she would survive it much longer.
Finally, after the dishes were finished, he drew her through the house into the comfortable living room. A fire crackled in the corner of the room where a large, thick pillow mattress had been laid.
“Sit down, we need to talk.” He drew her down on the mattress, then onto her back as he lay beside her.
“Look, I don’t much feel like talking,” she finally said in frustration. “Let’s just cut to the chase here, Cole. There are things I evidently like, that you enjoy doing. I don’t want to talk about them. Just do them.”
She stared up at him, narrowing her eyes, warning him that she too had her limits.
He propped his head on his hand, regarding her with a curious expression.
“I expected more of a fight,” he said, a vague question in his voice.
Tess sighed, sitting up staring into the fire as she ran the fingers of one hand through her hair.
“How extreme do you intend to get?” she finally asked him, glancing at him as he still reclined beside her.
He reached over, his fingers trailing down her hair. “How extreme do you want me to get, Tess?” he asked instead. “I can give you whatever you want, anything you want. But I have my own needs, and they will have to be satisfied as well.”
“Such as?” she asked him, keeping her voice low, stilling the tremor that threatened to shake it.
“I like the toys, Tess. I like using them, and I’m dying to use them on you. I like spanking you. I like watching your pretty pu**y and the rounded cheeks of your ass turning red. I like hearing you scream because you don’t know if it hurts or if it’s the pleasure killing you. I want to see your eyes filled with dazed pleasure as I push your limits.” He laid it out for her pretty well, she thought with an edge of silent mockery, and still didn’t answer a damned thing.
“How far will you go?” she asked him.
“How far will you let me go?” he countered her.
Tess had a feeling she would have few limits, but she wasn’t willing to tell him that.
“You evidently have plans. I’d like to know what they are.”
Cole sighed. “Some things are better left up to the pleasure of the moment. Let’s wait and see what happens.”
Tess licked her lips in nervousness. Evidently her father had told him about the debacle with the books her mother had found. He wouldn’t have known about them otherwise. She took a deep, hard breath.
“Does it concern other men?” she finally asked.