Ariana POV
"I love unwrapping a beautiful package," Dimitri said with a hint of frustration. "But why did I dress you in something with zippers?"
Ariana laughed, helping him undress her. The soft bed of white candytufts cushioned her spine as she lay back and relaxed. She'd always liked candytuft flowers.
"Do you know all my preferences?" she asked.
His eyes smoldered, his gaze traveling up and down her body. "You like candytufts, orchids, lilies, and jasmine. You love Versace perfume and Chanel, but usually settle for those little purse-sized ones they give if you spend so much money at a beauty retailer."
He kissed her shoulder. "If I get all the answers right, I get to give you an orgasm."
"That sounds like a win-win."
"It will be. Let's see ... you love Balenciaga. You have a weakness for Crocs because you like to customize them and because they suit your active lifestyle."
She moaned as he traced a path to her other shoulder with his lips. "You're right."
He nibbled her neck, then kissed his way down her body. "Your favorite artists are Picasso, Camille Pissarro, Georgia O'Keeffe."
He was batting a thousand. "How do you know--"
"I researched you, sweet one. You love nonfiction, history and science. You obviously have a weakness for vampire novels and paranormal romance and horror in general. You like medical thrillers."
He nibbled on her inner thighs. She moaned and cried out.
"Oh yes, little sugar baby. Let me hear you. Your favorite color is pink, although you'll also accept red as an answer. Your favorite food is anything Italian. You take your coffee with a little milk, no sugar."
Ariana moaned. She ought to feel threatened by how thoroughly he knew her, but she took comfort in it instead. He cared for her.
As a possession, a mocking voice whispered in her mind. As his toy.
He growled in satisfaction. "I love the little sounds you make, my cute little sugar baby."
"I'm your toy," she whispered. "Nothing more."
He planted his hands on either side of her, frowning. "You are mine, yes. But I treasure you. Where is this coming from?"
She trembled, wondering if she wasn't making a mistake submitting to him. "You want to possess me ..."
"I've never denied it." His hand cupped her chin. "Have I ever been dishonest about my intentions? Have I ever sought to deceive you?"
Blushing, she mumbled her answer and turned her head away.
His hand turned her chin back toward him so he could face her. "Where is all this coming from?" he demanded in a soft voice.
"I ... my life has been completely turned inside out ... and you know me too well."
"Of course I do! How else could I make you happy?" He ground his hips against hers, and she gasped, feeling the hard evidence of his desire for her. "I'll spoil and pamper you and give you everything you ever dreamed of. That's a promise, little sugar-baby. And in return ... you'll give yourself to me. No resistance."
He sounded sincere. It wasn't him she resented. It was this situation. But she didn't want to jeopardize this safe haven for herself and her aunt and uncle out of pride.
Trembling, she said, "That makes sense. You're good to me."
A low growl came from his throat. "It's insulting that you think you deserve less."
Flushing, she said, "Now wait a minute, your family--"
"I'm not talking about what they did." His eyes bored into her. "I'm talking about you being so d*mn afraid to accept what you deserve. The life I'm offering you. And is being my lover such a terrible thing? Have I hurt you in any way?"
His hand came to cover her breast, and she gasped. God, he knew just how to touch her.
His mouth latched onto her breast and she went up in flames. The pleasure he brought her was so intense.
"That's it, little koala bear," he whispered. "That's what I'll call you from now on. You seem to like that better than 'pet' or 'toy.' My little koala bear."
He trailed a flower down her body, teasing her breasts with the soft petals, dragging the flower over her skin. She cried out in pleasure.
Affectionately, he smiled. "You're going to enjoy this night for a good long time. By the time I'm done with you, you won't remember your own name, much less your objections."
* * * * *
Dimitri POV
Her spirited nature attracted him, drawing him like a gravity well. She pulled him into her orbit, and he felt powerless to resist. Yet he had to make sure she understood the nature of their relationship.
He provided her with safety, luxury, pleasure, and companionship. In return, all that he asked was her submission to his demands. He cared about her. More than she fathomed. More than she could possibly comprehend.
His hands stroked between her thighs, feeling the sheer velvet of her female folds. "You are so exquisite," he murmured. "Spread your legs wider for me. I want to see all of you."
Even though her thighs trembled at his command, she parted her legs.
With skilled hands, he opened her legs wider, positioning her feet on piles of flowers. "There. Keep your legs like that. I'm going to taste you now ... and you're going to scream for me, and keep on screaming until you shatter. I'm going to make it so good for you."
She whimpered. "Please ..."
"Oh, I intend to." His hot breath feathered over her sensitive flesh. "You are so beautiful."
He dipped his head, and his tongue flicked out to taste her, then thrust into her honeyed warmth. Screaming, she bucked her hips. "It's too much ..."
"You'll adjust. And there you go again. You deserve this pleasure, sugar baby. Don't deny yourself. Don't deny me. I own you."
In a haze, she just stared at him, raising her hips to meet his hungry mouth. He could never get enough of her honey. Never tire of making her quiver at his skilled touch.
She looked so innocent like this in her astonishment, and yet her hands covered her own breasts in an instinctive move. "That's it, sugar baby," he murmured. "Touch yourself. Fondle yourself while I taste you. Enjoy your beautiful body. Show me how uninhibited you can be."
She groaned. "I feel so sensitive there ..."
"Excellent. Now, caress them. Feel how womanly you are, how beautiful. You are so feminine and responsive. You need to enjoy receiving the pleasure your body has in store for you. I'll teach you. And your lessons begin now."
Her hips bucked again as he laved her tender flesh with his mouth. "Paradise is between your legs, sugar baby," he whispered, nipping her inner thighs hard enough to draw blood and taste the exquisite flavor. "I want to be in paradise."
"Please. Soon."
He puffed out his chest, gratified at hearing her beg, and he set about reducing her to a quivering mess. Explosively, she came, and he slid right inside her, because he was so hard he hurt. Only the sweet oblivion she offered would cure the ache.
When he came inside her, he didn't just stop, but he drove into her all throughout his climax, then hers. "Pure bliss," he sighed afterwards when she clung to him. "My little koala bear, we should go inside. The bed will be more comfortable."
She was quiet as he carried her to the bedroom, holding her. Yet her actions spoke louder than words, especially the way she clung to him. He dressed her in a lacy silk nightgown, an expensive confection that made her coo at the soft luxury.
"That's it, baby," he murmured, joining her in the bed and snuggling with her. "You look beautiful and pampered. Just accept it."
A soft snore answered him, and he cradled his human in his arms. "Sleep now."
His arms tightened around her, and she nestled close. His family hadn't gotten her. And they never would. Nothing would take her from him! He'd kill anyone who tried ...
Even his brother Luc.