Committed: An Erotic Valentine's Tale Read online

  Grace lowered her head, glancing up at him from beneath her lashes with mock chagrin. "Oh yes, very very bad of me. Will I be punished?"

  "You have no idea, darlin'. No idea at all." As the words left his mouth, there was a knock at the door. "Go on into the bathroom and I'll be there after I answer this."

  Grace did as he told her, only instead of the bath, she ended up crawling into the most inviting bed she'd ever seen. More so than with the car service, she was impressed at how well Matt's company took care of him. He didn't stay in typical business class hotel and he didn't have to rent the typical business class car. No, they provided him with a limo and five-star luxury accommodations.

  She sank into the mattress and rubbed her body against the lush sheets. The door closed in the other room and she heard the lock click into place. Matt walked in, doing a double take toward the bed when she flashed him by spreading her legs. "Thought you were going to start a bath."

  "I was, but the bed whispered my name and I just couldn't say no."

  "Ah. Yes, beds do seem to do that to you quite often," he commented, setting the contents in his arms on the bedside table and sliding down next to her.

  "What's all that?

  "That is a gift from our friend across the street. He sent us some strawberries, some chocolate, some champagne."

  "Oh that was very nice of him."

  "Mmm. Yes. There was a note as well."

  "Wow. That was quick. I never saw him pick up the phone. How did he get it done?

  "Perhaps before we noticed him. Does it really matter, Gracie?"

  "Nope. What does the note say?"

  "It says that he would like to watch as we enjoy his gifts. Oh, and for us to have a very happy Valentine's Day."

  "I don't think that's going to be very difficult. He wants to watch again, huh?" Grace rolled off the bed and went to the window, pulling back the curtains. There he was, still in front of his window, seated this time, one leg crossed over the other, a glass in one hand resting on the arm of the chair. "Well, we can't disappoint him now, can we?"

  Matt turned on one of the lamps as she joined him on the bed again. "No, I don't suppose we can," he murmured, leaning over and kissing her lips, nudging her until she was flat on her back. "This wasn't exactly what I had planned for Valentine's for you, though."

  Grace touched his face with trembling fingertips. "What did you have planned?"

  "Beyond my spur of the moment decision to fly you out, I hadn't planned. Not really. I hadn't forgotten, but I didn't have a solid plan yet."

  "Are you sorry?"

  "Only sorry that I hadn't done it before now." A shadow crossed his eyes for a brief second then disappeared. "Things need to change, Gracie. Between us, I mean."

  "I know, but not right this minute." She winked at him and lifted one leg up to snake around his hip. "Okay?" Her heel pressed into the flesh of his ass.

  "Okay," he breathed as he took her mouth in a hard, crushing kiss.

  She pushed the worry and fear his words brought about into a corner of her heart and responded with hunger and need when his tongue slid between her lips. With her arms wrapped around his neck and her other leg lifted around his other hip, she squeezed him tight against her body.

  His tongue tangled with hers and the harder he kissed her, the stronger her hold. They needed to break apart for breath and it wasn't until her lungs started to burn that she loosened her arms and legs and he lifted his mouth.

  He nuzzled her neck causing her to giggle. "What about a strawberry? They are bright red, perfect, plump, and with the chocolate sauce..."

  To mirror his words, Matt, reached over and took a strawberry between his thumb and forefinger, dipped it...no dunked it in the chocolate and quickly brought it to her mouth. Parting her lips, she waited...and waited...

  "I think I'll keep this one for myself," he whispered and proceeded to decorate her nipples with the chocolate. A moan escaped her as he drew the end of the berry down her stomach. "Stay very still, my girl."

  Words failed her and she held her breath as he rested the piece of fruit above her mound and reached over, dipping his finger in the chocolate, bringing it back and coating her clit.

  "God, Matt."

  Her nipples tingled with arousal. Food play was something they enjoyed from time to time and it had been a very long while since they had indulged.

  He took a small bite of the inside of one of her thighs causing her to gasp. Her legs and belly trembled from trying to stay as still as possible and she tried to think of other things that might take the edge off her fast rising need for Matt's mouth on her clit. Nothing worked. Not the weather, not the fact that baseball season would start soon, not that she likely needed to lose a few pounds. Nothing.

  She took a shaky breath when he picked up the strawberry and squeezed it in his fingers. Cool juice and thick chocolate dripped on her skin and trickled between the lips of her pussy making her squirm.

  "What did I tell you about staying still?"

  "Oh you can't be serious," she whined.

  Chapter Three

  "I'm quite serious. Hold. Still." More juice dripped from the now hopelessly smashed piece of fruit. "Open," he said, holding the strawberry above her mouth.

  She did and he dropped it between her lips. "Mmmm."

  "Good?"

  She licked her lips. "Delish."

  Matt dropped his head between her legs, placing his palms on her upper thighs to hold them wide. He licked the flat of his tongue long and slow from the entrance of her body to her clit and back again. It was agonizing. It was wonderful. It was the most exquisite torture.

  He blew cool air on her heated flesh then took her clit between his lips and teeth, sucking, nibbling, and driving her mad. She writhed against his hold and fucked his mouth with her sex. Her tits bounced and the people in every room on their floor had to have heard the scream that tore from her throat.

  Matt didn't let up as the orgasm flowed through her, drawing spasm after spasm from her until she gripped his head and tugged at his hair, pulling him off her pussy. "You...you're going to...kill me..."

  "No. I'm only going to drive you insane with pleasure, my love."

  Grace let go of him. "I'm already there."

  He licked and kissed and sucked the chocolate trail that had dried on her belly and chest, sliding his tongue into her mouth for a tender kiss. She tasted herself, the sweet melted chocolate, and a flavor that was uniquely Matt.

  Wrapped in his arms, Grace's heart slowly calmed and her breathing evened out. She closed her eyes and savored the afterglow. Though they had started out intent on putting on a show for their voyeur across the street, Grace had quickly forgotten he existed.

  "You okay?" Matt's voice was soft, just a murmur of sound.

  "Yeah. My mouth is a little dry."

  He shifted to get up. "Let me get you some water."

  Grace fought to keep her muscles relaxed and grip him in panic. "No, don't go. Just open the champagne, it'll do for now."

  He looked down at her and she wondered if he could read the turmoil inside even though she didn't claw at him, didn't sound panicked, she just asked him calmly to stay. She never had been able to hide much from him.

  "Grace?" His tender tone; the gentle caress of his fingers across her lips, and her tears fell. "It's time to talk."

  *** *** ***

  Matt had been dreading this and yet at the same time, he had been looking forward to it. Time to come clean. Time to say it out loud because only then would it be real, only then would there be someone else that could bear witness to the decision and choice he'd made.

  "Our relationship needs to change," he said for the second time that night.

  Her tears fell harder, faster, and she nodded her agreement. This time she wouldn't put it off and he understood her fear. Promises had never been made by him to her. He hadn't expected to fall so completely in love and though he had, he'd selfishly thought to keep things as they were, keep the
status quo. Sure, they moved in together, lived as lovers, but the open and free to play and fuck others relationship they'd agreed to in the beginning remained unchanged.

  "I love you. With all my heart. All my soul, Grace."

  "I-I know, Matt."

  He bent his head and licked at the tears that were still flowing. His lips moved against the softness of her cheek. "We can't go on like this. I know you don't take advantage of some of the aspects of our relationship anymore and over the last year or so, it's been weighing on me." When she didn't respond beyond a nod of her head, he continued, this time framing her face between his hands and looking down into her shimmering eyes. "I can't do it to you anymore. I..." It was now or never and the words were choking him. He couldn't seem to get them to spill over his tongue and out his mouth.

  "M-Matt?

  She was trying to hold it together. She would accept whatever he decided, though if it meant letting him go, he knew she'd fight for him. She loved him that much. Her support over the years, both personally and professionally was everything any man could dream of finding in a woman. She deserved the very best from him. She deserved all of him.

  He swallowed against the lump in his throat. He forced the words through. "I thought this was what I wanted, this freedom that my parents shared, and something similar to what your parents shared. I thought I'd finally found the one woman who I could share this lifestyle with, but I was wrong. I don't know why you said yes to me all those years ago except that you loved me and you wanted me, no matter the cost."

  "I don't understand. Are you...leaving me?"

  Fresh tears had formed in her eyes and he used his thumbs to whisk them away. He'd never been good with emotional conversations. It was one of the reasons open relationships had always worked for him. His heart's need for Grace was something he hadn't counted on. "No, Gracie, but I do want to change the nature and status of our relationship."

  "To what?"

  "Monogamous. Just you and me. No other women. No other men." Her eyes grew wide, disbelieving and was that...disappointment?

  "Ever?"

  "That was the idea, yes."

  Grace worked her hands up from his sides to frame his face exactly as he framed hers. "Matt, I don't dislike playing with others, you know that. Valentine's last year should have been proof enough for you. The few times we've played with other people over the years should have told you that."

  "You don't play on your own, though."

  "No, not like you do. I tried it for a while, but it didn't feel right. Maybe that's how my growing up with swinger parents was different than the way you grew up. I like the newness and variety and fun of inviting others in, but only when we're together. I want to be with you. I want to see your pleasure and for you to see mine."

  Matt was a little stunned. He'd never thought of it that way before, which honestly wasn't surprising. He was a brilliant business man, but he could be damned thick sometimes. This moment evidently being one of them.

  He took one of her hands and pressed his lips to her palm, then slid off her body to lay beside her. He held onto that same hand and stared at the ceiling, his fingers entwined with hers. "Matt?"

  "I'm thinking."

  "Thinking?"

  "Yeah."

  "Did you say all you wanted to say?"

  "No, but you stumped me and now I'm having to rethink things."

  "Maybe that's the problem. You think too much sometimes. In most everything, you analyze every piece and part to death. This really is simple."

  Matt turned his head to find her unwavering, steady, dry-eyed gaze on him. He was glad the tears were gone. He'd take her irritation with him any day over her tears. "You're right. I do over think things. I'm guessing you have a solution?"

  "I do."

  "Tell me."

  "We try a relationship my way for a while."

  She was taking it out of his hands, changing the tables, changing the game and he was letting her. The vice grip on his heart loosened. "I'm listening."

  "We, meaning you, don't play with others anymore unless we're together."

  "So, I'm compromising?" He wasn't, not really. It was more than he'd gone into this conversation asking for. He was happily willing to give up the spice and fun of playing with others for her. They were a very sexually creative couple. From food play to a bit of exhibitionism to sex in public or semi-public places to kink. There wouldn't be boredom, not like he'd always feared. No. If he were really honest with himself, it wasn't becoming bored with her that he was scared of. It was her becoming bored with him.

  She'd never shown any signs of it, of being tired of him, but then he hadn't ever been home long enough for them to see. He thought with the other women for him, and the freedom to play with other men for her, that the some version of the old 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' adage would keep them emotionally together.

  Only he was the first one to crack, to need more in a way he hadn't anticipated.

  "Is it really a compromise?" She edged closer to his side. "I've known who you are from the beginning and I've accepted you without question. You've changed and grown and fallen in love with me all on your own. This is your chance to truly have your cake and eat it too."

  Maybe he needed to consider hosting a pub crawl for all his friends. Maybe they'd find a similarly amazing woman like Grace. He lifted his head so his lips could glance over hers in the softest of touches. "Are you sure?"

  "Yes."

  "Good, because there is something else I need to tell you." Confession was getting easier for him, but he spoke quickly before concern could flash in her eyes. "I've put in for a position in the home office."

  "What would that mean?"

  He saw the hope in her surprised smile. "No more traveling and there would even be quite a bit of freedom for me to work from home."

  "You love the travel. Why would you do this? I've never asked you to stay home."

  "I know, but Gracie, I love you more than all the freedom and all the travel in the world. You've given me everything and I haven't even begun to give you what you deserve. I want to make it up to you."

  "Wow, Matt. I-I don't know what to say."

  He nipped at her nose, the peace inside, astonishing and welcome. "Think you can handle having me around that much?"

  Her joy was palpable. "Without a doubt, but Matt, you've never...you don't l-"

  "I'm not saying there won't be adjustments and times where I feel like I'm suffocating, but it's only going to be until I get used to it. I want to try, Grace. I need to try. And losing you is not an option."

  "You can't lose me."

  "I know. I'll find out about the job when we get back to town and we'll go from there. But Gracie? You do know there will be days where I'll fuck you raw, don't you? Probably more days than not."

  "Yes, Matt. I know. I'm counting on it in fact. I've always been enough for you. You just had to come to that conclusion on your own."

  "And I have. However, it doesn't seem as though I'm enough for you."

  "How do you figure?"

  "You are the one who suggested we still play with others."

  "Variety is the spice of life and you've been mine from day one. When does this change take place?"

  "Starts right now."

  She lowered her head and kissed him. "Mmmm. Yummy." And then, she crawled on top of him to straddle his hips.

  Tongues tangled and her lower body rocked against his. It all felt different and yet, it all felt the same. He couldn't have expressed his happiness if his life depended on it, but happy he was, thrilled beyond measure. She was good for him, always had been.

  He was determined to be good for her, too.

  She lifted her head and sat up, reaching for the champagne bottle as she did. Her head turned toward the window as she took a long, slow drink. Matt followed her gaze. Their patron of wicked delights was still there, watching. Could he see a difference in them, even from across the street?

  A drop of cold c
hampagne hit his chest, and he jolted in shock. Another drop followed the first, which was followed by another. He turned his attention back to her. "Grace?"

  He sucked in a breath as she tilted the bottle. He knew what was coming. The glint in her eyes promised both heaven and hell freezing over. She scooted down his legs, the wetness of her sex leaving a trail over his cock which was quickly followed by the cold champagne. It pooled in the hair surrounding his penis and slid down around his balls.

  The sensation was mind blowing. Bubbles fizzled along his skin. "Grace..." He choked the word out in warning. She simply grinned and lowered her head.

  The celebratory liquid touched her tongue and her tongue touched his cock. "I told you I was thirsty."

  Yes. Yes, she had. And Matt, content and completely committed, yet far from sated, lay there thinking, Happy Valentine's Day to me.

  About the author

  Living in North Carolina, talented, multi-published author, Lissa Matthews, has many loves in her life: Family, friends, NASCAR, football, music of all kinds, cooking, BDSM, and last, but not least, coffee. She loves it so much she and those who know her are surprised she hasn't floated away on a caffeine-induced cloud while giving life to feisty heroines and hunky heroes.

  Lissa's love of romance came from every book she has ever picked up. No matter what she read, she fell in love with the written word. The promise of escape, the deep, intriguing characters, and the winding journey from beginning to end, constantly drew her into bookstores and libraries as she was growing up.

  Her first stories were written in junior high and she kept it up through college. She would stay up late at night when her kids were little reading romance and still penning her own stories. In 2007 when she and her family moved to North Carolina from Florida, she began pursuing writing as a profession and she couldn't imagine doing anything else... Well, except maybe writing in her own cupcake bakery/coffee shop. But that dream is a ways down the road... Lucky for Lissa, she believes in dreams coming true.