Shadows Over Bramblewood Ch 05

ALAN

It had been months since I'd felt the urge to draw anything. There had been that one time that Jessica offered to pose for me, but it didn't take long before she took off her clothes, and we spent the rest of that afternoon in bed. She had never been interested in art, at least not my art. For her, it was all about sex. She delighted in tempting me, saying the filthiest things in the sweetest voice, until my blood was boiling with lust. She didn't want an artist; she wanted a plaything. I could see it in her eyes every time I shoved my dick inside her - that look of supreme satisfaction. She loved what I did to her - but far more than that, she loved what she'd done to me.

Breaking up with her had been as difficult as I'd feared it would be. I'd done it by phone, which made me wince with guilt and shame, but I wasn't sure if I'd have had the strength to go through with it in person. I didn't trust her - or rather, I didn't trust myself not to give in to her. She had proven, time and time again, that she could easily seduce me. I didn't understand why I was unable to resist her. It felt as though she'd cast a spell on me, turning me into some sort of sex junkie, perpetually craving another taste.

I'd hoped that spending a few days away from her would help me to think clearly again, but that wasn't working very well. After watching that video she sent me, I was ready to rush right back to her. And I probably would have done so, if I hadn't been interrupted.

Lucy. The woman from the train. I thought I'd never see her again - but then there she was, hovering at my doorway like a beautiful phantom, inadvertently rescuing me from Jessica's lascivious thrall. By the time I'd recovered my wits (and my pants), she had fled the house with her friend.

But now, thanks to Mr. Finch, I knew her name. I knew she worked at the library. And I knew I was strongly attracted to her. It made no sense, congratulating myself on escaping from a torrid sexual relationship with one woman, only to immediately start pining for someone else. Wouldn't it be better to just be alone for a while? I had enough going on right now, trying to figure out my financial situation and my mother's estate. Dating could wait.

Then there was that day at the library, where I'd found her sprawled on the floor, moaning and masturbating. It was almost too much for me. My cock had grown rock hard almost instantly, and I'd wanted nothing more than to get down on the floor with her. But I didn't know her, and she didn't know me, and what was I thinking? It was madness, but I really wanted her - and I probably would have done something foolish if Bill hadn't come along just then.

So now I was back at the old house, diligently sketching her lovely face, her sumptuous dark hair. I couldn't stop thinking about her. I was obsessed, but it didn't feel suffocating the way it had with Jessica. Jessica had been like the sun, dazzling and hot, but also blinding and oppressive. Lucy was more like moonlight, gorgeous and soft, almost mysterious. She and I had only had a few, brief, bizarre encounters, and I desperately wanted to learn more about her.

So when I answered a series of loud, frantic knocks on the front door, my heart almost stopped when I saw her standing there, wearing only a short satin robe. For a moment, I doubted my sanity, wondering if this was just a hallucinatory fantasy.

"Please," she said, her expression a mixture of embarrassment and worry. "I...I need your help, and I didn't know where else to go."

Without hesitating, I opened the door wider. "Come in," I said, trying to sound reassuring rather than bewildered. A million questions were pushing through my mind.

As she entered the house, she grasped my forearm. "Thank you," she whispered, fervently. "I know we..."

Her words were interrupted by the arrival of another car, speeding toward the house and then screeching to a halt. Henry Finch and his associate, Brianna, got out of the car and rushed toward the door. "Lucy, we have some unfinished business to attend to," said Henry in a smooth, silky voice.

Lucy gripped my arm tighter. "Please," she whispered. "Don't let them take me."

Brianna took a few steps closer. "Lucy, honey, you're almost there. Let's go back home so we can finish what we started. I promise, you won't regret it."

I didn't know what they were talking about, but I didn't like the sound of it. I looked down at Lucy and saw that she was biting her lip. Her face was flushed, and she was staring at Henry and Brianna as if mesmerized.

Henry stepped forward and addressed me. "Mr. Blackwood, we apologize for the intrusion. Lucy has been unwell, so we're going to take her to her friend's apartment so that she can go back to bed. Don't worry, we'll help her feel better. Much better."

He beckoned to Lucy, and I felt her fingers on my arm loosen. Her terror from a moment ago seemed to have vanished, and now there was a dazed look in her eyes. "Yes," she said quietly, licking her lips.

"No," I blurted, half-surprised by my own words. "She's staying here."

Henry scowled at me. "This woman isn't well. She needs...proper attention."

"I'll see to that myself," I said. I didn't trust these people. They seemed to have some sort of hold on Lucy, and I knew all too well what that felt like.

Henry sighed with irritation. "You are not a doctor..."

"Nor are you," I said. "She is staying with me, for as long as she wants. End of story."

"That isn't what she wants. She wants to come with us. Don't you, Lucy?"

Lucy's eyes were closed with a silent frown, as if her thoughts were warring with each other. Shaking her head, she opened her eyes. "No. I'm staying here, with Alan." She took a deep breath, then let it out. "I'm going to call Daniel, and I'm going to tell him everything. How you brainwashed Brianna, and how you tried to do the same thing to me."

Henry chuckled, but it sounded nervous and fake. "You see? She's delusional. She's also a thief; she has taken an important document that pertains to your mother's estate."

"And you are a despicable rapist," she replied, throwing a set of car keys to the ground. "Brianna, I'm going to find a way to free you from this asshole. I'm not going to rest until I see him behind bars."

"Why you little..."

"Get out of here, Finch," I growled, clenching my fists.

Henry glared at me. "You're not taking this madwoman seriously, are you?"

"I am, and we're done. I am hereby terminating your involvement as agent of my mother's estate."

Henry's eyes widened, and his tone changed immediately. "Now, Mr. Blackwood...Alan...let's not be hasty..."

"You heard what I said. Good-bye, Finch."

* * * * *

LUCY

Alan walked me back to the house. The moment the door closed, I threw myself at him without thinking, wrapping my arms around his broad back. "Thank you," I said, my words almost muffled against his chest. I'd never been this close to him before. Close enough to notice his scent, earthy and fresh, like evergreens on a hillside.

I felt his hands on my back, his arms pulling me close to him. And although he was a stranger, although we'd had only a few bizarrely voyeuristic encounters, I sighed with relief. He had saved me from falling into Henry's terrible trap, and it felt reassuring to be here in his arms, feeling his strength around me, protecting me. I felt safe.

And more than a little horny.

Maybe it was just the lingering effect of what Brianna and Henry had done to me, but I wanted this man, this dark and silent guardian. While I nuzzled his chest, my hands weren't idle. They seemed to have a mind of their own, as they roamed the muscled contours of his back, his shoulders. I was probably taking liberties that I shouldn't take, but I couldn't bring myself to stop.

When I finally dared to look up at him, I saw his beautiful blue eyes looking at me, studying me, as if I was part of some wild mystery that he had stumbled into. What did he think of me? I really, really wanted to know. Impulsively, I stood on my toes and kissed him. Just a quick, light brush of my lips against his, then I pulled back, worried that this time I'd definitely gone too far.

"I'm sorry," I blurted, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I...I didn't..."

He shook his head. His eyes were on my lips, he was leaning in, and my thoughts scattered like dandelion seeds as he kissed me. It wasn't tentative, or cautious, or apologetic. It was a deep, smoldering, toe-curling kiss, laced with passion and hunger. I clasped my arms around his neck, moaning softly as his tongue found mine. We weren't taking it slow - which was good, because I didn't have the patience for slow right now. My nipples were tight and hard as they grazed his chest, and the aching heat between my legs was almost unbearable. I could feel his erection straining against his pants, and it poured gasoline on my fire, knowing that he was yearning for me, too.

"I want you," I whispered. "I want you so fucking bad."

He smiled at me, a dark smile full of tantalizing promise.

* * * * *

The dream was about to become reality.

I could scarcely believe it, but the proof was all around me. The doors to the balcony were wide open, and I was looking out at the vast expanse of gray ocean, where ominous clouds had gathered, blotting out the last embers of fading daylight. It was just like the scene that my imagination had conjured, only with a hundred sensory details that left no doubt - I was here. This was real.

A light breeze swept through my hair, and I felt like a heroine in a salacious gothic novel, trapped in a brooding fortress by a dark, handsome tormentor. Except I didn't feel trapped here. I felt eager and excited, knowing what was about to happen. I was more than ready.

I could sense his presence as he drew near, and I shivered with delight as he folded his strong arms around me. "You look like an empress surveying her realm," he whispered, his breath hot in my ear.

"Perhaps I am," I replied, my hands stroking his forearms. "Perhaps I've summoned you here, to do my bidding." I couldn't help but smile. I'd never flirted with anyone in my life, but here I was, acting like I was some sort of coy seductress. Despite all the trauma I'd been through today, I felt buoyant and self-assured, as though everything was somehow going to be okay. At this moment, I was right where I wanted to be, in the arms of this tall, gorgeous stranger.

"Mmmm. And what would you have me do?" His lips brushed my neck, once, twice, then he began to gently suckle my skin.

"That," I murmured, tilting my head to give him easier access. "Keep doing that." I leaned back against him, relishing the sensation of his tongue as he quietly kissed my neck. Could he feel my pulse racing? Did he hear my soft groan as his hand moved to cover my left breast? Even through the satin robe, his touch was electrifying.

"My pleasure." He tugged the collar of my robe, loosening it just a little so that he could kiss my shoulder. His fingers prodded the smooth fabric covering my breast, and I whimpered, my nipples swelling with lust. "I love the way you feel, Lucy," he said, his voice almost a growl as he teased and caressed my sensitive flesh.

"I love the way you touch me," I replied, my heart thudding excitedly. He gently turned my head toward his, and then we were kissing, madly, passionately, as if we'd been waiting our whole lives for this. It wasn't until I heard the crash of thunder that I pulled back to catch my breath. I looked up at him and saw his eyes, fierce with raw, naked desire. It sent a wild thrill to me, to see him so worked up, to know what we were about to do. Our mouths crashed together again, our tongues flicking and twining, and we were lost in each other as lightning flashed closer and closer.

His hand slid inside my robe, stroking the bare skin of my belly before drifting slowly downward. I was giddy with lust, now, and there was a hungry, liquid blaze between my thighs. Every second was delicious agony, bringing his fingers closer and closer to where I needed them most. I wanted this. God, how I wanted this!

I moaned into his mouth as he found my hot, aching center. I was so far gone, I knew it wouldn't take long before I became a writhing, groaning mess of a woman. The way he explored me, his fingers tracing a wicked path through my slick folds. Back and forth, up and down, he toyed with me, gauging my reactions, learning what I liked and then giving me more of it. Soon I became a moaning instrument of sex, and he was playing me like a virtuoso, strumming and massaging, building steadily toward an inevitable crescendo. My stomach clenched, and my breath came in ragged gasps as he rhythmically tugged my taut nipple and stirred my clit. "Come for me," he said. "I want to see you come."

The wind swirled around us now, howling and mad. Thunder rolled through the darkened sky in booming bellows. I barely noticed. His fingers were rubbing firm circles on my pussy, and that was all that mattered. He kept working me, bringing me closer and closer, whispering lewd, heated words into my ear as I held my breath and felt my body taking those last few steps into orgasmic oblivion. I came apart in his arms, trembling uncontrollably, my ecstatic groans swirling into the storm around us. As I shuddered and shook, he held me close to him, coaxing wave after wave of exquisite bliss from my feverish sex.

He kissed me, tenderly, almost reverently, as my climax began to subside. I ought to have felt spent and satiated, having just experienced the most powerful orgasm of my life. But with his lips on mine, with his arms all around me, pressing me against his hard warmth - I was already wanting more. Soon I was the one kissing him, my tongue sliding into his mouth while my hands roamed all over his body. Cool rain was starting to fall - just a few drops at first, then quickly becoming a downpour. We just kept kissing and groping each other, and soon both of us were thoroughly drenched. It made me feel brazen and reckless, like I was part of the tempest.

I drew away from Alan, holding his eyes as I walked backward into the bedroom. As I moved, I tugged my sash loose and opened my robe, letting him see all of me. His eyes were full of lust as they wandered up and down my body, and it made me smile wolfishly. "What are you going to do to me now?" I asked, running my hands from my belly down to the insides of my thighs.

Another flash of lightning arced through the sky behind him as he advanced toward me, staring at my wet breasts and licking his lips like a hungry animal. "I've got a few ideas," he said, his voice gravelly and sexy as hell.

"Oh, but you forget - I'm the empress. You must do as I command."

He clenched his teeth, his eyes still locked on my taut nipples. "Fine," he growled, as if he didn't know how much longer he could restrain himself.

"Hmm, I need a minute to think about this. So many possibilities." I smiled and bit my bottom lip. I'd never teased anyone like this before, and it was turning me on in a big way. "I see the way you're looking at my tits. Do you like them?"

He nodded, his blue eyes practically gleaming with lust.

"I could make you kiss them..." I brought my hands up, each of my thumbs grazing a nipple. "See how stiff and swollen they are? It would feel amazing if you could suck on them for a while."

He darted forward, but I dodged around one of the tall bedposts, giggling as I put my palm on his chest to stop him. "Whoa, just a minute! I haven't made up my mind yet."

He exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself down. "You're driving me crazy, Lucy."

"Am I?" With a shrug, I let the robe slip from my shoulders. I was completely naked now, and it was a heady delight to see his eyes devouring me. I reached for my breasts again, my fingers making quick circles around my turgid nipples. Wet heat was building in my groin again, and I didn't know how much longer I could keep teasing him without just throwing myself into his arms and begging him to fuck me. "You want me that much, huh?"

He nodded, his eyes following my fingers avidly as they trailed over my skin.

"Well, in that case, I think you should take off your clothes."

He did so, and I savored every moment of it. His body was large, strong, and gorgeous, like someone I'd see on the cover of my favorite bodice-ripping novels. By the time he was down to his boxer shorts, I was almost salivating. Was this just another dream? How could it be that I, a meek, penniless librarian, was about to have epic, mind-crushing sex with this mighty male god?

Then he dropped his shorts, and all the thoughts in my brain dissolved. I saw that thick, hard organ rising toward me, magnificent and obscene, and I swear I could feel my vagina clenching with anticipation. Instinctively, I closed the distance between us and reached down to touch him. He sucked in a breath as my fingers closed around his smooth, hard length. "Lucy..." he muttered warningly.

"What?" I replied with mock innocence, watching his face as I started to stroke him.

He shook his head, his breath becoming uneven. "If you keep doing that..."

"What?" I said again, squeezing him harder, stroking him faster. "What will happen if I keep doing that?"

He gasped. "Lucy...no...it's too much...you'll make me..."

"Come?" I asked, my voice a sultry purr. "Am I going to make you come?"

He nodded quickly, breathing heavily.

I nodded back at him. "You bet I will." My fingers slid back and forth, pumping his rigid cock in a steady, insistent rhythm. "We've got all night," I said, planting a lingering kiss on his collarbone. "I'm gonna let you lick me...and fuck me...over and over again. But right now, I want to make you fall apart."

He didn't say anything, but it was all right there on his face. His mouth hanging open, his brows furrowed in blissful torment. He was already well on his way to an orgasm, and I couldn't wait to finish him. I wanted to see the look in his eyes when he surrendered to it. I wanted to see the hot cream spurting from his massive prick. I wanted to taste it.

I pulled him toward the bed and ordered him to lie down. His cock jutted up, throbbing rhythmically as I climbed on top of him, my thighs straddling his. It was so tempting to just impale myself on him, to feel his hard length invading me. Instead, I rocked forward, dragging my pussy against the underside of his shaft. He groaned with lust, his eyes on my breasts. But when he reached up to touch them, I shook my head. "Put your hands on the headboard. You're not allowed to touch me unless I say so."

Alan hesitated for a moment, like a child who had just been told he couldn't have a gooey chocolate chip cookie fresh out of the oven. The truth was, I wanted his hands on me in the worst way. But as horny as I was, I knew that nipple play would batter my resolve to remain in control, and I'd end up lying on my back, moaning deliriously as he plunged his thick cock inside me. Even just the thought of that made my clit throb with longing as I began to ride him, dragging my wet sex back and forth along his eager erection. "I'm in charge here," I murmured, as if I was trying to convince myself.

I tried to move slowly, rocking my hips back and forth over his swollen cock, wanting to tease him, to prolong these delicious moments. But the sight of Alan's tense, virile body beneath me, his hands grabbing the headboard - it was sexual catnip. I began to move faster, grinding harder against him, moaning softly as the friction worked on me. Already those telltale erotic tingles were coursing through my body. I was on the brink.

With a tremendous exercise of willpower, I pried myself away from him. My pussy was aching, screaming for more stimulation, and Alan's cock was right there, glistening and throbbing with desire. I wrapped my fingers around it, marveling at its size, its heat. There was a dribble of clear fluid oozing from its tip, and I knew I just had to taste it. I leaned down and slowly kissed my way up his rigid shaft, until at last I was kissing its bulbous tip, my tongue swirling and getting its first taste of him.