Maiden and the Lion Read online

“In your room?” She glanced wildly out of the closet door. “In your bed?”

  “Exactly.”

  “But why? You have two guest bedrooms, Mr Larousse.”

  “Because you’re mine. And call me Alex.”

  Her puzzlement turned into a furious blush.

  He studied her expression. She was even cuter when she did that. “Any questions?”

  She shook her head weakly.

  “Have you had dinner yet?”

  “No, sir. Alex.”

  “You go unpack while I cook something.”

  Bea pinched herself hard to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Ouch. No. She wasn’t dreaming. ‘You are mine,’ he’d said. His. Her mind spun at the revelation. Alex seemed like an introverted person who didn’t convey much of his feelings. For him to say she was his must have meant a lot for him. She couldn’t believe it. But yes, he had said it. Oh, my God, oh, my God. Bea squashed her urge to grin and fan herself. It felt like a dream come true. Alex liked her. Her snappish boss. Could it be that his grumpy façade was only there because he was hiding his true feelings? He wouldn’t have kissed her if he didn’t like her, would he?

  And she would be living with him from now. She guessed. If it was only for the night, he wouldn’t have asked her to put her belongings in his place, would he? And they would share a bed. She would see Alex before she slept and wake up with him by her side. Alex, the man of her dreams.

  Bea couldn’t help grinning like a loon. Is he going to sleep naked or is he a pyjama type of person? She had never seen him dressed in anything other than corporate business but she would bet he was delicious from his head to his toes. Alex was tall and toned. She was sure he was all muscle beneath his crisp suits. The Larousse brothers were mouth-watering. They were practically sex on sticks.

  After she’d finished putting away her clothes and her toiletries in the bathroom, she cleaned the plastic bags and proceeded to change from her work skirt and blouse into something comfortable. Fresh undies, bra, jeans and an oversized T-shirt.

  Alex called her from the kitchen. She stalked out of the bedroom.

  “Yes, sir?”

  He gave her a look.

  Duh, she hadn’t got used to calling him by his first name.

  “Dinner’s ready. Let’s eat.”

  Alex had made steaks. Mashed potatoes from a ready-to-make packet and he’d heated some green beans and sweetcorn from the can. The empty packaging was piled in the sink. Bea helped him bring the plates to the dining table. He uncorked a bottle of red wine and poured it in two glasses.

  “You are over the drinking age limit, right?”

  “I’m twenty-one.”

  “I know.” He grinned, teasing.

  He knows. Had he been spying on her? Seconds later, she felt silly. Of course, as her boss, he must know the general background of his employee.

  “Dig in.” He motioned for her to grab her fork and knife. “When was the last time you had a hot meal?”

  She blushed with embarrassment. She was tempted to lie to stop herself sounding so desperate, but she had a feeling Alex would know if she fibbed. “Uhm, a couple days ago.”

  Alex turned grim. “So what have you been eating?”

  “Candy bars and a lot of coffee. They keep me full.”

  “You had my wallet. There’s some money in it.”

  “I can’t steal from you. It’s not right.” She was a bit scandalised. Not that she hadn’t been thinking about it, but she was glad that she hadn’t done it. She could never steal from her boss.

  How about stealing his soap and taking a nap in his bed, hmm?

  That had been a momentary weakness, she had to admit. He had a kick-ass, super-fantastic shower. A girl couldn’t sanely resist.

  Alex started cutting into his steak. “Eat up, you need your strength. You’re too skinny.”

  Bea dug into her steak. It was filet mignon, cooked medium rare. She took a bite. Oh, my God. It was so delicious. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a steak or had even eaten an excellent meal. She ate ravenously. She didn’t care what she looked like in front of Alex. She was a girl who appreciated a good meal and it didn’t come to her too often. Cooking from scratch was expensive and the most she could afford was fast food.

  Alex regarded her with amusement in his eyes, along with a healthy dollop of concern. “Good?”

  “This is excellent. I didn’t know you could cook, sir. Alex.”

  “I enjoy cooking. And I love women with healthy appetites.”

  Her cheeks heated.

  “You don’t drink wine?”

  “Oh.” Bea took a sip. It was sharp and fruity. She liked it. “I’ve had wine before.” But it hadn’t tasted as good as this. She doubted if Alex ever drank cheap stuff. She took several sips. Suddenly, she felt tipsy.

  “Maybe you should drink water,” Alex noted. “You’re flushed already. I don’t want you to get drunk.”

  But she liked the wine. Alex got up and fetched her a glass of water. He took away her wine. “Let’s go to the living room. I’d like to talk.”

  Bea gathered the dirty dishes.

  “Don’t worry about that, my housekeeper will clean it in the morning.”

  So he had a housekeeper. Bea followed him and sat on a loveseat. Alex sank himself on the couch and fiddled with the remote. After a few minutes of channel surfing, he settled on a news programme.

  “Sit by me.” He tapped the empty seat next to him.

  Her heart fluttered. Bea awkwardly got up and sat next to Alex. He seemed to have noticed she was nervous.

  He smiled. “Don’t worry, I won’t bite you.”

  Bea laughed quietly.

  “Tell me about your father,” he said.

  “My dad?” She frowned. “Well, not much to tell. He’s a jerk when he’s intoxicated.”

  “Was he always like that?”

  “He fell apart after my mom died.”

  “I’m sorry. When was that?”

  “I was ten when she passed away. Cancer.”

  “You have siblings?”

  “No, it’s only me and my dad.”

  “Did he beat you?”

  Nothing she couldn’t handle. He was cranky all the time, but it’d got scarier after he’d got the pill habit. Sometimes, she didn’t recognise him anymore. He wasn’t her sweet dad who’d taught her to ride a bike when she had been little. The booze and hardship had turned him into a nasty, mean old man. Bea swallowed hard. “My dad was actually nice when he was sober.”

  Alex’s face darkened. “Where did he beat you?”

  She’d had her fair share of slaps, smacks in the head and later, fists in her stomach if she’d refused to give him booze money. But she wasn’t going to tell Alex that. It was too embarrassing. She shook her head. “It…it doesn’t matter.”

  “It matters to me.” Alex took her hand and squeezed it. Warmth spread from him. “I would never hurt you, Bea. You’re precious to me.”

  I am? She was surprised at his declaration. This coming from her grumpy boss.

  Alex’s eyes softened. “Listen, I apologise for the way I was behaving to you. I was a dick. You didn’t deserve the crap I put you through. I’ve been attracted to you since I first saw you in the elevator. But you’re so damn young. I thought if I distanced myself from you and made you think I’m a jerk, I could forget you. But I couldn’t.”

  Bea couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Y-you like me?”

  He smiled again. “I’m crazy for you. I don’t want to fight this feeling any longer. I want you.”

  She thought she’d died and gone to heaven. “I have a big crush on you.”

  His smile turned into a grin. “I know.”

  He knows. She blushed again.

  Alex studied her face. “You’re so pretty.” He caressed her face with the tip of his fingers. “I’m dying to kiss these lips again.” He carefully removed her glasses and placed them on the coffee table. He lowered his head and kissed
her. A mere brush at first. Then his tongue traced the outline of her lips. He slid a hand on her nape and kissed her passionately.

  Bea gasped and instinctively kissed him back. He let out a delighted sound and pushed his tongue into her mouth. Heat rushed to her head. She sagged in his arms. Alex drew her closer until her body pressed against his. And she could feel his drumming heartbeat, just like hers.

  She curled her arm around his neck as Alex kissed her deeper. It was mind-numbing. All thoughts evaporated and left her wallowing in sheer euphoria. Every stroke of his tongue brought shivers of thrills running down her spine. He sucked her lower lip and whispered how much he loved kissing her. He burned her into fiery arousal. Her nipples hardened and her pussy moistened. She was wet for him.

  Alex licked her lips and nuzzled the side of her jaw, her neck. She trembled. He slipped his hand under her T-shirt and found her breast. He squeezed it. His hand felt so large on her flesh.

  “You feel so nice. I want to kiss your breasts. Can we take this off?” He tugged on her T-shirt.

  “Yes,” she mumbled. “Please.”

  Alex purred. He pulled the shirt up and over her head. His eyes zeroed on the cotton bra she was wearing.

  “Nice,” he said, “but it must go.”

  Her heart drummed wildly as Alex unhooked her bra strap. He undressed her completely. Did he want to make love to her? Sweet Jesus. She was brimming with anticipation but also nervous as hell. She’d never slept with a man before. The stuff she had dealt with at home had made her love life non-existent Alex was the first man she’d had serious hots for. And now he wanted more than just kissing her…

  “Oh, Bea, you have such pretty breasts. Your nipples look like raspberries. I can’t wait to suck them.” As if he were inspired by his own words, he bent down and took one into his mouth.

  Bea gasped, eyes wide. Oh, God. She clawed his head. That was…too sinful. Alex circled the tip of his tongue on her areola and flicked the tip. She flinched. A shot of pleasure trailed down to her pussy. He groaned and sucked her hard. Bea tensed and closed her eyes. The sensation was unbelievable. She didn’t want it to end.

  He kneaded her other breast and released her nipple, then moved to the untouched one. Bea’s body shook. The way he teased the peak of her bud while he was sucking her made her lose her mind.

  “Alex…” she moaned. “Oh, God.”

  They throbbed like a headache but in a delicious, pleasant way. Alex devoured her, moving from one breast to the other until the pleasure thickened and threatened to erupt. Her pussy clenched each time he gave her a hard suck. Her panties were soaked.

  Alex popped it out of his mouth with a satisfied growl. “Now they are red like strawberries. You’re luscious, Bea. I can’t get enough of you.”

  She whimpered. Her chest wanted to burst from his compliment. He liked her. She was luscious and he couldn’t get enough of her. Her crush for him ballooned into full-blown head-over-heels crazy for him. She wished Alex would do more than just kiss her. She wondered how it would feel to be taken by him, having him inside her so intimately. Bea shivered just thinking about it.

  He rubbed her thighs. “These jeans have to go.”

  She nodded furiously.

  Alex popped the button of her jeans then slid the zipper. He pulled the jeans down her legs, over her ankles then flung them to the floor. He hissed when he saw her cotton panties. “You’re wet, baby. Do you like the way I touch you?”

  “Yes,” she breathed out. “I love it.”

  He purred again. This time he sounded like a lion. “I’m going to kiss you, lick you and eat you up all night.”

  Oh my. Bea gulped.

  He pulled her panties off. “Jesus, you even smell so intoxicating.” He pushed her legs apart and slid a hand on the juncture of her thighs. He parted her curls and found her clit. He plucked and twirled it with his fingers.

  “Oh.” Bea squirmed.

  “Too hard?”

  She shook her head. “It feels so good.”

  Alex caressed her wet seam and inserted a finger inside. “Bea.” He turned to her. “You’re so tight. Impossibly tight. Are you a virgin?”

  A shard of worry lanced through her. “Is that turning you off? I know I’m not experienced, but I’m a fast learner.”

  Alex laughed. “No. You’ll be giving your virginity to me. You sure you want me, sweet?”

  “I’ve been fantasising about you for a long time.”

  “Mmm. Say that you want me.”

  “I want you, Alex,” she whispered. “With all my heart.”

  “Babe.” Alex devoured her lips, kissing her until she felt light-headed. “Have you had an orgasm before?”

  Oh man. “A few.”

  “Did you touch yourself?”

  Bea nodded shyly. “I was curious.”

  “That’s perfectly normal, sweet. I’m going to eat you up. I want to see you come.”

  Oh, man, Jesus, God. Is he going to do what I think he is?

  Her heart hammered. Alex kneeled in front of her and spread her thighs until her pussy was bare for him to see. A sliver of embarrassment crept inside her. She had never been naked in front of a man, let alone sprawled open. Alex grabbed her thighs and dived into her pussy.

  Bea wanted to yell.

  His tongue.

  Oh, my God. He licked her. She forgot to breathe for a long second. She threw her head back and stretched out in pleasure. “Alex,” she sobbed, “Alex…”

  He grunted and plunged his tongue into her opening. He lapped at her deeper and deeper while swirling around her passage. Her pussy contracted. Her juices seeped. The pleasure was unbelievable. She thought she was floating on clouds of euphoria. Fluffy. Thick ecstasy. She had never imagined or thought that being worshipped would feel this good.

  Between his licks, Alex groaned. Bea shivered. He sucked her pussy lips before he tongue-fucked her. Bea tensed. Her body rigid from her impending orgasm. He captured her clit and rolled it with his fingers.

  Suddenly, an orgasm hit her hard. She yelled his name as she came. A bolt of pure pleasure snatched her, electrifying her from head to toe.

  The ecstasy was exquisite. It lit up every cell in her body like fireworks, leaving a shimmering afterglow when it passed. Her breath was ragged. Her vision returned to focus. She’d had orgasms before but never had they been this explosive. It felt like her soul had been pulled out from her mortal body. She was dying at the height of her rapture. Dying in a good way. No wonder French people called orgasm ‘the little death’.

  “Do you like it?” Alex asked.

  She shyly nodded.

  “I love the way you scream my name. Sounds so damn sexy. Why don’t we move to the bed? It’s more comfortable. And I want to eat you some more.”

  Oh, man, there’s more?

  Alex stood up and lifted her from the couch. He carried her into his bedroom. He deposited her on the mattress and started to disrobe.

  Bea watched him with giddiness. They were going to do it. The man of her dreams. He was going to make her a woman.

  Alex shed his shirt and unbuckled his belt. His expensive trousers came off next. The bulge in his briefs was impressive, if not downright intimidating. He shoved his underwear and yanked off his dressy socks.

  She couldn’t look away from his cock. Sweet Jesus, is he going to fit? She didn’t think she could take him. But her pussy had a different opinion. Her pussy was on fire with need. It thrummed longingly, wanting to be filled. To be ravished and plundered.

  Suddenly, her mouth watered. What would it feel like licking that gorgeous cock?

  The bed dipped as Alex climbed on.

  “Wait.” She halted him.

  He was puzzled. “You changed your mind?”

  “No. It’s my turn. I want to touch you.”

  Alex found her curiosity amusing. A pretty little virgin and all his to claim. She watched him bright-eyed like he was a new adventure she couldn’t wait to experience. He sat and pul
led her into his arms. “Straddle me.”

  She obeyed. She eyed his cock as if it was the most fascinating object in the world. “May I?”

  “Yes, touch it.”

  She clasped her hands on his cock. Her expression was priceless, a mix between giggles and being mesmerised. Her lips formed an ‘O’ as she squeezed him. “It’s so hard and hot.”

  “You make me like this, sweet.” Alex groped her ass and kneaded her firm flesh. “You can squeeze harder. You won’t hurt me.”

  “I won’t?”

  “No. If anything, you’ll make me even harder.”

  Bea rubbed his pre-cum with her thumb. Damn, it felt good. Alex moaned. She touched his cock and his balls, which were currently drawn tight at her gentle, loving caress. His cock throbbed miserably. He couldn’t wait to plunge it into her sweet, tight pussy and ride her all night.

  She stared at him expectantly. “May I kiss it?”

  God, she’s so innocent. “Shit, yes,” he croaked. “Lick it. Suck it.”

  She scooted down and lowered her head. She gave him a tentative lick across the slit. “Hmm, salty,” she said at the discovery. “Like tears, only creamier.”

  Alex laughed at how he was being compared to a dairy product.

  She gave him another long lick. “I like it.”

  “Then give it a suck,” he urged. He loved the way her tongue lapped on his cock. It left a lingering fire that made him impatient to fuck her on the spot.

  She seemed eager to please. Her hot mouth enveloped the crown of his cock. She sucked. High-voltage pleasure jolted and seared his every nerve tip. He was engulfed by a brimstone of lust.

  Shit. He fidgeted. He’d had some good blows in the past but nothing like this. He clenched his jaw. So good. So loving. So pure. Alex threaded his fingers in her lush hair. He fisted it. Bea swallowed him until his tip touched the back of her throat. Quite brave of her, considering his girth and length. She gagged a bit but quickly gained control. She sucked in and out. In and out. Each suck brought astounding pleasure that made his head dizzy.

  “Bea,” he whispered, “that’s so good, sweet.”

  She popped him out of her mouth. Her smile wide. “Did I do it right?”

  Alex chuckled. “More than all right. You’re amazing.”