Page 21 of Tangled Control

Rian’s breathing is heavy as I slump in his arms. His cock, hard and intimidating, presses against my back. Anticipation grows. What will he do to me next? I watch his hands mirrored in the window as they move up from between my spread legs, leaving wet trails up my torso and…

…and adjust my bra into place.

He reaches down and pulls my panties up. The soaked material is cold against my swollen lips. Surely, he can’t keep himself hanging?

A gentle tug, and the tie releases my arms. But I don’t move them. Not until Rian peels my fingers from my elbows. In stunned silence, I watch him dress me, and then I stand there, exactly like I was when he walked into the room.

Although he’s given me the most amazing orgasm, I feel robbed, robbed ofhispleasure. It doesn’t make sense – nothing makes sense, this whole scenario, what has just happened…

I catch his eyes in the window.

“Go home, Catriona,” he says quietly, his expression unreadable.

It is the first time he’s ever used my given name. The first time, and he uses it to dismiss me. A lump forms in my throat. On shaky legs, I step away from him, pick up my bag, and walk to the door. I glance back. Rian is still in the same spot, his hands in his pockets and shoulders slumped. His eyes that meet mine in the window are dark. I hesitate. Then I turn and leave him alone.

Sixteen

Rian

“Ibet you a hundred that I can chat her up before you.”

“You’ve got no chance, Dylan.” Leo grins and adjusts the cuff of his flamingo-patterned shirt. Only he can pull off this look, even sprawled out on a garish pink faux leather seat. “Why don’t you keep your money and watch the expert in action?”

“Dream on,” Dylan counters and runs his fingers through his blonde hair, still damp from the shower after his rugby match. “I’m on a roll, and I promise you, I’ll be rolling under the sheets with that lass later tonight.”

Leo snorts. “In bocca al lupo.”

I keep a smile on my face, pretending to be amused by their banter and Leo’s insincere well wishes, but truth is, the elaborate garnish of my cocktail holds more appeal. I pick the greenery off as my two mates increase the wager to two hundred.

Dylan’s long-term relationship broke down a few months ago after “the spark was gone” – his girlfriend’s words. Dylan’s words were “not enough sex”. He’s made it his goal in life to rectify the situation with as many women as possible before hegets “trapped” again. Dylan broke into the Ireland squad during the Six Nations two years ago, so if the girl they’re competing for is a rugby fan, Leo may have some competition.

Saying that, I could probably beat them both hands down if I wanted to.

What on earth possessed me to “reward” Catriona?

I hide a sigh behind the glass as I take a sip. That question has been on a continuous loop in my head. I had come back into the office to tell her we should call it a day, when…When what?What was it about her reflection in the window that made me forget, made mewant, made the passion simmering just under the surface be brought to a boil? The urge to control her, give her…what she deserved? What she needed?

Oh, she needed it alright.

My hand isn’t quite steady as I place the glass back on the table, reliving how she leaned back against me, the weight of her in my arms, her soft lips moving against my skin. Her sounds – oh God, the sounds she made as her orgasm shook her body. I owned that orgasm. It was mine! The surge through my chest as she trembled under my control. I’ve never felt that way before. I may be a dominant by nature, but I’ve never had a submissive – only played scenes with strangers or acquaintances – and more often than not been the spectator rather than the participant. Is what I experienced – the feeling of ownership – is that what Doms feel toward their collared submissives? I don’t know. All I do know is that I deserve a sainthood for letting Catriona go home. Every cell in my body wanted to push her against the window and fuck her senseless with the world as audience.

But I hadn’t.

As she moved away from me, an emptiness took root, and with every step, it grew and grew until it filled the whole room with her departure. When only my lonely reflection was left in the window, I wondered what Catriona sees when she looksat me. A selfish, useless, rich kid who’s wasting his chances in life? Is that what everyone thinks? No one cares about my achievements from the past. All they see is what is right in front of them, how I behaveright now.

And that isn’t much to be proud of.

“Isn’t that right, Rian?”

“What? Sorry?” I lift my head at the sound of my name.

“Girls like blonde fellas more than dark ones, as there are so many dark-haired Irish men.” Dylan flicks a lock of hair from his forehead, grinning like an eejit and totally oblivious to my lack of interest in the conversation. Leo though, is watching me.

“Do you want me to go up to her and prove once and for all what girls prefer?” I ask, lifting an eyebrow.

“Eh, no. You stay out of it, Ri.” Dylan laughs. At least he acknowledges that he’ll not stand a chance against me.

I glance over my shoulder and spot the woman keeping them captivated.