I was teetering on the edge, on the verge of climax when he started stroking me again. “Harder,” I moaned, moving my hips with his rhythm.
“Patience,” he breathed. He backed off; his touch so soft it was almost a whisper. Frustrated, I grabbed his hand and worked it up and down hard and fast, but he stopped. When our eyes met, his mouth was set in a thin line. “Let me,” he insisted firmly.
I yielded, but as the tension inside me receded, my frustration rose. “I was almost there,” I groaned. “Just a little faster.”
“If you let me do it my way you’ll find your orgasm is much stronger this way.”
I blinked. Was he serious? “What way?”
“Edging. Have you tried it? It’s so intense you’ll never want to climax any other way again.”
“No,” I told him, shaking my head to drive the point home. “I’m not into games.”
“Sometimes playing games is the best part.”
Before I could ask him what he meant, he turned in his seat, gripping my erection with both hands and working them until I was trembling and my breath was coming in quick gasps. Stroking fast and hard, he brought me to the edge again and this time, he didn’t stop until I began to buck and writhe in his grasp. He paused for a moment and my eyes flew open. “Don’t,” I demanded through clenched teeth.
His touch softened abruptly. My heart was pounding, but when I arched my hips towards him, he pulled back again.
“I said I’m not into edging,” I repeated, groaning.
“Try it,” he said, lazily running his index finger up and down my shaft. “You might find out that you like it.”
“I’m uncomfortable.”
He sighed. “How can I show you new things if you’re not willing to at least try?”
“I did try it. I didn’t like it.”
He scoffed. “Hardly. You didn’t even come close.” He wrapped his fingers around my cock again, unmoving, watching me with fire in his eyes. “I could show you things you’ve never experienced before.”
“I tried enough to know it’s not something I’m going to like.”
He stroked slowly, rebuilding the flame that threatened to tear me in two. “I can teach you to love it.”
“Or you could respect my boundaries and not push this.”
He tilted his head and his lips parted as if he was about to say something, then he shrugged. “Your loss.” To my surprise he bore down, his touch so tight and rough it was almost painful, and the orgasm that followed came out of nowhere, sending me reeling. My heat spilled over his hand and I grabbed the chair with tight fists as my screams of pleasure echoed in the vaulted ceiling. Then I melted into the chair and lay there gasping and laughing. “That was amazing,” I said when I could finally string two words together.
He smiled at me, tenderly cleaning up the evidence of our mutual pleasure. “It could’ve been better,” he said, though his words held no malice. “Next time, you’ll need to trust me a little more.”
Despite his gentle tone, his words stung. But then he’d discarded the towel and pushed the armrest up into the space between our recliners so he could snuggle up beside me. I was still half dressed and so was he. Wrapping his arms around me, his hand covered my manhood and squeezed gently. I felt something stir inside me, but I pushed it away. We’d been going nonstop since early that morning, and I was exhausted. It was enough to relax with him and watch the rest of the movie, though at the same time, I wanted more.
When the movie ended, the lights brightened slightly, but just enough to see the floor and not the jarring brightness I’d come to expect from a real movie theater once the credits began to roll. Brian stiffened, hurriedly righted his clothes and stood a few feet away.
His expression changed all at once. The warm, cuddly Brian disappeared and I braced myself for what was to come. His face was all business, and his words struck me to the core. “This can’t happen again,” he said, his voice steady and cool.
“What are you talking about?” I stuffed myself back into my jeans, standing so we were on equal ground. Sitting with him over me like that made me feel like a naughty school boy. “I might have initiated that but come on. You were just as into it.”
“I was,” he admitted. “But this isn’t going to work. I like my men a little more submissive, and you’re like a bull in a china shop.”
My mouth dropped open. “Are you shitting me right now? What? Because I won’t try edging with you, suddenly I’m not right for you? What kind of nonsense is that?”
He shrugged and my fingers twitched. He was so controlled, so nonchalant. “I like what I like. I’m not interested in changing who I am to suit another, and I’m disappointed that you’re not even willing to try something new. It’s not the edging, it’s your lack of trust. I need you to trust me, and if you can’t, this isn’t going to work.”
I felt heat spreading from my neck to my cheeks and the temptation to storm out was huge. “I thought you cared about me. Isn’t compromise part of that? Or is it only me that has to compromise?”
“I don’t expect you to understand. There are certain aspects of relationships I’m not willing to budge on. This is one of them.”
“You’re lying to yourself,” I shot back. “You’ve had a string of bad relationships and the last one did a number on you. You’re trying to guard your heart and now that you’re starting to feel something, you’re scared.”
For the first time, my words had him unbalanced and sputtering for an explanation. I knew I’d hit the nail on the head, and I wasn’t about to back down. “Admit it,” I challenged. “You don’t want to find yourself in the position you were in when I met you, so you’d rather push me away than risk a broken heart again.”
“Stop.”
“No, I won’t. Because you’re not the only one here that stands to lose everything. I’ve never let a man yank my chain like you have. I’ve waited patiently while you work through your baggage, and I’ve tolerated more mixed signals than I’ve ever dealt with before. You don’t know what you want, but I do. I want a man that won’t turn cold the minute he doesn’t get his way. You want a submissive partner, well, good luck with that. That’s not who I am, and if you think I’m going to just bend over and take things the way you want me to, well, you’ve lost your damn mind.”
“You need to leave.” The coolness was back. The quiet authority that gave his simple whisper the weight of an order bellowed so loud it shook the very foundation of my resolve.
But through all that, I could see a sadness in his blue eyes, and I knew I was right. Brian Hattersly was scared of being vulnerable, and he would rather push me away than admit his feelings for me were just as intense as mine for him.
I wanted to yell at him. To tell him that he was a fool. But I was tired, and I wasn’t going to unpack all his baggage in one night. It was too much, and I had to be smart about it.
“Fine, whatever,” I said.
“I’ll drive you home if you’d like.”
“No, it’s fine.” I pulled out my phone. “My car is at the office so I’ll just call a service.”