Dark Desire (Touched By You 1) (7 page)

Natalie relaxed into his arms, leaning her head back against his chest. Her willingness fanned the flames of Tanner's desire. He grabbed her hair, pulling her head back to expose her bare neck. He kissed her cheek, under her jaw and down her neck. She moaned softly, so enraptured to be with him once again.

Tanner bit lightly several times, up along her neck. His finger stroked along her jaw, sending sensual electricity through her. His hand cupped her face, turning her so she was looking into his lustful eyes. A split second of silence said all they needed to say to each other. His mouth pressed down, opening slightly, his tongue slipping in to rub and caress hers.

She caressed his tongue and pressed her body against his in open desire. If Tanner had any restraint left, it dissolved with her unspoken need. He reached behind her to unzip the satin dress and let it fall to her feet. Urgently, he undid her bra, freeing her lovely breasts. His hands held firm behind her back. He dipped his head down and sucked each hard nipple, repeatedly, until Natalie thought she would orgasm.

Tanner bit each nipple causing slight pain, but Natalie marveled that the pain heightened her arousal. He looked at her red, swollen nipples and lifted her in one swift motion, carrying her several steps to a long sofa and placing her against the velvet cushions. Quickly, he undid his pants, stripping down to his boxer shorts faster than Natalie could fathom. The sight of his heavy, swollen cock was a vision of utter male glory. She took in her breath at the sight.

He dropped to his knees and spread her thighs with his strong hands, holding them apart so he could admire her succulent pussy. He groaned deeply with desire and leaned in to smell her sweetness and taste the cream in her moist cleft, eliciting a moan from Natalie. She arched her back and lifted her hips up, recalling the burning orgasm he'd given her so long ago.

Tanner reached for his pants, taking a condom from the pocket and ripping the package open. Natalie's eyes widened. She wanted Tanner and was desperate to please him. But, at seeing him roll the condom over his hard cock, a surge of panic gripped her. He noticed the change in her expression and reached out to place his hand against her soft cheek. "What?" He asked, softly. "Are you okay?"

Natalie looked away and Tanner didn't understand what was happening. His balls ached and his penis stood ready. The desire to plunge his huge dick
, deep into her innocent pussy, was pulling him to take her. Yet, even in his haze he knew that he would never take a woman against her will, and even more so, an innocent like Natalie.

Tanner looked at her and froze. He'd answered his own question - an innocent like Natalie. It couldn't be that she was -
that innocent
. One more look at her face, turned aside in fear, told him he was right. He should have known. It was unlike him to be so imperceptive, so unaware. He'd let his blinding desire cloud his vision and that upset him. He'd have to regain control.

It was all so unexpect
ed for Natalie. One minute she was burning with desire, craving Tanner's touch and the next minute he was glaring at her, expecting more than she was prepared for. She felt guilty for not predicting it. She'd wanted him over and over in her dreams, but with his cock erect and ready to fuck her, she caved. "I want to go home," Natalie demanded, flushed.

"You'll be mine," Tanner threatened. His tone had shifted and a thread of intimidation laced his words. To her dismay, it only ignited her desire. She hadn't seen Tanner angry before. She wished she could be what he wanted, but she'd known all along she was inadequate. The miracle was that she'd had these special moments with him. She had no right to ask for more.

Tanner was aghast at the circumstances. Normally, he could read women very well. He'd never had issues before. Not sure if he was right in his assessment of Natalie's reaction, he decided to back off. "I'll take you home," he said reluctantly, his eyes dark, and his cock bulging with unrequited desire.

"No, I can get there on my own," she protested.

"I'm taking you," he commanded and that was the end of the discussion. Both got dressed in strained silence. Tanner put his arm protectively around her shoulders to escort her out. She tensed at his touch but didn't push him away.

Safely in the back of the limo, Natalie risked a glance at Tanner to see
if he was still angry. She wanted to look at him, thinking if she kept her eyes on him he wouldn't disappear. Yet, she knew this would the last she'd see of him.

Tanner's face seemed to soften. He knew she was looking at him but he didn't want to face her. "I'm not used to someone like you," he admitted. His tone made it hard to resist him, such a gorgeous man.

He lifted her hand and kissed the top of it, sweetly. He could be angry one minute and loving the next - so unpredictable. "Like what?" Natalie queried.

"So lovely and innocent," he said.

              "I'm not innocent," she said, shaking her head, thinking of all the times she pleasured herself with visions of Tanner vividly in her mind and all her fantasies - if he only knew.

              "Oh, really?" Tanner gave a subdued smirk.

"Yes, I've know lots of boys," she claimed, mustering as much boldness as she could.

"Yes, boys," he scoffed. "Well, now you're with a man - you've stepped into dangerous waters."

"Well, you asked me to
attend this event," was all she could think of to say.

"How many men have you slept with?" he demanded, knowing he was overstepping his bounds, yet carried with the fury that boiled within him.

She was insulted. It was none of his business. Natalie's face was red and it felt like her whole body was blushing from anger or embarrassment, she wasn't sure which. He was so exasperating. "It's none of your business!" She admonished him sharply and turned to glare out the window.

Tanner dared not press. Even in his blatant insensitivity
, he knew when to hold back and wait for another time. He didn't understand her.

Women were not an issue for him. He had them when he needed them and they bent to his desires. Now, he was faced with an incurable urge he couldn't satisfy
, which infuriated him.

At Natalie's building, she leapt from the car as soon as it stopped and ran up the stairs without giving Tanner a chance to open the door for her. He fumed silently.

She needed to be away. She couldn't look at his beautiful, angry glare. She'd disappointed him. Tanner watched her go inside to make sure she was safe before he directed his driver to take him home.

Natalie burst in the front door, went straight to her room and fell on the bed crying. At the moment, she was more angry than sad. She tended to cry when she got mad. She felt Cheryl sit
down on the bed beside her. "What happened, honey?" She asked in a soft voice.

Natalie had no idea how she'd explain what she'd just been through with Tanner. "I'm a mess," she blurted out. "I'm so inadequate in so many ways. I don't know where to start."

Cheryl smiled, gently. "Tell me what happened. Something must have happened."

Natalie rolled on her back and placed her arm over her e
yes. "It was all going so well…the fashion show…everything. And then we went to the party. I was out of place, but as long as I was by Tanner's side everyone thought I was really somebody. But then, it all came crashing down."

Cheryl stroked the
length of Natalie's arm and lifted it away, uncovering her eyes.

"It's so embarrassing. I'm just not goo
d enough for Tanner. He wanted…" And Natalie started crying again. Cheryl handed her a tissue, waiting patiently.

"We left the main room of the party and Tanner made a pass at me. Well, more than that. It was more than I was comfortable with. I rejected him. And now what will I do? He's become an obsession. He's all I want but I'm not right for him."

"Well, now I wouldn't jump to that conclusion," Cheryl reassured her. Natalie was a lovely woman. It made sense that Tanner would be attracted to her. He’s known for being a ladies’ man, Cheryl smiled to herself.

"I'm not used to the big city. I'm out of my league here. But I can't go home. Fashion design is my career. I refuse to pass up the only opportunity I may have for design school. But if I stay, I'll run into Tanner again. Someone that prominent in the industry would be hard to avoid." Natalie dabbed her eyes, hoping the mascara wasn't smearing onto her dress.

"It's just all new to me, all of it. And he's so strong, so commanding. I never had a brother. I've never even had a father. How am I supposed to know how to deal with a domineering man? And that's what he is - domineering."

Cheryl laughed softly. "Yes, he is that. But that doesn't have to be the end. You just got off to a bad start. It's obvious you like him."

"Who wouldn't?" Natalie asked not expecting any challenge to such an obvious truth. "He's perfect. I'll never want another man. And now I've ruined everything," she continued, revealing more than she'd intended. Cheryl knew her friend was in deep.

Natalie was unable to relax. The idea of sleep was remote. Later in the evening, she called Jazzy, who was expecting to hear all about the fashion show. Natalie did her best to convey the excitement but didn't have the heart to tell her about the incident with Tanner. It would only make Jazzy worry, unnecessarily.

Natalie washed off her make-up and changed into jeans and
a t-shirt. It was still early but she didn't feel like doing anything, except moping. Her heart was crushed. After all this time, she finally met Tanner again and everything blew up.

The truth was his strength was reassuring to her. All her life, she'd had to be the strong one, taking care of her mother and her younger sister. There was no man around to count on, so she'd learned to rely on herself. A strong personality like Tanner's had never been a part of her life. She tended to reject what she wasn't familiar with. Yet, at the same time Tanner's strength excited her.

The buzzer rang, indicating a visitor. Cheryl went, somewhat begrudgingly, to get Natalie. It was for her. Puzzled, Natalie went to the door and pressed the intercom. Cheryl didn't say who was downstairs but she had a dark feeling that she knew. "Yes. Who is it?"

The baritone voice boomed through the speaker. "It's me, Tanner." Natalie fumed at his tone, although her heart raced at just hearing his voice. However, she was still angry at his earlier insult.

"What do you want?" she barked, not feeling nearly as angry as she tried to sound.

"Come downstairs now," he ordered. Natalie expelled a frustrated sigh. If his idea of an apology was to order her about, he was misguided. She'd go down there and have this out with him.

Natalie grabbed her jacket and yelled a goodbye to Cheryl, "I'll be back later."

Catching sight of Tanner standing alone in the lobby, wrenched her heart. There was something about this man that mesmerized her. She was drawn to him, clearly under his spell. There he was, dressed in casual pants and a light-blue cashmere sweater. She felt slightly weak at the sight. He looked so debonair.

Without a word, he wrapped his arm around her and guided her out the door and into the back of his black limo. They were transported to a lovely hotel and he took her up a private elevator to the top of the building. She stepped through a door and onto the roof of the hotel, leaving the men who seemed to shadow Tanner everywhere, standing in the elevator lobby.

The rooftop patio was decorated with outdoor furniture meant for entertaining. There was an iron railing around
the edge of the roof and several sets of tables and chairs. The view was spectacular.

"I'm sorry, baby," Tanner said in a soft voice. "If I was too aggressive, I can go slower. I want you. I have to have you. Just tell me what you like."

Natalie looked at his Adonis face, his lustful eyes. She wanted him. Yes, she desperately wanted him. But what could she tell him? "I -ah, I don't know," she said regretfully.

"What do you mean, you don't know?" he shouted before he could rein in his temper. "What kind of sex do you like? If you don't like it rough, I can slow down. Just tell me." He was calling her bluff
, and he knew it, but ruthlessly continued.

Natalie's throat froze up. She wanted to tell him - something. But, no words came out. She blushed crimson and looked down at her shoes, mortified.

Tanner looked at her, his earlier realization confirmed - her coyness, embarrassment and
the
not knowing
. The look on his face softened. "You've never been with a man before, have you? Despite all your bold talk earlier about knowing boys….knowing, yes….but never having sex. I'm right, aren't I?"

Natalie thought s
he'd die of embarrassment. She'd never felt ashamed before. But his hot look made her shrink back. Her silence was his answer.

"You're a virgin," he said definitively as if it were a curse. He heaved a deep sigh and began to pace back and forth, pulling his hand through his hair. The confirmation of his suspicion annoyed him. He'd known she was a virgin when she
’d looked away when he’d put on the condom. Yet, somehow, her admission infuriated him.