Win, Lose or Draw
When Marie had finally finished writing on her card and had sealed it into its envelope, Logan wasted no time in tossing her the dice. "Let's get this show on the road, darlin'." He gave her a sexy little smirk as he poured them both more wine. "I got a request that needs grantin'."
"Just one?" She teased, as she picked up the dice and gave them a good shake.
Logan reached out and tapped his envelope with one long, blunt finger. "I think this'll pretty much cover it."
Marie watched the fire in his eyes climb a few notches and her body heated in response.
"Ooooooh... cockiness from the Wolverine." Her eyes twinkled. "Something new."
Logan chuckled. "You know you love it, baby." He watched her flush and grinned confidently. "Now, roll the damn dice."
Marie lifted her eyebrow in a flawless imitation of her lover's trademark facial expression and held the dice out to him. "You sure you don't want to blow on them for luck?" She tried to keep a straight face, but had little success as the wine and his nearness had already taken their toll on her composure.
A very sexy smile turned up one corner of his mouth. "Darlin', if there's anythin' in here that needs blowin', I'll be sure to let you know. Now, roll the damn dice before I just move that little red piece of yours to the 'Strip' square and start cuttin' things offa ya."
Well, that was certainly a tempting offer, but Marie opted to roll the dice instead, counting out the spaces and grinning hugely as her piece came to land on a 'Chocolate' square. She drew the card, but before she could look at it, Logan reached out and encircled her wrist with his strong fingers.
"New rule. All cards gotta be read out loud."
His fingers felt like warm steel around her slender wrist. His grip wasn't tight or painful, but both of them were well-aware the only way she'd be able to get free was if he let her go. A little reminder, both verbal and otherwise, that he might be playing her game, but he was still in charge. God, that turned her on. Marie's eyes warmed, and as she looked at Logan, a soft smile touched her lips letting him know she understood - that she accepted that part of him, and that there was nobody else she wanted to belong to, that she was his.
Marie's smile grew as she saw the flare of understanding in his eyes. He let her go and the intense moment passed easily back into their earlier, playful mood. The look in her eyes went from soft and affectionate to warm and sassy. She scrunched up her nose at him, wanting to keep things light.
"Sure, sugar, sure. 'Logan' rules. Gotcha." She rolled her eyes in mock exasperation. "I think you just wanna hear me talk dirty."
Logan chuckled.
"Damn straight."
Although she was uninhibited with him when he got her going, she was still a little shy about some things, and he had to admit, he'd had a bit of an ulterior motive in his request to hear her read the cards out loud.
Marie winked at him and read the card. "Symbol - leaf. Body part - left shoulder."
He gave his shirt-covered shoulder a look. "Hmm... Still covered up. Guess you're outta luck there, kid."
"I don't think so, sunshine." Marie waved the rules at him and read the appropriate portion out loud. "Each 'Chocolate' card names a simple design and a body part. Paint the design on your partner on the body part named... OR on the closest exposed area." She gave Logan a long, lingering look, starting at his feet and letting her gaze wander upwards - boots and socks, worn jeans, belt, t-shirt, flannel... "Looks like your neck is the closest exposed skin."
Lucky her. It was exposed, and one of the most sensitive places on his body. Hmm... Maybe that should be 'lucky him.'
Grinning, Marie grabbed her jar of chocolate and opened it, reaching for her brush as she crawled over to him. She knelt by his head, spreading her knees to get even closer as she reached for him and teased her fingertips over the sensitive skin on the back of his neck. His eyes closed in pleasure as her fingers stroked him lightly before she pushed the collar of his shirt down and bent his head forward just a bit.
"This game come with any laundry soap?" His eyes were still closed, but he'd moved his hand so that his fingers rested on her knee, gently rubbing back and forth. "'Cause I think things are gonna get pretty sticky."
She blew lightly in his ear and he jumped. "Sometimes sticky is a good thing," she whispered huskily, smiling inwardly as his fingers tightened briefly on her leg.
His sensitive ears caught the sound of the brush swirling through the dark chocolate in her jar. "Heh. Only sometimes?"
"Pervert." Marie giggled, fully aware of what that sound did to him. "Now, hush. I'm trying to concentrate." She moved over a little so she could see his face while she painted.
Logan smelled the rich, sweet scent of chocolate as she brought the brush closer. It was cool against his skin and he shivered as the soft bristles tickled his neck.
"Unngh... tickles." He cracked an eye open and saw her pink tongue peek through her lips in concentration. He closed his eyes again and grit his teeth at the erotic sensation of the brush against his skin. He wasn't going to last another roll of the dice if she tickled him endlessly with the brush every damn time she used it on him. No way. It was as if each little sensual stroke had a direct connection to his groin. He fidgeted as blood pooled thick and heavy between his legs. Time to hurry her along a little before things really got out of hand. "It's just a leaf, baby, not the Sistine Chapel."
"Correction - it's a Maple leaf. Get it?" Marie smiled at his amused grunt, laughing lightly as she sat back to admire her handiwork. "And it's finished."
Thank God. Logan's head came up and he resisted the urge to touch the mark she'd just painted on his skin. "Good." He grabbed the dice and rolled, grunting as he landed on the 'Strip' square. "Dammit."
"Ooooh... Too bad." She eyed him appreciatively, "But something's gotta go."
He growled at her playfully. "I heard the rules just fine the first time around."
"Just checking, sugar, because I still don't see any skin." She wagged her finger at him and squealed when he snapped at it with his sharp, white teeth.
"Heh. That'll teach ya." Logan sat up and toed off both boots before he stood up and brought his hands to his buckle.
Marie's eyes widened. "Um, Logan? You only have to take off one-"
"Heard ya the first time, darlin'. And I'm pretty sure what came outta your mouth was 'one article of my choice.' Heh."
The look on her face was absolutely priceless, exactly as he'd intended. He wasn't above using his body to win this game. No sir. Marie's mouth went dry as he slid his belt free from his jeans and tucked the leather between his teeth, giving her a naughty wink as he did so.
Sweet baby Jesus! He wasn't! She watched his hand slowly return to the button on his jeans and she grabbed for her wine with a not-so-steady hand. Oh, God. He was! Her mouth hung open in shock. He wasn't supposed to do that! That-that was cheating... well, not exactly cheating, the rules allowed for that, but good God; she knew he didn't have anything on under there. How was she supposed to concentrate?! She could hardly form a coherent thought and he hadn't even finished the job yet.
Marie took a large gulp of wine, sputtering as his fingers stroked wickedly over the taut denim, teasing her before he finally undid the button. Her face felt hot. Hell, her whole body was prickling with heat as she watched him watch her. She had assumed things would start off slowly and gradually build up to the whole naked-bits-ready-for-painting part. She should have known. The Wolverine never did anything in half-measures.
She heard the distinct metallic rasp of his zipper, and then a soft sigh of relief as he freed himself from the restrictive denim. With a minimum of fuss, he slid them down his long legs and tossed them over to her side of the quilt before settling himself back down and pulling his boots back on. He lay back on his side, ankles crossed and propped himself up on one elbow just like before. He removed the leather from his teeth, grinning at her as he hung it over his shoulder so the buckle rested against his chest.
"You - you... Your-" Marie sputtered, eyes riveted to his groin. He was hard and ready, his erection laying heavily against his stomach. Of course she'd seen his penis countless times by now, both hard and soft, but there was something distinctly naughty about the combination of naked legs, booted feet, and the way his buckle was gleaming, almost obscenely, against his still-clothed chest... to say nothing of the way his sizable erection was resting so casually against his belly. How a man could have such an aura of power, even in repose, was beyond her.
It didn't stop her from responding to it though, and he knew it.
Aware of exactly where Marie's eyes were focused, Logan tightened his muscles, giving her a nice little show as the object of her attention bobbed gently in response. Smiling at her swift intake of breath, he slid his hand down his stomach and gave himself a few firm strokes, sighing again in pleasure now that the tight denim was gone. He chuckled cockily as he adjusted himself with a practiced hand and met her wide, dark eyes.
"Your mouth's still open, darlin'. Maybe you oughta shut it before I shut it for ya, huh?"
Her mouth snapped shut abruptly and the rumbling laugh in his chest got louder. He watched her put her glass to her lips and drink deeply, but noticed her eyes were back on him again. Smiling at the way his woman couldn't keep her eyes off his body, he called her name to get her attention. When that failed to work, he snapped his fingers loudly. Her startled gaze jumped guiltily to his.
"Nice to have ya back. Feel like takin' a turn yet or are ya just gonna sit there and stare at my-"
"Logan!" Flushing, Marie hastily snatched the dice and shook them vigorously.
"Heh. Just checkin'." He watched her roll and grinned as he realized where her piece was going to land. "What's it gonna be?"
She slid off her shoe and tossed it in his general direction, scowling at the 'Strip' square.
"Careful there, baby. You wouldn't want any flyin' projectiles to damage anythin' you might wanna use later," he teased as he plucked the shoe from midair.
"Oh, please. My aim was fine. Just roll the dice, Mister."
"Bossy little thing, aintcha?" Logan rolled and moved his game piece to 'Dare.' "This oughta be interestin'." He reached for a card.
"Remember, you have to read it out loud," Marie added breathlessly, with a cheeky wiggle of her eyebrows. He wasn't the only one who liked to hear a little dirty talk now and then. Logan heard her heart beat jack up at the prospect of hearing him talk dirty and he filed that bit of information away for a later date.
"Dare - impersonation. Kneel on all fours and bark like a dog. Be sure to wag your tail." Logan tossed the card back on the game board with a snort of derision. "What the fuck kinda dare is that?"
"Um, a good one?" Marie tried to stifle a laugh and failed miserably. "Hey, you can always forfeit another piece of clothing."
Logan grumbled under his breath something that sounded a lot like 'not fuckin' likely.' With a scowl, he set the belt aside and rolled to his knees, looking once at his envelope before meeting her eyes and forcing a single word through his clenched teeth. "Woof."
Marie's giggles, aided considerably by the wine, escaped momentarily and the 'woof' became a low growl. She gave the muscled curve of his back and thighs a long, lingering look. "I don't see any tail wagging, sugar... other things, maybe... but not a tail." The growling grew louder, but he swung his hips from side to side. Once.
The giggles erupted again as he snorted in disgust and settled back on his side, but they stopped abruptly as his hand moved lower, readjusting everything that had just been so rudely disturbed by the 'wagging.' He pulled the belt back over his shoulder and reached for his wine, taking a deep, fortifying sip. God, he certainly needed a drink after that display. Too bad she hadn't drawn that damned card. He'd have much preferred to see Marie's pert little ass wagging back and forth. A cocky smile formed on his lips. "So, what's my reward?"
"What?"
"My reward, kid. Complete a dare and get a reward. That is whatcha said." He gave her a long, intense look. "Only I don't see anythin' to lick offa you just yet," he sniffed, and smirked at her, "Nothin' chocolate anyway..." he chuckled at her scandalized, indignant snort. "And I'll be damned if I'm gonna wag my ass for nothin'."
"You got to keep all your clothes." She thought about teasing him further, but decided she'd already pushed him more than she probably should have. He might love her, but he was still the Wolverine. Smiling, she slid his 'Dare' card back across to him. "Go on and read the rest of it then."
Logan eyed it warily and cocked his head to the side as he read the small words printed at the bottom of the card.
"Favor - collect one kiss from your partner. Given or received on any body part you desire." A wholly male smile spread across his lips. "This is more like it."
Marie grinned. "For future reference, it's your choice whether you want to eat a painted design or collect the favor on the card. In this case, you get the favor by default."
"Hmm... one kiss anywhere I want, huh?" Logan watched as Marie nodded breathlessly. "C'mere." When she didn't immediately move, he crooked his finger at her. "My dare, my favor. I'll damn well collect it how I want. Now c'mere."
Marie inched closer to him. "Hmm... Now the question is do you want to put your mouth on me?" She wet her lips invitingly. "Or do you want me to put my mouth on you, sugar?"
"I wantcha to c'mere." He caught her and lifted her, effortlessly settling her over his lap and pulling her hips flush to his with a big, firm hand just below the small of her back. "I wanna put my mouth on you... and I want you to watch me do it."
Without another word, he lowered his head to her breast, drawing her nipple into the wet heat of his mouth. He held her there a long moment, holding her eyes to be sure she was watching while his mouth made a perfect, damp circle on her thin silky-soft sweater. A mark he'd very much enjoy looking at... at least until she stripped off her sweater, anyway. Finally he gave her the firm suck he knew she wanted. She arched, pressing herself shamelessly against his mouth. He teased her wickedly with his tongue before he lifted his head from her breast, breathing hard.
Her fingers were tangled in his hair and he watched her gaze jump from the wet circle he'd left on her sweater to his lips. His mouth hovered a hair's breadth above hers and she thought for an instant he might break the rules and kiss her. Instead, he rolled hips under hers in a long stroke that had them both gasping, and leaned forward to whisper three little words against her ear.
"Your turn, baby."
Still seated on her lover, Marie reached for the dice and shook them, smiling at the way Logan's breath hitched as she jiggled in his lap. He gave her bottom a good, hard smack to settle her down and reached forward to move her piece the required number of spaces. He took the top card from the 'Dare' stack and handed it to her.
"Out loud, now, darlin'."
Marie swallowed hard at the fire in his eyes and read the card. "Dare - honesty. Share with your partner your thoughts on... spanking," her voice had gone all fluttery. "Ask them to share their thoughts with you."
"Now we're talkin'."
Her face flamed and she buried it against the side of his neck. "I'd rather bark like a dog and wag my tail."
"Too bad. Rules are rules. Let's hear it... or do ya just wanna get a little more naked? I could help..." He fingered her sweater meaningfully.
"Get your claws away from this sweater, mister! It's cashmere!"
"Heh." He ran his hands down her back and settled them on her bottom, squeezing firmly for emphasis. "Then start talkin'."
"Oh, God." She burrowed further into his neck and took a deep breath while she screwed up her courage. "I, uh... I like it when you, um, when you..."
"When I what?" Dirty-Talking-Marie didn't happen nearly as often as he'd like and he was planning on milking this one for all it was worth.
"When you, uh... you know, spank me." Her voice was muffled against his neck, but he heard it just fine.
"I know you like it, baby." The confident, arrogant tone was back in his husky voice. "What I wanna know is why." And if he ever found out who wrote that dare, he'd take them out for a beer. Or ten.
Marie thought back to the first time he'd done it - that day in her studio when he'd been feeling extra dominant and had wanted her to make love with him right there, modesty be damned. Secretly, Marie thought it was because he was aroused and wanted to see if he could make her want him as much as he wanted her. Enough for her to forget about everything but him and how he made her feel, and maybe a little to see if she'd reject him if he pushed her beyond her comfort zone or if she'd give in to his demands even though she knew there was a good chance they'd get caught. It was probably a little about showing everyone she was his, too.
He'd been embarrassingly successful, and after some incredibly hot sex and more than a few mind-blowing orgasms, he'd told her she'd get a spanking if she didn't do what he asked, namely putting her legs up on his shoulders so he could pleasure her the way he wanted, when he wanted. When she didn't comply after a repeated warning, he'd spanked her for her disobedience and for depriving him of all things Marie. Something she'd immediately rectified by putting her legs exactly where he wanted. God, that afternoon had been amazing... well, right up until the part where Scott and Bobby had walked in on them.
Drawn back to the present as Logan shifted under her, responding to the change in scent, Marie smiled against his throat. "I guess I just like the surprise of it, you know? It's a nice counterpoint to the way you touch me the rest of the time. Kinda like the way a crescendo makes you appreciate the softer parts of the music."
He nodded, rumbling a masculine noise of approval deep in his throat.
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "And I like feeling your strength that way, your dominance... like when you bite my neck and hold me still while you finish. Like that."
"You always give me what I need, baby." He loved that about her. She almost seemed to recreate herself each time they were together. Sometimes shy and sweet, other times hot and wild, submissive when he wanted that from her and dominant in her own way when he urged her to really let go. "It's always good with you. A really good fuck."
"Every time, sugar." She kissed his throat and hugged him tightly. "So, what do you think about it?"
"Fuckin'?"
"Spanking."
"Oh, heh." His arms tightened on her. "I don't like it much, gettin' hit." No, not after what had happened in his past... but even if he discounted that experience, he figured he'd always been a dominant lover. It was just something hardwired into his make up. "I like it when you fight me a little sometimes, when we're really bein' wild, but generally speakin', I like to be the one doin' the spankin'." He smiled wickedly. "Makes a hot fuck just that much hotter." He palmed her bottom and gave it a rough, knowing squeeze. "Doesn't it, baby?"
Flushing wildly, and thoroughly beyond words at the moment, Marie only nodded and sat up to finish off her wine. If there ever was a time for a nerve-steadying drink, it was now. When Logan reached to refill her glass she stopped him. "I shouldn't. You know how I get..."
He sure as hell did.
"Yup. I do." And with that, he refilled both their glasses, finishing off the bottle and placing it well out of range, should things take a turn for the wild later on. Logan winked at her. "It's ok, darlin'. Healin' factor takes care of all the bite marks just fine." He chuckled as her face flamed yet again and he picked up her discarded 'Dare' card. "So what's it gonna be?" He read the 'Favor'. "Foot massage or the chocolate leaf?"
Marie giggled. "Well, as tempting as the offer for a foot massage is, have you ever known me to turn down chocolate?"
He smirked. "Or the chance to put your mouth on me."
"That too."
She smiled as she moved off him and crawled around so she could reach the back of his neck. Her breath tickled the fine hairs at his nape. She paused a moment just to make the anticipation a little more intense. Finally, her warm fingers touched him and she tugged down his collar slowly before he felt the warm, wet rasp of her tongue. He squeezed his eyes shut against the pleasure as she licked and sucked at him, delicately erasing the mark she'd painted on him before giving him one last bite and letting him go.
"Fuck," he breathed, drawing in a shaky breath. "You have the hottest mouth, baby. Now, gimme the dice before I lose my goddamn mind."
The dice appeared before him in under a second. "I know when to follow directions, sugar," she purred seductively at his questioning glance, putting every last ounce of sexual innuendo she could into her words. It had the desired effect.
The intensely scorching look he sent her made her breath stop.
"Best you remember that later." His voice never wavered and his eyes never left hers. She shivered and pressed her legs together against the hollow ache forming between them at the sexual promise in his words. He nodded knowingly and stroked his fingers up the inside of her wrist in a way that made her insides quiver. "Don't worry. I'll take care of you, baby." The heat in his voice left little doubt as to what kind of 'care' she'd be receiving from him later.
Marie smiled at the familiar words that now carried an entirely different meaning than the first time he'd spoken them to her, but her breathless answer was the same. "Promise?"
"Promise." His wicked grin was back. "Hell, if it weren't for this damn game, I'd be doin' it already." He let the dice fly, eyes gleaming dangerously as his piece came to rest on 'dare'. "You're in for it now, girl." He tapped the deck. "This is gonna be a good one. I feel it."
"Yeah?" She wiggled her eyebrows at him suggestively. "Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll get to 'feel it' too."
Logan chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "You're a real piece of work, kid." He ran his fingers over her hip and gave her bottom a sharp pinch. "But keep it up and you'll get another spankin'."
"Promises, promises." She swatted at the hand now lingering on her backside in a most distracting manner and squirmed, trying to get away from his teasing touch.
His palm, heavy and warm, came to rest on the small of her back. "Settle down." His eyes glittered. "You're interruptin' my turn."
"By all means, sugar, read on."
He eyed her intently. "Keep on sassin' me, girl." A low chuckle rumbled in his chest. "It's the second best thing you can do with that mouth." He ignored her playfully indignant gasp and pressed his palm more firmly against her back, a subtle warning to keep still - and quiet - while he read his card. "Dare - persuasion. Coax any visible reaction from your partner using only your voice. Time limit, five minutes."
Drawing in a fortifying breath, Marie reached for the small hourglass in the box and set it on the game board. "Do your worst."
Logan chuckled, not even bothering to spare the hourglass a glance. "We both know I won't need that." He spoke the words with an absolute confidence she found singularly disturbing. "Now turn over."
"The card said voice only." And the heat from the palm still resting heavily on the small of her back burned through her thin sweater like a brand. There was no way she'd be able to ignore that.
"And I said, turn over."
The fact that he didn't seem at all concerned with the rapidly draining sand in the hourglass did all kinds of melty-good things to her insides. Marie turned over, coming to rest on her back next to his large, muscled body. He gave her flat stomach one last caress before removing his hand. He might not be touching her now, but he'd moved so close that her every sense was filled with him. She could feel the heat of his body and smell his warm, musky scent. It made the taste of his skin still lingering on her mouth that much more intense. She fought the urge to lick the last traces of him from her lips, not wanting to give him such an easy victory.
"Close your eyes." Her eyes fluttered shut. "That's it. That's it, baby," he soothed, his voice low and husky as he lowered his head even more until his mouth was a heartbeat away from her ear. "That's my girl." She fought to keep still as his breath tickled her ear and his words stirred the fire in her blood.
His gaze swept over her. Her eyes were screwed tightly shut and she'd caught her bottom lip delicately in her teeth. There was a flush of arousal across her cheeks and her pale, ivory skin glowed softly in the candlelight. He'd originally intended to make his words so wild, so forcefully erotic, she'd have no choice but to respond to them, but as he looked at her, a great wave of emotion welled up unexpectedly, pushing that plan from his mind. The feeling was overwhelming in its intensity, an odd mix of love and protectiveness, awe and passion, lust and possessiveness, and as always when he was with her, a soul-deep peace that tempered the primal instincts stirring violently within him.
What was supposed to have been erotically whispered loveplay became an admission of naked truth.
"I love you, Marie." The words were low and quiet, forced through a throat thick with raw emotion. He hadn't meant for those to be the words he spoke. Those words were far too meaningful to him to ever try to use them to win some silly game, but they were somehow there on his lips. He simply couldn't hold them back. It wasn't the first time he'd said them, but it was the first time he'd said them like that. The first time they'd ever come out sounding like how they felt inside. And they had the most amazing reaction.
A transcendent look of joy spread across her whole face. Her eyes were still closed, but she was glowing beautifully and her mouth had curved into a smile so soft and sweet it made him feel warm all over to look at it. With a gentleness he didn't know he possessed, he brushed his mouth against hers.
"What I said - that wasn't the game."
"I know." She still hadn't opened her eyes, but her hands were stroking his arms gently. "I love you that way too, with everything I have inside me, right down to my soul."
"You're mine."
"I am, sugar. I am yours." The heat was beginning to flare between them again, rising quickly and Marie knew just how to fuel it. "All yours." She knew those two little words had power, knew they were the two that triggered his every primal instinct, that got him off better and harder than anything else. "All yours, every last bit of me," she repeated emphatically.
The growl that had been building in his throat gained in volume as his eyes flicked to the hourglass. He still had a minute or so left and he knew just what he wanted to do with it.
"Card said voice only. No touchin'." Her hands fell away from him immediately. "Good." His mouth hovered half a breath above her ear. He knew the two words that got her off best and wasted no time in using them to twist her body to his will. "That's my good girl."
His breath was hot against her ear and she knew it wouldn't be long now before her body gave him what he wanted.
"Know what good girls get, dontcha?"
Marie suddenly became aware of a soft rhythmic sound - the rasp of his sleeve rubbing against his body - and realized he was stroking himself slowly as he spoke to her. Her face heated, even as her body responded to his uninhibited carnal display. She knew he'd gotten his 'visible reaction' out of her, but at this point she really didn't care. She only wanted to know what 'good girls' got.
"What, what do they get, sugar?" She didn't even think it was possible, but her body trembled on the edge of release from nothing more than his words and the tone with which he spoke them. "Logan, please..."
"Mmmm... You needin' somethin', little girl?" He knew she was. Her body had no secrets from him. And that small, breathy voice of hers? That just made him damn glad to be a man. Her man.
Marie was very aware the rhythmic sound had stopped. Her eyes clenched tight briefly and then opened, dark and glittering with want as she searched his face. It was flushed with desire and sweat had dampened the dark hair at his nape, but it was clear he'd regained control, at least momentarily.
"Answer me." His voice was tight and his eyes heated dangerously when she nodded.
"Yes."
"That's against the rules."
"I know."
"We done playin'?" He watched Marie shake her head 'no' and he nodded. He didn't want to stop either. They'd barely gotten started. "Want me to take the edge off, baby?"
"Logan-"
"Yes or no."
"Yes."
"Enough to do whatever I say, no questions, no backtalkin'?" A very male smile touched his mouth at her curt nod. "Eyes closed." She hesitated a second. "Do it, Marie." Despite the desire raging at him, he'd never been able to resist a challenge and he wanted to see if he could get her off with just his voice. He slid down next to her and put his mouth to her ear, smiling wider as she closed her eyes and shifted restlessly.
"Logan-"
"No talkin'. No touchin'. Just listen." For a minute there was nothing, and then slowly, a familiar rhythmic rasping. His breathing picked up until he was panting against her ear. Her lack of sight only served to make every other sense more intense and with each slow rasping stroke, her body wound tighter. "That's the way, darlin'. That's it." He watched her hands clench at her sides. "You just need a little more, dontcha, baby?" His low, husky voice touched her, as sure as any physical caress, and he smiled as she twisted on the satin. He knew exactly what she needed. "Never did tell ya what good girls get." She made a keening noise deep in her throat and his voice dropped to a smoky whisper as he told her exactly what good girls got.
Her reaction was immediate and intense. The rough purr in his voice was like a physical touch, thrumming against her skin. She could feel it everywhere. Her body shivered and she gasped as the world spun away in a warm rush of pleasure. Satisfied he'd accomplished his goal, Logan gathered her into his arms and held her close, kissing her softly and stroking her arms and back as she trembled gently. He knew the release he'd given her hadn't been very satisfying. He hadn't wanted it to be. He'd only wanted to blunt the worst of her hunger as they often did with each other early in their lovemaking to prolong the pleasure. This evening was far from over.
"Mmmm..." She burrowed into his chest a little tighter.
"Liked that, did ya?"
"Mmm-hmm." Her eyes fluttered open.
"Good." His eyes narrowed and he caught her hand as she reached for the dice. "Uh-uh."
"I thought you still wanted to play-" She fell silent as she searched his face and suddenly realized that while her body was slack with the bonelessness of release, his was not. He was tightly strung, from the firm set of his mouth to the wild look in his eyes.
"I do." He plucked the dice from her fingers and dropped them in his breast pocket. His voice was tight and his body ached with the need for the same release he'd just given her. "But there's still the matter of my favor, darlin'." Logan very deliberately put his 'Dare' card face down on the game board and held it there with one long, blunt finger.
"What does it say, sugar?"
His eyes never left hers. "It says Marie needsta be usin' that pretty little mouth of hers for somethin' other than askin' questions."
She grinned. "Mentioned me by name, did it?"
The look in his eyes never wavered. "Sure did."
Marie sat up and pushed him to his back as she settled herself over him once again and touched her mouth to his. "Well, rules are rules, sugar." She winked at him as her kisses trailed lower. She knew what he needed... and he was right.
This game was far from over.
