Inflame

Chapter 29

Lucy

IT’S BEEN over a week since I gave that heartfelt admission to Kale and he still hasn’t opened up to me about his past. Every day we’ve gone to the hospital to see Lily, and every day he was on edge. After three days, the doctors were satisfied that her brain swelling had gone down and they were ready to discharge her. Kale and Xavier made sure she came home to a princess’s welcome, and after I showed her in the mirror that her bald spot couldn’t be seen, her spirits were lifted.

Watching Kale with her this week has been eye opening. He’s been so gentle, caring, and he’s been watching her like a hawk, never letting her out of his sight whenever he’s around her. I’ve caught Xavier’s eye a few times, and he just gives me a sad smile and a shake of his head. In his house, I almost feel like an intruder, knowing there’s some secret Kale and Xavier share and I’m not privy to the information.

After a week of his holding me at arm’s length, at least emotionally, I’ve decided I’m dedicating this night to us. Sure, he’s been holding me close every night, but any time I try to talk to him about Lily, he shuts down. He’s not the Kale I’m used to, and while it’s not exactly scaring me, it’s bugging me deep down to the core. Like Xavier predicted, he watches my every move, and he almost freaked out this morning when he saw me standing on a stepstool so I could reach the brown sugar in the back of the pantry. He’s treating me like fragile glass, and while I appreciate his protectiveness, I feel like I’m about to explode with need, rage, and pure, unadulterated lust if I don’t get him to touch me—and if I can’t get him to feel something other than guilt and anguish.

I’m back in the bedroom when I hear the front door open and shut. We parted ways this morning as I went to spend the day with Charlie, planning her engagement party, and he ventured off to Xavier’s, once again to make himself feel better by seeing that Lily was up and kicking.

“Baby, I’m home!” I hear him shout, and I settle into the bed, waiting for him to appear.

He doesn’t disappoint when he enters the room, his eyes widening as he takes in the scene before him. I’m propped up on a few pillows, candlelight illuminating the room. I’m wearing nothing but a satin white nightie with thin material that does an amazing job of highlighting my nipples before it splits just under my breasts so my belly’s exposed. On the edge of the bed is the box, and I watch as his eyes darken when he spots it. Slowly, he begins to unbutton his shirt as he edges towards the bed, shrugging it off. I inhale sharply at the sight of his bare-naked chest, his jeans riding low on his hips. My mouth waters as I take in the sexy-as-hell V that’s practically pointing to the bulge that’s now pronounced in his jeans. He slowly unsnaps the button, and I bite my lip in anticipation, a move that causes him to give me a sly smile.

“What’re you up to, baby?” he asks, his head gesturing to the box.

As I slowly sit up, ensuring that my breasts push together, I give his jeans a nod. “I’m not up to anything, but he sure seems to be ready.” I wink and watch as he slowly slides his jeans down until he’s standing in nothing but gray boxer briefs.

When he opens the box and pulls out a pair of leg cuffs, he makes quick work of capturing my ankles, sliding them on, and securing them before I can protest. Looking up at me, he gives me a wicked grin.

“You sure you’re up for this, baby?” he questions, and I nod, almost ready to writhe with need for him.

As he takes out handcuffs, he moves up the bed and straddles my waist, bringing his face down towards mine. He takes hold of both of my wrists and moves them over my head, a metal cuff fastening around each one and then being attached to the rungs on the headboard. He pulls away from me and admires his handiwork.

“You are so sexy, Ms. Dawson,” he whispers, reminding me of the way he first fucked me, and my thighs clench together in anticipation of what’s to come. I let out a moan, and he gives me a promising smile.

He sits back on his heels as he starts to dig through the box. A huge grin spreads over his face when he pulls out an item, and when he holds it out for me to see, I realize it’s the Wartenberg wheel. I was hoping that’s what he’d go for, and my Kale, as usual, doesn’t disappoint. He tests it out first on my foot, running the pinpoints of the wheel against my bare skin, each point pricking my skin. Shivers run through my body at the contact, a mix of slight pain and ultimate pleasure, and I can’t wait for him to run it over the rest of my skin.

This pregnancy has heightened all sensation, and I’m more than excited to finally play with him. I hope that giving him this control will help alleviate some of his stress from this week. I know he feels out of control where Lily’s concerned, so if restraining me and having his way with me helps at least a little bit, I’m more than game.

Slowly, he slides the wheel up my leg, and every single nerve ending stands on edge as each little pinpoint moves over the surface of my skin. My gaze doesn’t leave his, and he continues to move up my leg, peppering soft kisses along the way. By the time he gets to the tops of my thighs, he increases the pressure ever so slightly, and just when I think he’s going to move between my legs, he surprises me by drifting up my hip, bringing the instrument around to the bottom of my belly. I inhale sharply as he places his free hand on my stomach, caressing gently before following with the cool stainless-steel wheel. With just light pressure, it glides across my skin effortlessly, and the combination of pleasure and pain has a fire burning deep between my legs. We’ve only just begun and already I’m ready to beg for him.

He must see the need in my eyes. His hand moves up to cup a breast, his fingers giving it a slow, gentle massage. As he shifts on the bed, he moves so he’s straddling my waist, his boxer-clad growing erection resting against my belly. His dark eyes gaze down at me, and the look of pure, raw desire is unnerving.

“So goddamn beautiful,” he whispers as he continues his painful trail up my body.

The wheel flows easily around the curve of my breast, and it isn’t until he pushes the satin material away and circles it around my nipple that I finally cry out in a mixture of both gripping pain and undeniable pleasure. My nipple pebbles at the contact, though Kale stops briefly.

“Too much, baby?” he asks, and he gives me a worrying glance.

I try to bring my hand to his but then remember I can’t as I feel the restraint biting against my wrist. “Not too much. They’re just much more sensitive than usual, and I wasn’t expecting it. Don’t stop, Kale. I’m enjoying it. In fact, I want more.”

A wicked gleam crosses his face, and he nods in understanding. His head comes down to the nipple that’s still tingling from the pins, and he brings it into his mouth, where he lovingly laves it with his tongue. At the same time, he treats my other breast to the same enjoyable torture until it hardens as well before replacing the wheel with his mouth, bringing pleasure to the surface as the pain dissipates.

My breath quickens as he slides it in between my cleavage then moves up as the prickly disc rolls along my collarbone before stopping at the base of my neck. Kale reaches down and slides a free finger in between my legs, barely grazing my clit before he presses down firmly. He doesn’t move it. He just leaves it there as if he’s holding down a button as the increasing pressure begins to build, but it’s just enough to escalate my desire. Involuntarily, my legs try to spread open, but the restraints around my ankles only allow for a couple of inches of movement.

He leans down and presses a kiss to my neck, just below my ear. “Patience, baby,” he whispers as his teeth bite down on my earlobe and he removes his hand from between my legs.

He rolls the wheel up to skim my throat, causing my head to tilt back as he captures my lips with his. His kisses are leisurely, unhurried, and the languid motion of his tongue against mine begins to drive me wild. My body starts to tingle as I feel the wheel dig into my shoulder, slowing moving up my arm at a snail’s pace, ensuring that I feel every single pinprick as it ascends to my wrist. A moan bubbles up in my throat, but Kale’s lips capture it as my body begins to writhe underneath him. His slow, deliberate kissing coupled with the meticulous way he’s sliding the wheel up my arm that’s cuffed to the headboard has me trying to clench my thighs, ready to find some sort of friction. He catches me though, and before I can find relief, he slowly pulls his tongue away from my mouth and lifts up. A small whimper escapes my lips, and although I knew what I was getting into when I started this, I’m more than ready for Kale to finish it.

As the wheel bites into my wrist, just above the restraint, Kale slides a finger between the apex of my thighs, and my breath quickens in anticipation of him finally touching me there. His eyes don’t leave mine as his finger finds my warmth, and they glaze over when he pushes it into me where I know I’m dripping with want.

“You are so ready for me, baby.” It’s not a question, but a statement of fact, and all I can do is nod in hopes that he’ll quickly put me out of my pleasurable misery. “Always so ready for me.”

Without prelude, he plunges two more fingers into me as he rhythmically begins to pump them in and out, simultaneously continuing to slide the wheel over my wrist. With each entrance, the pin moves across my wrist, and with each departure of his fingers, the wheel moves up and down, making a crossing pattern that matches the tempo of his fingers as he fucks me with his hand. My breathing quickly turns ragged, and I struggle against the restraint, which only serves to increase the pain on my wrist as it bites into my skin just as the pinwheel does.

Every few thrusts, he removes his fingers to press down on my clit, and then he leans his head down to give a hard nipple a tug with his teeth, I’m nearly sent over the edge. He brings the wheel down to the base of my belly and lightly treads it across my skin. At the same time he peppers kisses down my belly until his tongue connects with my clit, causing me to cry out. My legs tighten and shake, and I can hear the metal restraints clicking as I try to clasp my legs together. I’m so, so close, and I lift my hips, pressing into his face in hopes that he’ll finally give me sweet relief.

His head comes up from between my thighs, and a devilish grin covers his face. He slowly slides his fingers out of me and gives me one last pass with the wheel, pushing down with extra pressure that sends a shockwave of pain throughout my body. A needy sob of desire escapes my lips as he rises from the bed and stands at the edge. His playful smile is replaced with a dark look of hunger as his eyes slowly trail down my body. He licks his lips as I pull against the restraints, my legs still clenched together.

“Kale, please.” I’m panting, ready to beg, but all he does is watch me writhe on the bed as I stare at him with pleading eyes.

Unable to stand it any longer, I close my eyes, bringing my lower lip between my teeth, where I bite down in hopes of helping to combat this lingering feeling of want. Desire’s flowing through my veins, and with every second that passes without relief, my want—my need—for him builds until I can barely contain my emotions.

“Look at me, Lucy,” he growls, and I shake my head, keeping my eyes closed tight.

If he’s going to play with me, to make me wait, then I don’t want to give in to his demands until he’s giving in to the demands of my body. What I don’t realize is that I have no leverage in the matter. He picks up my joined legs and I feel pressure against the bottom of my foot as the wheel rolls over it. The surprise of it has me crying out, and I open my eyes to see Kale holding the stainless steel against my skin, ready to make me come. When my eyes meet his, he gives me a short nod before lowering my legs back down to the bed.

He slowly hooks the edges of his boxer briefs, and my breath hitches when he slides the material down his legs, allowing his cock, gloriously thick and hard, to spring free. As my eyes graze over it, I can’t help my lick my lips when I see a drop of pre-cum glistening on the tip, and I curse my situation as I’m unable to crawl across the bed to lick it away.

Kale climbs onto the bed, where he positions himself at my wet entrance, and just when I think he’s going to sink into me, he slides his length up and down my slit, coating himself in my slickness. Lifting my hips in invitation, I’m finally given a reprieve as he plunges into me with one forceful thrust.

“Oh, God,” I moan as the feel of him brings sweet relief, already on the edge of my release as he fills me fully. I try to grind my hips, but he brings his hand to my waist, holding me still.

Although he’s buried inside me to the hilt, he doesn’t move. Instead, he leans down and peppers kisses along my breasts as he slowly makes his way up to my neck. I realize that he’s not done toying with me and his ultimate goal is to delay my gratification, almost to the point of begging.

“Kale,” I breathe as his tongue slides along my jaw, and he finally gives into me.

As he starts moving his hips in a slow, steady fashion, I close my eyes and feel the pleasure building so intensely. I know it’s not going to be long before I’m shattering around him.

Kale

WATCHING LUCY pull at the cuffs as she tries to get me to move inside her is almost my undoing. When I came in the room and saw her waiting for me, I was nearly ready to come on the spot. Her white nightie is virginal, a beautiful contrast against her protruding belly. The way her darkened nipples were on display for me through the thin material had my mouth watering. I have no idea how I got through teasing her with the wheel, but now that I’m buried deep inside her warmth with her looking up at me with hooded, lust-filled eyes, I know every bit of building her anticipation, and my own, was worth it.

“Kale,” she whispers in a breathy tone, and it’s all I need to finally start moving inside her.

She closes her eyes as my movements begin, and this time, I let her. Staring down at her, I’m in awe at the sheer beauty of her. There’s a primal sense of pride flowing through my veins as a hand caresses her stomach almost as if it’s a reminder that this sensual, intimate act is for so much more than pleasure. As I pump in and out of her, the need to claim her is almost too much. Quickening my thrusts, I watch as her breasts rise and fall in rapid succession, and I can tell she’s so damn close. The feeling of her pussy compressing around my dick has my balls tightening as my own imminent release rises to the surface.

As I feel her begin to clench around me, I slide my hand under her and find her ass, slowly massaging her hole. Her lips for an ‘O’ in surprise, but she slowly adjusts to my finger as I slip it inside, working her over as she moans in satisfaction. Her body convulses as her warm juices flow around my dick and her walls clasp around it like a vise. As I bend down, I capture her mouth and find her tongue, passionately kissing her as I hope to extend her orgasm until I reach my own. Electric currents begin to flow through my body as she comes violently, clutching my dick so hard that I’m being sent over the edge right along with her. I slam into her again and again until I feel my cock convulse, fulfilling my primal need to fill her with the effects of my release. I continue to thrust, in and out, as I’m coming down from my high, slowing my movements with every passing one until I’m unmoving, still seated in her to the hilt. When I finally come back down, I’m utterly, completely spent.

With one last kiss, I pull back and gaze down at her. Her glossy eyes stare back at me, her cheeks flushed with a heated pink. A slow, sated smirk crosses her face as a bead of sweat falls from my brow. With a shake of my head, I give her my own sly smile as I reach up and click the button to remove the cuffs from her wrists. Taking ahold of them in each of my hands, I gently rub her wrists with my thumbs, hoping to help alleviate any of the soreness.

She takes one hand out of mine and runs it across the top of my head, where she runs it through my damp hair. “I’ve missed you, Montgomery,” she whispers, causing me to frown. “You’ve been distant all week, baby, and you’ve barely touched me. Trust me. I understand it, but I hope from here on out you’ll let me in, let me help you in any way I can.”

I can’t help but feel guilty, and I know she’s right. I’ve been too in my head since Lily’s accident, and as much as I’ve been trying to make it up to her, I know I’ve been neglecting Lucy.

“I’m sorry, baby,” I tell her, meaning every word. “But you have to know you’ve already been helping me just by being here. I…I think it’s just something that I’m going to need time to work out, but I promise, I’ll work on it. You’ll have my full attention from here on out.”

She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me down until I’m just hovering over her lips. “I don’t need your full attention, Kale. I just need you—all of you.”

I close the distance between us and press a soft kiss to her lips. “You have me, baby. Heart, soul”—I pause as my dick jerks inside her—“and definitely body.”

With a shake of her head, she pushes me off her and I slide out of her, instantly missing her warmth. Leaving her restrained, I go to the bathroom to grab a wet washcloth to clean her up, which I do. She then gestures to her ankles, and I exit the bed and get on my knees, gently removing them. I caress the red marks just like I did on her wrists then move in to give each one a kiss. Once I release her legs, she slinks to the edge of bed, and I grip her hips, my face in perfect alignment with her belly.

She brings a finger to my chin and lifts it so I’m looking at her. Her gaze is one of adoration, and my heart quickens. Lucy seems to know exactly what I need, even when I don’t. The fact that she just gave me herself freely, allowing me to take control after a week of feeling helpless, has done wonders for my soul. For the first time since the accident, I feel like I can move on, and I know no one could’ve given me that but her.

“You own me, Kale Montgomery. Heart, soul”—she rubs her belly—“and most definitely body. From now until forever, I’m yours. And the offer still stands. Whenever you’re ready to talk, I’m here to listen.”

I know this should be my in. The moment where I finally break down and tell her everything. I don’t know what my hesitation is, but I know Lucy, and I can’t put this on her right now. Her heart is so big, and I know it’ll break when she finds out the truth. It seems selfish to keep it all in, but at the same time, it seems selfish to lay it all out for her when I know I should be keeping her as stress free as possible. She’s already been dealing with enough from me and Lily, and I tell myself that I’ll tell her everything, but just not now. It doesn’t seem right to talk about Tara and her betrayal in our post-coital bliss, so instead, I swallow hard and give Lucy a tight nod before leaning in to give her belly a kiss. I don’t miss the look of disappointment that covers over her face, but I try to ignore it as best as possible.

When I scoop her up in my arms, her disappointment seems to fade as she squeals when I leave the room and start walking towards the kitchen.

“Kale! Put me down. I’m too heavy!” she exclaims in protest, and I just roll my eyes.

“Baby, I can bench-press double your weight. This is nothing,” I tell her, and it’s her turn for the eye roll. “Plus, I’m freaking ravenous now that you’ve depleted all my energy reserves, and I can imagine that you need to eat, too.”

She gives me a sheepish grin, and on cue, her stomach growls, causing me to chuckle. I set her down on the counter before I go about making us something to eat. She asks about Lily, and I give her today’s account, every single detail, right down to the fact that she wanted to go outside and play catch again. Lucy just shakes her head and grins, saying that she’s not surprised before launching into the details of the wedding planning with Charlie today. Bracing myself against the top of the refrigerator, I close my eyes, silently thankful that I’ve gotten out of another conversation, but at the same time, regret from not opening up seeps in. I wonder just how long I’m going to be able to keep this up.