Envy (Seven Deadly Sins) (2 page)

I felt downright giddy with excitement as I perused his Wonderland of BDSM. 
Crap!
 
What was I doing?
  I was meandering through his private belongings as if I was Inspector Gadget.  I reminded myself how ultimately rude I was being, and took one last longing glance around the room before turning off my flashlight and closing the secret door.  I caught my breath at the movement behind me in his gym room as I clicked the door shut.  Blood curdled in my veins.  I flung around half expecting Carlton to be standing there… un-amused.  Instead, Nucy and Jargon sat in the doorway; their tilted heads told me that they couldn’t comprehend why we were all still here and not running in the park already.  I sighed and pushed more buttons until the lights went off in the gym and the hot tub was no longer beckoning me with its gurgles.  “Come on you two.  Let’s get you to the park.”

As the two Dalmatians romped in the open field in the Park I amused myself with thoughts of Carlton’s Dungeon.  I wondered at what point in our relationship he would open his secret door for me?

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

My heart made its way comfortably back down into my chest as I opened the fridge and retrieved the last bottle of merlot. 
Perfect
, I thought. 
Just enough for one tall glass
.  I rummaged through the cabinets looking for something simple yet elegant for dinner.  That frustrated feeling crept back into me as I realized that Palmer had cleared our cabinets of anything reasonably useful.  I seriously needed to curtail that kid’s pot smoking habit before he ate us out of house and home!  My phone buzzed in my purse, and I fumbled with the zipper to get to it before the third ring. 
Dammit
! 
Gone to voicemail
.  I pulled the phone out of my purse, leaned back against the counter studying it as I took a huge gulp of liquid stress reliever in my wine glass. 
Perhaps it would be better to just to order something in anyways...
  I didn’t know the number, so I called my voicemail, putting it on speaker as I downed the last swallow.

“You have… one… voicemail.  Press seven…”

I pushed the button forcefully, my patience was running thin with the cluster of mishaps my day was accumulating, and then the smooth, velvety voice came over my speaker.

“Liz, this is… uh… Carlton.  Carlton Michaud.”

As if I didn’t know who it was. 
What did he think, I had four or five, incredibly beautiful English men who called me?

“I’m almost through here.  Once I saw things clearly I realized it isn’t half as difficult as I’d thought.  Thank you so much for that darling.  I took the liberty of ordering in for us; since you are directly responsible for my sudden mental clarity, I thought dinner should be my treat.  Meet me at 8?  My Place?”

I looked at the time on the phone. 
Great
, I thought. 
It’s already 7:15.  Forty five minutes.  I could do this.

I stripped as I flew into my bedroom, kicking my shoes into the corner as I pulled my blouse over my head and pushed my jeans down my legs.  I rushed to start a shower and figure out what to do with my unruly hair; I had an immense need to be as sexy as possible tonight. 
I wanted
in
that room!
  As the warm water splashed over my body I felt the urge to just finish myself right there.  I pulled my nipples, imagining Carlton’s strong hands cupping, pinching, pulling at them from behind, his strong arm wrapped around my waist as he pulled me into him.  His breath, raspy and hot on my neck as his wonderful cock pressed into my ass cheek. 
Damn
, I thought. 
I gotta get moving!

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Chapter 2

I rode the elevator back up to his apartment, staring at my reflection in the shiny metal wall.  I was thankful to be alone as I surveyed my outfit.  I was going for something really comfortable, but not slovenly.  Something that said, strip me, beat me and whip me, yet with a subtle tone.  I wanted to make sure that he had easy access should he decide to do just that!

It was my favorite yellow sundress; just loose enough to let the late afternoon sun shine through and highlight my body, no bra, and two strings I affectionately called underwear.  Nucy and Jargon sat lazily beside my flip flopped feet.  I nodded to myself in my reflection; this exact outfit had won me a great deal of praise at Benton’s law school graduation party last summer.

I could see I chose correctly when Carlton opened the door.  He still wore black suit pants, his crisp white shirt was now unbuttoned almost all the way down, no shoes, and a glass of merlot in his hands. 
Thank God he finally ditched the black socks
.  “Hey Liz!” he exclaimed.  “You look great!”  His devious smile was enough to boost my self confidence, and those deep chocolately brown eyes nearly buckled my knees.  “Food’s not here yet.  I was just going to jump in the shower, so make yourself at home!”

He disappeared so quickly I couldn’t respond, and I took the opportunity to nose around his den and stare out at the beautiful sunset that was his everyday view. 
Magnificent
, I thought.  Manhattan bathed in the gold and pink hues of the sunset was a romantic’s fantasy. 
Incredible
.  Not quite as incredible as his secret room, but nonetheless an awe inspiring view.

I looked over my shoulder as the caterers delivered the food.  They didn’t say a thing, and they certainly didn’t look me in the eye. 
Clearly they’d been to this rodeo before.
  I felt like I wore a neon sign on my head that said,
this girl is getting flogged and laid tonight!
  The thought didn’t disturb or embarrass me in the least! 
I could get used to this
, I thought as I sipped my wine and turned back to the luxurious sunset.

I could hear him coming down the hall, and I purposely stood steadfast, continuing my gaze out the window.  A sunset like this was exactly what this dress was made for, and I’d only rearranged my pose a few times before it was just right.  There would be nothing left to his imagination when he saw me.  He stepped up behind me; his manly scent mixed with fresh soap and a smattering of his unusual cologne.  He slipped his hands onto my hips and  sighed deeply, relaxing into the view with me.  His lips bit playfully into my bare shoulder.  Frankly, I was hoping he’d press into me, let me feel his appreciation against my nearly naked ass, but no, Carlton Michaud was toying with me.  Now that I knew his wicked secret needs were the same as mine, my patience had diminished.  I wanted to scream,
enough already!  Take me into that room and let’s see how many batteries we can render useless
.  Of course that would give me away as a spy.  No, I needed to be smooth.  At that very moment I uncrossed my arms and felt my nipples harden against the soft cotton front of my sundress.  There would be no mistaking my interest level the moment I turned around.  His strong hands squeezed my hips firmly, perhaps enlightened by some pheromone gushing invisibly from my pores.  He spun me around, pulling my lips to his as my merlot almost spilled on the floor.

His hot lips burned into mine, and his tongue snaked its way past my teeth and deep into my mouth.  I sucked it, like a little cock, devouring it as if I might not ever be kissed again.  He pulled me into him; his excitement was now firmly planted across my stomach and straining through his shorts.  I slid my hand behind his neck, into the collar of his cotton shirt and through the back of his curly locks.  I grabbed a handful and pulled him even deeper into my mouth.

He finally broke our embrace long enough to take my wine glass and set it on the table, then pulled me back to him.  My face buried in his sparse curls of chest hair as I took a deep breath of him.  He was life, freedom, excitement, passion, all rolled up in the most delicious package of a man.  Slowly, but as sure as the noonday sun, I was becoming addicted to him.

I wanted to keep my eyes open, to see his every movement, to watch his excitement grow stronger.  To see his long eyelashes as they fluttered across my skin.  However, visual confirmation of his utter and complete sexiness wasn’t really needed, and my eyes remained closed.  My body was telling me that it was already experiencing much better sensations than my sight could provide.  It didn’t matter.  I really didn’t need to see him; his touch nearly sent me into my first orgasm.  I felt myself being guided down to the floor, and I went willingly.  He lay beside me on the thick rug as his hands canvassed my body, paying particular attention to my rock hard nipples that now strained against the cotton fabric, begging to be released.

I felt him move over me, first sliding my flip flops off and running his thick fingers across the arch of my foot and up my calf.  The whore in me wanted to spread my legs, but I insisted to myself,
let this play out!
  Now both of his hands were on my calves, sensually massaging them as he slid them up my thighs to the hem of my sundress.  He deftly moved under the fabric, pushing his way up the inside of my thighs.  I parted them cloyingly as he pushed my dress up.  His hot breath moved across my upper thigh as his silky lips and fiery tongue trailed its way up to my crotch.  There was no turning back now; I was completely immersed in his touch.

He spread my legs with cautious fingers as his kisses and licks invaded my inner thigh, inching towards my sex.  Soft moans escaped my lips, describing to him how his touches pleasured me.  His fingers traced over the small front of the panties that barely covered my sex, and then he buried his face deep into me.  The onslaught was so quick and determined that my adrenaline raced inside me.  My skin felt hot to the touch, as though I were riding to the highest point on Thunder Mountain just waiting with my hands in the air for the roller coaster to send me screaming and cheering to the ground.  My right hand squeezed my breast and toyed absently with my nipple as the fingers on my left hand wove their way into his curly hair.  I grabbed a handful, once again, and pulled him into me.  His tongue pressed hard against my clit, and within seconds I was pushed over the edge of a powerful orgasm.

He continued to lick me, fighting firmly against my strong thighs as I tried to capture him between them.  My feet moved to his shoulders as his hands pressed against the back of my thighs.  The mighty orgasm slowed and assumed a more languid, relaxed wind down.  Uncontrollable waves of its remnants still trembled within me.  Carlton had no intention of letting my muscles sleep; he hooked his fingers under my thong and pulled it to the side, replacing his tongue with the head of his cock.  He leaned forward, pushing into me as his come covered lips pressed against mine.

Once again I devoured him, reveling in my own juices as I licked and sucked his lips.  His passion was evident, and his thrusts came deeper and harder until he finally reached my wall.  I bucked beneath him, barely able to keep up with his strength and stamina.  He was an athlete over me, pounding me again and again with his long, thick cock.  Orgasm after orgasm shot through me until I could no longer distinguish them from one another.  Each plunge into my depths sent me reeling with a more intense sensation.  I found myself, screaming, scratching, groaning, and yes even clawing as he fucked me.  Then I understood; there was a primal need asserting its presence inside me.  I’d wanted men to come before, but never like this.  My hips acted on their own accord as they met his thrusts with powerful equality.  Uncontrollable throbs deep inside me massaged his hot come through his cock, convincing his semen that it desperately needed to be inside of me.  With the last slam of his hipbone to mine, he let it go, no longer capable of keeping it inside him.  My body had conquered his with a dance of seduction so unruly and guttural that I blushed.  His face, now buried into my shoulder finally lifted to mine and he stared at me as though shocked as hell to find me still beneath him.  His kiss was no longer one of strained passion; now it was tender, caring and protective.  “I’m falling in love with you, Liz,” he whispered between our touching lips.  His tongue intertwined with mine keeping my response silent, I nodded in agreement… I was most definitely falling in love.  He rolled over onto the rug next to me, and kissed me softly as the sun finally disappeared over the horizon.

Chapter 3

I slid on the skirt Palmer had laid out for me to wear today.  It didn’t escape me that he was getting progressively more seductive with his choices for my apparel.  He was up to something no doubt.  Perhaps trying to get his sister married off to a wealthy attorney so she’d stop following him around the world?  My eyes scanned my thighs which were highly visible in the short gray skirt.  Hmmm… I definitely need to have a talk with him.  Was he shortening my skirts at night while I slept?  It reminded me of the fairy tale involving a cobbler and mice.  At night the mice would come out and repair all the shoes in his shop, the cobbler would awake to find their masterful work in the mornings.  Were little miniature fashion designers roaming my apartment at night?  I scrutinized my appearance in the full length mirror,
ah well
, as Palmer would say… ‘girlfriend, we ain’t in Kansas anymore!’

The front door to our apartment creaked open, “Have a great day, Liz.  Love ya’.”  The door slammed and the locks clicked behind my brother as he headed off for class.  I sighed and studied myself in the mirror one last time. 
Maybe I’m getting taller?

After grabbing a macchiato from the corner shop, I readied myself for the two block walk to my office.  Usually Carlton was waiting for me downstairs; we’d walk together.  The doorman at our apartment building explained that he’d had an early start this morning, but said that he’d text me later in the day.  I thanked the doorman with a five dollar bill for passing the message along.

As I settled into my desk on the fifth floor of the Michaud Building, I noticed a red high alert intra-office email had come in an hour ago.  I clicked on the email; it was from Paul Standish, my direct supervisor.