Presque Vu

Chapter 25

"You can still use your safeword without penalty," Jared clarified. "There will never be a penalty for using your safeword under any circumstances, game or not."

Raina did understand that but she liked the way he always reinforced the idea. "Yes, sir."

"And no trying to trick her into saying "Yes, sir"," Shannon added, "and no toys."

Jared nodded. "No questions, other than maybe a status check. Anything else?"

Raina and Shannon exchanged looks. "What exactly is a sound, Sir, for the purposes of this game?" she asked.

"Anything utilizing the vocal cords. Sighs and gasps are fine but whimpers, moans anything like that, and you lose." Jared pulled off his shirt and picked the timer back up. "So are you ready, baby girl? What color are we?"

"Green, Sir, green. We are so very green." Raina gushed. The sooner they got started, the sooner she could win and get to the scenario now playing out in her head.

Jared frowned. "Now that's a bit too enthusiastic, Princess. I don't think you're taking this seriously."

"She thinks she's going to win," Shannon observed with a smirk. Raina could tell Shannon didn't care one way or the other who won, he was there to enjoy the game itself. She and Jared's competitive natures were the ones that were about to battle to the death.

"Well by all means then, let's get started. Show us what you've got Baby Girl," Jared replied, giving the timer a toss before turning the dial. "Shannon is going to be going first."

Shannon kicked off his shoes and pulled his shirt over his head before climbing onto the bed with Raina. He knelt in front of her, wiggling an eyebrow while he bit his lower lip. "Hey Rainy girl," he said softly. Raina couldn't help but smile back at him. She heard Jared say "Now," but she was already focused on Shannon, the smile on her face matching his own. He cradled her cheek in one warm hand before running the fingers of his opposite hand down her face, closing her eyes. She felt his warm breath before his nose nudged against hers, and even though she tilted her face to his he remained at the edge of her reach, his lips faintly passing over hers before pulling back again. He continued to nuzzle her in that same manner, like a big cat that was rubbing and marking her, his forehead brushing against her cheeks, the rough beginnings of his beard prickling her skin. It was so hypnotic and so far from what she was expecting she had to catch herself before sighing his name. The two minutes passed quickly, without more than a feathery brush of his lips against hers. By the time he pulled away Raina was panting and dazed.

"Can't let the game be over too quickly," Shannon winked before vacating the spot in front of her. Fuck, he's better at this than I thought. Raina scrambled to get her wits about her again before Jared moved in front of her.

"Don't think I'm going to take it that easy on you," Jared told her while Shannon reset the timer. The instant Shannon signaled his time had started Jared grabbed the hair at the nape of Raina's neck and pulled her head back, exposing her throat to him. He then sank his mouth onto the vulnerable swell, biting down ferociously and causing Raina to gasp in surprise. One had found her breast and he kneaded it roughly as he continued to nibble and suck at her throat until she had to bite her lip to keep from whimpering. Judging from the savage way he consumed her she realized she was going to be wearing a scarf for a week. She tried to think about that, about maybe getting Cassie to do some of her makeup magic to cover up the marks, anything but the way her body was responding to Jared. She was not going to lose, and definitely not in Jared's first round. She wouldn't give him that level of satisfaction. When Shannon finally called the round over Jared straightened up and took in Raina's state of disarray with a satisfied smirk. "Nine more rounds to go, Princess."