Snippet Sunday: ODALISQUE

Well, I did Command Performance for the last Snippet Sunday. Now it looks like I’m doing the Comfort series backwards!

I was in an Odalisque mood today. One thing I enjoyed about Odalisque was how laid back Constance and Kai were. They had a few big problems, but they didn’t let them get to them, especially when they were together. Their biggest problem, I suppose, was when their “arranged” relationship started to turn into love.

I picked out this passage near the beginning to share, when Constance first comes to live with Kai as his odalisque. I love how they are both so excited.

     Kai, Kai, Kai, Kai… She knew his name in her head, felt it on her tongue, although she was too embarrassed to attempt to say it. She’d practiced it in her room the last month, touching her lips, trying to form the right sounds, which wasn’t easy when you couldn’t hear them. She touched him now, utterly fascinated with the feel of his skin, the hardness of his body. His cock stroked her in the perfect spot, with the perfect rhythm. She was suffused by pleasure and enthralled by his confident possession of her. She had worried a little, that things might be awkward when she arrived here. Or that, God, he might change his mind about wanting her.

     But he seemed very pleased to have her. His movements were controlled and yet some thread of wildness snaked and grew between them. He squeezed her breasts, hurting her, making her moan and arch toward him for more of the shocking ache. She ground her clit against the wiry hair at the base of his cock, sparking singing sensation. Ironic, that her independence would come to her through this subjugation. Through being his. His to use, his to possess. More ironic still that she basked in every moment of it.

     She gasped for breath and clung to him, thrusting wildly in answer to his own roughness. She tensed her thighs just at the edge of the precipice, and then tumbled into orgasm in a shattering rush. Pleasure washed over her, rendering her helpless. He dug his knees into the bed and bore her down, down, down, impaling her without mercy. She could feel him clutching the fabric of her skirt, not letting her move one centimeter beneath him. He shuddered over her and came to rest, his hands moving up to her shoulders. He pressed his face against hers and laid still, his cock pulsing inside her.

     Kai. She almost whispered it, but words had such power. Be on guard. A moment later he pulled away, lounged back to rest on the pillows beside her. From the sudden rise and fall of his chest, she thought perhaps he sighed. He licked his lips and looked over at her with an expression she couldn’t place, and then he kissed her so she couldn’t keep thinking about it. When he pulled away, he ran his long, tapered fingers over the buttons of her blouse.

     “So…do the clothes come off now?”

     “Whatever you want,” she signed. “Always.”

     “Except on your day off. When is your day off?”

     She shrugged and signed again. “Whichever day you prefer.”

     “So I’m in charge from here on out. Is that what you’re saying?”

     Her gaze left his lips to meet his eyes and smile. She knew he didn’t really expect an answer. He dipped his head and kissed her again, undressing her slowly, taking a while to stroke and trace her stockings before he finally drew them off. He gathered her close then, so close. She basked in his warmth, his gentleness, his leashed strength and the comforting breadth of his chest. He tipped her face up to his.

     “I can hardly believe you’re finally here.”

If you haven’t read the book, Constance signs because she’s deaf and chooses not to speak. Well, only on very limited occasions. I liked Constance and Kai a lot and while I was writing their story, everything just seemed to fit, because they fit so well together. I hope you’ll read Odalisque if you haven’t yet. Click the cover below to find a blurb and buy links!