The Chalet Read online

  “Looks even better in person than it did in the pictures I saw before I rented it.”

  From the information we had, we knew there was an indoor pool and sauna on the lower level, a living room and kitchen on the main floor, and the master bedroom on the top floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the town. We were secluded enough so that our nearest neighbors weren’t visible, but the village was just a short car ride away. And because of the location, we could walk right outside of the house and ski.

  Nathaniel reached over and took my hand. “So glad we made it before the storm hit, even though we had to cut out early last night.”

  “I’d do it again in a minute,” I said as we pulled into the driveway.

  “Me, too.”

  The taxi came to a stop. Nathaniel sat back in the seat for a minute. “I don’t know about you, but I’m in desperate need of a shower.”

  “A shower sounds perfect.” Especially if he would join me.

  “Why don’t you go on inside and hit the bathroom? I’ll bring the luggage in and make sure the kitchen’s stocked the way we requested.”

  “You’re not going to join me?”

  “Not this time,” he said. “I’ll shower in the guest bath.”

  “Waste of water if you ask me.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

  He kissed my cheek. “We have plenty of time.”

  For someone who had been initially opposed to my suggestion of no sex for a month, he certainly had been patient about it for the last ten hours.

  Well, if you didn’t count those five minutes the night before.

  Regardless, I left him to deal with the luggage and I walked inside the stunning home that would be our refuge for the next two weeks. The interior was an odd mix of log cabin and contemporary, but it somehow fit together to create a warm and inviting space.

  I decided to do the bulk of my exploring later. Ever since he mentioned a shower I felt grimier with each passing second. I breezed past the living room and kitchen, up the stairs, and into the master bedroom.

  From the third-floor windows, I could see down the mountain to the village. I felt almost vulnerable surrounded by all the windows even though I knew there was no way anyone could see me. Nathaniel had selected the chalet for its privacy.

  I dropped my overnight bag by the bed and walked into the bathroom. Seconds later, I’d stripped my clothes off and was soon enveloped by the soothing warm water of the decadent shower. Outfitted with two rainfall showerheads and numerous smaller vertical ones, the shower could easily fit two people. Nathaniel and I would certainly put the space to good use over the next two weeks. For the time being, though, I simply closed my eyes and let the water and steam revive me.

  My skin was wrinkly when I finally got out. I honestly hadn’t meant to stay in for so long, but it had felt so good. I glanced outside and saw the shadows were growing long. I wondered if Nathaniel had finished doing all the things he wanted to do and if he was finished with his shower yet. Since I didn’t know if Nathaniel had brought up my bag with my clean clothes, I pulled on a robe I found hanging on the bathroom door. I debated leaving my hair wet, but decided I’d regret it, so I dried it as quickly as possible.

  He was waiting in the bedroom when I left the bathroom. He must not have spent the time I did in the shower. Not only was his hair still wet, but he’d pulled heavy curtains across the windows and lit candles. The room was decorated all in white. A huge bed made up with an inviting downy duvet and fluffy pillows faced the windows. At the moment, the candlelight cast the entire room in flickering shadows. Nathaniel had been sitting in a plush white chair, but stood at my entrance.

  “There you are,” he said. “I was afraid you might never come out.”

  He walked to me, my husband, and I swallowed around the lump in my throat at the thought that this man was mine forever.

  “I couldn’t help it,” I said, taking in his bare chest and the way his pants hugged his hips just so. I could see the bulge of his erection in the front. “The shower felt so good.”

  He didn’t say anything, but walked until he stood before me, framed my face with his hands, and kissed me. His lips were strong and insistent and I felt his need sweep over me. Combined with my own, it would have made my knees buckle except for the fact that I had my arms firmly around him.

  “Nathaniel,” I said in a soft sigh.

  “Mmmm,” he hummed, entwining his fingers with mine and then he quoted:

  In that book which is

  My memory . . .

  On the first page

  That is the chapter when

  I first met you

  Appear the words . . .

  Here begins a new life

  I pulled our clasped hands together. “Dante?”

  He nodded and our foreheads touched. “It seemed appropriate. I never knew that day I saw you at the library so many years ago that you would be the start of my new life. But I wonder, did it truly begin then, or the day you walked into my office the first time—or when you accepted my collar the second time?”

  His body was warm against me and his breath was hot on my skin. I lifted my head and kissed him. “I don’t know.”

  “I think,” he said. “That maybe it starts tonight. With us here like this. Coming together as husband and wife.” He kissed my wedding band. “And renewing our vow as Dominant and submissive.”

  He moved to the nightstand and took something from the top. My heart pounded, knowing what it was, and I hurried to my purse to get its mate. He was back in front of the bed when I turned around and he watched me with dark eyes as I made my way back to him.

  He held up a ring made up of three intertwined platinum bands. Its meaning was found inscribed inside.

  Abigail, my lovely, my submissive, my heart

  His voice was low and heavy with emotion, “Abigail, I give you this ring as an everyday reminder of my dominance. When you see it may you remember that you are your Master’s most treasured possession.” He slipped the ring on my finger, leaned in even closer, and whispered, “Always.”

  I swallowed around the lump in my throat and held up his ring, which had been engraved in a similar manner.

  Master, I am yours, body, heart, soul

  I slid it on his finger and whispered, “Master, I give you this ring as an everyday reminder of my submission. When you see it may you remember that you alone hold my heart, my body, and my soul.”

  He kissed my right hand ring and then cupped my face in his right hand. “My dear Abby and my cherished Abigail, I love you.”

  There were no words I could give him that would capture the feeling of utter rapture his words brought to me. So instead I decided to give him myself.

  I took a step back and kept my eyes on his as I undid the sash of my robe and slipped it from my shoulders. The move reminded me of another time when I’d done something similar. That day I’d asked him to love me. Now I knew he did, so I asked for something different.

  “Take me, Nathaniel. Make me yours, Master.”

  Silently, he stepped out of his pants and when he took me in his arms again, there was no poetry. He used his hands and his body to say what words were inadequate to convey.

  He kissed me again, moving us toward the bed. His touch became urgent as if he wanted to feel me everywhere, all at once. Or maybe like he couldn’t get close enough to me. My hands moved in a similar way. Across his chest, down his back. After a month of denial, I had a physical need to touch him and I drank him in. The hurried five minutes the night before hadn’t been anywhere near enough.

  He laid me on my back and I sank into the downy warmth of the duvet. Then he moved on top of me and his mouth was on my skin, kissing a trail from my neck, across my clavicle, and down to my breast. I gasped and arched my back as he sucked a nipple deep into his mouth. He teased the tip with his tongue and nipped it with his teeth.

  My nails scratched his back and he groaned.

  “Fuck yes,” he said. “Mar
k me.”

  “Bite me,” I asked in return. “Make it hard.”

  He sat up and took a breast in either hand. “Watch.”

  I could do nothing else but stare as he palmed and kneaded my breasts. With each squeeze, he ran his thumb across the nipple. The touch sent a spark of desire straight to the spot between my legs where I ached for him.

  “Yes,” I moaned. “Oh, yes.”

  He bent his head and nibbled the tender skin on the underside of my right breast, ignoring for a moment my plea for more. Treating me as if I were a delicacy to be savored, he took his time tasting me. Then, right when I felt as if I would go crazy for want, he pulled back and resumed his kneading, his touch progressively growing stronger.

  “Still want it hard?” he asked.

  I lifted my hips, eager for more. “Yes. Damn it.”

  “I’ve been without you for a month, I doubt I can go slow and easy the first time.”

  “Then don’t.”

  He let go of one breast to trail his hand down my side to land between my legs. Gently he pushed a finger inside me, testing my readiness, but not asking if I was sure. “I’ve missed how tight and hot you are when I first push inside you.” He took the other hand and pushed my knees apart. “Spread your legs for me, baby. I need to sink in deep tonight.”

  Please. Please. I nearly pulsed with the need.

  I kept my legs wide for him as he moved between them and took his cock in his hand, positioning it at my opening. With a control that seemed at odds with his words earlier about not being able to go slow, he ever so slightly eased his way inside.

  “Yes. Fuck,” he said, closing his eyes as he pushed farther.

  When he was as far and as deep as he could go, he stilled and opened his eyes. “Feel that? Feel my cock claiming you?”

  “Please.” I squeezed my inner muscles around him. “Please. More.”

  He dragged himself back out slowly, allowing me to feel every inch of his retreat. Once he was almost out, he held still for just a second and then, as if at the end of his control, he grabbed hold of my upper thighs and started an almost punishing rhythm. Thrusting hard and deep, he fucked me relentlessly.

  It’d been so long and he felt so good that within no time my climax started to build. I dragged my nails down his arms and arched my back, wanting him deeper. “Nathaniel.”

  “Coming?” he asked, thrusting in. He moved a hand between my legs and teased my clit. “Shout for me.”

  “Oh, fuck,” I said as my release built and built. “Oh, fuck.”

  He kept driving deeper, all the while teasing me mercilessly with his finger. My orgasm stirred inside me and I bucked against him trying to reach it. His expression grew darker and he slowed down, stroking long and deep.

  The change in friction, matched with his finger on my clit, pushed me over the top and I came hard, with his name on my lips. A look of pure satisfaction overcame his expression and he sped up once again, moving toward his own release.

  “Feels so good fucking you again,” he panted. “Claiming you. Watching you come.”

  I squeezed around his cock each time he pulled out.

  “Fuck. Abby.”

  Unable to hold back any longer, he pushed deep inside me and held still, his body shuddering as he released. For several minutes after, I enjoyed the feel of his satisfied body on top of mine, his weight a sensual reminder of our shared pleasure.

  His breathing slowed and he took me in his arms and rolled us so we faced each other.

  “I’ll have to admit,” he said, a look of amusement in his eyes. “That was fairly intense. Just like you said.”

  “Mmm,” I hummed. “I’ll say. I probably won’t be able to walk tomorrow.”

  “Just as well,” he said, arms tightening around me. “I’m not sure we’ll make it out of bed.”

  Chapter Seven

  Nathaniel

  She stretched out against me, sighing in delight at my suggestion. “All day in bed. That sounds wickedly decadent.”

  “We should make wicked and decadent the theme for our honeymoon.”

  “We’re certainly off to a good start,” she said, snuggling deeper into my arms.

  “Start is definitely the right word, I feel like we’ve only taken the edge off.”

  With her soft body wrapped around mine, I knew it wouldn’t be long before I took her again. But while the first time had been quicker than normal, I planned to take my time the second. The urgent need to have her had been sated, leaving behind the desire to enjoy her slowly. And growing stronger with every passing moment was the need to have her in my collar. To have her kneel at my command.

  “Was everything stocked the way we requested?” she asked.

  It took me a few seconds to understand what she meant. “How did you go from wickedly decadent sex to whether or not there was enough food in the fridge?” I swore, the female mind was beyond my comprehension.

  She giggled and propped herself up on an elbow, facing me. “I was thinking about spending all day in bed and that led me to wonder what we would do about food. Then I realized we might not have anything if they didn’t do like we asked and how awful would it be if we had to go grocery shopping today.”

  “You seriously were thinking all that?”

  “Yes. So, do we shop or not?”

  I pushed the hair back that had fallen across her forehead. “It’s time for you to get out of your wedding-planning mode and remember I’ve got everything under control. There’s no need for a grocery trip any time soon.”

  “Thank goodness.”

  “Which means I can take my time and have you slow and easy, with no need to worry about how we’ll keep our strength up for tomorrow.” I ran my lips along her collarbone. “And trust me, we’ll need our strength with what I have planned.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Mmm,” I hummed. “But for right now, we have all the time in the world.”

  Unlike my hurried actions previously, this time I planned to thoroughly enjoy her luscious body. I took her hands and pulled them above her head.

  “Leave them there,” I said. When she started to protest, I added, “You can have your turn later.”

  She was soft and pliable under me. My lips explored parts of her I hadn’t tasted in a month. The hollow of her throat, the valley between her breasts, even the ticklish skin below her rib cage, I kissed them all.

  “I’m never going a month without you again,” I said as I nibbled along her belly button. “Ever.”

  She sucked in a breath as I trailed my hand lower. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

  I positioned myself between her legs and pushed her knees apart. She still had her arms where I left them, so I took her hands and placed one on either thigh. “Keep yourself open for me.”

  I started with soft kisses at her knee, slowly working my way upward. I nipped the tender skin of her upper thigh and she gasped, letting her legs move together.

  I pushed them apart. “Going to make me break out the restraints so soon?”

  “No, Sir.”

  My erection grew harder and I wondered if she realized what she’d said or if it just came naturally. It had not escaped my attention that she responded positively to the slight dominance I sometimes injected into our weekday play.

  I didn’t want her collared all the time and had no interest in a twenty-four/seven Master/slave relationship, but hearing her submissive reply to my words turned me on even more. Fuck, it always turned me on when she called me “sir.” We’d planned to have her wear her collar some during our honeymoon, but I wondered if we shouldn’t experiment with a few other things.

  For now, though. . . .

  “I’ve been waiting all month to do this,” I said, lightly tracing her wetness, dipping a finger into her. I brought it to my