Nicole Edwards - Perception

“Mercedes,” Xander growled softly, his hips moving, his strokes deepening until she felt all of him. “Baby.”

When his eyes closed, Mercedes reached up and cupped his face. “Look at me,” she begged. Although she’d meant it as a command, it came out more as a plea, but Xander opened his eyes. “I love you,” she whispered to him and Xander stilled. Right there, lodged deep inside of her he went stone still.

“Aww, hell,” he growled. “Say it again, Mercedes. Tell me you love me.”

Mercedes thrust her hips upward, trying to drive him deeper. The movement elicited another groan from him, but then he was moving again, never looking away from her face.

“I love you, Xander Boone. I love you so much.”

“I can’t hold back, baby. I need you too much.”

Xander growled, his release clearly taking him by surprise. And her too because as soon as he came, Mercedes saw everything she’d been hoping to see right there in his beautiful eyes.

And that’s when she tipped right over the edge with him.

Six months later, January…

At the grand opening of Alluring Indulgence Resort

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Mercedes said, a pretty pout on her lips.

“I always know what I’m doing,” he assured her. Granted this time he wasn’t quite as confident. He’d already attempted this once, and he wasn’t exactly sure what made them think it would work a second time, but here they were.

Acting as Mercedes’s submissive for this one last scene was going to take a certain set of skills he didn’t think he even possessed. It wasn’t all that much different than the night at Devotion, but he remembered clearly how that had turned out. A total fucking disaster.

And to make it worse, the Walker brothers were hanging around which didn’t make him at all eager to take those stairs down to the first floor.

In truth, after the way that night had turned out, he hadn’t expected Mercedes to follow through with the second request, but it had inadvertently come up in conversation just a week ago. At first, he thought she was going to try to talk herself out of it, but Xander had insisted.

It didn’t mean he was at all happy or that he didn’t hate that he would have to pretend to submit once more. But he did know, with absolute certainty that he could not go back on his word. They’d had an agreement. She would submit to him if he submitted to her.

It didn’t seem to matter that she’d submitted to him completely for all these months either. A deal was a deal.

However, he was glad to see that there was a significant difference between this scene and the one they’d done at Devotion when she had successfully restrained him and blown his mind with her dominance, even though she had considered that night a failure.

First, he wasn’t wearing a collar.

Second, he wasn’t weighed down by wrist shackles.

And third, they’d talked and come up with a plan ahead of time so there wouldn’t be any surprises.

He’d appreciated all of those points considering they were at Alluring Indulgence, and the Walkers would be present. Based on what they had predetermined, if things went accordingly, he wasn’t even sure people would realize what they were seeing. He knew what they would expect to see though, so it would probably work out in both of their favors.

It was all about perception.

His.

Hers.

And everyone else’s.

It was true, people only saw what they wanted to see. In this case, it didn’t matter whether they believed the man was always the Dom, or that the Dom wielded all the power. There was a drastic difference between what they wanted to see and what reality was.

“Since you’re so confident, then what are we waiting for?” Mercedes asked him – he knew it was rhetorical – as she turned toward the sweeping staircase that would take them to the main area on the first floor.

It wasn’t like it was a death march, but Xander preferred to pretend not to think about what they were doing or where they were going. Instead, he busied himself with checking out the beautiful woman who was now leading the way. He was supposed to be playing a part, keeping his eyes forward, not ogling her, but the woman was absolutely breathtaking, and he found himself devoid of any and all willpower where she was concerned.

They were in costume, as Mercedes had put it. He wore nothing more than a pair of leather pants, his shit kickers and sterling silver hoops in his nipples. He’d traded the titanium bars for the hoops at the last minute and the way Mercedes had eyed him had given him the courage to go through with this.

No one ever said you had to be submissive to seek approval from the person that you loved. Xander was certainly no exception. To know that she was going to enjoy this as much as he was made it all worthwhile.

Then again, he wasn’t the main attraction. Mercedes was. It wasn’t what he was wearing that would catch people’s attention anyway. Especially not with a tall, willowy, curvy in all the right places, incredibly beautiful woman at his side.

Tonight, Mercedes’s body was showcased in a ruby red baby doll nighty that did little to hide the stunning body beneath. Her nipples were visible through the sheer material, and her long legs were accentuated by fishnet stockings with those sexy fuck me heels on her feet.

But when she turned away from him, that’s when Xander’s mouth went dry. Her luscious ass was on full display, a tiny G-string doing nothing whatsoever to shield her glorious backside.

It was an outfit very similar to the one he’d had her put on the very first night she submitted to him at Devotion. He couldn’t help but wonder whether that was intentional on her part.

The view definitely made what was about to happen a little easier.

Apparently someone had been thinking ahead because, as they began to descend the stairs, Erotica by Madonna began playing on the overhead speakers.

Interesting choice.

Doing his best to stay focused, Xander allowed Mercedes to lead him to the center of the main room, straight to the oversized, black leather, circular sofa that was the focal point of the open space. Luckily no one stopped them to chat. Xander could tolerate a lot, but tonight, he had no intention of making small talk.

At least not until this was over.

When they stopped at the sofa, Mercedes mumbled, “I hope you’re ready for this.”

Taking his seat, he looked up at her, met her beautiful gray gaze and said, “Baby, you have no idea. But just wait until later. I fully intend to make your pretty ass blush with my hand.”

His words seemed to have taken Mercedes by surprise, but to her credit, she didn’t show any outward reaction. Rather than waiting to see what she’d come back with, Xander got into position on the couch, lying flat on his back. Because of his height, he stretched from one side to the other, but nothing was hanging off, which was good.

He couldn’t help it, he looked over, tracking her with his eyes as she came around the sofa to stand near his head.

“Eyes above you. Not on me,” she commanded.

His cock jerked in response. He might not submit to her by choice, but he did enjoy her demanding side from time to time.

As the song continued, Xander freed his cock from the confining leather, stroking himself ever so slowly as he waited for Mercedes to get into position. She had strictly instructed that he was to tempt her, but he wasn’t allowed to come. For a scene, this one was incredibly tame, especially for Mercedes, but again, he hadn’t complained.

It sure beat the alternative.

When she kneeled over him, one knee on each side of his head, he sucked in a sharp breath, praying he would be able to control himself. As with anytime he was with her, the rest of the world receded. The only person who mattered was her, and this time wasn’t any different.