Ariana POV
Steaming water surrounded her, and Dimitri's face was buried between her legs. She'd lost count of the orgasms he delivered, and it wasn't even noon.
If he was trying to kill her with pleasure, he was well on his way to achieving that goal.
It kept her from thinking about Dimitri's so-called fiancee. She'd have to ask Elina about this Princess Irina. Elina was the closest thing to a friend and ally that Ariana possessed.
Moaning, she lay back in the Jacuzzi, riding out an explosion of pleasure.
"Mmmm, you come apart so beautifully for me," he whispered in her ear, holding her.
Minutes before, she'd reduced the proud Dimitri to a quivering mess in the water, which salvaged her pride somewhat.
When she grabbed a loofah to stop him from turning her to jelly again, she scrubbed all over his body and felt pleased when he moaned. "Mmmm, baby, that feels exceptional."
"I'll only continue if it pleases you," she said, smiling to herself.
"Mmmm, yes, please, pet. You know how to make me feel good."
He leaned back as the jets surged around his body. His glistening olive skin looked tempting, and she eagerly set about scrubbing him, getting off all the old epidermis and massaging him with the rough, springy loofah.
"Oh, sweetheart," he breathed. "You're driving me wild. No luxury spa could compare."
"You have a habit of visiting luxury spas?" she teased.
He grinned. "Yes, when I truly want to treat myself. I get more massages than facials or seaweed wraps or mud baths ... that reminds me, Elina is an excellent masseuse. You should get a massage several times a week, if not every day."
"Is that an order?"
His eyes sparkled. "Why, what a good idea. I'll make it one. Massages for you at least three times a week by Elina, and the rest of the time by me. And, of course, you'll massage me in return. Bliss. And speaking of that ..."
He rotated around and cornered her, settling between her legs. His teeth flashed in a wicked smile. "I think it's time I reward you for being such a good and thoughtful pet."
Her blush started. Honestly, couldn't the man let her have one moment where she gained the upper hand? She'd just started to loosen him up. It was almost as if he couldn't give up control, not for more than a minute or two.
"You don't have to--"
"Ah, ah, ah. You promised to obey me in all things."
He positioned her on one of the ledges of the Jacuzzi. It had these convenient ledges that looked custom-built.
"I bet you say that to all your submissives," she said, trying to get back some of the ground she lost.
His eyes smoldered dangerously. "Yes. And I tend to keep the ones who know how to spice things up, like you do. Within reason. For a former virgin, you have a fertile imagination."
"The Internet is pretty useful for that."
She gasped as he cupped her buttocks. The combination of steaming, rushing water and his masterful hands felt like Kryptonite.
Dimitri's voice was dry, in contrast to their moist and steamy surroundings. "I can only imagine the sexual experts you found online."
Blushing, she said, "I was talking about the erotica I read online."
"Hmmm, I may have to take a peek at your reading list," he whispered. "Any vampire novels?"
"Y-yes."
The word was a whisper, and she hated the feeling of vulnerability.
"So, you were drawn to vampires even before we met," he mused.
"Yes. But they're VERY popular," she said hastily. "Dracula was the original--"
"Dracula? HAH. 19th-century torture dressed up as eroticism, with incredibly flowery language. I mean, the scenes where Dracula is drinking from Lucy, and the scene where the women in his castle try to lure Harker into an orgy?"
She moaned as his hands slipped between her thighs. "But it's a masterpiece of horror. It's a literary classic."
"Some 'literary classics' are vastly overrated. I couldn't get through Finnegan's Wake."
She grimaced. "I have to agree with you there ... but Bram Stoker is a genius."
"Boring Staker, I call him. He completely romanticized certain aspects of vampires while ignoring the more interesting qualities we possess. I'll tell you what. Let's play a little game. Let's see how refined your tastes really are."
A game sounded good. She could play a game. "I like games."
* * * * *
Dimitri POV
How did he get so lucky?
Ariana had waited for him, largely untouched. He knew from his investigations that she'd had a few romantic relationships, but nothing serious that would distract from her studies and her plan. She had big dreams for her biotech career. He didn't want to interfere with that. Maybe she'd invent a synthetic blood substitute--although many vampire chemists had tried and failed. Just like some meat substitutes for humans. Or trying to make kale delicious.
"Our game is simple," he said. "I'll ask you to rate a fictional vampire work, and if I like your rating, I'll pleasure you. If I don't, you have to pleasure me--and make it good. Fair?"
"Yes, Daddy."
"Excellent. Let's begin. The Vampire Diaries--book and TV show."
"I like it. It feels realistic, based on what I now know."
He stroked her, making her moan. "So do I. Plus, Nina Dobrev is beautiful. How about the Twilight franchise?"
"NO. Except that I like Robert Pattinson and Kellan Lutz."
He growled, retreating. "Robert Pattinson was decent but you should never praise a series in which vampires look like they just came out of Tiffany's."
He leaned back, thrusting his manhood within easy reach of her talented hands. "Stroke me. Slowly. No rushing. Tantalize me."
Her beautiful hands caressed him, and he gasped, throwing his head back. "I can't tell the difference between your hands and the water, pet. Both elemental forces that please me. Alright. I'll give you another chance. Anything Anne Rice. And her son Christopher."
"YES. 'Beautiful, powerful, and without regret.'"
He growled. "Very good."
His fingers floated naturally, making their way into her love cave, and she screamed, already sensitized. "AH!"
"You can thank Anne and Christopher for your bliss. Let's see, who else? Ah ... Discovery of Witches, book and TV show."
"Never read or saw it."
He snarled, "We have to remedy your education. But if you get this one right, I'll forgive you. 'From Dusk Till Dawn.'"
"Based on your family, that one's spot on. Tarantino said we shouldn't romanticize vampires. And originally the movie was considered unsellable. But Tarantino thought it was a crime that there had never been a Meso-American vampire movie."
By the Elder Gods, he would keep this woman, no matter what. She belonged to him now.
"Hmph. He's right. about vampires being cold-blooded killers and bloodsuckers. At least certain ones. Including me."
He removed his hand, and then buried his tongue and lips between her thighs.
She threw back her head, screaming until the walls rang with it, already so sensitized and driven to distraction, reduced to the water itself by his sensual onslaught. She came explosively, limbs flailing in the water, and he held her until her shudders faded.
Against the backdrop of the veils of steam wreathing the Jacuzzi like ghosts, she looked like an utter sex goddess.
"You did so well, my pet," he said huskily. "You obeyed my instructions perfectly. You pleased me more than anyone else ever has."
"Really?"
Her words, laced liberally with skepticism, made him smile.
"Really." He gripped her shoulders, wedging himself between her thighs. "I've had countless lovers--my first was the Lady Edith Penvenen. My family marries for life, you see, so I was, ah, encouraged to get experience in romance before making a political alliance ... plus, I'm the youngest of several. So, you reap the benefits of her tutoring ... but you are incredible."
A loud knock on the door made him groan. "Not AGAIN."
D*mn, he asked not to be disturbed! What now?
Elina shouted through the door, "The city is under attack!"
Lady Edith Penvenen is a nod to two great characters, Edith Crawley of "Downton Abbey" and Caroline Penvenen of "Poldark."
I really have not seen "Discovery of Witches," but I did hear Christopher Rice speak!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!