Текст книги "Sweet Seduction"

Автор книги: Maya Banks

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Chapter 14

Micah leaned back in the chair in front of Faith's desk and turned his head as if to make sure they were still alone. "We still on for round two?"

"I wish to hell you wouldn't put it like that," Nathan grumbled. "And yeah, it would seem so. I mean, she asked for two nights. I guess I ought to be grateful she didn't ask for a week or something."

Not that he’d mind a month. Hell, he'd like a lot longer, but he wanted the blindfolds off and he wanted her to see him, to know it was him, to want him as much as he wanted her.

Micah eyed him with what could only be deemed amusement. "So how did the date go?"

Nathan grunted as he poured a cup of shit coffee that Micah had brewed and sipped cautiously. "It went."

"That good, huh?"

"It went exactly how I wanted" Nathan defended.

"So, what happened? You're acting like a bear with a sore paw this morning.”

"It's called frustration," he growled.

Micah chuckled. "You not have a good time, or she still holding out and running circles around you? I knew I loved this girl."

"We had a great time," Nathan said tightly. "She was great. Perfect, actually. I was determined to play it straight. She seemed convinced I was going to jump her, and I was determined to prove to her that I wasn't just after sex."

Micah leaned forward. "You aren't? Do tell. This gets more interesting by the minute."

Nathan sighed and ran a hand over his smoothly shaven head. "You ever look at a woman and just like what you see? I'm not talking about sex. I'm talking about liking her. The entire package."

"This reminds me of being in the third grade and having Emily Robbins tell me that she liked me but she didn't like me like me, because she liked, liked, liked Bobby Ray Coleman."

Nathan aimed a pencil at Micah's head and let fly. Micah ducked and the pencil bounced off the water cooler by the door.

"Okay, so you like her. The whole package. I get the feeling you're about to get all deep on me, man. We should probably be having this conversation over drinks, and one of us should be drunk. Preferably me."

"I wonder if anyone would miss you if you just disappeared one day," Nathan said.

Something peculiar flashed in Micah's eyes before they became bland again. "Nah, just Pop, and he could replace me quick enough."

"Don't tempt me then."

"All right, all right," Micah said, waving his hand impatiently. "So you like her. You don't want sex with her except if she doesn't know about it. Weird, man. I gotta say, you're one kinky bastard."

"Micah," Nathan growled.

He chuckled. "Okay, continue on."

"She expects me to want sex. I don't think she trusts men very much. I think she likes us as a species just fine, but I get the idea they've done a number on her, or maybe she just hasn't been very impressed by what she's experienced so far."

"So you want to prove her wrong. By having anonymous sex with her?"

Nathan glared at Micah who was contorting his face to keep from laughing.

"If I had my way, she'd be at my place, in my bed and we damn well wouldn't have any company. But since I don't have a choice in the matter unless I want her off fucking God knows who at a place where she could easily get hurt by some guy who wouldn't give a fuck about her or her pleasure, I have to go with what I've been given."

He turned away in irritation. He felt like a slimeball deceiving Julie like this, and okay, maybe he did think the threesome thing was pretty damn hot, but he still objected to having more than one dick in the room when he was having sex.

"Look, man, I know it isn't ideal, but you have a couple of choices. You come clean about your participation and go from there, you pretend you don't know a thing and ask her out for the same night and see what happens or you keep quiet and give her the best sex of her life."

"With you present," Nathan said darkly.

"If it bugs you that much, I can always slip out. If you're good enough, she won't even notice I'm gone," he said with a grin.

Nathan sighed. "That wouldn't be fair to her. Hell, none of it is, but I'm just enough of a selfish, conniving bastard that I can't stand the idea of another man touching her."

"So I take it you're going with option C."

"Fuck me," Nathan bit out. "She's making me crazy, Micah. It's not just lust. She does it for me. I'm telling you this is my dream woman, and she acts like . . . well, she called me sweet for God's sake."

"Ouch. Next thing you know, you'll be dickless and wearing pink."

"Thanks for that," Nathan muttered.

"Sorry I'm late," Pop said as he ambled through the door. Connor was on his heels.

"Where's Faith?" Nathan asked. He was still concerned after yesterday's showdown between her and Gray.

"Not like her to miss work," Micah said with a frown.

Pop smiled, and it was one of those shit-eating grins. "We're going to have to manage without Faith—and Gray, for that matter—for a few days."

Nathan exchanged looks with Micah and then they both turned to Connor. Connor shrugged and jerked a thumb in Pop's direction.

"Ask him. He has all the deets. I'm just the older brother. No one tells me anything."

"Faith and Gray flew to Las Vegas last night to get married. I imagine by now they've tied the knot and are tucked away in the honeymoon suite somewhere," Pop announced.

Micah chuckled. "Gray's a smart bastard. Hustled her off to Vegas before she could change her mind again."

Nathan frowned. "Is that what she wanted? He didn't coerce her, did he?"

Pop smiled. "It's nice of you to worry about her, son. Connor wasn't too happy with the way things went down either, but I talked to both her and Gray last night. Faith sounded over the moon. Whatever their issues, they seem to have worked them out."

"When I saw her yesterday, she seemed awfully upset," Nathan said doubtfully.

"She loves him," Micah said reassuringly. "I'm guessing there was a misunderstanding over the time he was spending out at the house. And we all know Gray is shit-faced when it comes to her."

Nathan had to concede that point. He'd seen Gray after he'd left the hospital after being shot because Faith was missing. He'd refused treatment, rest or anything else until she'd been found. It wasn't a sight he'd ever forget.

"Okay, so let's quit the gossip and get to work," Pop said. "Not that you make it worth a shit, but get us some more coffee going, Micah."

Micah sent Nathan a questioning look as he got up. Nathan knew what he was asking. Was he going through with Julie's threesome a second time? With a resigned sigh, he nodded. But this was going to be the last time, damn it. Sometime between now and the next time she decided she wanted an anonymous interlude, he was going to convince her that he was the only man she needed in her bed. Preferably for a hell of a long time.

He hadn't called. She'd honest to goodness expected him to call after their date and all she'd gotten was a big wall of silence.

Julie locked up her salon and walked toward her car, the frown she'd worn all day wearing a hole in her brain. She slid into the passenger seat and drew in a deep breath, appreciating as always the smell of expensive leather.

Her cell phone had remained silent. She'd checked messages on her home phone for the past two days and had come up with a big fat zero.

With her second night at The House looming, she was in a huge quandary. Go with it or call it off?

As she backed out of her parking space, she shook her head. Why the fuck was she waiting around on a man? Again. This was the kind of stupid shit she had done when she was younger and a hell of a lot dumber.

She hadn't panted after a man in a long time, and damn if she was going to start. Okay, so she'd been panting an awful lot. Drooling, more like it, but that didn't mean she was going to stay at home, twiddling her thumbs while she waited for Nathan to make up his mind.

No kiss, no come-on, no promise to call her, no asking her out on another date. The evening had ended in silence and the silence remained. Hello? Slow to get the message much?

"You're a dumbass, Julie. You've let another guy twist you around and make a total ninny out of yourself."

Just saying it made her feel better. The first step in becoming smarter was to admit what a dumbass you were.

She wished she could just be angry, but the truth was, she was hurt by Nathan's indifference. He seemed interested enough when they were together. He'd said some really sweet things and he'd seemed sincere.

"Don't they all," she muttered.

She swung into her favorite take-out place and waited for her order. Dinner alone at her apartment wasn't on her list of favorite ways to spend the evening, but with Faith out of town getting hitched and Serena having plans with Damon, it left her options slim. It wasn't as if Nathan was knocking down her door.

She had walked into her apartment, juggling purse, keys and food when her phone rang. Thoroughly disgusted with the way she leapt at the thing, she forced herself to let it ring more than twice before she answered.

"Hey, Julie, it's Serena."

"Oh, hey."

She had to force a light, cheerful tone because her disappointment was damn near crushing. You moron.

"Damon wanted me to check with you to see if things were still a go for tomorrow night?"

She frowned. "Why wouldn't they be.”

Serena paused. "Well, you know, you and Nathan went out . . ."

Julie snorted in disgust. "He's not interested, Serena. And I'm not waiting around for him. I get the feeling I'm his backup plan or something. Fuck that."

"Ah, damn. I was hoping he'd call you."

"You and me both," she muttered, too low for Serena to hear. "Well, look, it's not the end of the world. The threesome ... it was dreamy and it has the added benefit of not making me crazy.

Honestly, I was nuts for getting involved with Nathan to begin with. He's obviously not that into me."

Serena sighed. "Okay well, I'd hoped it would work out. But he's a moron if he passed up an opportunity to have you."

Julie grinned. "I love it when you get all loyal on me."

"I'll kick his ass next time I see him."

"Nah, he's not worth it. Besides, you'd just hurt yourself. Don't worry about me, Serena. I plan to have fun and forget all about Nathan Tucker."

As she hung up the phone, she shook her head in disgust. Her vow of forgetting about Nathan Tucker seemed to be a common one. So when was she actually going to heed it?

Chapter 15

“I want you to come to The House tonight," Damon said as he forked a small bite of steak onto Serena's tongue.

The two were enjoying dinner in front of the fireplace, which Damon kept burning year-round, no matter the outside temperature.

She cuddled into his side, forgoing the next bite that he offered.

"You're asking," she said in a puzzled tone.

It wasn't as if he had actually phrased it as such, but normally he wouldn't say anything at all. If he wanted to take her to The House, he did so. Their relationship was a study in submission. Hers. It was something she still questioned at times, but she'd never backed away. No, she wanted it, craved it, too much. Much as she craved him. His love, his protection.

"Julie will be there tonight," he said after a hesitation. "And as you know, so will Micah and Nathan. Even though they won't be in the common room, I wanted you to know that they would be there before I took you."

She cocked her head sideways, studying his features. His warm brown eyes that softened with such love every time he looked at her.

"Does the idea that they could see me excite you?"

Damon was nothing if not honest. Even to his detriment. She could see the arousal in his eyes and knew the answer to her question already, but she wanted to hear what he was thinking. She thought she knew some of his thought process, but to hear him? Already a low thrum of desire swelled in her belly.

"What excites me is for them to see that you're my woman. My love. The woman who has trusted herself into my care. Not just them. Anyone. In my eyes, there is no woman more beautiful than you when you dance under the lash of my crop. For others to see and recognize that beauty gives me immense satisfaction."

She had no words, no response. She sat there, staring at him with wide eyes, her heart fluttering wildly.

"Does my barbarity shock you?" he asked.

For a moment concern sparked in his gaze, but he regarded her calmly, as if he trusted her to accept him.

She touched his face, allowing him to slide his lips over her fingertips in a gentle kiss. "Has my reluctance made you insecure? It's not what I ever intended, Damon. I've tried to be so careful to be fair to you in my caution."

He smiled. "You've done nothing wrong, Serena mine. I won't lie to you. Do I expect the people you know to even know you're there? No. But the idea of them being there, of the possibility that they could walk into the room and see you naked, under my hands, so submissive. Mine. Mine."

"And if I said it bothered me, that people I'm close to would see me this way?"

"Then I would never make you go."

But an essential part of their relationship would be gone. Irreparably damaged. Trust.

"And if I told you that I would stand naked in front of the world while you marked me as yours?"

"Your trust humbles me," he said in a nearly silent, aching voice. "Sometimes late at night I lie in bed with you next to me, your wrist bound to mine, and I simply marvel at the idea that you're mine. That after spending so many years searching, I've finally found you. I know you worry that I'm in love with an idea, a facade that you can only hold up for so long, but you're wrong, Serena. I love you, not an idea."

Love. It bathed her in its warm, heady glow, comforting. Constant.

"Take me where you go, Damon. It's all I want. I'm in your hands. Always."

He silenced her with a kiss. His lips touched hers with a reverence that shook her to the core. There was so much feeling. Too much for her to bear. He shattered her every time he showed her his love.

When she didn't stop to analyze, when she merely accepted, she was completely and utterly bowled over by the intense connection between them. Searching back, it was too soon, too young, too fresh to be so strong, so stable, so . . . permanent. Wasn't it?

There were rules for relationships, surely, that didn't include falling in love in such a short period of time. They were supposed to date, bicker, break up, fight, get back together, ponder getting married, children, baby names and then be engaged for at least a year before settling into marriage like an old couple. Right?

Damon had taken everything she'd ever considered about love and turned it on its head. Ever since they'd embarked down the path of her fantasies their relationship had a surreal quality that she still struggled with.

But if it wasn't real, what was it? No one could fake this kind of emotion. Who was she to say that what she felt, what Damon professed to feel, what he showed her with each glance, every touch, was an illusion?

The realization of just how wrong she was staggered her. Every day she expected to be the last, as if one of them would wake up and realize they were deluding themselves or each other.

While Damon had been giving their relationship his all, she'd been giving it a time limit.

A low sob welled in her throat, catching and stealing her breath. She swallowed and swallowed again, but it tore out as painful as her lack of faith.

Damon went still, and then he pulled away, concern deep in his eyes. "Serena, what's wrong?"

He put his hands to her face, touching lightly, seeking, running them down her neck and over her shoulders then back up again.

"Nothing is wrong," she choked out. "Everything is very, very right."

He gazed at her with the look of a man completely befuddled by a woman. How was she to make him understand anyway? There was no way for her to make it right with mere words. No, not unless they were the right words. Just the perfect ones. "What shall I wear?" she whispered. "And when should I be ready?"

He fingered the band around her arm, the beautiful piece of jewelry he'd gifted her with. The symbol of his ownership. She'd never once taken it off, and she knew if she were to remove it that the impression would be branded onto her skin.

"Your stockings," he said after a moment's consideration. "The black ones. And your heels, the ones I just bought for you."

"What else?"

"Just your silk robe. The short one that hangs just below the band of your stockings. Nothing else."

"When should I get ready?"

He kissed her again. "Now. I find I'm unable to wait any longer. We'll leave as soon as you're dressed."

Chapter 16

Tonight she stood at the side of the bed, her back to Cole as he slipped the blindfold snugly around her eyes. Julie sucked in her breath as the room went dark. Immediately her hands went out, seeking the edge of the bed in reassurance. Cole caught her by the waist and held her there for a moment until he was sure she had her bearings.

For one brief second, she wondered . .. But no, he couldn't be one of her men. The hands were all wrong. His were smooth. Too smooth. Not rough like her guys.

"I'll leave you now," Cole said next to her ear. "Get comfortable. They'll be in shortly."

She crawled onto the bed and instead of lying down, she rested on her knees, letting her hands curl into fists on the tops of her thighs.

She didn't have long to wait. The door quietly opened, and the brief disturbance in the air told her they had come. Footsteps, barely audible, whispered along the floor. She sat there, fists clenched tight as she heard them discard their clothing.

Why was she so nervous? She was trembling, her mouth dry as she waited. She hadn't been this antsy the first time, but then she knew what waited for her this time.

A sudden thought hit her. Would they even be the same men? She swallowed back her panic. No, Damon wouldn't do that to her, would he? She hadn't specified that they'd be the same men, and she had no guarantee her original lovers would even want her again.

A hand slid over her right shoulder, and she breathed a sigh of relief. The light rasp of those work-roughened hands soothed her nerves. It was him. Her gentle lover.

He let his fingers wander downward to cup her full breast. He weighed it in his palm for a long second before brushing his thumb over the peak, coaxing it to full arousal.

She emitted a soft gasp when his lips touched her shoulder. Just a soft brush that sent chills racing up her neck, tightening all the tiny hairs at her nape. A warm, silken glide. The hairs of his beard scraped delicately over the curve of her neck, his soft breath spilling over her skin.

Her back arched as she bowed upward, seeking more of his touch, his tongue, those wonderful lips. His other hand slipped down her back, to the hollow above her behind and then caressing lightly over her buttocks.

Another gasp stuttered out when the other man's lips closed over her nipple, sucking hard. He nipped at the bud, grazing the puckered skin with his teeth.

Then a second mouth closed over her other breast and she moaned, throwing back her head to give them better access.

The dual sensations, so different and yet thrilling, captivated her. She knew without seeing which was which. Her gentle lover plucked softly at her nipple, toying, loving, while the other man suckled hard.

Carefully they laid her back and to her surprise turned her over onto her stomach. Hands, lips, the soft glide of tongues slid over her shoulders, her spine, her ass. She floated, lulled by the decadent wash seeping over her.

Firm thighs straddled hers. Fingers curled beneath her ass to grip her legs, spreading them slightly. She sucked in her breath when a cock nudged between her cheeks, sliding downward, seeking her pussy.

He arched over her, raising his hips and then sinking, lodging himself firmly into her wetness. Trapped between him and the bed, all she could do was process the sensation of being pinned, penetrated, as he held himself deeply within her body.

Back and forth. Slowly he glided, rasping over her swollen, damp tissues. The dragging sensation spurred electric currents, each one racing through her belly to her breasts, drawing her nipples into hard knots.

Fingers dragged through her hair, and at first she thought he was merely petting her, but then he touched her cheek, tapping the hollow just enough so she parted her lips. She started to raise her head, but he held her down, letting her know she was fine and to relax.

So she lay there, her cheek pressed to the mattress as he positioned his cock at her mouth and then slid inward. He laid his palm over her face in a gentle cup as he thrust in and out.

Her belly was flattened as her other lover rode her, his big body leaned over her as his hips flexed and strained. She could  feel every one of his muscles tighten when his flesh met hers. It was heady, delicious, and she never wanted it to end.

His fists met the bed on either side of her hips with a thump as he dug in and began thrusting with more vigor. Long, deep, he buried himself completely, wedging himself as tightly as he could go.

They were careful not to overwhelm her, and she didn't know if she was grateful or frustrated. The one fucking her mouth was exceedingly gentle, and yet this wasn't her gentle lover. No, he was the one deep inside her pussy. Why was her more insistent man being so careful with her mouth?

A single finger trailed down the cleft of her ass, stirring a remembrance of how she'd done the same to Nathan. Man, did he have a nice ass. She shivered and wiggled a bit when he stopped and toyed with the puckered ring of her anus.

His thrusts had stilled now, and he concentrated more on playing with her ass, rimming the entrance with a light touch and then pressing inward as if trying to insert the blunt tip of his finger inside her.

She held her breath, unsure of whether she liked this or not, but as he continued the gentle toying, she found herself responding, arching upward to meet his seeking hand.

He stilled and rubbed his palm over her ass cheek, coming to a stop. He was still buried in her pussy, and he didn't seem hurried. He brushed his thumb across her anal opening and then went still again.

Then she realized, he was silently asking her permission. God, did he want to fuck her ass? She'd tried it before, albeit with a less skilled lover. Quite frankly it had sucked before, but would it be different with these two men?

She relaxed her mouth when she realized it had gone tight around the cock sliding in and out. Then deciding she could always call a fast halt, she arched her hips, seeking his hand, telling him just as silently as he'd asked that it was okay.

But no, his hand went still again, and he squeezed firmly. Okay so despite his utter silence, he wanted a verbal response from her. Damn the man.

She lifted her head just enough that the cock could slide over her lips and fall away. She turned in her other lovers direction, though she couldn't see him, she knew his gaze was locked on her, waiting.

"I trust you," she said steadily.

His hands tightened on her ass and he thrust forward. She could hear his breath, harsh in the stillness, and then he leaned down and his hand touched her cheek, his thumb brushing across her lips as if to tell her that sooner or later, he'd be there too. Everywhere. In that moment she understood. It wasn't just about anal sex. He wanted to take her in every conceivable fashion, almost as if he were laying claim to her body and soul.

It was a fanciful thought, but the night was one big fantasy so she couldn't be hard on herself for succumbing to the magic.

The man at her head made no move to slide back into her mouth. She felt him move away, and a moment later, warm, slick oil dribbled into the crack of her ass.

Still embedded in her pussy, her lover carefully worked the oil over her tight ring. His finger delved inward, just barely, before retreating again. He was patient and careful and seemed devoted to making the experience as enjoyable for her as possible.

More oil rained down in a warm rush, sliding around his fingers as he played. She gave a little gasp when one tip finally slid inward, breaking the taut resistance of her opening. He didn't move. He simply left it there, allowing her to become accustomed to the sensation of his finger.

Finally he inched forward, burying the finger to the knuckle. A sound that was an odd mixture of a sigh and a moan whispered past her lips when he carefully pulled back, retreating until just the tip was inside the opening, stretching it. Just when she felt it begin to close back, he eased forward again, reopening her.

More oil slicked his way, and he added a second finger, gradually stretching her as he applied the lubricant.

It was maddening. She squirmed, her skin itchy and unsettled. She wanted more, wanted him to just do it, and yet the care in which he introduced her to the act touched her.

She went completely still when he slid his index finger in, pad down against the thin layer of skin separating the walls of her vagina and her ass. He seemed fascinated by the feel of his own cock through the skin as he ran his finger up and down along the hard bulge.

And then he moved his hips, sliding his cock up and down against his finger. He was going to drive her insane. She wanted that cock in her ass. Deep, unrelenting, spreading her wide and filling her over and over.

She twitched and squirmed, bucking upward until he held her down with his free hand.

Goddamn it, he was going to make her beg.

Sinking her teeth into her lip, she raised her head and pushed herself upward with her arms. Finally he got the message and slid out of her pussy.

Oh God. More oil. It dribbled down, sliding into her opening, stretched by his fingers. It filled and then overflowed, and he massaged the extra into her skin with slow, methodical movements.

His hand left her for a moment and she heard a slight sucking noise. Oil over latex. He was lubricating his cock.

The bed shifted as he rose on his knees. His thighs pressed solidly against her hips as he leaned forward, guiding the crown of his dick to her opening.

He didn't immediately press for entry. Instead he tucked the head against the opening and rested there, allowing her to get used to it. Then carefully, he started to press forward, stretching the resistant ring around the broad tip.

Her fingers curled desperately into the covers. She wanted to scream, she wanted to cry out, she wanted to tell him to fuck her and fuck her hard. Her body was going in six different directions, and she didn't have the first clue which direction she wanted to follow.

With an almost delicate give, her body ceased resistance, and he slipped past, into her body. Oh God, oh God. Her chant was silent, her nerve endings too fried to say anything. He was big. Bigger than big. He felt huge inside her ass, and he'd stopped as soon as he'd gained entry. She wasn't taking all of him or even half. And yet she felt split wide open, as if she couldn't possibly take another inch.

And then he moved forward, proving her wrong as he worked a little deeper.

She wiggled. She squirmed. She was on the verge of coming completely and utterly undone. Her breathing was too fast, she knew, but there was little she could do to slow it down.

Part of her wanted to scream for him to quit while the other part of her wanted to yell at him to just do it. Take her. Fuck her until she had no inkling that they were separate beings.

An almost primitive rage built within her. She wanted to turn around and snarl at him, take him and take him hard. Claim his mouth, his body, jump on him and fuck him as hard as she wanted to be fucked.

No longer willing to wait, to be patient or to enjoy his gentle initiation, she pushed back, taking more of him, as much as she was able before he halted her with his hands. They shook against her, betraying his seeming control. This was as hard for him as it was for her.

Now he was lodged halfway into her ass, and she panted, trying to suck more air into her tortured lungs. His hands came to rest over her hips, his touch light, inquiring.

"You're not hurting me," she said with a moan. "More. I need more."

Her words seem to shake loose his gentle regard. He tilted his hips and sank deep, his hips coming to rest against the flesh globes of her ass. The crisp hairs surrounding the base of his dick tickled her skin as she squirmed harder.

"Goddamn it, move!"

A low chuckle reverberated over her skin. Even his damn laugh was sexy. Low and husky. Where the hell was the other guy?

He leaned down and pressed a kiss between her shoulders, right along the ridge of her spine. Damn, that was a sensitive spot, and he felt good. So good. How could something so simple as a well-placed kiss turn her to butter?

Not content with that one little kiss, and not seeming inclined to accommodate her demand to move, he trailed his mouth lower, taking a line down the middle of her back, dragging that beard and his full lips over her skin.

His hands splayed out over her hips, his fingers wide and sprawling. Finally he moved, dragging his cock back, nearly withdrawing completely before sliding forward in one long, delicious thrust.

He stroked and petted her skin, soothing her, reassuring her that he wouldn't take things too far. It was as if he spoke, because she knew, she knew he was holding a tight line of restraint.

And she had no choice but to play it his way in her current position.

He retreated again and then fed his cock into her ass inch by agonizing inch until once again he pressed firmly against her cheeks.

Full, so full. Stretched around his dick, pinned to the bed underneath his muscled body.

Then to her utter shock, he leaned down, slid his arms underneath her belly and lifted her up. He pulled her back, leaning as she sat on his cock, her back pressed solidly against his chest.

Her bottom rested on the tops of his thighs, and he scooted awkwardly toward the edge of the bed. He rolled slightly to his side, his cock still buried tight in her ass, each movement sending it deeper. She gasped, part in pleasure, part in pain as the fullness overwhelmed her.