When I reached his feet, I sat back on my heels and looked up. Our eyes met. His lean, muscular silhouette looked imposing above me. Even that rebel lock of hair had been tamed into submission tonight.
He took another sip of his drink and set the glass on the table. Pulled the chair at the head of the table aside. Loosened the knot in his tie. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“If there’s a point tonight where you are not, you should tell me.” He slipped the tie from his collar.
I swallowed hard. “Like a safe word?”
His mouth hooked up on one side. His hand freed the top button of his shirt. “You already have a safe word?”
“No,” I said quickly. “I’ve never needed one before.”
“You do now.” He undid a second button. “So what will it be?”
Of course, I couldn’t fucking think of anything, and I panicked.
“Roy Kent,” I blurted.
He cocked his head, his hand still on his shirt. “Who’s Roy Kent?”
“Never mind.” Damn you, Millie! “I’ll think of another one.”
Do not say Oklahoma.
Do not say bumblebee.
I racked my brain for something else. “Romeo,” I said breathlessly. “That’s what I’ll say. Romeo.”
He set his tie on the table and offered me a hand.
Placing my palm in his, I rose to my feet. “Is anything going to hurt?” I asked, picturing whips, chains, ball gags, metal cuffs and clamps, shiny rubber gloves.
“I don’t need to inflict pain to feel in control, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Okay. Should I—”
But that was all I got out because he spun me around and clamped a hand over my mouth, pressing his body tight against my back. “Shhh. From now on, you don’t speak until I ask a question. You don’t move unless I tell you how. You don’t come until I give you permission. Nod if you understand.”
I nodded, my heart banging so hard against my ribs I was sure he could feel it on his chest. I was facing the table now—and the window. The drapes were open, and I could see our reflection in the glass. Darkness pressed close on the other side.
I watched as he loosened his hold on me and slowly unzipped my dress. It was so tight he had to pull it down my arms and over my hips until it fell to the floor in a puddle at my heels.
When I went to step out of it, he grabbed my hips. “You don’t move unless I tell you to.” His tone was low and stern. A reprimand.
I opened my mouth to apologize and caught myself.
He met my eyes in the window reflection. “Good girl. You learn quickly.”
Desire hummed beneath my skin.
He noticed what I was wearing—a black lace thong and bra—and murmured his appreciation. “You surprise me,” he said, running one finger along the lace that crested each cheek. “All night I’ve been hard thinking about what you might be wearing under that dress. But I never imagined this. I like it, especially with those shoes.” He moved closer to me again, nuzzling the back of my neck with his nose, his breath a warm whisper on my skin. “Those heels have been driving me crazy all night. I want to do such bad things to you in those heels.”
My breath was coming in short, hot bursts and I felt damp heat between my thighs. My entire body was aching for his hands, but even though he said he’d been thinking about this all night, he was being so agonizingly patient, like he might be content to torture me all night with stories about what he wanted to do to me without actually following through.
He reached for his tie and met my eyes in the glass again. “Do you want to watch me do bad things to you?”
I opened my mouth, unsure if I could speak.
“You can answer the question.”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, I want to watch you do bad things to me.” I saw him smile in the glass—a slow, satisfied smirk.
He took my arms and crossed my wrists at the small of my back. Then he wound the silk tie around them. “You’re so beautiful,” he said, binding my hands and pulling the knot tight. “So sweet. So polite. Like a princess. And you smell so good.” He buried his face in the curve of my neck and inhaled, then pressed his lips to my throat.
It was a struggle not to moan as his mouth moved over my skin, his tongue warm, his lips firm. He kissed his way down one shoulder, and across my upper back, sending chills rippling over my whole body. His hands roamed over my hips, up my ribs. He slid them across my stomach and sternum, and I arched my back slightly, wanting his hands on my breasts, trying to tempt him. But he continued to torment me, putting his hands everywhere but where I wanted them most. He pressed closer to me, his erection grazing my ass.