Cherished (Masters and Mercenaries #7.5)(66)

He snapped one around the material between my wrists and the other he clipped to the wrought iron in the headboard. He got off the bed and those violet eyes of his stared down at his handiwork.

Naked. I’d been naked before but no one ever made me feel the way Gray did. He studied me like I was a painting he thought fascinating. He’d tied me up so I had no where to run and then he took his time. He caressed me with his stare. The man didn’t have to touch me to make my nipples peak or my skin feel alive. And he didn’t have to say a damn word to make me vulnerable to him. I was laid out and open, and I was fairly certain that even if he’d untied me, I wouldn’t have run. Yeah, that scared me more than I can say.

When he was through with his study, he leaned his big body over and brushed his lips against mine. He didn’t attack or try to prove his strength. He did with his mouth what he’d done with his eyes. Slowly and with perfect patience, he explored. I had no way to protest, so I got to do what I had wanted to do in the first place; enjoy the feel of his mouth on mine. I tried to stay in control all the time, tried to direct the world around me, and now I had to wonder why. Just “being” was a foreign concept, but now I relaxed and let myself be with Gray. The man knew how to kiss. After he’d kissed my lips and cheeks and chin and nose, his tongue ran across my mouth, seeking entry. I gave it with a sort of lazy abandon, giving myself over to this moment out of time. His tongue dove deep, twisting around mine like muscular velvet stroking into me. He held my head in both his hands, keeping me still for his plundering. It seemed like forever before he sat back with a satisfied smile, and one hand reached out to tweak my nipple.

“Do you often tie women up?” Of all the things I’d expected him to do, this was not even on the list. I knew I should be fighting, but this slow seduction was a drug invading my system. I liked the feel of my wrists above my head.

A sensual smile spread across his face and his accent deepened when he was aroused. “As often as they’ll let me, darlin’. I like it. You look gorgeous like that. Later, I’ll tie your legs down. I’ll use silk rope so it won’t harm your skin, but you also won’t be able to move. You’ll be open and I’ll be able to do anything I want to you. I’ll be able to play with every pretty pink part you have, and I will have you screaming for me. You should understand that I’m a man who likes to play with his toys, and you are going to be my sweet little f*ck toy the minute I close that bedroom door. I know how strong you are, Kelsey, but you don’t have to be in here. You can relax with me. You can know that I will always take care of you. This first time I want your legs around my waist, squeezing me when you come.”

Every word came out of his mouth like hot silk covering me, and a warm rush of arousal pulsed through my system. I came alive at the thought of him inside me. God, I lusted for this man. Before Gray, I had just wanted the physical release of sex and the nearest available guy would do, but now there was only Gray. I worried no one else would ever do it for me after him. And I worried that I had no idea how to give him what he wanted. Arousal fled a little as doubt came roaring back. I hadn’t made love before. He was right about that. I’d degraded myself because somewhere deep down I thought I deserved it. Gray was offering me something completely different and it terrified me.

“All right, you had your fun, lawman. Untie me.” I gave him my tough-girl voice because I needed to put some distance between us.

He laughed. “That’s not happening, Kelsey. It’s obvious to me you have no idea what you’re doing and I aim to teach you.”

“Go to hell, Gray.” I pulled at the bindings on my wrists. If I was really honest with myself, I didn’t try hard.

His eyes went dark and serious. “I’ll get there, baby, but I’m not going until you understand a few things.” He knelt on the bed and placed his big hand on my belly. I practically quivered at his touch. “I love you, Kelsey Atwood. I love you and I’m going to f*ck you.”

“That doesn’t sound so loving to me,” I commented.

He smiled and leaned over. “Only because you don’t know the difference between getting laid and spending hours f*cking someone you can’t live without. I’m going to love you until you don’t remember what your * felt like without my cock in it.” He trailed his hand down and gently slid his middle finger across my clitoris, parting my labia and delving inside. He sighed. “That’s better. When you jumped on me before, you weren’t even wet. It’s not supposed to hurt. Don’t you look at me like that. I’m not judging you. I’m telling you that I’m different from some guy in a bar. I love you. I’ll take care of you.”

I had two choices. I could fight and he would eventually let me go. Or I could try for once in my lonely life.

I took a deep breath and decided to play things differently. My instinct was to run, to push him away because I already felt too much for him. But I couldn’t walk away from Gray and not just because he was really good with bondage. If he broke my heart, at least I’d have loved someone just once.

I nodded.

“Thank you, sweetheart.” He stood and moved to the end of the bed. His hands ran up my legs and I sighed because it felt good and warm everywhere he touched me.

I let my head fall back. “You can let me out now. I won’t fight you.”

He raised my foot up in his hand. “Hell no, Kelsey. I got you where I want you. Like I said, I’d tie your legs to the post too, but I have plans for them. I’ll go easy on you tonight, but eventually I intend to introduce you to some…exotic play.”