Bound by Bliss (Bound and Determined #2)(93)

She looked about, trying to think of any way to make the man see sense, any way to make him release her. The room was very similar to the one she shared with Duldon, although perhaps not as fine. One of the wardrobes stood half-open and she could see the shine of metal and a hint of dark leather within. Leather? She peered more closely. A whip? Her eyes flew to the crop that Temple had somehow kept as he bundled her into the room. She was not going to think about that until she had to, surely Temple could not truly mean to…She pulled at the chains again.



She swallowed once and then tried to make her mouth form words. “Why are you…?”

He cut her off, “I think I should make you ask for permission to speak. I believe that is how these things are done. Does Duldon make you ask and beg?”

Why did he keep speaking of Stephan in such a manner? She blocked that thought from her mind also. More immediate worries beckoned. She would try playing his game and see if she could delay things. This surely could not go on for long. “May I please speak?” She had not meant to sound so polite.

“May I please speak, Master?” he corrected. “Didn’t Duldon teach you any manners?”

Master? A half-memory of Stephan joking about the word flitted through her mind. Call Lord Temple Master? No. Never. Only she was not a fool—and had spent enough years fighting with her brothers to know when to lose the battle and think of the war. “May I please speak, Master?” she said the words with extra sugary sweetness.

“I will allow it for the moment.” He leaned over and picked up the crop, slapped it idly against his thigh. He was enjoying the role he had chosen for himself. And then his eyes again locked on her bosom in a most unpleasant manner. “But do not try my patience.”



“Why are you doing this? Surely you would have more fun with somebody else, with one of Madame Rouge’s girls. I am afraid I truly don’t understand—Master.” She added the last as she saw his face begin to darken.

“What is there to understand? I was alone with no one to play with and then there you were. I could not mistake the joy you have taken in our game. I know you wanted me to find you the other night. You wanted me. You still want me. Although you did take it too far the other night and I can only think you are trying to make me punish you. That is the game you like, is it not?”

“No, I do not like this game.” She tried to speak firmly, to hide the quaver in her voice, lest he mistake it for anything but fear.

“Girls always take persuading.” He smiled again.

Was the man insane? She began to fear that he might be. Surely no reasoning man could mistake her refusal for invitation.

“Please let me go.” It seemed hopeless, but what could she do but try?

“I wish you would quit saying that. I know you don’t mean it. Why would you have run into the hallway if you weren’t looking for me? No, don’t answer. I know the truth. Now, how to begin? Normally I start when the girls are already naked in the bed—and we’re not doing anything but a simple f*ck, or sometimes she uses her mouth. I do like mouths. How does Duldon start?”

God, he did have a preoccupation with Stephan. Her mind spun as she tried to find the right tack to take. “Duldon likes of the joy of anticipation. He wants me to wait and wonder what it will all feel like. He wants to be sure that my whole focus is on him when it happens. He believed the longer I waited the more I would feel it, would know what it meant.”



Temple pursed his lips. “I can perhaps understand that.” The slap of the crop against his thigh belayed his words.

Think. Think. Think. “He likes to play with me first, to stare at me and just watch me. He knows how excited I get just being watched, the things it does to my body.”

Temple’s eyes had grown dark, and his breath shallow; perhaps this was not the right road to take. She hadn’t meant to get the man excited, not that he hadn’t been already.

The crop stilled, and then began a slow steady tap. “You do look delicious hanging there. The ideas it puts in my head. Should I strip you bare? I rather think I should. Yes, I can see the pleasure that might exist in just watching. I could even pull you up a little higher. Would you like that?”

The man was deranged. There was no denying it. He actually thought this is what she wanted.

A deep knot of terror grew in her belly. She should have been more afraid from the moment she’d been shoved through the door, but only now did the full implications of what he might do settle upon her. Should she scream again? How much noise could she make before he could gag her? The bolt that held her to the ceiling was far enough from any of the wardrobes that he’d have to leave her free for a few seconds at least while he fetched the gag. Her eyes moved from the wardrobes to her feet, considering.



“Are you wondering what I am going to do to you? Are you feeling the anticipation?” Temple took a step closer. He clearly did not have Stephan’s patience for just watching and waiting.

Lowering her eyes, she did her best to ignore him. Should she scream?

“Should I tell you?” he continued, reaching out a finger and running it across the top of her breasts.

Why was it so different when he touched her and when Stephan touched her? “Yes, Master.” It was best to know so that she could plan.

He smiled with satisfaction, but then his gaze locked on the edge of her bodice where the pink of her nipple was showing through.