Page 59 of Tempt

“Yeah?” His eyes are hot now, laser-focused on my face. The zinging gets better and worse at the same time.

It’s definitely heating up in aisle six, and that’s probably not appropriate.

But I don’t really give a damn about appropriate.

“Please,” I whisper.

The corner of his mouth crooks up, a soft little tell in an otherwise burning-hot expression. “Since you ask so nicely,” he growls. “But this project might get more detailed than I first quoted. I hope you’re able to pay the full bill for this house call, ma’am.”

I definitely will not be able to pay the full bill. “And if I can’t?”

His gaze flashes greedily. “We’ll figure something out.” He glances around. “Now, do you think they sell rope in this place?”

“What?” I heard him just fine. I know why he’s asking. But that’s going from zero to sixty, and…I like it. I love it. “Sam, are you serious?”

“That’s what you meant by bondage, right?” He flashes a devastating grin. “If we buy with all this other stuff, they’re not going to think it’s for anything dirty, right?”

“This is my local hardware store!”

“Okay, I’ll check out on my own.” He leans in and kisses me. “You can scurry out front and be quietly mortified. I think that’s kind of hot.”

“I’ve created a monster.”

I get another kiss for that. “Maybe. Let’s go look at rope.”

Back at my house,Sam silently unloads his purchases. The fancy new drill, the light we’re going to install, the tool belt, two different kinds of cotton rope, and a terrifyingly large pair of shears.

“For safety,” he said as he plucked it off the shelf.

I spontaneously combusted.

Now I’m hovering next to him, a re-assembled collection of horny pieces.

He grabs the tool belt first and straps it on. “All right, let’s get to work. Can you go and turn off the main power?”

“But what about the rope?” I blurt out.

He glances at it casually. “That’s for later. After I do some research of my own. Let’s talk about it—after you kill the main power.”

“Bossy.”

“Is that something you like?”

“Only when I’m tied up, I’m pretty sure,” I lob back.

His grin is so broad, it fills me with joy, and I scamper down to the basement to turn off the breaker panel.

It’s cold outside, and my fingers get stiff immediately, but Sam doesn’t seem to mind. He smoothly removes the old light, then follows the instructions to get the new one installed. Before I know it, he’s sending me back downstairs to turn the power on, and we haven’t talked about rope play at all.

When I return, the new light is in place—shiny and new, and much more substantial. Fitting to the era of my home. “I love it.” I clap my hands. “But I don’t have any money to pay you.”

“Well, that’s going to be a problem,” he says, drawing out each word with extra-serious emphasis. “Let’s step inside and discuss your options.”

“Options?” I open the door and he pushes up against me, shoving me in a little.

“I did a job for you, ma’am. It’s only fair I get something in return.” He glances at the rope on the ottoman. “Or…”

“Or?” I sound way too eager.

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