Page 74 of Deathless
That sound immediately pulled my focus from the aesthetics of his bonds to him, my Santos. “Hey, handsome. Was this your idea?”
“We both came up with it.” He nodded at Torr.
“Look at you.” I breathed in awe, drinking him in from head to toe. “You like being trussed up for me like this?”
“More than like.” His constricted chest strained against the rope as he took a breath, the binds pressing into his skin. “Iwantthis. With you.”
“You’re sure?” I couldn’t stop taking in all the details. The contrast of the straight lines and uniform knots against the organic contours of his body was beautiful to behold. Pale threads against tan skin. His slight movements under so much restraint. Restraint that he wanted.
“God, yes.” His voice became a plea, one that sent heat flooding to my core. “Your control is the only kind I’ve ever craved. Your pleasure is all I care about giving.” His big shoulders pulled slightly at the ropes, and fuck me, why was that so hot? “So please, paloma. Use me. I’m yours for the taking.”
Speechless was an understatement. I was absolutely floored by the display of devotion and trust. And not just by Santos. Unable to find anything to say, I walked a slow circle around my gift. My prize. I was only distantly aware of other movement, probably Devin and Hudson making their way into the room.
Once behind his chair, I paused to admire how Santos’ arms were tied behind his back. Ropes looped around his forearms and were held together by an intricate braid of knots between the two limbs.
“You like your gift?” Torr asked, arms crossed with more than a hint of smugness.
Looking back down at my bound gladiator, I kept noticing more ties and patterns that I didn’t see before. The rope went over Santos’ thighs and hips and under the seat of the chair to hold him in place. Torr needed to have gottenveryclose, touched him in intimate places. I knew the two of them weren’t sexually attracted to each other, but that kind of trust and comfort between each other was moving in its own right.
The thought of Torr leaning over Santos, pulling lengths of rope around his hips, securing it, and snaking the lengths up his waist, was practically foreplay in itself.
On top of all that, they had done this forme.
“You’re not saying anything.” Santos’ voice hardened slightly, losing some of that sweet, sexy begging. “Areyouokay with this, paloma?”
“I’m just...speechless,” I admitted. “I’ve never received such an amazing gift. Especially one wrapped so beautifully.” I looked at Torr. “When did you learn how to do this?”
“When you were out for a week,” he said. “I couldn’t lift to cope, couldn’t leave your side for a second. All I had was a length of rope, so I tied knots and made patterns.”
“Amazing,” I mused, returning my attention to Santos. “Can I touch you?” My hand hovered over his shoulder.
“Please,” he purred.
His skin was warm under my palm. I slid a finger under the rope binding his elbows, testing its tightness. The digit slid under easily, though the rope left a clear mark on his skin.
“You’re not in pain anywhere?” I asked, circling around to the front of him again. “Or going numb?”
He shook his head, tongue wetting his lips. “The only thing that hurts is that I’m not pleasing you right now.”
“Oh, gorgeous man, youarepleasing me.” I hooked a finger under the knotwork in the center of his chest and pulled slightly, until the tension snapped the rope against his skin with a soft crack. “You are just a feast for the eyes. I hardly know where to start with you.”
A soft creak coming from the bed reminded me that we weren’t alone. Whatever I’d be doing to Santos, I’d have an audience. Maybe even some extra participants, if I was lucky.
“You guys still good to hang out?” I said with a tilt of my head toward Devin and Hudson.
“Oh yeah.”
I wasn’t sure which one of them answered, but that was good enough for me. My attention was solely on the beautifully bound man in the center of the room.
“You’ve got to promise me one thing, Torr,” I said while walking another slow circle around Santos, gently pulling and testing at his binds as I did so.
“Yes?” Torr’s voice was raspy, practically a groan already.
“Next time you wrap my present for me,” I stood behind Santos and ran my palm down his chest to his firm stomach, “I want to watch you do it.”
“Sure, I’d be happy to show you.” Torr’s eyes followed the movements of my hands as I caressed Santos. “Maybe even teach you how.”
Santos dipped his head back and moaned. “Uh, yes.” His body surged under the ropes.
