Page 21 of Bared Betrayal
“This is the part where I ask you if you want this.”
“I do,” I respond, my voice softer than intended.
“You have doubts.”
I cut my gaze to him. “I don’t.”
“Let’s be clear about one thing.” He moves closer, his eyes pinning me. “Don’t. Lie to me. Understood?”
His authority is everywhere in this room—especially in the tiny space I’m taking up. “I’m not lying.”
“Do you know how many women have walked up those stairs with me thinking this is what they want? Thinking they want pain, but as soon as shit gets real, they spit out their safe word before I’ve even fucking started?” There’s a darkness about him, something seductively malevolent as he towers over me, his black mask enhancing the color of his eyes. “Don’t waste my time, little girl.”
“I’m not…wasting your time.”
He slants his head to the side. “This isn’t a movie, or a goddamn romance novel. There aren’t contracts, or a goddamn sit-down where we discuss all your hard limits, what I can and cannot do with you.” He takes my chin and tilts it up, forcing me to look him in the eye. “If you say yes to me, you have no hard limits. And I can do whatever the fuck I want with you.” He grips my chin, fingers biting into my jaw. “I’m going to ask you one more time. Do you…want this?”
My mind is reeling, but there is only one answer I want to give him. “Yes.”
His lips curve at the edges. “Good girl. Now.” He takes a step back and starts rolling up the sleeves of his black dress-shirt. “What shall I do with you?”
I turn away, and my gaze sweeps across the array of whips hooked to the wall. Different sizes and lengths, ranging from hard leather to soft suede. They look…interesting, but my eyes are immediately drawn to the collection of wooden canes. They’re all different lengths and widths, some featuring exquisite designs carved into the wood.
That. I want that, and I want him to be the one to give it to me.
He accurately guesses what has captured my attention, the corners of his lips lightly curling. “Are you sure?”
I nod, sucking my bottom lip into my mouth as he steps close, his eyes pinning me to the spot as he leisurely starts to slide my dress from my shoulders, letting it pool around my feet.
I swallow hard.
“The words don’t, no, and stop are not options for safe words.”
“Why not?”
He looks down at the swell of my breasts, easing a fingertip down the middle. “Because those words make me hard. And since my cock is already aching to be inside you, if you use those words, there’s not a chance in hell I’ll stop.”
His fingers tease down my waist and along the curve of my hip. His touch is slow, sensual, and I’m holding my breath as he crouches in front of me, trailing a fingertip along my lower abdomen—my scar—then softly kisses my sex. My legs go weak, and I latch on to his shoulders, my eyes rolling closed.
“I can smell it on you. How badly you want this.” He drags his palms up my sides as he straightens, his eyes raking along my naked body. My shoulders tense as he reaches up and I hear the sound of chains. “Lift your arms,” he demands, and I don’t hesitate. I’m not scared of him. On the contrary, for some unexplainable reason, I trust him. It’s me I’m afraid of, the raw desire that’s coursing through me at the thought of what’s about to happen.
I expect cold steel to wrap around my wrists, but instead, it’s soft, gentle, like velvet against my skin. A memory starts to slither into my head. Tied hands and searing pain. It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to let it in or let the memory take me.
“Relax,” he coos, brushing his warm palms down my arms. “You’re safe.”
I let out a breath as I watch him select one of the canes from the wall. Am I insane for wanting this? Is it madness for my body to crave this?
He steps up behind me. “Your safe word is shadow.”
“I thought you said if I say yes, you can do whatever you want with me. So why do I need a safe word?”
He grabs my hair and yanks my head back. “Your sass might be sexy to the outside world. But in here it won’t be tolerated. You will address me as sir, and the only words I want to hear come out of your mouth are yes, sir. No, sir. Please give me your cock, sir. Understand? Now, what is your safe word?”
“Shadow.”
He tightens his grip. “Louder.”
“My safe word is shadow, sir,” I say louder this time, and with more conviction.
