Page 125 of Sycopation
It wasa little weird to wake up tied to a bed, but Ray didn’t mind. Felt strangely secure, especially with the weight and warmth of Zavier’s body over his. He could have stayed like this forever, if it hadn’t been for something so mundane as hunger.
His stomach growled again. “Fuck.”
Zavier shifted. “I should untie you.” Lips pressed against Ray’s back. “Should’ve earlier.”
“It’s not that, but yeah.” The loss of Zavier’s weight and heat was disconcerting, but not as horrible as Ray had imagined it might be. “Fucking stomach wants dinner.”
“Well, it is dinnertime.” Zavier peered at the other side of the bed. “A little past, actually.” Then he bent and freed the rope from the wrist cuffs.
Ray left his arms where they were because itstillfelt good to be stretched like this. “Please do this to me again sometime.”
A huff of laughter. “You really are perfect.”
“Me?Fuck no. You’re the one who’s too perfect to be real. Rock-star looks. Rock-star name. Rock star?—”
“Tied down to my bed.” Zavier tapped Ray’s ass, and even the light blow sent a tangle of pain and pleasure up Ray’s back. “I should make you read some of the fanfic descriptions of you.”
The rope holding Ray’s left ankle slackened, then let go. Zavier undid the other rope, too. “Oh god.” Ray pressed his forehead into the mattress. While his arms felt fine, his legs were another matter.
“I’ll help you up. You need a shower anyway.” Zavier paused. “We both do.”
They smelled of sweat and sex and each other, and Ray loved it. “Should check with Mish and Dom to see if they’ve eaten.”
Zavier grunted, and worked with Ray to get him turned over and sitting next to the rather large wet spot he’d created. “I’ll text. I suppose we’re doing room service?”
He sososodid not want to sit in the room next door and eat hotel food again. “No. I want to go out. Get dressed. Blow through the paparazzi and have a real meal in a real restaurant. Maybe even outdoors because this hotel air isshit.”
A strange look, part amusement, part pride, appeared on Zavier’s face. “You’re feeling better, then.”
He rolled his eyes. “Text them.”
“You giving me orders?” A grin. “While you still have cuffs and a collar on?”
“Remember that part where I said I don’t want us to be Dominant and submissive all the time, and you agreed?”
Zavier snorted—and texted. A moment later, his phone dinged.
“They say they haven’t eaten. They were waiting for us.” He eyed Ray. “I’ll tell them to meet us in the communal room in thirty minutes.”
Ray nodded. “And tell them we’re going out.”
A quirky smile from Zavier. “Where do you have in mind?”
He had no idea. “Fuck if I know this town. Somewhere good. With a patio that we can get seated on. I bet the concierge can make it happen.”
Damn, it was fun watching Zavier’s ever-shifting emotions. “Shall I call down, then?”
Shall?He laughed. “Would you mind, Zav? I guess I’m the one being imperious now.” He paused. “But you did just flog and fuck me into oblivion, so I kind of feel like I can rule the world.”
“In a collar and cuffs, no less.” Zavier texted the others, then picked up the hotel phone and talked to the concierge.
Ray closed his eyes and let the murmur of Zavier’s voice pull him back into that warm, safe place where he was strong and—at least to Zavier—perfect.
Hands on his shoulders, Zavier’s hot voice in his ears. “You’re still not down completely, are you?”
Ray shook his head. “Not entirely. But enough. Let’s get ready.”
They did, Zavier helping him into the bathroom and shower, but by the time they were done, Ray had found his strength. They put on nicer clothes. “Interview clothing,” Zavier muttered, and headed into the adjoining room. Dom and Mish were already there, looking equally as stylish and nice.
