How the Hitman Stole Christmas - Sam Mariano Page 0,20
then I squeeze myself against the sink so I can pull the door open.
Jasper is standing at the foot of the bed. The bigger white package from the adult store is open, the contents spread out across the mattress. With soft footsteps, I walk closer and peer around him to get a look at them.
Looks like restraints. There’s some kind of red tape on the bed, too, and he unpackaged the face harness.
I chew anxiously on my lip. “What are you doing?”
“Setting up the bed.”
I don’t know why I expected he wouldn’t tell me. He’s been incredibly forthright so far.
“Why did you take my clothes?”
“It’s the only outfit you have,” he says. “You’ll have to wear it tomorrow, so you probably shouldn’t sleep in it.”
Dread settles over me as I ask the question I already know the answer to. “Then what will I sleep in?”
Jasper looks at me over his shoulder, his gaze traveling the length of my body before landing on my face. “What you’re wearing now will work just fine.”
I swallow, clutching the towel a little tighter, but I know he doesn’t mean the damp bath towel.
He expects me to sleep naked.
“It’s cold in here,” I point out, like that will matter to him.
Unconcerned, a small smile tugs at his lips. “We’ll share body heat.”
That’s hardly reassuring, but I don’t bother arguing. I know he’s going to see me naked before all is said and done, so this isn’t the hill to die on.
The bed squeaks as I take a seat on the edge of the mattress. I pass a hand over the mussed pink bedding and cast an anxious glance at the items Jasper bought at the adult store. “When you say you’re setting up the bed, what exactly does that mean?”
He doesn’t answer me right away. He’s kneeling down, attaching something to the underside of the bed. The frame is metal, bolted down to the ground. If he’s attaching something to that, it’s probably pretty sturdy.
Apparently finished with his task, he yanks on something that sounds like a chain and nods with wordless satisfaction. He collects the packaging he discarded on the floor and gets to his feet. With his free hand, he holds up a black leather cuff attached to that chain he just pulled on.
“Ankle restraints,” he says simply.
I swallow hard. I want to drop his gaze, but I’m too horrified. “Why do you need those?”
Jasper cocks a dark eyebrow like I’ve asked something too stupid to comprehend, but his tone is patient, regardless.
“To restrain you, snowflake. Why else?”
Chapter Seven
Jasper
The girl loses several shades of color when I say that.
I’m not sure why. Did she think I’d trust her to stay in this bed all night while we slept? Sure, I can hold onto her, but people are too vulnerable in their sleep. Once I nodded off, she might slip out of my arms without me waking up. Maybe she’d quietly pull on her clothes and run out the door; maybe she’d pick up the microwave on top of the mini fridge and bash me in the head with it.
Who knows what she’d do?
I’m not about to find out.
I have better equipment at home, but it was lucky finding this motel right by the adult shop. Bondage gear works well in a pinch.
Autumn isn’t considering my side of things, though, she’s only thinking about being naked and tied up at the mercy of a strange man.
Understandable, but out of her hands.
After acting the way she has today, she’s getting tied up before I’ll be able to sleep, that’s all there is to it.
“Now, wait a minute,” she says, warily scooting away from me as I approach her side of the bed.
The cheap, white towels the motel supplies don’t provide much coverage. As Autumn scoots back, the material rides up and exposes a little more of her creamy thigh.
I’m not disinclined to play a little game of cat and mouse, so I climb on the bed and prowl toward her.
The panic in her eyes intensifies. “I—I don’t need to be restrained.” I advance on her and she scoots backward. “Let’s start over. I’ll play nice.”
I can’t help smiling at her desperate plea as she tries to get away from me. “Mm-hmm, I’m sure you will.”
“I will,” she insists with far more passion.
She’s about to roll off the other side of the bed. Before she can, I pounce, planting an arm on her other side to halt her escape.