my jeans, slowing tugging on the zipper. I darted several looks into the living room, half expecting that Zorro would come bouncing in at any time. The pup was comfortable, accepting of the man who’d taken control of my house and my life. What the hell could be next?
I shifted my hips back and forth as I lowered the dense material past them, every part of me still shaking from anticipation as well as excitement. When I almost tripped from attempting to step out of them, I bit back a moan. I was forced to close my eyes as I slowly shimmied my panties past my thighs. The embarrassment furrowing deep inside created a wave of heat, a skittering in my heart.
Bad girl. Bad. Bad. Bad.
My inner voice was working overtime, reminding me that every choice I’d made had been ridiculous. After folding the two pieces and placing them gingerly on the kitchen table, I walked toward the only corner of the kitchen without cabinets or furniture in the way. I had to take several deep breaths before I could actually move as close as possible to the wall, fisting my hands and fighting back tears. All because I was that bad girl.
What I knew about myself was that I wasn’t a patient woman, not on any level. Just trying to keep calm while waiting was almost too much to take. I listened for any sound, only able to catch a slight crackling of the fire, the sound not remotely soothing. Every inch of my skin was on fire, tingling as if I’d already been disciplined.
I pushed my hands against the wall, twisting my head back and forth as I tried to keep my position. There was no idea how much time had passed. Two minutes. Ten.
A half an hour.
But when I finally heard his boots thumping against the kitchen floor, I was unable to stop a whimper from escaping. Mustang seemed to be hesitating in the doorway. What the hell? Was he studying me, making certain I’d followed his directions? A few seconds later, I realized that was exactly what the man was doing. It wasn’t about intimidation, merely another way of adding to the sickening anticipation.
Even though my pussy was wet, already slickening the insides of my thighs, I dared not glance in his direction. I knew better. I simply tried to concentrate on what he was doing when he finally walked further into the room. The scrape of the bottom of the wineglass was maddening. I eased my forehead against the wall, clenching my fists and resisting tossing out demands.
Another thirty seconds passed and I was fighting what little control I had left over my natural tendencies to lash out. When I finally sensed his presence directly behind me, I bit my lower lip to keep from crying out.
“You did very well, Danni.”
Why did his tone have to be so soft even in its heightened level of control? As he brushed his fingers down my spine, I shifted even closer to the wall, planting my hands against the wallboard.
Exhaling, he rolled his fingers down the crack of my ass, slapping both cheeks. “I think you’re beginning to understand the ramifications of your actions. Correct?”
“Yes, sir.” Jesus. Where had the word come from? I’d never called anyone sir, not even my father.
“Excellent. Come with me.” He guided me toward the island, gently planting me across the smooth surface. “Arms over your head.”
I did as I was told, taking shallow breaths as I strained to see what he was doing. When he grabbed the twine, I clamped my hands around the edge of the counter. I didn’t have to see him unwinding the string. I could hear what he was doing and as he walked to the other side of the island, his single growl was enough to push echoes of my heartbeat into my ears.
He said nothing as he wrapped the thin rope around my wrist, securing the end to one of the drawer handles. Very methodically he repeated the move with my other arm, taking a deep breath after he’d finished. “That will keep you in place.”
As soon as he’d said the words, I jerked my arms, shifting back and forth on the island when I realized just how secure I was. Lifting my head, I followed his actions as he walked around the other side once again. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed he took another sip of wine while he pulled one