“Hmm. I think there’s more here you’re not telling me.” Her breath got trapped in her chest and she fought for oxygen. “There’s a selfish reason you want me to stay.”
She opened her mouth to answer, gave a squeak, and tried again. “Nope. Just want you to be happy.”
His eyes held amusement. Slowly, he opened the freezer, took a cup, and began filling it with ice. “I think you like torturing me. Forcing me to exercise in a hundred-degree room while I watch you parade around half-naked. Tempting me with your gorgeous body on display, flaunting what I couldn’t taste and touch, while you called me ‘Officer’ in that snotty tone.”
Her skin heated. She watched as he took the half cup of ice and set it on the counter. “I didn’t think you liked beer with ice.”
“I don’t. I have another use for this. You’ll see in a minute.” She looked at the cup. Worry creased her brow. There was something almost threatening about his tone of voice. “You were hot in that room with me, weren’t you, Arilyn?”
“Yes. That was the point. Pumping the temperature helps release the toxins. I bet you felt amazing afterward.”
“After a cold shower, I did. Will you take off your clothes for me?”
She stared at him. A shiver of trepidation raced down her spine. “Am I going to be naked again while you’re dressed?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He smiled. “Because it turns you on.”
He was right. The secret, shocking exhibitionist in her had been let loose. Maybe it was the way he devoured her with his gaze. He never let her doubt what she did to him, giving him pleasure, and that made the whole encounter more exciting. And the naughtiness with him fully dressed, using his authority to command her to do things, totally wrecked her head. In a good way.
She placed her wineglass down and backed up. Arilyn had already planned to take charge with his seduction tonight, so this went with her goal perfectly. Slowly, she took off her clothes, running her fingers lightly over her skin in a caress, causing a groan to rip from his lips as she stroked her belly and thighs before shedding her entire outfit and underwear. By the time she was done with him, he wouldn’t know how to speak English anymore. That would teach him she wasn’t a woman who always bowed to direction. His hot gaze probed every inch of her body, lingering on her hard nipples, her tummy, her pussy.
His voice came out hoarse. “Every time I look at you I die a little. I brought a little present with me. Wanna see?”
She nodded, so aroused already she’d be lucky to know English herself. He reached in his back pocket and drew out two strips of red silk.
His ties.
Arilyn tamped down a moan. He watched her carefully and then, grabbing the cup of ice, began to close the distance. “I want to tie you up, Arilyn. Do things to you. Very bad things. Will you let me?
She meant to say yes but ended up releasing a husky moan.
“I’ll take that as permission. Come with me.” He led her into the bedroom and shut the door. Studying her queen-size bed, he ran a hand over the teak headboard as if assessing its potential as a sexual weapon of torture. “Hmm, posts too far apart. I’ll have to improvise. Lie on the bed, little one.”
Heart beating madly, anticipation tangling with a hot arousal that singed her nerve endings, she climbed on the bed, lying quietly, and he gently clasped her hands and raised them over her head. “I’m going to tie your wrists together. Keep them in that position. I don’t want your arms too stretched by the headboard so I’ll have to trust you’ll keep your arms still. Just like you trust me to take care of you.”
He situated her on the bed, checking the fit of the bright red tie and pulling her legs down the mattress a bit. “Perfect. I may never recover from this. You’re so fucking beautiful.”
A half laugh escaped her lips. “I may never recover from letting you do this.”
He leaned over, his mouth inches from her. “I’d never hurt you, little one. You’re too precious.” He kissed her and she melted, surrendering to everything he wanted from her. When he broke away, a fierce tenderness gleamed from his eyes. “Let’s play.”
Stone took the other red tie and dangled the edge over her breast. With teasing, deliberate motions, he dragged