practically rolling on the ground in laughter. “You’re so damn cute. The odds of a tick already taking hold are very slim. We’ll get you all checked out in the shower.”
“Is this your sly way of getting me naked?”
“Did it work?”
“Yeah.”
Shower Shenanigans should be an Olympic sport. I’m happy to report that there were zero ticks found on either of us, but there were plenty of orgasms to be had—and that’s a successful morning in my book.
Now, we’re sitting in the family room with an Indiana Jones movie showing on the huge TV while we play Canasta.
“I can’t believe you’ve never played this before,” I say as I take a card from the deck. “I used to play all the time with my dad.”
“Were you a card shark with him, too?” Shawn asks with a frown.
“Maybe. You have to take your pants off.”
Did I mention we’re playing strip Canasta? Because we are. It’s glorious. So far, all I’m missing is the button-down shirt I put on over my cami after our shower. Other than that, I’m fully clothed.
Shawn is now officially only in his boxers.
It’s a sight to behold.
“So, you won,” Shawn says.
“No, you’re still wearing your underwear. I don’t win until you’re naked.”
He cocks a brow. “If getting me naked is your goal, I’ll happily do so without having you kick my ass at cards, Lex.”
I giggle and shuffle the cards. “But this is so much fun.”
“For you.” He waits while I deal, watching me with happy, green eyes. He’s acting like a sore loser, but he’s been laughing and having a good time regardless. “I had no idea you were so competitive.”
“When it comes to cards, yes. I’ve been going easy on you.”
He laughs as he picks up his cards, and then, without saying a word, he simply stands up and takes off his shorts.
“You just gave up,” I say.
He shows me his cards, and I bust up laughing. “Yeah, good call. That’s a losing hand if ever I saw one.”
My eyes roam over him, taking him in from head to toe.
He’s sculpted with muscles in all the right places, and he’s not too beefy. No, he’s lean and toned and just…delicious.
And even after the sex marathon in the shower, I want him again.
I crook my finger, beckoning for him to come closer. He obliges, and I turn in my seat, now eye-level with his impressive cock that’s quickly hardening under the scrutiny of my gaze.
But I don’t touch it. Instead, I let my fingertips glide over his smooth hips, across his abs, and I place a kiss on his upper thigh just under that sexy V.
His fingers sweep my hair back.
“We need to talk, Lexi.”
My eyes dart up to his. “Okay.”
“I’d like to play this afternoon, but I need to warn you that you might need your safe word for this.”
I feel my eyebrows climb in surprise. Excitement takes hold in my belly.
“Really?”
He nods solemnly. “I need you to promise to use it if you need to.”
“Okay, I promise.”
He takes my hand and pulls me to my feet, and then he leads me down the hall to our bedroom. When we’re standing in the middle of the room, he turns to me, then frames my face and kisses me lightly.
“I want you to take your clothes off and stay right here. Don’t go to the bed. Okay?”
I nod.
“Answer me with words, Lexi.”
“I understand.”
He turns away and walks to the closet, and I get to work stripping out of my clothes. He’s more intense this afternoon, and I’m excited to see where he’s going to take this. I’m standing right where he left me, naked as the day I was born, when he turns back and crosses to me.
He’s carrying rope.
My eyes find his in surprise. “You want to tie me up?”
“Very much.” He takes a deep breath as if he’s trying to calm down. “I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. Here.”
He lets me hold the rope in my hands. It’s red and smooth. It feels like nylon.
“This is a soft rope so it won’t bite into your skin at all. It won’t chafe. It’s not meant to hurt you, it’s meant to restrain you while I give you pleasure, that’s all. I want to make sure you understand that I’m not trying to harm you.”
I immediately smile at him. “You’d never hurt me.”
His eyes soften as he reaches out and drags his thumb over the apple of my cheek. “No, I wouldn’t.”
I pass the