she hadn’t been drawn to him. There had been that one brief second and now she knew it was because her female had been on the verge of the rising. She’d stretched. Sent out a brief preview of what was to come, and then like all females in the beginnings of their coming emergence, settled and vanished as if she didn’t exist.
Flambé nodded. “Yes. I did.”
“We get married and we stay exclusive. When we have a problem, we talk it out. I know your landscaping business is important to you so it’s important to me. You need to keep me in the loop at all times. You’ll have to get used to having one of my men with you. Sometimes it might be necessary to curtail your activities and stay closer to home, but only in an emergency. I also know you’re passionate about saving other shifters. I have resources that can help you with that. My cousins and friends do as well.”
She rubbed her chin on top of her knees and searched for the right words that she hoped didn’t sound judgmental when she really was grateful that he understood she wouldn’t give up her business or her work helping other shifters. “I try to keep everything legal. I want them to start their lives here in the States right, as citizens with an education and an opportunity to own their own businesses and employ others who need assistance. I want anyone we bring in to be productive citizens.”
“I’m very aware you keep everything legal, Flambé. I do my research when anything gets anywhere near my cousin.”
His tone sent another shiver traveling down her spine, reminding her she was stark naked and the room was chilly. Once again, she became wholly aware of him as a man. Shifters had the roped muscles of their animal counterparts and Sevastyan’s chest had muscles merging with his impressive abdominal muscles that just seemed to continue until they disappeared into his low-slung pants.
“Shall we continue with our previous conversation on rope bondage? I think it’s important that you understand what I expect of you and what will keep you safe.”
He paced away from her, and she took a deep breath, feeling like she’d been breathing shallowly and needed the air. “Yes.” She wanted to learn as much from him as she could, but watching him move was so mesmerizing she feared she might miss what he was saying.
He indicated several very thick rounded poles that looked as if they were made of bamboo. If they were, she’d never seen bamboo that thick. “I want to work with those, stretching your leg or both legs on them and suspending you in the air, so the splits are important. You have to be comfortable in that stretch for long periods of time. It’s important to hydrate. I can’t express that enough. You have to take care of your body, Flambé. And you have to talk to me. I know what I’m doing but if one day you’re feeling fatigued or you’ve injured yourself while working, you have to let me know. I can’t put you in a position that might make that injury worse. In other words, you don’t stay silent just to please me. That won’t please me, plamya, it will piss me off.”
She nodded. “I understand.”
“I put a bottle of water on the nightstand for you. Use the bathroom and then drink water. You need to always be hydrated. That’s your job when I call you to me. Prepare yourself. Once you’re trained, I might want to suspend you from the ceiling. I might choose to put you in any number of poses using any type of rope or a combination of ropes. You will be expected to remain in the position until I choose to allow you out of it.”
Her sex clenched wildly in response to his demands. She nodded to show him she was listening because she was afraid she might not be able to speak.
“You saw me at the club. That was entirely different. There I needed to get in and get out. Here, with you, I intend to indulge myself. My cravings. My desires. Fulfill every one of my fantasies as well as work out the various positions I’ve always wanted to try when I had my own woman. Look at me, Flambé.”
She forced herself to meet his eyes. The things he said made her entire body flush with heat and he could see it. He could also smell