“Stop being a coward,” she said bluntly. “Surely you’re man enough to grant a woman her fantasy.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Just what is your fantasy, Angel girl?”
“You’ll just have to see, won’t you? Do you agree? One night? Or are you scared?”
His eyes flashed and his lips tightened. “One night. Then this bullshit is over. Unless of course you’ve decided this isn’t working for you after all.”
There was a challenge in his tone as well, an ultimatum almost.
“One night is all I need.”
She hoped.
Angelina stood in the common room of The House and waited for Micah to appear. She was nervous, yes, but anticipation tightened every nerve ending. This was her chance to show Micah that trusting himself to another person didn’t mean a loss of control. Then maybe he’d understand why she’d done what she did at Mama Rose’s.
Micah shuffled in a few seconds later, hands shoved into his pockets, his expression locked in stone. He walked over to her and stood watching her for a moment.
“Okay, I’m here.”
“Strip,” she said.
His lips curled up in a half smile. “You have to know I’d get naked for you anytime, Angel girl. No need to go to this extreme.”
She watched him silently, waiting for him to comply. With no modesty, he quickly undressed and tossed his clothing aside. Then he stood to his full height, his stance challenging.
God, he was beautiful. All male. So solid. Strong.
“Over there,” she said gesturing to a taller beam than the one she’d been tied to. “Arms up.”
Again he complied, his expression almost one of boredom. But then he wouldn’t show anticipation. No, that would make him weak and it would make her right.
She had to use a chair to stand on in order to secure his wrists above his head. When she was done, she stood back and soaked in the image of this gorgeous man suddenly vulnerable before her.
He still looked dangerous. Caged, but still dangerous, like if she came to close, he’d pounce and devour. He wasn’t happy with the situation in the least, but he was keeping his word.
“You’re so beautiful,” she whispered as she came closer. She put out her hand to touch his chest and ran her fingers along the lines and contours, down to his flat abdomen and lower until her fingers tangled in the wiry hair between his legs.
She found his cock, long and at rest. The moment she touched him, it came alive in her palm, twitching and expanding in size.
Mesmerized, she stroked and petted over his hips, around to his firm buttocks and then up over the small of his back to the broad expanse of his shoulders. Here the muscles coiled and bulged tightly in response to his arms being stretched over his head.
Unable to resist, she pressed her lips to the center of his back and let them rest there for a long moment. He trembled beneath her lips despite his obvious effort to remain unaffected.
Finally she drew away and retrieved the whip she’d selected. She faced him, holding the leather in her hands.
“You like inflicting pain. I know it’s a turn-on for you. But you enjoy receiving it as well. Is it a weakness that I like the same pain, Micah? Am I weak and pathetic for acknowledging my desires?”
He shook his head. “Of course not. A woman who knows what she wants, who’s honest with herself and her partner, is a woman to be desired above all others.”
“Then why doesn’t the same apply to you?” she asked. “Why are you ashamed to admit your desires? Why do you think allowing me or anyone else to give you what you want makes you weak?”
He closed his eyes and turned his head away. When he looked back at her again, anger and frustration bubbled in his eyes.
“It’s not the same. I’m supposed to be the strong one. I’m supposed to take care of Hannah—you.”
Not responding, she circled him, remembering the last time she’d held the whip in her hands as she gazed at his tanned back. She remembered his soft plea not to go easy. He hadn’t known it was her, but he’d needed what she could give him. Now she would show him again.
She flicked her wrist, expertly sending the whip over his back. The crack was loud, echoing over the silence. He flinched as the red welt appeared as a diagonal slash across his flesh.
“Tell me how to please you,” she murmured as she stood to the side. “You see, Micah,