Unwrapped

Cait pressed her cheek against the freezing car window. Maybe she’d cool off if she didn’t move from this position.

Ha, fat chance.

They’d been driving what felt like forever. Nine Inch Nails was playing on satellite radio, and every now and then, she’d hear the tires spinning on ice, along with Matt’s soft curses. Then he’d fall into silence again, and she’d find herself sitting straighter, her ears pricked for any sound. Any movement

. Even a deep breath, similar to the kind she’d taken often over the last hour.

In just over twenty-four hours, she would turn twenty-five. She’d be spending her birthday weekend with her best friends, as she had since college.

Only difference? She’d be spending this one bound, blindfolded, and naked.

She’d skipped the gag. God, she couldn’t believe Matt had all that stuff. Even if he’d bought things specially for tonight, it blew her mind.

Jeez, she’d lived and worked with the guys for years. How well did she really know them? For that matter, how well did she know herself? She had layers she’d never guessed before this week. Obviously Matt and Tris did too.

Clearly, she was naive. Matt had been participating in things like this for years, even going so far as to initiate Tristan into sex with another guy, for God’s sake. And she didn’t think she’d be much more able to hold out against Matt than he had—in just a week, she’d almost broken a dozen times.

Yesterday she’d spent half the night pacing between her bed and the wall, trying to talk herself out of going to Tristan’s bedroom, after she’d taken a detour to Matt’s first.

The little freak wanted to come out and play. In a very real way, she needed to. Between the situation with Val and all the tension with the guys, she felt ready to explode.

And heaven help her, when she exploded, she wanted it to be at their hands.

“Almost there,” Matt murmured, reaching back to rub her knee.

She couldn’t see him, of course. Since she’d opted for the blindfold to go with the restraints—in for a penny, right?—he’d situated her in the backseat to avoid being seen by passing motorists. Without her vision, she had only her hearing and sense of touch. The silk rope around her wrists didn’t hurt. It actually felt kind of good. He’d explained it was designed for sex play, meant to rub the skin in a pleasurable way. When coated with oil, it would feel even better.

Which he just happened to have. What a surprise.

Cait released a shaky breath as he removed his warm palm from her leg. God, she’d jumped at just that simple touch. With the loss of some senses, others had become more acute. Every smell seemed magnified. She cataloged the fake pine from the little tree air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror, the faint chemical aroma from her highlights. His mountain-crisp aftershave, as wintry as the night outside. Wintergreen from the gum he was chewing.

There was one more scent. One more aroma. She might’ve been imagining it, but she didn’t think so. She’d worn a short skirt today with leggings, and she could feel the slight chafe from the soaked fabric between her thighs. Hard to deny that sort of proof.

As soon as they touched her, they’d know. She wouldn’t be able to hide anything from them.

A few minutes later, the SUV shuddered to a stop. When her door opened with a gush of cold air, she shivered.

“Just a couple of feet.” His voice sounded rough. Delicious. “Here, let me guide you.”

“Thought you were going to carry me.” She’d only been teasing, but a moment later he held her securely in his arms.

“You didn’t want your ankles done, so I figured you wanted to walk.” He brushed a quick kiss over her ear. “Believe me, I don’t mind.”

He jostled her to get the truck door closed, and then he started walking. With every step, she bounced in his hold. She couldn’t cling to him in her dark, visionless prison. All she could do was remain motionless and hope for the best.

“I don’t like this, Matt. I can’t hold on. Can’t see.”

“That’s the whole point of trust. You have to believe I can keep you safe. That we can.”

“So if you fall on the snow and break your leg, I’ll trust the universe likes me too?”

He chuckled, shifting her as he stepped up. With a few more bumps, she heard the creak of a door being opened. The cold at her back disappeared as warmth suffused her front. “We’re here. Home sweet home.” He kissed her again, on her jaw this time. His lips were soft and gentle. Enticing. “Nothing’s broken. You’re all in one piece.”

“Small favors.” She finally relaxed as he set her down on what she assumed was a padded chair near the source of the warmth. Crackling confirmed her suspicions. “A fireplace! Oh God, I just had an orgasm.”

“Not yet, you didn’t. Soon, my pretty.” His slightly sinister voice made her giggle in spite of being trussed up like a Christmas goose. “Along those lines, I’m going to undress you.”

She immediately stiffened. Why, she didn’t know. She’d known where this was going.