Perfect. Right where I wanted him.
Zeroing in on his broad back, pushing the restraint of his dress shirt, I took a step and then another.
“Stop.”
Immediately, I obeyed. His words sharp like a whip, almost delivering their own sting and warmth. My spine tried to stiffen under the command but quickly softened with curiosity, needing to know how much more bite I could take before I lit on fire.
“I want you to go to my side of the bed, kneel, and pull out the box underneath. Then, place it on the bed and open it.”
My heart thundered, the unknown and excitement warring on the edge of a cliff, and everything swarmed around me. I just walked, not really being able to identify what had my breaths coming so quick and short.
“Is this where you confess you’re a serial killer?” I taunted. Deciding to break the rules, I stroked my fingers along his back on my way to the bed. He grumbled at my disobedience, but the way the muscles twitched and rippled under my touch made it worth it.
“Not quite.”
Hairs on the back of my neck rose as I met his gaze while I dropped to the plush rug covering the dark wood floors. Everything about him screamed control, but something dimmed the green I saw before. Something hesitant.
Holding his stare, I lifted the heavy box to the bed, rose to my feet, and hesitated. Just a moment to wonder if maybe I should shove this box back where I found it and demand he fuck me.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Had my heart ever beat so hard? Had I ever stood on the edge of the unknown with uncertainty playing out before me. He always complained about how I forced him to skydive with me, but this? Skydiving didn’t come close to this.
“Open it.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
“Is the Raelynn Vos scared of a little box?”
“Hardly,” I scoffed. “Maybe I just don’t want to play your game?”
His smile was slow and nowhere near sweet. “Trust me, Rae. I think you do.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because you’ve spent so much time poking fun at the way I blush when you flirt with me—like I can’t handle you.”
Harder. Faster. Maybe this was what a heart attack felt like? If so, then bring it on because I could die happy watching Austin prowl toward me like an animal.
“But maybe I was just hot from imagining you trying to handle me.”
The gauntlet was thrown. The challenge there in his eyes as he closed in. Meeting it with a stare of my own, I flipped the box open and rolled my eyes before looking down.
Of all the things I expected, a blue stack of balls atop a flat base was the last thing I expected. It was right up there next to everything below it.
Black leather cuffs.
Tiny clamps. I didn’t even know what they were for sure, but my nipples pulled tighter just imagining being pinched between the metal.
A small bar.
Rope.
A flogger I recognized from a porno I watched once.
And a handful of other toys I couldn’t put a name to.
“You asked me why my ex and I broke up. We weren’t compatible. In more ways than just sex. I don’t need this kind of sex, but I want it, and she wasn’t strong enough to handle it.”
Somehow throughout his speech, he’d managed to make his way behind me without me noticing. Soft fingers brushed my hair back, and a breath of a kiss landed against my neck.
“But you are, Raelynn. You’re the strongest woman I know. And I want you.” I sank into his touch, rolling my neck to give him room. “You know I want you any way I can get you, but will you try this with me?”
“Anything.”
The whispered word fell from my lips before I could consider anything else—any consequences.
In a flash, his hand gripped the back of my neck and pushed me down on the bed, shoving the box of toys aside just before my chest hit the mattress. The silk of my skirt brushed up my thighs, but I barely felt it. Every sense zeroed in on the fingers digging into my neck.
This time the sharp bite of pain didn’t soften to a sensual heat.
This time my heart didn’t race in excitement.
This time when I whimpered, it wasn’t in pleasure.
This time I didn’t see Austin. All I could see was Bodie behind my squeezed eyes. All I could feel was the same paralyzing fear when he lost his temper.
“Austin,” I cried, pushing up with all my strength. “No.” Unlike with Bodie, the hand holding me in place immediately released.
When I turned around, I couldn’t look up. Shame and embarrassment like I’d never experienced crawled over my skin.
“Fuck, Rae. I’m so fucking sorry. I should have explained more. Fuck. Fuck. I can’t—”
“No, it’s okay.” Now I looked up and met the gentle eyes of my best friend, and it really was okay. My heart slowed down and the tension pinching my skin too tight eased. Austin had been rough with me before when he had sex, but I always knew it was him. “It’s okay. I’m sorry I freaked.”