Forbidden Ritual

“Rope bondage-shibari. It’s the ultimate ritual. If you offer me yourself completely and allow me to bind you, you would be showing me how much you trust me.”

“I can’t,” she blurted. Even as she said it, she wanted to know what it would be like. Images of being totally bound filled her mind. She thrust her cuffed wrists right across the table, and her core clamped hard on his shaft, her hips rolling back into his.

“Oh, yes, you’re interested. Your body always gives you away, my dear.”

He’d set it up to test and tempt her, to introduce her to the idea.

She shook her head.

His cock reached. His hand on the small of her back exerted more pressure. That only made her buck against him all the more. Desperate for release, she writhed against the hard surface of the table, her body needling all over as she hovered on the brink of release.

“You want to feel that rope against your skin, don’t you?” The immense amount of self-control he was using was palpable in the atmosphere. He was holding back in order to tease her with this suggestion.

Imogen couldn’t take it anymore. “Maybe. Not yet.”

He kissed the back of her neck. “How well do I know you?”

There was humor in his tone now, and she bucked against him, edgy with conflicting emotions.

He chuckled darkly and eased his cock out, leaving her bereft. “How well…?”

She cried aloud. “All right, yes!” She blurted out the acknowledgement, her frustration spilling over. “You do know me…damn you, you know me better than I know myself!”

Blinking back tears of frustration, she whimpered, hiding in her hair as it fell across her face, thankful he didn’t respond verbally.

Instead he locked his hands on her hips and began to drive and thrust with real purpose, speeding them both toward the peak. As she blossomed into climax, her body awash with relief, she stared across at the rope all the while, wondering, wanting, and yet afraid of what it meant about her—what it meant about them both.

* * *

Two days later, Andrea—Imogen’s personal assistant—deposited a stack of files on her desk. “I have those documents you requested.”

“Thank you.”

“There’s also a package for you. Anything else you need before I head off?”

The package lay on the top and was marked for her attention only. Imogen recognized the handwriting, it was from Giles. Her pulse tripped. She smiled at Andrea and shook her head. “No, we’re done for the day, thanks.”

Once she was alone she picked up the package. She was due a set of press release statements about changes in the department, but the envelope was bigger than she’d expected. When she opened it she found the paperwork, together with a plain black box marked for her attention only. She turned it over in her hands, savoring the thought that he’d handled it, that he’d sent it to her. That was how much she wanted contact with him, and that alone made her sigh with longing. Just two days without that connection made her feel slightly unreal and disjointed. It was as if he’d become an anchor to her. How had that happened?

When she was sure she wouldn’t be interrupted, she removed the tape that sealed the box. A note rested on top of the tissue paper inside.

I know you are curious, I saw the way you looked at it. I didn’t want you to be afraid, so I’m sending you this sample. Feel how soft it is, how malleable. I had it made especially for you. It’s the same color as your eyes when you reach climax.

If it doesn’t appeal to you, that’s fine. I just want you to consider it, because my feeling is that this will be a gift of freedom for you and I want to give you that gift, and so much more.

Yours, Giles.

Imogen put the box down on her desk and stared at it.

After a long moment she teased the tissue aside with a trembling finger, and looked at the skein of electric-blue rope lying in the box. Just looking at it made her go hot all over. She crossed her legs, attempting to quell the interest in her groin as she imagined him naked with the rope in his hands, standing over her as if she were a creature to be tamed. Ironically, he said it was her spirit he wanted to unleash, the unfettered side she only showed when she abandoned herself to sex, to him. Bondage did do that to her. She thought it was just the edge that spanking added to her experience, but he’d been right. Handing over control took her further into abandonment, heightening her pleasure.

He was taking a big risk though, because he was exploring her boundaries and both of them knew she wasn’t sure how much further she wanted to go. Risks, wasn’t that what life was about? Imogen stared at the box and smiled wryly to herself. Her job was all about risk and making judgments about policy, and yet she was so much more cautious when it came to exposing herself to this man. Why? Because I care about him. As hard as it was to admit, there was more to it. If she gave herself completely, she might get hurt.

When she’d been preparing to leave after their previous encounter, he’d cupped her face in his hands. “I’m taking a risk here.”

He smiled quickly. It’s what he’d said to her the first time he indicated he was interested in a relationship outside of the office. “Let me know if you’re ready to let me introduce you to shibari,” he continued. “I promise you won’t regret it.”

Curious thoughts had plagued her ever since, even though she tried to keep her mind off it, and now he’d sent her this, something she could touch and hold against her skin. She stared at the snake-like coil and pictured the rope stretched taut between his hands. She trailed her fingertips along the edge of the box and allowed herself to consider what he would do with it. It was more than her wrists that he would bind, she supposed. She would be powerless, completely at his whim. As that thought occurred to her, she had to rest her back against her chair. Every ounce of strength left her body when she considered the effect that might have on her. Giles was already her master, when she allowed it. Could she let herself to acknowledge it more than she already had?