Secret Weapon

She sat down on the burgundy leather couch as he headed into the kitchen, then returned a moment later with a tall glass of clear, bubbly liquid. She sipped the drink, then set it down. Her glance landed on the two stripper poles in the corner of the room about two feet apart. They were those pressure ones, so they could be dismounted easily.

“I take it those are for our little adventure tonight.”

He sat beside her. “True. I understand you have a penchant for handcuffs.” His hand stroked along her shoulder, left bare by her halter-style dress.

She smiled. “Are you going to use handcuffs on me?”

He kissed the side of her neck, sending tingles quivering through her. “Well, I wouldn’t want you to peek at your stranger. And I wouldn’t want you to run away.”

“Run away? Because the stranger will ravage me?”

He nuzzled the sensitive flesh at the base of her neck and heat washed through her. “Ravage you. Yes.”

He tucked his finger under her chin and turned her face, then captured her lips. His arms encircled her and he pulled her against his solid body.

A chirping sound interrupted them and he drew away, then pulled his cell phone from his pocket and glanced at the display.

“My friend is almost here. It’s time to get you ready.”

She picked up her glass and took a couple more sips, excitement zinging through her. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

She stood up and walked toward the poles. Sloan grabbed a pair of handcuffs sitting on the end table beside the couch and clamped one bracelet around her wrist. He backed her up to the poles and fastened her to one of them. Then he fastened another cuff around her other wrist and fastened it to the other pole. His stared straight down, his gaze lingering on her breasts swelling from her plunging neckline.

“Mmm. Nice view.” He picked up a black satin eye mask and positioned it over her eyes. A thin elastic strap held it in place. “Can you see anything?”

She shook her head. “Not a thing.” Total blackness filled her world.

She felt his warm hands on her shoulders and tingles danced through her as they glided down her arms.

“My friend will be here in a few moments.” He stroked over her breasts, then cupped them. “I left the door unlocked. He’ll walk in any moment.”

Sloan leaned close. She felt his breath on her ear, then felt the soft brush of his lips.

“He’ll see me touching you.” His fingers slipped under her halter dress and inside the cup of her strapless bra. “He’ll see me caressing you.”

He teased her hardening nipple with his fingertip. “Then he’ll touch you, too. And caress you.”

Heat washed through her.

Had she heard the door open? Was there someone else here?

Sloan’s fingers glided down her back … then she realized he was undoing the zipper of her dress. He untied the halter strap at the back of her neck and the dress dropped to the floor. She felt naked and exposed, even though she still had on a bra and panties. A strapless black lace bra and a tiny thong held up with a rhinestone waistband. She felt sexy and wanton—and vulnerable.

And intensely turned-on.

Sloan’s lips found hers, and he kissed her soundly.

“My friend’s here,” he murmured.

Ten

Janine felt Sloan slip away.

Silence filled the black void around her. It would be easy to believe that she stood in a dark room where the men could not see her. But their world was full of light, and they—he, this stranger—could see her perfectly well, standing there wearing barely anything at all.

She could feel the stranger moving close to her. His heat, or an energy about him, or something. Then she could feel his breath on her temple as he leaned close to her.

“You have a safe word?”