"Mom," he says. "Can we have the wedding here?"
And he's not mentioned it again. In fact at every opportunity he's tried to reassure me about his wealth . . . that's it mine, too. I shudder as I recall the crazy shopping fest Christian demanded I go on with Caroline Acton - the personal shopper from Niemans - in preparation for this honeymoon. My bikini alone cost five hundred and forty dollars. I mean, it's nice, but really - that's a ridiculous amount of money for four triangular scraps of material.
"You will get used to it," Christian interrupts my reverie as he resumes his place at the table.
"Used to it?"
"The money," he says rolling his eyes.
Oh, Fifty, maybe with time. I push the small dish of salted almonds and cashews toward him.
"Your nuts, sir," I say with as straight a face as I can manage, trying to bring some humor to our conversation after my dark thoughts and my bikini top faux pas.
He smirks. "I'm nuts about you." He takes an almond, his eyes sparkling with wicked humor as he enjoys my little joke. He licks his lips. "Drink up. We're going to bed."
What?
"Drink," he mouths at me, his eyes darkening.
Oh my, the look he gives me could be solely responsible for global warming. I pick up my gin and drain the glass, not taking my eyes off him. His mouth drops open, and I glimpse the tip of his tongue between his teeth. He smiles lewdly at me. In one fluid move, he gets up and bends over me, resting his hands on the arms of my chair.
"I'm going to make an example of you. Come. Don't pee," he whispers in my ear.
I gasp. Don't pee? How rude. My subconscious looks up from her book - The Complete works of Charles Dickens, Vol. 1 - with alarm.
"It's not what you think." Christian smirks, holding his hand out to me. "Trust me." He looks so sexy and genial. How can I resist?
"Okay." I place my hand in his, because quite simply, I'd trust him with my life. What has he got planned? My heart starts pounding in anticipation.
He leads me across the deck and through the doors into the plush, beautifully appointed main salon, along a narrow corridor, through the dining room, and down the stairs to the main master cabin. The cabin has been cleaned since this morning and the bed made. It's a lovely room. With two portholes on both the starboard and port sides, it's elegantly decorated in dark walnut furniture with cream walls and soft furnishings in gold and red.
Christian releases my hand, pulls his T-shirt off over his head, and tosses it onto a chair. He steps out of his flip-flops and removes his shorts and trunks in one graceful move . Oh my. Will I ever tire of looking at him naked? He is utterly gorgeous, and all mine. His skin glows - he's caught the sun, too, and his hair is longer, flopping over his forehead. I am one lucky, lucky girl.
He reaches forward and grasps my chin, pulling slightly so that I stop biting my lip and runs his thumb along my lower lip.
"That's better." He turns and strides over to the impressive armoire that houses his clothes. He produces two pairs of metal handcuffs and an airline eye mask from the bottom drawer.
Handcuffs! We've never used handcuffs. I glance quickly and nervously at the bed. Where the hell is he going to attach those? He turns and gazes steadily at me, his eyes dark and luminous.
"These can be quite painful. They can bite into the skin if you pull too hard." He holds up one pair. "But I really want to use them on you now."
Holy f**k. My mouth goes dry.
"Here." He stalks gracefully forward and hands me a set. "Do you want to try them first?"
They feel solid, the metal cold. Vaguely, I hope I never have to wear a pair of these for real.
Christian is watching me intently.
"Where are the keys?" My voice wavering.
He holds out his palm, revealing a small metallic key. "This does both sets. In fact, all sets."
How many sets does he have? I don't remember seeing any in the museum chest.
Reaching up, he strokes my cheek with his index finger, trailing it down to my mouth. He leans in as if to kiss me.
"Do you want to play?" he says, his voice low, and everything in my body heads south as desire unfurls deep in my belly.
"Yes," I breathe.
He smiles. "Good." He plants a featherlight kiss on my forehead.
"We're going to need a safe word."
What?
"Stop won't be enough because you will probably say that, but you won't mean it." He runs his nose down mine - the only contact between us.
What does he mean? My heart starts pounding. Shit . . . How can he do this with just words?
"This is not going to hurt. It will be intense. Very intense, because I am not going to let you move. Okay?"
Oh my. This sounds so hot. My breathing is too loud. Fuck, I am panting already. My inner goddess has her sequins on and is warming up to dance the rumba. Thank heavens I'm married to this man, otherwise this would be embarrassing. My eyes flick down to his arousal.
"Okay." My voice is barely audible.
"Choose a word, Ana."
Oh . . .
"A safe word," he says softly.
"Popsicle." I say, panting.
"Popsicle?" he says, amused.
"Yes."
He grins as he leans back to gaze down at me. "Interesting choice. Lift up your arms."
I do as I'm told, and Christian grasps the hem of my sundress, lifts it over my head, and tosses it on the floor. He holds out his hand, and I give him back the handcuffs. He places both sets on the bedside table along with the blindfold and yanks the quilt off the bed, letting it fall to the floor.
"Turn round."