Page 238 of Those Who Are Bound

Jonah

Ropehadalwaysheldpower for him. Thanks to her, this spectacular and complex woman dropped into his life, a new dimension has been added. And rope became far more powerful and tantalizing than it had ever been before. He understood why it could frighten some. Him? He couldn’t wait to test this new power. And it would be him holding himself back, not her.

He led her across the back lawn of the property, toward the wooded section. He’d been working on it for a while, and he’d been wanting to introduce her to their new spot. No cameras, no interruptions. Just them.

“I’m afraid I won’t have control.”

“That’s the point, my control freak. I’m here. You’re safe with me.”

She looked at him. “But you’re not safe with me.”

Considering he’d proven over and over that her compulsions, her “demon,” as she liked to refer to her darker side, was no match for him, it was almost amusing. But, like their bedroom—or car, or his office, or anywhere she tried to one-up him—she wasn’t going to be in control here.

He understood, to a point, her fears now, and why she needed to orchestrate everything. He wasn’t going to mock her for having them. But he was going to continue to prove to her that she didn’t need to fear being herself with him.

Could she take him in a fight? Yes. Would she? Absolutely. There was no controlling her as a person, and he wouldn’t want to do so. He loved her spirit, her adventurous nature, and how she continually challenged his faith. They’d never see eye to eye on that. He was at peace with it because her anger had faded, and she was merely staying true to herself. As he was.

However, when there was a certain challenging glint in her eye, it meant she was ready to play. And like a kitten, she liked to be caught up in her string.

She’d deck him for that analogy, but it secretly amused him.

He led her beyond the Zen garden. He didn’t disturb it, of course, out of respect for both her and Gage, and due to the memories of the space. Her getting herself off on his lap the night she tried to break up with him—the first time—was a cherished memory. And hot.

He looked over his shoulder at her. She still took his breath away and always would. When their gazes met, hers returning from a scan of the property she knew well, he saw clouds of worry gathering. Stopping, he turned to her and pulled her into his arms.

“I’m safe with you.” He knew it as surely as he knew his own name. “We’re safe with one another. Why?”

She gave him an intolerant look.

“Why?” he prompted.

“Because you’re not that man.”

He wasn’t the type of man to be broken or to break.

“Do you want to keep going?” he asked.

“Yes.” It was barely awhisper, but it was loaded with curiosity and arousal.

“Then let me show you.” Instead of leading her, he slipped an arm around her waist and walked her past the last standing of trees. He wanted to see her expression when she saw it.

At first she didn’t, as well camouflaged as it was. Then her vision adjusted to the darker shadows that didn’t belong in the woods. She blinked, clearly trying to make sense of what she was seeing, and then she blushed. No, she flushed. That quickly, she reacted to seeing a wall of climbing net strung between the trees, a towering rectangle of interwoven knots. Free-falling ropes dangled suggestively from the net, presenting possibilities for the imagination of how one could be tied to the contraption.

But that wasn’t all. Similar to the ropes challenge course he ran, he created a version here for her, only this one was suited to more… pleasurable endeavors. He could—and would—suspend her horizontally for maximum access. For hours. Without her body getting weary, other than from the play he provided her. Of course, he had the ability to suspend her vertically, or stake her to the ground…

“You’ve created…”

Jonah wrapped his arms around her from behind. “A playground for my kitty,” he teased.

Tilting her head back, she grinned up at him.

“Wanna play?”

She nodded. “I want to try that one—”

Jonah shook his head, making a sound of regret. “I should have clarified it better. It’s a playground…” He slid his hand down and cupped her pussy. “Formykitty. This belongs to me here, to do with as I please.”

She thrust against his hand, a whimper escaping, even as she tossed a challenging glare over her shoulder at him for ripping her control away. But beyond the glare, she wouldn’t protest much.

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