Page 118 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

Zee chuckles. “Scared?”

“Of you? Never.”

“A hundred dollars on you not having the kahunas to get on that stage and dance.”

“We’ve already established my balls are bigger than yours,” Zee arches an eyebrow. “Fine, you’re on.”

Zee pulls at his tie. “Turn around.”

“Why?” I ask, eyeing the tie like a snake.

“Let’s see how well you do with your eyes closed.”

He grins in challenge. I huff and turn around. “I hope you are ready to pay up, asshole.”

He chuckles as he pulls the tie around my eyes and fastens it in a tight knot at the back of my head. He grips my hips and lifts me onto the round stage.

I click my fingers. “Music, maestro.” My hands find the cool metal pole to steady myself.

A sultry beat pumps into the room. I grin as the opening lyrics to a slow version of “Born To Be Wild” triggers my need to dance. My hips sway, I find the beat and lose myself in the dance. The words make me feel sexy as I spin on the pole, my head upside down as my legs grip the pole, I slide to the floor and flip from all fours onto my back. Heat slides along my body in a sensual caress as I scoop my hands under my hair and flare it out around me. They probably turned up the damn heating in this place, increasing the likelihood of people shedding their clothing. I run my hand down my throat and over my breasts, and the familiar trailing heat following my path makes my breath stutter. I sit and go to tug at my blindfold. Rough, calloused hands grab mine and tug them behind my back. Sandalwood and vanilla make my head spin.

“Archan?”

He kisses the bite on my shoulder, a zing of pleasure blasts through my body. “You look sinfully delicious.”

I wiggle my arms, but all I do is rub my hands against his erection. Idiot brain. He groans against my throat. “Let me see you,” I whisper.

“In a moment, right now I want you to concentrate on my touch.”

My head falls back against his shoulder in surrender. “Good girl,” he whispers against my ear. My stomach lurches as we shift through time and space, my ass landing on something soft, a bed I suspect. I reach around the back of my head to pull the tie off.

“Natia,” he warns. I drop my hand and huff. He chuckles. “Lie back and put your arms above your head.”

“Wait, I need to let the guys know where I am,” I say as his body follows me down and presses me into the bed.

“They know where you are, they know that for now you are safe with me.” I would put a month’s wages on Emi being behind this little setup. Never mind justice, that goddess enjoys meddling in people’s love lives. He slides his hands up my sides and along my arms as he drops soft kisses on my lips. “Do you trust me?” he asks.

I bite my lip. He groans. At some point, I have to take the leap and trust someone. I nod. He rewards me with a deep toe curling kiss, his tongue claiming every part of mouth. When he leans back, I lift my hands to tug him back. They move but are connected by what feels like leather cuffs. “Archan,” I warn.

He grabs them and pulls me up. “On your knees, Natia.”

I hesitate, he distracts me with another kiss, drawing me forward until I scramble to my knees to chase his mouth. He lifts my arms and stretches them until they catch on something. “Wait here.”

“Where the hell am I going to go?” I mutter.

He huffs. “Nowhere, that’s the point.”

He moves on the bed. It dips to my left, as my arms are stretched higher so I have to come up to my knees. What the hell?

The bed dips again as his warm mouth descends on my lace covered breast, his tongue lathing the lace, the scrape of fabric drawing a moan from me. His fingers caress my spine before he reaches the silk skirt. “Such a pretty skirt, shame it won’t last.” He tears the material from my body, tugging it away to leave me in matching panties to the corset.

All I can hear is his breath and mine. I can sense his gaze burning over my body. I wiggle a little, trying to find a position where I’m not so exposed. He grips my hips, holding me in place. Blissful heat washes over my core, his stubble grazing my thigh, making my head fall back on a groan.

“So fucking sexy,” he says against my panties. I’m desperate to see him in that position, imagining it isn’t enough.

“Blindfold,” I mumble, trying to push down. The damn restraints holding me too high.

“I am deciding how to punish you,” he says, nipping the sensitive flesh of my thigh. My breath hitches.

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