I grabbed him by the back of the neck and moved his head toward mine until our mouths could meet. I was more than okay, I’d just needed a moment to acknowledge the threshold we were going to cross. As we kissed, I pulled my bra free from my body and added it to the pile of clothes on the floor.

His hands roamed over my bare back and goosebumps burst on my skin. My nipples tightened into points under the cool air and the anticipation of his hands touching me.

But he didn’t.

At least, not on my breasts. He turned me on the tabletop and eased me down onto my back, his dark brown eyes intently watching me. The leather was smooth and cold, and every muscle in me tensed. I’d negotiated for this, but anxiety crept in. It grew larger as his gaze finally broke from mine and he pulled open the top drawer.

My hands were balled into fists at my sides, and I bit down on my bottom lip. Should I take off my panties while he was busy getting the straps ready? I couldn’t make myself move. Watching him was too distracting.

Plastic crinkled as he pulled out the black blindfold. He held onto it, hesitating, and my body took over. I tugged the blindfold from his hold, slipped the straps behind my head, and pulled the shade down over my eyes.

In the darkness, I calmed almost instantly. The blindfold covered my nerves, so all I was left with was so much excitement, I worried I’d burst. His fingers gently wrapped around one of my wrists and urged it up over my head.

“If you wanna stop, just tell me,” he said.

I didn’t want him to stop . . . in fact, I couldn’t wait to get started. Anticipation thundered through my bloodstream, heating me to a million degrees.

The scratchy sound of Velcro coming together filled my ears as he closed the first restraint, and then he took my other wrist and did the same. I startled as his unexpected fingers curled around the sides of my thong and drew the scrap of fabric down my legs.

Blindfolded, bound, and now naked, I was more physically vulnerable than I’d ever been, but Julius had already seen me at my most emotionally. He’d been there for me, and so showing him this version was . . . easy. It only strengthened my connection to him.

And speaking of connection—was he going to touch me? After he’d removed my panties, his hands were gone. It didn’t sound like he was moving. He was standing beside the table, just breathing.

“What are you doing?” I asked softly.

“Looking at you.” God, his voice was like velvet. “Jesus, Courtney. You’re so fucking beautiful.”

It punched a sigh from my lungs. The ache for him pulsed incessantly in every cell of my body. “Are you going to touch me?”

“You better fucking believe it.” His fingertips trailed over my cheekbone, just below the edge of the blindfold. It was his warning so I didn’t startle when his lips settled on mine. This kiss was seductive, even though seduction was unnecessary. Even if I wasn’t tied down, I’d do whatever he wanted.

He used one fingertip to draw a line over my lips, tracing down my chin and along my neck. Its slow path forced more goosebumps to pebble on my flesh. It was the only place we were connected, but I felt his powereverywhere.

“You like it?” he asked.

His touch, or being under his control? The answer was a strongyesto either. I pressed my lips into a thin line and nodded quickly. I had to squeeze my knees together against the sensation as he steadily dragged his finger over my collarbone and down between my breasts.

It continued farther. Past my belly button. Swiping over my skin until he was at the delta of my legs, about to—

Gone. His touch disappeared and the table beneath me jostled faintly. He’d just opened a drawer. Which one was it? Thepainone seemed unlikely, but Julius always kept me off-balance.

Strings landed gently on my chest and my brain flooded with confusion. What the . . . Oh. The flogger.

My breath caught. How was he going to use it on me? The sensation of the unknown was exciting. Was this how the women felt while on the table, at least a little bit? The curiosity was foreplay all on its own.

The flogger tails moved, sweeping downward over the curves of my bare skin. The leather caressed over my sensitive nipples, and my mouth dropped open. The sensation was nice. It made the muscles low in my belly contract with satisfaction as the tails continued their journey. It moved all the way down over my thighs and to my knees before floating away.

It sort of tickled, but was more like a wave of pleasure.

Again, the strands dropped onto my chest and began to dance over my flesh, working lower. I shuddered from their wicked stroke. It felt so freaking good. Like a skilled masseuse’s hands priming my skin.

“Open your legs,” Julius commanded, and I gasped. It was both strange and amazing to hear him like this. His tone was warm, yet in control, and I was more than ready to obey. I peeled my knees apart, no longer feeling shy, and when the flogger coursed over the most aroused part of me, I jerked against the restraints, stunned by the feeling.

My gasp made him chuckle. “You get it now?”

“Yes,” I whispered. Or perhaps I pleaded. It was insane how something so simple was also so incredibly erotic.

He did it at least three more times, and each pass felt better than the last. I curled my hands around the ribbon holding my wrists to the table and arched my back, letting the leather play over every inch that was clamoring for attention.