As she felt the third orgasm of the night gathering steam, she didn’t care if he f**ked her fast or slow or even upside down. This man knew what she needed and gave it to her without question.

Ronin came in silence, as he often did. His pelvis slowed in rhythmic increments. The evidence of his release came in a hot wash against her pu**y walls.

When he stopped moving and returned to himself, that’s when he made the noise—a deep-throated hum of satisfaction.

She smiled.

He murmured, “Your skin is glowing. It’s breathtaking.”

“Ronin.”

“Stay like this. I’ll be right back.”

She stayed, content, sated, and yet revved up.

Amery didn’t hear him rustling around in the room. She heard a whisper of cloth and then Ronin’s fingers were undoing the ties around her wrists.

Then he flipped her over, teased her lips until she opened for him, letting his tongue dart inside. Their mouths clashed, tongues tangled, and he stoked the fire of passion again before the first embers had even waned.

From the energy pulsing off him, she understood this would be a long night; they’d only finished the second course of a five-course meal.

“Will you let me show you in my way how beautiful you are to me?”

“You do that every time you look at me,” she said softly.

“You’re blindfolded. How can you tell?”

“I can feel it.”

“You undo me.” Ronin kissed her forehead. “Hold on.” He lifted her into his arms and spun her around.

She shrieked, “Stop, you’ll make me dizzy.”

“There goes my plan to play pin the tail on the donkey.”

“But I’m sure you have other games in mind.” She bounced in his arms as he continued to move around.

“I could show you.”

Amery turned her face toward his neck and placed a kiss on the pulse bounding in his throat. “I’m game.”

“Good answer.” He set her on her feet.

“Can I take the blindfold off?”

“Not yet.” His palms skated up her arms and he draped them over his shoulders. “Come here. I can’t get enough of your mouth.”

Lips as soft as silk brushed against hers. Once. Twice. Three times. Ronin mixed it up every time he kissed her. Which always left her craving more.

“On second thought, why don’t you sit?” He gently pushed on her shoulders until her butt met a padded bench.

Ronin must’ve brought her into the living room.

“Sit forward and hold your arms out slightly. Knees together.”

As much as she wanted to ask questions, a different vibe surrounded Ronin that kept her quiet and still.

Fingers brushed the outside of her calves, and then her ankles were pressed together and wrapped in . . . what?

Before she could ask, something circled her wrist and then it was pulled taut. Same thing on her left wrist and then both arms were pressed together behind her. Tightly behind her. She could feel his movements but couldn’t see what he was doing. But whatever it was pulled her forearms together and weighted her hands down. She couldn’t raise her arms at all.

“Ronin?”

No soft assurances from him, just silence.

This isn’t right.

But she trusted him.

Didn’t she?

You told him you were into anything he wanted. This is what he wanted. Just keep your mouth shut and go with it.

That spiked her unease. Hadn’t she stopped being that eager-to-please girl years ago? The girl who wouldn’t make waves or speak up even when she needed to?

Yes.

So why was she reverting when something felt off about this situation? Like really, really off?

“Ronin. What’s going on?”

No response.

Why wasn’t Ronin answering her?

Had he left her alone?

Panicked, she wiggled side to side to try and free herself, and the blindfold slipped. She squinted at the unfamiliar space.

Where was she? She’d been in every room in his penthouse except for the locked storage room down the hall from his bedroom. Why had he brought her here?

In the dim lighting Amery couldn’t see much beyond the wall directly in front of her. But what she saw on that wall froze her blood.

Coils of rope. Dozens of different kinds. Some colored, some plain, a variety of thicknesses and lengths. Why would he need so many ropes?

Her mouth dried when she saw the wall of swords. He’d flat-out told her he was an expert with knives. With his martial arts background, he could kill with his hands.

Fear hit her so hard she couldn’t breathe. Ever since the first time they were together, he’d used something to tie her up. He’d made it sexy and exciting and he’d never hurt her, so she hadn’t examined it too closely. But now, being in this room, a room he’d had to keep locked because it appeared to contain instruments of torture, she wanted to scream. Except that no one would hear her.

She’d really f**ked up this time.

Between the voices from the past, and her fear that she wouldn’t have a future, she thrashed so hard the bench started to move.

“Amery. Take a deep breath.”

She had a momentary sense of calm before she realized the soothing tone was part of his mind tricks to get her to relax her guard. “Why do you have me all tied up? What is this place? A secret torture room?” Amery felt the immediate change in his demeanor. Although it wouldn’t do any good to beg, she couldn’t stop the “Please don’t kill me.”