27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Seven
C assie
I woke in Marcus’ arms. The candles had been blown out, but he’d left the bathroom light on, which warmed my heart. He was so good to and for me. I shifted and looked at the clock. Five. Way too early in the morning to be awake, but I knew I wouldn’t go back to sleep.
Once I woke, I rarely went back to sleep. Not wanting to disturb Marcus, I carefully slipped from his embrace and off the bed. I found my robe, wrapped it around my body, and walked over to the window seat.
I was in trouble. Deep trouble. Hell, who was I kidding? I’d been in trouble for a while now.
I was falling in love with Marcus.
I gazed out at the sky filled with stars in the early spring morning.
I’d agreed to this weekend to get him out of my system.
Instead, he was becoming more ingrained in my life.
More essential to my happiness. There was something freeing in telling him about my father blindfolding me as a punishment.
It still surprised me that I’d told him. And my trust in him when he tied me up…
I never expected it to be so exciting, so erotic.
After we had mind-blowing sex last night, he held me in his arms and we talked. Actually talked about his life. That was a first for me, and our connection grew so much stronger because of it. It scared me how much I was beginning to care.
It scared me a lot.
When he said I was the reason he loved work, it spooked me. I wasn’t ready for this, but I also didn’t want to hurt his feelings. I needed time. So I faked being asleep.
This man was everything I could ask for: witty, intelligent, sexy, and an imaginative lover.
Boy, was that an understatement.
How was I going to leave him Monday morning? I didn’t have a choice. We could never have a life together. I wouldn’t live with a dominant man, not without fear of losing myself in the process.
He would eventually get tired of the tug of war between us when I couldn’t submit to him all the time.
Plus, he was getting emotionally involved.
He didn’t need a woman like me in his life.
After I’d read the book in his library, it had become very apparent that my father used sex and his toys like weapons, not to enhance pleasure, and my mother let my father control her.
Or was unable—or unwilling—to escape his control. ”
I refused to let that happen to me.
Glancing at the bed, I smiled at seeing Marcus spread out over the sheets, his dark hair tousled, and for once, his cock didn’t tent the fabric. I’d savor this time with him. We’d agreed to the sixty hours, and I wasn’t going to trade this time for anything.
Funny how I’d almost forgotten about that crazy deal. My heart might break into pieces after tomorrow, but I’d deal with it, just like I’d dealt with all the other heartbreak in my life.
For now, we still had time.
Decision made, I wanted to relish our time together.
A grin formed along with an idea. I crossed the room back to the bed and lowered the sheet, exposing his nude body.
My mouth watered. Payback is a bitch. I found the restraints for his legs.
With care, I slipped the first one over his ankle.
When he didn’t move, I moved to his other ankle.
I was careful not to fasten them too tightly, and keep the key to unlock them within reach.
Passion slipped through me as I spied the handcuffs, still threaded through the headboard. I winced when I lifted them, and the metal rattled against the wood. There was some slack for me to lift them but not much.
Marcus had thrown one arm over his head. That would be the easy one, but what about the other? It lay over his washboard stomach. If I lifted it, he’d wake up.
Hmm . I snapped the cuff quietly on one wrist, then leaned down.
“Marcus,” I whispered in his ear. “Sweetheart, I need you to move your arm.”
He shifted in his sleep, and his arm fell from his stomach to his side. Not what I was hoping for, but I could work with it. I trailed my fingers from his shoulder to his hand, keeping my gaze on his face. I shifted his arm up and over his head.
“Cassie,” he murmured, shifting.
“I’m here.” I brushed a kiss against his dream-softened lips. “Just getting comfortable.”
“ Hmm .” His arm relaxed, allowing me to maneuver it into place.
I locked his second wrist into the cuff.
Yes. I almost pumped my fists in victory, but I wasn’t done yet.
I shifted to the end of the bed and slowly tightened the leg restraints.
I didn’t tighten them all the way, but enough he shouldn’t be able to get loose.
Marcus was going to have a surprise when he woke.
Taking my robe off, I tossed it on the chair, then climbed back onto the mattress, between his legs. I laid my head on his hip and circled the base of his cock with my hand. Oh, this was going to be fun. I lowered my mouth.
Let’s see how he likes this wake-up call.