anticipation.
The lock tumbles and Connor appears carrying a black suitcase. “Come here.”
I think these are the clothes he’d mentioned earlier, until he flips the lid open. All the air rushes from my lungs.
It’s a portable sex toy kit, clearly brand new as many items are still in the packaging. Dildos, vibrators, plugs, clamps, oils in every color of the rainbow. And then there’s the darker stuff. Cuffs, switches, paddles, in different shapes and sizes, floggers, a crop, lengths of rope and even a coiled whip.
My mouth has gone dry but I manage to croak. “QVC having a special?”
He doesn’t even crack a smile. “Not exactly.”
Unzipping the top portion of the suitcase he extracts a manila envelope, which looks oddly out of place next to Hoarders: Kink Edition .
Handing me the envelope he whispers, “As promised.”
I feel my eyebrows knitting, displaying my confusion. What did he promise me that would fit in an eight by ten envelope?
Moving closer to one of the low lamps I scan through the first page. My mouth falls open when I realize I’m looking at the test results from Connor Edge’s last physical, six weeks before.
“A clean bill of health,” I whisper, “You remember that conversation?”
Connor nods once.
I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Will you remember this one?”
“I don’t know,” he admits. “But you will. And you’ll help me remember what I need to know.”
Our eyes meet and hold and he lunges for me. The way I’d wanted him to this morning in the forest. No, that was yesterday morning. It feels like a lifetime ago.
His hands are in my hair, his lips fused to mine, tongue plunging, marauding until my oxygen starved lungs demand I push him back.
“Connor,” I breathe as he kisses his way down my neck, one hand sliding up my leg, toying with the garter there. My body is wet for him. I wish he’d rip my clothes off and take me hard against this very wall.
Connor pulls away, “No.”
I feel dizzy, and stumble without his support. “No?”
His eyes glitter in the firelight. “First, I have to punish you.”
Chapter Four
“ P unish me?” Is he kidding? “But I already told you—”
“It doesn’t matter why. Bottom line is you didn’t trust me.”
“You don’t even trust you!” I scream. My hands are fisted at my side and I’m shaking with absolute frustration and rage.
“That’s why I need you to.” Connor says quietly.
My indignation deflates at his words. He’s right, I told him I trusted him and then I didn’t support my words with actions. I’d been so insecure about the soiree, so convinced he’d been looking for a way to ditch me that I’d listen to his bitchy little secretary instead of seeking the truth from him. I could have called his cell phone, or gone looking for him, even checked to see if his car was still there. But instead I’d abandoned all hope. “What are you going to do?”
“Take your dress off.”
Closing my eyes, I reach for the knot at my neck.
“Look at me.” His words snap out like a lash from that whip. “Keep your eyes on mine.”
My eyes pop open and I swallow with effort. Somehow, it’s harder to do with him holding my gaze that way. There is no dark corner where I can hide because he sees everything. My fingers are shaking as I slowly fumble with the knot. Finally, after what feels like a lifetime, it’s free. I catch the fabric as it slithers over the swells of my breasts. It’s ridiculous, I’m still wearing the corset bodysuit and Connor has already seen my body. But there’s just something about knowing he’s looking that heats my blood.
“Baily, look at me ,” he repeats and I realize that though I’m staring straight at him, my focus is internal. Somehow, Connor knows it.
My lip quivers and I sink my teeth into it. He sucks in a sharp breath. “What did I say about that?”
I squeak and release my bite, but it’s too late.