And I get it. He doesn’t have a choice. For once in my life, I’ll need to turn a blind eye, leaving morality to take a back seat; I know Boyd well enough to understand that. I give him a nod, deciding we’ve talked enough about Boyd. Our time together is precious.
I pull him in for another perfect kiss.
‘Talking of trust ...’ he smiles against my mouth. ‘I once promised you more kink than you can shake a stick at.’ In an instant, the shadows are knocked right out of the room. With a playful glimmer in his eyes, he gets up, walks over to the suitcase and unzips it. ‘And just for the record, I’m more than willing to cater for my future wife’s every wish.’ He pauses, fixing his attention back on me. ‘Shut your eyes.’
A delectable shiver of anticipation courses through me, and I do as I’m told.
‘What is it?’ I demand impatiently. ‘Tell me.’
‘I’d rather show you. Look at me.’
I open my eyes. He’s back at the side of the bed now, both arms behind his back. Slowly, he brings his right arm to the front, revealing a single length of rope. The other hand follows, and two more lengths along with it. Taking a sharp breath, I stare at them.
‘I had these delivered to me at the airport … from a reliable source. A little present.’ He comes closer, offering the rope to me. ‘So, if you’re in the mood for it, you’re going to be a little tied up for a while.’
I reach up and accept my gift. Dropping two of the lengths onto the bed, I examine the third, running it through my fingers, surprised at how smooth it feels, almost silky, totally pleasant to the touch.
‘Too much?’ he asks.
‘Probably not. I don’t know. I’ve never tried it. What do you do with it?’
‘Skipping.’ He laughs. ‘What do you think? Stand up.’
Leaving the rope, I follow his order. Immediately, I’m pulled in close and turned. I’m standing in front of him now, my back to his chest.
‘I’m thinking of a simple crotch rope for a start with an added extra… just here.’
He reaches round and touches my crotch, pressing a finger against my clit. Instantly, I’m on fire.
‘If you’re good to go, we’ll take it step by step.’
I’m already breathing fast, my heart racing. He presses at my clit again, dispatching another rush of heat to my core.
‘I’m good to go.’
‘Fair enough.’
Shifting my hair to one side, he skims a finger down the back of my neck, and I shiver, wondering what on Earth I’m letting myself in for. The finger glides across my shoulders, from left to right and back again, leaving a warm imprint on my skin wherever it goes. And then those big hands close around my waist, holding me tight, drawing me back into his chest.
‘Trust,’ he breathes against my ear.
He snuggles his head against my neck, draws the tip of his nose down to my shoulder, smelling me. And then, out of nowhere, he nips at my ear lobe, just hard enough to make me jolt. The thrill of the unexpected.
‘Turn around.’
The hands are removed.
I face him again, completely aroused by the sight of him, the love and longing overflowing in his eyes.
‘Legs apart,’ he says. ‘And no slouching, if you don’t mind.’
Parting my legs, I wait while he returns to the bed, retrieves the first length of rope and comes back to me.
‘Hands up.’
I comply, watching as he gets down to work.
‘You know, I’ve fantasised about this … right from the start.’
‘I bet you have.’
I’m mesmerised by how deftly he moves. I always imagined rope play would be brutal, but this is something else. With the utmost gentleness and care, he wraps the doubled length around my waist, looping it at the front and coiling it around me a second time. Tucking his fingers under the waistband, he threads the end back through the loop and draws it downward.
‘And now for the happy knot.’ He gives me a roguish grin, twists the rope over on itself, checks the position, and creates a figure of eight. ‘That should do it.’
Tightening the rope, he brings the knot right against my clit. It’s firm, yet soft, and I gasp at the contact.
‘You like it, then?’
He threads the rope between my legs, then moves behind me and draws it up between my buttocks, attaching it at the rear. Before I know it, he’s in front of me again, slipping a finger under the rope and tugging at it lightly, over and over. The knot rubs against my clit, working me up into a super-sensitive, chaotic mess. I close my eyes and let out a good, long groan.
‘Oh God.’
He tuts.
‘If you want to get kinkier, you’ll need to learn to control yourself.’
‘I can’t.’
Releasing the rope, he takes my chin in his hand.
‘There’s no such word as can’t.’
I’m about to tell him there is, but there’s a flash of something in his eyes, a promise, a delicious threat. And I’m left mute. He lets go of my chin, and collects a second length of rope.
‘Give me your hands.’
Again, I follow orders. Immediately, he binds my wrists, attaching them to the top of the crotch rope and checking that the bindings aren’t too tight.
‘Where did you learn to tie a knot?’ I ask. ‘Scouts?’
He laughs.
‘I never joined the Scouts. This is self-taught. Perfectly safe. Are you comfortable?’
‘Yes, thank you.’
He takes my hands, easing them upwards and forcing the knot back against my clit. I
