Jaden hasn’t said a fucking word. He watches me. Intense. I drain the remnants of my wine, wishing like crazy for another. Damn Jaden and his rules. One sure thing about it, he’s righteous about these rules of his.

When he steps to the middle of the room and holds his arm out, I almost pee myself with excitement. My entire system surges toward him. I bite down on my lip . . . hard . . . to stop myself from running to him. A sudden wave of insecurity and indecision crashes over me. I want to jump all over him. That might turn him off, and I’m going to fucking kill myself if I have to wait for him one day longer. If I appear too eager, he’ll think I’m a slut. I. Am. Not. A. Slut. If I’m too reticent, he might think I’m not interested. If I don’t do anything, he’ll think I’m a frigid bitch. What to do?

I watch him intently, trying to take his measure. Trying to get past his force field, but his deflector shields are up on full.

A low simmering heat licks at the edges of my desire, but I can’t get a grip on it. Jaden will let me see what he wants when he’s ready. That has to be good enough for now.

“Rayne, what did I say about tonight?” There is more than a hint of low huskiness in his rich tenor voice. I’m mortified as more moisture leaks down my inner thighs.

Ah, time to play poker. Not a chance he’ll see my hand. I adopt what I hope is a good ditzy face. “I don’t know, Jaden. You said a lot of things.”

He takes a step back and lowers his arm. Minuscule, but his message is clear. I bite my lower lip and sigh. “Fine, fine. You said you don’t share.”

Jaden gives me one of his about-time looks. “Good. That’s my girl.”

The depth of his pleasure comes through loud and clear. Note to self: he doesn’t like ditz brains. I don’t even mind that he thinks of me as a girl. Well, I kind of do, and kind of don’t. ES called me his baby girl. The tricks loved to call me—

“Rayne, that’s one!” The lash of his displeasure stings me back to the present. Holy shit. He let the shields down for that one.

“Sorry.” But I’m kind of not. Does he think I’m a mind reader or something? I mean, what does he expect? It’s not like he’s doing anything.

“Sorry is an admission of guilt and a distraction. You must learn to stay in the moment. I expect you to think about what’s happening right here and now.”

Jaden opens and closes the palm of his outstretched hand, beckoning me closer. I take a deep breath. Nice and slow, Rayne. Nice and slow. I close the gap between us, letting his heat wash over me. I close my eyes and feel his vibe one last time. Intense desire washes over me. The problem is, is it his or is it mine? I need him to want me. Deeply. Passionately. Me. I want him to get an instant hard-on when he sees me because I turn him on so much. I glance down at his crisply creased black linen pants. Nope, nothing. Maybe a little tent of semi-erection, but no raging hard-on. Focus, damn it.

His large hand wraps around my bicep as he takes my measure. His eyes roam my body, cool, assessing. He slowly turns me around and inches down the zipper of my navy silk dress. I wrap my arms around my breasts to keep them covered. Automatic reflex.

Jaden licks the tip of my ear. “That’s two.” Another squirt. His growl plucks a chord deep in my core.

And, what’s with all the counting? I have no fucking idea. But I do. I know precisely what he’s counting. The idea throws me smack dab in the middle of another tizzy.

“I demand your attention. I won’t say it again.”

Okeydokey, then. He pushes my arms down to my sides. The dress hits the floor. I’m left wearing nothing but hose and a garter belt. Jaden’s sharp intake of breath signals that he’s pleased I remembered to obey him by removing my thong. He brushes my neck and shoulders with his fingers and tongue. I focus on my ragged breathing. I want to pant and frisk around like a cute little puppy demanding attention. I’d rather die before I let Jaden see the bottomless well of desire I have for him.

He turns me around. I stiffen, waiting for his condemnation. He bows his head as he cups the soft tissue of my breasts. I hold my breath. Jaden makes a low sound in his chest. Here it comes. I make mental bets on what he’ll make fun of first—small breasts or huge nipples. My bet is on the breasts.

“Perfect.”

What the fuck? Shock jolts surprise out the window as Jaden draws my left nipple into his warm mouth. Desire dukes it out with decorum as I try to restrain my reaction. Blood engorges my core. Jaden’s mouth turns the pain of engorgement into intense longing.

Jaden sucks and pulls my nipples until I’m weak with longing. I whimper. He straightens, his golden eyes almost bronze with his desire. Desire for me. He leans against me and pulls my arms behind my back.

“Let me tell you what else I expect.” He backs me toward the wall and tips my head with his free hand. I shiver, although whether with anticipation or anxiety, I can’t be sure.

“That’s three.”

Shit. I’m not sure whether I’m thrilled or terrified at the prospect of punishment. What if I don’t like it? Well, then I’ll—

“Rayne.” This time it’s like the snap of a whip. “That’s four. Do I need to repeat myself?”

“Yes, I mean, no please, sir. What else do you expect?”

“I expect strict honesty and strict obedience at all times.”

No fucking way would I agree to that. The man must have lost his tiny wee mind. That’s because it lives in the head of his cock. I grin at my own joke.

“That’s five. Going for broke, are you?” He nuzzles my neck and slides his free hand between my legs where I’m literally dripping. He glides his finger through the lake between my legs. I watch, fascinated and mortified, as he licks my juices from his fingers. He double dips and coats my upper lip with my juices before sliding his index finger into my mouth. I suck, swirling my tongue until I’ve licked off every bit of my sweet taste. This is unexpectedly the single most sensual thing I’ve ever done in my life.

He has my attention.

He licks the remnants of my juices from my lip. He releases the hold on my hands and steps back, eyes piercing as they search mine. His hard-on makes a huge tent in his pants. Did I do that? Or is he fantasizing about some big-chested blonde?

A small frown lights his face. Giving his head a little shake, he pulls something from his pocket and hands it to me. I gasp as I realize it’s a blindfold. Tendrils of panic flicker at the edge of my vision as my pulse readies itself for a life-saving sprint. Jaden watches patiently, eyes gleaming. I’m safe with him. I obey, slipping the blindfold on.

Darkness puts my senses on high alert. I hear Jaden’s strong, measured heartbeat. I smell the hint of musk that underlies his desire. I reach out to touch him. He wraps strong hands around my biceps and walks me backward.

I sit as the backs of my knees hit the end of the chaise thingy he likes so much. It’s weird having him lead me and neat at the same time. Jaden stretches my arms above my head and fastens each wrist with a soft cuff I hadn’t noticed. My heart jackhammers against my ribs. Don’t tie my legs. Don’t tie my legs!

I don’t know why the hell having my legs free is so important to me, but it makes me feel as if I still have some measure of control. Darkness heightens my desire to a level I’ve never known. I’m vulnerable, which only enhances the anticipation of not knowing what he will do next. I can’t explain it. I don’t understand it. I’m blind, bound, and under his control. Something I should resist, but God forgive me; I love it.

Jaden’s breath brushes my lips. “Calm down, my little Dracaena. We’ll take it slow. I remember your fear of handcuffs. These are restraints, not cuffs. You can release them here.”

He takes my finger and places it over a small button. I press and the cuff releases. My breathing ratchets down one-tenth of a notch as Jaden refastens the cuff. At least that’s one less thing to worry about. He traces the line from the jugular notch in my neck to my pubes. Cool air freshens the heat as he pushes my knees to my chest. My school marm screams to clamp my legs shut while my inner slut tries to push them even farther apart.

“And now, it’s time to play.”

“It won’t make any difference. It never does.” But it almost had that time back at the club—almost but not quite.

“Don’t talk.”

He presses the thumb of his left hand against the opening of my vagina. He encircles my clit with his right thumb and index finger. Slowly, he glides them through my juices and massages the crease between my labia and clitoris. I go wild and would leap off the couch if Jaden’s thumb pressing down on my vagina weren’t keeping me firmly in place. How is that possible?

His fingers slide through my swollen folds, and heat unfurls through my groin. I try to keep quiet, but a moan slips out.

The blindfold heightens other senses, and I smell our mutual musky passion. Jaden’s breath hitches each time my vagina contracts around his thumb. My back arches as a feeling like nothing I’ve ever felt threads through my core. Like shards of hot glass shooting through my innards. Quivers! The feeling is too intense. I start to thrash. I’m not sure I like this feeling, yet I crave more.

Now. Please. I moan for release. Except for minuscule changes in his breathing that I may be imagining, Jaden doesn’t react at all. Maybe he really doesn’t like me. Maybe I’m just some kind of crazy experiment.

“Six.”

Shit. The steel in Jaden’s soft voice brings me back. I probably really pissed him off this time. I open my mind and let his feelings wash over me. Hunger. Desire. No anger. Maybe he does like me . . . just a little.

Jaden continues his ministrations. I try not to thrash. He plays with my clit until I’m almost screaming. He spreads my legs wide and licks. He inhales loudly and blows warm air over my singing girly bits. I almost swoon.

The shock of cold air hits me. Jaden’s footsteps cross the room. I try to bring order to my scrambled brains, but a neon sign obliterates all logical thought . . . Please, sir, I want more. Get it together, girlfriend. A slapping sound brings me to attention. Jaden’s warmth returns.

“What comes next, little dragon?”

Adrenaline shoots through me, and I start breathing faster. One thing is for sure—I want his cock inside me, and I want it now. And no power on earth will move those words out of my mouth.

“So, that’s how it’s going to be, is it? Let’s add four more making it an even ten. Where are we?”

I take a fraction of a second to decide whether I’ll play dumb.

“Green light, sir.”

Kat says you always have to address him as sir. If we get really involved, I’ll have to call him Master. Yeah, fat chance.

“You’re spinning again. We’ll take care of that. Come along.”

He takes my arm and leads me across the room. He stops when my foot connects with some sort of stool.

“What comes next?”

Oh, God. I take a deep breath. “A spanking?” I sigh out a whisper.

He runs his hands down my naked sides. Goosebumps spring up in the wake of his light touch despite the warmth in the room. I’m so horny and agitated, I want to scream. He licks behind my ear. I almost jump out of my skin. “Are you ready?”

How the fuck does one get ready for this? I nod.

Jaden helps me step up, placing my feet wide on the stool. He lifts my bound hands and bends me over the bench. My knees fold into some stirrups. He unhooks my hands and refastens them on each side of the bench. The bench is lovely and padded. I’m quite comfortable.

Jaden’s large hand cups my right ass cheek. He strokes. Slides said hand between my legs. I focus on breathing, knowing what’s about to come. And I hope it’s me.

Jaden steps back. He smacks his hand, testing what sounds like the flogger used in class. Every muscle tenses.

Swat. It stings a little . . . in a very pleasant way. Just like Kat described.

“One.” Jaden’s rich voice rings out. Slap. “Two.” Still tingles. I move my ass a bit, reaching for more of a bite.

“Three, four, five.”

Definitely pleasure but barely a tingle. BG surfaces. Tell him you want more. Not in this lifetime.

Jaden stops and rubs both ass cheeks. I want him to grab them, pull them apart, and plunge into me. Wanton bitch. I love it. I hate that I love it. No time to think about that now.

“Where are we at?”

Greener than green. “Green, sir.”

“Good stuff. This time you count.”

“Six. Seven. Eight.” The blows come in quick succession with more force. This time, the sting is exquisite. I try to move my ass into it, begging for more. “Nine. Ten.”

Jaden drops the flogger and rubs my ass. I want more . . .

Please God, let me come!