After that realization, sleeping with Ryder might not have been the best idea.

But his clever fingers were running up my inside thighs, and I hadn’t seen him in two weeks. Also, it was my wedding night. Sex seemed necessary.

“Move this to the bedroom?” he murmured.

My lips curled into a smile. “I thought you’d never ask.”

In the bedroom, Ryder helped me get out of my wedding dress. “Too many buttons,” he grumbled. “I have a good mind to rip this off you.”

“Don’t you dare.” It might not have been a real wedding, but I still loved the dress Gigi had helped me pick. It was satin, with a simple cowl neck and a gently flowing skirt. I shot him an amused look over my shoulder. “Besides, aren’t you always telling me that I need more patience?”

He smacked my ass. “Brat.” The last of the buttons undone, the dress slid to the floor, and I stepped out of it. Ryder’s breath caught in his throat. “Oh my God, Zoe.”

I had gone a little crazy shopping for underwear. I normally hated using the credit card that Ryder had given me, but my willpower had disappeared at Holt Renfrew when I’d come face to face with the sexiness that was Agent Provocateur’s lingerie. “You like?” I asked him, flushing a little as I remembered how expensive my shopping trip had been. “I spent a ton of your money.”

“And it’s a great use for it.” His eyes were heated as he gazed at me. My breasts were encased in strips of white lace, and my panties were more hole than fabric. But, as the sales clerk had assured me, they were some very strategically placed holes. “Turn around.”

I spun in a circle, delighted at his obvious arousal. His cock bulged under his dress pants, his erection impossible to hide. “Take off your shirt, Ryder,” I urged him.

“Zoe, you aren’t in charge tonight.” His expression was intense. “Is that clear?”

I felt a prickle of apprehension at his serious, intent tone, and a rush of desire. Ryder was always a little dominant in bed. Now, that dominance was more pronounced, and it was hot. “Okay,” I whispered.

“When I give you an order, Zoe,” he continued, calmly circling me, “I want you to obey. No questions, no back talk. Is that clear?”

Heat pooled between my legs at his voice, low and controlled, at his gaze, hot and possessive. “Yes, Ryder,” I muttered, more than ready to play this game.

There was a flash of approval in his eyes. “Good girl.” He closed in on me, and he reached out to trace one of the lace strips crisscrossing my breasts. Goosebumps rose on my skin at his touch. “As sexy as this is,” he said softly, “I prefer you naked.” He reached around my back and unclasped my bra, tossing it on the floor.

“Hey,” I protested. “That was very expensive.”

“No talking,” he reminded me. “I have plans for you tonight, Zoe. I don’t want to have to stop and punish you, but I will if you don’t behave.”

I shivered. I was tempted to disobey and see what kind of punishment was in store for me, but a larger part of me wanted to please Ryder. When he’d said ‘good girl’ to me, with warmth in his tone, I’d been filled with delight. “I understand.”

“Good.” His hands slid over my naked breasts, then down to my waist, before tugging at my panties. “I’m assuming,” his voice was rich with humor, “that tearing these aren’t really an option either.”

“I have lots of plain cotton panties,” I said. “Next time, I’ll wear one of those, and I promise you, you can do whatever you like to them.”

“It’s a date,” he responded with a grin. He knelt in front of my body, rolling the lacy garment down past my knees to my ankles. “Step out of them,” he instructed, and I complied. His hands urged my legs apart, and his fingers dipped into my pussy. “Wet already, Zoe.”

“I’m turned on by the way you are bossing me around,” I admitted, my cheeks crimson.

“Yes, you are.” His voice was rich with satisfaction as he rose to his feet. “Lie down on the bed, Zoe, face down, legs spread.”

“Okay.” I padded over to Ryder’s massive king-size bed and positioned myself as he’d asked, glad that Ryder couldn’t see my face. This was a ridiculously embarrassing position, putting my pussy and my ass on display for him. Then again, that was probably the point.

Ryder moved to the dresser at the side of the bed and pulled four of his ties from a drawer. My eyes widened as I realized what he was going to use them for, and my lust amplified. I’d never been tied up before, but if there was anyone I’d trust to do it, it was Ryder.

I frowned as I processed that thought. When had the antagonism I’d felt for Ryder changed into liking? At his party, we’d traded barbs and insults, not compliments. But there’d always been an underlying attraction. After all, I had ended up kissing him that night.

Ryder’s fingers skillfully wound a tie around my ankle, tying it to one end of the bed before repeating the process with my other leg. He then moved to my wrists, offering them the same treatment. In minutes, I was spread-eagled on the bed, the ties limiting my range of movement. I could flex my arms and legs a little, but that was it.

“Going somewhere?” His voice was amused as he watched me test my bonds.

“It would appear not,” I said ruefully. “That damn ice cube better not be making a reappearance.”

He laughed out loud. “No ice cube,” he promised. Then he brought his palm down sharply on my naked ass. “That’s for talking, Zoe.”   

“Sorry.” I was only a little abashed. That spank had sent heat rushing to all the right spots of my body, and I liked it.

“Liar,” he smirked. “I think you enjoyed that far too much.” He climbed onto the bed and knelt in the space between my legs. “I like this view.” His nails scraped lightly at the warm spot where his hand had made contact. “There are so many things I can do with you in this position, Zoe.” His fingers skittered up, stroking my ass and feathering over my thighs and my calves.

I moaned. I was tied up, unable to squirm away from his touch, and unbelievably turned on. Unfortunately, from the wicked tone in his voice, I didn’t think I was going to find release anytime soon.

“You’re so beautiful, Zoe.” His fingers spread my butt cheeks. “And so very responsive. You like this, don’t you? You like being helpless and tied up.”

My face heated. I didn’t reply. It wasn’t as if I could conceal the evidence of my desire. “I could do anything I want to you in this position,” he said, his breath warm against my pussy. His tongue lapped at my slit, and I moaned again. “I could,” he muttered, “do this.” He pushed two fingers inside me and twisted, finding my g-spot expertly. “Or,” his teeth nipped at my butt cheeks, “I could bite you.” He paused, and I felt him shift around on the bed as he reached for something. “Or,” a cool trickle hit my exposed asshole, “I could take you here.”

“Anal?” There was a definite squeak in my voice.

“You sound nervous, Zoe.” His fingers massaged the lube into my ass, one finger at a time, stretching me out.

“I’m a little nervous,” I admitted.

“Is that a no?” He kissed a trail down my spine, soft light kisses that lit a fire of lust in me.

Was it? I couldn’t lie - I’d felt a distinct twinge of trepidation when he’d suggested it. At the same time, I was curious, and I trusted Ryder to take it slow and make it good for me. “That’s a yes.”

He growled, all of his earlier patience evaporating. Clothes flew across the room as he undressed, and punishment or not, I couldn’t hold back my giggles. “Ryder, this is such a cliché,” I teased him.

“I don’t care.” He trickled some more lube between my crack and slicked it into me. “I’m adding a third finger,” he warned.

I inhaled sharply at the sudden burn, and I bit my lip to keep from crying out. Ryder added more lube and twisted his fingers in me. His thumb circled my clitoris. “Relax.” His voice was soothing, calm. “Breathe. Don’t tense up.”

I took a deep breath and forced myself to relax. The discomfort was fading, replaced by an odd, strange feeling of arousal. I felt naughty and kinky, and the slow circles of his thumb over my clit were causing all kinds of tingling in my body.

He pulled out his fingers and replaced them with the head of his dick. “Breathe,” he ordered, slowly pushing into me.

I caught my breath as my tight hole stretched to accommodate his thickness. “Ryder,” I groaned. “This feels so…”

“So..?”

Slutty. Wanton. Different. Hot. I couldn’t think of a single word to describe how I was feeling. “So intense,” I gasped out as he slid in some more. His head pushed past my ring, and I hissed at the sharp stab of pain. Relax, I told myself, unclenching my muscles. Ryder’s not going to hurt you.

“Fuck,” he groaned as he pushed all the way in. “Zoe. You are so tight. I’m not going to last.”

Neither was I. His touch on my clitoris was causing my climax to build, and the strangeness of his dick in my ass was doing some very interesting things to me. I felt completely dominated by him, and my pussy liked that feeling. I was dripping wet.

He started to thrust, and I mewled as shivers of lust coursed through me. This felt so different, yet so good. My earlier discomfort faded, and my fingers dug into his Egyptian cotton sheets. “Ryder,” I gasped. “I’m going to come.”

My entire body stiffened as I climaxed. My orgasm was powerful, intense, greater and deeper than any I’d ever experienced. “Fuck Zoe,” Ryder ground out. “I can feel your muscles clench around me.” His voice sounded ragged, and he came, hard.

“Are you okay?” he asked me, once he caught his breath. He slumped at my side, and his clever fingers undid the knots around my ankles and wrists.

I rolled on my back, moaning as my muscles shrieked in protest. My body felt well and truly fucked. “That was great,” I sighed. “There’s just one little problem.”

His eyes widened in alarm. “What’s the matter, Zoe?” he asked.

“I have to clean up, Ryder,” I said plaintively. “And I can’t. My bones have turned to jelly.”

He chuckled, pressing a kiss on my lips, before swinging to his feet. “Stay where you are,” he said. “I’ll get you a washcloth.”

I watched him leave the room, a silly smile on my face, feeling uncharacteristically tender toward Ryder. Then I realized what I was doing.

No. This couldn’t happen. I couldn’t start having emotions for Ryder. That wasn’t part of the plan.