He had a twinge of doubt as Harper pulled up behind him. What was she going to think, especially after that night in the penthouse? He’d never felt self-conscious about his home before. But then again, he’d never brought anyone to his little apartment before.

“I didn’t realize you lived above the shop!” she said. “And a pizza place. God, I couldn’t handle the incredible aroma all the time.”

“You get used to it,” he said as he led her up the staircase. As usual, the elevators were out of order.

He cleared his throat as he jiggled the key into the lock. Sean opened the door with faux grandiosity. “Here it is. Let me know if you want the grand tour.”

Sean searched her eyes for some sign of disappointment, but there was nothing. “Did you … did you do all this?” she asked, and gestured to the murals that covered every inch of the wall.

“Oh. Yeah. When inspiration strikes, you know …”

“It’s amazing,” she said. “And the books! I didn’t know you were such a bookworm.” He worried that she’d start picking up volumes to flip through them, but Harper kept a respectful distance. She leaned down to read some of the titles, but didn’t touch.

He admired her while she admired his work, going from wall mural to the series of little canvasses he’d propped up near the window. Seeing her there, amidst his modest but most personal possessions, made him want her more than ever before. And in a way unlike ever before.

“Take off your clothes,” he instructed as he locked the deadbolt with a click.

She looked over her shoulder, but didn’t hesitate. With one pull, she untied the halter neck and let the dress fall to the floor. Below, she wore nothing but black satin underwear so miniscule he could see the deep dimples on the crest of her ass from across the room.

“You know the neighbors might see,” he said, and nodded towards the curtain-less windows. The streetlights were on, and surely turned her into a beacon.

“I know,” she said.

He smiled. “You’re being quite obedient, sweetheart.” He released his buckle with a snap as he walked towards her. “Open the window.”

Harper leaned forward and struggled for a moment with the thickly painted frame. He stepped beside her to watch her tits bounce with the effort. As soon as the cool evening breeze sailed through the window, goose bumps riddled her flesh and her nipples hardened. Her stomach seemed gaunter than usual, even after dinner. Was she always this slight?

“Put your hands on the window sill,” he said. She pressed her palms against the sill, and the breeze picked up her long, fiery hair.

Sean moved behind her and spanked her through the satin material, testing her. She let out a small yelp, but held back.

“Do you want me to fuck you?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, sir,” she said. From where she stood, all anyone passing by had to do was look up and they’d see her in all her naked beauty.

“Then say it,” he said.

“I want you to fuck me.”

“No, say my name. Who do you want inside you.”

“I want Sean to fuck me,” she said lowly.

“My full name. Louder.”

She hesitated. He saw her look up the street. Just half a block away, a group of young men walked briskly down the street, likely to the bar at the end of the block.

He spanked her again, hard. She cried out, but obeyed. “I want Sean Cavanaugh to fuck me,” she said loudly. From over her shoulder, he saw the men look up.

Sean gripped her hair and yanked her head back. “You see those men down there?” he asked. “Tell them you’re for me. You’re my play thing.”

As soon as he released her hair, she repeated his words into the night air—loud and clear. He couldn’t read the men’s expressions, and didn’t care. “You like how badly I treat you, don’t you?” he asked, and pulled her panties down to her knees. Even with the dark fabric, he could see that her wetness had started to pool.

“Yes,” she panted.

“Say you’re my dirty slut,” he said, as he slapped her other cheek with a sharp swat.

“I’m your dirty slut,” she cried out.

“Say you’re here to make me come.”

She repeated his words, yelled them into the night.

“That’s good,” he said. Sean smoothed his palm over her stinging skin. “Don’t hesitate again when I give you an order. Come here.”

He directed her to the low-slung Japanese-style bed. The headboard featured a row of slats, perfect binding posts. At the foot were two small circular rungs he’d just installed himself.

It took just a few loops and pulls to secure her arms behind her back in a hobble tie. “On your knees,” he directed, and she dropped immediately onto the low mattress.

The hardness inside his jeans was almost unbearable. As soon as he released his cock, he cupped her jaw and she opened her mouth hungrily. “How badly do you want it? How much do you want to suck my cock, you fucking slut?”

“More than anything,” she said. Harper looked up at him, beautifully bound, through those thick lashes.

“You may,” he said. Her tongue circled his tip, and he dropped his head back. This time, when she took him to the back of her throat, it was smooth and easy. She didn’t pause or choke, and he missed those sounds. “I’m going to fuck your mouth,” he told her, and gripped the back of her head.

He was on the edge, but eased her into it. As he got closer, the sounds of her saliva and wild sucking and swallowing got him even harder. He released her head, just for a moment, and Harper gasped for breath. Saliva dripped from the corners of her mouth. “Do you want my come?” he asked. Sean grapsed his length and traced his tip along the edges of her lips.

“Yes, sir,” she said.

“Ask for it. Politely.”

“Please, I want to drink your come,” she said. “I need it.”

“Good girl,” he said. He dove into her mouth and emptied into her with just a few more thrusts. He heard himself give a small cry, the warmth and wetness of her mouth the perfect receptacle for him. As he withdrew, he watched her alabaster throat swallow greedily.

Sean leaned down and untied her wrists. “Lie down,” he said. “Spread eagle.”

She flattened onto her back while he towered over her. A lark’s head tie to her wrists and ankles was fast and simple. But even during those easy knots, seeing the rope dig into her soft flesh got him hard again. He left just enough give in her ankle ties that she could slightly bend her knees.

He alternated between kisses and bites on her neck. Harper tossed her head to one side to offer easier access. He felt her stiffen as he moved to her nipples, but she didn’t resist. As an award, he circled her areolas with his tongue gently. Sean sucked firmly on the nipples until she pressed her wet center to his torso in frustration.

“I’m going to fuck you,” he said. “But you have to be perfectly silent. Understand?”

Her eyes were wide, but she nodded.

“If you make a single sound, I stop,” he said. “And you won’t be allowed to get yourself off, not tonight or any other night unless I give you permission. Understand?” she nodded again.

“Now, I could use a ball gag on you,” he said. “But let’s see how well you follow directions. Okay?”

He positioned himself over her and slapped his cock against her clit. Harper squirmed in anticipation, but didn’t make a sound.

Sean held himself on his forearms to watch her face, check for any sound as he entered her. Halfway in, Harper squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lip, but no sound escaped. He plunged completely into her, shocked at the silky wetness of her. “Fuck, you’re tight,” he said. She opened her eyes but said nothing.

As he started to move in her, slow and steady, he felt her walls tighten around him and her wetness grow. Although she did as she was told, when he got close he clamped a hand firmly over her mouth. “Come with me,” he said, breathless in her ear. “Come with me, Harper.”

When he came, her name was on his lips. He released his hand from her mouth and saw a glimpse of her eyes screwed shut in orgasm—but still, she kept her lips pressed together.

Sean got up, out of breath, and untied her. He reached for the bedside table and pulled out the plush robe he’d reserved just for her. Even as he wrapped her in it tightly, and pet her softly, she had started to drift into sleep.

With Harper in his arms, safe in slumber, all the darkness he carried inside washed over him. The self-doubt, the self-recrimination, all of it.

He looked down at her willowy, sleeping form. How can someone who looks like this be interested in someone as fucked up as you? It was impermanent, that was for certain. Enjoy it while you can. Enjoy her while you can.

“Don’t think about the future,” he told himself quietly. He was already more attached than he’d like.

But something was growing, and he couldn’t stop it. Is this what real affection feels like? It must be, or the physical relationship would never have gone this far.