I’m practically shaking when he comes back from the closet holding three long strips of black silk. He smiles at me and walks slowly toward me, and I can feel my heart hammering hard in my chest. I don’t know what he’s going to do with those long silk ropes, but I want to find out.

“Flat on your stomach,” he says to me simply. I pause then obey. He walks down toward my feet, sliding his fingers along my skin. He touches my lower back, my ass, and slides down my legs until he stops at my feet.

He lifts my legs up, keeping my ankles crossed, and then expertly wraps the silk around and between them.

“If you want me to stop, say the word ‘building’. Do you understand?” he asks.

I nod. “I understand.”

He pulls the silk tight. “Too hard?” he asks.

“No,” I say. I can’t move my feet as he takes the other end of the rope and ties it to the footboard.

I try to move my ankles but I’m bound tightly. He smiles and runs his fingers back up along my body as he moves up toward my head.

A chill runs down my spine as his fingers touch my back. I gasp slightly and look away from him, hiding my excitement. I’m dripping wet already, just from his fingertips brushing along my skin. He runs his fingers down my right arm, stopping at my wrist.

“What are your boundaries?” he asks me as he wraps the silk around my wrist, expertly looping it and tying it there.

“Boundaries?” I ask him, not sure what he means.

“What won’t you do? Things you don’t like. Pain, for example.”

“I don’t know,” I admit. “I don’t really have boundaries yet.”

He smiles. “Good.” He pulls the silk then ties it to the headboard. “Too tight?” he asks.

“No,” I say, testing it. The bond is firm but not cutting off circulation. He walks around the bed then runs his fingers along my skin, from my lower back up along my left arm, ending at my left wrist, and repeats the procedure.

“This is your punishment,” he says as he works. “You’ll be tied and bound to this bed. Not too tight, not too uncomfortable, but you won’t be able to move. I’ll be able to do anything I want with you.”

A thrill runs through my stomach and as he finishes tying my left wrist to the headboard, I feel a moment of panic. I test my bonds and sure enough, I can’t move at all. I’m totally at his mercy.

But I remember what he said about the safe word. All I need to do is say “building” and he’ll stop. I trust him, for whatever reason, although the fear of him taking advantage of me makes this whole experience that much more arousing.

I turn my head and watch him. I’m flat on my stomach, ankles crossed, arms flat on the bed and above me. I can touch the headboard with my fingers, but I’m not being stretched or pulled out of position. It’s actually comfortable if I don’t move.

He stands there, admiring me, and then runs his fingers along my back again. “You’re beautiful, you know that?” he says.

“Thank you,” I whisper, excitement coursing through me.

He stops, his fingers lingering over the cleft under my ass. I can feel his fingers inches from my pussy and I know he can feel the heat radiating from there. If he moves slightly further, he’ll feel how dripping wet I am.

Instead, he pulls back his hand and spanks me.

I let out a soft gasp, surprised. He smiles at me. “Sorry, did that hurt?” he asks.

“No,” I say, “you just surprised me.”

“Good.” He spanks me again, this time harder. I gasp, and it actually does hurt. “What about that?” he asks.

“That hurt a little bit,” I say.

“Perfect.” He spanks me again and again. It stings, but it’s dulled by the intensity of the moment. I’m completely at this man’s mercy and he’s spanking me like a disobedient child.

“This is part of your punishment,” he says. “I’m going to spank you until I can see my palm prints in red on both of your perfect white ass cheeks.”

“Ethan,” I groan. “Please. Go easy on me.”

He smiles, and I can tell that he likes that. “I am going easy on you, my pet. Don’t worry.”

He spanks me again and again, making me groan. I try to squirm but I can’t move, can’t get away. It hurts, but not very much. In fact, it’s just the right amount of pain, cutting through the insane sexual chemistry I’m feeling. I want him to take me so badly, but each new spank is intensely erotic in a way I’ve never felt before.

He finishes on the one side then goes around the bed and repeats the procedure.

“I love the feeling of this ass under my palm,” he says. “I like that you’re willing to lay there, moaning and taking it. You’re my pet and you know it, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I gasp, losing myself in the game. “I’m your little pet. And I shouldn’t disobey you.”

“That’s right. This is what happens when you do. I’ll tie you up nice and tight then spank your ass.”

“Ethan,” I gasp when he hits me harder, one last time.

He stops and steps back. He admires my ass, smiling huge. “Perfect,” he says.

I squirm against the ropes again, wanting him to put his hands back on me. He kneels down at the side of the bed and runs his fingers through my hair.

“You want more, don’t you?” he asks softly.

I nod my head, mouth hanging open, and I realize that it’s true. I’m not acting anymore. I want him to touch me. I want his fingers between my legs, his hard cock between my lips.

“Not tonight,” he says, standing.

“What?” I ask, surprised.

“No, not tonight. You don’t deserve it tonight.” He turns and starts walking to the door.

“Wait,” I say. “Ethan. Please.”

He pauses. I can’t see him, but I know he’s nearby. I try to turn my head, but I can’t roll over.

“Please, what?” he asks.

I pause, biting my lip. What do I want, exactly? Do I really want him to touch me? Maybe it’s better if he doesn’t. I could just play along with these games, letting him spoil me. I don’t know what he really wants, and I don’t want to push him away. I don’t want to be greedy. I’m afraid that if I tell him how badly I want to feel him press his body against me, sinking his cock deep between my legs, that I’ll ruin the moment. I don’t want to risk that.

“Don’t leave me,” I say instead, hedging my bet.

I can hear the grin in his voice. “You want me to untie you?”

“Maybe,” I say. “What do you want?”

He pauses and I wish I could see his face. Then he walks back over to me and unties my ankles then my wrists, one after the other.

I sit up on my side, watching him. He puts the silk away in the dresser by the side of the bed then crosses his arms.

“Enough for tonight,” he says. “Dinner is on the cart.” He nods at the cart parked over by the table.

“Okay,” I say, suddenly afraid. Did I do something wrong? I don’t want to displease him, and I definitely don’t want this to be over.

He walks over to me and takes my chin, tilting my head up toward him, and he slowly moves down toward me. I feel a thrill, thinking he’s going to kiss me, but instead he presses his lips against my ear.

“You did well, my pet,” he whispers. “We’ll finish another night.” He moves away and leaves the room before I can say anything.

I hear the door shut and I collapse back onto the bed, practically panting with pent-up desire.

I can’t believe how much I want it. I’ve never felt this way before, ever. Oh sure, I’ve wanted sex before, but not like this. I feel like I’m hanging from a cliff, barely held up by ropes, and all I want is for him to let me fall. It’s dangerous and thrilling and exhilarating.

And I didn’t expect to feel this way. It doesn’t hurt that he’s so damn attractive, but it’s more than that. It’s the way he teases me, taking me a little further but backing off, never giving me what I want. I know he’s in control, even if I don’t want him to be.

Part of me wanted to tear those ropes off and take him, pull him into the bed with me, beg him to make me feel good. I knew that would ruin everything, but still, I wanted it. I wanted it so badly I can barely think.

I have to lay there for a while, maybe a half hour, trying to get myself together. Eventually, I calm down enough to change my clothes and eat the food. It’s good, though it’s cold.

As I go to bed that night, I keep thinking about him, about Ethan and his control. I want to understand it and get past it. I want him to make me feel good.

I want to be his spoiled little pet.