I excuse myself and go to the bathroom. Am I being reckless allowing myself to get so close to a man whose barriers are so strong it would take a sledgehammer to break through them?

It’ll be alright, I tell myself. He’s a good father, and I can’t help thinking he’s a good man… despite his sometimes-brutish attitude. The way he looks after his son melts my heart. Call it a gut-feeling, but I trust my instincts; I’ve always been a good judge of character.

I give myself a curt nod in the mirror. I’ll find the chinks in his armour, little by little; he won’t be able to hide behind his defences forever. It’s early days yet. One thing Daniel Collins will discover about me is that I’m persistent. I’ll be the sledge-hammer that breaks down his defences. I might be submissive in bed, but I’m not a pushover elsewhere.

I smooth down my leggings, press my lips together and step into the corridor. Daniel is leaning against the door-frame of what I can only presume is his bedroom. He’s taken off his shirt, and I rake my gaze over his gorgeous body. I freeze, rooted to the spot, my confidence shrivelling like an autumn leaf. I take a quick breath, and my heartbeat thuds in my ears.

“Come here, Catrin.”

His tone is commanding, his voice hypnotically low; I swallow hard and take slow steps as I walk towards him, my eyes locked with his smouldering gaze. He reaches out his hand and I slip my fingers into it. Warmth flushes through me at his touch, soothing my nerves, and a smile flickers across my face.

Bending, he kisses the ridge of my shoulder and then the base of my throat. His hot lips trail up my neck; I release a shuddering sigh, my knees wobbling so much I’m in danger of crumpling to the floor. As if sensing this, he lifts me, like I weigh nothing, and carries me across to his bed.

He sits me down and joins me, the mattress dipping as he laces his strong fingers through mine. “First, we talk,” he says. “So you’re clear about what will happen.” He pauses, breathing in and out. “I don’t want to scare you.”

“I’m not scared,” and I’m not. A tad nervous, maybe. He’s probably read it in my body-language…

I listen while he outlines what he refers to as a ‘scene’. It makes me think of the theatre. Maybe this is all an act for him? I’m supposed to call him ‘sir’ while we’re ‘playing’ and I wonder if Daniel needs to do this to escape from reality… whatever that reality could be.

Nah, he did this with his wife; he must simply be into the kink.

My tummy tickles with apprehension, but, God, I want him so much. “Let’s do it,” I say.

He lifts a brow. “Sure?”

“Absolutely.” My mouth has gone dry.

“If, at any time, you think I’m pushing you beyond your limits, your safe-word is Wales, okay?”

Safe-word? Holy shit.

“I won’t forget.”

His mouth descends on mine; I tip my head back and open my lips for his questing tongue. He presses me into the mattress and I become a different Catrin, someone I barely recognise, a Catrin who wants this man so badly she rubs her body against him, twisting her fingers into his thick hair and gripping him tight. My senses are reeling. I run my hand down to the swell in his pants and squeeze his hardness.

He breaks the kiss, untangling himself from me. Then he pulls me to my feet and reaches for the hem of my sweater. I stand silently while he lifts it off. He pulls down my leggings and kneads my ass cheeks. “You’re doing brilliantly.”

“Thank you, sir.” I almost laugh out loud but manage to contain myself.

Me, calling a man, sir? I’m only doing this because the man is Daniel…

“Are you ready?” He reaches into his bedside table drawer and retrieves a thinly coiled rope.

“Yes, sir. Ready, sir. I want this.” My pulse ricochets.

No need for me to try to keep a straight face. It’s no longer funny.

Daniel gently grasps my forearms and rotates them, so they are folded at right angles behind my back. I feel the rope sliding through, rough against my skin. My heart thuds as he ties my wrists together, his hot breath burning me up. He binds my breasts next, the snug fit holding them firmly, then he ties a knot over my spine. He carries on binding me, breathing slowly through his nostrils as he concentrates. My tits have tightened, and my nipples are standing on end. He strokes the points and I release a needy moan.

“You’re stunning,” he says, stroking my hair.

He comes around to the front of me and eases the knots around my flesh. I throw my head back, and my breasts jut out, dark red, engorged with blood. “That’s perfect,” he says. “Your nipples are rock-hard.” He pinches and flicks them, making me whimper. Christ, my tits are so swollen they’re burning, but the burn feels amazingly good.

“All well?” He kisses me, his tongue around mine, lingering… caressing. He nips my lip between his teeth, and then stands back. “I’m going to punish you.”

He told me this would happen, and I agreed to it, but now I’m not so sure. Except I won’t let myself renege, even though fear lurks beneath my bravado. If I’m out of my depth, either I’ll sink, or I’ll swim.

Holding my breast, he whacks his fingers against the distended nipple and, shit, it hurts. I gasp as he does it again. Then he holds my other breast. The sharp sound of each spank is exciting, though, and the pain, God, the pain is surprisingly blissful. My hips lurch and I feel myself getting wet.

“That’s enough,” he grunts. “Baby steps until you are fully trained.”

Trained? I’m not a performing seal…

He runs his hands down my back, his fingers tapping over the knots, and I’m too breathless to speak. Suddenly the ropes loosen around my chest, my lungs expand fully and my breasts spring free with a pleasant ache. The cord slackens even more, falling to a heap at my feet.

Then he kisses me. Such a beautiful, sensual kiss, his tongue sliding over mine, deep and needy. My heart racing, I tangle my hands in his hair and kiss him back, loving how good he makes me feel. He cups my tits, caressing them soothingly. “Oh, Daniel,” I whimper.

He slips his fingers between my legs, finding the crotch of my thong. He yanks at the silk so forcefully the material rips. But I don’t care. I don’t damn well care. I just want him inside me; I thrust my hips forward. His thumbnail hits my clit, and he flicks it while his fingers move in and out. The pressure is intense. Tingles spread up from my core, making me ache with need. He pulls out, and I’m suddenly bereft, hollow and yearning for him. He raises his fingers to my lips. “Suck them clean, Catrin.”

And I do.

I’ve never done anything this dirty in my life.

He takes off his jeans and briefs before bringing his mouth down on my breast. I arch my back, an electrifying sensation spreading between my legs.

Abruptly, he spins me around so that my back is facing him. His palm lands on my ass in a stinging slap and I let out a squeak. Pleasure puddles between my legs, though, a heavy wetness that makes me moan for more.

He kicks my legs apart and slaps my ass and the backs of my thighs again.

“Please,” I beg. “Please fuck me!”

I’m wet for him, soaking wet; my clit is a hard nub under his touch.

He bends me, so my arms are resting on the bed, then he grips my hips and pushes into me from behind, one shove that buries him to the hilt. Sweet Jesus!

He starts thrusting, and I’m groaning with each thrust, my tits pressed into the mattress, my orgasm spiralling. I start to shudder.

He stops, and his hands grip my hips tight. “I did not say you could come!”

“I don’t think I can stop it,” I groan.

He pulls out and I yelp as he slaps my ass hard.

Turning me, he lifts me up and places me on the bed so I’m lying on my back.

He slides straight into me, and I yelp again, my eyes flying open. His thickness stretches me, and the skin of his cock is so smooth inside me; the planes of his muscles are rock-hard against my belly.

“Look at me, Catrin. I want to see your eyes when I make you come.”

I wrap my legs around him and he fucks me hard and fast, rocking his hips, his hot breath on my cheek. My heart races.

“I can feel your body begging for release,” he rasps in my ear.

“Please, let me come!”

He pumps me again and again. The intensity is so powerful it hurts, but it’s a blissful kind of pain.

I love it.

His thick cock thumps into me over and over until I’m floating, gasping for breath, my clit exploding.

The hot wave of my release jerks me like a puppet on a string. Ah…

Staring into his dark eyes, I feel his cock spasm as he empties his load.

We collapse, both of us panting for breath. Daniel stays buried inside me, his heat covering me like a blanket. He kisses my neck and strokes my face. “You’re so beautiful, Cat.”

“You’re not bad yourself,” I giggle.

He pulls out and rolls off me. “Did you enjoy what we just did?”

“Hmm,” I pretend to consider his question, smiling as I run my hand up his powerful chest. “I’ll reserve judgement until after we’ve done it one more time.”

He chuckles. “I’ll run you a nice warm bath, first. I want to take care of you.”

I watch Daniel walk across the room. My chest tightens, and my tummy does a funny little flip.

No, Cat. You mustn’t fall for him.

But it’s too damn late.

I’ve already lost my heart to Daniel Collins.