Sharon wasn’t entirely sure what was going on with Ross, but whatever it was, it seemed to make him happy. He appeared to have had a great time, and all of her friends—people she’d known for years—loved him. “I know it was outside your comfort zone,” she said, looking up at him. She tried to ignore the way her heart had been thumping painfully in her chest ever since he’d put his hand on her cheek a few seconds ago. “So I’m glad that you came and enjoyed yourself. Thank you.”

Ross tilted his head and stared at her. Sharon squirmed. “What?”

“Nothing.” Ross shook his head and dropped his hand from her cheek. “You just might be the most considerate person I’ve ever met.”

Sharon could feel the heat rising to her face and knew she was blushing. “I’m just… It’s human decency, that’s all.”

“Hmmm.” Ross stepped a little closer and put his hands on her hips. Sharon could feel her heart beating even faster. “I feel like such consideration should be rewarded.”

“Oh?” She slid her hands up his arms, feeling the muscles underneath. “And how would I be rewarded?”

“Well…” Ross used his grip on her hips to spin her around and then pin her back against his chest, one arm snaking around her waist to keep her still. He bent down, his breath hot against her ear. “I do believe someone expressed their enthusiasm for the idea of getting tied up…”

Sharon clenched her legs together as a wave of heat pooled between them. Oh, yes, yes please.

“Do you want that?” Ross asked. He slowly began to knead at her breast while using his arm to pin her against him. All she could do was tip her head back against his shoulder and let him do what he wanted to her. “Hmm? Do you want me to tie you up, make you beg for me?”

He kissed down her neck, and Sharon felt her legs turn to jelly. She leaned back, putting her weight on Ross and trusting that he’d keep her upright. How had they gone from casually existing in the same space to this so quickly? It felt like the room had suddenly caught fire.

“Tell me what you want,” Ross whispered against her skin. “I have to hear you, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart. He’d called her that the other night when he’d had her pinned against the wall. She tried to tell herself that it didn’t mean anything, but she couldn’t help melting a little at the endearment.

“Yes,” she gasped out, a little ashamed of how needy she sounded. “Yes, please, I want you to tie me up.”

“Good girl,” Ross said. He stopped touching her breasts and instead slid a hand into her jeans, dragging a finger along the seam of her underwear. Sharon tried to bite back her moan. “Mmm, so wet already…”

He found her clit and she cried out. Her nails dug into his skin as he thumbed open her jeans. He soon slipped his whole hand down into her wet panties, working two fingers over her. Sharon’s hips bucked and she panted heavily in Ross’s ear, trying to get more friction as he rubbed his fingers in tight little circles over her clit. God’s sake, she still had all of her clothes on and she was in her kitchen, and he was going to… to make her come right, right there…

“Ross, Ross please,” she whispered. “The, the bedroom, Ross, please, I…” Ross slipped a finger into her, his thumb pressing against her clit, and she screamed, her hips jerking wildly. It was too much but it wasn’t enough, and now he was sliding a second finger inside of her, going faster and faster and oh God, oh God, oh God…

Sharon’s entire body shuddered and she let out a low moan, sagging against Ross as her orgasm washed through her. Well, these jeans definitely needed a wash before she wore them again.

“Now that,” Ross said, kissing her temple, “was beautiful.”

“I thought… you were going to…” She still didn’t fully have her breath back.

“Tie you up? Oh yes. But I’m going to take my time with you, so I thought we should take the edge off first.”

Sharon managed to open her eyes and look up at him. Ross’s eyes were dark, and there was a sly smile on his face. “What are you waiting for, then?” She whispered, challenging him.

Ross scooped her up in his arms and she laughed in surprise, holding on for dear life as he carried her into the bedroom. “Do you have any scarves?”

“Oh Lord,” Sharon laughed, pointing in the direction of her closet. “In there, but if you rip them—”

“I think the only one in danger of ripping them is you.” Ross rummaged through her closet and came back a moment later with two scarves. Luckily Sharon didn’t wear them much. She always seemed to forget them in her mad rush out the door for work.

Laying the scarves on the bed, Ross quickly stripped, and Sharon did the same. Now was not the time for a sensual strip tease. She wanted him and wanted him now.

“Lie down and put your hands above your head,” Ross instructed, his voice calm and reassuring.

Sharon did as she was told, breathing slowly and deeply as Ross carefully tied her hands to the headboard. She’d never let anyone do this to her before, partially because she’d never really thought of doing this before. But she trusted Ross, even if she had no idea what he was planning.

Ross finished tying her down and rocked back on his knees, just staring at her. It was like he was drinking her in, and Sharon shivered under his dark gaze. She could almost feel it on her skin like a caress.

After a silence long enough that Sharon considered asking if something was wrong, Ross slowly leaned down and kissed her. She closed her eyes, melting into the kiss, and felt one of his hands slide up her leg. For the next few minutes he didn’t do much more than kiss her while slowly moving his hands over her body. It seemed he wanted to feel every inch of her, as if he was committing her to memory. His touch was feather-light and teasing. On each pass he drew closer and closer to where she wanted him, but never quite reached her core. Eventually he pulled back, leaving her gasping for air, and began to kiss his way slowly down her body.

She was starting to be glad that he’d gotten her off in the kitchen. These slow, teasing touches were driving her crazy. She couldn’t imagine how frustrated she’d be if he hadn’t “taken the edge off,” as he’d put it.

“Ross…”

Ross simply hummed against her skin as he kissed his way down one shoulder and then across her stomach. Then he scooted down and slowly ran his mouth up her leg, stopping just short of her sex. He sucked at the pale skin on the inside of her thigh, and Sharon’s hips twitched. “Ross…”

“Patience,” he whispered, and leaned up to sucked her breast into his mouth.

Sharon made a strange, strangled noise that she didn’t even recognize as her own voice. She arched her body, trying to get more of that sensation. He scraped his teeth lightly against her skin and she shuddered, tugging instinctively at the restraints. One of his fingers slid between her legs and gently ran through her folds, teasing her again with light touches. He switched his mouth to the other breast and then began to touch her in earnest, his fingers working over her until she was thrusting up into them.

“Yes,” she gasped, trying to encourage him. She was so close. If only he’d put his fingers inside of her again, or moved just a little faster…

And then he withdrew, running his hands soothingly along her thighs.

Sharon groaned. “I was almost…”

“I know.” She could feel that dark grin against her skin. “I told you, patience.”

Sharon huffed and was about to say some choice words about patience when he kissed her again. His tongue slid into her mouth, and then his fingers were teasing her again. This time one of them even slipped inside of her.

He did it again, and again, bringing her to the brink, so close to satisfaction, only to snatch it away. By the fourth time he did it she was a shaking mess, practically sobbing into his mouth. Her arms pulled against the restraints, desperate to touch him.

“Please,” she whispered. “Please, Ross, please…”

He withdrew his fingers again and she moaned, but then she heard the sound of a condom package ripping open and a moment later, she felt him nudging at her entrance. She spread her legs wide, inviting him in.

When he slid into her, she could have cried with relief. Neither of them had much patience left to spare. Ross set a hard, brutal pace, one that had her arching up wildly to meet his thrusts. When it came, her orgasm felt like a freight train. She was pretty sure she’d ripped the scarves in the throes of her ecstasy. And oh God, she was absolutely ruined for anyone else.