Book 1 - Page 94 (1/2)

”Yes, Sir.”

”Good. Stay here, don't move.” He leaves the room.

I'm on my knees, waiting. Where's he goneWhat is he going to do to meTime s.h.i.+fts. I have no idea how long he leaves me like this... a few minutes, five, tenMy breathing becomes shallower, the antic.i.p.ation is devouring me from the inside out.

And suddenly he's back - and all at once I'm calmer and more excited in the same breath. Could I be more excited I can see his feet. He's changed his jeans. These are older, ripped, soft, and over-washed. Holy cow. These jeans are hot. He shuts the door and hangs something on the back.

”Good girl, Anastasia. You look lovely like that. Well done. Stand up.”

I stand, but I keep my face down.

”You may look at me.”

I peek up at him, and he's staring at me intently, a.s.sessing, but his eyes soften. He's taken off his s.h.i.+rt. Oh my... I want to touch him. The top b.u.t.ton of his jeans is undone.

”I'm going to chain you now, Anastasia. Give me your right hand.”

I give him my hand. He turns it palm up, and before I know it, he swats the center with a riding crop I hadn't noticed is in his right hand. It happens so quickly that the surprise hardly registers. Even more astonis.h.i.+ng - it doesn't hurt. Well, not much, just a slight ringing sting.

”How does that feel?” he asks.

I blink at him, confused.

”Answer me.”

”Okay.” I frown.

”Don't frown.”

I blink and try for impa.s.sive. I succeed.

”Did that hurt?”

”No.”

”This is not going to hurt. Do you understand?”

”Yes.” My voice is uncertain. Is it really not going to hurt?

”I mean it,” he says.

Jeez, my breathing is so shallow. Does he know what I'm thinkingHe shows me the crop. It's brown plaited leather. My eyes jerk up to meet his, and they're alight with fire and a trace of amus.e.m.e.nt.

”We aim to please, Miss Steele,” he murmurs. ”Come.” He takes my elbow and moves me to beneath the grid. He reaches up and takes down some shackles with black leather cuffs.”This grid is designed so the shackles move across the grid.”