Part 3 (1/2)

aHow?a aWell, Iave been blindly obedient, havenat I?a He smiled in the darkness, brus.h.i.+ng a kiss over her lips. aYouave been wonderfully obedient. Amazing, in fact, but s.e.x isnat the only answer.a aFaith, trust. You told me I can build those, but Iam not sure you ever had either where Iam concerned. You never really expected us to have a serious relations.h.i.+p, did you?a His answer was slow in coming, as though he had to drag it from deep within. aNo.a He didnat elaborate, and Theaas chest constricted. If head never really had any faith in them, then what did he want? To sate himself until the pa.s.sion was spent? A willing woman to share his fantasies? Had he just wanted her body and nothing else?

The question had plagued her from the first, but the answers were always the same. The confusion and frustration made her want to weep, even while she was wrapped in his arms. All she could do was hang on to him as long as humanly possible.

aYou could move in with me,a came his tentative suggestion.

aI donat think that would be a good idea.a She wanted a more lasting commitment.

Blake grunted his disapproval of her comment and held her tighter. aLetas donat talk about ending the relations.h.i.+p. Weare just getting it started. I guess we can bounce between your place and mine.a aIam getting kind of attached to this cottage,a she teased, wrapping her fingers around his erection, awed, yet again, by the incredible size. She murmured her approval as his flesh throbbed in her hand.

aWith a little incentive, I could be convinced to buy the place,a he said, finding her mouth with his lips. aEver made love on a swing?a aWe couldnat,a she whispered, but her protest ended as he lifted her across his lap and slowly slid into her, locking their bodies with a satisfied grunt. She murmured her approval. This time she matched his pa.s.sion, thrust by thrust, allowing no mercy until head emptied himself inside her again.

Later, he carried her to the shower and they took their time bathing each other. It was a luxury shead never experienced, so she basked in his attentions. By the time they were dried and back in the bedroom, both were exhausted.

Thea awoke at dawn, teetering on the edge of the bed. Blake was hogging most of the narrow mattress, so she quietly slid to the floor. She stood and studied him in the rosy glow of early sunlight. Relaxed in sleep, his normally taut features were softened in masculine beauty. His naked skin glistened, his virile body relaxed and exposed.

Now he was the one who laid spread eagle on the bed, but his hands and arms stretched much closer to the bedposts. Thea shoved her tangled hair from her face as a thought struck her.

The silk ties were still looped around each post, the actual knots very close to Blakeas outstretched limbs. Did she dare? Could she secure his arms and legs without waking him? He did have a tendency to sleep like the dead.

Her lips curved into a delighted grin. Turnabout, and all that. The idea of having him at her mercy sent a thrill of excitement over her. Besides, she still hadnat coaxed any words of love from him. Nor had she won an admission of trust. It was time to take action.

Within an hour, the cabin was filled with the scent of freshly perked coffee. Thea carried two mugs-full into the bedroom, knowing her lover to be a total addict.

Shead taken the time to dress in her skirt and blouse, but nothing else. Seduction played heavily on her mind as she set the mugs on the bedside stand. A glance at Blake made her pulse accelerate.

His hair was tousled and his jaw darkly shadowed, giving him a rakishly handsome look. The pelt of dark, silky chest hair arrowed down to his morning erection, making her blood run hot.

As if aware of her intent perusal, spiky lashes fluttered, then slowly lifted. His gaze immediately locked with hers.

aI smell caffeine,a he muttered huskily.

Then he tried to move. His eyes widened, erasing all signs of grogginess. His expression underwent a dramatic change as he realized he was tied to the bed.

A fierce, angry scowl came next. aWhat the h.e.l.l?a He tugged viciously on the silk ties.

Thea swallowed hard, wondering if shead made a big mistake. She watched tension ripple over his body while the stiffness abruptly drained from his erection. Finding himself at her mercy obviously threatened his manhood and dampened his desire.

aWe need to talk some more,a she explained, moving closer to the bed.

He glared at her with unnerving intensity. aUntie me and weall talk all you want.a She slowly shook her head in denial, and then sipped some coffee.

aWheread you get coffee?a aI made it.a aYou and whose chef?a aTsk, tsk, thatas just plain mean,a she drawled. aYouare sounding very surly this morning. Iave been taking a crash course in domesticity. Iam no Martha Stewart, but Iam learning.a Some of the tension seemed to drain from Blake, but his dark, searching gaze never left her. aDo you have any desire to become a homebody?a aHomebody?a aAs in a home of your own without your familyas housekeeper and staff to cope with the ch.o.r.es?a aIave been giving it some thought,a she admitted cautiously. aI like cooking and decorating, but Iam not too thrilled with cleaning.a aHow long do you figure this domestic streak will last?a Her heart pounded, her gaze never straying from his as she uttered her next bomb. aOh, at least until I get married and start a family.a She watched the action of his throat as he swallowed hard.

aYou want marriage and babies?a aIave always wanted a big family.a aYou never mentioned that.a aYou never asked. You just set me up on a pedestal and refused to treat me like a woman with normal needs and desires.a aReally?a His response sounded like a snarl.

aReally, and itas high time we got honest with each other. Thatas what you said. We need to be rid of the inhibitions and learn to trust each other more.a Thea took another sip of coffee. It had cooled enough to risk feeding some to her captive. Just as head helped her drink wine, she lifted his head and helped him drink coffee. He drank his fill, and then dropped his head to the pillow.

ad.a.m.n, that tastes good.a aIam a reasonably intelligent woman,a she said. aI can follow instructions as well as the next person.a aI never said you couldnat. I just didnat think youad try.a aMaybe thatas the real problem. Maybe you have too many preconceived ideas of what I want or need.a Thoughtful again, he conceded. aPossibly.a His gaze scoured her features. aAny other secrets I should know about?a Her hands werenat quite steady as she set the mug on the stand and prepared to risk his wrath.

aNow that you mention it, thatas why I decided to turn the tables on you this morning with the ties. I have a couple little confessions to make, and I thought it might be prudent to restrict your movements while I was making them.a Blakeas gaze narrowed, pinning her with a dark, gleaming suspicion. aDoes this confession have anything to do with Ted Johnson?a She eased herself onto the bed, crawling over his body until she straddled his waist. Her skirt rode up and her bare thighs made sizzling contact with his hard, hot flesh. A thrill coursed through her as her sensitive skin brushed the roughness of his. Moisture collected at the apex of her thighs, and she wondered if he could feel it.

aActually, yes, it is about Ted.a His jaw muscles clenched, the muscles in his arms flexing as he tugged at the bonds. aIall kill that sonofab.i.t.c.h!a he ground out harshly, bucking against her and his restraints. He pulled so hard that the bed clattered and bounced under them.

Thea shook her head from side to side, scolding him. aYouare supposed to have a little faith. I swore there wasnat anything between Ted and me. Thatas the truth.a He stilled his restless thras.h.i.+ng. aThen what the h.e.l.l do you have to confess?a aWell, you see,a she started, slowly unfastening the b.u.t.tons on her blouse until it hung open, giving him a teasing glimpse of softly rounded flesh. aI have to confess that Tedas in Paris on business. I spent the night alone in his apartment.a aYou what?a The question was issued in a low, disbelieving growl.

Thinking it might be safer to distract him, she slipped off her blouse, and then cupped her b.r.e.a.s.t.s in her hands.