Tears leaked out the corners of her eyes because even now, when she was scared spitless, she wanted to believe him. "Let me go."
"Talk to me."
"Untie me."
"If I untie you will you talk to me?"
No fucking way. I'll run. But she didn't voice her plan to flee, just nodded at him.
Ronin reached down and tugged, releasing the binding from her ankles. He undid the ties around her arms so quickly she almost fell forward off the bench.
As soon as she was free, she left the chamber of horrors, heading toward his bedroom. She opted not to make a break for the elevator, first because she was naked, second because Ronin might tackle her to keep her from leaving.
Don't be ridiculous. If he wanted to kill you he wouldn't have let you go.
Amery sensed him leaning in the doorway to his bedroom, watching her as she slipped on her thong and bra. After she got the dress on, her hands were shaking so hard she couldn't get it zipped.
"Will you let me help you?"
"No!" she practically shouted. "Don't touch me."
But as usual, Ronin did as he liked. He clamped his hand around her hip and tersely said, "Hold. Still."
Her traitorous skin broke out in goose bumps when his rough-tipped fingers connected with her flesh as he zipped her up.
"Now will you talk to me?" he asked softly.
She shook her head.
"Baby. Please. What is going on with you?"
That's when she spun around and looked at him. "How did you expect me to react when you trussed me up and left me in a secret room full of ropes and God knows what else? What did you plan to do to me?" The fear returned and she started to cry.
"You said you trusted me."
"How can I trust you when it's obvious I don't even know you!"
Ronin's face showed no emotion.
"I want to leave."
"It's one o'clock in the goddamn morning."
"I want to leave," she repeated stubbornly.
"And you're planning to do what? Walk home?" His gaze swept over her. "Dressed like that? I don't think so."
"I'll call a cab. Just . . . let me go."
"Jesus, Amery, don't be ridiculous. I'll take you home."
Shaking her head, she slipped on her shoes and walked to the elevator. On her phone, she scrolled through the information for taxis and called the first one on the list. After rattling off the address, she learned it'd be a ten-minute wait.
After she hung up, Ronin said, "You'd rather get in a car with a stranger than trust me to take you home?"
Amery looked away.
"I'm not a killer. And it wounds me in ways you can't even begin to imagine that you'd think that of me."
You know he's right.
"I thought you'd be okay with the binding, since I've used scarves and belts and ties on you before."
"But not ropes."
"Is it really the ropes that set you off?"
"Yes. And the swords. And . . . everything."
"I'm sorry that scared you. I . . ." His jaw muscle flexed. "I should've told you."
"About the secret locked room?" Even saying that sounded scary and surreal.
"That and other things. The ropes are for . . ." His face hardened. "Don't look at me like that. The ropes aren't for torture. I use them in kinbaku and shibari bondage."
Amery wrapped her hands around her upper arms and shivered. "What the hell is that? A jujitsu thing?"
"No, but that's where shibari and kinbaku came from," he said evenly. "Please come back upstairs with me and I'll explain everything."
Did she even want to know?
Yes, she did. But her emotions were too raw, too unstable to process anything right now. She managed to choke out, "You should've told me."
"I know. So will you please come back upstairs?"
She shook her head. "I can't. Not now."
"If I give you a few days, then will you talk to me?"
"I don't know."
"This is killing me," he said softly. "Absolutely fucking killing me to see you so miserable and scared and looking at me like I want to cause you harm. When all I wanted . . ."
Amery wiped her fingers under her eyes, completely unaware she'd been crying. "When all you wanted was what?"
"For you to understand who I am. To show you this part of me."
That caused her to cry harder.
The tense silence between them stretched until Amery felt a black hole had opened up, threatening to swallow them both.
The cab pulled up out front.
Before Ronin unlocked the door, he stood behind her and spoke into her ear. "This isn't over between us. I'll give you time to come to terms or process or whatever you need. But you owe me the courtesy of a conversation. You need to listen to me with an open mind. And sooner, rather than later, would be better for both of us."