"So lovely," he murmured, while pulling her arms behind her back. "Is it comfortable for you to grab your elbows?"
She maneuvered her arms into a better position.
"Perfect. I'm going to start tying you now."
Her stomach lurched in a combination of fear and excitement. She blurted out, "Am I supposed to keep my eyes closed?"
"Up to you."
"Me watching you won't bother you?"
Ronin stepped in front of her. "No. The only thing that will bother me is if you're not honest about how you're feeling. Blocking your sight will strip away another layer of your control. I can blindfold you if you'd prefer."
"Oh." Part of her wanted to be blindfolded to get the edgier experience, but a larger part wanted the option of watching him as he bound her.
"So what'll it be?"
"I'll wing it."
He pressed a kiss on her lips. "Stay still. I'll be right back."
Amery watched as he selected three plain white rope bundles from the far wall. And she managed a clinical detachment about what he intended to do with the rope until he loosened the first bundle. She squeezed her eyes shut.
"I'll start with a chest harness that will also immobilize your hands."
"Okay."
That's all Ronin needed. The first wrap circled her chest below her armpits. As did the second and the third. Then he crossed the center of her chest, and that pulled the bindings tighter as well as squeezed her breasts.
She contemplated looking down to watch him at work, but she focused on his rough fingertips gliding across her skin as he checked the tightness of the bindings. And yeah, they were plenty tight.
"Are you holding your breath?" he asked in that low, commanding tone.
"Maybe a little."
"Inhale and exhale slowly. Even more exaggerated breathing than you use in yoga."
She nodded and filled her lungs.
Ronin didn't miss a beat and kept wrapping.
When he tugged the rope across her nipple, she sucked in a surprised breath.
"One more like that."
The second wrap compressed her nipples between the two ropes, creating a pinching sensation, and her eyes flew open. She glanced down and saw her nipples elongated from the pressure and jutting out from the ropes.
His thumb swept over the left one as his right hand held the coil of rope. "Does it hurt?"
"Not when you touch it like that."
Ronin kept stroking it, staring into her eyes. "This tie is called 'string of pearls.' See how the binding makes the tips of your nipples round?"
"Yes. Just as long as it doesn't cut off my circulation entirely and turn them white."
"I know how sensitive your nipples are. Plus, my mouth will help restore blood flow when the time is right."
That brought forth a flash of heat between her thighs. She closed her eyes.
He said, "Breathe, baby," and wound the rope around her rib cage.
There didn't seem to be a point when his hands weren't on her. Or when she couldn't feel the heat of his body against hers. Or feel his lustful gaze studying her reactions. It was heaven, being on the receiving end of his total attention.
Another shiver broke free when his fingers followed the contour of her belly down to the rise of her mound.
Ronin pressed against her clit and dragged the pad of his thumb down the seam of her sex and back up. He pushed against that bundle of nerves again. But the pressure was different. She sucked in a quick breath when she felt the rope sliding along the split in her sex, one on either side of her labia. Then he pulled it between her legs and up the crack of her ass.
His mouth grazed her ear. "Do you know how beautiful you look?"
"No."
"Or how fucking hot it is that I can make you come whenever I want just by doing this." He tugged on the ropes, sending a shooting sensation from her nipples to her clit, then down her pussy, across her anus.
She gasped, shocked that the sharp bite of pain morphed so quickly into pleasure.
He snatched the two rope ends tickling her back and attached them to the rope threaded between her thighs, tying them to her bound arms.
Amery's breaths had become labored-from the tight bindings or her lack of control or a combination of both.
"Slow and steady, remember," he said in that deliciously deep, calming tone.
But it didn't soothe her this time. She thrashed around in an attempt to get free. "I can't get enough air."
"Amery."
"I can't fucking breathe."
"Stop. Think. You're safe."
"No! Let me go."
Ronin abruptly stepped away, leaving her alone.