That kicked her sense of panic higher. The rope sliced into her every time she moved, burning tender flesh. She twisted her shoulders, trying to shake loose. A scream of frustration got stuck in her throat and the only sound she could make was a pitiful whimper. All she heard was the rush of blood in her ears.
Then firm, warm flesh pressed against her back.
Ronin.
He pulled her lower body against his with his right forearm, which also stopped the rope from moving and abrading her skin. Ronin curled his left hand around her throat and jaw, holding her in place.
His complete immobilization of her didn't create additional alarm. It somehow . . . settled her. He didn't say a word; he just held her. He made her feel safe.
Keeping her eyes closed helped her focus.
"Better?"
"Yes."
"I'm going to let you go. Are you ready for me to finish binding you?"
"Okay."
Whatever configuration he used connecting her arms to the chest harness took longer than she'd expected. So by the time he finished, she'd drifted into that floaty headspace she'd experienced when he tied her to the chaise. She was attuned to every nuance in her body. The tug in her sex. The constriction around her chest. The position of her arms and hands that rendered them useless.
Ronin's warm breath drifted over her damp skin as he made adjustments. Intensity radiated from him.
His fingertips followed the bindings from her chest to her belly, over her slick pussy, up the crack in her ass, and then from her shoulders down her arms to her wrists. He didn't say a word, but Amery knew she'd pleased him.
A gentle push indicated she needed to return to her knees. Her head tilted forward and the ends of her hair brushed the tops of her thighs.
She wasn't sure how much time passed before she felt Ronin behind her. His hand went to her hair, pulling to get her attention as that hot, wicked mouth of his assaulted her neck. Biting, sucking, sending tremors of need through her and yet she knew she remained under his control. She couldn't touch him. Or herself. She couldn't do anything but surrender.
And what a sweet, sweet surrender it was.
Ronin lightly tugged on the rope with the knot teasing her clit. His other hand toyed with her nipples. Sometimes pulling. Sometimes pinching. Sometimes just giving her a featherlight stroke over the aching tip. He held her head in place with his hand and nuzzled the skin beneath her ear. "Amery."
"Mmm."
"Are you close to coming?"
"No."
He increased the speed and pressure of the rope on her clit and she sucked in a sharp breath. "Better?"
"Some, but I don't think I can . . . without direct contact."
Then Ronin slid in front of her and let his tongue flick across her nipple. He bent his head to her other breast and scored the tip with his teeth.
Her head fell back.
He moved the small knot in the rope away from her clitoris and stroked with his thumb. Side to side at first, bringing blood to the nub.
Amery clenched her thighs in anticipation. Every rapid stroke on her engorged clit pushed her closer to the edge. The binding around her chest forced only reedy breaths, increasing the dizzy sensation.
Then Ronin's mouth was sucking in that spot below her ear-the spot that shot an electric charge to her nipples and ricocheted to her pussy. She had about a five-second warning before she came undone. And right after that first hard pulse rocked her, Ronin snapped the knotted rope into place over her clit.
The spark of pain lasted a split second before the pleasure hit and her cunt spasmed. Every pulse felt like another hard snap of that rope.
She arched back but didn't have anywhere to go with her hands tied. Ronin's mouth suctioned to her neck as his fingers twisted her nipple to the pulsing rhythm coursing through her.
By the time she floated back down, Ronin's touches were aggressive.
He shifted her into the position he wanted-on her knees on a training mat, her chest against the cool vinyl, her ass in the air. Those skilled hands skimmed her naked back from the start of her spine to where her bound hands rested above her ass. Her name tumbled from his lips as soft as a sigh, but with as much reverence as the way he touched her. His potent mix of affection and need flowed through her when he clamped his hands on her hips and anchored his body behind hers.
The thick head of his cock circled the opening once before he plunged into her pussy to the hilt.
Although she was wet and she'd already come once, the ferocity of his thrusts made her breath catch. Good thing he'd switched his grip from her hips to the ropes binding her arms or she would've gone skittering across the mat.