Bound to Please(6)

He said, “You’re vibrating.”

She shook her head. “I’m not.”

That smile again. “You are.” He slid his free hand into her blazer pocket like he had every right to do so, and the heat from his arm made her shiver more than she already was. Releasing her wrist, he placed her phone in her palm. The phone that was, in fact, vibrating.

“You might want to get that. Could be important.”

“Right. Thanks.” Without looking at the caller ID, she turned away and flipped the cell open. “This is Ruby.”

“Are you okay?”

Glancing over her shoulder at a grinning Mark, Ruby took a few more steps away from him and scanned the room. “Meg? Where are you?”

“Hiding behind a palm tree. Did you know these things are fakes? Anyway, I saw the way Mark was holding your arm. Is everything all right?”

She looked behind her to find Mark still watching her. She turned away. “Yes. Fine. Turns out Ash sold one of those photographs, and guess who happened to buy one?”

“No way!”

“Way.”

“So why was he holding on to your wrist? Does he think you’re easy or something ’cause of those pictures? Fuck the recording contract. I’m gonna kick his ass.”

“No! No. It’s fine, really.” Ruby didn’t know how she knew this, she just did. And she couldn’t help the fact that a part of her was enjoying their banter. Enjoying him. Yeah, as a musician he was a sworn-off species, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy a little flirting, did it? She was thirty-seven. Even if the lighting was soft, it felt good to have a hot young guy hitting on her. Not to mention her wrist still burned from where he’d held her. And that excited her even as it freaked her out.

“Really, Meg. It’s fine. Thanks for checking, though.” She flipped her phone shut and faced Mark. He was, of course, still staring at her. But now he was sitting again, sipping his beer. Looking innocent. But there was nothing innocent about him. And there was something in his eyes that made her go liquid inside. Made her heart flutter. Flutter.

Shit.

Stiffly, she sat back down, picked up her drink and took a sip. She wasn’t stupid. She knew what was being offered. A one-off with a gorgeous young man who made her pulse race. A fast fuck with a man who purchased erotic art and probably thought she had more experience than she had with BDSM. A man who’d said he was never the one begging to be spanked, worded in such a way to imply there was, in fact, someone who had begged for such a thing.

She couldn’t get that smell of leather out of her nose.

His gaze darted to the patio door and back to her. “Have a cigarette with me,” he said, and she looked up to find those intense brown eyes of his boring into hers.

“I don’t smoke.”

“Neither do I.”

A heartbeat later, she nodded.

Mark placed his beer bottle on the table, and then he took her hand. She loved the feel of his dry, strong fingers laced with hers. Loved the way he confidently led her through the crowd. Even as she broke rule number two—never leave your own event—she loved the way her heart hammered as she followed him onto the terrace. Besides, if anyone needed anything, she was just outside the door.

On this empty patio. All alone. With Mark St. Crow. Her heart started to race in a way it hadn’t in a long time, in an anxious pace that made her palms moist.

But then his hand was on her arm, stroking softly. The feeling passed.

She met his gaze and her heart quickened, but in a much more pleasant manner than it had just a moment ago. Were they going to do it now? Have sex? Here?

It suddenly dawned on her that she was about to have a quickie on the patio with a man she’d just met. Why else would he have led her out here?

Why else would she have let him?

Just do it and get it out of your system!

Hell, they were halfway there anyway, right? He’d already seen her at her most vulnerable. The man possessed pictures of her, not just nude, but in bondage. Rope wrapped around her breasts, her arms, between her legs. Totally bound. God, he’d seen more of her than any man had in over a year.

Turning, she smiled shyly at Mark. “You’ve seen me naked.”

“Don’t think I’m not thinking about that.” The corners of his mouth lifted in a mischievous smile as he took a step closer to her.

She lifted her chin a fraction, then jumped into the unknown. “Do you just admire the art you buy, or do you play?” Her entire body seemed to shake as she waited for him to answer.

His hand went to his belt buckle, where he lightly stroked the brass. “I’m interested in all aspects of power exchange.”