Bound to Please(64)

“Not surprising,” she said with a laugh.

“I said I’m sorry, and I mean it.”

She put a finger to his lips. “If only you were this apologetic when you were cheating on me.”

He flinched. “I told you. That was a big misunderstanding.”

Sighing, she raised her gaze to meet his. “Ash. I haven’t seen you in over a year. Yeah, you flaked, but there’s nothing new about that. So, tell me. What’s going on?”

“Ruby, here’s the thing.” He lifted her hand, drew a circle around her wrist. Except, in bondage terms, her arm was a column to him, a thing to be tied. “I want you to model for me.”

“What?”

“Model for me again.”

He always had such an intense way of looking at her. She used to think it was sexy, and she was surprised to discover the look did absolutely nothing for her anymore.

“I have this idea for a scene, and I really think you would be the best model.”

“Why me?”

His green eyes gave her body a quick once-over, an assessment she knew was purely an automatic response. “Yours is still my favorite form to photograph. Your body. Your ass.” He grinned. “Your body was made to be photographed, and you, Ruby, were made to be bound.”

She couldn’t help the flicker that went through her at his words. And yet her mind went to Mark, and she thought about the way he’d bound her with his belt. It would seem crude to a purist like Ash, but now Ruby found she preferred the raw, open energy she had with Mark to Ash’s methodical technique.

And yet…

“I’ll think about it.” She remembered exactly how the soft rope had felt on her skin. She recalled the way Ash had so skillfully restrained her with his beautiful knot work. Hours and hours they’d spent together as he silently and expertly covered her in his complex artistry. There was so much trust involved in that.

“Ash, can I ask you something?”

His stare was unwavering. “’Course.”

“Did you stay with me for so long because you loved me, or was it because of how I looked in your photographs?”

He looked uncharacteristically tense, took too long to answer. He ran a hand over his head, and she saw that his long fingers trembled slightly. “I wish I knew, Ruby. I… It’s hard for me to tell the difference.”

She saw the raw honesty in his eyes, and for the first time, she was worried about the infallible artist.

She remembered the way he’d go into an almost trancelike state when he bound her. Moving like he was one with his rope, with a total grace she’d found beautiful. He’d always check her skin, assess her comfort level; he was good and responsible.

But he had a way of disconnecting from her as he carried out his task. Something she’d never realized until she experienced the electric connection she had with Mark. Maybe that lack of connection was actually getting to Ash.

Reaching out, she touched his arm. “Thank you for being honest with me.”

She noticed lines around his eyes that hadn’t been there before and realized he was thinner than she’d ever seen him. Everything about him seemed strained.

“Oh, pardon me!”

The door to Ruby’s building flew open, crashing into Ash’s shoulder. He whipped around to see who had burst through the door. “What the—oh…”

Ruby’s red-haired downstairs neighbor, Joy, stared at them, her hand over her mouth. “Oh my God! I am so sorry. Are you okay?”

He looked more than fine. With an intense expression that Ruby recognized, he was staring at Joy. Finally, he shook the look off his face. “Yeah, thanks. Are you?”

“I’m not the one who got slammed with a two-ton door.” Joy’s eyes were full of concern. Well, they would be. Ruby’s neighbor was one of the nicest people she knew; her name described her perfectly.

Her petite neighbor continued to stare at Ash. Most women did. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

Ruby observed as Ash continued a stilted conversation with Joy. Interesting. Her neighbor was beautiful, but to put it frankly, she wasn’t Ash’s type. Just over five feet tall, she was shorter than Ruby and had actual breasts. And hips. Curves. And yet Ash studied her with a look Ruby knew very well. She rolled her eyes inwardly. Maybe he hadn’t changed after all.

“Okay, well… I guess I’ll be going.” Joy gave a little wave, her gaze still locked on Ash’s. “Bye.”

After Joy had gone, Ruby turned back to Ash and noticed the way he clenched his jaw. “Ash, are you okay?”

He stared over her shoulder for a moment. “Yeah… I’m fine. I’ll be better if I can get this shot done. Would you help me?”