For His Desire(27)

“If you wanted me to, I would,” Michael said. “It would have to be for your enjoyment as well as mine. Never if you were against it, but I think pictures of you all tightly bound would be gorgeous.”

Elena thought about that, deciding to think whether that was something she really wanted. She did wonder what she looked like to Michael when she was tied and spread out before her. “It was harder than I thought,” she said, changing the subject.



“What’s that?” Michael asked. “The punishment?”



“No, not that,” Elena said, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “It’s just that now I am used to trying to orgasm with my hands tied. It felt strange to not be tied. Does that make sense?”



Michael’s smile widened as Elena spoke. “I’m glad to hear that. I’m rather partial to tying your hands. I think the rope suits you.”



“I’m rather partial to having them tied,” she admitted. She closed her eyes, breathing in the scent that was uniquely Michael. “It’s always something fun and different.”



“I’m glad,” he said.



“What makes me different than them?” Elena asked. She lay on her side with her head resting on Michael’s chest, feeling a contentment that had eluded her for so long.



“Everything,” Michael said. “I’ve punished other women on occasion but I have never made love afterward. I’ve wanted to fuck afterward, but not make love. There’s a difference.”



Elena smiled to herself, a blissful smile. “Yes, there is. I like both,” she said. Her thoughts were far away from the past and from pictures. She was focused on now, on Michael and to building with him something more than either of them thought possible.





Chapter 3

Elena answered the phone, deciding to adapt a flirty tone as soon as she noticed that the call was from Michael. He had been wrapped up in work and she had barely seen him the past few days. She had planned on a quiet night in with Chinese food and movies, but she had to admit that she was always happy to hear from Michael.



“I’m on my way now,” Michael said before Elena could barely get “hello” out of her mouth. “Just listen to me, Elena. This is important.”



“Oh, okay,” Elena said, but Michael cut her off before she could say anything further. Michael was often direct and to the point, but rarely rude. She had never heard him call something “important” before.



“I need you to pack a bag. Just one. Pack only what you absolutely need. We can replace everything else. Don’t answer the door or go out. Just wait for me and I will be there as soon as I can.”



Elena felt her heart race. “Michael? What’s going on?”



“We need to get out of here.” The phone cut out and then Elena heard the words “Kill me. I’ll . . .” Elena heard a loud crash and then nothing. “Michael. Michael,” she yelled, but the line was dead.



Elena was frantic and she redialed Michael’s cell number but there was no response. She left a voicemail and then hung up, trying his home number instead. There was no response and she threw a few items in a suitcase, not even caring what they were. It was stuff; stuff didn’t matter.



Michael mattered.



Her heart beat painfully in her chest and she wanted to scream. She tried Michael’s phone again and there was nothing. Dead air. She didn’t know where he was and she had a strong urge to go to her car and drive around to find him. It was futile, she knew, but she could not stand to be idle.



Elena felt nauseated and she kept moving, pacing through her apartment and trying Michael’s phone numbers again and again. She received no answer, but she couldn’t stop. Michael would not have called like that if it wasn’t something important.



Her apartment didn’t even feel like her place anymore; more often than not she stayed with Michael but with his busy work schedule she had not seen him in a few days. A good portion of her things were already at Michael’s house, but she still had her own place and her own measure of independence.



Elena placed her hands in her red hair, rubbing her temples and tried to think about what might be happening and about where Michael must be. She had to trust that he was on his way and she could not bear to think of anything else.



She felt tears start to well up and she tried to force them away. She couldn’t lose control; if she did she would fall to the floor and sob until there was nothing left in her. She was afraid. It had been Michael’s tone that concerned her, that subtle note of panic she had detected.