He lowered his gaze and moved in close. Her back pressed against the wall. “Because you moved.”
She didn’t know that wasn’t allowed. “You touched my clit.”
He cupped her face and grinned. “When we make love, there are no boundaries. I touch you wherever I want, and if I give you permission, you can touch me wherever you want. Does that seem fair?” His mere presence jumbled her thoughts.
“Yes.” Not really, but reason evaporated.
“Good.” He kissed her, but this time their lips barely touched. “One more thing. If there is anything I do that you don’t like, you can use a safe word.”
“You want to tie me up and blindfold me?” She had a good friend, Janice, who loved BDSM and had regaled her with a lot of stories. But that was for Janice—not her.
“Not tonight.” He drew her hands to his lips and kissed them. “Maybe not for a long time. Wearing a blindfold and obeying is all about trust and love.”
Love? Is that what this was?
“I don’t know if I’d like that.” Heck, everything was too new for her to know anything for sure.
“Do you trust me?” He sucked one of her fingers into his mouth and wicked flames of desire lapped her insides.
She didn’t have to think. “Yes.”
“Good. I want you to be comfortable with me and with who you are as a person.”
His words sounded warm, rich, inviting.
“Okay.”
“Your safe word will be brown.”
That was ridiculous. “Why brown?”
“Because you have the most beautiful brown hair and deep chocolate eyes.”
Oh! He fingered her locks and his tenderness seeped into her.
“When you say that word, I’ll think of you and give you my utmost respect.”
Her lips trembled upward. “When you put it that way, I think brown is a wonderful safe word.”
“Now that we have that settled, let’s begin.” He clasped her hand and drew her out of the shower.
“We aren’t finished washing.”
“We’re good enough. I can’t wait.”
He lifted her into his arms and her heart hitched. “Whoa.”
He nodded to the towel rack. “Grab one.”
Uncertain about his intentions she did as he asked. No man had ever carried her and images of being truly rescued surfaced again. He stepped into the bedroom, and instead of placing her on the bed, he continued into the hallway.
“Where are we going?”
He stopped and set her down. His gaze went through her but the fear she expected never materialized.
Clay placed a finger to her lips. “I have rules. One is that you don’t talk unless I ask you a question. Is that understood?”
“Yes.”
He tapped her nose. “Yes, sir.”
Long ago, she’d learned to obey. With anyone else she might have balked, but not with him. Having a safe word went a long way to squelch her doubts. After her horrendous experience with being caged, tremors should be cascading over her skin, but instead of panicking, she wanted to forge ahead and share something wonderful with him.
His gaze raked over her. “Perhaps I should dry you before I show you the fun room.”
Fun room? She wanted to question him but remembered his rules.
He lifted her arms above her head. “Keep them there.”
Water trickled down her arms and across her belly. The hairs stood up and the rivulets tickled, but she remained still.
He nudged open her thighs and the intimacy escalated. Her pulse raced as he patted the area between her thighs.
“I’m going to love pleasuring you.” His phrase made it sound like they’d been transported to the eighteen hundreds. She giggled.
“Slave, is that funny?”
Her body tensed and her arms ached. “Permission to speak, sir?”
He lowered her arms to her side. “What’s wrong?”
Her throat closed. “Can you please not call me slave?”
He drew the towel around her waist and pulled her near. “Fuck. I’m sorry, sugar. I want this to be the best experience for you. I got carried away and totally ignored what you’ve gone through.”
He leaned over and nibbled on her neck. His tiny swirls traced patterns of joy with every swipe.
“That’s okay.” He hadn’t meant to be insensitive.
“No, it’s not. Your needs must come first.”
She believed Dirk thought that, but she was happy that Clay did, too. He dragged the towel from around her waist and patted her tits dry then slowly rubbed her belly. Goose bumps skittered up her arms from standing dripping wet on the cold tile.
He draped the towel around her shoulders. “Change of plans. Come on.” He clasped her hand and led her into her bedroom. “Let’s jump under the covers and snuggle.”