Any softness in his face was replaced with iron-hard will. As I started to get up, his hand shot out and grabbed my ankle. Before I knew what was happening, his full weight pinned me to the bed and he used his hands to twist something around my wrists. It happened so quickly. Before I could take a breath, I was on my back with Gray pressing me into the mattress. My hands were bound tightly together with what looked like black lace.
I stared up at the sight of my hands, too shocked at the moment to be truly pissed off. “Are those my panties?”
Gray didn’t move, continuing to use his two hundred twenty pounds of pure muscle to hold my one twenty down. He leaned to the side and I heard the nightstand drawer open.
“They are, indeed, sweetheart.” His erection was even harder than it was before and I hadn’t thought that was possible. He twisted his hips to grind it against my pelvis. “Those are your pretty little panties and these are my handcuffs. Regulation Ranger issue.” He snapped one around the material between my wrists and the other he clipped to the wrought iron in the headboard. My arms were completely useless, held over my head and locked to the bed. He felt safe enough to get up and look down at his handiwork.
I was completely naked to his roaming eyes. I’d never felt quite that naked before though I certainly had been. Sex had been quick. Get the clothes off. Get the deed done. Gray hadn’t gotten that memo. He left the light on and sat back, his eyes on my body.
“I think I’ll take charge now.” He leaned over and covered my mouth with his. I had nowhere to go and no way to protest so I got to do what I wanted to do in the first place—enjoy the feel of his mouth on mine.
The man knew how to kiss. Slow at first, like he was softening me up and he was. The longer he brushed his lips against mine, the more I relaxed. I let go of what had happened before when his tongue dragged over my lower lip and he started whispering to me.
“You’re too beautiful, Kelsey. I can’t go fast. I want it to last. I want it to last forever.” His hands framed my face, like I was something precious and had to be handled with delicacy. “I could kiss you forever.”
His tongue plunged in, twisting around mine, like muscular velvet stroking into me. He held my head in both his hands, keeping me still for his plundering. Over and over again he kissed me. Until I caught his rhythm and we were in tune. I breathed when he did. My heart seemed to time to his. Intimacy. I didn’t understand the word before Grayson Sloane kissed me.
He finally sat up with a satisfied smile and one hand reached out to tweak my nipple.
I hissed at the sensation. It was part pain, but after the first little flare, the sensation seemed to go straight to my pussy.
“Now let’s talk about how this is going to go, my love.”
“Do you often tie women up, Gray?” Of all the things I’d expected him to do, this hadn’t even been on the list.
His smile was sensual and his accent deepened when he was aroused. “As often as they’ll let me, darlin’. I like it. You look so fucking gorgeous like that. Later, I’ll tie your legs down, but this first time I want them around my waist, squeezing me when you come. And you will come. I’ll make sure of it.”
Wow. That did all sorts of things to my insides. I felt a warm rush of arousal as my pussy came alive at the thought of him inside me. I lusted for this man. Before I simply wanted the physical release of sex and the nearest available guy would do, but now there was only Gray.
He was so beautiful and I wasn’t.
I worried no one else would ever do it for me after him. I also worried that I had no idea how to give him what he wanted. Arousal fled a little as doubt came roaring back. I hadn’t made love before. He was right about that. I’d degraded myself because somewhere deep down I thought I deserved it. Gray was offering me something completely different and it was terrifying.
“All right, you had your fun, lawman. Untie me.”
“Is my tough girl scared?” He reached out and let his fingertips brush across my chest, making my skin tingle all over. “Do you want out so you can run away and pretend you’re not vulnerable to me? That’s not happening. It’s obvious to me you have no idea what you’re doing and I aim to teach you.”
“Go to hell, Gray.” I pulled at the bindings on my wrists. If I was really honest with myself, I didn’t try hard.
His eyes went dark and serious. “I’ll get there, baby, but I’m not going until you understand a few things.” He knelt on the bed and placed his big hand on my belly. I practically quivered at his touch. “Listen to me and listen well. I love you, Kelsey Atwood. I love you and I’m going to fuck you.”