The hand not tangled in ropes came up, wrapping around my throat. "God, I missed you, Tess."
My stomach flip-flopped at the ray of truth in the darkness of our games. "I love you," I murmured, accepting his gentle kiss.
The softness morphed to tension again as Q pulled away. His lips twisted into a grin. "You're going to look divine."
Unknotting the rope in his grip, he ordered, "Stand there and don't move."
I stood breathing shallowly as he draped one long piece over my shoulders. It tickled my skin, slinking around my waist. His face darkened with concentration and I tried to follow his quick hands.
More twists, more loops. Each rope sent my body thrilling.
Q dropped to his knees, nudging my legs apart. Looking up, he said, "I'm not a master at Shibari, so this isn't going to be perfect."
I inspected what he'd done so far-the thicker knots on some points, the looseness of others. Rows upon rows of ropes, leading from my shoulders and back to my hips. "It looks like you know enough."
He smiled. "I've practiced enough to know how to make a harness."
My heart stuttered at the thought of him doing this to another woman. Fierce hot jealousy filled me. My fingers curled by my sides.
Q noticed. Of course he fucking noticed.
"Something you want to say, Tess?"
I bit my cheek. There were plenty of things I wanted to say, but-oh, screw it. "I hate the thought of your past. You're mine."
He chuckled. "You're so cute when you're jealous." He followed the contours of my body, threading silk around my thighs, knotting them intricately.
The black colour made my white skin come alive, like a canvas covered with lashes of paint, or even handwriting-a contract of ropes.
I hated the churning in my stomach. I had no right to be possessive of his past. We all had them-it was pointless to torture myself with who he might've done this with.
Trying to distract myself, I glared at his tattoo, letting the birds fill my vision as Q tied the last knots around my knees.
Standing, he appraised his handiwork. Prodding a finger in one knot, and testing the tightness of another, he finally nodded.
His hand fell to his cock, stroking himself, his eyes drinking me in. "I wish I had a camera. You've never looked more beautiful." Pulling me forward, he whispered against my mouth, "And I said I practiced. Not that I practiced on someone. This is a first for me, too."
A smile tugged my lips. He let me go to gather the chain from the statue he'd removed.
Undoing the carabiner, he smirked. "Turn around."
Oh, God. Am I ready for this?
My heart thundered as I shuffled in place, facing away. I shivered as Q came close, hooking the carabiner and chain to the rope harness behind me. With strong arms, he suddenly picked me up, cradling me against his front.
"J'ai besoin que tu fasses quelque chose pour moi." I need you to do something for me, he said, nuzzling my neck.
Having his hot breath on my skin undid all my worries. "Anything."
"I'm going to flip you upside down. I'll keep hold of you as your grip will be compromised because your shoulders are fastened, but you need to stay as still as possible."
My eyes flew upward to the ceiling. He was going to secure me upside down, hanging? What did you think was going to happen? I seriously hadn't thought this through.
I swallowed my fears, nodding. Q manoeuvred my body first to face him, then sideways. I held my breath as vertigo stole me.
From vertical to horizontal, I clung to his hips as best I could. From horizontal to vertical, his cock brushed my breasts. With undeniable strength he forced me upside down, holding me steady.
I clamped my arms around his thighs, cursing the ropes around my shoulders not letting me hug him.
I jolted as a rush of hot breath brushed against my core. Oh, God.
My eyes squeezed, hyperaware of his mouth so close. I wanted it. I wanted another orgasm. His arms bunched, holding my weight. He jostled me, keeping me pinned with one arm while reaching for the hook with the other. His attention was wholly on stringing me up and not on the part of me screaming for attention.
"Hold on. I'm just securing-" His distraction allowed me time to revel in his hot form against mine.
I clutched him hard, cursing my jitteriness at the newness of what was to come. His body stretched and tightened, straining on his toes to secure the chain back onto its original hook.
The ropes tugged my back, curving around my body, cocooning me in a prison of silk.
"Let go, Tess," Q ordered. His hands fell to my waist, trying to push me off him.