She began to relax.

He knelt in front of her.

A strange noise bubbled from the back of her throat.

What was he doing? Dio Mio, he grasped her thigh and kneaded the muscles in her legs, exploring behind her knee, sliding down her calves to her ridiculous heels that screamed sex. Up and down, until goose bumps peppered her flesh and every muscle clenched waiting for his next move.

“Take off your skirt.”

Julietta hesitated. A roaring filled her ears, and her clothes suddenly felt as if they were strangling her. His gaze drilled into hers and commanded her obedience. Before she could analyze the request, her thumbs hooked under her waistband and she dragged the material down her hips.

The skirt fell to her feet.

His warm approval washed over her. He lifted one of her heels, then the other, and tossed the skirt to the side.

“Very good. Now, don’t move.”

A gasp fell from her lips as he lifted her foot and placed one sharp heel on his shoulder. He pressed his mouth to her inner thigh, rubbing his cheeks back and forth over the sensitive skin. Her center throbbed and begged for more, but he seemed content to breathe her scent in and take tiny nibbles over the expanse of one thigh, then the other. She leaned against the wall for balance, and her fingers auto-matically came down to rest on his head. The sensations were exquisite: a swirl of his tongue, a nip of teeth rising higher to the place she needed it most. Why was he going so slow? Did he want her to participate? She always sucked at this part, wondering how long she’d have to reciprocate with any oral sex given when she really didn’t like it much.

If she got this over with quickly, maybe they’d get to the real sex part sooner.

His mouth moved higher along the edge of the lace and his hot breath blew over her swollen lips. Merda, they needed to move this along. Julietta fisted her hands in his hair and urged him to the spot she needed him to touch the most.

He backed away. She trembled and let out an irritable sigh. “What are you doing?” she asked. “Why did you stop?”

He shook his head with disapproval and rose from his knees. “obviously, you are not one made to obey rules. So let’s help you along, shall we?” Sawyer walked over to the small writing desk, slid open a drawer, and withdrew a set of handcuffs.

The outrageousness of the scene appalled her, and she threw her hands out. “Hell, no, you are so not using those on me.”

“Do you trust me?”

“That’s not what this is about.”

one golden brow arched. “It’s what this entire night is about. Trust. you trust me to get you where you need, and I trust you to obey.”

“But I, I—”

“Do you, Julietta?”

If she lied she could go home. Screw the contract. She didn’t need an orgasm or more business control. Her mind screamed for her to grab her coat and get out. Instead, her hormones slapped her brain in a knockout punch. “yes. I trust you.”

“We’re doing the cuffs. Hands out, please.”

Her tongue dragged across her lip, but she held out her wrists. In some crazy way, she got wetter, her nipples nearing the edge of pain in a stark need to escape the corset.

He clasped the cuffs, checked the fit, and stepped back to survey her. “Much better.” The fur lining encased her flesh with luxury. He tipped her chin up and took total control of her gaze. “you can’t touch me. you don’t have to wonder what move to make or what you need to do to make me happy. I own your body and I’ll do whatever the hell I want with it now. Understood?”

A raw sizzle cut through her. She nodded, past the point of wanting to talk. A strange relief sagged her muscles as if reaching a new level; the complete truth of his state-ment shook her foundation. Suddenly, there were no more choices. No decisions to make. No right or wrong. He’d sto-len it all and left her with nothing.

Nothing but freedom.

Satisfaction and raw lust flickered in his eyes. “There we go,” he murmured. “That’s what I want.” He lowered his head and claimed her mouth.

She opened her lips, nowhere left to hide, as he swept his tongue and conquered every dark crevice, thrusting in and out while he held her head still. Julietta moaned under the savage attack, unconsciously looking to touch him or help guide the kiss. Her handcuffs clinked together. The sound drifted to her ears and caused a rush of wetness to trickle down her thigh. Mio dio, she ached for him, but every time she tried to scissor her legs together for relief he held her tight against him, one thigh trapping her wide and open to his touch. He commanded every sensation, wracking shudders from her body while his tongue mated and tangled with hers. His fingers moved from her hair and dropped to her breasts. He stroked and teased the edges of her nipples, still imprisoned by the delicate bones of the corset, until she twisted wildly in an attempt to get more.

He bit down on her lower lip. “What do you want?”

“Touch me.”

He kissed her long and deep and hard, ignoring her request. Then finally broke away. Golden eyes seared and commanded her to reach for more. “Where? If you want something, ask.”

embarrassment disappeared under a craving need to get what she wanted. “Take off the corset. Touch my breasts.”

“Very good.” He reached behind her and with deft skill unfastened the long row of hooks that held the fabric together. She sucked in a breath as sweet air rushed into her lungs, and her breasts sprang free. He cupped them in his warm palms and rubbed her tight nipples. Julietta arched for more. “Like this?”

“oh, please—”

“Tell me.”

“Suck on them.” With a lusty groan of approval, he dipped his head and took one nipple into his mouth. The hot wetness as he pulled and swirled his tongue around and around ripped a cry from her throat. Julietta twisted and once again reached out to hold on to something, but she was bound and at his mercy.

Just like she wanted it.

The thought skittered past. Her nipples throbbed under his talented mouth as he moved from one to the other, but the realization she loved being handcuffed and ravaged like some sort of weak, pathetic female exploded in her consciousness. What was she doing? How could the Ceo of the most powerful bakery in the world beg a man to do dirty things to her while she was helpless? A cold ball of ice settled in her gut, and she was dragged back to the familiar scene. Her body began to shut down, her arousal lessening with every second until— A slight pop sounded in the air as he lifted his head from her breast. Sawyer studied her face. “God, you’re stubborn.” His lower lip quirked. “Thinking too much again, baby? Better up my game.”

“Sawyer, I don’t think this—oh!”

With no transition, softness, or warning, his hand slipped under the lace of her thong and plunged inside.

Her hips bucked in demand and her body wept. The delicious friction of his fingers pumping inside her tight channel contrasted with the light, teasing stroke of his thumb over her clit. She tried to close her eyes to hide from her raw response, but he held her gaze with a fierce demand that refused to let her cower. every naked expression and moan was his. And he reminded her of it with each stroke of those talented fingers.

The combination pushed her toward the edge. Julietta strained toward the rapidly nearing orgasm, frantic to grab on before it shimmered away. Her clit swelled with each flick. The cuffs clinked. Sawyer slid his hand away, curled, and dove deep.

Oh, yes. right there.

“Mio Dio! ” She shuddered, tipped on the edge, and— He backed away.

The climax slid out of reach.

She shook with frustration and anger. “Why did you do that? I was so close!”

“No talking or I’ll gag you.” Her eyes widened. “you’re not even close to ready. As gorgeous as you look right now, I need more. Let’s get you out of these clothes.”

Temper simmered and coiled like a pissed-off snake.

She lifted her bound hands. “I can’t do much with these on.”

The slight whine in her voice filled her with humiliation. He didn’t seem to mind—in fact, he looked quite satisfied with her reaction.

The corset hung down by her tied wrists. She waited to see if he’d unlock her, but he took the piece of fabric and ripped it right down the middle. “That was expensive!”

His expression snapped her lips closed. No way did she want to be gagged. “your clothes belong to me just as you do. I do what I want with them.” He tossed the gar-ment aside. Then grasped the edges of her soaking thong and pulled it down her legs. The heavy scent of her arousal filled the air. He stood back and surveyed her naked body, his gaze probing every inch of her as she stood still under his inspection like a slave girl at auction.

Her belly clenched in lust. She had this weird need to please him, give herself over to anything and everything he wanted. After all, she had no choice anyway. each step led her deeper into a dark, twisted world she never knew existed.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful. More beautiful than I imagined.”

The truth of his words struck home. The erection that pressed against his pants. The burning heat in his eyes as he looked at her. For the first time in her life, she knew this man wanted her as badly as she wanted him. Before, she only experienced the motions of sex, the thoughts of arousal and give-and-take. Now, there was nothing but the bare bones of want, messy and vulnerable and alive. Her chest squeezed with a strange sadness and longing.

Sawyer gave her no time to analyze the emotions. In one quick motion, he bent and slid her over his shoulder and marched down the hall into the bedroom. He placed her on the bed. Cool satin sheets pressed against her over-heated skin. Her legs hung over the edge, feet still clad in her stiletto heels.

“Scoot back, baby. Head against the backboard. Keep the shoes on.”

Julietta inched her way up. He nodded in approval, lifted her hands, and clipped the hook on the cuffs to a chain coming from the wall. It happened so fast, she never thought to protest, until she found her hands bound high over her head. He had chains above the bed? This was a respectable hotel. “I don’t think—”

“I do.” His voice snapped out and silenced her. Again, that crazy rush of liquid heat throbbed in her pussy from his dominating tone. He pulled open the bedside drawer and removed a condom and a rubber band. He laid both to the side and climbed on the bed. She tensed, but he only grabbed the rubber band and slowly tied his hair back. Her legs whipped closed, but he grinned and shook a finger at her. “Bad girl. you never close yourself to me. ever. Unless of course you want me to tie you spread-eagled on the bed.”

Heat sizzled to her core. A moan rose to her throat.

Sawyer clasped both of her ankles and pried her legs apart. He knelt between spread thighs. “Hmm, I think you would like that. Maybe next time.”

Next time? This was insane; she had to get out of here.

She couldn’t be who he wanted, give him the satisfaction he needed with his partners. She was only playing a role, and soon her body would dry up like it always did. Her skin prickled with awareness. This road would only lead to more frustration and humiliation and pain. She had to get out of here, had to— “Look at me, Julietta. eyes on me.” Her panicked gaze swung to his, and she gulped for breath. “you have nothing to be afraid of with me. I would never, ever hurt you.”