She licked her lips as he walked around the bed to take her other arm.

“I’m waiting,” he said as he secured her other hand.

“Control,” she said simply. “A man’s dominance.”

She heard Micah suck in his breath. In silence, he slid his hand down her leg until he looped a length of rope around her ankle.

“You surprise me, Faith,” he finally said when he moved to her other leg.

He pulled gently until her legs were completely parted. Her pussy was exposed, and she closed her eyes in embarrassment. He’d see how aroused she was.

“Faith, look at me,” he ordered.

She opened her eyes as he walked around to the side of the bed. She could see the bulge against his jeans. Fingers, featherlight, danced across her belly then up toward her breasts. His touch left her for just a moment before he cupped her soft mound in his palm and ran his thumb across her turgid nipple.

She shuddered and arched her body. What the hell was wrong with her?

“I had no idea you wanted a dominant man,” he murmured. “A man would go crazy to have such sweet submission.”

She gazed helplessly at him, confused, aroused and curious about the promise she saw reflected in his dark eyes. He bent down, leaned over her until his mouth hovered above her belly. Then he pressed his lips to her navel and ran his tongue erotically around the shallow indention.

Chill bumps raced up her body until they collided with her neck.

“You don’t have to stay here,” he said.

He let his hand wander down her abdomen, down to her pelvis until his fingertips brushed against the nest of curls between her legs.

“You could come home with me. I can give you what you want, Faith.”

His fingers slid into her wetness, and she cried out as a jolt of surprised pleasure echoed through her groin. She was tempted. So tempted to take the easy road. Gray was avoiding her. This man was not. Micah wanted her, seemed to understand what she wanted. And though her mind was plenty confused, her body didn’t seem to have any reservations about accepting Micah’s offer.

But Gray called to her. On more than just a sexual level. If it was only about sex, then yes, she could forget this crazy plan and go home with Micah right now. But it was more than that.

She was drawn to Gray on an emotional level she didn’t quite understand.

Micah’s finger rolled lazily around her clit. It felt good. Her body responded, but she couldn’t agree just for the physical release she’d find.

“I can’t,” she whispered. “Maybe Gray will toss me out of his apartment. Maybe he won’t want what I’m offering, and maybe he can’t give me what I need. But I have to find out.”

Micah bent and tugged her nipple into his mouth just as his fingers found her sweet spot. She was going to come. She rolled her hips, wanting, needing release from the impossible, edgy tension.

Just as she neared bursting, he pulled away, leaving her aching with need. Then he moved his lips to hers and kissed her softly.

“If he tosses you out of his apartment, he’s a damn fool.”

He touched her cheek with his finger as she sought to control her erratic breathing.

“I hope you find what it is you want,” he said. “But if you don’t, you know where to find me.”

Without a backward glance, he walked out of the bedroom.

CHAPTER 23

Gray left the jobsite, glad that the day was over and he could retreat to his apartment. Where there was no chance of seeing Faith.

She was driving him insane. Half the time he could smell her, and she wasn’t within a country mile of him. Images of her tied, over the whipping stool, ass invitingly in the air, haunted him.

Man, that position tempted him in so many ways. He could fuck her pussy or her ass. Both were open and accessible. He could spank her bare cheeks until they reddened with a rosy blush.

He could imagine a dozen scenarios that put him in control, but he wasn’t going to go there. He really didn’t want to be some woman’s damn Tinkertoy.

He pulled into his parking space and noted that both Faith and Micah were at home. He got out and headed toward his door, ready for a hot shower and a cold beer.

He let himself in and tossed the keys on the bar. As he headed down the hallway, the hairs at his nape stood on end. He put his hand on the back of his neck and rubbed as he entered the bedroom.

When he looked up and saw Faith lying on his bed, he damn near tripped over his feet. Naked. Tied to his bed. What the fuck?

She looked at him through half-lidded eyes. Her expression was a mixture of nervousness and arousal. At that moment, every single ounce of feeling was routed to his groin. His cock swelled against his jeans until he was certain he’d have a chafing problem tomorrow.

Finally, he got his feet in working order, and he stepped forward, shoving his hands into his pockets in an attempt to disguise the heavy bulge between his legs.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, then felt like a complete dumb-ass for asking what had to be the most obvious question of the year. Women didn’t just get naked and tie themselves to a man’s bed without a good idea of what they wanted out of the situation.

She wet her lips, the pink tip of her tongue darting out. He nearly groaned as he remembered that tongue on his dick, her sweet lips surrounding his flesh and how it felt when he came down her throat.

He pulled his hands from his pockets and flexed his fingers back and forth. He wanted to touch her. Taste her. Fuck her. More than anything, he wanted to peel his jeans off and dive into her, body and soul. Lose himself in her liquid heat.

He curled his fingers into his palms to control the shaking.

“Touch me,” she whispered. “Please.”

She stared imploringly at him, her bottom lip full and swollen as if she’d been biting it. It looked instead like someone had ravaged her mouth. It reminded him of how she’d looked after he’d fucked her mouth against the wall at the sex club. She looked utterly kissable.

He sank onto the bed beside her and leaned down to touch his lips against hers. She met his advance hungrily, open, accepting, inviting him further.

His tongue swept over hers, and he swallowed her sweet taste into his chest. He reached for her, his hand meeting the curve of her hip as he deepened his kiss. There was no breathing. His lungs screamed for oxygen, but he couldn’t tear himself away from her molten touch.

A touch, a caress, his fingers danced over her skin, up her body until he felt the gentle swell of her breast. He tore his mouth away from hers, and they both gasped for air. His mouth slanted over hers again, drinking deeply of her essence.

His lips slid to the corner of her mouth, and then he kissed a line down her jaw, his breaths coming in raspy, erratic bursts. The small fleshy earlobe tempted him. He sucked it between his teeth.

She moaned and twisted restlessly underneath him. He licked then swirled his tongue around the shell of her ear. He felt her shiver against him and saw the chill bumps rise and pucker her skin.

He chased a line of those goose bumps all the way down to her breasts. For a long moment, he simply stared at the coral peaks. Her nipples were perfect. Not too pointed. Soft, velvety and round. He wanted to taste them. Wanted it badly.

He licked one, letting his tongue rasp over the silky tip. She flinched, and he turned to the other, lapping at it like it was a delicious treat. Then he nipped, grazing the nub with his teeth, applying just enough pressure so she’d feel the slight bite of pain.

She made a sound of deep satisfaction, and he smiled against her flesh.

He caressed the soft skin of her belly then moved lower to tease and twist the wispy curls of her pussy. He delved into her folds, spreading the damp flesh with his fingers.