I looked down at the lengths of rope, lying flaccid in my hand. My mouth was dry and my heart was thumping in my chest. I knew what they felt like - around my wrists, my ankles. Binding my breasts and trapping my legs up and open. Me and these ropes were old friends. Today, they felt like strangers.
I swallowed hard and made my way to the bedroom. He was already there, waiting for me. I eyed his long, lean form, reclined back on the bed. Demin-clad legs crossed at the ankle, arms bare in a tight-fitting black t-shirt and folded up behind his head.
"You look like you're being dragged to an execution," he commented, grinning lazily. "Your execution."
I gazed at him pathetically, hoping he might offer me a way out, but he just kept smiling that self-assured smile. He knew exactly how I was feeling, and he was enjoying it. I waited for him to give me an instruction, bring me into the scene. It took me a few more painful, uncomfortable moments to realise he wasn't going to.
Not tonight.
Feeling less in control than I ever had during any of our other intimate moments - moments which included me being bound and utterly helpless, or blindfolded and deafened, unable to see or hear what was happening around me - I moved more fully into the room.
"Up off the bed," I said. There was no authority in my voice, but he obeyed instantly, that small smirk still twitching at his mouth. "Take... take off your clothes. Slowly."
There. That would take him a few moments, give me a chance to compose myself. I put the ropes down on the end of the bed and folded my arms, watching him. Enjoying the show. I loved his body. It wasn't overly muscular, but everything was defined and I knew first-hand how strong he was. He was pale, chest heavily decorated with hair that ran down his stomach in a line. My gaze followed that trail as he unbuckled his belt - that belt, that I was exquisitely familiar with - and then his jeans. He tugged them down, eyes flicking up to me to see if I was going to comment on his lack of underwear. I didn't. And I took my gaze away as his cock sprang free, pretending disinterest.
Pretending I didn't love how it looked, and how fucking good it felt when it filled me.
"On the bed," I said, gesturing to the wide expanse of mattress.
He put a knee to it and slid on, pausing in the middle on his knees. He was tall enough that it put him above me, standing nervously by the edge as I was. I wanted to craw to him, have him take charge and take me, but that wasn't the plan. I lifted my chin and fixed him with the most adamant look I could manage.
"On your back. Arms and legs spread."
He complied easily. Lazily. A frowned worked its way between my eyes and my lips pursed with the first hint of annoyance. There was no apprehension, none of the excited trepidation that I always felt, turning my body over into his care.
I started with his ankles. I didn't want to admit it to myself, but I wanted to stay away from those watchful eyes that always saw too much. Just for a minute more. Focusing on my task, I ran the rope through the rings bolted to the bottom of the bedframe, tying it the way I'd watched countless times when it was me, naked on the bed. Then I wrapped the rope around his ankle, making it as tight as I dared before knotting the end. I eyed his foot for a moment, trapped and unable to escape me. The first hint of wickedness over took me and I ran a fingernail up the arch of his foot. He made a surprised noise and flinched, trying to pull away, but of course he couldn't. Smiling slightly, I did it again. He didn't move this time, but I could see the tension all up his leg, knew he was rigidly holding himself still.
No matter what else I accomplished tonight, I was determined to break him of that.
I tied his second ankle with slightly more confident movements, then moved up the bed by his head. I reached out for his wrist and he grabbed my hand, intertwining out fingers. He made to pull me towards him, guiding my hand to his mouth for a kiss, but I tensed, deliberately pulling back.
"Did I say you could do that?" I asked.
My heart was thundering in my chest now, demanding we leg it before he tumbled me over his knee and reddened my ass for my cheek, but I held my ground. After a moment, in which amusement sparkled behind his eyes, he yielded.
"No," he said, voice a quiet rumble.
"No what?" I snapped.
Oooh, I was living dangerously.
"No, baby," he replied. He stared at me and I stared back. Okay, there was the line, I guessed. It eased something in me to know it.
Looking away from him, I concentrated on binding his wrist, bringing it up above his head and tying him to the circle rings in the headboard before doing the same to the other side. All four limbs securely restrained, I stood back to admire my handiwork. He was stretched out, the bend in his arm emphasising his biceps and I watched as he gave the rope a tug, testing its strength. It didn't give. He was bound...
... but not helpless.
I puckered my brow as I studied him, trying to see what was missing. Perhaps inevitably, my eyes went to his cock. It was already hard, jutting out from his body.
"Maybe we should have got a cage for you," I mused, a hair braver now that he couldn't get up and get me.