Thanks TSB for plot/structure advice :)
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Furious about being left tied up, Amber's rage eventually faded as she mulled over the last exchange with Brad. It was obvious by the way his eyes continuously darted to her lower body, that he had sex on the brain. Grudgingly Amber acknowledged she was lucky he'd accepted her hollow apology and not taken it further.
Fixing her pale-blue eyes on the ceiling, she pursed her lips in thought. Brad confessed he was infatuated with her, so maybe she could influence him somehow. Slightly shaking her head at herself, Amber knew that wouldn't get her very far, the guy wasn't as stupid as she'd hoped. It was just her luck to get stuck with a nut-job with an inkling of intelligence. Going by the house alone, he'd evidently done well for himself.
Amber started as the door opened, and Brad calmly walked in carrying two large bottles of water. Setting them down next to the fruit and sandwiches, he turned and leaned back against the table, resting the heels of his palms on the black glossy surface.
"Are you hungry?" he asked, his eyes travelling down her slim body and again resting between her spread legs.
"A little," Amber admitted warily, wondering if it would be wiser to stay hungry than have him come near her.
"Well, how about we call a little truce?" Brad suggested, pushing off the desk and moving closer.
"What kind of truce?" Amber asked suspiciously, resisting the urge to tug against her restraints as he approached the bed.
Brad smiled down at her, and casually slipped his hands into the pockets of his black pants. "If you can refrain from trying to cause me bodily harm, I'll untie you, so you can eat." Shifting his gaze to one of the bedposts, he traced a finger along down the smooth, brown column before glancing back at Amber, gauging her reaction. "If you attack me again, we'll be back to square one. I should clarify that 'square one' involves me stripping you naked and having my wicked way with you."
"Ok, I won't try anything," Amber immediately nodded, thinking it was probably the best deal she'd been offered so far. As Brad untied her restraints, Amber fought the urge to slap and kick at his caressing hands when they sensually lingered on her skin. She jumped at the feel of cool metal on her ankle as he reapplied the chain. Avoiding his eyes, she quickly climbed off the bed, grimacing at the sound of the chain hitting the ground and dragging along it.
"I'm afraid that's non-negotiable," Brad chuckled, seeing her cast an irritated glance at her ankle.
Picking up a vibrantly red apple, Amber was careful to keep her back against the desk so she could watch his movements, and hide her mostly naked behind from his lustful stare. Taking a big, hungry bite out of the apple, she enjoyed the fruit's flesh as its juices spread over her lips. After her small pink tongue darted out to collect the sweet moisture from the corners of her mouth, Amber nervously slowed her chewing, seeing Brad's expression suddenly freeze as his blue eyes fixed on her mouth.
Brad exhaled heavily, and his brown fringe curled across his forehead as he quickly turned to inspect the bedpost, well aware of his cock forming into yet another painful erection. If he watched Amber too carefully, she might suspect the food had been tampered with, and he didn't want to give the game away.
"So, Amber," Brad spoke with a serenity was far from feeling, "I've given some thought to how we might more peacefully... get along." Turning back to her, he saw the storm gathering in the pastel-blue of her eyes, narrowing at his euphemism for sexual assault. Glaring at him unblinkingly, Amber took a particularly vicious bite out of the apple.
"For example," Brad continued pleasantly, ignoring her death stare, "I'm aware that the idea of falling pregnant doesn't appeal to you right now. I could compromise on that."
Amber angrily gulped down another bite and showed her teeth as her lip curled in disgust. "Right now? It won't appeal to me, ever! I could be pregnant already!" she snapped.
"But you might not be," Brad countered, smugly holding her furious gaze for a few seconds before shrugging nonchalantly. "Oh, I guess we could just keep going and see what happens. I'd prefer it, actually."
"W-What would I have to do?" Amber faltered, losing some of her edge as she realised being chained didn't seem so bad, alongside the prospect of being knocked-up by her captor.
Hearing the resignation in her voice, Brad barely managed to suppress a triumphant grin. "We can start small," he said simply, crossing his arms. "It's a limitless bargaining chip, really. How about you try on some of the lingerie I bought you? I'll even let you pick."
Brad suffered a mild surprise when the apple core sharply bounced off his forehead. "Amber," he chided with humorous bewilderment, wiping the juice from his skin and only just stopping himself from licking the sticky wetness off his fingers. "That's not my definition of getting along."
Amber struggled to contain her anger. Though she regretted her recklessness, she couldn't stop herself. It was useless and petty, but it felt pretty damn good. Glancing behind her at the plates on the table, she was sorely tempted to throw more food at him.
"Amber," Brad cautioned softly, clearly following her thoughts, "remember square one." The apple core hadn't bothered him in the slightest, but he didn't want to be pelted with fruit. The experience of keeping a beautiful woman prisoner was unexpectedly feeling more like being a parent.
"Just put something on for me," he coaxed, again crossing his large arms. "I won't make love to you, unless you want me to. And if you behave, next time we're intimate, I promise I'll wear a condom. It's a sweet deal for you." Seeing her eyes flare at him and her hand shift toward the fruit plate, he hastily continued. "Or you can start a food-fight and we'll just get down to it, without protection. The choice is yours. I'm trying to cut you a break here."
"Why don't you cut me loose?" Amber argued, stamping the foot attached to the chain.
"Come on, Amber," he sighed tiredly. "I don't have all day." Shifting from the bedpost, he pulled the key from his back pocket. "I'll temporarily unlock you," he informed her. "But this time, I'll be ready for any surprises. I don't think I have to tell you what will happen if you try anything." Amber trembled as he got down on one knee and released her ankle from the chain.
Picking up the discarded apple core, he raised to his full height and sauntered toward the door. "I'll give you half an hour. That should be plenty of time to get changed and eat, if you're still hungry." Gently shutting the door behind him, Brad's blue eyes lit up with amusement as he heard her swearing frenzy on the other side. Striding a few metres down the hall, he pressed his large back against the wall and slid down into a sitting position to wait. Resting his forearms on his knees he grinned aimlessly at the wall in front of him.
"It's working," he breathed. Looking down at the apple-core in his hand, he seriously contemplated fixing his mouth to it, knowing Amber's lips had been on it more recently. But he wasn't in the habit of eating food off the floor, and the apple had been laced with a very expensive aphrodisiac. Given his current sex-drive, any enhancement would be very ill-advised.
********
Almost 40 minutes later, Brad stood somewhat nervously before the door. It was pure anticipation, as though he was about to go on a first date, knowing she was dressed and waiting for him. Pulling himself together, he gently knocked and entered. Disappointment shot through his chest as he saw Amber siting on the bed in her grey tracksuit, pouting adorably.
"Well, Amber?" Brad inquired, walking toward her.
"I put something on," Amber muttered, sullenly gesturing to the cabinet of drawers.
"Oh," Brad replied softly, concealing his surprise. He'd immediately assumed Amber was being difficult. Noting the flush that crept along her fine cheekbones, he realised she was just shy. The prospect of watching her undress, or undressing her, actually suited him better than discovering her in lingerie.
Standing in front of her, he held out his hands. "Come," he instructed, firmly holding the small hands tentatively placed in his. Pulling Amber to her feet, he circled her waist with one arm and held her hand up with the other, bringing their bodies close together, slowly rocking them side to side, like a first dance at their wedding. Brushing his lips along her hairline, he bent to whisper in her ear.
"You dressed for me, baby?" Brad murmured sexily, feeling a shiver run through her body as he cheekily blew into her sensitive ear.