She checked her watch as panic edged up her spine. “Look, Micah, can you play armchair shrink while you’re tying me to the bed? I’m running out of time. He’s going to be home soon, and I’d rather he not find you here.”
“That makes two of us,” Micah muttered. He sighed. “Lead on.”
She headed down the hallway and paused at the open door to his bedroom. As she glanced inside, she was relieved that the bed was the same model as hers. She’d been banking on the hope that Pop had similarly furnished all the apartments. If Gray hadn’t had bedposts, she would’ve had to have done some major improvising.
She motioned Micah in and turned around to face him. “I know this is awkward, but I couldn’t ask Nathan. He’s too much like a brother, you know, like Connor. But you…you at least look at me like I’m a woman and not some kid sister.”
He arched one brow.
She gave him an oh please look. “I see you checking out my ass,” she said. “Nice to know at least one of my guy friends finds me, or least my ass, attractive.”
He laughed. “Well, I guess the reward of this venture is getting to see you naked. I can mark at least one fantasy off my list.”
She chuckled as she pulled her purse off her shoulder and dug for the rope she’d purchased the night before. She thrust it at Micah, and he uncoiled it as she started to slip her clothing off.
“You know,” he said. “If you’re wanting to get this guy’s attention, which I’m assuming is the reason behind all this, I can think of less drastic measures than tying yourself to his bed.”
Her hands paused as she reached around for the clasp of her bra.
“Here, let me,” he offered.
His fingers brushed across her back as he unclasped the hooks, and she held the cups over her br**sts with her arm. She walked over to the bed, still clad in her underwear.
“Tell me something, Micah. If you walked into your bedroom and found a naked woman tied to your bed, what would you think?”
“That I’d been a very good boy in a past life?”
She shook her head. “My point is, a woman bound, naked, offering herself to a man—it’s a clear signal. She is his to do with as he wants. He’s in control.”
Their eyes connected for a long moment, and she saw a kernel of arousal, a spark of pure, primitive male. Yeah, he understood what she was talking about.
“What happened at The House, Faith?” he asked softly. “What did you go there looking for?”
She shivered at the intensity of his gaze. Then she climbed onto the bed, letting her bra fall to the floor. She felt him staring at her, and she felt awkward and vulnerable. Taking a deep breath, she reached for her panties and slid them down her legs.
She glanced up to see Micah standing over her, the rope in his hands. There was an odd fire in his eyes, like he was seeing her for the first time.
“What happened at The House?” he repeated.
The command was strong in his voice. It evoked a heady sensation, and awareness prickled over her skin.
“I went looking for something,” she whispered. “Something I wanted. I found Gray.”
Micah took one of her hands and pulled her arm above her head. He looped the rope around her wrist and tied it to the headboard.
“And what is it you want?”
His voice, buttery smooth, glided over her body, removing the awkward vulnerability and leaving vague arousal in its stead.
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 pu**y 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 br**sts. 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.”