He wasn’t at all certain of what to do for Thanksgiving. A lot would depend on Jace’s reaction to his and Mia’s relationship when they told him everything this week. His parents had invited him to spend the holiday with them, and as glad as he was that they were on the road to working things out, he still felt awkward around them. Plus, he didn’t want to spend the time away from Mia. And he didn’t want to leave her alone if Jace didn’t plan to be in town for the holiday.
When they walked out of the restaurant, darkness had settled over the city, and the wet sidewalks glistened in the streetlights and the glow from the traffic lights. Mia turned up her face and laughed in delight as a snowflake swirled down and hit her on the nose.
She posed an enchanting figure in her knit cap and long coat. She spun around, hands held out as a few other flakes danced downward in a drunken spiral.
He was utterly captivated by her.
Before he lost the moment, he picked up his phone and snapped a picture of her, wanting to add it to the other photo of her that he frequently looked at. She never noticed, so absorbed was she in catching the scattered flakes.
“It’s freezing out here!” Mia exclaimed.
She ran over and burrowed into Gabe’s overcoat, her arms wrapping around his waist as she shivered from head to toe. He caught her against him, smiling at her exuberance.
“Let’s get you warm then,” he said, guiding her toward the waiting car.
They climbed into the backseat where the seat warmers had already heated the leather. Mia sank into the seat, sighing in utter delight.
“I do love modern conveniences,” she said.
He chuckled. “I’m more than happy to keep you warm.”
“Mmmm. When we get back to the apartment I’ll be more than happy to let you.”
He ran his hand up her leg and then back again to the curve of her knee. “I have plans for you when we get back, most assuredly.”
She lifted an eyebrow in interest, her eyes glowing with instant fire. “Oh?”
He smiled. “You’ll find out when we get there.”
She turned her lip down into a pout and narrowed her eyes at him. He just grinned.
Oh yes, he had plans. He was a little nervous given what he had planned, but it was important to him to replace her last memory of bondage with something sensual. Hot. Passionate. Something welcome instead of something distasteful.
He knew with enough time that he could absolutely make the experience incredible for her, but he wouldn’t force her to do anything she didn’t want to. He would watch her closely, and if she was afraid or uneasy, he’d stop immediately. He’d already screwed up badly with her. He had no desire to ever give her reason to doubt him again.
When they arrived at his apartment, he helped her from the car and held her hand as they rode the elevator up. Once inside, he took her coat, scarf and cap, and she rubbed her hands up and down her arms as she turned to walk into the living room.
He’d left the fireplace burning while they were gone so the living room would be plenty warm when they returned.
After removing his own coat, he followed Mia into the living room to see her standing in front of the fire.
“Stand there and undress,” he said, his voice husky with need.
She lifted her gaze and he watched for any sign of reluctance. But all he saw was trust shining back at him.
“I have a few things to get from the bedroom. Stay by the fire and keep warm. I’ll be right back.”
He strode into the bedroom and retrieved the rope, the anal plug and the vibrator from his closet. When he returned, she was silhouetted by the flames, her skin glowing from the fire.
She was so damn beautiful that she took his breath away.
When her gaze lighted on the items in his hand, her eyes widened and she looked up at him, clear question in her eyes.
Never before would he have stopped to explain himself with any other woman. They were expected to obey without question. They agreed to anything and everything he could ever wish to do when they signed the contract.
But Mia was different. He wanted her to understand. Wanted her to know what he was thinking. The very last thing he wanted was to frighten her or to make her walk away.
“I want to show you how very pleasurable this can be,” he said in a low voice. “I did it for all the wrong reasons in Paris. It wasn’t about you then, no matter what I said. It was about me and my reasons—my stupid reasons. Give me this chance, Mia. I want to show you how beautiful a woman in bondage can be. And how pleasurable I can make the experience for you. Trust me to make it perfect for you.”
Her eyes softened. “I do trust you, Gabe. Only you. No one else. It was never you I objected to. It was the other men. As long as only you are touching me, then I’m not afraid.”
God but she was so sweet. Never had anyone put so much faith in him. Not his ex-wife. Not any of the other women he’d been with. They had never looked beyond the material things he gave them. Never looked beyond his wealth and status to the man behind it all. And they’d never embraced that man.
Mia had. She accepted him. Wanted him as much as he wanted her. And she was unaffected by his wealth and power. She knew the real Gabe Hamilton and she wanted that man.
Slowly, he was learning that it was okay to let down his barriers with her and allow her to see a part of him no one ever saw. Just as she trusted him, he also trusted Mia with his most protected asset.
His heart.
He motioned her toward the large leather ottoman, and positioned her on her hands and knees. Then he began to meticulously wind the rope around her body. Underneath and over her breasts, drawing attention to the luscious mounds. Then he looped around to her back and secured her wrists together at the small of her back, while instructing her to lay her cheek against the soft leather.
After binding her hands, he stretched the rope downward and spread her thighs before looping rope around each ankle and stretching it taut between her wrists and ankles.
She was completely and utterly helpless and vulnerable to whatever he wanted to do to her. And there was a hell of a lot he wanted to do.
His cock was hard as stone and straining at his pants, but he was determined to take things slowly. He wanted her with him all the way. Wanted this to be about her and her pleasure when before it hadn’t been.
He slid his hand over the curve of her ass and lower to her silky, slick folds. He swirled his fingers teasingly around her entrance and then inserted a finger, feeling the hot clasp surround him and suck him deeper.
He removed his hand, and then took a step so he was positioned at her head. He offered her his finger to suck.
“Taste it,” he murmured. “Taste how sweet you are, Mia. And imagine it’s my cock you’re sucking.”
Hesitantly she parted her lips and he slid his finger inside, over the slight roughness of her tongue. She closed her lips around him and sucked gently as he withdrew.