“Give me the name. It will end here.”

“Cut me a break.”

His chin lowered and he closed his eyes. She relaxed. Her instincts had been right. Darkness hadn’t hurt her when she’d been a stranger. They’d shared intimate moments since then. He’d opened up to her and they’d become a lot closer. She understood his frustration, feeling it too.

He jerked his head up and snarled, snapping close to her face with his fangs. She gasped and pulled back, not expecting it. He shoved the rubber between her teeth. She tried to use her tongue to shove it out and twist her head at the same time. Darkness fisted her hair at the nape of her neck until it actually hurt, holding her still while his other hand kept the rubber in place. He pushed it in more and then grabbed her jaw, holding it closed around the ball. He snagged the rounded loop over her head and secured it.

He let go and she tried to curse. It came out muffled. She leaned back, trying to rub her hair against the chair back to wiggle the strap up. Darkness yanked her forward and shook his head. He kept her there while he pulled out a clip from his bag and stood, leaning over her. It dug into her hair, securing the thing in place. She seethed, glaring at him.

He bent and shook his head. “Surprise always works. It’s a natural reaction for someone to scream or gasp when frightened. That opens the mouth right up. Did you really think I’d remove your nose? It’s too cute.”

She stared at him until he broke eye contact. A deep sigh came from him. He looked up, regret twisting his lips a little, then leaned in and gently removed the clip and strap, allowing her to spit out the ball gag.

“Fine. Keep it down. I can’t stand you looking at me that way.”

“Thank you.”

“Just keep it down, Kat. I mean it. Otherwise we’re going to have company and I’d rather no one else see you tied to that chair.”

“I wouldn’t like that either.” She glanced down her body and muttered how wrong it would be.

He chuckled. “What? I didn’t understand you. Were you calling me a name?”

She glared at him rather than speak. He was being a controlling bastard but not as much of one as he had been. He sat back on his legs and looked down, unfastening his pants. He left them on but the front gaped open, revealing a line of tan skin and evidence that he hadn’t taken the time to put on briefs.

Kat tested the ties holding her in place but couldn’t get free. She wasn’t exactly uncomfortable in the plush chair and the restraints weren’t too tight. He gripped her inner thighs and shoved them apart then rose to his knees to put his h*ps between them so she couldn’t close them again.

She stared into his eyes and wondered what he’d do to her. Some of his evident amusement fled.

“Don’t look at me that way.”

Is he kidding? “How am I supposed to look? You have me tied to a chair.”

“I’m not going to enter you. I just didn’t want my pants digging into my dick because I know I’m going to react to you. You have a way of making a male pretty uncomfortable.”

He reached into the bag she had begun to hate. She turned her head, worried about what he’d pull out next. He hesitated until she looked back at him.

“I thought it might come to this at some point. I did a little shopping with you in mind. Overnight delivery is a great option you humans have. I like to be prepared.” He paused. “Things have changed between us now. I know you better and I put a lot of time into considering how to go about doing this.”

He lifted his arm and her eyes widened. He held a tube of lubricant. He even turned it so she could read the label. It was warming gel. She looked back at him. He placed the cold tube on the top of her thigh and reached into the bag again.

Part of Kat was flattered. She had a suspicion that the bag held sex toys. No man had ever done that for her before and it was exciting.

The second item he withdrew made her swallow. She stared at the large vibrator. It had a rounded rubber head and a long handle. Darkness allowed her to stare at it for a few seconds before he picked up the lube, uncapped it and doused the tip of the vibrator with the clear gel.

“I’m going to make you orgasm again and again.” His voice deepened. “You ready, my little pretend-cat?”

“That’s why you wanted me gagged?”

“Yes.”

She’d had fantasies about a man doing that to her but he was about to make it a reality. She nodded. “Do your worst.” She licked her lips. “Or your best.”

He dropped the gel to the floor and brushed his fingertips across her nipple. It hardened at his touch. He used his thumb to circle the tip and she responded instantly.

“Let’s see if you purr.”

He turned the vibrator on. The sound was loud in the room and she guessed he had new batteries for that sucker since it seemed at full power. She tensed when he lowered it and held it inches from her pu**y. She looked down and then at him. Her heart rate increased and excitement had her almost panting before he’d even started.

One arm wrapped around her waist and he pulled her to the very edge of the seat. “I’ve got you. Just feel. Are you going to tell me the name?”

She shook her head. “You know I can’t.”

“Are you ready? How tough are you, sweetheart?”

She lifted her chin. He hadn’t gotten the name from her before and he wouldn’t do it now. It was a kind of extremely sexy game between them actually, in a twisted way. She accepted that surprising insight and didn’t struggle. She wanted him to continue.