“Then you should have asked. Again, there are no exceptions. I won several hours of your time. Do you or do you not plan to keep your word?”

“Yes,” Lily finally answered.

“Good. Now take your clothes off.”

When she didn’t move, only stared at him helplessly, he sighed.

“Lily, do you trust me? I mean, really trust me?”

Lily took her time answering, and he was about to give up and hand her the slips of paper she had signed when her words stopped him.

“Yes, I trust you.” The truthfulness in her voice released the tight vice around his stomach.

“Good, now take off your clothes. This time, I’ll let you leave your bra and panties on. Will that make you feel better?” He let her see a glimmer of his approval before erasing it from his expression. She needed to become familiar with what would and wouldn’t earn his praise.

She slowly undressed, pulling off her clothes and laying them on the chair.

As she undressed, Shade pulled off his T-shirt and removed his socks and boots. Then he went to his closet, unlocking the door to search through his toys.

“Lie down on the bed.”

Lily climbed on the bed, sitting on her knees and waiting.

Shade turned on his stereo, and the room filled with soft music. When Shade got on the bed beside her, his finger traced down her cheek to her throat. She swallowed nervously as his hand lowered, and he traced the edges of her bra above her breasts. Her breathing escalated at his touch.

“You have beautiful breasts.” Shade’s lips traced the same path his fingers had followed, from her check to the flesh above her plain white bra. He lifted her hand to buckle a fur lined leather cuff onto her wrist.

Her mouth opened to protest.

“No exclusions, Lily,” Shade reminded her once again.

She closed her mouth as he fastened another on her other wrist.

“Lie down,” he ordered.

She lay down on the mattress as he reached for the thin chains he had placed on the bedside table. He clicked the chains into the metal loop on the side of the cuffs. One at a time, he locked each of the chains to a hook positioned on the bottom of the headboard that the mattress had kept hidden.

Again he reached to the nightstand, picking up two plain silk scarves. Shade could tell from her frightened look that she had expected something else.

Shade tied the silk scarf around her eyes, knowing darkness was Lily’s greatest fear. To conquer it, he wanted her to experience the pleasure she could find within it.

His hand slid across her stomach, her muscles quivering at his touch. He remained silent as his hand traced over her body, lingering at her ankles, brushing his lips over the delicate flesh. His hands explored her calves and thighs until he reached her hips, and then he brushed his mouth along the same path his hands had taken.

Patiently, he explored every area of her body with his hands and mouth except for her breasts and pussy. He familiarized her with his touch until her nervous quivering stopped, and she relaxed back against the mattress.

When he gently removed her panties, sliding them down her legs, Lily tensed. His hand went between her thighs, holding his breath in anticipation for what he was going to discover, only releasing it when he found she was wet. He had been just as nervous as her, afraid he would find that she didn’t want him.

He explored her slick flesh, easily slipping his finger against her clit until her legs tried to close to press his hand harder against her. He touched her as if her pussy was a delicate flower which would tear if handled too roughly.

The music started getting louder, the beat faster, and Lily’s hips twisted on the mattress as she tried to capture his touch.

“Shade, please…”

He carefully placed a slap against her clit, making Lily shudder.

“How are you supposed to address me when we’re in this bed?” he explained why she had been given the slight punishment, which really had been no punishment, but a guide to the climax he was leading her toward.

“Sir.”

“Now, ask me how you’re supposed to.”

“Sir, please, I want to come.”

Shade moved his hand away from her pussy, sliding his body down until he was lying between her thighs. He lowered his mouth to the pink flesh which was driving him crazy. His tongue found and slid between the lips to her clit, rubbing the already-sensitive nub until she arched upwards.

He first licked and then sucked her clit into spasms he felt against his tongue, which had her screaming her climax out as the music rose and then ended abruptly before going back to a soothing rhythm. He continued to stroke her body, bringing her down from the orgasm while still leaving an ache. He didn’t want Lily completely satisfied. Oh, no; he wanted his woman to want more and more.

He rose, releasing the chains and taking the cuffs off before removing the blindfold.

“Thank you for trusting me, Lily.” He brushed a tender kiss against her cheek.

“You’re welcome, Sir.”

Shade grinned at her, helping her off the bed and back into her clothes. He dressed as she put her shoes back on before storing everything back in his cabinet, locking it and then leading her from the room with an arm around her shoulders to their room upstairs.

Lily changed into her pajamas then climbed into bed as soon as she came out of the bathroom. Shade went in the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He leaned his forehead against the door, breathing deeply, clenching his hands at his sides.

No other woman had ever given him as much pleasure in bed as what Lily had just given him, especially when he still remained hard, holding his own desires back to give her pleasure.

He turned to the shower, staring at it balefully; even Viper was joking about the fucking water bill. He showered, which didn’t take long and that made him even more upset until he went to bed and Lily turned to him, laying her head on his shoulder and placing her hand over his heart.

Wrapping his arm around her, he decided to go online and buy stock in the local water company.

Chapter 62

“Dammit!” Shade placed the coffee pot back on the burner. The machine was older than he was.

“What’s wrong?” Viper asked from over the phone. They had been discussing orders when Shade had tried to pour himself a cup of coffee.

“Order a new coffee machine. I’m throwing this one out,” Shade told him.

“I’ll take care of it, and the Maloney account,” Viper laughed, hanging up.

Shade went to his office door.

“Lily, the coffee pot isn’t working. Could you go to the house and get me a cup?”

“Get it yourself!” she snapped, slapping the tape dispenser down onto the worktable.

While the room went silent at her sharp remark, Shade stared back at her.

“I’ll get it for you, boss,” Georgia offered with a smile which gave him the willies. He would be too afraid to drink anything she gave him.

“No, thanks, Georgia. I’ll take care of it. Lily, come here.” His jaw tightened when he saw her about to refuse. Luckily for her, she changed her mind at his expression.

She came into his office, closing the door behind her while Shade resumed his seat behind the desk, swiveling his chair to face her in the doorway.

“Want to tell me what burr has crawled up your ass?”