Desperate Measures (19 page)

of her sense of smell, but she knew that the knowledge could make her decisions that much

harder as well. She was going to have to deal with the situation as it was.

“What did you have in mind?” He let his hands flow down her sides and around until he

was cupping her buttocks.

“It‟s been awhile since I‟ve played.” She lowered her lashes. She wasn‟t sure how he‟d

respond to this. It wasn‟t that she thought he was the kind of man who didn‟t like to play games

with sex, but they‟d both been angry recently and he might not be in the mood for it.

“What game did you have in mind?” His hands tightened on her buttocks, lifting her

against him.

“Victorious warrioress and her captive?” She raised an eyebrow. “I think you‟d look

delicious with your hands bound above your head and your skin nicely oiled.”

“So would you. Pirate and freshly captured highborn bride,” he countered.

“You are so predictable. Afraid you‟d like my game too much?” She laughed, enjoying

the banter.

“Now who said we were only going to do one of them? I had in mind both, but was

lobbying for mine first.” He lifted her off her feet. “I‟d love to haul you off over my shoulder.”

“I‟m not surprised. You have a leaning toward that tendency anyway.” She tightened her

arms around him and held on, but only because she wanted to be closer to him. He wouldn‟t drop

her unless he decided to drop her onto the bed.

“You‟re strong enough to handle it. Now how are we going to decide who gets to play

their game first?” He nibbled his way along her jawline. His warm breath tickled as it puffed

against her skin.

She tilted her head to the side and considered it. A soft hum of approval escaped her as

his tongue flicked at her earlobe before he sucked on it. Debating whose was the better or who‟d

suggested it could cause another argument. They needed something simpler.

“Pick a direction, either left or right. I‟ll guess and if I get it right, we do mine. If not, you

get to have fun first.” She drew her nails up his spine. The material of his shirt would blunt the

feeling, but he still stiffened.

“All right, I‟ve chosen a direction. You‟d better not question my honesty if you choose

wrong.” His head lifted and he frowned down at her.

“You wouldn‟t lie to me about this.” She shook her head. While she didn‟t doubt he‟d lie

in certain situations, she knew this wasn‟t one of the cases he‟d believe warranted it. That hadn‟t

even entered her mind. “Left.”

“Damn, that‟s the one I was thinking about.” He grimaced.

“Ah, maybe next time.” She grinned.

“What are you going to do about the oil? I don‟t think I have any.” His head tilted and

she saw his lips tilt up into a wicked smile.

“Meaning you do have some cuffs or something to secure your hands with.” She looked

around the room. While she didn‟t see anything on first glance, she knew there was probably

something here. She wasn‟t averse to ripping up a shirt or a pair of pants, but she‟d rather not

have to destroy any clothes.

“I have something that will serve your purpose. Keep in mind that it‟s meant solely to

restrain. It won‟t hold me if I really want to get free. So be merciful to your captive.” He leveled

a meaningful stare at her before he strolled over to the wall where the closet was. It opened and

he took out two brightly colored scarves. She frowned when she saw them. Those didn‟t seem

like his taste.

“I didn‟t buy them for another lover and they weren‟t left behind by a woman so before

your mind goes down that path let‟s get it out of the way. These were part of a prank gift by

some of my crew. I kept them because I thought they might come in handy at some point. Of

course, this wasn‟t quite what I envisioned.” He let the scarves flutter into her hands.

She laughed. “You‟ll get your turn eventually, my captive.”

“You‟re already enjoying this too much.” He shook his head.

“Of course I am. How often is it that someone gets the chance to order the captain of the

ship around? Now get undressed. I specifically remember saying that my captive was naked.

Since we can‟t do the oiled part, we‟ll have to make do.” She ran her eyes over him. She could

easily imagine his skin gleaming under the flickering light of a torch. His muscular body would

be slick with oil and his hands bound with dark gray chains.

“Not often, but the captain will get to have his fun after you finish with yours. His little

captured bride had better be prepared.” He took off his shirt and swept his eyes over her in a

hungry leer.

“You‟re looking too far ahead. I‟ve still got plans for you that I‟m certain will be very

involving for you.” She took off her shirt, but left her pants and shoes on for the moment. She

wanted to play now, not jump into the sex before she‟d taken advantage of her win and his

gorgeous body.

He took his time with his shoes and his pants, especially once he noticed she was

watching him. He put his shoes near the closet, bending down so the fabric molded to the taut

muscles of his buttocks. She licked her lips and her hands tingled with the desire to touch him.

She took a deep breath and tried to stay patient. She wanted him naked. He had to take off his

clothes, but the man certainly knew how to torture a woman. By the time the pants finally came

off, she just wanted to grab him. She held back though only with the knowledge that now it was

her turn.

“Before we really begin, I need to secure your hands. These aren‟t the shackles of my

vision, but they‟ll do.” She waved the scarves in the air as she stalked over to where he stood.

“You have a definite kinky side that I hope to get the chance to explore some day.” He

held out his hands in front of him.

She shook her head. “Not that way, my big captive, not just yet. I want some time to

savor this. Turn around for me.”

He growled softly but turned his back to her, extending his hands behind him. She had to

give him a little credit for not making another reference to the fact that he‟d have his turn after

her. She made a loop and secured it around one of his wrists, because she already had a few ideas

of what she wanted to do when she released the ties later. Taking a little extra time with the

scarf, she made sure it was secure, but not too tight. She didn‟t want him to slip free of it at the

first tug, but she also didn‟t want to hurt him.

She ran her hand down his back and patted him on the butt. “Go stand beside the bed

while get ready and then we‟ll start.”

He tensed but went to stand beside the bed. “Wouldn‟t you rather have me in bed?”

“No, my captive only gets in bed when I tell him to. You‟re lucky, I didn‟t come prepared

for this. I have this sweet little crop that would go wonderfully with this fantasy. It gives a nice

little sting.” She walked away, still holding the other scarf in her hand.

Stopping at the door, she created a halter out of the sheer scarf, but didn‟t knot it too

tightly. She just hoped it didn‟t fall off her before she got to that part of her plan. Taking a deep breath, she thought about what a victorious warrior would be feeling and then went with it.

Raising her chin, she strode across the room. She shook her hair over her shoulder and

locked her eyes on the naked, bound man standing beside the bed. He didn‟t look very humble.

In fact, his eyes burned with hunger. That look sent her confidence soaring. She let her eyes

sweep over him.

“It doesn‟t seem that you‟ve learned to be humble in my absence, warrior.” She stopped

and swept her eyes from his head to his toes. He stood feet braced apart and appeared ready for

anything in spite of the fact that his hands were tied behind his back.

“Now, why would I want to do that? I don‟t think I‟d be half as interesting to you if I was

kissing your feet.” He arched an eyebrow at her.

“But it‟s not about you being interesting. If I didn‟t find you intriguing, you wouldn‟t be

here. I want someone who can please me.” She shook her head. “It‟s a simple enough concept.”

“I can please you anytime, just let me free and I‟ll give you a night to remember.” His

voice roughened and was so sexy as his eyes ran over her from head to toe.

“On your terms maybe. I do things on mine. Step forward. I want to look over my man.”

She smiled and waited to see what he would do. She tapped her foot when he seemed to be

purposely wasting time.

He took a step forward and tilted his head. He looked every inch the predator waiting to

strike. She walked slowly around him. Taking her time, she tried to draw out the tension.

Leaning close, she ran her tongue over his back just to give him something to think about. She

stroked her fingers over the muscle of one thigh and then cupped one firm butt cheek.

“You know it wasn‟t just your obvious assets that drew me to you.” She completed her

slow tour around him and trailed her hand over his stomach. “I love the wildness in your eyes. I

want all of that under my command.”

“Maybe you should be careful that the wildness isn‟t too much for you to handle.” He

didn‟t move a muscle as she touched him, but his tone became even rougher.

She deliberately dropped her hand to his hard cock and curled her fingers around it. She

gave it a long, slow stroke. “I can more than handle anything you‟ve got.”

She took a deep breath. Time to get on with it. She had to do more than talk or he‟d take

over on her and she didn‟t want that. This was a game she wanted to play out to the end. She

turned her back to him and lifted her hair.

“Take my garment off.” She looked over her shoulder and raised a brow. “It‟s time to

prove that you can please me as you say you can.”

“You want me to take it off, but my hands are bound.” He didn‟t look as if that worried

him. She had the feeling he was just trying to be a little difficult.

She shook her head. “The knot isn‟t complicated or that tight. Use your teeth.”

His breath fanned over the back of her neck as he leaned in closer. She waited,

anticipation rising. Was he going to try teasing and torturing her or was he going to do as she‟d

asked? In a way, she kind of hoped that he‟d resist the order. She‟d love the opportunity to coax

and persuade him. She felt the brush of his lips over the skin just above the knot. She felt a tug,

but the fabric didn‟t release.

She didn‟t know why it didn‟t fall, because she‟d left it very loose. His mouth lifted and

his teeth scraped across neck above the fabric. She closed her eyes and tried to hide the shiver

that tore through her body. She knew he‟d felt it when she heard his soft laugh. She wasn‟t going

to let him draw it out as he so obviously planned. Reaching up, she hooked a finger under the

fabric and tugged. She felt a little resistance and then it fell. He groaned and kissed her neck.

“Spoilsport.” He mumbled the word against her neck and then stepped back.

She smiled, but tightened her lips into a straight line as she turned to face him. “Now let‟s

see how much you can please me with just your mouth and I want you to keep all the touching

above my waist.”

She walked over to the bed and sat down, scooting into the middle. He stood there staring

at her for a moment before walking to the edge of the bed. He climbed onto the bed and knelt

beside her but he made no move to touch her yet. She knew he was thinking about his options

and what would make her wilder.

“I‟d be able to do this better if I had at least one arm free of the restraint. It‟s not going to

be easy to balance and lean over you.” His head tilted and he just waited.

She thought about it for a moment. Having him falling onto her would ruin the mood. She

reached around and tugged at the simple knot. It released, freeing his hands but still leaving the

scarf attached to one wrist. She let it fall. When his arms caged her, she grabbed the end and

wrapped it around her hand.

“Only your lips. I‟ll tell you when you can use something else.” She gave the scarf a light

tug.

“You‟re really enjoying this.” He smiled and leaned down to run his lips over her

shoulder. He swung a leg over hers and straddled her legs.

She narrowed her eyes at the dominant move. “Don‟t get the idea that you‟re in control.

I‟ll have you on your back in a blink if you try anything other than what I want.”

His eyebrows went up at her hard tone, but he didn‟t say a word. His tongue swirled over

the pulse point at her neck. His hands were planted on either side of her body and he made no

move to lift them. She licked her lips and planned what she wanted to do next while she waited

for him to get down to business. She knew he was deliberately drawing everything out and that

deserved a little punishment.

His mouth trailed down her neck. His teeth grazed over the spot where her neck and

shoulders met. She shivered and her thoughts focused only on him. His tongue lapped over the

spot and then he sucked. She wanted to feel his teeth against her sensitive skin. Her mind eagerly

supplied images of his teeth scraping and nipping at her neck and shoulders. She could almost

feel it even though he was only touching her with his lips. Tingles danced over her skin and she

wriggled restlessly beneath him. She drew in a shaky breath as he pressed kisses across her

collarbone before moving a bit lower. He hadn‟t immediately gone for her breasts and tried to