Maya Banks - Sweet Surrender

She waited until she was sure he was gone and then hurried back to Pop’s office. She fumbled through the desk drawer where he kept all the spares until she came to the one marked with Gray’s apartment number. Triumphantly, she palmed it and walked back to her office to collect her purse.

She dug out her cell phone on her way out and punched in Micah’s number.

“Hey, sweet thing,” Micah said when he answered the phone.

“Are you with Nathan?” she asked.

“Yeah, why?”

“Don’t let him know it’s me you’re talking to,” she hurried to say.

He paused. His tone grew serious. “What’s going on?”

“I need a favor,” she said. “A no-questions-asked favor.”

“Uh, okay.”

“Can you ditch Nathan and meet me at Gray’s apartment right now?”

“I’ll be right over,” he said.

She sighed in relief. “Thank you. See you soon.”

She closed her phone, grateful he’d done as she’d requested and asked no questions. Not that he wouldn’t have plenty when he saw her, but at least he hadn’t let on in front of Nathan.

She drove straight home and parked in her spot. She glanced warily down at Gray’s empty parking place and hoped he stayed tied up at the job for another half hour like he was supposed to.

She sat in her car, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel until she saw Micah pull in and park a few places down. Gray’s key in hand, she got out and hurried over to meet Micah.

“Hey, baby doll, what’s going on?” he asked as she approached. His brow was creased in concern.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward Gray’s door. “I’ll tell you when we get inside his apartment.”

“Oooh, breaking and entering. You know how to have fun, girl.”

She laughed. The nut. She held up the key when they got to the door. “It’s not breaking and entering if you have a key.”

“Sneaky. Even better.”

She hauled her purse strap over her shoulder as she inserted the key into the lock. Seconds later, she and Micah slipped into the darkened interior, and Micah closed and locked the door behind them.

“Okay, doll face, we’re in. Now are you going to tell me what I’m risking a jail cell for?”

She swallowed nervously and fidgeted with her purse strap. “I want you to…tie me to Gray’s bed. Naked.” She tensed, waiting for Micah’s response. She didn’t have to wait long.

His mouth fell open. “Whoa. Wait a second. You want me to do what?”

“You heard me,” she mumbled.

“Hoo boy.” He shoved his hand through the hair at his forehead and pushed back until his fingers were thrust deep into his unruly mop. “Faith, honey, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

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 breasts 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 pussy 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 breasts. 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.”

He touched her cheek with his finger as she sought to control her erratic breathing.

“I hope you find what it is you want,” he said. “But if you don’t, you know where to find me.”

Without a backward glance, he walked out of the bedroom.

Gray left the jobsite, glad that the day was over and he could retreat to his apartment. Where there was no chance of seeing Faith.

She was driving him insane. Half the time he could smell her, and she wasn’t within a country mile of him. Images of her tied, over the whipping stool, ass invitingly in the air, haunted him.

Man, that position tempted him in so many ways. He could fuck her pussy or her ass. Both were open and accessible. He could spank her bare cheeks until they reddened with a rosy blush.

He could imagine a dozen scenarios that put him in control, but he wasn’t going to go there. He really didn’t want to be some woman’s damn Tinkertoy.

He pulled into his parking space and noted that both Faith and Micah were at home. He got out and headed toward his door, ready for a hot shower and a cold beer.

He let himself in and tossed the keys on the bar. As he headed down the hallway, the hairs at his nape stood on end. He put his hand on the back of his neck and rubbed as he entered the bedroom.

When he looked up and saw Faith lying on his bed, he damn near tripped over his feet. Naked. Tied to his bed. What the fuck?

She looked at him through half-lidded eyes. Her expression was a mixture of nervousness and arousal. At that moment, every single ounce of feeling was routed to his groin. His cock swelled against his jeans until he was certain he’d have a chafing problem tomorrow.

Finally, he got his feet in working order, and he stepped forward, shoving his hands into his pockets in an attempt to disguise the heavy bulge between his legs.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, then felt like a complete dumb-ass for asking what had to be the most obvious question of the year. Women didn’t just get naked and tie themselves to a man’s bed without a good idea of what they wanted out of the situation.

She wet her lips, the pink tip of her tongue darting out. He nearly groaned as he remembered that tongue on his dick, her sweet lips surrounding his flesh and how it felt when he came down her throat.

He pulled his hands from his pockets and flexed his fingers back and forth. He wanted to touch her. Taste her. Fuck her. More than anything, he wanted to peel his jeans off and dive into her, body and soul. Lose himself in her liquid heat.

He curled his fingers into his palms to control the shaking.

“Touch me,” she whispered. “Please.”

She stared imploringly at him, her bottom lip full and swollen as if she’d been biting it. It looked instead like someone had ravaged her mouth. It reminded him of how she’d looked after he’d fucked her mouth against the wall at the sex club. She looked utterly kissable.

He sank onto the bed beside her and leaned down to touch his lips against hers. She met his advance hungrily, open, accepting, inviting him further.

His tongue swept over hers, and he swallowed her sweet taste into his chest. He reached for her, his hand meeting the curve of her hip as he deepened his kiss. There was no breathing. His lungs screamed for oxygen, but he couldn’t tear himself away from her molten touch.