Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“Maybe we should move to the bedroom,” I said doubtfully. “It might help.”
“We can do that.” Rath nodded and rose from the couch. Then he held out a hand to me.
I took it and he pulled me up, his muscles rippling with the motion. God, I had never seen anyone who looked so good with his shirt off! He smelled really good too—like some dark, otherworldly spice that had a deep masculine undernote. His scent along with everything else called to me. I wanted him.
The question was, would I be able to have him?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Rath led me into the bedroom but instead of kissing me again, he sat on the bed and leaned back against the headboard. Then he spread his arms so that his wrists were against the tall wooden bedposts on either side.
“Um…what are you doing?” I asked, frowning.
“Putting you in charge,” he answered simply. “Use your magic to bind me. What happens next is completely up to you.”
“You want me to tie you up?” I looked at him uncertainly. “Seriously?”
“I want you to feel safe,” Rath emphasized. “So go on—tie me up. Just like you did with that fucking Hydra.”
I thought about refusing, but when I considered it, the idea actually appealed to me a lot. I liked the idea of being in charge of the situation. And Rath was right, if there was something in my past that was triggering me, letting me take control might help me get past it.
“Well…all right,” I said. “If you’re really sure.”
“I’m really sure,” he promised. “Go on—do it.”
I concentrated for a minute, closing my eyes and picturing the magic thread in my hands.
“Grow,” I murmured to it. “Get thicker—stronger.”
The thread obeyed me at once. This time I didn’t form a steel cable though—I wanted a rope, but a soft one that wouldn’t chafe the big Orc’s wrists.
When I had the first one fashioned, I sent it to him and we both watched as it wrapped securely around his right wrist and the wooden bed post.
Rath tugged at it experimentally and I saw his biceps bulge as he tested the magic rope.
“It’s good,” he said, nodding as he relaxed his arm. “I can’t break it. Now do the other one.”
This time I didn’t protest—I fashioned another magic rope in less than half the time I had taken to make the first and sent it to tie his other wrist to the other bedpost. Rath tested this one too and nodded.
“Good work—that’s some strong magic you have, baby.”
“Thank you—but you really don’t mind being tied up like this?” I asked.
He rumbled laughter.
“To tell you the truth, I think it’s kind of hot,” he admitted. “In every relationship I’ve ever been in, I’m always the biggest and the strongest. And most women expect me to take charge—which I like, don’t get me wrong,” he added. “But I’ve never been with anyone who’s stronger than me.”
“I’m not stronger than you!” I protested.
“Your magic is stronger than my strength—of the two of us, I’m the weaker one,” he told me.
“And you don’t mind that?” I asked. “Most men would hate it.”
Rath shook his head.
“Human men must be fucking insecure then. I trust you, so I don’t mind you being stronger. Though I can still take charge, if you want me to.”
“You can?” I frowned, perplexed. “How?”
His eyes went suddenly half-lidded and he gave me a slow smile.
“Take off your clothes.”
“Um, what?” I clutched nervously at my cardigan.
“Take off your clothes, baby,” Rath repeated in a low, commanding tone. “Slowly. I want to watch you get naked.”
I bit my lip, hardly knowing what to do. He looked so sexy, leaning against the headboard with his arms bound to the posts. His bare chest and abdomen were tight with muscle and the bulge in his gray sweatpants was positively enormous. I wondered again if I could possibly fit that monster inside me.
But first I had to decide what to do. Was I going to obey his command?
Yes—because I wanted to, I decided. I liked the idea of doing what the big Orc said. I remembered how he’d held me on the couch and called me “good girl”—I wanted to hear that kind of praise again.
Slowly, I took off my sweater. I had a t-shirt on under it which I left on. I took off my yoga pants though, which left my legs bare. (I was glad I had shaved them recently.) That left me in nothing but a t-shirt and panties, which made me feel almost naked. Though not as naked as Rath wanted me.
“Sarah,” he rumbled in that deep, commanding voice again. “Why are you still wearing clothes?”
“I…I’m just…” I licked my lips nervously as years of body image issues rushed to the front of my mind. “I’m not thin,” I said at last.
“I don’t want thin,” he growled softly, his eyes glowing. “I want you, baby. I love your curves—why don’t you show them to me?”