“Yes, Summer.”

His voice hissed and she gave a low laugh. Running her hands down his arms, she squeezed his biceps. Her hips pushed against his ass. “Not yet. I want to play with your body for a while. You are not to touch me until I give you permission. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Very good.” She slid her arms around his waist and splayed her palms over his chest. His heart thundered against her hand, and a fine sheen of sweat beaded his skin. Oh, yeah. He liked her attention, but how would he handle not being in charge? She dug her nails into his abs and kicked his feet apart with one black heel until his legs spread wide. He locked down his body to avoid moving and his breath came in heavy gasps. Murmuring approval, she drifted her palms downward and played with the nest of hair at the base of his cock, running one finger down the ridged length, up and down, never applying more than a hint of pressure.

He bit back a groan.

Her fingers circled the tip, spreading around the bead of moisture that dripped. Slowly, she cupped and stroked his balls.

His temper exploded.

With a curse, he spun and pulled her into his arms. His mouth lowered to take hers, but she took a quick step back, and grabbed his balls in a merciless grip. She allowed her face to reflect her cold displeasure. Shock blazed back at her and his cock jumped in response.

“Remove your hands.” His arms dropped to his side. She shook her head in mockery. “Not enough control, I see. The rules are simple. Your body is mine for my pleasure. You obey my commands, and you don’t touch me unless I give permission. Since you can’t listen on your own, I’ll need to give you a little help.” A slight twist of her hand exerted more pressure and he winced. “Don’t move.” Releasing him, she walked to the small bureau and pulled out a pair of leather handcuffs from the top drawer.

“No fucking way.”

Her brow arched. “Yes fucking way. You proved you can’t be trusted on your own. This will make sure you keep your hands to yourself.”

“I’ll obey next time.”

“Yes, you will,” she said. “Because I’ll make sure of it. Follow me.”

With his feet rooted to the ground, they’d reached a turning point. He’d either take the leap and put himself in her hands, or stalk out the door with his pride intact. Of course, pride made a cold bed partner and ranked unnecessary in the pursuit of pleasure. Conflict flickered in his dark eyes as he processed his options. Summer gave him the only gift she owned. Her truth.

“Aren’t you as tired of running as I am?” she asked softly. She extended her hand and waited.

He stiffened and glared at the handcuffs before slowly sauntering over to grasp her hand. Heat and comfort radiated from his fingers straight to her heart. An age old connection sizzled and settled between them in a steady hum. She led him to the bedroom where she’d already had certain equipment installed at her request. Both Madame Eve and Castillo Resorts were quite accommodating.

She moved him to the far wall of the suite. The bedroom boasted a Tuscan feel, with rich gold, browns and burgundy. The bed held piles of pillows against an ornate oak headboard. The cream satin sheets beckoned and glistened under the last rays of the dying sun that sneaked through the Venetian blinds. With one last moment of hesitation, he surrendered his hands. She fastened the handcuffs, checking the fit and his comfort. She grabbed the chain from the drawer, attached it to the hook that hung discreetly from the ceiling, and connected the cuffs. He sucked in his breath, but she never glanced at him or hesitated, just pulled the chain up and connected it so his hands stretched over his head. She released some slack inch by inch until satisfied. “How does that feel?”

A beat passed. “Uncomfortable.”

“Painful?”

“No.”

“Good.” She’d targeted enough discomfort to allow him the opportunity to concentrate on his body, and not what he should be doing or thinking. She reached under the bed, took out a foot spreader, and positioned it between his legs. After a quick check of the equipment, she stood back to admire the naked man in front of her.

A slow, satisfied smile curved her lips. “Perfect. Let’s begin.”

Holy shit.

In a matter of minutes, he found himself naked, spread eagle, and tied up before a female he’d never met before tonight. I’ve lost my freaking mind.

The last incident in Iraq flashed before his vision. Their transporter had been attacked. As bullets rained over them and he’d shot back, sweat dripping in his eyes, adrenalin pumping, sand bursting up in clouds so he didn’t know what the hell he aimed at, he’d reached a turning point. When Ben got cut down, his leg shot to pieces, Rafe had needed to make a life-changing decision in a moment. He’d dived into the danger zone to bring his friend back to safety and hoped life without a limb wouldn’t be as bad as dying.

Right now, right here, with this woman before him, he hit another turning point.

He craved a bit of secret Domme/sub play, but never believed he’d experience a full blown episode. His senses buzzed in vivid neon colors, riding the edge of pain and pleasure. Since coming back from the war, he’d never felt so completely alive. In touch with his body and completely present. Focused only on the woman before him who was about to rock his world.

Jesus, she looked like a different woman. Her face still held the appeal of the girl-next-door, but now she emanated a seductive power that gripped him by the balls and squeezed him as hard as her fingers had. High, perfectly formed breasts played a game of hide and seek behind tight leather. Her nipples grazed the edge of the corset, about to pop out with her next deep breath. Skin tight pants left nothing to the imagination and cupped her ass, clearly outlining the delta between her thighs. Each time she took a step, the heels forced her to balance, pushing her hips forward and back in a feminine swing Eve couldn’t have perfected better. Each thrust beckoned with a promise. If he hung on.

He’d figured she’d call it quits the moment he fought her. He hadn’t expected her to twist his balls, or the crazy pain/pleasure that stiffened his dick at her complete demand of submission. His mind emptied of all other thoughts than getting to touch her, thrust inside of her, see her completely naked. He figured he’d take anything she gave if she’d allow him just a taste.

“Hmm, very nice.” She grasped his cock and slid down from tip to the base. He shuddered and pulled on the cuffs, but the movement cramped and burned his shoulders and neck. He raised almost on tiptoe and stretched his body. Her touch skittered over his skin and twisted the discomfort into excitement. “I want to know more about you,” she purred like Catwoman. “We’re going to play one of my favorite games. I’ll ask you something and you answer as honestly as possible. If you give me the truth, I’ll give you a present. Lie to me, and you’ll be punished. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Summer.”

“Very good.” She continued touching him with light strokes—his hip, his stomach, his nipple. Each teasing flutter fisted his gut with anticipation, until he worried he’d spurt all over her like a freaking horn dog teenager. He used all of his military training to lock down his brain and control his body. No way in hell he’d explode before he pushed inside of her. She picked the wrong man to play that game with.

As if she sensed his thoughts, she lifted one of her hands and he held his breath as her pink tongue licked her palm. She grasped his erection. And squeezed. He bucked at the damp heat.

“Stop thinking,” she commanded. “You’ll do what I ask, not what you think you have to. How long were you in the military?”

“Eight years. Joined at eighteen.”

She rubbed both hands up and down his cock, her thumb massaging the tip, keeping him distracted. “Where were you stationed?”

“Iraq.”

“Tell me about it.”

He blinked, reaching for some answer to her strange question, but she continued stroking. “Uh, what do you want to know?”

“Describe how it felt.”

He groaned when she scratched his sensitive balls with her fingernails. “Hot. Dusty. Had sand in my ass from the first day, and the grit doesn’t wash off your skin no matter how much you bathe. You learn not to trust anyone but your team since any resident can turn on you in a heartbeat. Children included.”

She released him and disappeared behind him. He tensed. Her breath ran hot over his back and one sharp nail traced the line of his spine to stop at the base before tracing the line of his ass cheeks. He closed his eyes and pulled at the chains, wanting out of there, yet he had nowhere to go.

“Tell me your worst memory in Iraq.”

Her finger teased the tight hole between his cheeks. He concentrated on keeping his breathing steady, his heartbeat under control and played his usual game that kept him grounded. Start with one thousand and count backward, slow and steady. No way in hell he’d share secrets with a one-night stand. No way in hell she’d make him.

“Nothing stands out. One crappy day was the same as the rest.”

A sharp slap rang through the air. His left ass cheek tightened and heat burned his skin, but before he recovered, she bit down and the other cheek stung like a son of a bitch. Her hand slid around and grasped his cock, pumping up and down in a steady rhythm and the dual shock of pain melded to pleasure. Her tongue soothed the sting on his ass. With his head swimming, he tried to keep his brain sharp in order to dodge her questions, but his body didn’t give a shit. He cursed viciously.