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I’d been hungry on the drive home, but now? The butterflies were back.

His fingers were on my nape once more, warm and solid. “It’s okay. We have all the time you need. We’re in no rush.”

I wanted to rid myself of the weight pressing down on my shoulders, the ache in them, the persistent thought that I had responsibilities… Then I realized I had to let it all out, let it go…

“I need you, Sir.”

Toby’s eyes were warm. “You’ve got me.”

I flipped off the shower and grabbed my towel. I’d taken longer than usual, but I believed in being thorough. How did the saying go? ‘You never get a second chance to make a first impression.’ Okay, so we’d already fucked but this was different.

This was a scene. An actual, goddamnscene.

I’d thought that part of my life was over, and now that it wasn’t, I was almost dizzy with anticipation. I came out of the bathroom in my robe and walked across the hallway to my bedroom. I paused at the door.

Will he be in leather? Wearing a harness?

I rolled my eyes. Yeah, sure, Toby had packed his leather gear to go ride horses for two weeks. I pushed the door open, and my heart skipped a beat.

Toby stood beside the bed, his shirt off, his jeans unbuttoned and the zipper lowered, revealing the dark fuzz of his pubes. His feet were bare. He’d removed the comforter and sheet, and lying on the bed was a bottle of oil I didn’t recognize.

He smiled. “I went shopping while you were out. Butch took me into Bozeman.”

Then I saw the piece of rope, maybe a foot long. It wasn’t like the rope I’d been used to. This was more like the stuff we used on the ranch. One end was frayed.

What does he want that for?

His gaze drifted up and down. “Nice robe. Take it off.”

My heartbeat quickened as I shrugged out of the soft cotton garment. “What’s with the rope?” I kept my tone casual.

Toby didn’t reply, but came over to me. He stroked my chest, tugging on the hair and flicking my nipples with his thumbs, making me shiver. “How sensitive are these?”

“Not overly,” I admitted. “But Kevin would clamp them occasionally, and then it was a whole different ballgame.”Thenhe could’ve made me come just by sucking on them.

“Good to know.” He slid his hand over my abs, and I kept still, waiting for his fingers to reach my dick, but at the last second he removed his hand, not that it was such a shock. Kevin had been a world-class tease.

“About that rope…”

Again, no response. And then I forgot all about it when he kissed me, a leisurely exploration that told me all things would happen according to his schedule, not mine.

“You’re a good kisser,” he murmured against my lips.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He took a step back. “A couple of things before we start… First up, safe word. Now, I don’t know if you and Kevin used safe words, but you will with me. And I’m going to make a suggestion.”

“Oh?”

He smiled. “Say your first name.” When I stared at him, he shrugged. “In the heat of the moment, it’s the only thing you’ll likely remember.”

I stilled. “I like that.”

“Second… I know we didn’t manage to get you tested today. That will have to wait. All you need to know is, my most recent test was a week ago, and I got the all-clear. I have more condoms—ifwe need them.”

I didn’t like the sound of thatif.

“I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do with you,” he went on. Then he smiled. “See what I did there?”