Page 67 of Dangerous Men

It’s the pair of wrist cuffs.

Ash runs his thumb over the leather for a moment before asking, “Have you ever been tied up before?”

I shake my head.

“Is it something you’ve ever thought about? Maybe even… fantasized about?”

God, yes.

I nod a little too quickly. I can’t believe I’m admitting this to him. I’ve never admitted it to anyone.

Ash sets the cuffs next to the box with a grin and reaches in for another item.

This one I don’t recognize. It’s a thick strap of leather, with a long handle. Ash watches me closely as he holds it, assessing me.

“Do you know what this is?” he asks, voice low.

I shake my head.

“This is a riding crop,” he says. He reaches out to take my hand, and I give it to him. He strokes the leather over my palm. Then, with a quick flick of his wrist, he snaps it. I cry out, more out of shock than pain, as the leather strikes my palm with a loud slap. The skin where it struck me tingles.

“Is that something you might like?” Ash asks, and the way his eyes move over my body, I know he doesn’t want to use it on my palm.

I hesitate, a beat too long.

Nodding as if that’s answer enough, Ash lets my hand drop, turning back to the box and putting the toy away.

“Wait!” I say, too quickly.

He stops, glancing over at me.

“I…” My heart is beating so fast, my body aching to know what he would do with the crop. “I… need time, I think. To work up to that. But I’m not… uninterested.”

Something flares in Ash’s eyes. He licks his lips, his breathing a little heavy as he nods. But he keeps the crop in the box.

“Thank you,” Ash tells me. He leans over me, pushing my thighs open and lifting one leg onto the couch so he can getcloser to me. “For being honest with me. And if you want to try that,fuck.” He shudders when he exhales. “I could make it so good for you. You have no idea.”

Oh God. I want it now. Ash’s gaze burns into mine, and I want it, want to feel it. I want to know exactly what he’d do to me if I let him.

“Not tonight,” he tells me.

My disappointment is short-lived when he reaches down and slides a hand over my shirt, cupping my breast. I gasp when he rolls his thumb down, catching my nipple between his fingers and giving it a light tug.

“I love that you want to try that,” Ash says. “And I can’t wait to show you all the fun we could have together. But let’s keep things simple tonight, okay? Let’s go slow.”

I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry.

I feel like I’ve agreed to a game without knowing the rules, but Ash is already grinning, releasing my breast, and going back to the box. He pulls me closer as he does it, wrapping an arm around my back until I’m flush against his side.

His hand rubs up and down my back as he reaches into the box and pulls out a toy.

He holds it up to me, eyebrow raised.

It’s a vibrator, the insertable kind, slim and slightly curved.

“Have you used one of these before?” he asks.

I nod.