Page 63 of Kiss of Seduction (Court of Chains #1)

With a confidence that communicated years of practice, Natalya used the red ropes to tie up Evie’s legs.

The ropes wrapped around each leg separately in elegant knots so her calves and the back of her thighs pressed together.

With her legs tied like that, still kneeling, Evie couldn’t get out of the position.

Her legs were bound in place. She couldn’t move.

“What are you going to do?” Evie asked, voice shaking a little. Natalya put Evie’s arms behind her back.

“What I want to. What I feel like. And not at all what you ask for.”

There was a brief pause after the statement.

A moment of stillness where Natalya didn’t move, as though she was waiting for a response.

Or a voiced color. When none came, she used another rope to tie Evie’s arms behind her back.

Not just her hands. Her arms . Bound to each other and pointing straight down at the mattress.

Other than leaning forward, Evie couldn’t move at all.

And then Natalya connected the ropes on her arms to the ones around her legs, and then she couldn’t even do that.

The rope dug into her skin, the texture of it providing just enough unique sensation that it was impossible to ignore. Evie was trapped. She was helpless. And she was utterly drenched.

“You look beautiful, all trussed up like this.” Natalya was still behind Evie, only now her lips were right by Evie’s ear. “And you’re shivering. If you hadn’t noticed.”

Evie had noticed. Her entire body was trembling, and her breathing was uneven.

“Please, Mistress. I just—”

Natalya grabbed Evie by the hair and pulled her head back. She was powerless to stop it, even more than usual, and when she looked up at Natalya’s triumphant face, she was reminded of the she-devil who had fucked her senseless a few weeks prior. Primal, powerful, and dominating.

“Are you sorry?” Natalya asked.

“Yes, Mistress.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“For being rude, Mistress. For trying to force you, Mistress.”

Evie didn’t dare not say her title. She didn’t dare not be polite. It wouldn’t just be reckless. It would be like jumping over a bonfire drenched in gasoline.

Natalya tightened her grip on Evie’s hair, making her whimper. There was still no unique sensation from Natalya’s touch, but her hair being pulled started something in Evie she wasn’t ready for. Her body actually ached from longing.

“I’m sorry, Mistress.”

“There’s a good girl,” Natalya said. The words fluttered through Evie like a warm breeze. She sighed hearing them, and her body stopped tensing. It relaxed. Went heavy.

At an earlier point in her life, that sort of reaction would have made her feel embarrassed. It would have been too vulnerable a response to share. But there, on the bed—tied up, exposed, and forced into complete submission—Evie was strangely at ease. Strangely calm.

As calm as she could be when a fiend was holding onto her hair with a fist that might as well have been made of steel.

Natalya leaned down, her lips an inch from Evie’s. “Do you want a kiss?”

“Yes. Please, Mistress. Please.”

If Natalya hadn’t been holding onto her, she might have dared steal one. Might .

“That’s unfortunate.” Natalya smiled for the first time since they’d entered the room. It was not a pleasant expression. She looked way too satisfied. “You’re not getting one. Not until I decide you’ve earned it.”

She turned Evie around so they were facing each other and held up a bright red gag ball with leather straps on it. Evie had no idea when she’d fetched it.

“I’m not sure I can trust you not to be disrespectful again,” Natalya said. “I’ll need to make contingencies. To ensure you take your punishment without displaying further rudeness.”

Natalya cocked her head with poorly hidden glee. She was enjoying this a worrying amount. “Open wide, Evie.”

Evie stared at the gag. She wouldn’t be able to speak. Wouldn’t be able to say anything . Wouldn’t be able to tell Natalya to stop.

The realization summoned sudden fear, but it only lingered briefly before dissipating into nervousness again. Whatever was going to happen, Natalya would stop if Evie needed it. She would know. Evie trusted her to know.

She opened her mouth.

“Look at you. Being all obedient now.” Natalya put the gag in her mouth, strapping it around her head. “Like it’s going to save you.”

The gag ball felt strange in Evie’s mouth. Hard and smooth, pressing in on her tongue. It made her salivate, and she couldn’t wipe it away as it wetted her lips.

“You may not want to give others a show. But you will give one to me.” Natalya held up a small silicone device. It was sleek and curvy, with bumps at one end. “Have you ever used a butterfly vibrator before?”

Evie shook her head.

“How lucky for me. I get to introduce you.” Natalya eased the butterfly into Evie’s panties, settling it so the bumps were right on her clit. The underwear kept it in place. Then Natalya eased a pillow between Evie’s legs, and its presence ensured it was pressed against her too.

When Natalya picked up a small remote and put it on a table next to a nearby chair, Evie got a horrible feeling about where this was going.

“I’m going to enjoy watching you writhe,” Natalya said. “You’ll squirm. You’ll unravel. It’ll be overwhelming, horribly so. And I’ll just watch.”

Natalya went to the bag she’d brought, pulling out yet more things. Lily hadn’t lied when she said Natalya would get creative, but this was terrible. Evie was already bound and gagged. How much worse did it need to be?

Evie frowned when Natalya returned, holding a click counter. She held it up, made sure Evie knew what it was, and then pressed it into her hand.

“I’m not going to touch you.” Natalya grinned wickedly. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t have fun with you. I’m going to make you come over and over again until it’s just those ropes keeping you upright.” Natalya leaned close to Evie’s face. “Are you ready to listen?”

Evie nodded slowly. Her entire body was tense from anxiousness at what the hell this was going to be. Natalya caressed the gag ball with her finger.

“Every time you come, I want you to click the counter. I want you to keep track because I will be doing the same. I’ll know. I’ll know how many times you come. And when this is over, your number better match mine.” Natalya’s smile was deadly. “Otherwise, I’ll make you scream.”

She played with a strand of Evie’s hair, pulling it back behind her ear. Never quite touching her skin. It was torture to have her that tantalizingly close.

“How long should I leave you like this? Thirty minutes?”

Evie’s eyes widened, and she shook her head desperately. Natalya’s eyes let off a faint violet glow.

“An hour then.” And then Natalya put a blindfold over her eyes.

Evie tried to move away, but the ropes kept her in place. The gag ball muffled her protests, and her attempts at speaking made saliva drip out over her lips and run down her chin.

She was blinded, gagged, and unable to move. There was a vibrator pressed against her clit. And Natalya was laughing quietly. Evilly.

“Do try to enjoy yourself, darling.” Natalya’s voice was so sweet as to be taunting. There was a creak of leather as she sat down in a chair. “I know I will.”

There was a moment of horrid silence. Of wishing it wouldn’t go further than this. Praying that Natalya was bluffing.

Then the butterfly started vibrating.