Page 38 of Taken by Moonlight

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Iwentwith Gabriel to the room at the end of the hallway. When he opened the door, nothing could have prepared me for the displayinside.

A king-sized bed with velvet ropes at each post dominated the room. A dresser with mirrors and an assortment of tubes and bottles hugged one wall. Whips and chains hung from the opposite wall, like decorative features on the red silkwallpaper.

The entire room was decorated in red and black, and had low lightning. It looked like a bondage dream… or nightmare, depending upon your particular point ofview.

Gabriel studied me, his expression uncertain. “Peyton, are you all right with what I’mdoing?”

I laughed a little. “I don’t know what you plan todo.”

“Tie you up.” He licked his lips. “If this makes you uncomfortable, let me know. I’m not… into plain old ordinarysex.”

“Huh,” I said dryly. “So you mean plain old ordinary threesomes areboring?”

Booming laughter filled the room as he shoved a hand through his luxurious, long hair. “Ah Peyton, you’re thebest.”

“I trust you,” I said softly. “You’ve been honest with me in the past, and I trust you’ll not hurtme.”

He nodded. “If at any time you feel you want me to stop, say stop. That’s your safeword.”

“And go means do it more?” Iteased.

Hesmiled.

I wasn’t certain if I felt more aroused than nervous, but I trusted Gabriel. I had to, in order to dothis.

“Take off your robe, lie down on the bed on your back.” Gabriel’s voice roughened to almost agrowl.

Quivering a little inside, I did as he asked. This was going to be far different from the sex I’d had withAlex.

Alex was sweet and gentle, a slow and thoroughlover.

But I was ready for different, for Gabriel’s hardedges.

He stretched out my arms and tied them. The knots felt soft against my skin. Then he did the same to my legs. There I was, spread eagled, naked, andhelpless.

“Afraid I’ll run away?” I asked in a teasing voice, though inside I still feltnervous.

Busy at the table containing the bottles and tubes and instruments, Gabriel didn’t answer. Heavens, I hoped he wasn’t into delivering lots of pain because I was so not intothat.

Then he went to the bureau and opened a drawer. Gabriel poured the contents of a blue bottle into a dish and flipped a switch. A low humming warbled deep in his throat as he stirred themixture.

I turned my head, curious at his actions. “What are youdoing?”

Glancing over his shoulder, he gave me a sensual smile. “Warming the scented, flavored oil. I prefer cinnamon. Tangy, and quitedelicious."

"I hope you have lots of towels to wipe it off, or you'll stain these fine sheets. I’m sure Norm paid at least twenty dollars for them," Iquipped.

"That's not how I removeit.”

His gaze dropped to my opened thighs. The space between my legs clenched in a mixture of anticipation and dread. All I could do was wait andwatch.

Gabriel turned back to the oil and continued humming. When he dipped a finger into the mixture, testing it, my feminine flesh ached and throbbed. I drew in a deep breath; I had to remain calm and unmoved. His aura was red, but I sensed hiscontrol.

Shifters smell fear. If I let myself get scared, would it release hisbeast?

Then Gabriel brought the dish over to thebed.