Page 24

I brought our bags inside and pulled out the salt we’d bought on the way in.

I poured it on the window sills and the doorways, adding a line by every door in the hopes that even if the monster got through one it might be slowed down by the others.

Logan looked exhausted so I sent her straight to the bedroom while Seth and I locked down the cabin and put away what few groceries we’d purchased.

It was a relief to be somewhere much farther away than before. With almost a full day of travel between us and the unknown entity hunting us, we had a decent chance to relax. We all needed rest.

I came upon Logan stretched out on the bed with her eyes closed, but not asleep. She was so beautiful. Her face was soft, brown hair sprawled around her like a halo as she hugged one of the pillows to her chest.

“Don’t think I’ve forgotten that promise from this morning,” she said.

Instead of pulling out the ropes I’d bought on the way here, I lay down next to her and pulled her into my arms. “In a few minutes.”

Logan slid against me without question and buried her face against my throat.

She wasn’t a particularly tiny woman, but she felt small in my arms. Her personality was big and bold, so it felt weird when she was worn down.

I knew she wasn’t fragile. Despite knowing how strong she was, it had never tempered my desire to protect her.

Her lips pressed softly against my skin. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.” I slid my fingers into her hair and indulged myself in cradling her body.

We were safe for the moment.

I held her until the panic of the day had melted away for me and all that remained was her scent—sweeter than I was used to—and her warmth.

Her breathing had relaxed, and I got up to put to use what I’d purchased.

I pulled the bundles of thick, braided cotton rope out of the bag.

It wasn’t as nice as what we usually used, but it would do.

Logan was content and sleepy, lifting her hips to help me strip her down.

She sat quietly as I started the process of tying her up.

I took it slow, beginning at her ankles with a simple heel weave.

She always looked especially beautiful with ropes twining up her body in whimsical patterns.

I’d never even heard of shibari before we’d gotten together.

I’d put in the time, learning the patterns and knots, playing with her to find out which ones she liked best, which positions made her sink under the quickest.

The ropes tended to have a hypnotic effect on her. Logan craved this particular submission, needed it to shut off her brain, and I was perfectly willing to give it to her.

She was fucking magnificent.

I didn’t think anyone had ever put that much trust in me before.

She’d offered in the past to reverse our roles, but I was pretty sure being tied up would be more panic-inducing than relaxing for me.

I had a much more effective method, and all it took was for me to shift into cat form and get her hands on me.

I worked up her body, binding each section in turn. I had a frog tie on each of her legs and had her arms bound across her stomach, cradling her breasts so I could easily give them all the attention they deserved.

I eased her down slowly. A kiss, a touch, gentle fingertips tracing the ropes and teasing the skin beneath.

Gentleness was important for her early on.

After her mind shut off, she enjoyed floating like that and get slowly brought out with more contact, more passion, until she was quaking and squirming, fighting the ropes as the pleasure rose up.

I wasn’t always so good at patience. Luckily Logan had met me when I’d mostly gotten my shit together. Now I craved this as much as she did. There was little more intoxicating than the trust she put in me to keep her safe while she was like this.

“I’m here,” I murmured against her skin and curled around her so I could make sure she stayed warm.

I kept careful watch over her. Monitoring her breathing, checking that the ropes hadn’t shifted or that she wasn’t pressing against them so hard she’d cut off circulation. Assured of her safety, I let myself relax next to her. It was a good opportunity to chill myself out, too.

I matched my breathing to hers

Her skin was soft beneath my fingertips.

Dipping down, I took her nipple into my mouth, coaxing it to attention with slow, lazy curls of my tongue.

She shivered, her lips parting with a soft exhale.

After I’d traced over the ropes and had my fill of the taste of her skin, I slid down.

With the way she was tied, her glistening core was fully visible to me.

As tempting as it was to bury my cock in her, it wasn’t time quite yet.

She was still too deep. I had to take my time bringing her back.

Patience was always rewarded.