Page 150 of The Prize

“What’s wrong?”

“I know what you need. I always did and I always will.”

“What are you saying?”

“Let’s play,” he cooed close to my ear.

Pushing myself up onto my elbows, I watched his well-toned naked suntanned body saunter across the room, his skin shimmering from the light streaming in from the late afternoon sun. He slid open a drawer and removed red silk ties and gave them a tug to test their strength. He returned to my side, where he dipped the mattress as his knee pressed in. Reaching up for my wrists and holding them tight, he brought them above my head, and several knots later he’d tied me to the bedpost. Those same ribbons were used to secure my feet, only he spread them wide, leaving me exposed and vulnerable. Tobias brought another one of the red silk ties and lifted my head to wrap it around, pulling it around my mouth and gagging me.

Looming over me, he admired his handiwork. “You’re my addiction, Zara. Erotic and exquisite and everything a man desires. There is one trait, though, that we need to work on. And that is trusting me implicitly.”

Raising my head off the pillow I tried to read him and made an indecipherable moan.

He raised a finger to silence me. “Hold that thought.”

My body was chilled from the breeze finding its way in through the door that Tobias was exiting.

“Wait for me.” He flashed a smile. “Not that you have any choice.”

What the hell?

Pulling the cords, I squirmed to escape my bindings, and when that didn’t work I gave a yank, trying to pull up my legs but it was no use. They were secured too tightly and I strained against the binds frantically, my heart thundering, my panic rising.

Tobias reappeared and his expression was calm as he carried himself with that steely pride I’d seen on him that first day we met. “Zara.”

I mumbled against this gag.

“Good point.” He reached for the discarded throw over a high-backed chair and pulled it up to cover me. “I know your body better than you know it yourself.” His voice was low and seductive. “Every curve, every angle, every taste. I’ve journeyed over you a thousand times and mapped every inch and when you fail to give yourself to me completely, I know.”

Swallowing nervously, I gave my wrist another pull.

He whisked out his cell phone and pressed a number.

I moaned my fear.

Tobias pressed his index fingertip to his mouth to silence me. “Yes, Adley, it’s me again. Just checking in on that issue you’re having at the palace.” Tobias frowned as he listened. “Oh, I see. That is interesting.”

My body trembled and my eyes widened as I tried to comprehend what he was doing and how crazy I’d been to let him tie me up. Tobias strolled closer and brushed away the blanket covering my foot and caressed it tenderly, pinching my toes and running a finger up my sole to cause a horrible tickle, only I couldn’t jerk away and his torment of my foot was maddening.

He waggled his eyebrows, proving he was enjoying doing this to me. Tobias broke away and slid his thumb over his screen.

Adley’s voice rose from the phone. “We can’t believe it, either,” he said. “Turns out the queen personally gifted the painting of Queen Charlotte to her grandson and forgot to report it. They literally stuffed it into the back of their Land Rover and drove off with it to Kensington Palace.”

“The Benjamin West has been accounted for?” Tobias clarified and widened his eyes at me to make his point.

“Yes, how did you hear about it going missing?” asked Adley.

“A rumor found its way to us. We’re glad it turned up. Have a lovely day. Oh, and Adley, if you ever need any help with a case don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I may even be inclined to lend you Leighton. You know what a resource she is.” Tobias told Adley goodbye and hung up. “Someone has been very naughty. Notice I’m looking at you, Leighton.”

My head crashed onto the pillow and I squeezed my eyes shut in embarrassment.

“As I told you earlier.” He pulled off the blanket. “I’m going to have to chastise you.” His mouth closed over my big toe and sucked. “This is what I have in mind. You’re not allowed to come until I say. Sound fair?”

I gave a reluctant nod.

He slipped into a grin. “You weren’t relaxed. This is our day. Ours—yours and mine—and I want it to be everything you dreamed of.” He reached over and pulled down the gag.

“I’m sorry.”