“Yes.” Charlie offered a sleep-heavy giggle.

***

Charlie lay on the floor in front of the hearth, huddled in blankets, dozing. She vaguely recalled that Declan had left her there. Through half-lidded eyes, she glanced toward the window where Declan stood. He was looking out of it, not bothering to spare her a glance, intent on his current task.

Who was he calling? He spoke, softly, keeping his voice hushed. Charlie couldn’t hear most of his conversation, except all of the sudden his voice picked up, sounding panicked. It was a subtle tinge of a change, but Charlie recognized it immediately. She strained to listen in on the conversation.

“ … I took care of the situation,” Charlie heard him say. The person on the other end of the conversation spoke, and then Declan said, “Everything’s under control.” Declan’s voice relaxed as the conversation continued. Charlie closed her eyes quickly when he looked her way and kept them closed. She’d convinced herself that he shouldn’t mind if she listened in, but when it came down to it, she still didn’t want him to know she was eavesdropping. At one point, he laughed a bit, sounding more relaxed. He sounded better, no longer anxious. Charlie wondered why he was earlier.

Everything’s under control. What did that mean? The fire near her feet warmed her, keeping her mind in a blanketed haze, and she couldn’t think much about anything.

The phone conversation stopped and Charlie heard the beep signifying that Declan ended the call. He whispered to her, smiling faintly, “My Charlotte.” He laid back down next to her.

They spoke more, but what about Charlie didn’t care . She just wanted Declan to lie down with her so she could cuddle with him. And he did. She placed her hand on his chest. Relaxed against him, Charlie nuzzled her nose against his neck.

He tilted his head toward her and smiled. “Still sleepy are we, Ms. Flynn?”

“Are we?” she asked coyly. “I am but are you?”

“Perhaps I’m tired, but not sleepy.”

“Stressful week in Toronto?”

“Yes,” Declan said. “It was a difficult week, but we did get a lot accomplished.”

“Did you go … ” ’

“Go where?”

“You know?” And of course, he didn’t know. She hadn’t asked anything. He furrowed his brow. “To your BDSM places?” There. I said it.

He smirked. “My BDSM places, Charlotte? So is that what we are calling them now?”

“Yes, very technical, I know.” Charlie laughed.

“There are clubs in Toronto, of course,” he said, grinning at her. “I have no use for them as I am otherwise occupied.”

“Are they fun?” Charlie asked.

Declan eyed her curiously as if it was a strange question. “What do you mean?”

“The scenes? Are they fun to watch?”

“They can be entertaining. I enjoy learning different techniques, and they can be a good point of beginning for those new to the field.”

“Maybe I should go,” she said. “You could take me.”

“No,” Declan said, shaking his head. “My Charlotte, those … those places are not for you.”

“You know I like what we do together,” she muttered.

“It’s not about that,” Declan spoke. “That is controlled. It’s different at a club. Not that I would ever allow you to participate, but still.”

“I’m just curious,” Charlie said. “I would like to go once to see it, but maybe you’re right.”

“You’re too curious by far but, of course, that’s what makes you an excellent researcher.” Declan moved his arms, squeezing her closer to him. “A club is quite terrifying and wonderful all in one.”

“Why is it so terrifying?”

“You could get hurt.”

“I know you’d never hurt me though.” Charlie knew this wasn’t exactly what Declan was trying to say, but she wanted more reassurance from him.

“I would never intentionally hurt you, Charlotte. You know that.” Declan spoke quietly. “Most people never set out to hurt anyone, and while I don’t want to hurt you, I can’t honestly say it won’t happen at some point. We are all flawed, and imperfect people do eventually hurt each other in some form or another.”

“Nope,” Charlie said, sticking her tongue out at him. She wanted to lighten the solemn mood Declan had imposed.

“Stop that, will you?” Declan poked her tongue with his finger. “You don’t know that I won’t.”

“Very true, but what if we make some sort of bargain?”

“What sort of bargain?”

“Well, for your side of it, you will do your level best to not hurt me.”

Declan frowned at Charlie, his lips twisting downward, like a petulant schoolboy. “Ms. Flynn, I believe I’ve already stated that I cannot promise that.”

She pouted. “Fine. If you do ever hurt me, you will need to apologize.”

“All right.” He nodded. “Wait, how will I know I’ve hurt you?”

“I’ll make sure to tell you.”

“Oh, you are such an impertinent girl.”

“Will you punish me?” Charlie feigned tears.

Declan laughed, watching Charlie. His eyes twinkled with mirth. “Do you know what we call this, Charlotte?”

“Who is we?” Charlie played along.

“Myself and those who frequent ‘BDSM places,’ as you described them.”

“Oh. No, what do they call it?”

“Topping from the bottom, my sweet girl.”

“We’re both on the floor though.” Charlie couldn’t resist being a bit of a smart-ass.

Declan stared at Charlie for a moment, blinking rapidly, and then he laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

Declan swooped in and kissed her on the forehead, leaving her feeling intoxicated. Her body tingled, ready for him, wanting him. He finished laughing and pressed his lips near to hers. “If I punish you because you ask me to, it’s hardly me controlling you, now is it? The punishment should be about what I want.” His voice was lower, more seductive.

He pushed Charlie onto her back, rolled atop her, pressing her into the floor with the entirety of his body. “I will apologize when I have hurt you, but I will punish you whenever I like, Charlotte. What do you think of that?”

Charlie nodded quickly. “Yes, Master.”

“Perhaps I shall punish you right now,” he growled.

She nodded faster.

“I don’t think I will though. You’d like that too much, and I have no reason to do it at the moment.”

Charlie stilled.

“Though,” Declan’s hand slid down her side and he wrenched the cloth of her pants down. “Perhaps … I’ll have my way with you right here, right now. What do you think of that?”

Chapter Sixteen

Declan grabbed one of her wrists, and then the other with his free hand. He pulled Charlotte’s hands above her head, pressing the backs of them against the floor.

“We’re going to try something new this evening,” Declan said. Charlotte opened her mouth, but before she could respond, he cut her off. “Don’t speak.” He removed a hand from one of her wrists, placing it across her mouth. “Imagine my hand is a gag. I will remove it, but the gag will remain unless you need to tell me no or you ask me to stop. Do you understand? Nod your head if you do.”

Charlotte nodded, and Declan removed his hand.

He pushed her hands to the ground against the floor, her knuckles scraping against the Persian rug. “These are shackles on the ground. I’m binding your wrists with them right now.” He released her wrists and grinned. “That is all, Charlotte. Simplicity works best in some circumstances. You may struggle from side to side if you wish, and you may moan into your imaginary gag, but unless you require me to cease our activities, you will not move your hands and you shall not utter one word. If you do, I will stop immediately.”

Declan leaned back and admired her as she nodded her acquiescence. She kept her hands above her head, clasping her fingers together, and her lips remained tightly pursed together. Spreading her legs with his hands, he held her thighs in place. He then traced his hands upward toward her hips but stopped. He lifted her legs, pushing them forward with his hands until her knees bent. The fire behind them crackled and sparked, heating up the room. Charlotte warmed beneath his touch too. He bent her legs until her knees hovered over her stomach. Her sex parted for him. She squirmed, wriggling back and forth. He held her thighs tight. He leaned down, looming over her. “Stop fidgeting, Charlotte.”