He’d noticed.

“I’m going to bind your wrists in front of you,” he said, holding up his tie. “And I’m going to blindfold you, so you can’t see the dessert.”

Her eyes widened.

“It’s only fair. You’ll get them all correct, most likely, if you can see them.”

“Is that all?”

Her clit pinched tight when he slowly shook his head. He reached for the vibrator. “I’m going to put this in you,” he said, his voice a low, sultry threat.

Her eyebrows arched higher.

“There are four desserts in here. If you guess the fruit correctly, you get another bite.” The devilish gleam that entered his eyes made her heartbeat start to race. She’d never seen him look so playful . . . or so sexy. She couldn’t help but grin.

“And if I get it wrong?”

“You don’t get another bite,” he said, shrugging. “You’ll have to take a consequence, and we’ll continue.”

“A consequence,” she repeated dryly.

“You could take a spanking. Five swats for each time you’re wrong.”

“A spanking? Using your hand, you mean?” she asked, straining to keep her voice even.

He nodded. “My hand against your bare ass.”

She swallowed thickly. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears and pulsed erotically in her sex. How hard could it be, really? How many types of fruit were there? Surely she wouldn’t miss, and if she did . . . well, five swats wouldn’t be that bad . . .

. . . and they might be very good.

“Well? Do you want to play?” he asked quietly, the glint of a challenge in his eyes.

“Yes,” she replied honestly. “Just tell me one thing first.”

He nodded.

“Have you played this game before?”

He blinked and she knew she’d taken him by surprise with her question. His grin slowly faded. She held her breath. He shook his head slowly.

“It’s not a game. Not really. It’s just playing, something to ease your anxiety. I’m making it up as I go along, because I don’t usually play in the bedroom. Not until you, and only for you. Do you understand?” She nodded, though stunned by his admission. “Then come here,” he said, holding out his hand.

He spread his thighs and she walked between them.

Vanni held up the vibrator that had buzzed her with such wicked precision this afternoon.

“I’m going to put this in, but first I’m going to touch you, just to see if you need some lubrication on the vibrator before I insert it.”

She stared at him, shocked a little, but also strangely aroused by his matter-of-fact language. Holding her stare, he slipped his finger beneath the top band of her panties. Heat flooded her sex and her face. Oh God, how embarrassing.

“Spread your thighs,” he urged as his long finger slid deeper. She did what he instructed, holding her breath. It escaped on a little gasp when his fingertip touched her entrance, then penetrated her just a half an inch or so. He grunted softly, and her cheeks turned from hot to scalding.

“Why are you blushing?” he murmured, studying her face as he slowly pushed a finger into her another half an inch. “It’s a wonderful thing, to find you so warm and slick.”

Her lips fell open as he gently sawed the top of his finger in and out of her for a moment. She still was embarrassed at being found wet even without any prior prolonged stimulation. He had kissed her several times this evening, but never for longer than a fraction of a minute or so. It’d been the experience of just being with him all night that had so well prepared her for this moment.

He withdrew his hand, and her underwear slipped back into place. Despite her embarrassment, she missed his touch. He picked up the vibrator from the bed. “Now this,” he said simply before he pushed down the elastic band of her underwear again. Holding one end of the U-shaped, slender vibrator, he pushed it between her thighs. Again, he watched her face as he inserted the tip into her channel, penetrating her several inches until the bottom of the U was pressed flush against her sex, the other tip lodged next to her clit. The vibrator remained in place.

“Okay?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said, feeling sweat pop out against her upper lip.

“Good.” He picked up his discarded tie. “Put your hands in front of you. I’m going to bind them.”

She followed his instructions, her heart chugging away in her chest. He looped the silk tie around her wrists and bound her with quick, expert precision. How many times had he bound a woman before? Was she crazy for allowing this? Her anxious thoughts evaporated when he picked up the black scarf.

“Just lower your head a little, and I’ll blindfold you,” he said gently.

Even though he sat, and she stood, he was so tall that their heights weren’t that disparate. The last vision she had before he placed the silk scarf over her eyes, blinding her, was of his hot, gleaming eyes. Even though she could no longer see them a moment later as she straightened, the vision of them was burned into her mind’s eye.

“I’m going to switch on the vibrator now.”

She tensed and inhaled sharply as the instrument began to buzz, doing its job, stimulating both her clit and vagina. Her skin roughened at the illicit, mechanical caresses. Her nipples tightened.

“You’re exceptionally sensitive.” His quiet, resonant voice rushed over her in the darkness. Her ears tuned in to the sound, made hyperalert by her blind state. “I’m going to turn it down a little.”

Had he noticed the effect the vibrator had on her? He didn’t miss much of anything, she realized, feeling even more naked and vulnerable than she had before.

And even more aroused.

She heaved a sigh of mixed relief and deprivation when the vibrations diminished to a pleasant, tickling hum.

“Now for the fun part,” he said, and she heard the bag rustling as he removed the package of mixed desserts. She turned her head, breathless to hear any clue of what was occurring. She heard a scraping sound—the carton being opened?—and then the crinkling of plastic. Perhaps he was removing some disposable utensils?

“Okay. Challenge number one,” she heard him say. “Open your mouth.”

The tingle in her clit segued to a simmer. She opened her lips, exposing her tongue. Ready. Waiting.

Breathless.

A fork slid across her tongue. She instinctively closed on the morsel of food he’d inserted. He withdrew the fork slowly as her tongue began to absorb the sweet decadence. Her mouth closed, exploring a soft, creamy texture and a thin shell of crispiness.

“Hmmm,” she hummed appreciatively. She smiled. This one was easy.

“Well?” he said, sounding warm and amused.

She took her time before she swallowed. “Banana . . . and chocolate and the richest, yummiest cream I’ve ever eaten in my life.”

Actually, it’d been the most delicious bite of any food she’d had in her life, period. Maybe it was the exquisitely prepared dessert, or maybe it was how primed Vanni had made her senses with his game, but that was the simple truth.

“Very good. But just so you know, I gave you the easiest one first.”

“But I got it right. I get another bite.” He didn’t immediately respond. She felt her nipples prickle in the silence that followed and wondered wildly if he stared at her.

“Yes. You do,” he said after a pause. “Open your mouth.”

Knowing what it was that was coming didn’t diminish her pleasure. She closed her mouth, and again, he slowly withdrew the fork. He must have noticed her relish the mouthwatering dessert, because she heard his low laughter. It only piqued her sensual feast.

“It’s a banana crème brûlée with chocolate. Okay, you won that one. Are you ready for the next?”

She swallowed and nodded, anticipation and excitement building in her.

“Open your mouth,” he murmured.

She parted her lips, her mouth watering, and waited. Her body tensed in excitement at the first touch of the fork against her flesh. She closed around a remarkably dense and rich cake. A divine, sweet flavor filled her mouth. She chewed carefully, absorbing the flavors with every ounce of attention she possessed. This one was harder. The fruit taste was there, but as more of an accent. The buttery, creamy taste of the cake was at the forefront.