I’d never allowed anyone to bind me—Alex hadn’t—and I shouldn’t. I pushed Alex away. This was Charli’s night with Nox, not hers.

My body was on high alert. Everything was magnified. The aroma of musk with a hint of the lavender filled my senses, while his breaths filled my ears.

“Do you want me to stop?”

My hips swayed with need. “No.”

His smile melted what was still whole inside of me, as his fingers moved to be sure I was ready. I was. I wanted him and was ready to let him do anything, until… he turned his attention from me to a flickering candle. I suddenly remembered the way he’d swirled the wax. My heart raced as I debated my hard limit.

“Nox?” I’d never experienced hot wax on my skin. I didn’t know if I was ready.

“Do you trust me?” Nox asked, as he lifted the candle from the table, pursed his lips, and blew out the flame.

I did. I wanted to.

“Princess?” I asked, reminding him of what he said I deserved.

“Fire doesn’t burn the dragon.”

Oh shit! Sexy and a Game of Thrones quote.

I stifled a scream and pulled violently against the satin as the first dollop landed on my breast. The hot wax hurt like hell.

“Limit?” Nox asked with that menacing gleam to his eye.

It was that shimmer that kept me mute, that shimmer that stopped me from yelling yes at the top of my lungs. It was that glint that twisted my insides to a painful pitch. I inhaled and shook my head.

“I trust you.”

I don’t know what happened during the next few minutes, or was it days? I couldn’t recall any of it, even if I were under oath. I hated the hot wax upon my tender skin, and at the same time, it was the most erotic experience of my entire life. Each time the molten liquid landed on me, Nox found another way to make it pleasurable: a suck and nip of my hard nipple, his fingers angled perfectly inside my core, or the saltiness of him deep in my throat. By the time he’d peeled the cold wax from my skin and released my wrists, I was lost to a high only he could provide.

Gently he eased his covered rod into me. “You deserve a man who will make tender love to you.”

Though my energy was spent, my core clenched around him, hugging him with a ferocity I couldn’t muster and milking him for everything he could give.

There was at least one more detonation before I conceded to my limit. It wasn’t my hard limit, but the amount of energy I could possibly expend. The last thing I remembered was Nox’s embrace as I floated away, lost in the aroma of woodsy cologne and musk.

WAKEFULNESS CAME SLOWLY as I stretched over the soft sheets and cuddled under the fluffy comforter. It wasn’t until my body protested with the ache from last night’s exploration, that I remembered I was in Nox’s suite. I hadn’t planned on staying. With my eyes still closed, I listened for anything, but only the hum of the air conditioner could be heard. Slowly, I opened my eyes. I was alone in the large bedroom. Pulling the sheet around my breasts, memories of the night before came rushing back.

I checked my wrists for bruising and found none. On the end of the bed was a robe, like the one I had in my suite, complete with the Del Mar emblem on the breast. As I reached for the robe, I saw the note beside the bed.

Good morning, princess,

I trust you slept well—since you did it through most of the night and most of the day.

I looked at the clock and smiled. It was after ten-thirty. I had slept well, but there was still a lot of day left.

Mrs. Witt has coffee for you and can get you anything you’d like to eat. I’m in the office—of the suite. Come find me. We have more exploration to do.

~Nox

I eased out of the big bed and wrapped myself in the robe. Though my body wasn’t sure it could take any more exploration, the goofy smile on my face told me that I wanted to try.

In front of the bathroom mirror, I apprehensively opened the robe. I wasn’t sure what I expected from the wax, but whatever it was, there was very little evidence. A few light pink circles on my breasts, but that was it. I checked my wrists again. They were a little tender to the touch, but no discoloration.

The large tub returned the smile to my face.

Debating between a shower and finding Nox, I cleaned myself as best as I could. The washcloth and sink sufficed as I secured the robe and set off to find Nox.

“Good morning, Miss Charli,” Mrs. Witt said as I rounded the corner to the kitchen.

My cheeks blushed knowing the thoughts she’d probably had. If I hadn’t tamed my hair before coming out of the bedroom, no doubt, she’d have thought crazy-ape sex.

Oh shit! I needed to call Chelsea.

I did my best to act nonchalantly; after all, she worked for Nox. The man was gorgeous. She was probably used to having women in robes wandering about.

“Good morning, Mrs. Witt. I’m sorry to bother you…”

“No bother,” she said with a smile as she reached for a coffee pot. “How do you like your coffee?”

“Cream, no sugar.”

Handing me the mug, she asked, “Can I get you anything to eat? Fruit? Muffin? Mr.… umm… Mr. Nox said you might be hungry.”

Damn! The blood rushed back to my cheeks. “I think maybe I should go to my suite.”

“No. I know he’s waiting for you in the office. I believe he’d be very disappointed if you left.”

I knew I didn’t have any claims on Nox. That was our agreement: one week—that’s it, but I couldn’t help but ask the question that popped into my head. “Mrs. Witt?”

“Yes, dear.”

“I suppose this isn’t unusual…”

Her smile widened. “That’s not for me to say.”

I nodded.

“But,” she went on, “Mr. Nox has spent the entire morning ensuring that his afternoon and evening are free. That,” she emphasized, “is highly unusual. Don’t you see why you shouldn’t run off? Besides, he wasn’t very happy when that happened before.”

I grinned. “That was a misunderstanding, as I’m sure you’re aware.”

“And it was understandable. His removing that ring… let’s just say, between us, that this past week has seen a string of unusual occurrences.”

“Are you sure I won’t be bothering him if I go in the office?” I still didn’t know what Nox did for a profession. What if he were talking to one of his bosses? I thought about Alton and how he didn’t like people coming uninvited into his office.

“No, dear. He asked for you to go to him, right?”

I nodded. “Well, in a note.”

“Then there’s your answer. Mr. Nox doesn’t say what he doesn’t mean.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Witt.”

She nodded. “You let me know if I can get you anything to eat.”

“I will.”

Carrying my coffee, I padded barefoot toward Nox’s office. I knew the layout of the suite from my other visits. Thankfully, the door was slightly ajar.

“I don’t care.” His gruff tone came through the crack. “The debate has been going on too long. I want this resolved—yesterday.”

I pushed the door wider, afraid there was someone with him, or he was on webcam. Instead, I found him standing at the window, wearing gym shorts and a worn Boston t-shirt, with a phone to his ear. The stern tone I’d heard in his voice showed in his face as he turned toward the creak of the opening door. And then his expression morphed: his blue eyes shimmered as his scowl curved into a smile.

I probably looked like an ogling schoolgirl, but the sight of Nox with sex-mussed hair, a day’s beard growth, and casual clothes had me smiling from ear to ear. I hadn’t thought it was possible for him to look sexier than he did in a silk suit or swim trunks, but it was. The familiar tightening inside me returned. It seemed to be a constant ailment in his presence.