Stepdad Billionaire Series

Sex Ritual

' I know you are curious, I saw the way you looked at it. I didn’t want you to be afraid, so I’m sending you this sample. Feel how soft it is, how malleable. I had it made especially for you. It’s the same color as your eyes when you reach climax. If it doesn’t appeal to you, that’s fine. I just want you to consider it, because my feeling is that this will be a gift of freedom for you and I want to give you that gift, and so much more.'

Yours, Giles.

Imogen put the box down on her desk and stared at it.

After a long moment she teased the tissue aside with a trembling finger, and looked at the skein of electric-blue rope lying in the box. Just looking at it made her go hot all over. She crossed her legs, attempting to quell the interest in her groin as she imagined him naked with the rope in his hands, standing over her as if she were a creature to be tamed.

Ironically, he said it was her spirit he wanted to unleash, the unfettered side she only showed when she abandoned herself to sex, to him. Bondage did do that to her. She thought it was just the edge that spanking added to her experience, but he’d been right. Handing over control took her further into abandonment, heightening her pleasure.

He was taking a big risk though, because he was exploring her boundaries and both of them knew she wasn’t sure how much further she wanted to go. Risks, wasn’t that what life was about? Imogen stared at the box and smiled wryly to herself.

Her job was all about risk and making judgments about policy, and yet she was so much more cautious when it came to exposing herself to this man. Why? Because I care about him. As hard as it was to admit, there was more to it. If she gave herself completely, she might get hurt.

When she’d been preparing to leave after their previous encounter, he’d cupped her face in his hands. “I’m taking a risk here.”

He smiled quickly. It’s what he’d said to her the first time he indicated he was interested in a relationship outside of the office. “Let me know if you’re ready to let me introduce you to shibari,” he continued. “I promise you won’t regret it.”

Curious thoughts had plagued her ever since, even though she tried to keep her mind off it, and now he’d sent her this, something she could touch and hold against her skin. She stared at the snake-like coil and pictured the rope stretched taut between his hands.

She trailed her fingertips along the edge of the box and allowed herself to consider what he would do with it. It was more than her wrists that he would bind, she supposed. She would be powerless, completely at his whim. As that thought occurred to her, she had to rest her back against her chair.

Every ounce of strength left her body when she considered the effect that might have on her. Giles was already her master, when she allowed it. Could she let herself to acknowledge it more than she already had?

She closed her eyes and recalled the thrill she’d experienced when he’d first approached her. The attraction between them had existed from their first introduction.

Then one day he’d spoken to her privately as he’d been leaving her office, and he’d reached for her hand and lifted it to his mouth, brushing it with his lips before releasing it. Before she’d had a chance to react or to speak, he looked into her eyes. “I’m here for you. If you want me, just let me know.”

She’d been shocked, and undeniably aroused. His hand touched her back briefly. It made her skin sizzle and the pit of her stomach fluttered eagerly. She’d longed for his hand at her back more firmly. Then he’d smiled and turned away, leaving her breathless and clinging to her door handle—awash with physical and emotional feelings that she’d thought long buried.

For a whole three days she’d resisted, debating whether it was right or wrong, while her body heated as she imagined what it might be like to be with a man like him, one who seemed so confident and knowing. She’d been single for ages, after being married young to a man who didn’t respect her choice of career.

They’d split after three years of disagreeing about what her role in his life should be. After that she’d grown a thicker hide and vowed herself to her job. It was lonely, and sometimes she’d had a fling.

Never with anyone she worked with though, and never for very long. And now Giles said he wanted to keep her in his bed, overnight. A younger man with a taste for exotic sex.

Imogen sighed deeply and stared out of her office window, trying to ignore the corridors of power that surrounded her and her obligation to all of that. She had to keep her head—she couldn’t afford to mess up playing with a colleague. What had been a friendly arrangement about sex had morphed into something else.

The kinky sex made her think he played the field and it was going to burn out in due course. Now she wasn’t sure what to think, especially because it was he who was asking the heavy questions. She turned back to her desk.

“Is it just a game?” he’d asked her.

No, it meant more, a lot more. She’d fallen for him, but she wasn’t ready to say that yet. It was too hard. Reaching into the box, she pulled out the sample. Was this the next step, would this bring her closer to freedom?

Running the slender hemp rope through her fingers, she let her imagination run with images of ritualized erotic sex, characterized by domination and submission.

Pleasure was what he gave her. Giles was the best lover she’d ever had. Only fear was stopping her from discovering what it would be like to give him that level of control during lovemaking.