There was something incredible about the way she straddled me, dragging her hair back and forth. “Yes, I am a horrible man. I told you that at least five times.”

  She pressed her knees into me with so much force I was shocked. The girl had muscles. “Tell me again.”

  “Yep. A carnal predator with an intense appetite. I could easily devour you in one sitting.”

  “Oh, you could, huh?” She lowered her head by a couple of inches.

  “Oh, yeah.”

  The slight awkwardness between us was quickly replaced with even more powerful vibrations of hunger. “Then do it. I need you inside of me.”

  I pressed my fingers on the side of her face, uncertain it was the right thing to do. There was little I enjoyed more than dominating a woman, but I sensed a part of her was more fragile, the armor she’d worn for years coming undone in the second abduction attempt. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

  “Because you don’t want me?” Jasmine pushed up from my chest. I didn’t need moonlight to feel her angry gaze. Her chest rose and fell from her labored breathing. Not from exertion but from more than a hint of anger.

  “Want? Are you kidding me? I’ve been crazy with desire since the day I saw you in my casino. The need has only gotten stronger.”

  Her breathing remained rattled but within seconds, she was the one who took control of the rush of passion. The way she kissed was as if her life depended on the connection we made together, the air we breathed. Every sound she made was more animalistic than human, and the way she was rocking her barely covered pussy was enough to drive a monk crazy.

  Our combined scent was off the charts, the endorphins combined with my testosterone more than just combustible. I pitched her over in the sand, the sudden move breaking our connection.

  Her laugh sparkled again with happiness and while I planted my hands on either side of her, taking back full control of her mouth, I had a feeling it would be short lived.

  I swept my tongue inside, enjoying the hint of wine from her drink. I was so hard my balls were aching, in such need I couldn’t think straight. The kiss became manic, more so than before but we pitched and rolled several times. When she ripped at my clothes, my mind snapped. I adored the beach, having wild sex in a body of water amazing, but I refused to drive my cock into her with no blanket.

  I had to draw the line somewhere.

  The moment I backed away, able to jerk to my feet in one move, I had a feeling she was about ready to explode with her usual anger. Not that it bothered me but she’d awakened the beast and it was time for his dinner.

  Before she had a chance to launch into me, I yanked her off the sand, tossing her over my shoulder with ease. I knew the unexpected move would shock her. Surprisingly, I was allowed to take several longs strides toward the villa before she reacted.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Her demand was adorable.

  “Owning you. It’s that plain and simple.”

  “You can’t own a person.”

  “Wanna make a bet?” I headed up the stairs two at a time.

  She smacked her fists against my back, wiggling in my hold. Did she seriously think she was going to be able to get away from me? Maybe the bump on her head was more severe than I’d thought.

  “You know, I’ll get you for this.”

  “You’ll probably try.” I took long strides into the bedroom I’d selected, wondering why I’d bothered to separate us in the first place. The same light was one housekeeping had switched on, which was barely adding more than a warm glow to the space.

  When I placed her on the bed gently, she suddenly peered up at me like I was her savior. Her eyes were entirely too enigmatic, but my cock was throbbing. Playtime was over.

  Sayeth her master.

  The thought was as riveting as the woman. I sensed she wanted me to dominate her in every way yet remained cautious. As I’d done down on the sand, I planted my hands on either side of her, giving her more of a stern look. “You’re going to stay right here for a few seconds. I’ll be right back. You will do that. Correct?”

  “Why, yes, sir.”

  I cocked my head, kissing her nose before slowly backing away. I wanted her to experience sinful delights, hopefully taking her mind completely off the wretched day.

  Yet my feisty woman was back in full force. I should have known better not to turn my back on her. I was barely four feet away and in almost near silence, she launched herself at my back, wrapping her arms around my neck in a stranglehold, her legs around my waist.

  The force almost knocked us over, but I managed to maintain a standing position, even spinning her around as she attempted to strangle me.

  I knew she was overcompensating, avoiding the questions and the experience. Why not go with it? Reality would settle in soon enough.

  After spinning her around again, hoping to at least slightly disorient her, I tossed her onto the bed as I’d done before. Only I knew better than to offer a single additional chance of getting away. I held her down, grinning like some crazy loon while I fought not so elegantly to remove my belt.

  At least it could be used as a temporary set of shackles while I retrieved rope or a more suitable method of keeping her bound to the bed.

  She was sputtering, jerking her body from right to left as I fought with her to get one arm then the other over her head.

  “You are more than mean. You’re a true bastard,” she groaned, the sound completely too adorable. It was enough that I almost doubled over in pain.

  “Yep. A card carrying one too.”

  “What is this?”

  “Providing you with sheer pleasure.” She was definitely a wily little thing, almost managing to break free of my hold. But she also didn’t know what I was made of, especially when I was challenged by someone.

  I finally managed to wrap loops around her wrists then the bedpost, but I wasn’t stupid. The light tether would hold for maybe five minutes. Maybe.

  “Pleasure? You?” She licked her lips on purpose and the bad boy inside of me grabbed a handful of her pretty little tank top nightshirt, easily ripping it off her. Her mouth dropped open, almost matching the shock in her eyes. “That was my only nightshirt.”

  She was now gritting her teeth, hissing at me while her eyes sparkled with hunger. “I tell you what,” I said and slipped my fingers under the elastic of her very short shorts. “I won’t tear the bottoms and promise to purchase any piece of lingerie you desire.”

  After I removed them, she hissed again.

  “What am I saying? I’ve decided you aren’t wearing anything but a collar and leash while you’re here.” No, I wasn’t planning on requiring that just yet, but it was worth issuing the statement to see an entirely different look of horror cross her face.

  “No! You can’t do that.”

  After tossing the shorts aside, I wasted no time tweaking one of her already fully aroused nipples. If she truly knew what I wanted to do to her, she would likely have me arrested. Hmmm… Now that might be fun. “I can do anything I want since I own the island and just took possession of you.”

  It was adorable to see her so befuddled, warming my heart, which so many had been assured could never happen.

  “No. I mean…” Now she wrinkled her nose. Another adorable trait.

  When I twisted her other hardened bud, she arched her back, straining against the thick leather. “I think learning a little respect is in order. I did save your life not once but twice. And I purchased you free and clear.”

  “You purchased me? I don’t think so. Saved my life? Ha. I could have gotten away.”

  Now I pinched both on purpose until she cried out, her lower lip trembling. But she was arching her back again, still fighting her bindings in an effort to get to me. It wasn’t going to happen, not until I was ready. “Yes, my darling koala. I own you outright. Therefore, you will call me sir.”

  It wasn’t an unreasonable request but at this point, I was still teasing her. But her furrowing brow and the way she was twisting her luscious lips kept that hungry beast right at the surface underneath my skin.

  “Fine, sweet sir,” she teased in her usual way.

  “Better.” As I pulled away, it was impossible not to admire her sweet pussy, the way her plump lips glistened from how wet she’d become. I took a few seconds to brush my fingers down from her neck, holding my breath for fear of doing nothing more than taking her like some crazed man.

  My gut told me she needed more, someone who paid attention to her needs even more than I’d done before. “I’ll be right back.”

  For a brief second, the look of fear on her face was stifling but at least her usual defiance had returned. Why was it that I felt even more protective?

  And why did I have the distinct feeling the worst things she’d been through in her life had been done by her own family?

  That angered me more than I’d been my entire life.

  And I would find out.

  CHAPTER 23

  Braxton

  Rope.

  I was still rusty in my rope skills, but I had a feeling cold, hard steel wasn’t something she could tolerate tonight.

  As I brought the two thick coils of rope and a blindfold, the look in Jasmine’s eyes was unreadable. I thought for certain she was going to insist I stop whatever I was doing but she chewed on her lower lip instead.

  It surprised me when she didn’t move at all after I’d unfastened the belt, taking my time to replace it by tying her wrists separately. But I felt her heated gaze the entire time, her eyes questioning yet telling me in no uncertain terms she was going to trust me.

  Maybe we both needed this for some crazy reasons.

  The closeness.

  The letting go.

  The surrender to both our passions.

  When I was finished, I held up the blindfold, allowing her to see there was nothing odd about it.

  “What’s that for?” she asked in another tiny voice.

  “Heightening your senses.”

  “Not possible.”

  “You need to trust me, little koala. Can you do that?”

  At first, I wasn’t entirely certain she was going to answer me, but she nodded first then breathed the single word. “Yes.”

  “Good girl. You are far too beautiful and I plan on showing you just how much so.” I’d seen the feather in the drawer and a rush of excitement had hit me. It would be perfect implement to counter any effects of pain.

  She arched her back again but this time from both a hint of fear as well as excitement. The combination made her face flush and goosebumps pop along her arms and neck. I gently lifted her head, sliding the blindfold in place.

  The way she sucked in her breath, stretching the bindings once again drove the hunger to a new height. I could do nothing but enjoy exploring her body for a couple of hours. She twisted back and forth, stiffening only when I pressed my lips against hers. I sensed her desire was as powerful as mine, but I was determined to maintain some level of control.

  After backing away, I remained silent and could tell she was trying to see underneath the blindfold. The luscious woman seemed to know where I was instinctively, every muscle in her body tense. So much of the bad man inside of me longed to tease her for an extended period of time but the last thing she could handle was me disappearing.

  It was something else I knew instinctively.

  I pulled the feather and the smaller tawse from the drawer, bringing both to the nightstand. I did intend on leaving her long enough to grab my last two tools. I moved quickly into the kitchen, grabbing a bowl from the cabinet, filling it with ice cubes.

  The last item I wanted took me some time to find. The thick pillar candle was perfect, an item so many people didn’t have any longer, preferring the battery-operated ones. While I understood their draw, there was no substitute for real, melted wax.

  I found a lighter and returned to the room. All I could do was laugh given the way the beautiful little vixen had managed to turn almost completely over onto her stomach in her attempt to free herself. A part of me wanted to loosen the rope, indulging in experiencing exactly what she could do.

  The opportunity presented was too juicy to pass up. I cracked my hand on her bottom a few times.

  “Ouch. What was that for?”

  “For worrying me. For escaping. For almost getting yourself killed.”

  “Oh, that.”

  I smacked her bottom again and the way she parted her legs, exposing her pretty, pink, and still glistening pussy lips was about to drive me crazy. I’d spank her tender tissue as well, the thought keeping a salacious grin on my face.

  When I finally flipped her over, she moaned. The fact she was trying to kick out nearly pushed my last buttons of self-control.

  “Remain a good girl and stay in position.”

  “Or?”

  I bent over, blowing across her face and all the way down her chest. As soon as the hot air rushed across her pussy, she bucked up from the bed again. “Or you’ll face another series of harsh consequences.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  Before she could add the word ‘dare’ I pressed my index finger across her lips. “I think you know I would and will. Just breathe and relax. Imagine you’re on a tropical island where every fantasy can come true.”

  “Last time I checked, I was on a tropical island. Unless you created a mirage.”

  “You’ll need to be a good girl to find out.” I lit the candle and the noise of the lighter drew her attention.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Growing your anticipation even more.”

  “Not possible.”

  I selected the feather first, twirling the fluffy pink design in the air before trailing it down one side of her neck then the other. Even as her body tensed, I continued slowly sliding the feathered edges from one shoulder blade, taking my sweet time to brush it to the other. “There are highly respected studies that provide proof when one sensory level is compromised, the others are heightened. Such as sight. As you’ve suggested before, most people believe the art of BDSM is all about anguish and nothing else. Quite the contrary. It’s about exploring the depths of new sensations.”

  She was listening intently, tilting her head to follow my voice as I moved from one side of the bed to the other on purpose. I didn’t need to see her entire face to gather how much something so simple and harmless affected her. There was something so enticing about seeing the subtle actions as her body accepted the pleasure, reveling in the softness.

  I was almost completely mesmerized, enjoying every moment even as my cock pushed to a painful point against my trousers. I finally crawled onto the bed, taking my time opening her legs. As I brought the feather to her pussy, she bucked and moaned.

  “Tell me what you feel?” I whispered in a husky voice but the tone was commanding.

  “Heaven.”

  The one word fueled me even more. After drifting the feather down one leg, I carefully got off the bed, surprised the wax was already softened enough. Still careful in my moves, I eased back onto the bed, using my fingers as I’d done with the feather, very gently brushing them between her breasts.

  But the desire to watch the effects of the hot wax was strong. I’d learned the art years before, using wax as a test to gain trust.

  Very little was different, my longing for her to experience the highest levels of pleasure unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I was very careful in where and how much wax I dripped, my breathing as labored as hers but for an entirely different reason.

  “Oh, God. What is that?” she asked, her voice shaking.

  “You tell me. Relax. Breathe. Experience.”

  I had a sense she wanted to lash out but held back as I encircled her nipples with dots of wax. Using just the tip of my pinky I smoothed the wax, enjoying my own sensations from exciting her nipples even more than before.

  “Wax,” she muttered.

  “Very good.” I dripped a few drops down the length of her stomach, encircling her belly button. The way she was wiggling, lifting her head and stretching her bindings as she dug her heels into the comforter increased my desire almost as much as the way her mouth was twisting.

  I was losing patience, my needs becoming far too great.

  However, I was determined to continue to the end, even if it meant my balls would be aching. Next was the tawse, an implement she’d experienced before but this time would be different.

  “What did you think about our first night together?” I asked, doing what I did with the feather by twirling the three tailed ends slowly down the length of her body. She didn’t jump, didn’t whimper, every sound turning into a heated sound of passion.

  “It was… amazing.”

  At least the truth seemed easy for her to admit. As I followed the sensual trail with my eyes, I relished how her toes were curled. Even her breathing had changed, becoming deeper as the experience drove her senses to a completely different level. Without hesitation, I cracked the tawse down but controlled the force so that the pain would be minimal.

  “Oh. God. Oh.” Her cry was scattered, her fingers flexing and fisting.

  “Heightened pain is much like pleasure. Tell me what you feel.”

  Jasmine dragged the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip. “Alive.”

  The answer was exactly what I was hoping for. I brought the tawse down against one upper thigh, swirling the leather straps after doing so.

  Now, as she bucked, I sensed she was trying to get closer. Trying to convince me to continue the round of punishment. Only this had nothing to do with discipline, merely an awakening. The fact both her body and mind were so receptive left me tingling and anxious.

  I brought the implement down a few more times before pulling back entirely. “Lift and spread your legs wide open.”

  This time, there was a moment of hesitation, the beautiful woman twisting her wrists. When I pinched her nipple roughly, her moan was much louder than before.