He eyed me.
“You know mine. It’s only fair,” I said, wondering why he seemed hesitant. We’d slept together, twice, and he kept talking like he was into me. Shouldn’t I be privy to his name by now?
“It’s not that. I was just trying to remember the last time anyone wanted to know both my names. Most people know me through my family or from the club. Those two worlds never cross.”
“Like Clark Kent and Superman?” I asked, trying to understand.
He cocked his head to the side, and the smirk on his lips curled my toes. “Please. I’m much more of a Batman. Antonio Fernandez.”
Of course, he was an Antonio. He was far too seductive to have any other name, and I really was the Puss to his Boots. “Tell me, Antonio, didyouhave trouble coming home?”
“I like the way you say my name. It sounds sexy.” He wiped his mouth. “But to answer your question, not really. In my job, I didn’t see much combat. Besides, even if I came home all fucked up, my family would have kicked my ass and set me straight.”
“What made you want to join the club then?”
He looked away and took a sip of his beer. “I had a good friend from boot camp—Miko—who wasn’t so lucky. Shortly after he came home, he uh… he joined the ranks of the twenty-two. You hear about the suicide statistics, but it doesn’t mean shit until you know someone who lost the battle. Then it becomes all too real. Miko was a good guy. He needed help and nobody was there for him. This club is doing something to help vets like him, so I had to join. For all the Miko’s out there struggling to find their place out of combat.”
That’s when I knew I was done for. Whatever this man wanted, I’d gladly give it to him. Probably on a silver platter and dressed in sheer lace.
After we ate, he led me upstairs and into his room. I followed like a puppy on a leash, ready to do whatever he asked of me.
“Remember those supplies I left to pick up?” Spade asked as he closed his bedroom door behind us.
A tingle of excitement shot through me. “Yes.”
“I’d like to try some things, Jess. Do you trust me?”
I did, but I was only human. “What kind of things?”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me over to his nightstand. There, he retrieved handcuffs, a blindfold, and a flogger.
Intrigued, but cautious, I stared at the implements. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“Me either,” he admitted. “But you like it rough, and I’m not gonna lie… I get off on giving you what you like. You have no idea how amazing my handprints look on your ass. I never even knew I was into that, but with you… Do you want to try it?”
Strangely enough, I did. Even looking at the flogger was making me so wet I had to resist the urge to cross my legs. Still, we needed to think about safety first. “Can I have a safe word?”
He looked almost offended. “Any time you want me to stop, all you have to do is say so. I’ll never do anything you don’t want me to do. But if a safe word makes you feel better, yes. Absolutely.”
“Rationality,” I blurted out.
He arched an eyebrow. “Rationality is your safe word?”
“Yes. It’s from my favorite movie line. ‘It's mercy, compassion and forgiveness I lack. Not rationality.’ Uma Thurman said it inKill Bill.”
“YoulikeKill Bill?” he asked. “It’s not too violent for you?”
Feeling a little offended, I answered, “No. IloveKill Bill. How could I not? It’s a kick in the nuts of chauvinism. The women fighting in that movie are so badass. There’s no embarrassing catfighting going on; they straight throw down. It’s empowering. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to walk into my boss’ office with a Samurai sword and be like, “Silly rabbit, tricks are for kids”.”
Now both of his eyebrows shot up. “I should probably find that worrisome, but everything you say and do is hot as fuck. You’re full of surprises, Jess. I love that about you. Rationality it is. Strip.”
“You want me completely naked?” The idea was a little intimidating. It was early evening and light streamed in through his bedroom window. Yes, he’d seen me fully naked in my apartment, but that was different. We were in the heat of the moment. This was a little more nerve-wracking.
“Did I stutter?” he asked, his eyes darkening as he closed the distance between us. His cocky tone should have been a turn off, but it sent even more heat to my core. “I don’t want you hiding anything from me. I want you stripped bare and defenseless, stretched across my bed for my raw enjoyment. Now, strip.”
Feeling self-conscious but completely turned on, I tugged off my clothes as Spade watched, his gaze openly taking in every inch of my body. When I finished, he snatched up two of the soft leather handcuffs and said, “Give me your wrists.”
Still surprised at how much I liked this bossy, demanding side of him, I held out my hands. He put the cuffs on me, and then led me to the bed. Lying me on my back, he stretched out my arms and attached the other ends of the cuffs to his metal headboard. Then he did the same things to my ankles, attaching them to the footboard.
