“Why?” she breathed, her heart pounding.
Max’s eyes softened. “Because I’d never do anything you didn’t want. I only want to make you happy.”
She swallowed, overwhelmed by his words. Her gaze flicked to the X again, a strange longing filling her. How could she ever earn the right to dominate anyone if she’d never been on the receiving end herself?
Max’s smile widened, his forehead pressing against hers. “Does someone want to be tied up and played with?”
Her eyes shot to his, and he brushed his thumb tenderly against her cheek. “Just say the word, and I’ll make sure every second is pleasurable.”
“I… I can’t be whipped again,” Sin stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. Memories of pain flickered at the edges of her mind, the scars beneath her skin aching with phantom echoes. She swallowed hard, her throat tightening. The thought of losing control again, of trusting someone with her body like that? Max’s eyes softened, understanding rather than demanding, and something dangerously close to trust stirred in her, something that danced harmoniously alongside it.
“I’d never do that to you,” he hissed. “You’ll never be tortured again. Not for the rest of your life.” It was a promise, not of power, but of trust.
Slowly, she nodded.
He watched her closely. “Is this what you want? I need you to say it.”
Her pulse roared in her ears. Was this what she wanted, or was she giving herself up again? She closed her eyes, her mind balancing on the edge of fear. But the tenderness in Max’s gaze rooted her. His patience was new, something she had not known before. This was her decision to make—her choice, and no one else’s. When she opened her eyes again, they held a quiet determination.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Without hesitation, Max had her back against the smooth leather of the X.
His eyes never left hers as he restrained her wrists first with gentle hands, then knelt to fasten her ankles. Somehow she knew, deep inside, that if there was real danger, her tempest magic would break her free.
With her completely bound, he gripped her ass, pulling her core to his face. The tip of his tongue teased her slit before he dove in, growling against her skin with primal hunger.
Sin’s head lolled back, her throat opening to release a raw cry, the sound bouncing off the walls as pleasure cascaded through her.
“Fuck, I missed the taste of you,” Max murmured, his breath hot against her core. His tongue delved deeper, his groan vibrating through her skin. She strained against her bindings, desperate for more.
Max teased her, pulling her back just as her body neared the edge, leaving her aching for more. Every nerve screamed for release, but her heart still feared the chains of his claim. Each denial of pleasure felt like another thread tying her to him, a bond she wasn’t sure she wanted but couldn’t help craving.
Her growls of desperation filled the air, but Max only chuckled, savoring her torment.
“Are you doing okay?” he teased, his smirk evident in his voice, brushing his lips along the sensitive skin of her thigh.
She snarled, trembling with desire and anger.
Max’s low laugh rumbled against her skin. “I’ll take that as a yes,” he said with a dark grin before returning to his relentless teasing, his hands gripping her hips harder, nails digging into her flesh. Pain and pleasure blurred into one intoxicating sensation.
Just as Sin thought she would reach that long-sought release, Max stopped again, sinking his teeth into the tender skin of her inner thigh. The sharp bite sent shockwaves of pain surging through her. Before she could fully react, his fingers slid inside her, deep and unyielding. A loud moan tore from her throat, raw and feral.
“That’s it,” Max murmured, his voice thick with satisfaction. “Now you understand.” His fingers curled inside her, hitting that perfect spot with calculated precision.
Sin writhed in the restraints, desperate to move, helpless beneath his control. Sweat slicked her skin, every nerve in her body on fire as Max pushed her further, driving her wild with every rough stroke, every heated breath.
Suddenly, Max rose, looming over her. His hand shot to her jaw, gripping it firmly and pulling her face towards his. Before she could protest, his mouth was on hers—demanding, forceful, tasting of her own desire. A muffled moan escaped her, swallowed by his fervent kiss, her senses unraveling under the heat of his touch.
Then, without warning, he vanished, leaving her panting, trembling, bound to the X. The sudden emptiness made her head spin, her senses reeling from the loss of his touch.
A gasp ripped from her throat when a large hand gripped the nape of her neck from behind, yanking her head back. Fear mixed with the growing pleasure still coursing through her.
“Do you trust me?” Max’s voice was dark, low, and predatory in her ear.
“Yes,” she breathed, her voice trembling with both fear and desire.
Did she trust him not to truly hurt her? Yes. Did she trust him to protect her from the world? That was more complicated. But here, now, she was willing to give him what she could.
