“YoutoldHeathcliff…”
“Of course,” Morrie grabbed my neck, forcing my chin upward as he deepened this kiss. “Quoth, too. I couldn’t very well have either of them flying up here every time you screamed.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask what Heathcliff had said about me and Morrie andthis, but then Morrie’s lips left mine. I leaned forward, searching, bereft of his touch. He chuckled as he darted away, shuffling behind me. His skin slid against mine – the featherlight touch doing all sorts of exciting things inside me.
Morrie’s fingers danced over my shoulder, sliding underneath the fabric, pushing my blouse down. His lips grazed my neck. His teeth…oh, oh.
I moaned as Morrie kissed and caressed my neck, my ears, my collarbone. In the darkness, every touch lit up my body, every inch of skin tingling with the anticipation of his next move. I didn’t even notice that he’d unbuttoned my blouse and tossed it away. His fingers slid under my bra strap, unhooking it with ease.
Morrie wrapped his arms around me and helped me up onto the bed. “Arms above your head,” he whispered, his authoritative voice strained with desire.
I raised my hands obediently. How easily I’d slipped into the role, trusting him with my body. It was just like in King’s Copse with Heathcliff. I’d had to trust him, too. But really, it was about trusting myself – that if I fell into the darkness and these guys didn’t catch me, I’d be able to catch myself. I’d never really believed that until I came home to Nevermore Bookshop.
Morrie slid my wrists into the cuffs and locked them. I gave them a tug. I was held fast. Morrie’s fingers grazed my ankles as he placed my feet shoulder-width apart on the end of the bed.
“Normally, I’d use a spreader bar on your ankles to keep you like this,” he said, kissing a trail up my leg until I moaned. “But I want to keep things simple for your first time.”
Spreader bar?My mind whirled.How does Morrie even know about this stuff? There weren’t any spreader bars inThe Final Problem.
Air whistled over my naked skin. Morrie withdrew his hands. I stood naked, waiting for him to touch me. The room came alive with sound. Morrie’s breathing, slow and heavy. The rustle of clothing or fabric or… the clink of a glass… Faint voices from the movie floating upstairs…but where’s Morrie? Why won’t he touch me…
I jumped as fierce cold traveled down between my breasts, the edges bright with wet heat.An ice cube,I realized. Morrie had an ice cube in his mouth.
Oh.
He trailed the ice in a circle on my belly, and my skin danced from the shock of it, chased by the heat of his lips and tongue. I tried to keep my body still, focusing on the sensations as Morrie drew intricate circles on my skin.
I whimpered as Morrie withdrew the ice. He responded by pressing the cube to my nipple. I gasped as cold, stabbing pain shot through my body. Morrie thrust a finger inside me as he held the ice cube still, and I writhed and gulped and cried out because it hurt but it was so good andwhy why why.
If this was what he’d meant by embracing the darkness, then maybe I could get used to it.
“Careful, gorgeous. Your cries have attracted a little birdie.”
“Quoth?” I whispered.
“I didn’t mean—” his husky voice croaked from the doorway. “I only heard the scream and I—”
“I told you what I was doing in here. Aren’t you supposed to be running surveillance on our murder suspect?”
“I was just heading out. I thought you were hurting Mina.” Quoth’s voice tightened.
“Does she look like she’s hurting?” Morrie sounded amused.
“No.” Quoth whispered. So much emotion poured through that one word, my heart opened for him. I’d have put my arms around him if they weren’t currently tied above my head.
Why am I not totally mortified right now? Why do I care more about Quoth’s feelings than the fact he’s seeing me naked and strung-up above Morrie’s bed?
Why does the thought of Quoth seeing me naked and strung-up make my toes curl and my stomach flip like this?
“Why don’t you come over here and help me, little birdie?” Morrie said. “That is, if it’s okay by Mina.”
“It’s okay,” I said.
What? What did I just say?
My heart pounded as the bed creaked, and another presence stood behind me. “Are you sure about this, Mina?” Quoth’s breath tickled my neck.
“I’m sure.”
