Two hours later, I’ve finished my makeup and put on the pink silk dress. I’m just perfecting the black satin bow on my high brunette ponytail when my phone chimes with a message.
Bones
The car’s here for you. Are you ready?
I take a breath and will my fingers not to tremble as I type my reply.
Karolina
I’ll be right there. Two minutes.
I secure my rose gold mask in place with the pink velvet tie and take one more moment to check my appearance in the mirror.
The dress he’s selected for me exudes innocence.
I can’t help imagining it torn and smudged with dirt. My clit pulses, and the first hint of arousal dampens my white lace thong that I’ve selected just for him.
No one has touched me in years. Not since the night I ran through the woods from Carter and Brandon at our foster home…
I grimace and cut off that line of thinking.
I’ll be safe with Bones. Safe and anonymous.
No strings attached. No romantic feelings or emotional entanglement.
No painful fallout when everything inevitably blows up in my face.
I square my shoulders and walk outside, focusing on my excitement to finally engage in a real chase scene with my masked man.
A shiny black limo waits on the street in front of my building. The driver stands beside the back door, and he gives me a nod of acknowledgment when he opens it for me.
I murmur my thanks and slide into the padded leather seat.
The shadows shift inside the limo, and Bones’ demonic crimson skull mask leers at me. My breath catches.
“Don’t be afraid,” he rumbles, massive body coiled tight to keep several inches of space between us.
I had no idea howbighe is. Dark athletic clothes hug an imposing, muscular frame, cladding every inch of skin in inky black.
The limo starts moving, and my heart leaps into my throat. For a moment, raw fear grips my mind at the innate knowledge that I’m trapped with a predator.
He seems to sense my spike of terror. “Give me a safe word. If you use it at any point tonight, everything will stop, and I’ll bring you back home.”
I lick my dry lips. “We’ve never used a safe word before. It’s kind of silly when I could just talk to you like normal.”
The warning tilt of his head is all too familiar, and a little thrill races down my spine—an ingrained response to his threatening posture.
“Karolina…” He grinds out my name. “Nothing we’re about to do tonight isnormal.Give me a safe word.Noandstopdon’t count.”
“I always thought you were using a voice modulator,” I say instead of answering his slightly alarming demand. “But you’re all growly in real life too.”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“Does it hurt your throat to snarl like that all the time? Do you need a cough drop or something after we talk?”
“I want a safe word, or I’m turning this car around and taking you back home.”
I scoff, sinking into familiar teasing with him to avoid the budding fear of everything that comes along with making our relationship real. “You’llturn the car around? Sure you will, Daddy.”
