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I saw a lump move down her throat as if she were attempting to swallow her nerves. Her eyes were indecisive, and I had a fleeting thought she might bolt on me. On impulse, I pulled her close. Folding my arms around her, I held her flush against my body and pressed my lips down to mold against hers.

When I pulled away, I knew my eyes were pleading.

Don’t run—not after I worked so hard to get you here.

And at that moment, whether it was because of my kiss or the beseeching gaze I cast upon her, I saw her indecision change into something else. She suddenly looked determined.

“I can’t make you any promises, Alex. But I’ll try.”

“That’s all I’m asking for, angel.”

Krystina

I was overwhelmed with anxiety at the mere thought of seeing Alexander’s bedroom. I didn’t know what to expect behind the closed door.

A dungeon, perhaps? Maybe a cell full of manacles and chains?

But when he opened his bedroom door, it looked nothing like a dominator’s pleasure lair. The room was actually very normal looking, with modern decorations placed tastefully about the room. Strategically positioned recessed lighting subtly illuminated the space, giving it a warm glow, despite the fact the walls were painted a dark stone gray. I began to breathe a little easier.

Like the rest of the penthouse, all of the furniture was sleek and contemporary in style. However, my gaze was drawn to the bed as it stood out from the rest of the room. It was a showcase piece and nothing like anything I had ever seen before. It was covered in a black satin bedspread and was similar to a four-poster bed, except it wasn’t made of wood. Instead, the framework was black metal, molded into an intricate tubular design. Sheer black curtains hung down from metal rings, giving the bed a slightly sinister look yet maintaining an alluring appeal. A mirror took the place of a headboard. The entire effect reminded me of a plush concert stage set without the flashing lights.

Alexander watched me carefully, assessing my every reaction. I could almost see him trying to cut through the layers to get inside my head.

“What is it, Krystina?”

“Well…your room, the bed—it’s very modern.”

“Do you know what this bed is?”

“No. Should I? I mean, the mirror is a little kinky, but I suppose one would get used to it after a while.”

“This is a bondage bed. Here, let me show you.”

He walked to the bed and reached to the right of the top rail. He unhooked a latch of some sort and lowered a bar down to the opposite corner. Then, moving to the left side, he repeated the same thing until the bars formed a large X at the foot of the bed.

“This is a saltire cross, also known as a St. Andrew’s Cross. It’s probably one of the most common pieces of bondage equipment.”

I swallowed nervously. When he had moved the bars to form the cross, small metal loops were revealed. I didn’t see them when the bar was fastened upright, as the intricate scrolls of the bed’s framework had camouflaged them. They ran the entire length of both cross-sections. My imagination ran rampant.

“What are the little loops for?”

Instead of answering, he guided me to the newly formed cross. Moving behind me, he gently pulled my arms up over my head, resting my wrists against the top portion of the X. His hands slid slowly down my arms to my waist, causing a tremor to run through me. He leaned in closer, and I could feel his breath hot on my neck.

“One day, I’ll have you tied to my cross, Krystina,” he whispered in my ear. “And the metal loops are what I will use to secure your cuffs.”

My breath caught in my throat, and my heart started beating double-time as I waited to see if he would do as he suggested. But instead, he stepped away from me and moved to the far-right corner of the room. I lowered my arms and backed away from the cross, thankful and disappointed all at the same time. While the thought of being bound to a cross had surprisingly aroused me, I wasn’t sure if I was quite ready for that.

Alexander stood near a settee, his expression inscrutable.

“Are there more metal loops hidden in that chair?” I half-joked.

“This is a variation of a spanking horse that is also custom made to blend in with the bedroom furnishings.” He slid the settee away from the wall and turned it until I had a view of the backside. The rear of the chaise revealed an angled plank with a narrow-padded bench along the bottom. It reminded me somewhat of a church pew. “Once you become more comfortable with submission, I will have you kneel on the bench and lean forward over the back. I can choose to either leave your arms free or restrain them.”

He pointed down toward the legs of the chair.

More clandestine loops.

He didn’t wait for my response but moved to a door in the room’s opposite corner. I thought it might have been a closet or a master bathroom, but then he pulled a key from his pants pocket.