“What’s wrong?” She stared at him in the dark, trying to understand.

“Nothing.” He caressed her face. “I’m doing my best to give you what you want.”

Yeah, he’d said that, but something didn’t feel right. “Tell me what you want.”

He sent her a regretful smile. “Everything you don’t. So let’s not dwell on what isn’t meant to be. Let me give to you tonight.”

Hunter was trying to be something he wasn’t—for her. Hunter was letting her go—for her. Suddenly, she knew what she wanted.

“Be yourself with me,” she blurted into the silence.

He sighed. “Kata . . .”

“I know I’ve been afraid before.” Of him seeing too deeply inside her, of falling for this man who enthralled her so much. No matter how she’d tried to stop him, he’d worked into her soul and stolen her heart. She couldn’t protect what he’d already taken. “Tonight is our last time together. I want to be with you completely.”

This once, that would be her gift to him—for both of them.

His grip at her neck tightened. “Are you sure?”

Yes and no. Hunter was going to strip away her every defense and artifice, but for once in her life, she didn’t want to be too afraid to give her trust, her love. Tomorrow, she could return to her sarcastic, defensive, barbed-wire self. Tonight, she wanted to connect to Hunter in a way she never had . . . and never would with any other man again.

She smiled. “Yes, Sir.”

He hesitated, then pulled her to her feet. “All right, honey. Come with me.”

Kata squeezed his hand as he led her out of the cozy bedroom, then across the hall. In front of another door, he stopped. She waited as he pulled a black, silky cloth from his back pocket. He held it up in front of her, as if waiting for her to object. She flattened her lips together and kept the hovering question to herself.

“Very good,” he praised her restraint. “Thank you. I’m proud of you.”

Then he turned her away. Kata fully expected him to tie her wrists together. Instead, he lifted the cloth over her eyes and tied it around the back of her head.

“Can you see, Kata? Be honest.”

“Nothing.” That was the frightening truth.

She heard a soft click, then a long creak. A rush of cooler air greeted her as Hunter urged her forward, guiding her with an arm around her waist and his hand on her hip. Then she heard the door close behind her.

Kata swallowed nervously. What didn’t Hunter want her to see? Her mind flashed back to Logan’s living room. She shivered. Hunter had admitted that he was no stranger to all that equipment, and he’d known it freaked her out. Was that why he blindfolded her now?

“Your safe word tonight is “red.” Are you clear?”

“Red. Yes.” Kata knew without asking that if anything Hunter did frightened or hurt her that she could say one word and stop everything, no hesitation.

She frowned. When had she come to trust him so unequivocally? The man had seduced her, married her when she was too drunk to know better, dominated, spanked, and punished her. He’d also given her more pleasure and devotion than she’d ever had in her life, and he’d never gone back on his word. He wouldn’t hurt her now.

He also wouldn’t be in her life after tonight.

The reality of that swamped her again. Panic flared, along with a need to feel him close. What was the matter with her? Was it the vulnerability that being blindfolded gave her? Or those useless feelings for Hunter creeping in?

Afraid to answer the question, she turned to where she sensed he stood and wrapped her arms around him.

“Whoa.” He steadied her, brought her closer. “You all right, Kata?”

“A little afraid.” She wanted to say more but forced herself to keep silent, trust him. Please him.

“You’ll be fine. Tonight, you didn’t choose what you’ve been telling yourself you want. And I’m glad.” She could hear the sincerity in his voice. “Let me give you what you need. Surrender to me.”

Kata reached out to touch him. “Yes, Sir.” Then Hunter set his mouth over hers again with hungry demand, and she was lost.

She might regret it later, but she opened to him completely. If this was their last night, she wanted that connection deeper than ever, wanted to know that she’d been with him without artifice, barriers, or fear.

Kata knew that might hurt tomorrow, but he would do whatever necessary to give her absolute pleasure. She put herself in his hands and let go.

“Strip, Kata. Shoes first, then shirt, pants, bra—in that order. Fold the garments, putting them on the table beside you as you go. Once you’re finished, hand them to me.”

Her stomach lurched, as if she’d jumped off a cliff. A week ago, she would have hated his tone, even as it melted her. Now, she focused on the sound of his voice, on giving herself over, pleasing him, experiencing all they could be. Tonight only.

“Yes, Sir.” She slipped off her shoes and groped for the table, finding it directly beside her. She followed by unfastening her shirt, one reckless loosening of each button after another until she peeled it off her shoulders. Folding it as best as she could, Kata set it aside. Then she took a deep breath. Now for the most frightening command. But she tore at the fastening on her low-rise jeans and pushed them down. Per Hunter’s earlier instructions, she’d worn no panties.

Kata shoved the denim down, folded it up, then set the pants on top of the rest. With a deep breath, she shoved them in his direction. Hunter was right there, taking the clothes from her hands, settling a soft kiss on her mouth.

Naked, she stood before him, heart pounding, blood racing. Proud, scared—ready.

Hunter took her by the hand, led her across the room, then guided her to stand before him, easing her back against something padded. Everything inside her stuttered, and she wanted to ask what he planned. But she didn’t. “Spread your legs.”

Drawing in a bracing breath, she complied. Something cool and leathery-soft slid around one ankle. It fastened with a quiet click. He repeated the motion with the other leg. Caressing his way up her thigh, her belly, her breast, Hunter reached for her wrist and dragged one over her head. Soon, she felt the supple straps and the cool metal of a buckle. Finally, he reached for her other hand, linked her fingers in his, then raised her arm.

Kata seized up. God, by binding her so completely, how powerless would he make her? And yet, with his groan of approval in her ear and his body pressing against hers, urgent and hard, she felt the power she had over him.

The buckle fitted around her wrist, then he trailed his fingertip down the inside of her arm, over her breast, stealing across her nipple until he pinched with just enough pressure to be just shy of pain.

Hunter leaned in and feathered his lips across her shoulder, her neck, her ear. “We’re being watched, honey.”

She froze, her breath catching. There was someone in the room with them? Who?

Hot eyes roamed her skin, assessing, caressing. She shivered, an icy thrill racing over her. Vulnerability hit her, and she became aware of every taut inch of her skin, the tight beads of her nipples, the wet folds of her pussy sliding against each other with lip-biting friction whenever she moved. And a complete stranger could see it all.

As if he could hear her racing thoughts, he murmured, “Shoulders back. Hair behind you. Show him how fucking sexy you are. Make him know that I’m the luckiest bastard on the planet to be fucking you tonight.”

Him? The thought, Hunter’s words aroused her . . . even as insecurities tried to take over. “A stranger is looking at my hips and thighs.”

“They’re gorgeous and lush. I’m looking, too. If you can’t commit to submitting tonight, use your safe word. Or let me touch you while he watches.”

Kata should be horrified by the thought of a stranger’s eyes on her. Anxiety about her appearance niggled at her, but Hunter demanded her compliance. And she wanted to please him.

This was so much like her fantasy. She held her breath. Oh God, did he mean to give her the entire fantasy? As possessive as he was, would he really share her with another man?

Hunter brushed his thumb across her nipples, scattering her thoughts. He pressed his body against hers, kissed his way down her neck—and made her feel sexier than any man ever had. She sighed, willed herself to relax. For him.

“Yes, Sir.”

“So fucking sexy,” he groaned against her skin as he kissed his way down the swells of her breasts, laving all around the tight peaks of her nipples.

Electricity flashed through her as if someone had jolted her. Pleasure flowed between the peaks and in a straight arrow between her legs. Her first instinct was to press her thighs together, but her bindings made that impossible. She whimpered.

She could almost feel Hunter smile as he sidled closer and fastened his mouth on her breast, sucking hard at the peak.

His first strong pull was a jolt. She mewled, her entire body alive, racing. The familiar sensations blossomed, yet somehow as fresh as new spring. Pleasure, dormant since he’d last touched her, now burst wide, nerve endings unfurling.

Then he slid his hand down her abdomen and into her wet folds, settling unerringly on the aching bundle of her clit. And someone she may or may not know could see her pleasure.

She put herself entirely in Hunter’s hands. No control, no responsibility, no telling what would happen next. A week ago, she would have been hard-pressed to think of anything that she’d tolerate less. Now, she could hardly think of anything she wanted more.

“So wet,” he murmured against her skin. “You smell incredible. I’m dying to taste you.”

The thought of Hunter’s mouth on her, driving her beyond her control while someone watched, ratcheted up her desire another notch. Kata clenched her fists, struggled to draw in her next breath as the ache between her legs tightened again.

His large, deft fingers skimmed her clit again, circling the little bud in an unpredictable rhythm that had her gasping. Every time he touched her, he shoved her to the edge of pleasure. When she could barely catch her breath, he pulled away. Her body tightened, and she bucked against her restraints.

“Please . . .” she murmured.

But Hunter never veered from course.

“He’s watching us. Be a good girl and take what I give you.”

God, that voice. She was willing to endure torment to please him. “Yes, Sir.”

Before she could take another breath, Hunter knelt at her feet and gripped her hips. Her heart stuttered with anticipation when she felt his hot breath on her pussy. Kata tensed, waiting.

The first touch of his mouth wasn’t tentative or gentle. He dove in hungrily, devouring her slick flesh, his tongue slipping between her soaked folds and nestling right against her clit for a strong lap that made her rise on her toes and nearly come out of her skin. He chuckled softly, then did it again. And again. Every press of his mouth went deeper, felt more intimate, as if he meant to sate himself somehow. As if he was leaving his mark on her forever.

The pleasure soared, and Kata wanted so badly to touch Hunter in return, feel the soft stubble of his military cut under her fingers, the bulge of hard shoulders against her palms. Restrained and bound, she could only endure the delicious torture.

Suddenly, a man’s heavy breaths in her ear joined the rhythm. Oh God, the stranger, she thought—just as Hunter’s lips seized her clit. Watching Hunter consume her was arousing the stranger. The ache between her legs coiled tighter.

Her pounding heart roared in her ears. The precipice of orgasm loomed; just one more sweet caress of Hunter’s tongue would put her over the edge. Instead, he eased back. The cuffs came off her ankles, then her wrists. He rubbed them both with firm, gentle hands until she felt the warm rush of blood in her fingers.

“What are you . . . ?” She reached for him, her body boneless against his, the chafe of his slightly starched shirt and jeans against her hypersensitive skin nearly throwing her into sensory overload.

“Not a word,” Hunter warned with a bite in his voice and a slap of his hand on her ass.

Kata whimpered, her entire body aching. She was like a grenade with the pin pulled, going to explode at any second. His hot hand across her backside only magnified the explosion building between her legs.

“Turn.” He gripped her hips and faced her away from him, right at a wall of male heat that smelled like musk and pine—something vaguely familiar that she couldn’t place. Suddenly, she felt Hunter’s harsh breath ruffling her hair, in her ear. “Kiss him.”

The stranger? Anticipation and fear gripped her stomach at equal turns. Kata wanted to ask so badly who he was . . . but that hadn’t been her fantasy. And it wasn’t Hunter’s will.

Firm lips brushed over hers, soft and slightly minty. Pleasant. She relaxed, opened into the kiss. The stranger pressed their lips together, brushing her tongue with his. Excitement swirled in her belly, grabbing her between the legs and pulling unmercifully.