With a sigh, he put the camera down and started untying her.
“Wait,” she said. “What are you doing? We aren’t finished, are we?”
“We are for now,” he said. “Let’s talk.”
Her face grew unnaturally pale. Fuck, what had Abby told her? He nodded over to a love seat against the far wall and, without him saying anything, she stood up and walked over to it. She sat with her head down, picking at her nails. He took a seat close, but not touching.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about playing with the Wests first,” he said. “You shouldn’t have had to hear it from Abby.”
Her head shot up and from the “O” of surprise her lips made, whatever had been bothering her didn’t have anything to do with him and Abby.
“Shit,” he said. “That’s not what was on your mind, was it?”
“You played with Abby? And Nathaniel?”
“Er, umm.” Damn it all. Wasn’t this just great? He couldn’t very well deny it now, could he? “Yes, a few times. It wasn’t like a regular scene. Nathaniel’s not one to share. But yes, I’ve dominated Abby. I’ve just never had sex with her.”
Meagan appeared to be thinking this over. “That explains why Abby got so flustered when I mentioned you.”
But Abby never told her anything. Nope. He’d taken care of that all by himself.
“I hope this doesn’t make things awkward between you,” he said.
She tilted her head. “No, I don’t think it will. We’re all grown-ups.”
“Good. I would hate to come between you and an employee.”
“Will it be awkward for you?” she asked.
“No, I don’t think so.” He tapped his finger on his knee. “You know, it was actually Abby who inadvertently opened the door for this book.”
“How is that?”
“I took some pictures of her and Nathaniel months ago and they allowed me to post a few of the ones that don’t show who they are. Rick saw them and asked me if I’d be interested in the book he was publishing.”
“Did he want Abby to be the model?”
“No, he asked me who I thought would be the best person for the job and you were my first choice.”
“Why me?” she asked.
He couldn’t lie to her, so he told her the truth. “You were made to be in front of the camera. I knew that the first time I took your picture and the years haven’t changed that.”
That information lightened the dark expression she’d had all day. But, unfortunately, if she hadn’t been thinking about him and Abby during the session, there was something else bothering her.
“Since I messed up reading your mind,” he teased, “why don’t you tell me what was bothering you during the scene just now?”
She took a deep breath and drew herself up straight. “Work stuff. I’m not going to think about it now. I’m ready to get to work.”
He wasn’t sure he totally believed her. Maybe he needed to change things up and force her mind to be focused on him alone. “Yes, let’s get back to what we were doing.”
She stood up.
“Sit down.”
A look of confusion crossed her expression, but she sat down.
“I’m going to try something else for the shoot. The book is on artistic BDSM so, if you agree, I’ll run this more like a scene and less like a photography session.”
She nodded wordlessly.
“If you agree, strip and crawl to the middle of the room and wait for me on your knees.”
Lust flashed in her eyes and she quickly undressed and dropped to the floor to start crawling. Luke took advantage of the angle to snap a few shots of her ass. She made it to the middle of the room and waited on her knees. He let her stay there for a bit to get in the proper mind-set; then he took his camera and joined her.
“For the next hour or so, you are mine to control,” he said. “Do you agree?”
“Yes, Sir.”
She was a beautiful woman, no question about it. But on her knees, allowing herself to be dominated, she was stunning.
“What’s your safe word?”
“Red.”
“Noted.” He put the camera down and picked up some silk rope. It wasn’t what he would use for an actual scene, but it worked well for photographs. “Stand up with your hands behind your back.”
She stood. Her compliance must have triggered something in her mind, because she no longer looked troubled. All previous evidence of worry had been replaced by an expression of peace and contentment. And he knew no matter what happened with the two of them in the future, no matter what they did or didn’t do, for this time, right now, she was his. From the look of bliss on her face, she wouldn’t want it any other way.
He took his time drawing the rope around her arms. Done properly, bondage was an art, and though he wanted good pictures for the book, more than that, he wanted to pay homage to Meagan’s body by decorating and restraining her to the best of his ability.
When he’d introduced her to bondage years ago and watched the emergence of her submissive side, he’d thought that she was awe-inspiring. But as he stepped back after binding her arms behind her and seeing the submissive she’d become, he was even more awestruck.
He took his time walking around her, trying to capture with his camera just a touch of the beauty that was her submission, but knowing it was far too vast to ever be conveyed by a mere photograph.
He found he didn’t want to stop. He wanted all of her in his ropes. But, he had reached their agreed-upon time limit.
“Meagan.” The decision would be hers. “That’s our time for the day and I got some beautiful shots. If you want, I’ll untie you and we can wrap up. Or, if you agree, I’d like to continue and see how the rest of you looks bound by my hand.”