Unwound

CHAPTER TEN

ONCE again Ronin was in the Crow’s Nest. No one thought anything odd about him being in there. He used to spend a lot of time up here.

He half listened as the students counted during warm-up exercises. His father had considered it a point of pride that Ronin learned to count to ten in Japanese by age two.

What would his father and his sensei say about the students upstairs counting to ten in Portuguese and not Japanese?

Not that he’d gone up to the ABC dojo and watched the Brazilian working with his students.

His thoughts bounced all over the place, and he worried about what his lack of concentration might mean as far as permanent damage.

The stairs squeaked and Ronin knew who had violated his inner sanctum before he saw her reflection in the dark glass. His body responded to her as it always did—heart rate jumping, shaft thickening. His primal male need to mark her seemed stronger than usual lately, which had made it doubly hard to ignore it.

Her hands slipped up his belly, and she latched on to his shoulders from behind. “I know something is wrong and I’ve tried not to push, but things aren’t getting any better.”

That she’d recognized his melancholy and listlessness spoke volumes.

“I’ve thought a lot about what could be causing this reaction. It’s not your students’ lack of progress. I don’t think it’s solely about your recovery process. I don’t think it is entirely about the recent changes with the dojo and starting a new promotion company. Your family issues might play a small part in the restlessness I see in you. I don’t believe it has to do with me and your invite for me to move in with you. Yet I do think it’s a combination of all those things.”

Ronin said nothing; he just turned his head and dropped a kiss on her knuckles.

“So here’s my theory. You’re bored. You can’t train like you used to. At least when you were fighting, you weren’t quite sure of the outcome. When you were teaching, it broke up your day and forced you to concentrate outside yourself. Even that’s been taken away from you. So knowing all these factors, I took it upon myself to find a challenge for you.”

“Amery—”

“Hear me out completely before you interrupt. I like rope play, Master Black. As much as it pleases you that I’m your willing partner, it’s not a challenge for you. Figuring out which technique to use on me has its challenges, but nothing like the test of capturing and punishing a disobedient partner.”

Interest stirred his brain and his cock.

“So I’m here to make a confession.”

“What did you do?”

“I broke your ‘no observation’ rule. I’ve watched classes. I even interrupted a class Knox was teaching last night—he’s probably still wrestling with the best way to tell his boss that the boss’s girlfriend has been openly violating rules.”

“That is pretty blatant.”

“And I haven’t learned my lesson. Case in point? I’m up here. Civilians aren’t supposed to enter your domain during class hours. This is the second time I’ve done it in a week. You never let that shit slide.”

“True—I’ve always been adamant about enforcing the rules.”

“So what are you going to do about it? Pull down my panties, bend me over your desk, and spank my bare ass? Huh-uh. We’d end up fucking for sure. And, hot man of mine? Fucking you is always a reward, never a punishment.”

“Are you trying to piss me off or turn me on?”

Amery stood on tiptoe and murmured, “Both,” in his ear. “You know you have to punish me. I know you have to punish me. But there’s no way I’ll be on my knees in the practice room waiting for you to finish up your day to dish that punishment out.”

Ronin whirled around and, shockingly, Amery was already halfway across the room.

“This is where the challenge starts, Samurai,” she cooed sexily. “You’ll have to find me before you can exact the punishment of your choosing.”

“Find you,” he repeated.

“After the dojo closes, I’ll be somewhere in this building except for the penthouse level. I bet I know some really great nooks and crannies that you aren’t even aware of. Or maybe I’ll be plotting my escape back to my place. I’ll give you an hour to find me. If you’re unsuccessful, your bed will seem big and lonely without me in it tonight, don’t you think?”

Ronin started to stalk her. “When I do track you down? What then?”

“You’d better have a plan in place to capture me because I won’t go easy.”

“Baby, throwing down the gauntlet is what I live for. The fact that it’s you issuing the challenge?” His greedy gaze raked over her from head to toe. “Even better. But I’ll give you a warning. If you’re my prisoner? I get to do anything I want to you. Anything.”

“Guess we’ll see about that, won’t we?” Amery smiled and said, “Catch you later.”

“You can count on it.”

She slipped out of the room.

• • •

RONIN warned his instructors they needed a speedy shutdown.

He’d tied a coil of hemp rope from his gi belt. Normally he worried about the burn ratio of the size and texture of the rope against bare skin when he tied her, but not tonight. Tonight when he caught her, he’d give her a taste of the hojojutsu side of bondage. Chase, capture, and bind for the reward.

For the past two hours, since she’d issued the challenge, Ronin had created a defensive and an offensive strategy, breaking down possibilities. After her hint about sneaking off to her place, he knew she’d try to escape from the building. He wasn’t falling for her red herring warning him to search every nook and cranny of the place.

There were two exits from the building where the door lock was automatic and she wouldn’t have to rearm the system. All entrances into the building were locked after five p.m. So she’d either try to sneak out with the other dojo students leaving through the main entrance, or she’d leave by the back door.

Ronin didn’t consider it cheating that he could cover both entrances at once by watching the security camera feed, because guaranteed Amery would try to disguise herself. Still, maybe she’d be bold and not bother. He scrutinized every head for that distinctive strawberry-blond hair until the last remaining instructor killed all the lights and exited the building.

Since the students tended to congregate out on the sidewalk after class, Amery would avoid that side.

Or maybe she’d wait until they were gone, hoping he’d watch the alley while she slipped out the front.

There was no way he could prepare for every contingency.

But he really, really looked forward to the chase.

He left the security monitors for a couple of minutes to send the elevator up to the third floor. Would that flush her out?

Ten minutes after the dojo emptied, there she was exiting the back door to the alley.

Gotcha, baby.

Now his adrenaline was really pumping.

Ronin left via the front entrance and kept his footsteps light as he crossed the street to the parking garage. Another thing to factor in; Amery showed up after work, which meant she’d have to park on either of the top two levels.

So while she snuck into the structure via the back alley, probably cocky enough to ride the elevator, Ronin hauled ass, sprinting for the stairs. He stopped on the fourth level to catch his breath.

He welcomed the chill in the night air as he listened for her. Was that the ping of the elevator? He peered around the edge of the stairwell and watched as the doors opened.

No one exited.

Son of a bitch. She’d pulled the same fake elevator car ride trick that he had.

Or maybe she’s in the corner of the elevator car where you can’t see her.

Either way, when the elevator moved to the lower floor, so did Ronin.

Hurling himself down two sets of metal stairs, three stair treads at a time, tested the stability of his knee. It also played hell on his stealthy ninja attempt because Amery could hear him coming.

He reached the third level of the garage the same time the elevator doors opened and Amery stepped out. She made the mistake of stopping and looking around.

That’s when she saw Ronin.

That’s when she started to run.

Oh, I really gotcha now, baby.

Even though half a garage length separated them, Ronin kicked his stride into sprint stage and grabbed her from behind about ten feet from her car.

He had to give her credit; she didn’t scream, but she did try to employ some of the self-defense tactics he’d taught her.

Tried and failed—but tried nonetheless.

He pushed her against the closest vehicle, keeping her wrists together as he freed the short length of rope and quickly tied her hands. Then he put his mouth to her ear. “Don’t scream.”

“What are you going to do to me?”

“Punish you.”

“But I didn’t do anything wrong!”

“Then why did you run?”

“Because I was scared.”

Ronin spun her back around and wrapped his hand around the front of her throat. “You claim that you didn’t do anything wrong, but I got you dead to rights. You confessed to breaking my rules at the dojo. Blatant violations result in punishment as your Sensei sees fit. Do you understand?”

That hot little pink tongue of hers darted out and licked her lips—a sure sign of her arousal. His cock was already hard—hell, he’d been semihard since she’d sauntered into his office and challenged him.

“I said, Do you understand?” he repeated.

“Uh, yeah.”

Ronin got nose to nose with her. “The correct answer is yes, sir; yes, Sensei; or yes, Master Black. Uh, yeah is not one of them.”

“Yes, Master Black. I understand.” She pulled back from him and tossed her head. “Now, can we get on with it?”

“Such a sassy mouth.” Ronin crowded her until she didn’t have anyplace to go and her back bowed over the car’s trunk. He traced the seam of her mouth with his tongue and then brushed whisper-soft kisses across her pouty lips. “I’m torn between gagging you and keeping your jaw hinged open so I can use your mouth however I want.”

Amery’s eyes widened. “What do you plan on doing to me?”

“Punishing you. But, baby, I will make sure the punishment fits the crime.” He kissed her with brutal possession.

She pressed her chest to his, trying to get closer, and ravaged his mouth with equal ferocity.

Ronin slid his palm to the nape of her neck and pulled her upright as he continued to kiss her. Then he ripped his mouth free. “I’m taking you back to the dojo. I’m not sure if this garage has working surveillance cameras, so I can’t do the full restraint here. Don’t try to escape.”

“And what if I do?”

“Escape?”

She nodded.

Ronin laughed. “Won’t happen. But if you even try? Punishment is double. And for you that means double the amount of rope and twice the time I’d keep you bound. Let’s go.” He kept his hand wrapped around her binding as he steered her toward the elevator.

As soon as they were in the elevator, Amery said, “Is that a length of rope in your pocket, or are you just happy to capture me?”

Although inside he was laughing at the boldness that reminded him of the first night they’d met, he didn’t crack a smile. “Gag it is.”

Amery cranked her head around to glare at him.

“Keep it up and you’ll just add to your punishment.”

She immediately faced forward with a huff.

Once they were almost out of the parking garage, she said, “May I ask you a question, sir?”

“Yes. Doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”

“How did you find me so fast?”

“Secret ninja stealth tricks.” He helped her over the concrete embankment and stopped. “Did you really think you had a chance of getting away from me?”

“Yes.”

Ronin kissed the back of her head. “I love that you’re an optimist.” He directed her to the back door.

She didn’t speak until they were in his private elevator. “Why aren’t you meting out my punishment in the dojo, since that’s where my alleged infractions occurred?”

“Because there are cameras everywhere, and I didn’t think you’d want anyone seeing you bound, punished, and fucked.”

“That’s how you knew where I’d gone! You just watched the camera feed. That’s cheating.”

“No, a modern-day samurai uses every technological edge to gain the advantage. Besides, even without the visual assistance, I’d guessed correctly in which way you’d attempt to escape.”

“So I was screwed either way.”

Ronin rubbed his lips over the shell of her ear. “You like being screwed by me.”

“Not fair.”

He pulled her hair to the side to access her neck. “Should I mete out your punishment in the practice room? Or the bedroom?”

“Why are you letting me choose?”

“I’m not. Just musing aloud.”

“I hate it when you’re cryptic like this.”

“Practice room it is,” he said, leading her inside. “In front of the mirror.” Ronin pointed to the camera on the bench. “I’ll make sure to get a few photos in.”

She vehemently shook her head.

“Tough shit. I will have pictures of this if for no other reason than to remind you who is in charge.” He wrapped his fingers around her jaw. “They are for our eyes only. I can promise you that.”

Amery nodded.

“Do. Not. Move.” He retreated to his supply drawer and pulled out the things he’d need. Standing behind her again, he gathered her hair on top of her head and secured it with an elastic tie. “Pity this sexy dress got torn in our scuffle.” He tugged the pocket flap and it ripped, leaving a large tear that exposed her bra.

Her mouth hung open.

Then Ronin did the same thing to the other side, but with more force. The lace hem ripped easily, and he let it hang drunkenly above her knee. The side seam had more give than he expected, so when he rent the two pieces apart, the split almost reached Amery’s armpit.

She still hadn’t torn her gaze away from the image in the mirror, so Ronin faced her forward.

He unhooked the rope bundle from his belt. “You will be bound like a criminal in the hojojutsu style. This binding requires several sections of rope wound around your neck. The most important thing for you to remember? This is a punishment binding. It won’t be comfortable. And if you move your neck?” Ronin traced the cord in her throat. “It will hurt. It will leave marks because this rope has a high burn rate.”

A couple of beats passed before she babbled, “I don’t want to be punished. I made the whole thing up about breaking the dojo rules.”

“No, you didn’t. I double-checked.” He bestowed a lingering kiss on her mouth. “You issue a challenge, and it won’t go unanswered. And I need a challenge like I need air. So thank you for giving me exactly what I needed.”

That softened some of the panic in her eyes.

Ronin held up the rope and folded it in half. “I’ll need to rebind your hands. Do I need to issue another warning about what will happen to you if you attempt to escape?”

“No, sir.”

“Clasp your elbows behind your back.” He secured her wrists, leaving the tails long enough to attach to the back binding. He stepped in front of her and folded another section of rope in half. “Open your mouth.”

Amery blinked at him and shook her head.

“I’ll ask one more time. You were warned that gagging you was a consequence, and you chose to ignore my warning. Now, open your mouth, or I will fashion the chopsticks gag, where your tongue is pressed between two chopsticks and the ropes from the gag are tied tightly at the base of your skull.”

She parted her lips.

“Smart choice.” Ronin slipped the rope between her lips and tied a square knot at the nape of her neck. That would allow him to attach the gag to the main binding.

“Normally I don’t give a play-by-play, but since this is new and you can’t speak”—he tugged at the gag—“I’ll tell you what I’m doing. This is nijyuu-hishi nawa—a double diamond samurai tie. It looks precisely as it sounds. Hojojutsu binds are meant to be done quickly with a minimum amount of rope.”

Ronin started with the double neck wrap and split the two sections, tying a knot at the top, pulling the rope down and straight across her arm. He wrapped beneath the arm on both sides and then added another knot at the base of her spine above where her hands were tied. He wound another section midway between her shoulder and elbow. Back up to the knot at the top, he tied another knot below it and crossed to her opposite arm and then down to her wrist binding.

“Done.” Keeping his eyes on hers in the mirror, he used his first two fingers to trace the double diamond, wishing he had her naked. But the power of the binding was such that Amery shuddered anyway.

He picked up the camera and shot several rearview photos. Full length. Close up. Then, since the staged resistance looked so real, he snapped a couple of photos of that. Before he set the camera down, he said, “Struggle to get out of the bindings.”

She thrashed and twisted, but the bindings held.

He snapped a few shots. “Stop.”

When Ronin moved in front of Amery, her gaze fell to the floor.

He crouched, forcing her attention. He slipped his hands beneath her dress until he reached the crotch of her panties. Hooking a finger between her cunt—her wet cunt—and the silky fabric, he yanked hard until her underwear was around her ankles. “Kick them off.”

Ronin grabbed the box holding his surprise and dropped to his knees in front of her.

Amery’s eyes went big. Her response was garbled by the ropes in her mouth.

“What’s this? It’s called a lotus blossom. Similar to the butterfly sex toy in that it has a remote control. But the petals contour more to the curve of your sex.” The straps were thin, and with the way Amery flailed around, he’d have to readjust them.

Once he had the lotus blossom situated, he turned the vibrator on.

“Oomgld! Wtrooglooee?”

“Ever heard of orgasm torture?”

She shook her head wildly.

“That’s where I make you come. Over and over. As many times as I want. Until you can’t take it anymore. Until you beg me to stop.” Ronin traced his fingers up and down the insides of her thighs, watching that pretty pale skin tremble. “But you can take a lot, can’t you?”

Another violent head shake.

Ronin stood and held the remote. “Let’s test that. Better brace yourself.” He flicked it on, keeping it on low. He grabbed the hook he used for rigging assistance and attached the wide belly strap on the Y chain.

Amery had cranked her head to see what he was doing.

He turned the vibrator to high. Then he stood behind her, holding on to her bound wrists so she didn’t pitch forward when the orgasm hit. “Look at yourself. Any second, the vibrations will take over and you’ll be helpless to do anything but watch how beautiful you are when you come.” His mouth brushed her ear. “Close, baby?”

She nodded.

He nibbled on her neck. Gifting her with soft little bites and tiny sucks until her breathing was labored. When her eyes drifted to half-mast, he said, “Watch yourself. Watch me watching you.”

Their gazes connected again, and he saw her bite down on the rope. Ronin could feel the pulse in her throat against his lips, and he growled against her skin. “I can almost taste you. Sweet. Salty. Creamy.”

She unraveled. As soon her orgasm abated, she slumped against him, and he turned off the vibrator.

“I am so crazy about you. Crazy scared about all the things you make me feel.” He wrapped his hand beneath her jaw. “Look at what you do to me. I’m about to crawl out of my damn skin from wanting you.”

“Den dake mee.”

“Oh, I’ll take you.” He nuzzled her temple. “I’ll take you someplace you’ve never gone. As soon as you can’t take it anymore.” He swept his thumb over her distended lip. He leaned close enough to press his mouth to hers. His tongue snaked out and followed the rope. He sucked in her shallow breaths as he let the very tip of his tongue tease the underside of her top lip and the ridge of her teeth. “One more and I’ll take the gag off,” he murmured against her mouth. Then he turned the vibrator back on.

Good thing he’d held on to her because her knees buckled.

Amery tried to get away from the vibrations, but thrashing caused the rope to saw into her neck and the corners of her mouth.

Ronin’s eyes met hers in the mirror. “Don’t fight it. Let it happen.” He placed his hand in the center of her chest and slowly moved it up to slip a finger underneath the rope at the hollow of her throat. “You look breathtaking in my ropes. Regardless of whether you’re naked, or clothed, you’re as regal as royalty and yet . . . you still wear the blush of innocence. Neither is an act with you. That is you, Amery. It’s beautiful and compelling and mine. I do this to you. No one else.”

“Oomgld. Leez.” Almost against her will, she released a muffled wail. Her body trembled.

Ronin latched on to the sweet spot below her earlobe and sucked, making her tremble harder. After the climax ended, he clicked off the vibrator and untied the gag. As soon as her mouth was freed, he kissed her with gentleness and surety. “You’re doing good, baby.” He kissed the corners of her lips. “So good.”

“You weren’t kidding about orgasm torture,” she panted. “My whole body is jumping like a live wire.”

“This time I’ll keep it on low longer.”

“What? Again? Why?”

“Because you knew what I needed—to step a foot off that ledge. You gave it to me. I’ve always sated that need with violence. But now I can sate it with you.” Ronin murmured, “How many more orgasms until you beg me to stop?”

“I—I don’t know!”

“Do you know how fucking sexy it is knowing that your pussy is completely under my control? I can do this”—he flicked on the switch and she gasped—“and watch you fly apart.”

“Ronin. Please. I can’t. What . . . oh, god, is it pulsating?”

“Guess I hit the random switch.” His mouth cruised down the slope of her neck. “Like that?”

“Yes. No. How can I be coming again . . . oh, oh, oh.” Amery threw her head back, and her soft wail curled around his body like a silken ribbon.

When she came down from her climax high and was panting softly, he put his mouth right on her ear. “This hot little ass of yours? Is mine tonight.”

Amery seemed too blissed out to answer, so he reiterated, “Tell me what I want.”

“To fuck me in the ass.”

“Beg me to fuck you and give you a break from this.”

She shrieked when he cranked the vibrator on again. “Please, Ronin. Make it stop. Then take whatever—fuck me however you want. Please.”

Ronin fed her hungry kisses. “My reward for capturing you? I will fuck you as long and as hard as I need.”

“Yes.” Amery turned her head and rubbed his cheek. “But I don’t think I can stand up.”

“I have a suspension rigging set up.” He moved to the side, pulling the strap over her head and settling it in her midsection. “Lean forward, baby. That’s it. Now slide your heels out.”

“I feel like I’m floating.”

“You will be by the time I’m done with you.”

She closed her eyes and moaned softly.

“Eyes on the mirror. Watch me.” Ronin stood behind her, heart and cock pounding with anticipation as he scraped his fingertips up the backs of her thighs. Then he smoothed his palms over those soft buttocks and pushed the dress up her back.

“You look like some conquering hero about to take the spoils of war,” she said, her voice a rasp of awe tinged with fear.

“I am.” He reached for the lube and squeezed a generous amount on his fingers. “Relax, and it’ll go a little easier on you.”

“But not much.”

“Make no mistake; it’s gonna hurt.” He swirled the slickness around the tight pucker of her anus and eased the tip of his finger in.

Their gazes remained locked as he prepared her. One finger, then two. The intensity increasing every time he pushed deeper. “But that’s what you want, isn’t it?”

Amery whispered, “Yes. Do it.”

Ronin shed his gi pants and stroked his cock, adding more lube.

Her ragged breathing, wide eyes, swollen mouth, and her binding fueled his need in a way he’d never experienced. He pressed the head of his cock between her ass cheeks, following the line of her crack until he met that resistant little hole. Grabbing her hips, he pushed past the ring of muscle trying to keep him out. He did pause momentarily, loving the tight squeeze of her muscle at just the head of his cock.

Amery bit her lip and tried to drop her head.

“Look at me.” He eased inside her fully.

Jesus fucking Christ. Hot and tight repeated on a loop in his brain. He began to move, slowly and steadily, so he could feel the anal passage clamped around every inch of his cock. He worked in and out of her virgin ass in a modified version of seven samurai. Five slow strokes; on the sixth stroke, he pulled all the way out, keeping the head of his dick against that tiny spasming pucker, then counting to seven before he slammed into her fully.

“Oh, fuck.”

Ronin didn’t speak. He watched his cock disappearing into that small rosette and grunted with satisfaction every time his cock bottomed out.

Amery kept her head up, her gaze hot with desire as she started tightening her inner muscles around his cock when he was fully seated inside her.

That’s when he lost all track of his counting and his need to make this last. His hips connected with her flesh with a hard, fast slap. Perspiration glazed his body as he raced toward the tipping point.

But Ronin wasn’t going over that edge alone. He reached for the remote and cranked it to high.

“Damn you. That’s not fair. I can’t take . . .”

“Hurts so good, doesn’t it?”

She lowered her lids and arched her neck, purposely giving herself a mark.

“Look at you,” he growled. “So sexy and defiant. You don’t want to come again, but you will.”

“Ronin—”

“Give it to me. This one is mine.”

He felt the vibration from the lotus every time his cock bottomed out and his balls swung up. When he pulled out fully and rammed home with each thrust, she shuddered.

“Yes, like that.” As soon as she said, “Don’t stop,” her inner muscles began that rhythmic spasming, and she cried out.

Ronin let her body pull the climax from his as each pulsating spasm milked his cock, almost in slow motion. The heat of his seed against the hot tissues of her anal walls eased his every short, fast jab.

His head nearly split from the pleasure—the visual of her body bound as he fucked her mindless and the orgasm that nearly had his knees bucking from the sheer magnitude of it.

When his brain finally stopped spinning, he realized he’d rested all his weight on her as he slumped over her body. His cock was still buried in her ass and the lotus kept buzzing away.

And he felt the power of it again as another orgasm rocketed through her. He fastened his mouth to the side of her neck, tasting her sweat and feeling her pulse pounding beneath his lips. As soon as Amery sucked in another breath, he switched off the lotus.

“I can’t—”

“I know, baby. I’ve got you. We’re done.”

He pulled out of her. Then he unhooked her hand binding from the body binding. He gently hauled her upright, away from the rigging. “Can you stand?”

“I think so.”

Keeping one arm banded around her hips, he worked the knots free. The last piece was the neck rope. After he removed it, he ran the tips of his fingers across the rope burns. He had a momentary pang of guilt until Amery said hoarsely, “I wanted the marks tonight. I earned these marks.”

He pressed kisses from one side of her throat to the other. “You wear them beautifully.” Then he slipped his right arm behind her knees and lifted her into his arms.

“Ronin, don’t. Your knee—”

“Is fine. And as the victor in tonight’s challenge, it’s my right to bring my prize into my bed.”

“You haven’t undone my hands,” she said softly against his neck.

“Because I don’t want you pushing away from me when I’m carrying you.” He kissed the frown lines in her forehead as he strolled down the hallway. “I’m running on a lot of adrenaline right now, so I’m good.”

But he became a little concerned when his neck got wet. With her tears?

The easiest way to undo her wrist wrap was to place her upper body on the mattress and get at her from behind. But her emotions were high, so he took her to the chair in the corner, keeping her cradled to his chest. Luckily the binding was such he could undo it with one hand. Even with both hands tied behind her back.

Ronin brought both wrists into her lap and began to rub. “Any numbness?”

“Yes. But no pain. Not yet.”

“Soreness anywhere else?” He rubbed her forearms and up to her biceps.

“Just my ass,” she mumbled.

A soft laugh escaped. “No apologies for that.”

“It’s not funny. I’m going to feel it for the next day.”

“Good. I want you thinking about me.”

She traced the edge of his jaw.

Ronin snagged her hand and kissed her fingertips. “Thank you for tonight. But, baby, why are you crying?”

“A rush of adrenaline makes you stronger. It makes me weepy. Sorry.”

He tipped her chin up. “Don’t apologize. You are beautiful, honest, and real. And you are also completely mine.” He kissed her until she sighed and relaxed into him. Then he undressed her and tucked her in his bed where she belonged.