She tugged against his grip. He firmed his hold, letting her sink into her captivity. But he needed to make sure she was okay.

"Scared?" He kissed the top of her head.

"No." She bit her lip, out of embarrassment more than fear, judging by the new flush of pink in her face. "More, um, excited."

Brave little thing.

"That's just as it should be. There's no place for real fear in how I play." He transferred her wrists into one of his hands and pulled out an item from his back pocket. "What about now?"

Her gaze fell on a pair of handcuffs in his hand. That soft mouth of hers formed an O, and he had to stop himself from sampling the warmth of her kiss.

"You can say no to the cuffs and I'll put them away. Or you can let me push your boundaries. Either way, I'm still taking control tonight."

Her gaze flicked back to his. She drew in a shuddering breath. "I'm up for new adventures."

Pride, pleasure, maybe even a hint of awe raced through him. "That's my girl." He pushed her up against him. "Give me your mouth."

She complied and he claimed possession, sliding his tongue between her lips, forcing her to open to him. Later he planned to feel the heat of her mouth on his cock, have that tongue of hers slide up the underside and over the head. Aidan hardened with desire, and Mercy rubbed herself against him, drawing a shudder from him. Fuck, he needed to move now, or he wouldn't see out the plans he had refined in his head while driving here.

He broke their kiss and spoke in a low, commanding tone. "If you get scared, or something feels wrong, say the word 'red' and everything stops. Understood?"

"Yes." She nodded as those big blue eyes of hers grew serious.

"Good." He released her wrists. "Go to your bedroom. Strip and be waiting for me. I'll lock up."

She nodded and fled to her room.

He locked her door, picked up his gym bag, and walked to her master bedroom.

When he entered, she was standing beside the bed, removing her bra. The lamps on her bedside tables shone a dusky light over her body. Heavy breasts, curved hips, and a round ass. Mercy was like one of those women in the paintings from centuries ago. A man wanted to wrap his arms around her, plunder her mouth, slide himself deep inside her and sample all that beauty for himself.

He was that man.

"Turn around. Place your hands behind your back."

He'd said those words a thousand times, but never had his dick grown hard like it was now.

She blinked at his low, steely command, but obeyed.

Within moments, he had her secured, but took his time sliding his hands over her forearms, letting her feel the weight of the cuffs, twist her wrists, and test the secureness of her imprisonment.

He held her shoulders and dipped his head so his breath fanned her neck. "You're mine, Mercy." Smiling at her shiver, he kissed her shoulder, then higher back up her neck, then a bite. With a soft moan, she tilted her head, opening herself up to his touch. He continued to nip and kiss her neck and shoulder as he slid his hands down her arms and to her waist.

Lowering one hand to her hip, he raised the other to cup her breast. "Your skin's so soft, Mercy. It's one of the signature things of who you are, of what attracts me to you." He flicked a thumb over the top of her nipple. Her tiny indrawn gasp was like a hot kiss to his cock. Burying his head in her hair, he breathed deep of the fresh fruit scent.

"L-lush." She croaked out.

He raised his head. "What?"

"The...um..."-she licked her lips-"shower smoothies. They help soften my skin."

Aidan felt his lips twitch. He'd seen the products in her shower. Hell, he was a cop; he noticed everything. But the fact she felt compelled to share that detail with him now was pure Mercy goofiness.

"Then I'll have to do a thorough investigation to find the softest place on your body. Is it here?" He kissed high on her neck. "Or here?" Then nipped the shell of her ear. "Maybe somewhere else?" He moved the hand from her hip to her belly, then went lower, growling as his fingers slid over the wetness of her pussy.

"I'd encourage you to, ooooh..."-she broke off as he skimmed his finger over her clit-"concentrate in that area."

"I'm sure you would," he slid a finger along one side of her pussy. "After all, I could spend hours here." The tip of his finger tapped the hood of her clit ever so softly. "And still not find the right spot."

"Oh, God," she whimpered and tugged on the cuffs.

His chuckle was met with a glare over her shoulder. "Dammit, don't tease."

Ah, she had so much to learn.

He stepped back and spanked her ass.

"Owww!" Her mouth hung open. "What was that for?"

"You've handed over control to me, Mercy. However long I take before you come is up to me. You give me attitude, I'll punish you."

"But that's unfair."

He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back against him. Lowering his head, he spoke close to her ear. "No, gorgeous. That's giving yourself over to my domination." He ran two fingers along the slick wetness of her pussy, right over her clit and tightened his arm at her shudder. "Allowing yourself to be free of choice and open to all the sensations that brings." Easing his arm from her waist, he straightened away from her. "Do you need to say 'red'?"

He held his breath and waited.

"No." She looked over her shoulder, her gaze clear, voice resolute. "I want to try this some more."

A mixture of pleasure and relief swept through him. He nodded. "Lie on the bed, on your side, facing away from me."

She followed his command easily enough, even with her hands cuffed behind her.

Aidan placed the key to his cuffs on her bedside table, undressed and pulled a condom over his fully-erect cock. He allowed himself a moment to drink in the sight of her lying on the navy sheet, her curvy body pale in contrast and her blonde hair loose.

He climbed up behind her, bent his elbow and rested his hand on her head, gently running his fingers through her hair. "You look gorgeous in my cuffs, Mercy." Skimming a hand over her hip, he continued down, wrapping his hand under her knee and lifting her leg back and over his.

Now she was how he wanted; he glanced at her face, saw her blink as realization hit her as to just how vulnerable she was. Too much in her own head.

With the flat of his palm, he stroked the inside of her upper thigh, easing the pressure to whisper-soft as he neared the crease. Over and again, he caressed, his fingers dipping toward her pussy, bringing a trail of moisture as they brushed her outer lip. His cock throbbed as the musky scent of her arousal filled his nostrils, adding another layer of anticipation that had been building all night.

He watched her face, saw her eyes close and felt her wiggle on the bed, trying to open herself further. Much better.

"There's so many aspects of dominance and submission." He ran two fingers through her pussy, smiling as her body jolted against him. "The exchange of trust." He pressed his thumb on her clit, sliding the pad in torturously slow moves and ignoring her pleas for him to go faster. "The thrill of not knowing what comes next." He pinched her clit between his forefinger and thumb.

"Ohmygod." Eyes wide, mouth open, she made tiny noises in her throat as he gently rubbed her clit. Her body quaked as she orgasmed. But he was a merciless bastard, caressing and pinching the small nub of nerves, dragging out her climax until she was gasping for breath.

Beautiful.

He tugged on her hair, forcing her head back and claimed her lips. She opened her mouth, twining her tongue with his. He slanted his head to increase the pressure, wanting the bond of intimacy to last until the very moment he broke away.

Ending their kiss, he looked at her face, seeing her mascara starting to smudge and the light stain on her lips where her lipstick had worn away.

A thrill of satisfaction roared inside him. It was pure male and primitive, and about as real as any guy could get.

"But then you realize things are only just getting started." He thrust two fingers inside her cunt, pumping fast, curling over her g-spot.

She gasped, her body shaking as her still-recent orgasm fired into the next. Her desperate cries were satisfying music to his ears. He twisted his hand in her hair, holding her head still and letting her feel the slight burn of pain mingling with the tremors of her release.

"Sean, please," she wailed, riding his fingers. He blocked out that name and concentrated on her face.

"Please what, baby?" He slowed his thrusts. "You want me to stop?"

Like hell she did, from the way she'd gripped his fingers.

She blinked. "No."

Always honest.

"How does it feel, being cuffed? Helpless? Played with?"

"It feels..."-she sucked in a breath-"fucking hot."

"Perfect answer." He kissed her, this one gentle, long and wet. Leaving her mouth, he trailed kisses on her shoulder and down her arm before he lifted his head and searched her face.

He eased her thigh forward with her knee bent, so they were close to spooning and nudged his cock at her entrance, smiling to himself as her eyes widened. "And then there's the promise that when you've pushed past one boundary, there's another ready for you to explore and conquer." With one thrust, he buried himself inside her warmth.

Her cry filled his ears as he began a slow rhythm. The angle of his entry-allowing him to slide so deep-evoked a shuddering spasm within her greedy cunt. Christ, too soon. He began to withdraw, only to have her inner muscles clamp around him in an unbearable, sweet tightness. Groaning, he entered her with a driving thrust, and gritted his teeth as blinding pleasure built with every stroke. Soon his ragged breathing matched hers. Her body was a lit match to his dynamite, igniting an explosive desire he couldn't quench. He reached around and rubbed her clit.

"I can't, I can't..." Her body stretched taut. He tugged on her hair, forcing her to face him. She looked up, eyes wide, her mouth moving, before a loud, frantic cry rang out.

Urgent need rolled through him, gathered low in his spine and tightened. One last thrust was his undoing. With a snarl, he abandoned himself to his shattering release. He collapsed beside her, resting his head on his arm, and sucked in a lungful of air.

Gently, absently, he ran his hand over her body, his fingers moist from the light film of sweat covering her skin.

Good way to get a chill.

Forcing himself back up on his elbow, he reached for the key to the cuffs. "One second, gorgeous." Moments later, she was free, and he tossed the cuffs and the key on the bedside table. Then he reached for the sheet and covered them both.

Still inside her, he pulled Mercy back so she was snuggled with her back to his front and his arms around her. First time in cuffs. He needed to check on her. "How you feeling?"

"I'm fine." She glanced up, her face flushed, makeup smudged, and looking like she'd been ridden hard and well. More importantly, her smile reached her eyes. "I didn't know what to expect. Maybe that was a blessing?"

Worry tightened his gut. "I frightened you?"

"No, not at all." She ran the back of her finger against his jaw. "More like, blew away my expectations."

Well, damn. "I aim to please, gorgeous."

She giggled. "I'm hoping there's some TripAdvisor-type guide for bondage where I can give a star rating."

He threw back his head and laughed. Fuck, she was amazing. Knowing he had to go clean up but not wanting to break their intimacy just yet, he kissed her with enough passion that her hand crept up in his hair and held on.

"I gotta clean up and so do you. Then I've got maybe an hour before I have to head home, get some sleep, and then get to school tomorrow."

"You could stay the night here?"

The note of hopefulness in her voice tempted him, but tonight wasn't an option.

"I don't have another change of clothes in my bag." Plus, he had to be ready for a call from Jack later tonight. His sergeant wanted an update from Aidan, and after all their effort, the best he could say was Isaac was skipping school and lying to the woman who believed in him.

Reluctantly, he withdrew from Mercy and used the guest bathroom.

When he returned, he lay in the bed and waited for her to join him.

A faint rose scent was on her sheets. The stuff she used in the shower. He breathed deep, reveling in the small hint of her and at the same time craving having her beside him.

Jesus, five weeks and he was hooked. There was attraction, sure. But how many times this afternoon had he checked his watch, so fucking eager to see her, hear her voice and laugh?

And if he was admitting as much to himself, then what about Mercy? A woman who acted with such warmth and generosity of spirit didn't sleep with a man for kicks.

Aidan had seen the way her gaze lit up when he came near. Hell, each time she smiled at him was like a being lifted up on the shoulders of a giant and told he could conquer the world.

Mercy was invested-emotionally and physically. And the foundation of their relationship-at least what Mercy knew about him-was all built on lies.

He closed his eyes as the walls of his deceit closed in around him.

Tomorrow after the game, he would hunt for Isaac.

He and the student had run out of time.

Whatever Isaac was up to, Aidan had to force the truth out of him. Even if his reason for acting strangely wasn't drugs, whatever troubled the boy spelled danger-for the student and those closest to him.

Meaning Mercy.

And that was an unacceptable risk.

7.

"Where the hell were you? I called the play, but you were nowhere close to position." Cole Hunt's voice thundered as the quarterback stood nose-to-nose with his running back.