Apparently sensing her distress, he slowly nodded and caressed her cheek, cradling her face in his palm. "I promise, with every fiber of my being, to the deepest corners of my soul, that I will fight to stay with you until the very last breath leaves my body."

She gasped, unable to respond.

"Does that settle your heart, love?"

She nodded, feeling the prickle of tears in her eyes. "Yeah." Pulling his head down to hers, she kissed him, long and deep and enjoying the feel of his hands on her, his arms around her. She wanted to cry and didn't know if he'd understand, didn't want to let go in front of Cris, either.

Landry apparently sensed it anyway. "I take my vows seriously. You're stuck with me for a long time. I told you, don't be surprised if you try to leave in three years and I'm clinging to your leg, begging you to stay. You'd hate to see a grown Dom cry, wouldn't you?"

She giggled over his playful smirk, easing her tension. "I can't think of anything more pitiful."

She rested her cheek against his palm, which still cupped her jaw. His fingers stroked the back of her neck, up under her hair. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm difficult to live with. I've gotten used to doing things my way."

"Then that's the way we'll do them. Cardinal's rules."

She cracked an eye open. His eyes were still fixed on her, his expression serious. She knew Cris couldn't hear them if she whispered. "If you get tired of me-"

He kissed her. "Stop. I will not get tired of you. Although you may be ready to kick me out by next week after you see what a whiner I am."

"I don't want to fall in love with you and get my heart broken."

He nuzzled her forehead with his. "I guess Loren meant it when she asked me."

"Meant what? Asked you what?"

"This morning, when she arrived to pick you up. She said it was between her and myself, but she wanted to know if I was falling in love with you and if I would mean my vows. Apparently she meant it when she said she wouldn't tell."

Her heart raced. "What did you say?"

"I told her yes, that I am. And yes, I meant every word."

"Please don't tell me what you think I want to hear."

"I will always be honest with you, Tilly. Good or bad. You know my past, you know about Cris.

If I ever feel I can't continue, I will tell you. But prepare yourself for me doing my best to woo you whenever I get the chance."

Her fingers tightened on his shoulders. "Woo away, buddy."

Chapter Twelve.

Landry knew it wouldn't take them long to reach Tilly's house, but he wanted to torture Cris as much as possible, in addition to being unable to keep his hands off his wife.

Now there was a word he never thought he'd use in reference to himself.

His wife.

He slid one hand up her thigh, under her dress, until his fingers brushed against her panties. He hooked one finger under them and gently tugged, his finger rubbing against her bare pussy. She was already as wet as he was hard.

"Mmm. That is a rather pleasant surprise, love."

She squirmed against his hand as her eyes dropped closed and she rested her head against his shoulder. He slowly fucked her with two fingers, softly murmuring to her so Cris couldn't hear. Then he withdrew his fingers and, with his eyes firmly fixed on Cris, who silently watched, he sucked her juices off his fingers before slipping his hand under her dress again.

Cris' fingernails dug into his palms as he watched, unable to look away. She wasn't faking it, he knew the signs far too well.

The edges of Landry's mouth curved in a smirk as his gaze narrowed. Cris also knew that expression.

Challenge me. I dare you.

He wouldn't-couldn't-challenge him.

After Landry apparently knew he'd made his point, he returned his attention to Tilly, whispering to her and kissing the hollow of her throat even as she made little moans he could hear from the front of the passenger compartment.

His sweet little Redbird, now his Master's wife.

Landry truly was a sadist. Not that there was any doubt about that fact before.

When they reached the house, Landry withdrew his hand and smoothed down her skirts before he kissed her. Her eyes looked glazed with passion. Landry hadn't let her come yet, although Cris had an idea that was a top item on the menu for the night.

His own cock throbbed, remembering times with her and wishing it was his ring on her hand.

"You get out first," he ordered Cris. "Open the front door for us and take her things inside." He tossed Cris his keys.

He did as ordered while the limo driver opened the trunk for him. Once outside the limo, Landry scooped Tilly into his arms, drawing a startled squeak from her.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm carrying my wife over the threshold," he said as he walked toward the front door. "It's only proper."

She draped her arms around his neck. "I think we're anything but proper."

Cris scurried to get the front door unlocked and opened and move out of the way while Landry swept inside with her.

"Take her things into our bedroom and wait for me there," Landry ordered.

Cris went to do it, his mind spinning. Whatever he cooked up in his own imagination was probably worse than anything Landry would do to him.

He hoped.

After a few minutes, Landry entered the bedroom and shut the door behind him. The smile he'd worn vanished from his face. "Strip."

Cris didn't dare argue. He kicked off his shoes and immediately began unbuttoning his shirt.

Once naked, he neatly folded his clothes and stood holding them, waiting for instructions.

Landry reached for them. "Give them to me. Go use the bathroom." Landry took his clothes and shoes into the large walk-in closet by the bathroom while Cris went to relieve himself in the master bath.

His heart racing, he returned to stand beside the bed where Landry waited with the coil of rope in his hand and the covers and pillows already stripped from the bed. "On the bed. Face down."

Cris obeyed. Without any perfunctory explanations, Landry began to hog-tie him. Well, not totally, he left his hands in front of him. He recognized the pattern in Landry's rope work, one designed File sharing is theft and is illegal!

Cardinal's Rule Tymber Dalton Page 149 to securely hold him and yet not cut off his circulation so he could remain bound longer.

Landry rolled him over on his back, roughly passing the rope between Cris' legs and binding his cock and balls as well before immobilizing his arms. Then Landry shoved the ball gag into his mouth and tightened the strap around his head.

He tried to slow his breathing, remain calm, but he had a feeling he didn't want to be part of what was about to occur. Landry leaned in and viciously grabbed his hair, making Cris wince. "You get no safeword tonight. Unless you are in serious physical distress, you don't tap out or do anything I don't order you to do. Not if you want to remain my slave. If you safeword for any other reason than physical distress, you're out on your ass. And you will not close your eyes other than to blink. You will watch every single second of tonight. I want it seared into your brain. Understood?"

Cris nodded.

Landry's eyes narrowed even as he smiled. "Good."

The look and his tone of voice chilled Cris. He'd never seen that expression directed at him before, although he'd seen Landry act that way in the course of business negotiations.

Landry manhandled him until he was at the head of the bed, stretched out across the width of it and laying on his side. Landry lightly slapped Cris' bound cock and balls, hard enough to make him wince. "You won't have use for these tonight. You're lucky I'm letting you keep them at all, but as I told you, Tilly said I'm not allowed to geld you." He lit all the candles and set the cable TV to a classical music channel before he left the room.

Landry emerged from the bedroom with a playful smile on his face. She'd managed to get the champagne bottle open without it fizzing everywhere. He walked into the kitchen and kissed her, hard and deep and taking her breath away.

"Ready to begin our night, love?" he asked.

She nodded. "It's all I've thought about all day."

"Me too."

She put a staying hand on his chest. "Not because of our revenge fantasy," she admitted. "I've wanted you. At this point, I could do without the other part if you wanted to."

He pouted. "Aw, but love, I have such a prettily wrapped surprise awaiting you."

Laughing, she asked, "What did you do?"

"Let me show you." He handed her the bottle and two empty glasses and took her by the hand, leading her to the bedroom door. He stepped behind her and covered her eyes with one hand. "No peeking," he warned. He reached around her with his free hand and opened the door, pushing it so it swung all the way open.

He guided her into the bedroom and kissed the back of her neck. "All right love, I present your bridal suite."

When he removed his hand from her eyes, she gasped before she ever spotted Cris. "Oh, the flowers are beautiful! And candles, too." She leaned into him as he slipped one arm around her waist.

"You weren't kidding when you said you wrapped him, were you?"

He nipped her earlobe. "Love, would I tease you about something like that?" He took the bottle and glasses and poured their champagne. Then he handed hers to her and they linked arms. "To my beautiful bride," he said, his eyes holding hers.

Her heart raced. "To my handsome husband," she breathlessly replied. They both sipped, then he took her glass from her and set it on the bedside table with his.

"Come here." When he opened his arms to her, she kicked off her shoes and walked to him. His kiss felt gentle at first, then more persistent as he slanted his lips across hers and took control.

For tonight, she was more than willing to let him have it.

It was easy to ignore Cris lying there trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey. Landry consumed her soul as his lips explored hers. He reached around her back and found the zipper of her dress.

Slowly, as he held her firmly cocooned in his arms, he lowered it. Cool air brushed against her flesh as the fabric parted.

He lifted his head and smiled. "I suppose I should take this jacket off." He shrugged it off and tossed it onto the chair in the corner. Then he caught her hands and backed over to the bed, leading her along. He sat and pulled her onto his lap. "This is where I want you. Now, I believe I was somewhere about...here in the limo." He slipped his free hand up her skirt again, under her panties.

Eagerly nodding, she draped her arms around his neck again. "Yeah. Right there."

She moaned as he easily slid two fingers inside her. Her muscles grabbed at him as he slowly fucked her with his hand.

"Do you like that, baby?" he teased.

She closed her eyes and fought the urge to whimper. "Uh huh."

Landry fought the urge to rip her dress all the way off her, throw her legs in the air, and fuck her brainless right there. His cock throbbed almost painfully as he felt her slick pussy. "I want to make love to you all night," he said. "I want to show you how special you are."