﻿The instructions are simple. Do not remove the blindfold.
I stare at the card in my hand and swallow the rising uncertainty. My friends think I'm crazy indulging in something so reckless, but you only live once, right?
My hand skims over silk embroidered duvet covering the king size bed. The four mahogany posts rise up like sentinels at the corners of the mattress. I admire the plush carpet beneath my feet, but it makes walking in heels a challenge. So, I slip off the monstrous three-inch Louboutins I borrowed from my best friend in an attempt to look sexy for my special night and set them by the door.
The suite hosts a bedroom, full bathroom complete with jetted tub and dual shower heads, a fully stocked kitchen, and a living room with a flat screen built into the wall. In the space between the bed and the couch there's a single chair facing the floor to ceiling window overlooking the city. A small sign is taped to it. Sit here and wait.
When I received the email with the details, I nearly fell off my chair. This hotel is nicer than any place I've ever lived, and one night costs more than my monthly rent. But I'm not paying for the hotel.
He is.
I glance at the clock on my phone ignoring the dark alluring gaze of the handsome actor on my wallpaper background. Two minutes to seven.
"Shit." I quickly pull the black silk scarf from my purse and set the bag on the nightstand.
Inside, my phone is safely tucked out of sight with my location settings on. I'm not completely reckless. The girls know exactly where I am.
Once I settle into the chair overlooking the vibrant city, I place the smooth fabric across my eyes and secure it firmly careful not to get my hair tangled in the process. The room plunges into darkness. I tug the edges into place ensuring I'm in full compliance with his instructions.
It may be my evening, but he makes the rules. I am at his mercy. 
God, I must be fucking crazy. Letting a complete stranger lure me into such a vulnerable situation.
My skin prickles with awareness as the cool air brushes across my bare shoulders. I should have worn something with layers. But Jen convinced me to wear the halter wiggle dress I had tucked in the back of my closet. I bought it for a vintage ball, but never had a chance to wear it. The fabric hugs every curve I've tried to hide beneath layers of baggy sweaters and yoga pants. 
I won't lie. My confidence bolstered the moment I saw my reflection in the mirror. I missed my calling as a pin-up girl. The looks I got crossing the lobby downstairs definitely made my ego purr with delight. The poor maintenance man will have to use a mop to clean the drool off the floor.
My hands rest in my lap. I fidget with the edge of the press on nails. The silence is unnerving. I swear I can hear the air circulating through the room. My mind teases me with horrible possibilities. What if he's going to kidnap me? Harvest my organs? Kill me?
Damn. This was a bad idea. My mother warned me about this. Stranger danger. 
Especially when you meet them in an online forum. My heart pounds in my chest. I swear it's echoing in the room growing louder with every passing moment. I take a deep breath to calm down, but anticipation has me on edge.
I feel everything. The slide of the leather beneath me. The warm air filling the room through the vents. The thundering of my heart. The plush carpet between my toes. The pulse of the city beyond the glass.
How long has it been? Probably only a few minutes, but it drags like hours. I shift in my seat considering my alternatives.
I should rip off the blindfold and haul ass out of here. That would be the wisest course of action. But I'm rooted to my seat. My curiosity is stronger than my self-preservation.
Regret and uncertainty fills me. I should never have joined that site. I silently curse my ex for bringing it up. I hate that my friends encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone. It's not too late. I can rip off the blindfold and walk out the door.
The click of the electronic lock and subsequent beep tell me the opposite. He's here.
Oh god, what the hell am I doing? I focus on keeping my breaths steady, but my heart rate slowly increases when he enters the room. The air changes shifting from neutral to pure static. Goosebumps cover my arms. I resist the urge to rub them.
Instead, I remain perfectly still. Eyes closed even though the blindfold is securely in place.
The carpet muffles his footsteps, but I feel him behind me. His heat surrounds me just before his scent. I moan when I recognize the faint aroma. Gucci Guilty. Mixed with the undercurrent of his chemistry, it's damn near intoxicating. I lick my lips fighting off the urge to remove the blindfold and see if he looks as good as he smells.
His deep chuckle sets off a chain reaction of butterflies in my stomach. "I haven't even started."
Oh, sweet mother of all that's holy. His deep voice catches me unprepared. I bite my tongue, pressing my lips together to keep another moan from slipping free. There's a hint of an accent behind his words, but I can't place it.
"You're such an obedient girl. Eager to please." The soft words are like a caress against my throat. His breath warm against the skin below my ear.
My heart skips a beat. I feel the heat blossom across my chest and up into my cheeks at his observation.
"This dress." He purrs with appreciation making me shiver. "I want to see what it's hiding."
I gasp when his fingertips brush against my collar bone.
"Do you want me to stop?" He whispers the question, but its intent is clear. "Say the word, kitten, and it stops."
My mind drifts back to our chat conversations. He's asking for my safe word. Did we ever discuss one? I mean we joked about it, but there was never a conversation outlining details in any sort of agreement. I shake my head unable to remember.
"Tonight is yours. I want you to feel safe." He presses his warm lips to my shoulder. "Treasured." Another kiss, this time against my throat. "Worshiped."
I whimper and catch my lower lip between my teeth. It takes every ounce of restraint to keep from reaching for him. I clench my hands into tight fists.
His hand covers mine. Holy shit. Long fingers intertwine with mine and his palm dwarfs mine.
"Nothing goes beyond what we agreed." He gives my hand a gentle squeeze. "Promise."
I open my mouth to tell him I'm not scared of him, of this. I'm so turned on right now I can't think clearly. If he keeps going, I'll be a pile of goo on the floor. My panties are ruined. I'm ruined. No other man will be able to top this. Ever. It's the single most erotic moment of my life, and he hasn't really done anything yet.
When he releases my hand, his heat disappears. For a moment I think he may have reconsidered, until his hand encircles my throat. Fingertips graze the sensitive spot beneath my ear.
"You lied to me, kitten." His gruff accusation stings, making me bristle. "I…" He places his fingers over my lips silencing me. I want to lick him.
"The description you gave me was incomplete." His fingertip rubs across my lower lip teasing me.
"That's not lying." I gasp when his other hand finds the clasp holding the halter portion of the dress together.
"Lies through omission." He unfastens the button and the fabric loosens.
I grasp the top of my dress as the straps slide down out of habit. He tuts at my reaction. "I thought we had an understanding." He grasps my wrists and peels them away from where they cover my chest.
My breasts aren't exposed, but one shimmy and they'll slip free with little effort. My nipples tighten at the thought. I relent, if only because he's right. Tonight was not a drunken invitation, it was carefully calculated and discussed. We both consented to this. And even though my insecurities won't allow me to relax into the moment, I crave what he offers. My hands fall to my sides.
"Stand up." His order cracks like a whip.
I suppress a shudder of need and rise to my feet, thankful I removed the heels before he arrived. My knees are weak. I sway at the disoriented rush. His strong grip catches my shoulders holding me steady. Once I find my balance, he releases me.
He locates the zipper on my dress, and I stiffen at the touch. "Kitten, trust me." His heat warms me.
"I don't know you." My insecurities rise like bubbles to the surface. He exhales, almost a sigh, and drops his hand.
"But you do."
I shake my head, need twisting with uncertainty in my gut.
"From conversations online. Did you lie to me during those conversations?" he asks softly.
"No." I shake my head again more fervently and the blindfold slips. I reach to catch it but he grasps my wrist and moves it away before securing the scarf over my eyes. "Did you?"
He hesitates for the briefest moment. "No."
"Omissions are lies." I repeat his words back to him.
"Damn it."
My heart sinks. Is it over? A deep regret settles in the pit of my stomach. I reach up to pull off the blindfold when he catches me around the waist pinning me against his body. Oh, shit. He's tall and broad. His chin brushes the top of my head, which means he's at least six foot. I try to pull away, but he holds me tight. Damn, he's strong. I want to melt into him absorbing the strength and the heat.
"If you keep squirming, I may forget I'm supposed to be a gentleman." His growl reverberates through me. I go completely still. His hands rest on my ribs beneath my breasts, and I'm hyper aware of the pressure of his fingertips.
I want him. More than I did before. More than I've ever wanted anything in my life. My breath quickens and his heartbeat pulses against my spine. It's racing. Like mine.
"Why were you in that forum?" His tone is deceptively calm, but tension radiates off him in waves.
"It's a fan fiction site." I snap as though the reason is obvious.
"Yes, but that forum is reserved for role play only." His grip tightens, pulling me flush against his torso. The evidence of this exchange presses against the small of my back. I groan.
"Curiosity?" I arch my hips back, smiling when he curses.
"Bullshit. If it were idle curiosity, you wouldn't have posted that first message."
"I posted that a year ago." My amusement evaporates at the implication. "We've only been chatting six months."
"Oh yes, kitten." He sways his hips almost like a dance, grinding against me. "I've been a fan of your work for quite a while." My lips part when his breath caresses my ear. "Imagine my delight when you joined the same group. It gave me the perfect opportunity."
"To do what? Stalk me?" I tease him. How does he manage to distract me so perfectly with his hands, his hips, his heat? It's getting difficult to focus on anything but the tension building between us.