The Plume: The Second Anthology by Ella Ardent Page A

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savagery that made her newly fearful of his intent. With a rising
sense of panic, she reviewed the list of Rex’s instructions and was
sure she’d complied with everything. She’d gone to the spa to have
her body hair removed of her own volition, knowing that Rex liked
that, not wanting to take any chance of ruining the deal.
    Why then had she dared to speak to him?
    Why had she let him see her tears?
    Had she broken their terms?
    Was that why his attitude had changed?
    “I am sorry I spoke without permission,
Master,” she whispered, wanting his reassurance that their deal
stood.
    His lips touched her cheek, warm and smooth
and firm. “You were upset,” he said, his voice soothing. “Are you
upset now?”
    “No, Master. I want only to please you.”
    “And so you do.” His fingertips slid over her
face. “So tell me, Joanna. Tell me what you want.”
    He had to be referring to the vow he’d made
her take when she’d tried to enter the Plume the first time. Joanna
tried to remember the words.
    “I surrender to desire,” she began, then
hesitated.
    “To be blindfolded and bound,” Rex murmured,
a smile in his voice.
    “To be blindfolded and bound,” Joanna
echoed.
    “To be trussed and tied.”
    “To be trussed and tied.” This time, it was
easier to say the words, easy to let the list reassure her. Joanna
had survived most of these possibilities – and enjoyed them.
    “To be harnessed and hog-tied,” Rex
murmured.
    “To be harnessed and hog-tied.”
    “To be shackled and shared.”
    “To be shackled and shared,” she repeated.
Rex’s fingertips trailed over her body, making her keenly aware of
her skin.
    “We’ll leave out the next one,” he said
quietly, then kissed her shoulder. “Given the circumstances.”
    “To be photographed and fucked,” Joanna said,
remembering.
    “A shame, since this color of ribbon suits
you so well.” Rex sighed with mock regret and Joanna almost smiled.
“To be mine for this one night.” He leaned closer and she felt his
heat. His tone turned urgent. “Swear it, Joanna. Swear that you are
my possession, right here and right now.”
    “To be yours for this one night,” she
whispered. “I swear that I am your possession, right here and right
now. Do whatever you want to me.”
    “Excellent,” Rex breathed. His lips brushed
across hers before he swept her into his arms. “Then our deal will
stand.”
    With that promise, Joanna surrendered. She
was out of control. She had submitted and her fate was no longer up
to her. She belonged to Rex. She didn’t know where he was carrying
her or what he was going to do to her, but she was powerless.
    With that realization came a sweet
release.
    The blindfold made the situation easier for
her. She could imagine that it was Mike who was claiming her. It
gave her the chance to hide from the truth of her betrayal. It took
the responsibility from her hands. She was the passive slave, the
submissive. The blindfold let her abandon her worries about
repercussions and results.
    About the risk of losing Mike.
    Joanna knew those fears would return, but for
the moment, there was sensation.
    And captivity.
    Rex laid her on what must be the bed. It was
soft and fluffy beneath her, as if covered by a feather duvet. He
positioned her with care, stretching out her legs toward the
corners of the bed. Joanna felt him lash her ankles to those
corners of the footboard, and knew his knots would be tight and
secure. She tugged against them instinctively, and he chuckled that
she couldn’t wriggle free at all.
    “Wait until I get you completely tied down,”
he growled.
    Joanna’s breath caught as he secured one
wrist to the corner of the headboard. He pulled her taut, leaving
her no room to squirm. When he tied down her other wrist, Joanna
was stretched out, spread-eagle and helpless.
    “Struggle,” he said. Joanna tried to move.
She tried to shiver, to squirm and finally to flail. Rex ran a hand
down the length of her and