Bound With Pearls by Sidney Bristol Page A

nodded as he spoke. “That makes perfect sense.”
    He tilted his head to the side. He’d wanted to see the other layers that made up Christine and liked what he saw. They slipped into a comfortable feeling, as if they’d spent ages together instead of just hours. This was what he had been looking for. She wasn’t just a well-trained, sexy submissive, she was damn smart as well.
     
    Christine was glad the portions on the multi-course meal were petite. The dress fit her like a second skin, not uncomfortable but overeating would be. Besides, her nerves were taut and she could only manage to eat half of each course. They still had dessert to go.
    Her attention drifted to the rest of the patrons. There were many glamorous-looking people at the restaurant. She’d never dined at a place this extravagant. The glimpses she got of the kitchen made her think of the cooking competition shows with the chefs who had a penchant for yelling. She’d been focused on Daniel and not dropping food on herself for most of the meal, so she hadn’t paid much attention to their surroundings, which was a pity because the place was beautiful.
    Heat blossomed on the tender underside of her wrist. She tried to jerk away from it, but Daniel held her in place. Whipping her head around, she sucked in a breath and stared at him. He pressed the back of her hand flat against the table. In his other hand he held the burned-out tea light from the centerpiece over her arm. The wick was gone, but there was still hot wax in the silver dish.
    She glanced down at her arm and the tiny circle of drying wax. The skin around the white dot was pink and tingled.
    His eyes were bright but his face was drawn into the emotionless façade that was the Dom.
    “Too hot?”
    She shook her head. She was surprised but it didn’t hurt. Not after the initial shock. His gaze dropped to her arm. He slowly dripped more wax, pouring a line down the sensitive skin. It was warm and a little uncomfortable. Her attention centered on where the wax would fall next. By the time the last bit had fallen, she was squirming in her seat. How heat on her arm could have her creaming her panties was a mystery.
    He discarded the silver saucer and bent over her arm. Holding her gaze, he gently blew on the wax. She shivered and wished they were someplace private.
    “Do you like the wax?” His eyes were heavy-lidded and sexy.
    Sexual hunger blossomed between them. Her voice morphed into a sultry, breathless purr. “I’ve never played with it before. But I’d be interested.”
    His fingers traced the top of the still-soft wax. He stared into her eyes as if he were reading her soul. “Did you get yourself off last night?”
    Heat gripped her cheeks. She couldn’t help glancing around them. Could other people hear them?
    He squeezed her hand. “You’re here with me. Pay attention to me.”
    Squirming, she took her time sliding her gaze back to him. She’d had relationships that included kink before, but there had always been clear-cut boundaries between the bedroom and public.
    Wetting her lips, she looked up at him through her lashes. Their relationship was based on trust. Testing was natural, but not something she’d thought would happen so soon.
    She cleared her throat and tried to reply as calmly as possible. “Daniel, I’m uncomfortable talking about this in public.”
    “We aren’t doing anything.” His thumb traced the wax on her arm. “What’s making you uncomfortable?”
    Though she didn’t think the people at the nearest table could hear them, she still glanced their way. “People might be listening.”
    He frowned and his fingers stilled against her skin. “There are talk radio shows and websites where people discuss their sex lives. I asked one question. Did you use a vibrator? Or your hands?”
    “No,” she hissed, trying to tug her hand from his but he didn’t let her go.
    “No?”
    He lifted one damn eyebrow and she stilled. She couldn’t meet his gaze so she