Dead and Loving It by MaryJanice Alongi

her expense—fucking great.
    The door was thrown open a moment later, and when Dick returned, he was stone-faced. “Sorry about that. I thought I left something on the stove. Now where were we?”
    She kicked out at him. The bonds let her leg leave the bed, but not by much. “We were talking about how you’re going to die a painful and horrible death—again! What the hell have you trussed me up with?”
    The left side of his mouth twitched. “It’s elastic lined with titanium wire. It won’t hurt you if you pull on it, but it’s impossible to break. Even I have trouble breaking it, and I’m quite a bit stronger than you are.”
    Wanna bet, Dead Man Walking? “Do you have any idea— aarrgh! I’m supposed to be meeting my boss right this minute! What time is it?”
    â€œAbout two A.M. ”
    â€œ Aaaarrrgggghhh! Jerk! I’m five hours late!”
    â€œAnother date?” he asked silkily.
    â€œNo, Deaf and Undead, I told you. My boss called—well, he didn’t call, one of his lackeys did—and told me to get to the office, pronto. And when he says jump, we leap, dude. I didn’t have time to leave you a note, but I would have come back!”
    â€œSure you would have.”
    Jane was so annoyed, she felt like biting herself. Instead, she yanked impotently on her bonds again. “Yes I would have, dill-hole!”
    â€œYour boss calls you on a weekend, and you must drop everything and race to his side? Really, Janet. I was expecting a better story than that.”
    She snarled at him. If he made her much madder, she’d start barking at the goddamned ceiling. “Jesus, to think I was actually looking forward to seeing you! And this is how you take rejection…pervert!”
    Something flashed in his eyes then. Way down deep. She was suddenly reminded of the lake back home she used to do laps in. The blue water was pretty and inviting, but the lake was spring-fed and freezing cold, even in July. You didn’t know how cold it was until you committed yourself and jumped. Then you were stuck, and you got moving or you froze.
    â€œSo you admit you rejected me?”
    â€œNo, doorknob! I told you the truth. You can believe it, or you can go fuck yourself.”
    â€œIs there a third choice?”
    â€œYes…untie me so I can make a phone call!”
    â€œI decline.”
    â€œYou can’t just keep me here like a…a…” She practically spat the word. “Like a pet or something.”
    â€œCan’t I?”
    Suddenly he was standing over her, casually unbuttoning his shirt and sliding it off his shoulders. Her eyes widened until they felt like they were practically bulging. “What the hell are you doing?”
    â€œYou’re a bright girl. You’ll figure it out in a minute.”
    â€œDon’t you dare !”
    â€œI dare much, now that my heart—” He cut himself off abruptly, and she heard the click of his teeth coming together. What the hell was going on with this guy?
    Off came the trousers, the socks, the underwear. Nude, Dick was exceedingly yummy…long legs, broad shoulders, and a tasty flat stomach that made her think about hot fudge sauce and whipped cream. His chest was lightly furred with blond hair two shades darker than the hair on his head. His muscle definition was excellent, and she had a sudden, maddening urge to touch him to see if his skin was as smooth as it looked. It would be, she thought, like velvet encased in steel. Or marble…he was quite pale.
    He reached out and flipped off the light… click. She consciously dilated her pupils and could see him again, a pale blur in the dark. A blur with glittering blue eyes.
    She felt his cool hand on her thigh and then his fingers were nimbly unbuttoning her dress. She kicked out again, to no avail. He popped open the clasp on her bra—stupid front clasps!—and with odd care, gently tore