Kissed by Eternity by Shéa MacLeod

shrugged. "I'd probably do the same damn thing. But the truth is, without you, Morgan, I'm lost. I'm not myself. I'm not…" He seemed to search for the world. "Complete."
    I swallowed. "I get it. You were hurting. I just wish you would have let me help you."
    He smiled sadly. "Me, too. But I couldn't. I don't know why. I can't explain it. All I know is I am here now. This is where I want to be. With you always if you'll have me."
    "Are you proposing?" Me and my big mouth.
    He laughed softly. "If I was proposing, you'd know it. Consider this a pre-proposal. Until I'm back in your good graces. I'm pretty sure if I proposed now, I wouldn't like the answer."
    He was right about that. "Okay."
    "Okay?"
    I nodded. "I accept your pre-proposal. But you'd better not shut me out again."
    "Can't promise that. Not totally. But I will do my best, and I give you permission to call my ass on it if I'm doing it again."
    "You better believe I will." I pulled him down to kiss him, and the minute our lips locked, my exhaustion fled. "Stay the night," I whispered.
    "If you insist."
    "I do."

Chapter 11
    With infinite slowness I wound silk ribbons around Inigo's wrists before tying the ends to the bedposts. First the left hand, then the right. He watched me with heavy-lidded eyes. Promises of payback. We both knew he could get out of the ties if he wanted. We both knew he wouldn't.
    I sat back to admire my handiwork. The gods' handiwork. Whatever. He was so fucking beautiful, he took my breath away. Made my chest a little tight. And this fucking beautiful man was in my bed, where he belonged.
    I had no idea where I'd come up with the idea to tie him up, although I wasn't totally surprised he'd let me. Inigo had always been the playful type. Before…. I pushed the thoughts away. Damn, if I wasn't going to take advantage of the situation.
    Where to start?
    My breath traced the delicate shell of his left ear. He tensed between my thighs. My tongue followed. He sucked in a breath. I nuzzled that sweet spot behind the ear where the skin was so very tender. This time it was a moan.
    I slid one hand into the thick tangle of his hair. In this light the golden strands looked darker. Almost brown. I pulled his head back a little, baring his throat. A smile hovered on my lips as I traced the sensitive space from ear to collarbone. Laving with tongue, nipping with teeth. He twisted a little against his bonds but didn't slip them. The thick length of him pressed hard against my inner thigh. I was swollen and wet. I wanted to push myself onto him, take him inside me and ride him until we both screamed. But I also wanted to play with him.
    Play won.
    His sapphire eyes burned with heat and need. I knew he was thinking about fucking me. But he also wanted me to play with him first. The old Inigo peeked from beneath sooty lashes as his eyes turned gold.
    Play definitely won.
    I nipped the tender skin along his collarbone. Soothed it with my tongue, drank in the musky scent of aroused man. Gods, he was delicious.
    Letting go of his hair, I slid my left thumb over his right nipple. Toyed a little with the flat bud. He hissed, so I moved my mouth to his left nipple. The hiss grew into another moan. And then, "Yes." Clearly, he was into it. Good thing, because I was thoroughly enjoying myself as I paid equal attention to each nipple.
    By now I was practically dripping with arousal. His writhing had brought his shaft solidly against my cleft. I wanted desperately to rub myself up and down his length, but if I did, I'd be a goner. Playtime would be over.
    I wasn't ready for that. He deserved a little torture, and I deserved my fun.
    I moved away, and he groaned in protest. "Morgan." My name was a breath on his lips.
    "Patience," I whispered.
    "Hurry," he said.
    "Good things come to those who wait."
    "They had better."
    His trace of an accent drove me wild. That perfectly proper British was music to my ears. He knew what it did to me. Bastard.
    "Be quiet," I said.
    The