Uncharted Territory (The Compass Series Book 3) by Tamsen Parker Page A

Hunter. “Arms out.”
    He tethers first one, then the other wrist with cuffs anchored to the frame. My hips move of their own accord—this is really fucking hot—but I’m met by a sharp swat of his hand over the crop marks. An intense sting echoes through the marks he’s made.
    “Stay still.”
    I do my best, but my breath is coming heavy. When he tells me to spread my legs, a mewl escapes and I’ve earned another strike.
    “I see you like bondage.”
    “Yes, sir.” My voice is squeezed tight by desperation, my arousal growing with the application of each cuff, the tightening of every strap. I knew I liked it from the various forms of restraint Rey’s showed me. But at Hunter’s hands, my enjoyment has become exponential. Contained, helpless, forced to accept the attention being lavished on me. It’s unspeakably erotic.
    “Good. Me too.” He runs a hand up the inside of my thigh, teasing me before he sinks two fingers into me and I moan. “You’ll learn to like it more.”
    Apparently what we’d started at the party two weeks ago was a heady cocktail of kink and sex. For the next several hours, Hunter ignites my body in the most unexpected ways. Every time he makes me come, I fall deeper in his thrall. But what makes me sure I’ve made the right call—that Rey was right about me—is that addictive as my pleasure is, the gratification I find in serving him, obeying him, pleasing him, is stronger.
    I don’t want to leave when Rey tells me it’s time to go home. I’d sign my life over to Hunter here and now if I could. The idea that I can’t makes tears well in my eyes.
    “It’s all right, sweetheart,” Hunter murmurs as he holds me to him at the door. “I’ll see you Thursday evening. You’re going to tell me what a good girl you were this week, right?”
    “Yes, sir.” My voice is muffled by the fine cotton of his fresh shirt and my unshed tears.
    “Run along, then. Don’t make me ask again.”
    “Yes, sir.” I sniff and pull away, not wanting to disappoint him even more than I want to be close to him. Barely. He taps a finger on his cheek. I go up on tip-toe to lay a kiss against his stubble.
    “See that she comes back to me in one piece,” he instructs Rey, who’s tucking me under his arm.
    “Of course. You’ll do the same.”

Chapter Nine
    ‡
    Year One
    T onight is Hunter’s first party since we’ve signed our contract. I haven’t gone to any parties since then. He’s been keeping me all to himself and I’m both eager for contact with other people and terrified.
    When I was here as Rey’s, I didn’t want to disappoint him, but the stakes weren’t as high. His demands weren’t so rigid. Rey wanted me to be a version of myself. Hunter wants me to be his version of myself. I want that, too. If I could just be that girl and please him, everything will be perfect. I will be perfect.
    He’s laid out clothes for me: a dark green halter-neck dress with no back and a full skirt, along with some strappy lingerie that must have cost him a small fortune. I’d looked for shoes, but I couldn’t find any. When he comes to collect me, it’s made clear why.
    “You don’t get shoes. I want to make sure you don’t run away.”
    With the snow drifting outside, it’s a pretty good deterrent. Not that I need one and never mind that I have a dozen pairs here I could put on if I really wanted to, but I don’t want to. “Yes, sir.”
    “Good girl. Now bend over the bed.”
    I lay my cheek against the puffy white silk duvet and my hands lightly alongside my head as I’ve been taught. I’m supposed to look elegant doing everything, pleasing to the eye. When I’ve arranged myself to his satisfaction, he flips up my skirt so the layers of tulle rest over my back. I hope the vision he must’ve had of my ass framed by the black underwear, garter belt and stockings he picked out for me is coming true.
    His fingers dig into my cheeks as he squeezes and kneads. It hurts, but I don’t make