Free Obsession by Ivory Quinn Page A

over her skin, raising goosebumps. She didn’t know whether to be terrified or aroused and the blend of both made her heart race.
    He led her through the music room and through into a short corridor, at the end of which was a locked door. He pulled a key from his pocket and slid it into the lock. “Are you sure about this?” The line of his shoulders radiated tension and she squeezed his hand.
    “I’m sure.” She wasn’t. She was about as unsure as they came, but she’d have to see it sooner or later so she’d know exactly what she was dealing with. It made sense to see it now, this early in their relationship, so that if she couldn’t deal with it she could back out. The longer they stayed together, the harder it would be to leave. Besides, he’d had other women in here. How scary could it be? He turned the key and pushed the door open, leading her through into a large, windowless room.
    It was split down the middle , with mirrored walls on either side. To her left there was gym equipment – weights, a treadmill, a rowing machine, a cross trainer and a couple of other things she didn’t recognise. To her right were his objects of play. He released her hand so she could wander around, looking at things as he stood by the door, just watching.
    She trailed a hand across the adjustable dance bar, trying and failing to imagine how he would use it. There was a padded table in the shape of an inverted T. When she pressed it to test the padding, the surface tilted. Interesting. That one she could think of a few uses for. There was a block about waist high, with padding on the top and leather cuffs on either side. She didn’t realise what it was until she saw the foot holes. The thought of being bent over and helplessly strapped down made her warm in a way that was uncomfortable. At the far end of the room there was a series of leather cuffs attached to the wall at various heights, as well as a series of winches and pulleys hanging from the ceiling. Again, her mind filled with images that made her shiver. She couldn’t decide if it was fear or anticipation. There was also a stackable padded horse, like the one she’d seen at school doing PE. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to go into the gym there again after this. She had no doubt that when Gabriel was done with her, she’d never look at this equipment in the same light again. His eyes followed her in silence as she moved back towards him, noting the chest of drawers behind the door. He didn’t stop her as she pulled open a drawer to reveal several coils of neatly tied and stacked rope.
    “I expected it to be a lot more scary.” She admitted, blushing with relief as she pushed the drawer closed again. “None of this is really frightening.”
    “What were you expecting?” He asked curiously and she giggled self-consciously.
    “I don’t know. Whips. Spikes. Things that would hurt. But I don’t see anything in here that isn’t just about restraint.”
    “If I want to mark you , I’ll do it with my hands and teeth, not a whip or a spike.” He said evenly and her heart roared in her ears.
    “I’m not sure I’m ready for pain.” She reminded him and he nodded.
    “I know.” She was. It just had to be at the right moment. She would learn. “I warned you last night of the consequences of coming in here.” He pushed the door closed and locked it. “Tell me your safe word.”
    “Cabbage.” She grinned and he smiled back, seeming more relaxed now that she hadn’t freaked out.
    “Good. Take your clothes off, fold them and leave them on top of the drawers.” She hesitated, clearly uncertain, as a rosy blush heated her face and neck, but she’d asked to be brought in here and she knew what the consequences would be. Self consciously, she removed the jeans and sweater she’d pulled on after her bath and set them on the drawers like he’d requested. Her underwear followed and he watched her approvingly as she turned back to him. “Time is short