“Where are you taking me?” She tried to issue a demand, but it was little more than a whisper.

I shook my head, even though she couldn’t see me. “Has no one ever given you a surprise, Nora? You don’t seem to understand how they work.”

Her shoulders stiffened, but her steps didn’t falter. Every time I needled her, she showed a bit more of her hidden spirit. For a greedy moment, I wanted to remove the blindfold so that I could see her composed mask falling away completely.

But I was enjoying her helplessness too much to ruin the moment. Mastering the fleeting urge, I firmed my fingers around hers and led her the rest of the way down the corridor, to a room at the far end of the west wing. It’d once been a seldom-used, smaller dining room. I’d had it altered just for her, spending a small fortune to make the changes within days. I’d kept this part of the house closed to her, so she wouldn’t discover what I had planned for her until it was ready.

I led her into the room and positioned her at the center of it. When I had her exactly where I wanted her, I cupped her nape and tipped her head back to claim a kiss. I started gently, not wanting to startle her with harsh, hungry contact. I traced the seam of her lips with my tongue, and she opened for me willingly, accepting my claim. I kissed her long and deep, until her hands curved around my shoulders for support as her knees went weak.

My base urges told me to continue, to lay her out on the floor and fuck her hard. But that wasn’t what I’d planned for her. For us.

So, I forced myself to step away, circling behind her to unknot the blindfold. I let it slide from her face, and she blinked rapidly to adjust to the sudden wash of light. I knew the moment her sight returned.

The awe that softened her lovely features was breathtaking, and I imprinted the memory on my brain. Nora was all mine, and after this, she’d offer herself to me freely. If she wouldn’t believe my pledge that I wanted to make her happy, actions would prove my intentions.

“Luca…” She breathed my name, and it went straight to my head, making me feel slightly high.

She’d never said it like that before, like a prayer.

She turned her head slowly, taking in the floor to ceiling mirrors before us, bisected by a barre.

“This is for me?” she asked, peering up into my face. Her eyes were wary again, as though she didn’t dare to believe that I’d done this just for her.

I traced the soft line of her lush lips. “Yes, kitten. It’s yours.”

“Was it always here?”

“No. I had it built for you.”