He doesn't say another word until we reach the hotel again. Walking me briskly through the cool, metallic lobby and into the elevator, he stands there, breathing hard, obviously thinking wildly. I just stare at him, my heart in my throat.

A proposition…

My inner goddess is all a flutter, putting on her fuck-me red lipstick and high heels. My subconscious, however, just raises a librarian brow and dryly mouths the word:

Whore.

I ignore the both of them.

Suddenly, Teddy has me shoved against the wall of the elevator, his hands grabbing mine, holding them captive. His eyes are fathoms deep and lightning-electric; my knees waver under me.

"Anastasia," he breathes, his beautiful face tormented. "I'm not the man for you, damme. Our passion can never be."

What? My inner goddess gapes, speechless. He abruptly lets go of me, striding with something like frustration to the window of the elevator and looking out on the rapidly disappearing road. His hand musses his hair with a fantastic energy.

"No," he says, almost to himself. "It can't be—"

Then he turns, again pushing me against the wall. His body is warm and close and hard—so very firm and tantalizing. His eyes are on mine. I can't breathe.

"But damn it all, we can give it a bully try!"

And then he pushes my face roughly to his and kisses me.

-888888-

His kiss is burning, intense, electric—it's all hot hands pinning my arms above my head, all musky outdoor scent that floods my body like the river Jordan and makes me weak all over. His mouth is bruising, questing…dominant. It's so delicious, so heady…oh, myyyyy.

Teddy's glasses are hard and cold and almost painful almost my face; his mustache gives a ruthless tickle against my drowning, hypersensitive lips. My inner goddess is shimmying around the parquet floor, shaking her hips and shouting.

He finally pulls away, breath searing my parted lips. I look up at him, dazed and bewildered,lost in the fireworks show going on in my bloodstream.

"Anastasia," he whispers. "Oh, Anastasia…if you weren't such a libertarian, what we could do…"

My inner goddess pauses in her dancing, cocking her head. What? What does he mean? Why is he so—

The door slides open, and my jaw drops. The room beyond the elevator is stunning—elegant, ornate, manly. From the deer head above the fireplace—genuine, no doubt killed with his bare hands—to the deep crimson covering on the austere mahogany furniture, it's without a doubt a man's room. The room is alive with his musky scent…I hold on to the elevator railing for support.

He walks out, gesturing for me to follow him into a large den.

"A moment, Anastasia. There's business to attend to."

Business? I look up, bewildered. I thought he had a proposition.

"Theodore, what do you—"

"You'll see, you'll see," he says rather brusquely, pacing the room again. It alternates between a deep mahogany wood and the occasional rug, so soft even his hard steps don't make noise. I nod, a wanting deep in my belly…deep…down there.

"Theodore, I—"

"Anastasia, I must show you something."

Obedient (something about him makes me so tractable), I follow him down a woody hallway to a closed door.

"What's this?" I say, trying to imagine what all this secrecy could mean. Was he some kind of pervert? He says nothing, pulling a large key, the head of which is shaped like a burly moose, The door opens, and he gestures for me to enter, flipping on a light switch.

And then my heart stops.

-888-888-

The room into which he's taken me is…oh, my. It's a big, sweeping chamber, a symphony of moody lighting and wooden paneling and rich animal furs. There's an array of whips, ranging from recreational to brutal, lined on the walls, all circling the lifeless head of a stuffed moose. On the other wall is a portrait of…oh. Desire swims in my belly like the Kraken, creating dark waves of seething deliciousness…

On the other wall is a portrait of Teddy himself, stark naked (my inner goddess is shimmying out of her clothes already, licking her plump lips) and staring masterfully into the distance. Beneath his heel is a fat man in a dark business suit, labeled "Corporate Greed" in wide yellow letters. Teddy's eyes are deep, dark, intent—I look away, my skin prickling with need.

What's wrong with you? my subconscious snaps, pursing her lips. That's against everything you believe in—for God's sake, the man is an obvious dictator, a bureaucrat out to stifle private enterprise. RUN.

I ignore her; I'm too deep in to run. And now I don't want to…

Oh, what a tangled web we weave…

To my right is a large, severe looking bed, devoid of covering—obviously not meant to slept in. Along the walls are various types of chains and silks and cords, all used for binding. I blush the color of a newly picked tomato. Theodore, meanwhile, is still by the door, watching me shrewdly.

"Well, Anastasia?" he says, hands on his hips. "Speak, speak."

I try to gather my wild, racing thoughts.

"I…you're a…a…you're into bondage," I say at last, like an idiot. He just nods.

"Among other things. I like control, Anastasia—you know that. You, I know, do not. But damn me, I want you—all wrapped up in red tape and submissive, awaiting me. The very idea stirs my blood; I'm as wild as a bull moose right now just looking at you."

"Are bull meese very wild?" I say politely, trying to gauge the seriousness of his simile. He snorts, eyes dark and liquid and deep.

"Are they wild? Oh, Anastasia, I could show you things…but I won't, I mustn't! You have to agree first. So come, tell me—are you on board? Would you be my submissive and accept my control? Are you up for a Rough Ride?"

My knees are nearly giving way at the images before me…Teddy, holding a riding crop and coming slowly toward me…Teddy whispering my name as I moan in unbridled pleasure…Teddy, pulling me in and kissing me like before…only now much, much harder…I swallow with difficulty.

"I…I need to think about it," I say softly, barely coherent. He nods.

"Of course! Take your time, Anastasia! Take your time. But since you're here…what do you say to a little romp in the hay? Perhaps a quick wham-bam-thank you ma'am? Strictly vanilla, of course."

I gape; my inner goddess is screeching with pleasure.

"Y-you want to…to just…right now?"

"Carpe diem, Anastasia," he says, voice low but intense. "I know your maidenhood is a-quiver, don't be coy. Will you let me plunder you, a ship on your maiden voyage?"

I can hardly breathe; my inner goddess is staring at me, agape with impatience. You fool, what are you waiting for? SAY YES.

"H-how do you know that I'm a virgin?"

He winks, eyes roguish; I shiver.

"You forget, Anastasia; I'm an explorer as well as a President. I know unconquered territory when I set foot upon it. Now, come—will you or won't you?"

There's nothing I can do, nothing I can say to even begin to pretend I don't yearn for him. I nod, hardly breathing.

"Y-yes, Theodore. I'll do it."

He gives a whoop, whisking me into his arms and making his way very quickly out of the room and down the hall, kicking the door shut behind him.

"Bully," he whispers.