Disclaimer: Oh yes, of course… I don't see why we have to go through this. It isn't mine.

A Brief Author's Note: Oh my lord! I can't believe this is number 7! on Table 11! No real smut but this one is rated M. So if you're under 18, or whatever the legal age is in your area, or are offended by light bondage that is going to lead to sex, I strongly suggest you leave now.

7 - Control

The Hatter had never really thought about this kind of thing before, unused to giving up control, but when the idea had struck her and he had agreed to let her, he found that he couldn't be happier. Alice bound his wrists with a silk scarf, a bit tighter than he would have expected she would go for, and pushed him back on her bed. With the sauciest look he had ever seen from her, she placed his bound hands over his head and instructed him to keep them there. Then, she took her sweet time in undoing each shirtfront button, parting the fabric and exposing his pale chest. Surprisingly enough, he wanted her hands upon him so badly that she did more to him by not touching his skin as she went.

"This feels so awfully naughty, you know," she informed him, her voice slightly husky.

This semi-innocent statement caused his trousers to tent a bit more and he shifted his body under her, making sure to keep his hands as still as possible. Her narrow-eyed stare saw to that. A grin placated her and she went back to teasing him. A hand came up to scratch him behind one ear like a cat – he had honestly never encountered such a sensation before and it did unusually wonderful things to his body… The two of them heard a raspy laugh and Alice got up to eject the Cheshire Cat from her bedroom, telling the doorknob to keep an eye out for the flying fluffball.

Alice smiled at the state she had the Hatter in – eyes wide, lips parted – and her other hand raked gently down his chest, just barely hard enough graze him. His pale skin marked easily, light red marks showing up from her attentions. Panting tensely, he squirmed at the new feeling, feeling a significant part of his anatomy screaming that it wanted her to do it again, harder. But he decided not to push her, not yet. His muscles tensed as her small fingernails trailed down to his abdomen, almost as an afterthought. She traced her own lips with the tip of her tongue, he watched her hungrily, and she planned her next move.

Tarrant had never seen his beloved Alice like this before! She knew what she was doing to him and wasn't letting up anytime soon. A groan passed his painted lips as she inclined her head to press a kiss just above the waistband of his trousers. Her hair, tickling his skin, had him on pins and needles – for a moment, he thought about wriggling out of his bonds and reversing their situation. He wanted her right now . . . But he would wait – he had promised to let her explore. When her tongue trailed over his bare skin, her fingers hooked into his trousers and pulling them back, he lost any semblance of thought.

"Ye wicked tease," he growled, said trousers now uncomfortably tight.

Alice tilted her head at him, smiling.

"Yes, but you like it, don't you?" she asked in her sweetest voice.

Damn it… He almost came undone at that. His eyes blazed red and a rumbling sound echoed in the back of his throat. But then he just couldn't help writhing as the combined touches of her hands and mouth returned to him. Her lips abandoned their teasing and pressed firmly to his, one hand tangling in his hair and the other palm-down against his chest. Again, the half-mad man couldn't help himself. He threw his bound arms 'round her and held her against him.

Quick as a flash, Alice pulled back and returned his hands to where she wanted them.

"I did tell you to keep them there," she reminded him. "Will you do that or shall I hold them?"

The madman inside him told him to stand up, rip through the silk, and toss her down so he could have his way with her. His eyes turned red. But the tamer side of his mind felt such a thrill at the prospect of having her do the very same thing to him that they greened right back up. He let her press his wrists back to the bed and smiled, those green eyes falling half-closed in contentment. Alice grinned, a quirky, almost-impish expression on her, and pushed back to stand beside the bed.

"Keep your eyes on me," she instructed.

Oh, but he couldn't have looked away if he tried. Alice untied the sash on her blue dress – another of his creations – and undid the buttons down the back. Tarrant's eyes widened as the chiffon pooled on the floor and she stepped out of it in nothing but a camisole and knickers. Crawling onto the bed, catlike, she straddled his still-clothed hips and let out a moan as she felt him hard beneath her. Those green eyes rolled back in his head for a moment at such intimate contact with his trousers still on! He wanted to take hold of her hips and aid her in rocking against him, but kept his hands obediently in place.

"Alice, yeh're a bloody wonder," he rasped, pushing his hips against hers. "Dinnae keap me wait'n…"

The blonde giggled – a decidedly devilish sound.

"You can wait a bit longer," she shot back. "I fully intend to take my time with you…"

With a pouting smile in place, she narrowed her eyes again.

"And you'll continue to give me no trouble at all, am I right?" She reached up and clasped both his wrists, pressing them to the bed as she settled her full weight on his hips to make her point.

Tarrant smiled rakishly, once again contemplating turning the tables. Her lips came within an inch of his and she repeated her question, whispering breath tickling him. Once more, his tame side thrilled and he nodded in compliance. The madman inside him slowly gave in as well, those lips being quite persuasive. He couldn't lie. He enjoyed giving her control.