Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 149137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
“Did you want me in the dungeon?” She pulled at the tie of her robe and it fell open, giving him a glimpse of her naked body.
Let the games begin.
That was how she would view it. They were playing a game and she intended to win.
His eyes went straight to her breasts. “Just like that?”
“You’re the Master, Joshua. That’s how this works.” She strode back into her room and placed the SIG on the nightstand table. She eased out of the robe because she’d promised him nudity. Vulnerability. “If you want me, you tell me. I’m in no physical discomfort where I wouldn’t enjoy a session, so I’ll comply. We settled things last night. This is about sex and it’s about you and not me. I’m here to please you and to protect you.”
His jaw tightened but he didn’t look away from her. “And in return?”
Why was he pushing this? “I get a paycheck. A rather large one.”
She could see easily that her reply displeased him and yet it was exactly what he’d asked for.
He stepped into the room, blocking her access to the door. “Then I suppose you should earn it.”
She put her hands on her hips. “What is the problem now? I asked you to kiss me and yes, it disappointed me that you wouldn’t. But I’m not sulking. You didn’t want to sleep with me. I came in here. Again with the not sulking or making demands. You knock on my door and ask for sex. I offer to meet you in the dungeon. So far, I’ve done everything you’ve asked me to do and none of it has pleased you. I think it might be time to cut our losses.”
If she had no control or influence over him, she was useless, and humiliating herself wasn’t something she did for fun.
They would have to find someone else or another way to get to him because it didn’t look like seduction was going to work.
“You’re the only person in my life who fucking does that,” he said with a rueful shake of his head.
“Does what?”
“Tells me when I’m being an ass.”
Probably because he got rid of all the ones who did. Or was it possible no one ever stood up to him because they were scared of getting thrown off the gravy train? “You’re definitely being an ass. What do you want from me, Joshua? I’m not going to be your doormat. There’s not enough money in the world for that.”
He moved in, his eyes still on her body, his hands coming up to cup her shoulders. He stared down at her for a moment, his thumb tracing the scar under her clavicle. He seemed fascinated by it. After a moment, he looked her in the eyes. “I felt bad about last night. That’s not it. I feel bad about last night. I can’t seem to let it go. You asked for one thing and I didn’t give it to you.”
This was about his trigger episode. “I told you; it’s all right. I’m not even sore today.”
He shook his head. “It’s not all right and I want to make it up to you. You asked me what I want. I don’t know. I haven’t had this kind of relationship before and I thought it would be simple. I guess I thought it wouldn’t be a real relationship, but it kind of feels that way already. I didn’t like the thought of you being upset. I definitely didn’t like being the reason for it. I’m on shaky ground here and I don’t deal well with that. I like being in control, and I’m not entirely right now. I don’t want to kiss you because of things that had happened in my past. Can you accept that?”
Kissing was a bad idea. She got that now. “Yes.”
“I don’t want to sleep with you because I have terrible dreams and I’m worried I’ll wake up with my hands around your throat again.”
“Then I would set you on your ass.” She shook her head because that wasn’t what he needed. He needed smooth and easy compliance. “It’s okay. I can hear you if something happens. I’m fine in this room.”
“But I sat up most of the night and I thought about something you said.” His hands moved down her shoulders and onto her arms, smoothing the skin there. “I can adapt. Come here. I don’t want it to be cold between us. I don’t. I get enough cold. I need something in my life that’s warm.”
His arms went around her awkwardly, as though it had been a long time since he’d initiated a hug. Who the hell was this man? He was going to kill her because she was softening up again when she’d promised not to.
She let her arms drift up and around his chest, reveling in the way his skin felt against hers. Warm and secure. This was what she’d missed last night. The sex itself had been spectacular, the work of a true master, but they’d lacked any kind of deeper intimacy, anything that went beyond the contract between Dom and submissive.