Читать книгу Loving On the Edge 5-Book Collection: Crash Into You, Melt Into You, Fall Into You, Caught Up In You, Need You Tonight - Roni Loren, Roni Loren - Страница 16

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Brynn rolled her wrist, her hand aching from all the notes she’d taken during her boss Davis’s staff meeting, and sank back into the conference room chair. She glanced around the oval table and noticed everyone’s eyes had glazed over. Davis stepped around the whiteboard he’d been scribbling on and stood behind Brynn. “Any questions, people?”

Most shook their heads.

Davis’s hands settled on Brynn’s ­shoulders and squeezed, the unexpected touch jolting her from her daze. “Did you get all of that, Brynn?”

She cleared her throat and tried not to squirm beneath the unwanted touch. The man didn’t like her, so his ­seemingly friendly gesture was all for the benefit of the other workers. “Uh, yes, sir, of course.”

“Excellent. So Brynn will type up the notes for everyone and e-mail them to you before the end of the day,” he said, patting her shoulder one last time before heading to the door and swinging it open. “Thanks for all your attention this afternoon.”

Brynn gathered her things and followed everyone out. She’d hoped to pin down Reid earlier in the day to discuss the previous night’s disaster of a make-out session, but they’d all been so busy it’d been impossible to say more than a few passing words. So she was happy to see him veer toward her desk instead of his own as they trailed out of the meeting.

As she slipped into her seat, Reid sank into the chair at the front of her desk, his customary grin noticeably absent. “Hey.”

“Hey, yourself,” she said, dropping her legal pad and pen on her desk. “I was beginning to wonder if you were avoiding me.”

He frowned. “Course not, just been busy. But I do have to confess, I’m here to deliver a bit of good and bad news.”

“Uh-oh, why don’t you start with the good?”

He dug in his pocket, then tossed a key onto her desk. She picked it up and examined it. “What’s this?”

“It’s for a rental car. I have a friend whose dad owns a repair shop. He owes me a favor, so they’re going to try to fix your car for free. If it can be fixed, that is. In the meantime, he was able to hook me up with a loaner for you, so you don’t have to take the bus.”

“Oh, wow, you didn’t have to do that,” she said, stunned by his gesture.

“No problem, and hopefully, it will make you less mad at me for the bad news.”

She sighed. “Lay it on me.”

He sagged in the seat and blew out a haggard breath. “Something’s come up, and I’m going to have to move our date to tomorrow night.”

“Is everything all right?”

He nodded, but his frown lines didn’t match his assurance. “Yeah, it’s fine. I’d forgotten I’d promised to go to this thing tonight. I don’t want to back out.”

Brynn kept her expression smooth, though her chest tightened. She’d seen more people bail when they found out about her mother than stick around, and Reid’s change of plans sounded suspiciously like the warning shot before the classic cut-and-run. Maybe fixing her car was her consolation prize. “What kind of thing?”

He shrugged. “Nothing you’d be interested in. Otherwise, I’d bring you along.”

Sure he would. Right. She pasted on a smile. “No problem. Have fun.”

Roslyn stepped behind Reid and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Reid, dear, stop pestering Brynn. She has a lot of notes to type up before the end of the day.”

He glanced over his shoulder at her. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be done in a second. She’s just clarifying something from the meeting for me.”

The dark-haired woman pursed her lips, but walked off without another word. Reid leaned forward and kept his voice low. “I promise we’ll do something tomorrow night.”

Brynn propped her legal pad next to her computer screen. “All right, sounds good. And really, thanks again for my car. I really appreciate it.”

He paused as if he were going to say something else, but then apparently decided against it because he rose and headed back to his desk. Yep, no doubt, he was going to bail. His whole essence screamed guilt. She clicked her fingers along her keyboard with a little more force than necessary. Well, better now than later. At least her heart hadn’t latched onto him yet.

She glanced over to his desk and tried to ignore the way her gut churned at the thought of him returning to the status of coworker only. Okay, so maybe she was a little attached. Nothing she couldn’t handle. She’d learned long ago that everyone lets you down eventually—it was just a matter of when.

Reid sat in Jace’s living room, nursing his second beer and staring through the TV, not really seeing the baseball game. He shifted forward in the overstuffed chair, bracing his arms on his thighs. He couldn’t get comfortable. Not in the room. Not in the chair. Not in his own fucking skin.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

Something nicked him in the head. “What the—?

He raised his hand in defense as Jace launched another peanut at him. “Calm the hell down, dude. You’re stressing me out.”

Reid set his beer down and wiped his damp palms on his jeans. “I think I’m just going to go.”

“The hell you are,” he said, lowering the volume on the television and angling himself on the couch so he could face him. “Look, she’s going to be here in a few minutes. You asked for my help, so don’t punk out on me. And what guy is going to bail when a beautiful woman is on her way over to fulfill your sexual fantasies?”

He groaned and sank back against the cushions. What had he been thinking? Jace had agreed to hook him up with a girl he knew—a girl who supposedly liked things a little rough in bed and preferred two guys to one—so that Reid could work through his shit.

Last night the whole idea had seemed like the perfect solution to his problem—a pretty girl who didn’t mind some kink, Jace there to keep Reid from crossing any lines, and no strings. But now that he was here, neither his heart nor his dick were onboard.

He needed to go.

The doorbell rang.

Fuck.

Jace grinned. “Right on time.”

Jace hustled to the door, leaving Reid with his warring thoughts and pounding heart. Part of him wanted to sneak out the side door and not look back. But the other part was still holding on to the hope that maybe this would fix it. Fix him.

However, when Jace pulled open the door, and Reid heard

the voice on the other side, his blood seemed to halt in his veins.

Mother. Fucker.

He hopped up from the chair and crossed the room in three strides, stepping up behind Jace. Brynn’s eyes locked with his over Jace’s shoulder, her teeth tugging at her full bottom lip.

“What are you doing here?” Reid bit out, then grimaced when he realized how rude his question sounded.

“Oh, hey,” she said, shifting her gaze between the two of them, looking as unsure of herself as he’d ever seen her. “I was just telling Jace that Roslyn found your wallet on the floor in the office. She, uh, knew where you were and asked if I would drop it by on my way home. She didn’t want you driving home without your license.”

He automatically grabbed for his back pocket—of course, nothing was in there. “Damn, how did I lose that?”

She shrugged, and then stuck out her hand, giving him the wallet.

“Thanks.” His fingers brushed hers as he took it from her, and his dick—which hadn’t twitched all night despite the upcoming threesome—instantly stirred to life.

God, what was it about this girl? Seeing her there, feeling the heat her presence alone fired within him, slapped him with hard reality. He was so screwed. He could fuck his way through sorority row and then hit every whorehouse on the way home afterward, but it wouldn’t matter. Nothing was going to slake the dark desire Brynn inspired.

The realization burned an aching hole in his chest. Maybe he’d never be able to trust himself around her.

She pushed her hair behind her ears. “So, yeah, I guess I’ll get going. Y’all enjoy your boys’ night.”

“You can stay and have a beer if you want,” Jace offered. “The Rangers game is on.”

He whipped his head in Jace’s direction. Had the idiot lost his goddamned mind?

Brynn snuck a tentative peek at Reid. His horror must’ve been obvious on his face because she quickly waved a dismissive hand. “No, I’m not going to interrupt. Far be it from me to interfere on dude time.”

Headlights flashed through the darkened street, and she glanced back as another car pulled into the driveway.

Reid’s heart leapt into his throat. Oh, shit.

“Right,” he said, stepping forward, his words tumbling out. “You’re probably not a baseball fan anyway. And the game’s a blowout so far. Why don’t I walk you to your car?”

Her brow furrowed as he took her elbow. “Yeah, okay.”

But as they turned to head down the sidewalk, Leah exited her car and sashayed into their path, looking like a teenage boy’s wet dream. Shorts hugging her ass, legs up to her ears, and non-God-given tits spilling out her top. Definitely not a baseball-watching outfit. Definitely not a dude. Facts not lost on Brynn.

She stiffened in his grasp and halted her step.

Goddammit. And goddamn his aunt for sending Brynn here. Even without trying, Ros had managed to meddle like she had some sixth sense on how exactly to fuck with his life.

Leah’s glossed lips pulled into a seductive smile as she ­approached. “Jace didn’t tell me we were bringing in a fourth, but…” She gave Brynn an up-and-down perusal. “I guess I’m open to new things.”

Reid closed his eyes, wishing the sidewalk would crack open and swallow him up. Fan-fucking-tastic.

Brynn’s fingers curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms, but she forced herself to choke down the rest of her reaction. She would not give Reid the satisfaction.

She eased her elbow from his grip and gave the ­supermodel-like girl a polite smile. “Thanks, but I was just leaving. I think I may be exactly one too many. Have a good night.”

Brynn hiked her purse strap further up her shoulder and traipsed past the woman.

“Brynn, wait—”

But she pretended she didn’t hear Reid and kept walking, her steps picking up speed. She just needed to get in her car, lock all of this out before she embarrassed herself. She had no claim on Reid. Had no right to feel so possessive. No logical reason to want to yank that bitch down by her ponytail and scratch her eyes out.

Two steps more.

A hand clamped over her forearm and spun her around. “I said wait, goddammit.”

“No, Reid,” she said, her voice losing its calm edge. “Let me go. I want to go home.”

“Look, just let me explain.”

She snorted and glanced back toward the house. Jace and Barbie had gone inside and shut the door. “I think I can figure it out. I don’t need a diagram. Thanks.”

“No, it’s not like that.” But the guilty shift of his eyes said otherwise.

She sighed. “Reid, it’s fine, okay? It’s none of my business. But I think it’s a good idea if we just end whatever has been going on with us right now.”

“Brynn—”

“No, seriously. It’s not like I was expecting exclusivity or whatever, but I think I’ll have a hard time scraping the image of the three of you from my brain.” A flash of the beautiful girl wrapped around Reid’s naked body went through her mind, making her want to heave.

He latched his other hand on her opposite arm, squaring her to face him, his blue eyes fierce. “But I don’t want her, I want you.”

She jerked her arms from his grip, no longer able to keep the lid on her boiling anger. “Oh, right. Because cancelling a date with me to go tag-team fuck some other girl is exactly the way to show me you care. You should write goddamned Hallmark cards.”

He ran a hand over his face, his expression stricken. “No, it’s just… complicated.”

She smirked. “No, I think it’s pretty simple. Now you know why I didn’t want you to come inside my house. My life is ugly. I wouldn’t want to get involved with me either. Good-bye, Reid.”

She turned her back to him and stuck her key in her car door.

“Screw it. You want to talk about secrets?” he asked, his volume rising. “Let’s do that, then.”

She turned the lock and reached for the door handle.

“You know why that girl is here? Because I’m screwed up, Brynn. When I look at you, I don’t just want to play nice and date you. I don’t just want to fuck you. I want to own you. Tie you to my bed and do whatever the hell I want to you. Use you.”

Every muscle in her body stilled and some foreign ­emotion stirred low and deep in her belly. She couldn’t turn around; she just stared back at her own wide-eyed reflection in her car window.

“And it scares the hell out of me because I can’t keep that desire in control when I’m with you. I don’t trust myself not to hurt you, to take it too far.”

The sad current of his words made her chest ache. She swallowed past the dryness in her throat, hoping her voice would still function. “I don’t understand. Why that girl?”

He sighed, and she could picture his chest heaving with the weight of what he had revealed. “I asked Jace to help me find a way to get rid of this insane need so that I could be with you. Have a normal relationship. That’s what tonight was about. Brynn, I’m so sorry. I just—I didn’t know what else to do.”

She should get in her car and go. Not look back. Her mother had always told her that when people told you who they were, you should believe them. If Reid thought he was dangerous, maybe he was. But the anguish in his voice tugged at her. This man wasn’t violent—every ounce of her God-given instincts told her that.

She took a deep breath, turned around, and met his stormy eyes. “What if I tried to help you?”

“What?” The shame on his face turned to confusion. “What do you mean?”

“You said tonight was about getting this out of your system. Maybe you’re right, maybe that will help,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “But you don’t need that girl. You could try with me.”

Something unreadable lit his features, but then he grimaced. “No way. You have no idea the things that go through my head, the stuff I want to do—”

“So show me,” she said, cutting him off, her courage rising. “I know you think you’re scaring me off, but the only thing that’s going to do that is you lying to me. So you have some stuff to work through. I have a lot of baggage, too. Maybe we can do this, get you past it, and then move on and date like normal.”

He shook his head. “We can date like normal without doing this. If you’re still willing to give me a chance, I can leave this behind. I think you knowing about it will help me control the urge better.”

She gave him a half-smile. “That’s not how it works. My mother makes her money fulfilling the fantasies guys keep from their partners. If we’re going to date, I don’t want to be wondering if you’re secretly sneaking off to feed that part of you.”

“I wouldn’t do that to you. I swear I won’t lie to you again.” He said the words fervently, like he truly believed them. But she knew him wanting the statement to be true wouldn’t actually make it so.

She had no idea if there was a certain protocol in his slave-girl role-play, but she put her hands out to him, palms up. “I’m giving myself to you tonight. Let me help you check this off your fantasy list.”

Storm clouds gathered over his face. “Stop, Brynn. You don’t know what you’re signing up for.”

She held his gaze, refusing to look away, despite the anxiety hammering through her. “Like I said, show me.”

“No.”

“Fine.” She let her arms fall to her sides and turned back to her car. “Have a nice life, Reid.”

His deep groan cut through the night and strong hands landed flat on the roof of her car, his muscular arms imprisoning her on each side. “Don’t do this.”

Heavy footsteps sounded behind them. “Is everything all right out here?”

Jace.

“It’s fine,” Reid said through clenched teeth, his fierce tone rippling over her and awakening her senses.

His quickening breath was hot on her neck, and his body heat radiated against her back. She should’ve been scared; she could sense his dwindling self-control—the man’s easy-going facade being stripped away by some dark, primal instinct within him.

But something inside her wanted it. Wanted to push him over the edge. Her voice came out as a whisper. “Don’t let me leave, Reid.”

The muscles in his arms flexed and bunched as if the war within him was raging in every sector of his body. He remained silent for agonizingly long seconds, then pushed himself away from the car. “Fine, you think this is what you want? Then lose the dress, Brynn.”

“Wh-What?” She spun around, looking from him to Jace, who stood a few steps behind him with raised eyebrows, then to the area around them. Jace’s driveway was protected by hedges and trees and far off the road, but did Reid actually expect her to take off her clothes out here? In front of his best friend?

Reid’s lip curled up. “What’s wrong?”

“But—”

“You said you wanted to give yourself to me, to know what this is about. Well, you’re getting your wish. If this isn’t what you want, then say ‘stop,’ and we’ll go to dinner and have a date like normal people.”

She ground her teeth. So that’s what this was about? He wanted to prove he was right. That she couldn’t handle him. Well, screw that. She reached behind her and unzipped her dress, then slipped the narrow straps off her shoulders. After one fortifying breath, she let go and the material puddled onto the cobblestones at her feet, leaving her in her sheer bra and panties.

A pained expression flitted over Reid’s face, and Jace’s eyes lit with male appreciation.

“Jace, is the guesthouse unlocked?” Reid asked, his voice disconcertingly calm.

“No, but I can go grab the key and open it for you.”

Reid nodded. “Thanks. Do that.”

Jace jogged toward the side of the house, and Reid walked toward Brynn with deliberate steps, his eyes not leaving hers. The moonless evening and the soft garden lights cast his face in a combination of light and shadow, but the intensity of his expression was clear. She held her breath, her heart beating so fast she worried it would hop out of her chest and flop onto the ground between them.

When he reached her, his hand cupped her bare shoulder. “Turn around and close your eyes.”

She followed his instruction and faced the car. Soft cotton brushed against her face, then tightened over her eyes—her dress, now a blindfold. His fingertips caressed the back of her neck, making her shiver despite the muggy night air. “You’re mine tonight. I let Jace look at you, but he gets nothing else now, you understand?”

She nodded, relief flooding through her. She liked Jace, but it was Reid she wanted touching her. Even if this version of Reid was one she hadn’t quite met yet.

He kissed her shoulder blade, nipped at it. “You remember what you called me the first time we met?”

She paused, trying to wrangle in her buzzing brain so she could concentrate. What had she called him? Reid? No. She wet her lips. “Sir.”

His hand curled around her waist, caressing her bare stomach. “That’s right. Tonight, that’s what you call me.”

The feel of his fingers and the seductive confidence of his voice hypnotized her. She nodded again.

“Tell me you understand,” he said, his voice low but firm.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good, girl. Let’s go.”

In one swift movement, Reid lifted her off her feet and into his arms as if she weighed nothing. She grabbed for his neck, disoriented from the blindfold. “Whoa.”

“I’ve got you, sugar. I won’t let you fall.”

Sounds drifted to her ears as they made their way across the yard—crickets, frogs, the rustle of the leaves as the breeze touched them. She wondered if the landscaping continued around the side of the house or if she’d be exposed to the neighbors. The idea that people might see her half-naked, being carried by this powerful man, should’ve bothered her, but she was at ease in his arms.

She had given herself to him, so if he wanted her exposed to others, then that was up to him. Tonight, he owned her.

Damp heat pooled between her thighs at the thought.

Uh-oh.

What had she gotten herself into?

What the hell had he gotten himself into? Reid sat a blindfolded Brynn down on the edge of the bed and tossed her purse by the footboard. “Don’t move.”

He stalked back to the doorway of the bedroom and leaned against the frame, watching her. He had fully expected her to bail the minute he’d asked her to strip in front of Jace—that had been his intent. But she’d shocked him, calling his bluff. And the minute he’d seen her bend to his will, he’d gotten an intoxicating rush so strong, it had made his head spin.

Jace laid a hand on his shoulder, keeping his voice low. “The room’s yours. Leah and I will hang out in the main house. You need anything else from me? Do you want me to stay?”

Possessiveness ripped through him like lightning, and he had to dial it back before responding. “No. I’ll be… fine.”

Now if only he could believe that.

Jace’s gaze flitted to Brynn, then back to him. “Just trust yourself. She does.”

Reid nodded, the weight of that knowledge settling over him. “I know.”

Jace closed the door behind him, shutting out his last safety net. Reid stared at Brynn. Even in the soft lamplight of the room, he could see the rosy buds of her nipples peeking through the lace of her bra. His cock strained against the denim of his jeans, hardening to the point of agony. Since she’d shown up on Jace’s doorstep tonight, he’d been trying to hold back, trying to prove to himself he was over this stupid fantasy. But seeing Brynn offer herself to him so naively had only served to conjure familiar images of her collared before him. God, he was so fucked.

His mother had always taught him you could tell everything about a man based on the way he treated a woman. She’d spent her life as an advocate for women’s rights. And now here he was, unable to resist the urge to dominate Brynn like she was some kind of slave. His mom would’ve been so ashamed.

But he was done questioning it for the night. He had to cleanse this from his system, and Brynn needed to see why she shouldn’t jump into things she knew nothing about. By the end of this, they could both move on. They’d either go forward and start a normal relationship, or more likely, she would run away completely freaked out and want nothing to do with him. Either way, tonight he was giving himself over to it.

He walked over to her and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. She startled at the touch.

“Easy,” he whispered. “I’m right here. I’m going to take off your blindfold. I want to be able to see your pretty face.”

She nodded. “Yes, sir.”

The sweet femininity of her voice went straight to his gut. This girl was so tough, but there was an untouched innocence in her that made him want to take care of her, protect her. He untied the dress and let it fall to the carpet. She blinked up at him, her cheeks tinged pink, her lush bottom lip swollen from her biting it.

“You can still back out.”

She shook her head, her green eyes defiant. “No, sir.”

No going back now. The steely voice that passed his lips was unrecognizable to his own ears. “Stand up.”

Brynn swung her legs to the side of the bed and rose on shaky knees. Reid’s hands moved up her arms as his eyes traveled over her. She’d never seen this side of him before—so focused and serious. Her nipples tightened beneath his hungry gaze, and the response didn’t seem lost on him. He skimmed his finger along the edge of one cup of her bra, sending tiny shivers through her. “Take it off.”

The quiet authority of his voice melted over her like chocolate, soothing some of her twitching nerves. She reached behind her back, undid the clasp, and let the bra fall to the floor. Reid gave her a slow smile and reached out to cup one of her breasts, running his thumb across its hard peak. “Gorgeous.”

She shuddered and he bent his head to draw the opposite nipple into his mouth, while continuing to strum pleasure from the other with his hand. The combination of sensations sent liquid fire straight to her core. She closed her eyes and let out a soft whimper, his tongue caressing her with painfully gentle strokes.

God, was he going to be this slow and deliberate with everything? She’d burn into a pile of embers by the time he got to the actual sex. He drew back a bit and circled her areola with the tip of his tongue, carefully avoiding what she most wanted. She threaded her hands in his hair and urged him forward, wanting more, needing all of his mouth again.

Cool air replaced his touch as he backed away.

She blinked. “What’s wrong?”

He pressed a finger against her lips, quieting her. “I’m in charge of your pleasure, not you. Trust that I’ll take you where you need to go.”

Her throat went dry, but she nodded.

“Take off your panties.”

He stepped back and put his hands in his pockets, watching her, making her feel both wanted and vulnerable all at the same time. Her hands hovered near her hips, suddenly nervous about standing naked before him.

“I’m not going to ask twice, Brynn,” he said, his voice calm but firm.

She took a slow breath, then hooked her thumbs in her panties and shimmied out of them. His gaze ate up every inch of flesh, and the impressive bulge in his jeans twitched. Her body tingled beneath his clear approval. She yearned to reach out and touch him, to undress him and feel his skin beneath her fingertips, but she fought the urge to take over control.

His hand cupped her hip and he dragged her against him, the stiff material of his jeans brushing the soft curls covering her mound. He pressed his lips to the pulse point below her ear, his palm sliding from her waist to the curve of her ass. Warm breath lapped over her skin like ocean water. “You know how many times I’ve imagined you stripped bare for me like this? How many nights I’ve stroked my cock just at the thought of touching you again?”

The words turned her insides molten, the juices of her arousal coating her sex. She edged her hips toward him, seeking relief.

He trailed his fingers along her backside, the cleft of her ass, the small of her back—each touch unbearably delicate. His voice was barely a whisper. “Have you ever touched yourself and thought about me?”

Her face flooded with heat. She had. More times than she could count since she’d met him. But she had never admitted to masturbating to anyone. She swallowed hard. “Yes.”

He groaned and buried his forehead against her shoulder, the first sign that maybe she was affecting him as much as he was her. She bit back a pleased smile.

“When was the last time?”

She wet her lips. In for a penny, in for a pound. “Last night, after you left.”

“Fuck.” He lifted his head, his eyes meeting hers. “Like this?”

His hand glided along her tender skin and dipped inside her channel, finding her wet and wanting. She tilted her head back at the sweet invasion. “Oh, God. Yes, like that.”

“Mmm, so hot and ready for me, aren’t you?” The pad of his thumb found her clit and massaged.

She bucked against the contact and let out a soft moan, sharp darts of pleasure shooting up her spine and radiating outward. Her nails sunk into his shoulders as she tried to keep from tipping over to orgasm. How could she be so close to the edge with just one touch?

He chuckled, low and warm. “Don’t come yet, sugar. I haven’t given you permission.”

He pumped his fingers in and out in a languid rhythm, and her knees began to quiver beneath her. “Don’t know if I can control that.”

Without warning, he pulled back, removing all physical contact and halting her galloping journey toward release. She opened her mouth to protest, but he hushed her, using his fingers to gloss her parted lips with her own cream. He cradled her cheeks and dipped his head to claim her mouth in a scorching kiss. All her muscles seemed to liquefy, and she had to grab onto the bed behind her so she wouldn’t end up in a puddle at his feet.

Far too soon, he eased back and gave her a chastising smile. “Hmm. Guess you’ll have to learn how to control it. Otherwise, you’re not going to get what you want.”

She managed a nod, her head still spinning from the kiss. “Yes, sir. I’ll do my best.”

He lifted her chin with his finger, forcing her to look up at him. “So, what is it that you want, sugar? Tell me.”

She willed her voice not to shake. She knew he expected her to ask for her orgasm, but she yearned for something more than that. Something she thought about every day and ached to do anytime he was within ten feet of her. “I want to touch you. To please you.”

Feral desire flared in his eyes, mixing in with the tension still rolling off him, an internal battle playing out in front of her. He ran a thumb over her cheek, staring at her for a moment more, then his expression turned resolute. He moved his hand to her shoulder, pushing down. “On your knees.”

She lowered herself onto the plush carpet, keeping her focus on his face. He was trusting her with his dark side, showing her what he didn’t want anyone to see. Something stirred deep within her chest, warming her. Never had she imagined she would let a guy command her this way, like she was his whore. The idea should have been appalling considering her mother’s profession, but something deep within her ached to please Reid, to be his safe place.

He circled around her, stalking, like he had to see her compliance from every angle. The air seemed to charge and spark between them, making every fiber in her body hum in anticipation. Finally, he stopped in front of her, his stance wide, and unbuttoned his jeans. Her tongue darted out and moistened her lips as he freed his impressive erection from his boxers. He stroked his cock and stepped forward, bringing it within centimeters of her face. “Open that pretty mouth of yours. I’ll show you how to please me.”

Her lips parted and he grabbed a fistful of her hair, pulling so tightly her scalp tingled. He tilted her head to the angle he wanted and without any additional warning, slid his cock into her mouth with a deep, satisfied groan. His utterly male flavor filled her mouth and she closed her eyes, savoring the taste of salt and musk and arousal. Slowly, she ran her tongue along the thick, smooth shaft, taking as much as she could, then eased back to lick the head. He twisted his fingers deeper in her hair and thrust forward, causing her to cry out around him. Not from pain, but from the heady feeling of him taking what he wanted from her.

“Don’t close your eyes, sugar. Look at me while you suck me.”

Her eyelids flew open and she lifted her gaze to him. His face was ravenous, like a man possessed. The laid-back Reid had left the building. Intense power and calm control sizzled off him, drowning her, arousing her. He stroked her cheek with his free hand as he eased deeper into her mouth. “That’s good, sugar. You’re going to take all of me. Relax your throat.”

She followed his instructions, focusing on releasing the muscles and accepting him. Soon, he buried all the way to the hilt, a shudder stealing over him. “Ah, shit. That’s right.” He moved in long, steady thrusts, tapping the back of her throat with the smooth head. “God, your mouth is even better than I imagined.”

Unable to resist touching him any longer, she reached up and palmed his sac as she dragged her tongue along the thick vein on the base of his cock. He moaned, then abruptly pulled out, releasing her hair. “I didn’t say you could touch me yet.”

She blinked, shocked by the sudden absence of contact. “I’m sorry, I thought it’d be okay.”

“Ah, there’s your mistake. Your job isn’t to think. It’s to listen. To obey. You’re mine, remember?”

“Right. I mean, yes, sir.”

He grasped her chin. “Maybe you should’ve gone home. A night alone would’ve been a lot easier on you than dealing with me is going to be.”

“I don’t need easy. I want you,” she said, the steadiness of her voice not betraying her spiking anxiety.

“Be careful what you ask for.” He dropped his hand from her face. “Get on the bed. Facedown.”

She grabbed the edge of the mattress and climbed onto the bed with wobbly limbs. As she scooted along the sheets, the cool cotton caressed her burning skin, making her hyperaware of her nudity. Reid’s eyes followed her progress, and he made no attempt to hide his perusal of her most intimate areas. Her body ached for those heated gazes to turn into touches.

Once she reached the center, she flipped over and settled on her stomach. Nerves skittered down her spine, the intense vulnerability of the position testing her resolve to follow his instructions. What exactly was he planning to do? She trusted the Reid she’d become friends with, but this version of him was unfamiliar—dangerous. She knew he was trying to prove a point to her, but how far would he take it?

The loud sound of ripping fabric filled the room. She craned her neck around and found Reid tearing a pillowcase into strips. He also had removed the tieback cord from the drapes and had that hanging around his neck. “Eyes down, LeBreck.”

She turned to face forward again, and he walked to the side of the bed. Strong fingers lifted her left wrist, and smooth material wrapped around it. She peeked at him from underneath her lashes as he knotted the makeshift bindings. The question bubbled to her lips before she could stop it. “What are you doing?”

He gave her a sidelong glance and tightened the strap. “You just can’t give up the control, can you?”

“I—I’m sorry.”

Without another word, he took another strip of pillowcase and smiled. A blindfold. Shit. With swift movements he slipped it over her eyes, pulling the knot taut in the back. Then a loud crack broke the quiet of the room, and her ass cheek lit on fire. She cried out, the sound muffled by the mattress.

“Learn to keep your questions to yourself.”

She balled her fists, ready to end it, to insist he stop. He’d hit her. But then warm, pleasant heat replaced the stinging in her skin, and her pussy throbbed in response. Fuck. What was wrong with her? She wasn’t supposed to like this. This was to help it get out of his system, not to inspire interest in hers.

Footsteps padded on the carpet, and another strip wound around her right wrist. Reid’s hot palms slid up her arms, then moved her hands to rest above her head on the bed so he could bind her wrists together. Something silky brushed against the tops of her hands—the braided cord from the curtain. With a grunt and yank on the cord from Reid, her muscles were stretched, drawing her arms taut above her and securing her to the headboard.

Instinctively, she tugged back, but the restraints only provided a hair of slack. She buried her face in the sheets and tried to steady her breathing. She was at his mercy. Blind and bound for whatever he chose to do to her.

“Get on your knees.” He gripped her waist and helped her tuck her knees beneath her. Her face and breasts remained against the sheets, the restraints not allowing her to rise any higher. A gentle hand caressed her ass, smoothing over the area he had hit. “Do you know how fucking sexy you look with my handprint marking you?”

She shook her head, but didn’t dare speak.

His finger traced the cleft of her ass, brushing across her most private opening. She automatically tensed. “I have to tell you, Brynn. Spanking such a beautiful ass could get addictive. I’m not sure if I got enough out of the first time.”

Before she could process what he was saying, the flat of his palm landed a sharp blow on her opposite cheek. She bit her lip and moaned, the pain/pleasure mix rocketing through her. “Can you take it, sugar? Handle what I’m planning to dish out?”

She braced herself as his hand came down again and again, covering her ass and the backs of her thighs with stinging heat. He never slapped the same spot twice, but instead methodically covered every inch of virgin skin with his attention. Her back arched and she writhed, the heady buzz of pain and endorphins overloading her system and fogging her brain. To her mortification, hot moisture leaked down her thighs as if her body were begging for more.

When the spanking ceased, gentle hands moved over her skin, soothing her. His voice was choppy, his breathing quick. “Have I scared you enough yet, Brynn? Are you ready to run?”

She moaned into the sheets, half out of her mind with need. “For the love of God, please touch me.”

His hands stilled as if he was shocked by her words. “What?”

She parted her knees, opening herself to him, not caring at the moment what kind of girl that made her. “Please.”

Tentatively, he moved his hand between her legs and dragged his fingers down her folds. Her entire body trembled, and a deep groan rumbled from his chest. “Jesus. You’re soaked.”

Her hands flexed and fisted in the bindings as he pulled away. If he didn’t do something soon, she was going to lose it. Her words came out in a barely coherent jumble. “I need… I… You’re killing me.”

“Son of a bitch.”

The sound of clothes rustling filled her ears. Lord, she wished she could see him and touch his bare skin, but she knew she wouldn’t be granted that privilege tonight. He was trying to punish her, to scare her away. Only it wasn’t working. She wanted him more.

The crackling of what she assumed was a condom wrapper replaced the other sounds, and the bed dipped around her. Strong hands grasped her hips and lifted, raising her backside fully and spreading her thighs to bare everything to him.

“Is this what you want, Brynn?” The blunt head of his cock pressed against her opening.

She tried to back into him, to force him into her, but the arm bindings bit into her wrists, holding her in place. “Yes.”

“Tell me,” he growled. “Tell me what you want me to do to you.”

Her breath quickened and the ache inside her hit the point of pain. “Fuck me, Reid. Please, fuck me.”

With one swift thrust he buried himself inside her, causing her to arch and gasp. Her tissues stretched taut, trying to accommodate his size. She’d only been with one other guy, and he hadn’t been nearly this big. Being filled so completely was ­overwhelming.

Reid hummed with pleasure, but held himself still inside her. “Fuck, baby, you’re tight. Am I hurting you?”

The small break in his hardened demeanor made her melt beneath him. She shook her head, all of her senses on fire. “Don’t stop.”

He grunted and the bed dipped again as he leaned down and draped his hard chest against her back. One hand slid down her stomach to her pelvis and parted her curls. With a roughened finger, he stroked her clit, and began to pump into her from behind. Lightning rushed through her veins as she tiptoed on the edge of release. In and out. The sweet glide of him against her delicate tissues driving her mad. She gritted her teeth, trying to hold herself back from falling into the abyss. She would wait for his permission. Would prove that she could do it.

Sweat slicked their bodies as Reid picked up the pace and relentlessly fucked her, stroking her hot button all the while. “You ready, baby?”

Her body quivered beneath him, no longer in her conscious control. “God, yes.”

“Come for me, Brynn.” His fingers pinched her clit and rolled it between his fingers, eliciting a scream from deep in her throat. Her nerve endings exploded, electric bliss crashing over her in all-encompassing waves.

She continued to cry out with each ripple of climax, her voice turning hoarse way before she was able to quiet herself. Reid increased his tempo, diving into her with frantic thrusts. Her body rippled around him, milking him with her orgasm, and a low moan sliced through the air as he found his own release.

When they both had gone silent and their breathing had slowed, he pressed his lips to the spot between her shoulder blades and eased out. Her legs collapsed beneath her, and she sank fully into the bed, too exhausted to even lift her head. She had no idea what Reid was doing, but at the moment she didn’t care. Her eyelids fluttered closed behind the blindfold.

“Hey, wake up, sugar,” Reid said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Brynn blinked, the lamplight of the room burning her eyes. “Did I fall asleep?”

He brushed the dampened hair off her forehead, his expression guarded. “Just for a few minutes. I tried to let you rest for a little while, but we should probably get out of here. Jace’s sister will be home in a few hours.”

She lifted herself on her elbows and saw that she was no longer bound and that Reid had thrown a blanket over her. “Can you get my clothes?”

He stood and grabbed her things from the floor. “Here, do you need me to help you?”

She smiled. “I think I can handle it.”

She pushed the blanket off her and rose to her feet, shivering from the sudden chill. Reid shoved his hands in his pockets, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else in the world but here. She slipped her panties on and the material brushed against her the tender skin on her bottom. “Ouch.”

Reid cringed and dragged a hand through his already disheveled hair. “Hell, Brynn, I’m sorry. I can’t believe I did this. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

She moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “It’s fine. I asked for it. I wanted you to.”

He sat his chin on top of her head and rubbed her bare back. “I promise I won’t ever let it happen again. I’m done with this.”

She put her hands on his chest and stepped back. “Bullshit.”

His eyebrows scrunched. “What?”

She grabbed her bra off the floor and put it on, then hauled her dress over her head, anger tainting the mellow afterglow she’d been enjoying. “You’re saying you didn’t enjoy yourself?”

He blew out a breath and leaned against the windowsill. “I hit you, Brynn. Used you. Talked to you like I owned you. You don’t deserve that.”

She zipped up the back of her dress and narrowed her eyes. “You loved it.”

His frown lines dipped deeper, and he turned his back to her, looking out the window toward the swimming pool outside. “I don’t want to be like this. I want a normal relationship with you.”

She crossed her arms over her chest as she toed on her shoes. “And I don’t want to be with someone who’s lying to me. If you want to date me, you either come into it as you are—quirks and all—or go find someone else to play pretend with.”

He raised his head, staring at her in the reflection in the window. “What are you saying?”

“If you want to explore this, I’m game. It’s not like we’re signing up to get married. We have a summer. I like you, you like me. And tonight was… pretty incredible. So, you decide.”

His jaw tightened. “And if I just want to go back to a normal relationship?”

She shrugged. “It won’t be with me. I don’t want to spend my time wondering if you’re satisfying this need with some other girl while playing Mr. Perfect around me.”

His shoulders slumped. “Be careful on your drive home, Brynn.”

Fury boiled low in her belly and her cheeks burned. “You’re not even going to walk me out?”

He didn’t turn to look at her. “It’s for the best.”