The question was, why was he offering it to her? It couldn’t simply be that he wanted her. That he wanted to dominate her. A man like Saxon could have anyone. She was nothing special. It didn’t even sound she was the type of person he got involved with.
“I’m losing you, aren’t I? There’s so much going on in that mind of yours. Wouldn’t it be nice if all you had to do was worry about obeying your Dom? To switch things off for a while?”
She licked her lips. “I’m not sure I could trust someone enough for that.”
“It takes a while to build trust. That’s one of the reason people play at a club. Because not everyone knows their Dominant well. Trusts them. But they can trust that my monitors will watch over them and ensure they’re safe.”
“I’ve never understood the appeal of getting naked in front of a bunch of strangers.”
He smiled. “Well, now, it’s up to your Dom if you get to be naked or not.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Seems like the Dom has all the fun.”
“Not at all. A submissive gets pleasure from serving her Dom. Pleasing him.”
She snorted. “Oddly enough, pleasing you isn’t high on my list of priorities.”
“It will be.”
“Arrogant, much?”
“I prefer to think of it as confidence.”
“And if I don’t want to-to play? Does that mean I’m fired?”
His eyes widened then narrowed. “Of course not. The job offer and a place to live are completely separate from this attraction between us.”
Were they? She wasn’t so sure.
He sighed, running a hand over his face. “I’m messing this up. I’ve never had such trouble with communication before.”
She bet he hadn’t.
“I’m going to make myself clear, all right? I’m offering you a job. A place to stay. For you and your boys. I know you don’t understand why I’m doing that. But this town helped me when I needed it. And now I can help you. But that’s not to say I’m doing this out of the goodness of my heart. I don’t have much of one. I’m not a good guy—” He hel
d up his hand as she started to speak. “I believe I’ve made it clear I detest being interrupted. I find it rude. You don’t want to be rude, do you, Aspen?”
Of course not.
“I need someone who can bake and work with Renard. You need a job and a place to live. Whether or not you choose to let me show you your submissive side is up to you. And in no way will your decision affect your job. I’m not looking for a permanent sub or a wife. Even if the job doesn’t work out you are welcome to stay at the guest house until we find something else for you. However, while under my roof, you follow my rules. You know every woman in Haven is watched over. By their families or husbands or the sheriff. In your case it will be me.
“Break one of the rules, sweetheart, put yourself in danger, lie to me, and you’ll find yourself over my knee, your pants down around your knees with the palm of my hand heating your little butt cheeks. Now, any more questions?”
5
Any more questions?
Aspen rolled over, and punched the pillow beneath her in frustration. Damn him. Yes, she had questions. Like how could he fit so much arrogance inside him without exploding? Or how had someone not murdered him in his sleep before now?
He’d left soon after laying everything out. In great detail. He’d probably realized she’d reached the end of her control. And here she was, hours later, the boys asleep in their crib, unable to sleep because she was still going over their conversation.
He wouldn’t really spank me, would he?
She snorted. Of course he would. So would any man in Haven if their woman endangered themselves. She’d known that. She’d even been amused by it.
She just never figured the rules would ever apply to her. No, that wasn’t true. She’d never thought someone would care enough to actually take notice. Oh, the sheriff did what he could but he couldn’t know everything that went on. Could he? Thing was, the more she stuck around there the more she liked the town. She didn’t want to leave. And Saxon had given her a way to make her dream come true. If only she followed his damn rules.
Then there was the way he affected her. She knew there was no way she could be around him and not want him to touch her like he had earlier. Her breasts still tingled from the way he’d held them. That commanding voice telling her she didn’t have permission to move. She rubbed her legs together as her clit throbbed from the memory.