He leaned onto his elbows, considering her. “We’ll have everything at our fingertips. It just depends on how brave you’re feeling. Technically, you have to go in as my submissive. That’s how I’m getting you in without you having a membership. And that will also make it clear that no other members should approach you for play.”
The word submissive sent a little shiver through her. “But it’s just a technicality because you’re not a dominant, right?”
He lifted his beer, his eyes never leaving hers while he sipped. “I don’t pick a label. Doesn’t mean I can’t take control.”
She licked her lips. Pike was a playful guy. She’d fully enjoyed their give and take in the studio. But she couldn’t deny that the thought of him taking the reins intrigued her. The night he’d given her instructions on the phone had been intensely erotic, knowing she was doing his bidding, that she could just let go and follow the steps without all the analyzing that usually accompanied her every move.
“Do you like doing that? Being in charge?” she asked carefully.
He leaned forward and covered the hand she had on the table with his. “In life? Yes. In the bedroom? I’m usually more flexible. But I have to tell you.” He flipped her hand over, exposing her palm, and ran a finger down the center of it. “It’s all I’ve been able to think about since I first touched you tonight.”
The words crawled up her spine, wrapping around her body and washing over her breasts and neck, making her aware of every one of her erogenous zones in one swift rush. She took a deep breath. “Why is that?”
His finger continued to caress her hand, but his eyes held her gaze. “Because you’re so put together, so self-contained. I got glimpses of what’s behind all of that on the phone, but tonight I saw what you’re like when you let go, when you give in to your desires. Thinking of you putting your pleasure completely in my hands, trusting me to take care of you tonight?” He shifted. “I’ll get hard as fucking stone just thinking about it.”
The flush in her upper body ventured south—the pulse, pulse, pulse of awareness settling between her thighs—but she tried to keep her voice even. “I can see the appeal in that.”
“Yeah?”
“I never would’ve thought I’d say that. My ex—Rae’s father—he was into having all the control.”
Pike frowned. “Was he a dom?”
“No, he was an asshole,” she said flatly. “I was too young. I let him control things in my life, including the bedroom. But it wasn’t BDSM. I think he got off on my innocence, so he played the romantic role, the gentle lover, the man who would show me the way.”
Lines appeared around Pike’s mouth. “How old was he?”
“Twenty-eight. He was my manager.”
“Christ, Oakley. He—”
She put her hand up, not wanting to travel too far down that road. “I’m only telling you because I know you can probably understand better than most since you had that relationship with your teacher. His control was laced in sweet words and dressed up with romantic notions. It turns my stomach to think about how easily he manipulated me. So I have no interest in ever handing over that kind of control again. But the dominance/submission stuff … well, that seems a lot more honest and upfront. You’ve got me thinking pretty hard about it lately.”
He stared at her for a moment longer, appearing to debate whether he was going to prod more of her story out of her, but eventually he let the intense scrutiny ease and he softened his expression. “So I’m wooing you over to the dark side?”
She smiled. “Maybe. I don’t know if the formal stuff would be my thing. If you made me call you sir, I’d probably want to punch you in the throat.”
He laughed. “No worries. Supreme Master of the Universe would work just fine.”
She snorted. “Of course. But now I’m starting to understand how the power-exchange thing can be exciting when done right. When clients call and want to play the master/slave role-play, I spend most of my time rolling my eyes at their commands. I’ve never found it sexy until …”
“Until what?”
“The night you put all the appointments on my calendar.”
A pleased smile spread on his lips. “I’ve never wanted to give commands like that, but I nearly lost my mind that night wondering if you were following them.”
“I did. I liked it. It was nice to shut off the busy part of my brain and just follow the directions. All my adult life, I’m always the one who has to be responsible, make the decisions, handle it all. Listening to you for a little while … it was like a vacation. A really sexy vacation.”
Fire flared in his eyes, and he held her gaze. “Wanna take another trip then?”
“I don’t want to force you into a position you don’t want to be in …” She paused, considered. “Well, on second thought, that could probably be hot, too.”
He chuckled. “Dirty girl.”
“Definitely. It’s in my job description.”
“No.” He shook his head. “This has nothing to do with your job. This is you.” He laced his fingers with hers. “And I promise you, you’re definitely not forcing me into a role I don’t want. I want this—more than maybe I ever have. You seem to inspire that side of me. But I’ll make you a deal. If you’re really interested in exploring both sides, next time I’ll be yours to do with what you will. Your personal slave boy.”