Well . . . that was the truth. She was desperate. Close to begging.
Already.
He grinned. “Yeah? Just how bad do you want me?”
“So bad.”
“Bad enough to beg, pretty girl?”
“Hmm, let me think about that.” She tapped her finger against her chin, pretending to think. “Not yet.”
“Not yet, huh?”
“I’m not sure that I’m ever going to beg you.”
“Oh, baby girl. Challenge accepted.” His wicked look was enough to make her knees go weak.
Hell. She was already ready to beg him, and they both knew it.
He stepped forward and she moved back until she fell against the bed, tumbling onto her back.
He moved over her, caging her beneath him as he kneeled over her.
Definitely out of her depth.
“It wasn’t a challenge.”
“Wasn’t it? I think it was. And I accepted. Now, I get to make you beg. I’ll make you scream too. And don’t think I’ve forgotten about the spanking. Hmm, you’re in the wrong position for that.”
“Oh, dear Lord help me.”
“Objections?”
“Pretty sure I have none.”
Leaning down, he nipped at her lips. “Remember, at any time you can stop this with your safeword. This is for fun. I never want to scare or harm you.”
“I know. I trust you.”
“Baby girl, I love that you trust me. Although, I also worry that you trust too easily.”
“You won’t harm me.”
“Yeah, but there are some real assholes out there. You have to guard yourself.”
He wanted to do that for her.
To tell her just to be herself and that he’d always take care of her. There were times when she was like a completely open book.
That scared him.
Also, she should never play strip poker with his brothers. They’d decimate her.
“I know that,” she said sadly. “I’ve dealt with more than my fair share of assholes.”
He knew she had. And that made him furious. He wanted to kiss away every hint of sadness on her face.
“But I know you’d never hurt me.”
“No. All I want is to protect you.”
But I won’t always be around.
The words hung between them. Unsaid, but understood.
Then she surprised him by reaching up and wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him down into a kiss. He let out a low murmur of pleasure as she kissed him.
She’d never really instigated anything with him before. And while he usually liked to be in charge, he liked that she felt confident enough to do this. But it wasn’t long before he took the lead. He slid his tongue into her mouth, playing with her, teasing her. When he drew back, she tried to follow him, but he shook his head.
“Uh-uh.”
“Come back,” she demanded with the sweetest little pout. He wanted to kiss it away, but that would be rewarding her. And right now, she was being naughty.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You’re not in charge, pretty girl. I think it’s time you fully understood that.”
Her eyes widened. Surprise. Pleasure. Nerves.
All of that was normal. Healthy. As long as it didn’t turn to fear.
She reached into her bra and pulled out her phone and the twenty bucks she’d stuffed in there earlier today.
“Interesting. Are you paying me to ravage you?”
“If I was, you should ask for more than twenty bucks and a crappy phone.”
He grinned.
“It was annoying me. Now, go back to what you were doing.”
“With pleasure.”
Grabbing her wrists in one of his hands, he held them above her head while judging her reaction. She tensed for a moment, then relaxed with a soft sigh.
Hmm . . . did she like being restrained?
“Do you like me holding you down, pretty girl? Do you want me to tie you to the bed and do dirty, filthy things to you?”
“Yes,” she cried.
“What’s your safeword?”
“Pumpkin.”
“Good girl. You know, in avoid getting confused, we ought to get your pumpkin-colored dress off. You know, so you don’t accidentally say your safeword.”
“Don’t know how that would come up, but okay . . . I can get down with that. Only . . .” She bit her lip, looking slightly anxious.
“Only what?” he asked, releasing her wrists and getting off the bed. What the hell could he use to tie her hands? Why hadn’t he worn a damn tie?
“It’s just I . . . could I go to the bathroom first?”
He frowned at her hesitance. Why was she so nervous right now?
“What’s the matter?” he asked. Had she changed her mind?
“Nothing. I just want to take a shower . . . yep, a shower first. And maybe we could turn the lights off when I come back.”
Okay, he was starting to get the idea of what was going on and it pissed him off.
He drew back away from her. She gave him a tremulous smile.
“You can take a shower, baby girl. I should have thought of that.” He’d been too caught up in his need for her. He drew her up against him, cupping her ass. “I’ll take one with you. I can wash every inch of your body.”