by Leah Brooke
“Yes.”
Nerves knotted her stomach, and she didn’t know if she’d be able to eat a thing, but she didn’t want him to know that.
Spotting an assortment of covered dishes on the dining room table off to the side, Veronica blinked. “The food’s already here?”
Leading her to the table, Sin lifted her hand to his lips.
“You look scared. This can just be dinner and conversation, Veronica. Nothing more. Nothing will happen that you don’t want to happen.”
Turning, she flattened her hands on his chest, lifting her chin to look him in the eye. “I’m not scared. Just a little nervous.”
Sin’s lips twitched. “Let’s sit down and see if a glass of wine settles your nerves. I ordered some appetizers that I hope you’ll like.”
Several sips of wine did nothing to help her relax, especially since Sin insisted on feeding her.
Every touch of his fingertips brushing her lips sent an erotic thrill through her, the flare of satisfaction in his eyes as she accepted each bite drawing her deeper into his web of seduction.
He asked about her day, keeping the conversation trivial, but the silent conversation going on between them left her breathless and eagerly anticipating what she suspected came next.
Slipping a sliver of hard cheese between her lips, Sin held her gaze with his hooded one.
“Why do you want to go to the island with me?”
Her face burned as she bit into the sharp cheese. “Partially because I want to thank you for what you did for my grandmother.”
Pausing with a sliver of cheese halfway to his lips, he lowered it again, giving her a dark sardonic look, clearly disappointed in her answer.
Swallowing the cheese, she reached for her glass of wine.
“But that’s only an excuse.”
Sitting back, Sin stared at her, saying nothing.
The silence lengthened until she couldn’t stand it any longer.
Finally, she snapped, slamming her glass to the table.
“I’m attracted to you. A lot.”
Sin’s brow went up. “Attracted? That’s too tame a word, don’t you think?”
Veronica sighed and reached for her glass. “I’m not saying this right.” She took a sip and lowered the glass, running shaky fingertips up and down the stem. “I’m curious about these feelings. I’ve never been really close to another man before, even the one I’ve been intimate with—”
“The one?” His eyes narrowed. “The one who took your virginity.” His fingers tightened on his own glass. “How was it?”
Veronica closed her eyes, her face burning at the memory.
“If you lie to me about such a fundamental question, I’ll know it and this is over.”
Veronica stilled, setting her glass down again.
Sin continued to stare at her, his small smile of encouragement giving her the confidence to blurt out the truth.
“Painful.” She got to her feet, not daring to look at him.
“Embarrassing. Shocking. Disappointing. Rushed.”
The silence that followed had her nerves stretched to the breaking point, and frustrated, she whirled to find him standing right behind her.
Lifting a hand, he cupped her cheek, his smile tender.
“So much so that you never had sex again.”
“Exactly.” Her breath quickened at the slide of his thumb over her bottom lip. “I’ve never wanted anyone since then.”
“And now?”
Veronica smiled heavily. “I want you. It’s scary.”
Frustrated that nerves kept her from finding the words she’d rehearsed earlier, Veronica blew out a breath. “You’re right. It’s not just attraction. It’s more. Don’t ask me what because I’m trying to figure it out myself. It just feels different with you.”
How could she make him understand that he tugged at something inside her in a way no man ever had?
How could she expect him to believe that he made her feel things she’d never thought to feel?
“This is going to sound crazy, but since meeting you, I’ve taken a hard look at my life, and I don’t like what I see. I want more. I can’t expect you to understand. I’m not sure I understand it myself.”
Sin pursed his lips and regarded her steadily for several long seconds. “You said it feels different with me. Different how?”
Needing the physical connection, Veronica reached out to him, relieved that he took her hand in his. “You’re so much more intense about things. Serious. Mature. Like there are things more important than just getting me out of my pants. I feel connected to you somehow.”
Shaking her head, she smiled humorlessly. “I know it sounds ridiculous. I can’t imagine confiding in anyone the way I have with you.”
Sin smiled faintly, kissing her hand and leading her back to the table. He waited until she was seated and took the seat on the end again. “It’s not ridiculous at all. I feel the same way about you, and I’m struggling to understand why.”
He started uncovering more of the dishes, smiling again at her look of surprise. “Do you really think I discuss my need to dominate with other women on such short acquaintance?”
Veronica reached for her wine again. “I guess I didn’t really think about it. I assumed that you met a lot of those beautiful women you dated in a club like your friend’s. Hey!”
Sin reached for her glass and pulled it out of her reach. “Dating a woman and dominating one I meet in the club are two very different things.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Lifting her glass to her lips, he offered her a sip. “Which is why what I’m doing with you is very intriguing.”
She swallowed her wine and smiled. “Exactly what are you doing with me?”
He twirled pasta onto his fork and held it to her lips. “Trying to figure out how to take you on vacation with me and introduce you to the lifestyle I’ve chosen without scaring you to death.”
* * * *
As she chewed, he lifted her chin, running his fingers over her soft skin.
Weighing his words, he went for the truth, knowing that lies at this point would only make things more difficult. “I’m not sure if this lifestyle is for you, and I’m afraid of falling for you any harder while we make this journey.”
“Wow.” Licking her lips, Veronica leaned closer. “You’ve been doing a lot of thinking.”
Inclining his head, Sin offered her another bite, the act of feeding her giving him more pleasure than he could have imagined.
“As should you. The lifestyle I want includes more than just sex. I find I’m a selfish man. I want it all. I need a woman strong enough to submit but who still has a softness to her that I would enjoy.”
Smiling at her look of confusion, Sin slipped another forkful of shrimp scampi past her lips. “I’ve never trained a submissive. I’ve never had one of my own. I’ve never had the time—or the inclination.”
Veronica blushed. “And now?”
Bending closer, he touched his lips to hers, licking the remnants of butter from her lips. “And suddenly, I feel so inclined.”
He fed her another bite, pleased to see that she’d relaxed somewhat.
“It takes a certain kind of woman to let go of control in the way I’ll expect you to.”
He took a sip of wine from the glass they now shared and sat back. “Even though, in reality, you’ll be the one in control.”
Frowning, she tilted her head, something he realized she did frequently when she worked out what she wanted to say.
He found it utterly adorable.
Frowning, she licked her lips, blushing again.
“I don’t understand. I thought the whole idea behind submitting is giving over control of everything.”
Taking her hand in his, he touched another forkful of pasta to her lips, his cock jumping when she readily opened them. “It is, but you have the ultimate control. You can stop everything by using your safe word.”
Nodding, Veronica c
Sin set his fork aside and rose, running his fingertips over her shoulders as he rose and circled behind her. “We already have.”
Biting back a smile when she sucked in a breath, he moved to stand at her other side, crossing his arms over his chest as he took in the signs of her arousal.
“If we go to the island together, there will be many times that I feed you.”
Her breathing became even more labored, her hands fisting on her lap.
Despite the fact that she’d worn a bra, her nipples poked at the front of her red silk blouse.
When she opened her mouth to speak, he lifted a finger, further encouraged when she snapped her mouth closed again.
Circling back around to her other side, Sin lowered himself into his chair again and picked up his fork, hiding a smile to see her voluptuous body trembling with the nerves and excitement gleaming in her eyes.
Helping himself to a bite of pasta, he let his gaze rake over her, delighted at her shiver. “Most, if not all the time, I’ll bathe you. On the island, I’ll dress and undress you. You’ll never be permitted to do it yourself.”
He twirled another small bite of pasta onto his fork and lifted it to her lips.
“From the time we get on the plane to go to the island until we get back, you’ll submit to my desires.”
Veronica accepted the bite and nodded, her face red, her eyes dark with need. “I’m very much looking forward to it.”
Sin nodded. “Choose a safe word, something you won’t forget. It can’t be no or stop because those words will mean nothing to me.” Lifted her chin, he ran his fingertips up and down her neck to the neckline of her blouse, smiling faintly when her breath caught and she shivered again.
Running his fingertip just inside her blouse, he held her gaze. “Sometimes resisting is part of the fantasy, and if you tell me no, I don’t want to stop in the middle of something both of us are enjoying.”
To his surprise, Veronica nodded, moaning softly. “I’ve always fantasized about that—about having pleasure forced on me.”
Sin slid the top button free, but instead of delving inside as he knew she expected, he ran his fingertip up her neck to her chin, lifting it higher.
“I appreciate your honesty more than you could know. It will make things easier, allow us both more pleasure, and prevent a lot of misunderstandings. I need your trust. I need you to know that everything I do is for your pleasure and mine. Some things will please one of us more than the other, and there will be times where you’re uncomfortable. I want you to know that your safety and well-being are of utmost importance to me.”
Gripping her chin, he pressed his thumb to her bottom lip, smiling when it quivered.
“I’ll earn your submission by showing you how much pleasure you’ll get by doing so. Now, choose a safe word.”
Veronica gulped, her breathing becoming harsher.
“Um, I don’t know. Can’t you choose one for me?”
“I want you to choose it so that you remember it.”
Touching her tongue to his thumb, Veronica moaned again. “Please.”
Sin smiled, stunned at how readily she responded. “How about red? It’s a basic safe word, and one I’m sure you’ve read about. Maybe that’ll help you remember.”
Nodding briskly, Veronica swallowed again. “Yes! I’ll remember that. Red for stop. Okay. Do I really have to have a safe word?”
Sin brushed his thumb over her bottom lip before releasing her. “Yes.”
Taking her hand, he led her to the living room area, pausing several feet from the sofa.
He’d moved the coffee table to the side earlier, so there would be room.
Veronica gulped, her hands clasped in front of her. “Please don’t let me chicken out. This is something I need to do.”
Moving to stand in front of her, Sin inclined his head, smiling as he used his fingertips to push a few strands of hair from her face. “I need to know, too.”
Lifting her chin again, he frowned down at her.
“I don’t want you to feel rushed. If you choose not to go to the island with me, I’ll understand.”
She chewed at her bottom lip, something he’d imagined doing himself. “Okay.”
Bracing his feet apart, he crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a stern look. “First, we’re going to discuss terms. Once we get to the island, there will be no renegotiating. I want everything spelled out here and now. This is only a small sample. The rest of it will be in the contract.”
Gulping, she nodded again. “Okay.”
Sin narrowed his eyes. “Once we get to the island, you will address me as sir at all times. I don’t want you to forget what you are to me, and addressing me as sir will help you remember what’s expected of you.”
Biting her bottom lip, Veronica lifted her chin and nodded again. “I will.”
Amused at her small show of defiance—a sharp contrast to the desire darkening her eyes—Sin hid a smile and moved to glance out the window into the darkening sky. “Once we get there, I own you. If you choose to change that, you’ll be taken from the island.”
He turned to her again, letting his gaze rake over her. “Your body is mine to do with as I please—within reason of course. You’ll have a list and can cross out whatever you’d like, except those items in dark print. Those items are not negotiable. I will dress you or leave you naked at my whim.”
Her eyes went wide at that, her breathing becoming more pronounced. Her eyes darkened even more, closing slightly.
Noting that she seemed to be excited at the thought of being exposed, and possibly exposed to others, Sin hid a smile and filed that piece of information away.
He would take great satisfaction at fulfilling every one of her naughty, delicious fantasies while fulfilling his own wicked ones.
“Agreed?”
Veronica licked her lips, tilting her head to the side again and making his cock harder. Hiding a smile, Sin waited her out.
Veronica fisted her hands in front of her. “I have a condition. I don’t want to be shared.”
Sin raised a brow at that. “On that, we’re in agreement. I’m selfish. I don’t share my toys.”
He’d never had a submissive of his own and sure as hell didn’t want to share her.
At her look of relief, he continued, reminded of her apparent desire to be exposed. “However, I do like showing off my possessions.”
He allowed a small smile when she stiffened. “After all, what’s the point in owning something beautiful if you can’t show it off?”
Veronica gulped again, her breath hitching, and Sin couldn’t help but notice that her nipples beaded even tighter, poking against her blouse. “But you won’t let anyone use me sexually? You won’t make me touch anyone else?”
“No. You will not be allowed to touch anyone except me. If you do, you’ll be punished, as you will if you violate any of the rules.”
Sin heard her sharp intake of breath, the desire in her eyes too blatant to miss.
Veronica bit her lip, looking everywhere except at him.
Needing to see her eyes, Sin injected a cold demand in his tone.
“Look at me.”
Veronica lifted her gaze to his, her eyes even darker.
Closing the distance between them, Sin smiled and ran a hand over her hair, standing close enough to see her pulse beat at her neck. “This is a journey of exploration. We’re going to explore your boundaries. It’s the only way for you to know what you like. The only way to do that is to take you out of your comfort zone. Agreed?”
A small smile curved her lips. “This whole thing is out of my comfort zone.”
Sin smiled at that. “I know that, but this is your choice. You’ll have to do things you’re not comfortable with, and I won’t tolerate any hesitation in obeying my orders.”
Carefully watching her eyes and body language, Sin pressed a forefinger to the underside of her chin, silently demanding that she lift her face to his. “Once we get to the island, if, at any time, you disobey me or hesitate to follow a command, I will punish you.”
Her breath caught, her eyes going wide and then narrowing again. Her parted lips quivered slightly before she pressed them closed to gulp again. “Like…a sp-spanking?”
Sin hid a smile, pretending not to notice that she rubbed her thighs together, one of the telltale signs that told him quite a bit about her need to be turned over his knee.
Anticipation fired his blood, and he wondered just how far she would go to earn one.
Or what other kinds of punishments would excite her.
Keeping his expression stern, Sin held her gaze. “There are many ways to punish a disobedient submissive. Spanking is only one of them, something you’ll learn if you don’t behave.”
Lifting a brow, he regarded her steadily. “There are rules on the island that you will follow to the letter. I won’t tolerate being embarrassed. If you disobey me in public, you’ll be punished in public—no matter who or how many people are watching.”
Veronica gasped at that and crossed her arms over her chest, probably in an effort to relieve the ache in her beaded nipples. “But how will you know you haven’t gone past those boundaries you talked about since neither one of us knows what they are?”
Reaching out to cup her cheek, he ran his thumb over her bottom lip, his cock jumping at the way it quivered. “I’ll know. Besides, you have your safe word, remember?”
Allowing a small smile, he straightened, uncrossing her arms and settling them at her sides.
“We can’t explore your boundaries without testing them. That means we’ll occasionally go past them, and you’re going to have to trust me to know that. You’re trusting me enough to put yourself in my hands—or you’re not. You can’t have it both ways. A submissive submits. You’re the only one who can decide if, after what we explore this week, you want to move forward.”
He held his breath, hoping like hell she didn’t change her mind.
She was like a breath of fresh air, and he didn’t want to lose her.
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