“Understood?”
She found herself nodding. “Yes, Sir.”
“How long have you been a submissive?”
“Eight years.”
“Since you turned eighteen?” He looked stunned.
“Yes.”
He paused. “That’s awfully young.”
“I didn’t see it that way.”
His brow furrowed. “Did you have a Dom?”
“I did. He was the perfect teacher. I was devastated when he broke things off.”
Conner inhaled deeply. “How old was he?”
Sabrina hesitated, gnawing on her cheek again.
“Answer me, baby.”
“Forty.”
“Fuck. Are you serious? That’s almost illegal.”
“Almost, but not quite.” Why does he get to cuss?
Conner closed his eyes, clearly fighting his furious response to the information. She couldn’t quite imagine why. “He took advantage of you, baby.”
“He didn’t. I was a willing participant. More than that. Eager. And besides, after a few months when I realized I had fallen for him, he broke things off. I was hurt.”
“Well, at least he had the good sense to let you go. Are you crazy? He could have been a predator. You could have been seriously hurt.”
She frowned. “He was a member of the club I belong to. I didn’t pick him up on a street corner.”
Conner shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Do you think just because some guy is a member of a club, he’s on the up and up?”
“Of course not, but I did my homework.” That wasn’t entirely true. She’d met Sir Jacob soon after she’d been old enough to enter the club and hadn’t really looked back once until he dumped her.
“Riiight.” Conner rolled his eyes.
Sabrina was saved from more of his interrogation by the arrival of their food.
Conner sat back to give the waitress space to set their plates down. “Be careful. The plates are hot. Can I get you anything else?”
“No. Thank you. We’re fine.” Conner smiled at her, making her smile back. Who wouldn’t? He was the sexiest man in the room, probably all of Vegas.
As soon as the waitress left, Conner started his interrogation again. “How many Doms have you been with since then?”
“A few.”
“That’s vague, baby.”
She blew out a breath, wiping her hands on her jeans. She’d yet to glance down at their plates. “Enough to know what I like.”
The smile that spread across his face was huge.
She’d given him the wrong impression. Or had she?
“Eat your lunch, Sabrina.” He tipped his gaze to his food and grabbed a fork.
For the first time, Sabrina glanced down. It smelled delicious and it looked even better. And she wanted to throw a tantrum right there for Conner’s ability to select her meal.
Nevertheless, she had no desire to act like a brat and give him any fuel to torment her with. It would be easier to ignore this slight and just eat her food.
The first bite was divine, some sort of chicken dish with a white wine sauce and corkscrew pasta. Thank God she didn’t have to manhandle long noodles into submission.
They ate in silence for several minutes.
When Conner chuckled, Sabrina lifted her brows. “Something funny?”
“You.”
“What’d I do?”
“Do you always moan like that when you eat?”
She froze. “I do not.”
He chuckled louder. “Don’t get me wrong. I love that you enjoy your food, but that little noise is making my cock press uncomfortably against my pants.”
At first she was shocked, but then she realized nothing with Conner should shock her anymore. So she decided to goad him instead. On the next bite, she moaned intentionally around the fork as she slid it from her mouth. She let her eyes drift halfway closed and gripped the edge of the table, her head thrown back and her chest thrust forward as she gave a short When Harry Met Sally rendition.
Conner dropped his fork with a clank.
She struggled to swallow the bite, wondering if she’d gone too far. And wondering if she cared.
“Are you always going to test me like this?”
“Probably.” She reached for his ice tea, taking a long drink while he held her gaze. When she set the glass back down, she wasn’t sure she hadn’t pushed him too far.
His gaze was piercing, his lips pursed. He gritted out his next words. “I’m sure you think you’re cute. Hell, even I think you’re cute. But trust me when I say there will always be consequences for your actions, even when we aren’t in an appropriate location for those consequences at the time. Am I understood?” His assumption that their relationship as a Dom and sub was a foregone conclusion both infuriated her and made her want to kneel at his feet.
Sabrina nearly choked. Oh, yeah. She’d gone too far. Shit.
“Words, Sabrina.”
“Yes, Sir,” she muttered, suddenly far more humble than she would like. She didn’t know Conner well enough to presume what his idea of punishment might entail.
Just as suddenly, he picked up his fork. “Finish your lunch, baby. I have a class this afternoon.”
She nodded, unsure if she could swallow the rest. Luckily, she was still hungry, and she didn’t think it would be prudent to defy him again right then. Perhaps if she toned down the sass a bit, he might go easy on her later.
That was what she wanted, right?
She managed to eat the rest of the meal without giving the professor any reason to reprimand her further. As she set her fork down, she lifted her gaze to find him leaning back, his gaze on her.
He was smiling. “What do you do, Sabrina?”
“Excuse me?”
“For work.”
“Oh.” She relaxed. “I’m an editor.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “For the paper?”
“No, books.”
“Proofreading?” He said that one word with a bit of disdain.
“No. Content edits. I’m a freelance editor.”
“Really? Huh.” He seemed surprised.
“What’s so strange about that?”
He shrugged. “Nothing. I guess that explains your excellent writing and grammar.”
Now she was shocked. “You think my writing is good?” He had given no indication of that the entire semester.
“Of course. Some of the best I’ve ever seen.”
Then why did you ride my ass for four months?
He chuckled. “You didn’t think I cared much for you, did you?”
“I thought I was the scum beneath your shoes you couldn’t manage to avoid stepping in.” She gave him a fake smile, keeping her voice level as though she’d announced it would be a sunny day.
Now he laughed. “Good.”
She flinched.
He leaned closer, setting his elbows on the table again. “Didn’t want anyone in the classroom to realize how fucking hard I was for you.”
Sabrina stopped breathing. She grabbed the edge of the table.
He grinned. “Including you.”
“Why?” She swallowed. “I mean why the charade? You could have just talked to me.”
“Really? And said what?” He altered his voice to make a fake speech. “Hey, Ms. Duluth, may I speak to you a moment after class? Yeah, I just wanted you to know that I totally want to dominate you. How about when you’re done with school, you get down on your knees and suck my cock like a good girl?”
Her shock gradually slid away until she giggled. “I see what you mean.”
He lowered his voice. “You aren’t a student anymore.”
“Nope.”
“Still not sure what to do with you. You’re so young.” He held up a hand before she could contest this repeated territory. “I get it. And I’ll agree you do seem more mature than your twenty-six years. That helps. And you have experience as a submissive. That also helps. Although I do wonder who the hell tra
ined you, seeing as your mouth runs you in a ditch most times you open it.”
She smiled smugly. “Only with you. No one else ever complained.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“If you agree to be mine, Sabrina, you’ll have some relearning to do. If you think you can run roughshod over me like you may have gotten away with in the past, you’re mistaken.” He didn’t give her a chance to respond before he continued. “And put your arms at your sides, baby. Don’t cross them like that. You aren’t to close yourself off from me.”
Sabrina sucked in a sharp breath and dropped her arms to her thighs.
“The plain T-shirt and jeans are a hoot by the way. I’m sure you thought hard about what to wear that would be the least attractive. You missed the mark, however. The white tee is snug enough for me to enjoy your chest and the lace of your bra. I can even see your nipples puckering under the material.” His gaze lowered to her breasts. “And those jeans are fucking tight and sexy as hell.” He smirked.
“How would you know?”
“I watched you all the way from your car to this booth, baby.”
She jerked her eyes wide. “You were already here?”
“Yep.”
“You hid and watched me?”
“Yep.” He continued as if that revelation weren’t the least bit odd. “In the future, unless I give you permission, no jeans or pants when you’re with me. Understood?”
Her mouth fell open. Was he serious?
“I like to know your pussy is open to me. I don’t like to struggle to get to the prize. I almost came in my pants the last time I attempted to get to your cunt in this restaurant.”
Sabrina bit her lip. So many emotions slammed into her at once. He was so cocky and dominant. He was also right. She’d never subbed for anyone remotely like him before. No man had ever spoken to her like that. And she’d never heard someone use the word cunt. Shock was too mild a word for how she felt.
“I know you’re overwhelmed. That’s to be understood.” He slid from the booth and stood, leaning over until his lips were right next to her ear. “Think about it, Sabrina. Has your pussy ever been this wet? Have you ever needed to come so badly with any other Dom?” He didn’t wait for her to respond. And she couldn’t have with his lips driving a shiver down her neck. He slid a folded piece of paper into her hand and pressed it against her palm. “This is my number. Text me your address. I’ll be there tomorrow night at seven. That gives you a full day to think about submitting to me.”
What? So, if I text him, that’s my consent. And If I don’t… Who was she kidding?
He stood. “I’ll pay the bill on my way out. Leave whenever you’re ready.” With that, he turned and walked to the front.
Sabrina sat frozen while he handed a credit card to the waitress and took care of lunch. She continued to watch as he turned toward the front door without glancing back.
As he reached to open the glass door, it swung in and a cute girl Sabrina remembered from her class last semester stepped inside. Angela or something…
Sabrina watched as the girl ran a hand through her long, thick black hair and flipped it behind her. She smiled too broadly and batted her eyes. She spoke to Conner as though they were long lost friends. She was flirting. It made Sabrina cringe.
What the hell? Are you jealous?
The girl was maybe nineteen at the most. If Conner thought Sabrina was young, he would think that co-ed was a baby. But Lord was she ever gorgeous. She had the entire package—hair to die for, fantastic bronzed skin, boobs any model would be happy to show off, a narrow waist, and an ass most men turned around to watch go by.
The girl tipped her head back and laughed hard at something Conner said. Conner’s expression from the side was one of shock. He stepped back a pace.
Good.
Sabrina needed to kick the ugly green monster out the door. The man had fucked her in the restroom of this very restaurant. So take that, Ms. Cleavage.
Finally Conner left, nodding at the girl as he went.
Sabrina stared long and hard at the entrance before she finally shook herself out of her stupor. “Fuck,” she muttered, a new shiver racing down her spine at the expletive he hated. His ass was fine. He was the entire package.
Before she knew it, the girl from class walked right toward Sabrina’s table. When she reached Sabrina, she paused. If Sabrina wasn’t mistaken, she would swear the girl narrowed her gaze in disgust before she pasted on a sickly sweet smile. “Hey. Sofie, right? Weren’t you in my lit class last semester?”
“Sabrina. Yes.”
“Right. Sabrina.” She looked like she was going to say something else, but then decided not to. “Well, gotta run. Have a nice lunch.” She bounced away, heading deeper into the restaurant. Weird.
∙•∙
Angelica couldn’t believe it.
Interesting day. She saw Sabrina’s car in the parking lot as she pulled in. Perfect opportunity to get some retaliation and wipe some of that glass-half-full expression off the bitch’s face.
Running into Professor Bascott was even better. Finding out he’d undoubtedly been dining with that bitch from class again was epic.
Feeling lighter than she had in days, she headed straight for the restroom and locked the door—the very same bathroom she knew good and well Dr. Bascott had fucked that skinny bitch in over the summer.
What the hell did he see in her? She was mousy and annoying. Who liked a know-it-all? Sabrina sat at the front of the class all semester with her hand raised and a ready answer to just about anything.
Hell, Dr. Bascott never gave that bitch the time of day all semester. In fact, he seemed downright annoyed by her most days.
Nope. She was certain the man didn’t like a know-it-all. Then why the hell was he dallying with the flat-chested waif now?
Angelica used the facilities and washed her hands. As she reached for a paper towel, she stared at herself in the mirror. She was having a great hair day. She lowered her gaze and plumped up her ample chest. Yep, her cleavage was smokin’ today also.
She hadn’t made great strides with Dr. Bascott on Monday, but after working on her paper this coming weekend, she intended to show up during his office hours again. He was bound to notice her sooner or later.
In the meantime, she had more important things to deal with. Namely, her plans for Saturday night. Leo… She’d met him at a club a few weeks ago and things had really been heating up between them. He was sexy as hell and totally into her. She intended to make a move on him this weekend and put that damn professor out of her mind.
Chapter Six
The following day was long for Conner. No day had ever been that long. He had confidence Sabrina would come through for him. But waiting to see her again was a challenge. He’d left the restaurant so hard, he thought his dick would explode out of his pants.
The woman was hell on wheels, and he loved it. He was so going to enjoy bringing her to her knees and training her to do his bidding the way he liked.
And the mouth on her. Oh Lord. For as much as he hated hearing her cuss, at the same time he loved how feisty and determined she was.
She was an editor? Who made a living editing books? He hadn’t even asked her what type of books. But he couldn’t imagine she made much money. He didn’t know anyone who edited and earned enough to survive on.
He did his best to ignore the feeling of impending doom that haunted him day in and day out worrying about the person who was trying to frame him. He’d come up with no feasible explanation. If he’d been asked to make a list of his enemies, it would have been lengthy, especially lately. He seemed to have managed to piss off a slew of people in the last few weeks.
As expected, Sabrina didn’t text her address until six thirty. The imp.
When he pulled up to her house at seven, he was shocked to find not an apartment or condo, but an actual house. Maybe she had roommates.
His cock was already hard before he got to the front door. As he knocked, he adj
usted himself, shaking his head at how the woman affected him.
It took several seconds for Sabrina to answer. But when she did, Conner couldn’t decide whether to laugh or scream.
The woman wore jeans and T-shirt again. He wasn’t kidding. She looked hot in anything. The denim hugged her hips perfectly and curved around her ass in a way that made any man drool. He could definitely see the outline of her bra beneath the plain tee. And like yesterday, her nipples made an impression.
She stepped back to allow him entrance, her face unreadable, but he decided on cocky. Determined. Strong. All characteristics he loved and hated at the same time.
“I see you decided not to heed my advice about the jeans,” he stated as she shut the door behind him.
She shrugged. “This is what I wore all day. Didn’t see a good reason to change. And besides, you gave me no indication as to what we might be doing this evening.”
“Going over my expectations again apparently.” He stepped farther into the room and looked around.
Every surface was covered with books. Even the couch had a book on it, open and upside down to hold her spot.
“Can I get you something to drink?” she asked.
He picked up a novel from her coffee table and lifted his gaze. “Do you have a beer?”
“Of course.” She shuffled through the room into the adjoining kitchen.
While she was gone, he examined the book in his hand. A romance novel. He set the book back down to grab another. The same. He tipped his head to one side to stare at the spines of dozens of books. Romance. All of them.
A beer appeared in his line of sight. “This okay?”
“Perfect.” He took the bottle and lifted it to his lips. He was going to need a few of them.
Sabrina also held a beer. She plopped onto the couch and crossed her legs under her while she drank. Lord, she was cute.
“You read all this shit?” he asked.
Sabrina pursed her lips and narrowed her gaze. “Excuse me?”
He waved his free hand through the air, indicating all the literature in her living room. “Smut. Sex. Whatever you want to call it.”
She lifted one brow, challenging him. God he loved sparring with her. “I don’t just read it. I edit it.”
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