Power Play [Pleasure Playground 2] by Eliza Gayle Page A

accustomed to it.
    "I was a little off my game today at work is all. It's not a big deal. Lack of sleep will do that, you know.” She hated the defensive tone of her voice, but she couldn't help it. Daegan had a way of getting under her skin no matter what he said or did.
    "Then we'll have to take care of that tonight, won't we?” He lifted her hand to his lips and placed a kiss across her knuckles.
    She tried to jerk her hand free, and Daegan only tightened his grip. “Don't,” he warned.
    "I don't know how to do this.” she whispered. “I know I agreed, but this is way...” She didn't want to admit the rest.
    "Outside your comfort zone,” he finished.
    Jennifer nodded. “I think this is a mistake. There are other women, eager women, who'd be more than happy to fill this role for you."
    "That's where you're wrong. This isn't just some role that needs to be filled. It's not a game. In fact, when I came here, I had no intention of getting involved with anyone. But if there's one lesson in life I have learned more clearly than I like, it's that life rarely goes exactly as you planned. Real life is messy."
    Didn't she know it? She'd been living that messy life for as long as she could remember. Not that she wanted to wallow there. Those days were behind her. “I know. It's just..."
    "You're afraid."
    Jennifer reared back as if she'd been slapped. Every time he managed to say something that hit a nerve, she wanted to flee.
    "Wait. Hear me out.” He rubbed his thumb across her knuckles and soothed her ruffled feathers just like that. “You want something you don't understand, so you push it away. It's a natural reaction. You head is in one place, and your body is in another."
    God, he was right. She was acting like a child. An all-too-familiar bitterness from her past reared its ugly head. She didn't belong here any more than she'd belonged there. Sadness ached inside her. How would she ever overcome the past completely if she didn't learn to at least trust one person? Chase and Murphy were both honest with her, and she'd shared a little, but even Eve, who'd tried so hard to befriend her the last six months hadn't gotten very far.
    "I'm not sure what I want anymore. I'm confused,” she blurted before she could bite back the words.
    The surprise on Daegan's face melted into a slow smile. “Why do I get the feeling that's the most honest thing you've said so far?"
    Jennifer didn't respond. Once again she found herself at a loss for words.
    "Sometimes what a submissive wants is different from what she needs. It's my job as a Dom to figure out the difference in each situation.” He placed a quick kiss on the tips of her fingers. “Sometimes she needs a comforting touch, or pleasure beyond her wildest dreams.” His tongue flicked across her flesh. “But sometimes she needs her Dom to make the hard decisions such as deciding when her limits should be pushed or doling out any punishment she has earned. All of those details will be up to me to decide."
    Jennifer opened her mouth and gasped for breath. Her whole body tightened and grew hot.
    "Punishment?"
    "Yes, love. What punishment you receive will depend on what rules you break. Some are more severe than others."
    Rules? Was he kidding? The only rules she lived by were of her own making and there were few. Always be professional. No one but she could drive her car. And never ever let anyone get too close.
    Daegan kissed her hand and laid it back on the table. “Don't worry about that yet. We'll get to that when we get back home. For now, let's relax and enjoy dinner. You need to get as much rest as possible tonight."
    She swallowed thickly, still stunned by his comments on punishment. She wanted to know more but was afraid to ask. Growing up in between two families she didn't exactly belong to had left her an outcast. She'd seen her father take a belt to her half brother and sister several times when they'd misbehaved, but he'd never done the same to her. And when