gift for you,” he says. “But I’m saving it for later tonight.”
“You’re spoiling me,” I say as we come to the elevator. “A trip to Portland. Dinner in public. What’s next, the collar coming off?”
Stonehart goes stiff. His eyes darken, and his whole demeanor changes.
Idiot! I think. What possessed you to say something like that?
“Jeremy, I’m sorry,” I backtrack, as quickly as I can. “It was a joke. I didn’t mean—”
“No.” Stonehart cuts me off with one soft word that’s sharper than any knife. “You did mean it, Lilly, and I don’t want you to lie to me again. I know what the collar means to you. And I also know—as you must—that it can never come off. I’m taking you out tonight to demonstrate some of that trust I spoke of. But this…” one finger runs around the collar, “must always remain in place. I did not become the man I am by not planning for contingencies. The collar ensures your compliance with my desires… no matter your disposition.”
The elevator doors open and Stonehart steps through. He does not look at me when he continues. “You understand the need for it, I’m sure. You’re a sharp girl. If you looked at things from my perspective, you wouldn’t ask questions like that.”
“I’m sorry,” I say again. “It was just a joke. A bad one.”
“Yes,” he agrees. “A bad one.” He takes a deep breath and hits the call button. The elevator starts to descend. “I do not want your attention diverted by such things, Lilly,” he says. “Not tonight.” He looks over at me, and then reaches out to take my hand again. “Tonight is supposed to be about us. A man and a woman enjoying each other’s company. Nothing more. What can be simpler than that?
What indeed ? I wonder. No matter how much I or Stonehart might want things to be different, our relationship can never be that black and white.
“Okay,” I say instead, not giving voice to my doubts. “I can do that.”
Stonehart smiles. There’s something a little forced about that smile, I think when I see it, but I don’t have time to dwell on it. The elevator doors open and I’m greeted by a long, black limousine waiting in the garage.
Stonehart places his hand on the small of my back and leads me out. As he opens the door for me, I catch a whiff of his cologne. It’s different from before… very subtle, yet defined. A hint of maple and spruce. It’s not a combination I would ever think went well together, but he makes it work.
At least, it works for me. It might be his pheromones underneath.
He settles down across from me and stretches out his long legs. The driver starts out into the city as soon as Stonehart shuts the door.
He looks at me. His gaze is electrifying.
“Do you feel that?” he asks.
I blink. “Feel what?”
“The energy… the thrumming… complete between us. I’ve never experienced anything like it before. No other woman has ever affected me like that before.” He leans forward, suddenly alert and intense. “Tell me it’s not just me. Tell me you feel it too, Lilly-flower.”
With his attention fastened on me, and him all but breathing me in, how can I deny it? He knows how I responded to his kiss.
A wave of heat overtakes my body as I have the sudden image of Stonehart pouncing on me, ripping off my dress, and fucking me right there in the back of the limo.
I blush, flustered, and look away. “I feel it,” I admit shyly.
Stonehart shifts across the cabin floor and lowers himself next to me. My heartbeat ratchets up from his proximity. “What do you feel?” he presses. There’s a raw edge to his speech. “Describe it for me, Lilly.” His hand comes to rest just above my knee. “Tell me how I make you feel.”
My breaths are coming faster, now. They’re deeper, too, making my breasts heave with every inhale.
“I feel… lost, “I say. Stonehart’s hand tightens on my leg. “Lost in you. In your power. In your masculinity.” Those are the
“You’re spoiling me,” I say as we come to the elevator. “A trip to Portland. Dinner in public. What’s next, the collar coming off?”
Stonehart goes stiff. His eyes darken, and his whole demeanor changes.
Idiot! I think. What possessed you to say something like that?
“Jeremy, I’m sorry,” I backtrack, as quickly as I can. “It was a joke. I didn’t mean—”
“No.” Stonehart cuts me off with one soft word that’s sharper than any knife. “You did mean it, Lilly, and I don’t want you to lie to me again. I know what the collar means to you. And I also know—as you must—that it can never come off. I’m taking you out tonight to demonstrate some of that trust I spoke of. But this…” one finger runs around the collar, “must always remain in place. I did not become the man I am by not planning for contingencies. The collar ensures your compliance with my desires… no matter your disposition.”
The elevator doors open and Stonehart steps through. He does not look at me when he continues. “You understand the need for it, I’m sure. You’re a sharp girl. If you looked at things from my perspective, you wouldn’t ask questions like that.”
“I’m sorry,” I say again. “It was just a joke. A bad one.”
“Yes,” he agrees. “A bad one.” He takes a deep breath and hits the call button. The elevator starts to descend. “I do not want your attention diverted by such things, Lilly,” he says. “Not tonight.” He looks over at me, and then reaches out to take my hand again. “Tonight is supposed to be about us. A man and a woman enjoying each other’s company. Nothing more. What can be simpler than that?
What indeed ? I wonder. No matter how much I or Stonehart might want things to be different, our relationship can never be that black and white.
“Okay,” I say instead, not giving voice to my doubts. “I can do that.”
Stonehart smiles. There’s something a little forced about that smile, I think when I see it, but I don’t have time to dwell on it. The elevator doors open and I’m greeted by a long, black limousine waiting in the garage.
Stonehart places his hand on the small of my back and leads me out. As he opens the door for me, I catch a whiff of his cologne. It’s different from before… very subtle, yet defined. A hint of maple and spruce. It’s not a combination I would ever think went well together, but he makes it work.
At least, it works for me. It might be his pheromones underneath.
He settles down across from me and stretches out his long legs. The driver starts out into the city as soon as Stonehart shuts the door.
He looks at me. His gaze is electrifying.
“Do you feel that?” he asks.
I blink. “Feel what?”
“The energy… the thrumming… complete between us. I’ve never experienced anything like it before. No other woman has ever affected me like that before.” He leans forward, suddenly alert and intense. “Tell me it’s not just me. Tell me you feel it too, Lilly-flower.”
With his attention fastened on me, and him all but breathing me in, how can I deny it? He knows how I responded to his kiss.
A wave of heat overtakes my body as I have the sudden image of Stonehart pouncing on me, ripping off my dress, and fucking me right there in the back of the limo.
I blush, flustered, and look away. “I feel it,” I admit shyly.
Stonehart shifts across the cabin floor and lowers himself next to me. My heartbeat ratchets up from his proximity. “What do you feel?” he presses. There’s a raw edge to his speech. “Describe it for me, Lilly.” His hand comes to rest just above my knee. “Tell me how I make you feel.”
My breaths are coming faster, now. They’re deeper, too, making my breasts heave with every inhale.
“I feel… lost, “I say. Stonehart’s hand tightens on my leg. “Lost in you. In your power. In your masculinity.” Those are the
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