emotionally hung over, they trudged to the kitchen. While she sat at the rectangular kitchen table, watching the sun come up over the horizon, Jaxon made them coffee and toasted a couple of bagels. He brought their breakfast to the table and then sat beside her. She smiled, but underneath the table, she dug her nails into her palm.
Last night scared the hell out of her. The fabulous sex. Sharing her thoughts and feelings. That wasn’t her.
She’d been independent for so long, she didn’t know how to deal with anyone telling her what to do. When it came to her career, she had to follow Nick’s directions. After all, he was her boss. With Jaxon, she’d come to realize that she didn’t just like to be dominated in the bedroom.
She needed it.
Now that she’d experienced the spicy taste of BDSM, she could never go back to plain vanilla sex. Jaxon had helped uncover and free the part of herself she’d hidden away like a dirty little secret. She was a sexual submissive and a masochist, and there was nothing wrong with that. But she’d be damned if she allowed anyone to tell her what to do outside of work and the bedroom.
If she caved and didn’t assert her independence, would she wither away as her mother had done? As much as she understood the rational fear plaguing Nick and Jaxon regarding her safety, she couldn’t hand them complete control of her life.
It was as if the more she trusted them, the tighter the noose became. Although the literal act of Jaxon’s hands around her neck aroused her, she couldn’t handle the metaphorical collar.
Which was why she needed some space.
She took a cautious sip of her coffee and then lowered the mug to the table. “I need to go see Hannah.”
He nodded. “I’ll take you.”
“I want to go alone.”
Not understanding, he continued to nod. “I’ll drop you off and wait—”
“No, I want to ride my bike and go without you.”
He jerked as if she’d slapped him. “You can’t be serious. Someone wants you dead. Why are you endangering your life?”
She rose from the table. “I’ve been responsible for myself for ten years. Just because I gave you power over me in the bedroom doesn’t mean I want it to cross over into the other parts of my life.”
Instead of getting angry, he grinned like she amused him. “Is that what you think I’m doing? Trying to dictate your life?”
“Aren’t you? I’m not supposed to go anywhere without you or Nick. I can’t stay at my apartment. I’m not used to this.”
He shot out of his chair and yanked her to him. “Well get used to it. It’s what happens when you have people who care about you and want to keep you safe.” His mouth descended over hers before she could say another word.
She tasted the mint of his toothpaste along with the robust flavor of coffee, and damn if the combination didn’t get her hot. For a moment, she relented, her arms circling his waist, her hands snaking up under the back of his shirt to his hot skin. He’d given her an orgasm not even an hour before, and between the flogging, bites, and thorough fucking, her body felt deliciously used. And yet her pussy dripped from her arousal.
Ignoring the urge to knock him to the floor and screw the hell out of him, she slipped her arms out of his shirt and pushed him back. “Your caring is suffocating me. I can’t breathe.”
She didn’t get far before he caught her and pulled her close. “This is about last night. About you allowing your fear to rule your life.” He nipped her earlobe and whispered, “Don’t run from me. From us.”
She shivered and suppressed a moan. “I’m not running away. But you have to admit, things have intensified between us rather quickly. I need some alone time.”
“Every time you’re alone, you put your life at risk.”
She didn’t want to hurt him, but she teetered on a slippery slope, and if she gave in, she’d slide into a chasm she’d never survive. “It’s my life. My risk to take.”
He
Last night scared the hell out of her. The fabulous sex. Sharing her thoughts and feelings. That wasn’t her.
She’d been independent for so long, she didn’t know how to deal with anyone telling her what to do. When it came to her career, she had to follow Nick’s directions. After all, he was her boss. With Jaxon, she’d come to realize that she didn’t just like to be dominated in the bedroom.
She needed it.
Now that she’d experienced the spicy taste of BDSM, she could never go back to plain vanilla sex. Jaxon had helped uncover and free the part of herself she’d hidden away like a dirty little secret. She was a sexual submissive and a masochist, and there was nothing wrong with that. But she’d be damned if she allowed anyone to tell her what to do outside of work and the bedroom.
If she caved and didn’t assert her independence, would she wither away as her mother had done? As much as she understood the rational fear plaguing Nick and Jaxon regarding her safety, she couldn’t hand them complete control of her life.
It was as if the more she trusted them, the tighter the noose became. Although the literal act of Jaxon’s hands around her neck aroused her, she couldn’t handle the metaphorical collar.
Which was why she needed some space.
She took a cautious sip of her coffee and then lowered the mug to the table. “I need to go see Hannah.”
He nodded. “I’ll take you.”
“I want to go alone.”
Not understanding, he continued to nod. “I’ll drop you off and wait—”
“No, I want to ride my bike and go without you.”
He jerked as if she’d slapped him. “You can’t be serious. Someone wants you dead. Why are you endangering your life?”
She rose from the table. “I’ve been responsible for myself for ten years. Just because I gave you power over me in the bedroom doesn’t mean I want it to cross over into the other parts of my life.”
Instead of getting angry, he grinned like she amused him. “Is that what you think I’m doing? Trying to dictate your life?”
“Aren’t you? I’m not supposed to go anywhere without you or Nick. I can’t stay at my apartment. I’m not used to this.”
He shot out of his chair and yanked her to him. “Well get used to it. It’s what happens when you have people who care about you and want to keep you safe.” His mouth descended over hers before she could say another word.
She tasted the mint of his toothpaste along with the robust flavor of coffee, and damn if the combination didn’t get her hot. For a moment, she relented, her arms circling his waist, her hands snaking up under the back of his shirt to his hot skin. He’d given her an orgasm not even an hour before, and between the flogging, bites, and thorough fucking, her body felt deliciously used. And yet her pussy dripped from her arousal.
Ignoring the urge to knock him to the floor and screw the hell out of him, she slipped her arms out of his shirt and pushed him back. “Your caring is suffocating me. I can’t breathe.”
She didn’t get far before he caught her and pulled her close. “This is about last night. About you allowing your fear to rule your life.” He nipped her earlobe and whispered, “Don’t run from me. From us.”
She shivered and suppressed a moan. “I’m not running away. But you have to admit, things have intensified between us rather quickly. I need some alone time.”
“Every time you’re alone, you put your life at risk.”
She didn’t want to hurt him, but she teetered on a slippery slope, and if she gave in, she’d slide into a chasm she’d never survive. “It’s my life. My risk to take.”
He
Similar Books
