Like an enraged beast, he pushed her back against the table. It skidded over the Formica. Her plate and his beer bottle wobbled and then fell, crashing to the floor. He didn’t give a shit. But the lack of traction was annoying, so he whipped her up into his arms and—not breaking their connection—carried her to the room he’d been fantasizing about.
Oh, not the bedroom.
The playroom.
It took every damn ort of his restraint to release her, to set her on her feet and turn her so she could see what was in store for her. She eeped as she took in the equipment, the paraphernalia of his passion. The cross, the spanking bench, the cot with restraints blatantly displayed.
He pulled her back against him so he could nest his raging cock in the pillows of her ass. He loved that she clenched her cheeks, testing his girth. Testing his resolve.
“Is this what you want?” he hissed into her hair. He couldn’t bear to look at her face. Held his breath as he waited for her response. Because if she said no, if she showed any resistance in the slightest, he’d drop his hold and walk away. Right fucking now.
It would kill him, but he would.
“Is it?” He gave her a gentle shake when she didn’t respond quickly enough.
She shuddered. Her head bobbed. Something in his gut released.
“Say it.”
“Y-yes, Sterling.”
“Say it all.”
“This is what I want.”
He nearly collapsed, but he didn’t. There was still work to do before the fun could begin. “Go sit on the cot,” he ordered, holding himself preternaturally still. She did. She sat on the cot, avoiding the restraints with adorable primness. She folded her hands in her lap and kept her gaze down.
“Look at me.”
Ah, it scored him when she did. Her eyes wide, beautiful, her expression so fucking…submissive.
He crossed the room and knelt before her, being very careful not to touch her. It took some effort. He wanted to begin. But he couldn’t. Not yet.
“Rules,” he clipped out. He should have been more vocal, but he found he was too close to the end of his tether to be all fucking chatty.
“Rules?”
He nodded. Waited.
She stared at him. Her lips worked. “Don’t you, ah, don’t you make the rules?”
Aw, hell. Was she a virgin? Would she require training? He set his teeth. “You make the rules. You set the parameters. You call the shots.”
While this surprised her, he could tell she liked it. Her lips tweaked. “Well…” She tortured him for a long while as she thought it over. “You’re definitely spanking me again.”
Relief and heat and pure freaking lust washed through him. “I am.” He fingered the restraints, simple straps with Velcro loops. Once he had her in them, she would be helpless. He tried not to salivate at the thought. “And these?”
“You want to tie me up?” A breathless query. Its eager lilt made his cock twitch.
“If…” He cleared his throat. “If you agree.”
She glanced down. He tipped her chin back up. Even that tentative touch was nearly more than he could take.
“Do you? Agree?”
“Yes.” A whisper.
Need sizzled through him. “Do you have a safe word?”
Her brow rippled. “No?”
He wasn’t sure if it was an answer or a suggestion. “How about…reporter.” That would knock him out of the zone but quick.
“I…ah…okay.”
“Anything else you don’t want to do?”
“Anything else you want to do?”
He frowned at her, liked the way she winced. It wasn’t a wince of fear so much as anticipation and acceptance. Of his needs, and her hunger. “If we don’t discuss it, it’s fair game.”
“Just…don’t hurt me.”
Ah, hell. Her expression, the vulnerability, the fear in her tone tore him up.
“I will never hurt you, Roni.” A vow. He had to touch her then. Had to kiss her. And then, when he did, he couldn’t stop. When he finally pulled back, they were both breathless and shaking. “Are you…ready?”
She gulped. And nodded. The submissive cant to her eyes made his pulse rage. He stood, took a step back, trying like hell to look mean and tough when what he really wanted was to crumple before her.
He sucked in a breath and crossed his arms. Girded his loins, so to speak. It was time to begin.
“Okay, Roni. Strip.”
* * *
Heat flamed through her at his command. One word. Strip.
Her body liquefied. She quivered as she rushed to obey, removing her blouse and bra, her shoes, jeans and panties. A flush crawled up her cheeks as she stood before him, buck naked.