around his waist. The other followed naturally, and she found herself scandalously wrapped around him, only her thin panties and his pants separating their private parts. As if amused to have her off-kilter, he smirked playfully and pulled her even tighter against him, rubbing her along the hard length of him that she was staggeringly aware of now.
“Such as this,” he murmured low and then smacked her bottom.
She squealed with shock and indignation, but the hand that had just whacked her smoothed over her stinging bottom. His hand is under my skirt. His hand is on my ass. Oh my...
Overheated and nervous, she asked, “Do you really want to spank me?”
“Yes.” He captured her mouth again, this time shocking her by flicking his tongue insistently between her lips until she surrendered. His tongue swept hers, and she felt so lightheaded she clutched at his shoulders, desperate not to fall.
“Why?” she asked, feeling completely out of control as his hand stroked her bare thigh. No man had ever touched her like this. No man had ever kissed her like this. Gazing at Cipher, she was so glad he would be her teacher.
“Did you read the pamphlet about pain and pleasure?” He dragged his mouth along the curve of her neck, and she started to shake.
“Yes.”
“It’s the way I’m built, Brook. It’s the way I’m wired.” He nipped at her throat, and she whimpered. “I want to be in control. I want to dominate you. I want to own you.”
Trying to keep a level head, she pulled away enough to stare into his eyes. A quiver of fear made her suddenly serious. He was so much bigger and stronger. If he did some of the things she had read about in the guidebook, he could seriously injure her. “Do you want to hurt me?”
“A little,” he admitted, never taking his eyes off her face. “Not in anger and never enough to harm you. Only enough to highlight the extreme pleasure you’re capable of feeling.”
Satisfied with his answer but also afraid of the unknown, she asked, “Do you want to hurt me right now?”
“No,” he answered without hesitation. The hand on her bottom dragged her closer, and he kissed her so sweetly. “Right now, I want to teach you all the things about your body that you don’t know yet.”
Thinking of his hands and mouth on her body, touching all the places she rarely dared, showing her the kind of pleasure she had only imagined, she decided it was time for courage. Knowing what would make him go absolutely feral with desire, she leaned closer. “I’m a very good student, sir.”
Whatever doubts he may have harbored seemed to flee in that moment. Wrapping her braid around his fist, he tugged her head back and licked a slow line up the center of her neck before claiming her mouth in a kiss that left her breathless and aching. With her hair tight in his hand, he had complete control over her movement—and she liked it.
“There it is,” he murmured against her skin. “There’s that submissive spark I want.”
“What else do you want from me, sir?”
“Everything you have to give.” He skimmed his lips along her jaw and squeezed her bottom in his big hand. “I want it all.”
“Take it,” she pleaded, her entire body on fire. “Take me, Cipher.”
He groaned with need and tilted her head until they were eye-to-eye. “Remember you asked for this.”
Chapter Ten
Gentle. Careful. Slow. Gentle. Careful. Slow.
Cipher silently repeated his mantra as he moved Brook into a standing position and rose from the bed. Taking her hand, he led her toward the door she hadn’t asked about yet. He had considered easing her into the things he liked, but her natural curiosity and bravery had him reconsidering that plan. Trusting that she would tell him if things were too uncomfortable or intimidating, he unlocked the door and tugged her along behind him.
The lights immediately turned on at the setting he had chosen when configuring the space, a perfect medium between too bright or dim. He left the door open behind them, making sure Brook had a quick exit. When she stepped in front of him, he suspected the open door was a moot point. With a look of wonder, she glanced around the space as if cataloguing everything. He wished he could hear her thoughts. Was she curious? Afraid? Nervous?
“May I touch your things, sir?”
“Our things,” he corrected. “This is our room to enjoy. You can touch anything in here.”
With