in, and to eventually touch her. He did what he does best, which is what I do best.”
“And that is?”
“Dominance.”
The breath went of her lungs. They simply froze, refused to work. He was one of those men who liked to do awful things to women? And little Nikoli, the sweetheart with the face of an angel, was the same? How had she missed that about them?
“Get your head out of the gutter, Rebecca.” Dimitri laughed. “I can only guess what you’re thinking.”
“Bondage, whips, chains, beatings…you name it, I’m thinking it.”
He laughed so loud it made her jump. “Krasivaya, you do please me. So much.”
He was laughing at her? Enraged, she stood so fast she knocked the chair over, intending to march back into the room and lock his laughing ass out on the terrace. Instead, he caught her hand and tugged so she landed in his lap.
“Don’t run. I can’t chase you. My legs will give out.”
Becca ground her teeth. She wanted to hit him. Why had she never known this about him? Never even suspected it. She was not one of those women who was so insecure they’d let a man abuse her. Dammit, why did he have to be one of those men?
“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“How could I not know you were an abuser?”
“Abuser?” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “Did it feel like abuse in the bathroom?”
“No.”
“Then why do you think I’d abuse you? You know me better than that, Becca.”
The censure in his voice cut straight through her soul. What else was she supposed to think, though? He liked to dominate women.
“First, I don’t do the BDSM scene. Whips, chains, leather? All that is nonsense. Some people like to use them, to roleplay, but I don’t. I have no need to collar you, dress you in things you clearly won’t be comfortable in, or ever lay a hand on you intending physical harm. That’s not me. It’s true, I like a little pain…”
“See!” Becca reared back. “Pain, Dimitri. I don’t do pain the way you don’t do relationships.”
He stared at her, shocked she’d think he’d hurt her. He knew where she was getting all these preconceived notions. The market was flooded with books about BDSM relationships, relationships that would never be considered healthy anywhere except the pages of a work of fiction. He agreed with Nikoli there. Their brand of dominance did not involve ever harming a woman.
“Let me finish before you jump to those conclusions of yours, will you?”
Her glare was hot enough to fry an egg on the Arizona pavement, but she nodded.
“Good girl. Now, I like a little pain, meaning me as the receiver. It’s why when you sank you nails into me this morning, I nearly fucked you then. It sends my own lust out of control. Do I like to be hurt? Fuck, no. Someone ever tries to come near me with a whip or cane, they won’t walk away from it. I don’t do BDSM. But nails? Does me in every time.”
“But you said you were dominant.” Accusation rolled off her tongue, and he leaned forward to kiss her lips lightly. They were adorable all puckered up in a pout. He couldn’t help himself.
“I am, but not the way you’re thinking about it. I do like control. I do like to have you bound, unmoving while I fuck you. Does that mean you won’t get the same satisfaction I do? I think you can answer that for yourself.”
The blush that sprang up was instantaneous. He loved the soft bloom of color. It was just something else about her he loved.
“Dimitri, I am not a submissive person. I…I won’t ever let someone control me.”
He sighed. She wasn’t seeing this the right way. “I don’t want to control you, Becca. I love you the way you are. I love your sass and that smart mouth. I love the way you fight back, the way you stand up to me and tell me what for. I would never change that.”
“But…”
“But nothing. Stop interrupting me and listen.” He waited for her nod before he continued. “I don’t want to control you, Becca, just situations.”
“Situations?”
He rolled his eyes. What about “stop interrupting me” did she not understand?
“You said you liked me challenging you, so don’t roll your eyes at me. I’m trying to understand.”
“You got me there.” He pulled her head down so it was resting against his chest and started to stroke her hair. “Situations. Simple