STORY EXCERPT

With an arm around her waist, Adam led her to the front door and out to the sidewalk, making a right turn.

Slowly strolling down the street, he kept his arm around her.

He looked like money, but the few shady-looking young men who passed them gave him a wide berth.

One appeared to be gathering the courage to approach him, but a glance from Adam seemed to change his mind.

For the first time in her life, she felt safe with a man other than Gabriel.

She wondered what it said about her that she felt safe with a stranger who exuded danger.

Because I’m a shitty judge of character.

They walked in silence for a few minutes before Adam spoke. “Taking a chance doesn’t mean going into something recklessly. It doesn’t mean letting your guard down. Trust has to be earned.”

Grace smiled humorlessly, pausing beneath the street light. “I’ve learned that. Are you going to admit that we got set up on a blind date because Kelsey told Gabriel what happened to me?”

Adam sighed. “Kelsey is very worried about you and wants to see you happy. Gabriel is terrified that you’re going to go to that club again and meet someone who’s really going to hurt you.”

“Why did you come tonight? Do you often get set up on blind dates?”

Adam smiled at that. “No. This is my first. I came tonight because Gabriel is a friend and he asked me to meet you. I have to admit that I was intrigued. I saw your picture and knew that I wanted to meet you. When he told me a little about what you’d been through, I suddenly find myself  a little protective of you.”

Shaking her head, Grace started back toward the restaurant, Adam falling into step beside her. “There’s no need. I’ve learned my lesson. I don’t even know if that’s what I want.”

Adam closed his hand gently around her forearm and pulled her to a stop beside him. “Would you like to find out?”

Grace’s heart went to her throat. “What do you mean?”

“I’m asking you if you’d like to become my submissive.”

Swallowing heavily, Grace pulled free of his grip, a chill racing up and down her spine. “No. I’m not ever doing that again.”

She headed back toward the restaurant again. “We’d better go back before they miss us.”

Adam sighed. “All Dominants aren’t the same. They don’t want the same thing any more than submissives do. You’ve seen that yourself with Gabriel and Kelsey.”

Grace paused and turned to him. “What are you saying?”

Adam took her hands in his. “Can you imagine Gabriel using a cane on Kelsey?”

Grace winced. “You know about that?”

Adam inclined his head. “Gabriel is furious about it and scared for you. Kelsey has been so upset that she confided in Gabriel because she’s terrified that the same thing will happen again. Please don’t be upset with your cousin. She loves you very much and went to the person she trusts the most, her husband, for help. He, in turn, came to someone he knew he could trust with you.”

Crossing her arms over her chest, Grace looked into his eyes, wondering what it would be like to belong to such a man. “So, what exactly are you proposing?”

Adam smiled faintly. “You know that Gabriel trusts me. You’re not going to be satisfied until you learn if submitting is something you really want to do. You don’t have to worry about your safety. I promise to take good care of you. We’ll discuss what you think you need—”

“What I think I need?”

“Yes. You’ve obviously fantasized, but have you experienced what you’ve fantasized about?”

Glad that they no longer stood under a streetlight and that the darkness would conceal her blush, Grace shook her head. “No. I don’t think it’s realistic.”

“What if it is? Isn’t it worth having a conversation?”

This can’t be real.

“What would you expect of me? What should I expect from you? Why would you do this? What if I don’t like it?”

Adam smiled. “Like I said, we need to have a discussion about it. It’s not something that can be decided on the sidewalk. Tomorrow’s Saturday. You don’t work tomorrow, right?”

“Right.”

“I’ll be there to pick you up at six. I’ll bring you back to my house where we can have a drink and talk before dinner. Have all of your questions ready and we’ll discuss whatever you’d like.”

Grace felt her face burn even hotter. “I don’t know if I can tell you in person. Can’t we talk on the phone?”

“No.” Adam lifted her chin. “This conversation is too personal and too important to have over the phone. If you want it badly enough, you have to have the courage to reach out and grab it. I can help you understand what you need, but you have to want it badly enough to take a chance, this time with someone you can trust.”

Grace drew a steady breath and let it out slowly. “Okay. I’ll meet you tomorrow, but I haven’t agreed to anything.”

“Understood.” Slipping an arm around her waist, he led her back toward the restaurant. “Our dinner should be ready soon, and afterward, I want to dance with you. Just relax and enjoy the evening.”

Grace stopped abruptly and turned to him. “Do you like hurting your submissives?”

Adam cupped her cheeks, his eyes glittering, the tenderness visible even in the low light. “Why would I want to hurt my most precious possession?”

Releasing her face, he took her hand in his again and continued on toward the restaurant. “Will you wear a dress for me tomorrow night? You have the most incredible legs.”

ADULT EXCERPT

“No.” He tightened his grip on her waist. “Lean back. Brace yourself with your hands on my legs behind you.”

With his hands steadying her, Grace obeyed him, her pussy clenching when she realized just how open it left her.

“Good girl.”

It should have irritated her that each time he said that a rush of warmth washed over her, every erogenous zone sizzling with awareness, but she’d already begun to understand that she needed the vulnerability and sense of being cared for.

Obeying Adam fulfilled a need in her to let go and just ride the voyage of pleasure.

Closing her eyes, Grace stiffened, her breath coming fast and shallow at the slide of his fingertip over her nipple. “How long—?”

“Quiet.” Adam lightly tapped her nipple, his cock jumping inside her at her cry. “I can’t wait to see these nipples wearing the jewelry I’ve ordered for you.”

Grace gulped and opened her eyes, mesmerized by the intensity in his gaze as he ran a fingertip over her breast. “You want to pierce me?”

Adam frowned. “No. These are nipple adornments that have a loop that I slip over your nipple. I can tighten it just enough to keep it in place and increase your awareness heightened there.” He lifted his gaze to hers. “I can also tighten them a little more if you’re misbehaving or just because I want to.”

Her breath quickened when he slid a fingertip down the center of her chest and to her mound. “I don’t misbehave. How can I understand what I want if I fight you?”

“You can’t.” Adam traced a finger over her mound. “Tomorrow night at this time, you’re going to be smooth and bare here. You’ll stay that way.”

“Why?” She clenched on his cock again, her juices coating his cock.

“Because it’ll make you feel even more naked, and I’ll be able to see and feel everything.” He slid a fingertip through her folds to her clit. “When I put jewelry on your folds and clit, I don’t want anything in my way.”

Grace gasped, her clit throbbing at his touch, the thought of him attaching something to her clit and making her wear it sending her arousal soaring. “You wouldn’t really do that to me, would you?”

“Of course. And often.” He ran his hands up to her breasts again, rolling her nipples lightly between his thumbs and forefingers. “I like the idea of keeping you adorned, my sweet possession.”

Grace clenched her jaw, fighting not to move at the mental image. “Please!”

Adam continued as if she hadn’t spoken, cupping her breasts and running his thumbs over her nipples, his cock impossibly hard and thick inside her. “I’m going to enjoy watching you walk with your pretty little ass adorned. Some of the butt plugs I ordered for you have pretty stones hanging from them.”

Grace moaned harshly, fighting for composure when his hand slid down the center of her body again, lifting slightly from his cock and lowering herself again. “Please! I’m begging you!”

Her clit burned, her pussy clenching

“You moved, darling.”

“I don’t care.” When his finger slid to her clit again, she rocked her hips, crying out at the friction and the slide of his thick cock inside her.

It felt so good she did it again, and again.

And again.

“Oh!” Using her hands on his thighs for leverage, she moved faster, moving on Adam’s cock and against his finger.

It felt so good.

Incredible.

Every bump and ridge of his thick length pressed against her inner walls, the feel of him like coming home.

At the same time, she moved against the finger at her clit, the pleasure swift and intense.

Each time she moved, the promise of release came closer and closer.

Moving faster, she raced toward release, the warm, tingling sensation telling her that the ultimate pleasure lay just out of reach.

Wanting more, she pushed at his thighs, using the leverage to sit forward, sucking in a breath when his cock went deeper. “Dear God!”

Adam’s hands closed firmly on her waist, and he sat forward, easing her slightly from his cock and holding her still. “What do you think you’re doing, little sub?”

Opening her eyes, she stared into his, her breath catching at the hard glint of possessiveness and hunger in his dark stare. She tried to move again, yelping at the sharp slap on her ass. “Please! I’m so close.”

He gripped her waist again, holding her in place, eyes darkening even more. “And you think I don’t know that?”

“You know when I’m going to come?”

Adam raised a brow. “What the hell do you think I’ve been doing, brat? I’ve been learning you. Exploring, remember?”

“I need it badly.”

“And I would have given it to you, if you’d only obeyed me.” His lips twitched, the affection for her combined with a steely determination. “It appears you’re going to have to be restrained until you learn a little control. In the meantime, you have a choice. I can deny your orgasm or give you the relief you need in exchange for a spanking.”

With her hands on his neck, she touched her forehead to his, shaking with the need to come. “I need to come. Please!”

“You disobeyed me.” He lifted his head to kiss her forehead. “There has to be some sort of punishment for that, little sub.”

The reminder of what she’d agreed to sent another rush of pleasure through her, and as she lifted her head to look into his eyes again, she came to appreciate the combination of tenderness and steely resolve. “I’m sorry.”

“One you accept your punishment, all is forgiven. So, what’s it to be?”

Grace slid her hands to his hair and pressed her lips against his, a lump forming in her throat when he lightly kissed her. “I want to come, and then I want you to spank me.”