“I’m open to discussion, to explaining, to moving slowly, to introducing you to my world a step at a time.”
“That’s not how negotiation works, Mr.Donovan.I’m supposed to ask for something, you’re supposed to counter with something else.Then we meet somewhere in the middle.You don’t get everything you want,” she said dryly.
“You’re exactly right.That’s how it’s supposed to work.”
Did he have to be so damn agreeable?The man undid her.
“You want marriage,” he continued.“My condition is your submission.”He extended his left arm across the back of the couch then propped an ankle on the opposite knee.With his wineglass in his right hand, he looked totally in charge and completely at ease.
“If I say no, is the discussion over?”
“You’re considering running away before finding out what I mean, want I want, what I demand.And you’re assuming you’d hate it.Did you hate what we shared this afternoon?Were you frightened by the way I kissed you?Maybe by the way I played with your nipples?”
Memories scalded her.
He leaned forward to put down his glass before leveling his gaze on her.There was no quarter in those gray eyes.
“What’s it to be, Lara?”
Chapter Four
Lara hesitated.
He didn’t press, didn’t say anything further, allowing the silence to become its own force.
A battle waged inside her, self-preservation versus desire.“No,” she confessed.“I wasn’t scared.Nervous, yes.But a kiss can hardly be considered submission.”
“Oh?”
“It’s not like I was on my knees.”Yet she was picturing it.Lord help her.“Or naked.Or being beaten.”
“But you did go to the door to lock it.Then you went to the center of the room.And you waited for me.You trusted me.You responded when I asked if the way I pulled on your nipples was too much.”
His words made her burn for him.
“Did I take you further than you could go?”
“Of course not.”
“Further than you wanted?Or were you left craving more, imagining more?”
She looked away, severing herself from the power of his eyes.
“We talked in my office about the fact D/s relationships need tremendous amounts of trust.I outlined what I’m willing to do for you to feel safe, but it goes two ways.You will need to be scrupulously honest with me.More importantly, Lara, the only way we can have a successful relationship is if you’re honest with yourself.”After pausing for a moment, he added, “That can be the most difficult obstacle.”
His words, so accurate, gave her a chill.She’d been so busy fighting herself and her responses that she’d buried honesty several layers deep.What he’d done to her, with her, had made her panties damp.She’d been aroused even though she was apprehensive.
“Curiosity is part of the reason you’re here,” he said.The words were a statement, not a question.
“And nervousness about what you’d demand is something that almost kept me away.”
“Fair enough.Ask me the dozens of questions that are going through your mind.Ask how I’d punish you.”
“Does that have to be part of it?”
“For me, yes.But here’s the important part.Any relationship we enter into will have rules.I will follow them as well.”
“The idea that you would even consider punishing me is a deal-breaker.”
