“What?” she asks. Her voice is faint and breathy and so fucking sexy.
I let a grin spread across my face. “To know exactly how to make you come apart.”
“You should come at least once before I fuck you.” She lets out a small groan, and my heart thuds in my chest. “I’d make sure you made a mess on my hand before I let you have my cock. Because if I get to choose how fast and how hard I fuck you, I’ll need you wet, ready, and willing to beg for it.”
Her hazel eyes are practically black, her pupils have expanded so wide.
She nods. I doubt she even knows she’s doing it. She’s flushed and her thighs are clenched tight. I wonder if I keptgoing…could I make her come right here on the bed, without even touching her?
I’m hard just thinking about the idea of bringing her to that peak.
But because it’s us, torturing her is even sweeter.
I pull back and crack open the door, breaking the spell. Pippa blinks, consciousness coming back into her eyes.
“Anyway, that’s how a good Dom treats his sub, Pips. Make sure you get the details right.”
Winking, I stroll back to the living room, leaving her wet and wanting. Because I love knowing that in this game of wills, I’m walking away the champion. But also because if I kept going, I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from turning make believe into a very messy reality.
13
PIPPA
“Tell me when,” Cat says, pouring red wine into my glass. She pours it until it’s about three fourths of the way full, then stops. “You didn’t say when.”
I sink back in the café chair. “Because I need a lot of wine tonight. It’s been a long freaking day.”
We’re at the Copper Cup, our favorite little café and bookstore. Cat and I try to meet up there for Wine Wednesdays. Of course, it’s been a while since Cat’s had a Wednesday free. She and Nate travel so much for work that I think her passport might die of exhaustion.
I take a long sip of my wine, savoring the taste. Cat watches me sympathetically.
“Let me guess. Work is crazy?”
I shake my head. “Like you wouldn’t believe. With the 12 Dates of Christmas articles blowing up, I spent all morning answering reader questions in the forums. At least Ingrid let me out in the afternoon so I could check out some apartments.”
“Anything good?”
“Let’s just say, my top choice apartment is in a basement under a butcher shop. The downside is that the whole apartmentsmells like deli meat. But hey, on the upside, if any intruders want to rob me, they’ll have to get through five Italian guys with cleavers.”
Cat shudders. “Youcan’tlive there. I know you want to get away from Ryan, but dating’s only going to be harder if you start smelling like salami.”
“Don’t worry. My standards haven’t droppedthatlow. I’ll keep looking for places, ones that are on or above ground level. But let’s not dwell on my depressing life.”
“It’s not depressing!” Cat says fiercely. “Your article started an actual TikTok trend. That’shuge, and I’m super proud of you.”
I duck my head. “It’s just a trend. It’ll disappear soon.”
“No, it won’t. It’s only going to get bigger the more articles you publish. I know it, because you’re the smartest woman I know,andthe best writer I’ve ever read.”
My chest warms. Cat has no idea how much I needed to hear that. At work, Ingrid uses every success as a reason to give me more assignments. Actual praise from someone who cares about me is so much more important.
“Tell me about this work trip,” I say. “You’re going to…Japan? And for the record, I’m only a little jealous of your new international jetsetting lifestyle.”
Cat laughs and shakes her head. “Japan is in January. Tonight, we’re leaving for Australia.”
“Ooo, land ofLord of the Rings!”
“You’re thinking of New Zealand. I don’t think UPS has any branches out there, but I’ll have to ask Nate.”
