“Shiitake mushrooms!” Emma exclaims as she tries to catch her breath. “Is that how kisses are supposed to be?”
“Oh, baby, you have no idea. It gets much better from here. Are you saying you want this, too? To see where it goes?”
“Yes.” When she agrees, her smile is angelic.
I could stare at her all day, but her saying that one word is everything.
twelve
Emma
I can’t believe this is real. Or that I said yes. This is so not me. I don’t jump into relationships. I don’t have them at all. Who am I kidding? But with Asher, somehow, this feels right, even if I’m about to get something shoved up my butt. Frack.
He’s everything I ever dreamed of not just sex on a stick, but the complete package. A growly, dominant giant of a man who truly sees me, not just Emma the nerdy scientist, but the Emma who stays hidden from the world—the one who’s touch-starved and lonely.
And, holy shiitake mushrooms, that man doesn’t just kiss, he consumes. Not only did my toes curl, but my skin tingles, too. I’m a puddle of goo, and surprisingly, I’m okay with that. More than okay.
“Raindrop, you still with me?”
Uh oh. The concern in his voice makes me think he was trying to get my attention while I’m lost in my head. “Sorry, Ash. I’m just a little overwhelmed.”
Asher’s smile takes my breath away. Not just his usual half-smirk-smile, no, this one changes his whole face. His eyes even crinkle at the edges, and I think he saves it for only me.
“Aww, baby. I’ve got you—always. While I’d like nothing more than to worship every inch of this delicious treat, lying here just for me, we still have to deal with your punishment.”
“But do we? Even after that kiss?” Fudgsicles. The heat is rising in my cheeks. Why am I such a dork?
“Yes, even after that fucking amazing kiss.”
Now he’s not smiling, though. Grumpy Ash is back.
“There will be plenty of kissing in our future, don’t worry about that. But you need to understand when I say something, I mean it. If I set a rule, and you break it, there will be consequences. A punishment promised is a punishment given. I need you to submit to me, it’s just how I’m wired. That doesn’t mean I’m going to order you around all day. But when it comes to your safety in particular, you need to listen. Tell me you understand, Em.”
“Yes, Sir.” I know he wants me to call him Daddy. Even thinking about it makes my stomach fluttery. But I’m just not ready yet. Heck. It’s hard enough calling him Sir. Although he didn’t tell me I had to call him that, either. Maybe Sir Ashbear.
“Em?”
Dang it. I’m doing it again. “Sorry. I’m listening.”
“We’re going to take care of your punishment now. It kind of feels anticlimactic after all of this, but it has to be done.”
He’s right, of course he is. I’m worried about the butt plug and the edging. I’ve never done either. What if I disappoint him? Sure, I’ve read about all this and masturbated thinking about it, too, but this is not even close to the same thing.
“What’s your safe word, baby?”
“Umm, hemlock?”
“Are you asking me or telling me?” Ash smirks.
Ironically, I feel some of my tension easing. “I’m telling you. My safe word is hemlock.”
“Perfect. If any of this gets to be too much, you use your word. I will never be upset or angry if you do. That’s not how this works. Remember, you’re the one in control because you can stop everything if you need to.”
“I understand.” In theory. We’ll see how real life goes, I guess. “Are you going to leave my hands restrained?”
“Do they hurt? Is the tie too tight around your wrists?” He leans toward the headboard and runs his fingers over my hands, then between the fabric and my skin.
“No, I just…”
