“I agree,” Jack responded without hesitation. “I might be completely off base here, but I think that's why you were initially drawn to me. You are a free spirit, longing for someone strong enough to tether you to the ground. Everything you were ashamed of last week comes down to the fact you had no one holding you accountable. If you’ll let me, I’d love nothing more than to be that man for you.”
“Oh, you thought I meant rules for me?” I retorted. Again, I was trying to shift the focus off my own needs. The only thing worse, in my mind, than jumping into some sort of freaky power exchange relationship, was tipping my hand to show Jack how vulnerable I actually was. “No, I meant in general. For both of us. If we’re doing this, I’m setting some rules of my own.”
“Let’s hear what you have in mind.”
“Really?” I gaped at him when he turned away and started pouring two mugs of coffee. Then he opened the fridge, pulling out a package of pre-cut fruit. It didn’t take a genius to figure out why his brow was creased and his lips were pursed when he turned back to me. I hadn’t touched any of the food he’d bought. I scrubbed the back of my neck, my cheeks heating with embarrassment. “Sorry. It was a long-ass weekend, and I didn’t have time to eat at home. By the time Eli let me out of there, I was dragging ass, so I just got something to go.”
“While that may be convenient, it’s neither the healthy option nor cost-effective,” Jack scolded me, and I bristled. If these were the type of rules Jack planned on setting for me, I was going to have to rethink this entire arrangement. There was nothing sexy about him lecturing me as if he was my father. If I wanted that, I knew exactly where to go.
“True, but I’m pretty sure burning down my apartment because I am too tired to cook when I get home from work isn’t the best idea either,” I quipped.
Jack pulled another container out of the fridge, along with a carton of eggs, and started putting together breakfast.
Okay, now, this I could get used to. I didn’t cook for myself because I was crap at it. But if Jack was volunteering for the job of being my personal chef, I could deal with some un-sexiness.
Unable to sit around and watch him do all the work, I hopped off the counter and started cracking eggs into a bowl. Even my limited cooking skills allowed me to do that much. I decided to see if we could get on with the boring stuff so that we might be able to lay down and take a nap after my belly was full.
“Tell me about these rules?”
“There will be time for that later, Princess.”
“Are you gonna call me that forever?” I whined. As far as endearments went, it wasn’t one I preferred.
“Would it bother you if I did?”
“That depends. I know I have long hair and fine features, but if it’s some sort of backhanded jab because you think I am overly feminine, I am going to get pissed off in a hurry,” I warned him.
Jack sat the knife down, and, before I had time to process what he was doing, he pinned me against the counter, his hips grinding against my ass. He forced a hand between my body and the lower cabinets, giving my dick a hard squeeze. I couldn’t hold back the whimper when he bit the side of my neck. “I am completely aware of how much of a man you are, Slade.”
“Then why call me your princess?” My voice was raspy and my breaths quick and shallow.
“Because it fits,” Jack answered simply. “Is that okay with you?”
“I suppose.”
“And you’ll tell me if it’s not at some point?”
“Yeah,” I agreed breathlessly as Jack continued stroking me through my jeans. “I think I can do that.” I allowed my head to fall back against Jack’s shoulder. “Keep that up and you could get me to agree to just about anything.”
Of everything I expected to happen next, Jack stepping away wasn’t on the list. I was instantly chilled by the loss of his body against mine. I crossed my arms over my stomach, hugging myself tightly, trying to regain some of the warmth I’d felt. And I’d be lying if I said it was only physical temperature he made me feel.
“You’re a damned distraction, you know that?” Jack picked up the knife and resumed swiftly chopping a green pepper. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I couldn’t stand most vegetables. Hell, knowing him, he’d take that as a challenge and load up whatever he was making with even more boring stuff.
“I like to think of that as part of my charm,” I quipped. I chewed on my bottom lip, wondering how much I could get away with before I truly annoyed him. Since I was kind of digging having someone other than my own thoughts to keep me company, I decided against pushing my luck today. I picked up another egg and got back to work. “How many of these do you want me to crack?”
Jack craned his neck to peer into the bowl. “That should be plenty. Do you have a whisk?”
I let out an inelegant snort of laughter. “Oh, no. In case you haven’t noticed, the kitchen isn’t exactly a place I spend a lot of my time.”
“We’re going to have to see what we can do to change that,” Jack remarked. “I need you to take care of yourself, Slade. I am a very needy, demanding man. You need to keep your energy up.”
Well, now one part of me was up at least. I twisted slightly so my back was to Jack long enough for me to adjust myself. I pressed my palm against my erection, willing it to go down, since it was obvious Jack wasn’t going to give me any relief.
“No,” Jack scolded me. “None of that.”
“Let me guess, another one of your rules?” Of course, it would be one of his rules. Hell, it was on the list of demands he made the morning after we met. I’d hated it then, and I had no doubt I was going to hate it even more now.
“That’s right.” Jack stepped up behind me again, brushing his knuckles against the front of my jeans as he nibbled on my neck. I brushed my hair out of the way and tipped my head, allowing him easy access. “I like to tease my boys. Sometimes, I might spend the entire day tormenting you without letting you come.”
