“I understand how telling those men not to touch you must look and feel to you. But if you give me a chance, I’d like to explain why.” He pours me a glass of margarita.
His surprisingly calm demeanor is helping me relax. I wouldn’t fight back so hard if he could just approach me like he is now.
“Let’s hear it.” I sip my drink, sure he is going to give me some bullshit response.
“I don’t own your body and I’m not going to pretend that making decisions for you is always going to go the way I want it.” He takes a sip. “I’m a very selfish person and the day I dove in that river after you was a day that linked me to you for good.”
“Awww…look at you trying to be the hero.” I regret those words as soon as I say them. He’s trying to open up and I’m bashing him.
“I saw your fear and desperation and knew I had to save you. I always see things through, and I owe it to you to continue to look out for your wellbeing, so that’s what I’m trying to do.” He leans back, stretching his arms out.
“By making sure I never have any kind of intimacy? I’m confused.” While I’m thankful for everything he’s done for me, I still need to be able to make decisions for myself.
“Not by restricting you from having intimacy. But by making sure the kind of intimacy that comes looking for you is not one that will take advantage of you in a vulnerable state.”
“Oh.” I’m honestly shocked. That’s not what I was expecting him to say at all.
“These men around here are only looking for a hole to stick their dick in. I will not allow anyone to manipulate you into thinking they care just because they want to get laid, leaving you heartbroken, and back where you started. That’s why I have a strict rule that my men are to keep their hands off of you.”
“You did the same thing to me tonight by teasing me on the dance floor.” I try to calm my racing heart. I liked the way he touched me, even if I shouldn’t have.
“I did and it was wrong. In case you didn’t notice, every man in that room was rubbernecking just to get a glance at you. So, forgive me for giving in to my primal urges and trying to stake a claim so nobody else would think they had a chance. I can’t seem to help myself when it comes to you.”
He was trying to stake a claim on me. My thoughts are reeling. I can’t address that statement yet.
“Marcus broke off his date with me, did you have something to do with that?” I try to divert from what he just said.
“Yes. Marcus is a player with a revolving door of women, he would have used you to get what he wanted and been done. Lucas is all business, I should’ve asked him first.”
“I’m a grown woman, and it should be my decision who I choose to be with—player or not. I can handle myself against men, I’m in a much better frame of mind now than I’ve ever been.” Thanks to him.
As much as I hate when he pushes me, it does me good. It forces me to confront my emotions in a normal way and then move on.
“I’m glad to hear that, but you’re still off-limits to my men.” The way he looks at me tells me this is not up for any more discussion and to drop it.
I sip my margarita. It’s so good and my headache is gone. “So is master ever going to let me date?” I roll my eyes, and he chokes on his drink.
“Don’t make me redact my earlier statement, cupcake, because I have no reservations about showing you who the master is,” he teases with a grin, like I have any doubts that it’s him.
The way he’s always in control and always knows the right way to word things could put me on my knees for him. Not because I want money or a favor, but because I want to know what a man like him looks like when he comes apart.
Despite my better judgement, tequila decides we should test him. I lean back and spread my arms out on either side of me, allowing the tops of my breasts to float on the water, acting like I’m stretching but staring dead at him.
He sharply inhales and his eyes drift from my mouth to the tops of my breasts. His gaze darkens with desire, causing my heart to race. It’s the same look he gave me in the club when I told him I wasn’t wearing panties. There’s a shift of power in the air that’s deeplyfullof sexual tension.
“Is it getting hot in here, or is it just me? Maybe I should stand up and cool off a little.” I lean my head back and open my mouth, blowing out a long breath.
“Doit and see what happens. If you don’t want to behave, I’m going to assume you don’t want me to either.” His muscles flex with restraint as he shifts uncomfortably.
I try to stand and he reaches over and grabs my ankle pulling me back down. My arms instinctively go out in front of me and he quickly lets go of my ankle and grabs my wrist, pulling me towards him. We are now face to face and suddenly I’m not so brave.
“I mean it, cupcake. I might have ironclad self-control and I’m doing my best while being taunted in the face of temptation, but even iron can break.” Beads of sweat drip down his gorgeous face. He is the picture of male perfection and being naked in such close proximity to him might make me combust.
“I don’t want you to behave,” I whisper.
The rise and fall of his chest becomes quick and full of ragged breaths. He wants me as bad as I want him. There’s no denying it.
“That’s not consent. You don’t know what you’re asking for.” His hot, whiskey tainted breath blows in my face. It’s so sensual.
