Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
I shake my head. “If that’s what you want, okay. It won’t be anything I haven’t seen before,” I press.
“No. Please, no.”
I shrug. “Alright, then, if it matters that much to you. Some nights we stay here, though, in my private room.”
“Thank you,” she whispers. “That I can agree to, if my neighbor can watch the kids. Any more rules?”
I nod. “You always have your cell phone with you when we’re apart so that I can text or call you when I need to.”
“Um, problem,” she says, flushing. “I… don’t have one, remember?”
I swear under my breath. “Right. I’ll get you one.”
“You don’t have to get me one,” she protests. “I’m getting paid for that demonstration tonight, and I—”
“I’m getting you a cell phone, and that’s the end of this discussion.”
“But if I—”
“But if you finish that sentence after we’ve signed the contract, I’ll punish you.”
Training her will be so rewarding. She’s a feisty little one, but she enjoys her punishment. It’s the perfect combination.
“Right,” she says. “Wow, this is gonna be tough.”
I shrug. “I’ll ease you into it.”
But she shakes her head. “How? I think I’ll mess up every few seconds and end up in a state of constant punishment.”
What she’ll end up in is a state of constant arousal, but I think she’ll like it.
“This is all very Fifty Shades,” she mutters.
“Fifty what?” I ask.
“Oh, you’re funny,” she says. “As if you don’t know what I’m talking about.”
Of course, I do, but it’s fun to tease her. “Cora, I’ve been doing this since Christian Fucking Grey was in diapers.”
Her snort of laughter makes me smile. “So, you’ve done this many times, then.”
“Yes.”
“I have… well. I have one more question,” she finally blurts out, but she doesn’t meet my eyes. I won’t allow her to hide from me and looking into her eyes is the best way for me to really read her. And as her almost-dominant, I need to be able to see those eyes. Reaching for her chin, I draw her gaze to mine.
“Look at me, Cora. I want your eyes on me. There is no hiding in this.”
“I know,” she whispers. “You’re different when you’re the dom. You know that?”
I shake my head. “I’m always the dom. I’m no different here than I am anywhere else.”
Placing her hand on my arm, her voice gentles as she continues. “You are,” she says. “Out there, you’re the boss, yeah. You like things to go your way. But when you’re the dom? And you’re scening or even talking with me? You lose that edge. You lose that anger you wield like a weapon. There’s a nurturing side of you that only comes out when you’re being the dom.”
I take a breath so deep.
“You make it easy,” I confess. I need to change the subject. “You said you had a question.”
“I do.” Swallowing, she inhales then exhales, letting her breath out slowly. “Out there,” she says, her voice dropping to just above a whisper. “After you scened with me. You were… tender. You gave me aftercare. Will I get aftercare like that when we scene?”
I don’t answer her at first but lay her back on the bed so she’s beneath me. The towel falls to the side, her damp hair scattered on the pillow, curly damp tendrils I want to weave around my fingers. My mouth to her ear, my body flush against hers I whisper. “Always.”
“Then I’m not so sure I’ll be able to obey you, Liam. Oh. Should I call you sir?”
“When we’re scening, yes. But I like hearing you say my name. And you will indeed wish to obey me by the time we’re through. You’ll see.”
“I don’t like that I’m predictable.”
God, no. I shake my head and hold her to me. “Sweetheart, you’re anything but predictable. I’m just confident this will work well for us.”
“You’re confident with many things,” she whispers. “And Jesus, fuck, I want to get those tests done.”
“I haven’t told you rule number six, though.”
“Oh?”
I close my eyes and rest my cheek against hers. “No falling in love, Cora.”
“That… won’t be a problem,” she says with a laugh.
But it’s not her I’m worried about.
Eleven
Cora
It’s like I’m trapped in some sort of reality TV show or something, it feels that surreal.
After stating rule number six, Liam pulls away from me and I wish he didn’t have to. He made me come no more than half an hour ago, and already my body vibrates with need once more. But I have to get home to Bailey and Ben, and he knows that.
We dress, and it’s a little sad, like the curtain falling at the end of a play. And that’s what we’re doing, isn’t it? We’re play acting. There’s no more authenticity to this than unicorns and mermaids. Whimsical fantasies to distract from the mundane.
But at least I’ll be getting paid, and amply.