Page 25 of For the Sub

The scent of her, fresh, like a crisp autumn morning, walloped him.

Like they had every day since they’d scened together, images of her naked body tied up and waiting for him flashed through his mind, leaving him aroused and not at all convinced he wouldn’t slam her up against a wall and fuck her right here in public.

“And make sure there are no external blemishes.”

“Ah,” he said. “Thanks.” He put down the tomato he’d been holding and attempted to harness his runaway thoughts.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

That night at the Den—after he’d taken her to the dungeon—Damien and Gregorio had pulled him aside and given him hell.

Brandy was an excellent sub and even better employee.

More than that, Gregorio thought of her as a younger sister.

Though Niles had assured them that he had no intentions toward any woman, including her, Gregorio hadn’t backed off.

Niles had no doubt the man could—and would—fuck him up if he harmed Brandy.

And now, in this moment, with her standing a scant few inches from him, he sure as hell had ideas, and they weren’t honorable.

If he were smart, he’d excuse himself like she had after the scene and be about his business.

But he didn’t budge.

Instead, he thanked her for her advice and made small talk, like polite people did when they were trying to pretend they were better than Neanderthals. “Is it that obvious I don’t know what I’m doing?” And he might starve if he didn’t eat out or have a housekeeper who shopped for him once a week.

“I’m sure it would have been fine.”

“Really?”

“No. That was a lie.” She smiled. “It would have been tasteless, dull. Boring. And you don’t like those things.”

Fuck.

Was she flirting with him? “You’re right.”

“I didn’t know you lived up here,” she observed, tipping her head to one side.

“I don’t. I’m staying at a friend’s cabin. Most of the time he rents it out, but it’s between seasons right now, no real hunting or skiing, and the summer vacation season is over.”

“But it’s a great time to see the aspens turn.”

“And listen to the elk bugle.” He should end the conversation right here. But hunger burned in his gut.

He’d avoided the Den since that night because he didn’t trust himself to resist his impulses.

Never in his life had he reacted to anyone this way.

“Your place is nearby?” he guessed.

“It is. I’ve been up here about two years. I left Denver after The Great Disaster.”

“Taking it that’s not a movie?”

“Definitely not.” She blinked, as if trying to clear her mind. “It was a period in my life that I’d rather forget.”

Goddamn, how he understood that.

---