Page 48 of Cole's Command

“No.” His tone was clipped as she reiterated their situation. “Not yet.”

“So, what do I have to lose?” It was her turn to shrug. I can’t even keep my thoughts private from you. “Just tell me what’s on your mind.”

“Is that an order, Dr. Lewis?” His eyebrow arched as his gaze penetrated her.

“Yes, actually,” she replied. “Is that what you’re into?”

“No.” His tone was emphatic. “Strike that and reverse it.”

Reverse it. Her pulse sped up as she grappled to understand. “So, you don’t like to take orders. You prefer to...” Eden’s voice trailed away as the pieces fell into place.

“That’s right.” His lips stretched into a smile. “I like to give them.”

“Oh.” A thousand shards of inquiry burst into her mind, falling like broken glass. “I don’t know what to say.” Eden had a hundred questions, but didn’t know where to start.

She’d heard vaguely of the dynamic he referred to; where one partner ceded power to another for the purposes of gratification, but she’d never met anyone who favored the style. Even in her professional capacity.

“Your mind says otherwise.” There was the knowing look again, the one that continued to irritate her.

“Okay, so I have questions.” Who wouldn’t?

“So, ask your questions.” Cole was serious all of a sudden. “I want to answer them.”

“You want to do those things with me?” Her pulse quickened as she tried to imagine relinquishing control. Eden had spent her entire life fighting to take the reins. The idea of giving any of her power away was terrifying.

“I would love to.” His smile was annoyingly sexy. “But the truth is that you don’t even know what ‘those things’ are, Eden.”

“But, you’re going to tell me.” She was pretty sure about that much.

“I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”

“Okay.” She pulled in a steadying breath. “Give me an example, please. What kind of thing turns you on?” She clenched the muscles between her legs as she asked, well aware that it wasn’t only his arousal in question.

“Now, that’s a question!” He chuckled, the noise resonating through her body and threatening to erupt in her clitoris.

“That’s what you wanted,” she reminded him, grappling with the intensity of her attraction to him.

Eden had rarely given men a second thought until Cole had come crashing into her life, but now that he was there she wondered if there was any getting over his magnetism.

“How about this?” He shifted in his seat, palpable excitement coming from him in waves. “I’d have happily pulled you over my lap for a spanking after your sullen performance earlier.”

Her mind raced at the mental image. Spank her? She’d mentioned that as a joke earlier. He couldn’t be serious! Could he?

“What performance?” Ultimately, it was all she could manage to say, though humiliatingly, it was possible he’d heard the entire panicked monologue in her thoughts.

“You called me an arrogant prick.” His tone begged her to deny the insult. “Remember?”

“You deserved that,” she countered, struggling to recall the details. She remembered the affront, but couldn’t recollect what had pushed her to say it.

“Did I?” The defiance in his eyes begged to differ, although he didn’t push the point. “Even if that was true, I would have expected you to be respectful.”

He paused and she had the sense he was waiting for his point to sink in. She’d been disrespectful. Even frustrated and outraged, she should have chosen her words more carefully.

“Okay.” Heat bloomed in her face. “Fair point. I shouldn’t have been rude. I’m sorry.”

“It’s in the past.” His expression was stern. “I mention it only because you asked for an example and it’s a good one. In that instance, if we were a couple, I’d have willingly spanked you for your impudence.”

Oh fuck... The thought echoed around her mind. He means it.

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