Page 46 of The Southern Submission

“You’re allowed to dream, even the sexy kind. You don’t have control over those things. It’s what you do when you’re awake that counts, and I want to eat you up after all the teasing you’ve done this morning.” I drop my mouth to where her neck meets her shoulder and nuzzle, breathing in her intoxicating vanilla scent. I lick and suck gently along her neck and she writhes under me.

She sighs and wraps her arms around my shoulders. I trynot to show my surprise since I expected an entirely different reaction. Maybe sharing her story with me last night also changed something for her. She’s certainly more receptive to my playfulness and touch today.

“Why do you feel so good even when I don’t want you anywhere near me?” she asks quietly, her fingers raking down my bare back. I groan into her neck, making her shiver, and buck her hips up into mine. I press her harder into the mattress for the friction she’s looking for and she digs her heels into my ass as she dry humps me with the same ferocity.

“Your body wants me near you, even if you don’t. We’ve discussed this.” I trace my thumb along her ribs as I kiss up the column of her neck. I swipe along the side of her breast and she arches against me with a moan.

“Why does it feel all too real when it’s supposed to be fake?”

I hum against her neck. “It’s only as real or fake as we make it,” I answer. I take her earlobe in my teeth and suck before I let it out with a pop as she shivers. “How real do you want this to be?”Please want me.

“I don’t know,” she says, her voice breathy. “This is supposed to be fake.”

My heart sinks. I place a kiss on her flushed cheek and reluctantly pull myself off her despite her hands trying to pull me back down. “Until you know for sure, I’ll hold the boundaries for you. Now get up and get dressed. We have a full day to look forward to.”

The disappointment on her face is worth the case of blue balls I just gave myself. It means she’s seriously considering exploring something with me that could feel so fucking good despite this all starting out as a ruse to throw Harlowe off her mission. Now that I've had her submitting to me and woken up with her in my arms, I want her begging to be mine for real.

I stare out over the South Georgia water on the starboard side of the top deck. Up here, I can enjoy the Atlantic breeze that cools some of the oppressive summer heat, reminding me why I like to escape here from Atlanta as much as I do. My phone vibrating pulls me back to the moment as I wait for Ainsley. I pull it out and stifle the groan that automatically rises.

Harlowe: You’ve been keeping Ainsley away from us long enough. Bring her to a family function so she gets to know us better. Otherwise, this isn't as serious as you say and you’re just fucking around. In which case, I have friends I want you to meet. What’ll it be, lover boy?

I tap back a quick response, hoping to cut off this line of inquiry.

Me: We’re taking it slow, remember? I don’t want her to get scared away by how insane the rest of you are. I’m keeping her to myself as long as I can.

She’s just as fast with her insistent reply.

Harlowe: Time’s up, and you’ve overused that sorry excuse. We’ll see her at the Fourth of July and you should bring her to the wrap party for my show next week. It’s at this awesome spot myproduction company found and everyone will be there, even Paige, who just had a baby, so no excuses.

I sigh, wanting to chuck my phone overboard. I don’t hate the idea of having Ainsley around my family. In fact, I really want to show them what an incredible woman I’ve found and impress them with how intelligent, capable, and funny she is. I’m more worried about her reaction to them. Will she freak out seeing how over-the-top in love both of my brothers are with their wives and how insanely protective they are of their families? Will that push her away from me, wanting to avoid that possible fate for herself when she realizes that maybe this isn’t as fake for me as it may have started out? Because it’s becoming more real for me by the day, and I want to make her mine more than ever. That is, if she’ll let me. I’m already fully hers. That was made obvious to me with my knee-jerk reaction, wanting to protect her, and my murderous thoughts toward Archer for his treatment.

“Where are we going?” Ainsley asks, pulling me out of my churning thoughts.

I turn, catching my breath as I take her in. She’s in cutoff jean shorts and a cropped white tank top, looking like a summer dream, the briny ocean breeze ruffling her golden hair that shines in the sun.

I hand her an iced coffee and wrap an arm around her waist, leaning back against the railing. She leans into my chest and takes a sip of the light drink I made for her. She makes a happy sound and I know I made it how she likes.

“We’re headed out to one of the barrier islands. I thought you might be interested in helping with a project of mine tonight. I have a foundation that contributes to the GeorgiaDepartment of Natural Resources sea turtle recovery efforts. During nesting season, we can help with their efforts to track Loggerhead turtle nesting sites.” She twists in my arms and looks up at me, her hazel eyes crinkling in mirth.

“You keep surprising me. I thought you were just a friendless, boring, workaholic businessman with too much money. Now I know you’re a sex-crazed tech nerd who likes sea turtles and spankings.”

I tip my head back and laugh. “Wow, you think highly of me, don’t you?”

She tips her head back and forth. “I’ll admit, you may be growing on me. Like a fungus.”

“So complimentary in the mornings, aren’t you, Muffin?”

“Well, you did bring me coffee.”

She laughs as I spin her around so she’s facing me. “And I helped you have an orgasm on my leg. That has to count for something.”

She smacks my chest with her free hand. “Oh my God, you really don’t stop, do you? You can’t take credit for what happens in my dreams.”

I drop my hands to her ass and roll her against my thigh much like I did this morning. “I can take credit for moving your hips in a better rhythm and letting you grind on the most unfulfilling parts of me. You pick spots I never would have chosen for your pleasure, but if that’s what you want, I won’t stop you.” I tilt my head toward her and raise my eyebrows suggestively. “Though I’ll remind you that I have a very nice cock, magic fingers, and a filthy mouth all happy to be taken off the bench.”

Ainsley’s mouth opens, eyes blinking as she processes my rapid-fire statements. “You what? Good grief, Payton.” She laughs and shakes her head. She steps between my legs, leaninginto my body. I clasp my hands above her ass. “I may be amenable to taking your favorite playthings off the bench,” she says, looking down at where my hips are pressed into her stomach before bringing her eyes up to mine and giving me a cheeky smile that I really fucking like the looks of.

“Oh, really? I knew I’d convince you.” I roll my hips against her and she laughs before giving me a stern look that isn't nearly as powerful as most of her surly expressions.

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