Page 20 of Hooked

Behind her, she heard the rustle of denim, a distinctive zipping, and the clink of his belt buckle. With her body still humming with arousal and yearning for him, she closed her eyes and suppressed a groan. He was demonstrating his control of her and her pleasure by denying both.

Joseph squatted in front of her, his large hands sliding up to her cheeks, lifting her face so close to his she could feel his breath. Wanting him so badly her teeth ached, she leaned into his touch.

“You have two choices. Forget about last night and go back to the way we were. Working together on friendly terms but tamping down your desires and living in self-denial because you’re afraid to go for what you want.” Gently stroking a finger down her cheek, he met her shimmering blue eyes. “Or, you can come to me at three o’clock and surrender, to both the pleasure of last night and, when needed, the discipline of this morning, fulfilling your long-suppressed desires and living your life as you’re meant to. Not merely going through the motions, but experiencing it at its fullest, with me.”

He moved closer, his lips brushing hers as he spoke.

“But I warn you, pet. I’ll accept no half measures. If you choose surrender, you will do so on your knees.”

His lips and the sweep of his tongue as he claimed her mouth in full measure, proving in no uncertain terms what he meant smothered her gasp of both excitement and alarm.

After several heated, hungry moments of a kiss that embodied possession, he stood. His hand under her jaw tilted her face up to his.

“Now, little one, on my terms, this session is at an end.”

He moved toward the door, his footsteps nearly drowned out by the pounding of her pulse in her ears.

“One more thing, pet,” he said softly from across the room. “No touching. When you come to me, I want you as you are now: cunt bare, gloriously wet, and hungry for me.”

With his decree given, he left her. It wasn’t until the door thumped shut in his wake that she realized he had released her bound wrists. That’s when she wilted, sagging limply against the side of the couch. Her body still humming from his touch and aching with need. Livia wished for the power to call him back and tell him she didn’t need more time to think and decide. She already knew what she would be doing at three o’clock two days from now.

Chapter 6

“TELL ME EVERYTHING, and don’t you dare leave out a single detail.”

Olivia regarded her friend from the doorstep for a moment before greeting her politely. “Yes, I’m fine, Emma. Thank you for asking. I appreciate your concern. Would I like to come in and take off my jacket before I spill my guts? Don’t mind if I do. And a glass of wine would be wonderful, too.”

Color flooded Emma’s cheeks as she glanced at David, who simply grinned while shaking his head. “Sorry,” she uttered softly.

“C’mon in, sugar,” David offered where his overeager wife had not. Moving forward, he kissed her cheek and then helped her out of her lightweight jacket.

“It’s wet,” she warned. The rain had continued all day, perpetuating her gloomy mood.

“How about that glass of wine you mentioned? You might need it, since Em’s intent on raking you over the coals.”

With a tilt of her head, Livia eyed her friend who appeared ready to burst at the seams with curiosity. She couldn’t resist teasing. “If I knew I was coming to an interrogation, I’d have brought a rubber hose.”

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