Page 3 of Submit

“That’s what I’d intended. For one night—”

“One night won’t work. One night is warm-up. This is a process, Skye, not an event. That’s not how the human mind works. And as much as this experience will be physical the most important part happens in your head. Brain chemistry, psychology, your personal history. Symbols, as you said. It all comes into play. Did you really think you could do all that in one night?”

“I thought… I don’t know.” She shook her head.

Her mind was spinning. She had thought that. It was foolish of her; she could see that now. But could she do what he was suggesting? Losing control for one night—that she could manage. That she could excuse. But more?

He slid his hand up her arm, leaving a trail of sensation even through her cashmere sweater. When it came to rest on the bare skin at the back of her neck, her legs trembled and went weak. His hand was absolutely burning on her skin, her body flooding with desire. Physical desire, yes, but also an inexplicable desire to please him, this stranger with the smoky blue eyes that seemed to see right through her. Eyes like the misty February sky outside.

Her heart hammered in a strange sort of panic. She wanted—needed—to understand why Adam was making her feel like some trembling virgin with starry-eyed fantasies flashing through her mind—the same fantasy images that had plagued her since she was a teenager. Fantasies she had finally decided to live out.

Bent over a man’s lap, his hand coming down hard on her naked flesh, bringing pleasure along with the stinging current. Being bound in rope, in chain. Being made to kneel. Made to.

She moaned under her breath.

God, I’m really going to do this!

He leaned in even closer, until she felt the warmth of his coffee-scented breath on her cheek. “Say you want to, Skye.”

Some part of her was still hesitant. “How much time are we talking about?”

“As long as it takes.”

She licked her lips, tasting the faint peppermint of her lip gloss. “I understand your point about needing more time. I’m just not sure…”

“Not sure you can do it?” he finished for her.

“Yes.”

“There’s only one way to find out.”

He reached out and tilted her chin in his hand, forcing her to meet his gaze. His eyes were too intense. Could he feel her shaking? If he hadn’t held her there, she would have looked away.

“Tell me you want to do this, Skye. Unless you don’t, of course. But if you do, say it now.”

That velvet voice again, swarming over her like a soft blanket. And those eyes—eyes like a cool, smoldering fire. She knew that didn’t even quite make sense.

She swallowed once more, her mind fighting the sharp stab of need in her body.

Her body was winning.

“Yes. I want to do this, Adam.”

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