Page 23 of Degrading Her

“Because I was spending my time focused on what I love. Andthatis my library.”

Pleasure spread across him, lifting his lips at the corners, and as much as I wanted to punch him, that smugness did something to me. Like he owned the world, and especially me. Heat gathered in my lower belly.

“Think of it this way,” he said. “Our little game is simply another route to get what you want.”

As much as I hated it, he was right. After everything I had been through to get here, it would be stupid to close off another option just because I didn’t want to play his game.

I told myself that I wasn’t doing this for anyone else. I was doing this becauseIwanted that library. And if he wanted to play this game, then I was going to win.

I held out my hand, waiting for his. He stared at me.

“Please, Mr. Feldman,” I said sarcastically. “Indulge me in a handshake. I’m taking your bet.”

He wet his lips, amusement ripe on his face. “I have two conditions.”

“Okay?”

“You’re not wearing a bra.” I flushed from head to toe. He continued: “Your nipples are hard. You wanted me to look at you. Admit it.”

This dress had a low back; you couldn’t wear a bra with it.

But I had worn my cardigan over it, anyway. I technically could have hidden the bra.

Did I want him to look at me?

No. I wanted to look nice at the restaurant. For respectability. This was one of the best restaurants in Pierce. Even I knew that.

So why did I shave my legs?

“You will no longer wear bras or underwear,” he said.

A fiery sensation gathered between my legs. “Why?”

“I want you accessible.”

I took a deep breath, withholding the urge to fan myself. “So thereisa sexual component to this after all?”

“Don’t play coy, Fiona. You knew since we first made eye contact that there was something between us. If you didn’t want me, you wouldn’t have come tonight.”

He was right. I could have made up an excuse for missing dinner, then waited until my next shift to talk to him about the transfer. But I hadn’t. I had been curious about him. About his power. About why he wanted me.

“Look down at yourself.” My legs were spread. I quickly shut my thighs together. “You want to know why you want me? Because I understand you, Fiona, better than you think. I know what turns you on. What makes you tick. Thatyou like being watched. You want to be on a pedestal for men to worship and use. But ever since we first met, you’ve been mine, Fiona. The only one who will use you from now on is me.”

My blood vessels throbbed under his gaze, the heat in my body radiated from my head down to my thighs. I let a breath out through my nose, trying to control myself. His words were getting to me, but I didn’t know why. Was it the power he had over me? Or the control I had over him?

I drew closer to him. “We met last night.”

“Not for the first time.”

“Then when?”

He licked his lips, but didn’t say a word. He had to be messing with me.

“I ought to report you to the Board,” I said.

“Go for it.”

My jaw dropped. “What?”

---