Page 33 of Sexpresso Night

“But…”

“If you’re thinking that every Dominant guy is like Evan, forget it.” His voice came out gravel-rough. “He’s not a true Dominant. He’s only in it for his own sick pleasure. That’s not what it’s about.”

“Then I guess I don’t really know what it’s about.”

Her small voice made him want to protect her, care for her.

“Oh, Danya.” He laid a hand on her cheek. “It’s about everything we shared the last few weeks. Don’t you see that?”

She gazed back at him. “I swore I would never let a man control me again.”

“And yet…you know you want to let go of control.”

She nodded.

“That’s what it’s about. It’s you giving it up, me taking and giving it back, the sharing, the exchange. It’s not about me controlling your whole life. Have I tried to do that?”

She gazed back at him.

“When you didn’t know what to do about your job offers, did I try to tell you what to do?’

She shook her head, eyebrows pulled together.

“Evan didn’t like me to be with my friends,” she said slowly. “He really drove a wedge between us. I hated that. But you liked seeing me with my friends.”

“Yeah. I like seeing you happy. Didn’t you and Evan talk about this stuff?”

“Well, no. We talked about scenes and toys and what he wanted to do to me and what he wanted me to do for him. He knew I liked…some pain. That I liked to submit. But he abused that. He kept saying he was helping me grow, but really he was…destroying me.”

Carter wanted to punch a hole in the wall. If that asshole had been standing there he’d be showing him some punishment all right. What had he done to beautiful little Danya?

He slid his fingers through her silky hair and cupped the back of her neck. “I am dominant. It’s who I am. You have to know, though, that I would never hurt you…like that.”

He met her gaze and she nodded solemnly. “I do know that. I realized that last night when I was tied up.” She gazed back at him with clear, open eyes.

He bent and kissed her lips, a soft kiss of gentle reverence. Then he wrapped his arms around her tightly and breathed in her sweet scent. “I want to take care of you. I want to show you what domination and submission really mean. Come home with me.”

She paused only a heartbeat, then slid off his lap and stood.

“Will you take me into your dungeon?”

* * *

She burned.

Flames twisted inside her. Heat simmered over her skin, damp with perspiration.

“This is the ultimate submission, Danya.” Carter’s voice drifted to her through an erotic haze.

She was utterly helpless, completely at his mercy. Vulnerable. Exposed. He could do anything to her.

And yet the bindings at wrists and ankles gave a sense of security. She was safe. She was with Carter. And with the helplessness came freedom. She didn’t have to feel guilty for loving what he did to her, for the wicked things she wanted. She didn’t have to be afraid of letting go.

She tested the restraints, couldn’t move. A thrill of adrenaline coursed through her veins. Flames licked at her.

“What are you going to do to me?” she whispered. The blindfold obscured her vision but she heard his chuckle.

“I’m going to give you what you want. I’m going to hurt you, Danya.”

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