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“Mm, yes. Keep insulting me, I’ll keep it in mind tomorrow when you’re on your knees for me again.”

My breath hitched as I looked at him. There was that charisma again. Why was I being so stupid? All artists were like this. They had to be. Having that sort of charm helped their careers—it kept listeners addicted to them. Even the fantasy that Salt might look their way and want them was enough to keep them crawling back for more.

They were hungry for scraps.

I wasn’t any different, was I? And I wasn’t just hungry, I was starving.

A video call had been a bad idea.

“Tell me about your day,” he said.

I breathed out slowly. “Why? It was boring…”

“Do you usually drink wine immediately afterboring?”

I snorted and winced, looking around. I wanted to get in bed, but I needed to change.

Did I tease him?

Was I even brave enough to do that?What am I doing? Why can’t I just stop this madness?

I had a hang-up when it came to my body. I loved watching other people who were comfortable in their own skin. But it was hard for me at times, especially in sexual situations. I always found ten different reasons as to why I was doing something wrong, and then my mind attached to that and spiraled.

“What are you scowling about?” he asked gently.

“I was going to change,” I said. “Then I thought about teasing you. But…”

He sat up, frowning as he studied me, his acute attention making my skin prickle. “But what?”

“I don’t know,” I sighed. “I always feel like I’m bad at this stuff. It’s stupid that someone my age would even feel like this. Like I’m not new to sex, but…”

“You’re overthinking it,” he said.

“Probably. That’s what Ellen would say.”

“Who’s Ellen?”

“My best friend and assistant.”

His lips tugged. “Ellen would be right. Do you want my help, Pepper?”

“How?” I bit out. “You’re on the other side of Nashville.”

“I could tell you what to do. With your consent, of course.”

“Dominateme? That’s what you are when you’re not signing, right? A Dom?” I asked, thinking about all the terms I’d learned.

Salt lifted a brow. “Someone’s been reading, hmm?”

I nodded. And I’d be a damn liar if I didn’t admit I liked the sound of praise in his tone. It stroked something deep inside me. “I read a lot over the weekend.”

“How very voracious of you.”

I couldn’t fight my stupid smile this time. This was flirting wasn’t it? The light banter, the teasing. I was rusty at it, but I liked how it made me feel.

Did I want Salt to dominate me again?

Yes.The thought was immediate and resounding.

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