Page 43 of The Billionaire Submissive
She met his gaze straight on so she could watch the way his face betrayed him. “You’re falling for the Mistress.”
He didn’t wince, flinch, pale, redden or look away. “Yes, I am.”
Her stomach churned harder and she wrapped her fingers together in her lap. “It’s to be expected in a way. I just need to make sure I control how deep I let you fall.”
His eyes narrowed even more. “This isn’t something you can control in me, Lilly.”
“It’s myjobto control it. I’m giving you what you need, something you’ve never had before. Your own words. It’s natural to start having romantic thoughts, confusing the heart for the needs of your body.”
“My heart’s not confused at all.”
“I’m just trying to protect us both. I’ve seen subs fall hard for the dominant in the scene. Outside the scene, it’s a different story. It can be tragic when the relationship doesn’t work and they lose the magic in the scene as well.”
“Ah. So you think I’m falling for the Mistress only, not the whole package.”
“You don’t know me, Donovan. The real me.” She said it softly, gently, but hurt still flickered in his eyes. “We haven’t discussed the other sides of my life at all. I haven’t even asked you about what your ideas for the stained glass will be this entire weekend. You’ve wined and dined and fucked Mistress L and she thanks you for it most appreciatively but don’t start thinking she’s all who’s sitting here with you tonight.”
“What’s the count?” He kept his voice even but his eyes were the window to his soul and he was both furious and determined.I have to protect him, even from himself.
With a sigh, she picked up the bread and nibbled on it. It was too delicious to waste. “How bruised is your ass?”
“Doesn’t matter. What’s the count?”
She fought not to roll her eyes.Silly boy.“One blow for each dress is too much. Let’s go with three. I’ll make them good and hard to compensate.”But not on your ass if you have any hope of sitting in your office Monday morning. I’ll have to use your back and thighs. No hardship there.
“Then four. And I told you I wantyouto design the glass. I really have no idea or inclination what symbols or theme to use.”
“I know the main color theme should be blue.”
He smiled but it wasn’t light and happy. “And I know your favorite color’s red. Quiz me some more,Lilly.Or is red only Mistress L’s favorite color?”
“Mistress L wears whatever color her clients ask her to wear,” she said with a deliberate arching of her brow. Low blow there, because she was wearinghisdress. “But Lilly’s favorite color is red, I agree. What’s my favorite food?”
“Dessert,” he said immediately. “Specifically pie, followed by bread and butter. Your favorite wine is moscato,” he added, reaching over to splash a little more in her glass. “But when you get nervous, you can’t eat at all. You don’t like to get up early, and then you fall asleep every time you get the chance. You sleep so heavily you don’t even hear me bringing in boxes for half an hour and cleaning up the latest casualty of war.”
“Mistress L was exhausted.”
“So Mistress L often sleeps in her client’s beds?”
Her eyes flared before she could control her reaction. Ouch. Definitely a low blow.
“Tell me, Lilly. Exactly how many times has Mistress L fallen asleep with her sub? Give me the number and we’ll add it to my count. Or better yet, why don’t you tell me how many times Mistress L has come in the past with a submissive.”
She stared back at him, unable to answer.
“That’s what I thought. So I’m still stuck at four, aren’t I?”
Ricardo brought the first course himself. “French onion soup. Given the lady’s preference for bread, I made sure to cut the slice nice and thick so she has a good meaty bite. Enjoy.”
She dropped her gaze to the bowl and took a deep, shaking breath. As rich as the broth smelled, he’d probably cooked it all afternoon. Melted cheese ran over the sides of the bowl, nicely toasted. Donovan was already cracking the delicious crust of bread to get to the sweet caramelized onions below, but she hadn’t picked up her spoon yet.Not until this is resolved.
“I have a proposition, then.”
He set his spoon back in the bowl and reached over to squeeze her hand. “Anything.”
“No more Mistress L this weekend.”
His thumb rubbed lightly on the back of her hand but he didn’t immediately reply. To fill the silence, she explained. “It’d be better for your health anyway, both mentally and physically. I put you through the wringer today already. We both need a rest. Let’s just be ourselves. Enjoy a nice lazy day tomorrow. Then we’ll see about the thrashing I promised you.”
