Page 148 of Season of Seduction

She twisted her hands in front of her. “Too much?”

The room looked like a sensualist’s dream, and it made his dick hard and his resolve weaken. A huge bed with carved wooden posts dominated a corner of the tiny room. She had it on an angle, pointed toward the east-facing windows. In the morning, sun would slice across the bed, waking her up.

The walls were a pale green, and the thick comforter that stretched across the bed was a deeper, darker shade of green. A hook in the ceiling—one that gave him some wicked, wicked ideas—held a sheer mass of multi-colored fabric that surrounded the bed. Candles in holders that matched all the colors in the canopy sat on the windowsills and on the table that served as her nightstand.

The comforter was slightly mussed, as if she’d sat on the bed after she’d made it, and tossed carelessly on it was a scrap of red lace nightgown that made his mouth water.

He shook his head. “It’s unexpected, but it fits you perfectly. Vibrant, a little wild, sexy as hell.”

Pleasure danced in her eyes. “It’s my favorite room in the house.”

The husky tone of her voice punched him low in the gut. He cleared his throat and checked the window, then forced himself to step outside the room before he tumbled her onto the bed and pinned her down so he could make her scream. Focus, dammit.

After he’d verified that every room was as secure as it could be, he went to Becca, who’d returned to the living room. She stood facing the fireplace, her arms wrapped protectively around her middle.

He came up behind her, slowly and carefully, and wrapped one arm around her waist, the other across her shoulders. He kissed her temple and she shuddered in his arms. “We’re not done, kitten. I’ve waited a long time for you and I’m not giving up that easily, I promise. School’s on break, right? Do you have plans?”

“Not really. My parents and my brothers’ families are going skiing tomorrow but I’m not much of a skier so I decided to pass.” She lifted one shoulder in a shrug and his hand slipped, his fingers brushing against her breast. She sucked in a breath and her head thudded back against his shoulder. “Oh, God. Please, Jeremy. Stay.”

He bit the sweet spot on her neck, then licked it. “I wish I could, babe, but I can’t. I won’t. Not tonight. But I’m off for the next few days, back on duty the day before New Year’s Eve. Will you spend that time with me?”

Chapter Six

Becca turned so she faced him, still in the cage of his arms. He looked like he’d rather face an armed gunman than leave, but she could see the determination in his eyes. He’d do it because she wasn’t sure about things with him, because that’s the kind of man he was.

Nothing like Sam.

It gave her something to think about. If, for no other reason than that, she was grateful Sam had interrupted them. Sam’s voice on the phone had been harsh, demanding, without an ounce of caring. He hadn’t been that kind of man when they married, and she wished like hell she knew what had changed him, turned him into someone she couldn’t love anymore. These days, Sam wanted what Sam wanted, regardless of her opinion or wishes.

Jeremy’s voice was heated and sexy, seductive even though he ordered, not asked. Jeremy wanted what was best for her, even if that meant stepping out of the picture. Temporarily, or even permanently. That thought made her gut clench.

She locked eyes with him, put her hand over his heart. “I’m so sorry.”

His eyes went soft. “Nothing to be sorry about, kitten.”

She swallowed. She’d tarred him with the same brush as Sam, but he hadn’t deserved that. And she owed him the explanation. “There is. You heard what I dealt with living with Sam.”

His face grew hard. “Yes.”

“And I accused you of treating me like him.”

He swiped a thumb over her cheek. “I get it, sweetheart. But I want you to take tonight and really think about what happened today. Think over the things we talked about. Think about what turned you on, and what didn’t. I’ll be honest. I’m hoping you want me, dominance and all. I’m headed to a cabin in Shenandoah National Park for a few days, to do some hiking and photography. I wasn’t kidding before. I’d love for you to come with me. But if you can’t, or you won’t, I’ll understand. I won’t like it, but this decision is yours. It has to be. It can’t work any other way.”

God, could he give her any more proof he was nothing like Sam? She got why he was backing off, giving her space. And she appreciated it more than he could possibly realize, even though she ached to be with him. “Can I let you know in the morning?”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “Yeah. If you decide to come with me, though, you should know something. I plan on doing wicked things to your body, when I want and how I want. I’ll be the one making those decisions, not you, but whatever I choose, understand that I’ll be acting with your pleasure in mind. But you always have the right to use your safe word to stop whatever we’re doing. Always.” He paused, cupped her chin. “One other thing to think about. I know you’re afraid submitting to me means you’re weak, but you couldn’t be further from the truth. Submission doesn’t mean that, by any stretch. Subs are some of the strongest people I know, both mentally and physically. It takes a person with a backbone of steel to willingly give up control, a huge amount of trust. You walked away from a bad situation, knowing it was bad. You took back your life. You’re that strong, kitten. Not weak. Never weak.”

She swallowed, his words unsettling her once again. “Okay. I’ll think about it.”

* * *

Less than twenty-four hours later, they were in Jeremy’s car, driving toward Shenandoah. This morning, when she’d called him to say she wanted to go with him, he’d told her that the cabin had a small kitchen, and he’d been planning on cooking most of his meals. She’d volunteered some dinners she already had ready in the freezer, and he’d happily agreed. He told her to pack warm clothes and sturdy boots for when they went hiking, but other than that, he hadn’t said much except to tell her he’d pick her up at noon.

And that he was looking forward to getting her naked.

Once they’d come through the north park entrance at Front Royal, the tension in the car shot up, but it wasn’t fear as much as anticipation. She slid a glance at him, and he turned to her with an easy smile.

“We’re staying up at Skyland, which is about another forty miles. The cabins up there are great.” His grin turned downright wicked. “And remote. No one will hear you when I make you scream.”

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