Page 19 of The Taming Game

Lily

Without the intoxicating fog of Stefan’s entire presence and the overwhelming ache from my core all the way down to the throbbing V between my legs that he causes, my rationale returns. Along with nerves. Here I am pacing my damn apartment again waiting on Stefan to pick me up, anxiously twisting my fingers together.

I need a pep talk. I need to calm down. I need those rough hands and that luscious mouth all over me. Damn it! I can’t get him out of my mind. Ever since he walked me back to my office, my body has been lit up like a damn fireworks show.

His eyes, his jewel blue eyes, are sapphire flames of promises, promises of ecstasy, of satisfaction, of attention that I haven’t had in so, so long. God. I need to breathe. Deep slow breaths. In. Out. In. Out. Like Stefan’s pulsing dick will be while he’s stroking me.

Okay, this isn’t working. I’ve had to change my panties twice already! I have to get myself under control before he gets here. He can’t see me like this. He can't know how much he affects me. His voice when he said those words, so pleased, so deep, slow, and sensual. Good girl. A shiver rattles through me. I need to hear it again. I need to hear it again and again and again. I’ll do anything for him to say it to me just like that, in that voice.

“Lily Fields, you are a strong, independent woman. You are a rational adult capable of making good, sound decisions. You own your own business and run it successfully. You employ seven people. Seven. You got this. You can control yourself.”

Mm, I don’t want to control myself. I’m tired of controlling myself.

“No,” I say out loud. “I can control myself. I’m good. I’m good.”

I’m a good girl. I’m his good girl.

“Aaah!” Frustrated, I plop on my couch, my heel tapping my rug. My phone chirps to signal a text, and the suddenness of it causes me to jump. My heart shoots off like a rocket exploding my pulse into a dangerous rhythm. I can hear it and feel it pushing against my skin as I unlock my phone.

Come outside.

Deep breath. Deep breath.

I fight the urge to run from my condo, eager to do anything he wants me to do, and linger in front of the mirror hanging on the back of my bedroom door. I ignore the mess of my room inside, clothes, shoes, and makeup that I decided not to even wear strewn all over the place, and stare at my reflection.

I went for a form fitting black dress. It looks simple in the front, but the back swoops open all the way down to just above my ass. I dressed the look up with a diamond necklace and studs. I put my hair up in a high ponytail just like the one Belle wore earlier, hoping I could mimic just a small amount of her effortless beauty. Is this good enough? Will he like it? Another text comes through.

You’re making me wait.

I snatch my black and silver clutch purse from my coffee table and hurry out the door. When the warm evening air hits me, I slow my pace. Deep breaths. I force my legs into a steady, slow walk as the setting sun touches the horizon. His sleek, black car is quietly humming when I turn the corner, and he gets out to meet me.

He wears a deep red button down top that molds the hard planes of his chest and abs, and a pair of black pants that hang from his hips in a way that makes me imagine how they might be gripping his ass. Every inch of him radiates sex and power.

His hands are on my hips as his face lifts with a dimpled smirk. His lips are soft and warm as he presses a kiss to the base of my neck, his beard scratchy against my skin. All vows to behave melt off of me like wax. He pulls me into a tight hug, a low moan vibrating from his throat as his hands move over the bare skin of my back. My breath escapes me, and goosebumps follow the path of his hands. Every part of my skin comes alive. I don’t need him to tell me I’m beautiful. I feel it in his very touch.

“Ready?” he asks, his fingertips just barely grazing the top of my ass before they move back up. I’m arching into him before I even know what I’m doing.

“Yes,” I gasp, relishing the rough sensation of his beard against my cheek. He slips his hand into mine and leads me to his car, his eyes burning into me the entire way.

My skin is so alert that the smooth texture of his leather seats sends another wave of goosebumps over me. The chilly AC hardens my nipples, and the raised peaks draw his eyes as he settles next to me. My body tightens responsively. I’m not going to make it an entire evening. I’m ready to climb on top of him now. I clench my hands into tight fists fighting the urge to reach out and touch him everywhere. God, this is going to be a long dinner.

**

“I don’t see how anyone could argue that men aren’t trash,” I say, locked in a debate fueled by my second glass of wine. Stefan’s smirk is shallow, and his eyes dance with amusement as he finishes his whiskey straight.

“Men think they’re entitled to rule the world just because they’re born with dicks and an overload of testosterone. They think they’re entitled to anything they set their eyes on including women, whether they have consent or not. And they think if they have a lot of money,” I gesture to him. “Women can’t say no.”

“The culture of today supports that belief. It’s in the music, movies, tv shows. Women today want a man to shut up, eat their pussy, and pay the bills.” Stefan leans back in his chair, catching the eye of our server and raising his empty glass.

“That’s not all women. That’s a select few, and those women only say those things because it sells.”

His chuckle sounds. “Your generalization is just as invalid.”

“It’s not that much of a generalization.”

“Really? You don’t know any men in your life that discredit your statements?” His eyebrow raises as his smirk deepens.

I open my mouth to state a resounding no, and then Neal’s face flashes through my mind. My dad’s face follows Neals, and then I think about Neal’s brothers, Luke and Jace. They’re literally every male stereotype packaged in Neal’s good looks, height, and muscle. If they’re that bad, and they were raised in the same household as Neal, he can’t be any better than them.