Page 14 of Size Doesn't Matter

“What I meant was I’ve followed you on social media for a long,longtime,” he said, then sighed and shoved his fingers through his hair, obviously embarrassed by the admission.

She found his discomfort charming. “You have?” Her hands relaxed by her sides, and her body let go of the tension she hadn’t realised she was holding on to.

Jack was a fan?

“Yes. In fact, I think it would be fair to say I’ve maybe had a bit of a crush on you for a while. Even before you started dating Ethan.”

Sophie’s eyes widened at his admission, and her mouth opened and closed several times before her words squeaked out. “A crush?” She pointed at her own chest, disbelief flavouring her tone even as it went up an octave. “On me?”

“A little one,” he said, holding up his hand, his fingers pinching the air.

Her eyes narrowed. “Did Ethan know?”

That lopsided smile reappeared, making Jack look almost boyish. “I never told him outright, but he caught me looking through your Instagram account more than once. Contrary to popular opinion, Ethan is a smart man. It wouldn’t have taken him long to figure it out.”

Stunned into silence, Sophie’s mind whirled. This new information only added to her theory that Ethan had set them up, and she didn’t know if she wanted to slap the bloody idiot sideways for his deviousness or kiss him.

When she continued not saying anything, Jack’s smile faded, and his frown returned. “Is that okay? That I kind of, maybe stalked you online?” Caution laced his words.

“Yes!” she wanted to shout, but the word stayed jammed behind the lump in her throat, unable to escape, so she nodded instead. At least her body knew what she wanted from Jack, even if her brain couldn’t keep up.

He cupped her face in both hands so she couldn’t look away. “I need to hear you say the word, angel,” he said softly, the endearment sounding sincere, which only added to the jumble of thoughts and emotions swirling through her body and mind. Usually the word was uttered with a hard edge of condescension or contempt. Then again, the men usually saying it generally weren’t as respectful or as…niceas Jack.

And how sad was it that she had come to expect the worst of men and yet she was still willing to be alone with one?

Was she really that lonely?

“Yes.”

Jack’s smile returned, and his shoulders relaxed, and Sophie realised he hadn’t been sure she wouldn’t change her mind.

The thought made her smile too.

For a dominant man he really was very sweet.

Her confidence bolstered by his reaction, she leaned into him and said, “So, I’m pretty sure I heard you promise to rip my underwear off and tie me up with it, or was that all just a bit of male posturing?”

Instead of replying, Jack dropped to his knees and began inspecting her panties, running his fingers over the lace, slipping them under the waistband and testing the elastic. His touch was so light it almost tickled, and her stomach clenched, her muscles practically dancing at the feel of his skin skating over hers.

“Sadly, I think these are too well made for me to keep my promise,” he said with an exaggerated sigh, then levered to his feet. Then his hands went to his belt, and he slowly unbuckled it. His smile was pure wickedness. “I guess I’ll just have to find another way to tie you up.”

6

The sound of Jack’s belt ripping through the loops of his trousers made the air still in Sophie’s lungs.Holy shit!He’d just dialled the heat up to eleven, and yet she still shivered at his statement.

“G-Golden,” she stuttered, earning her a cocked brow from Jack. “My safe word is golden,” she said, answering his silent question. “It used to be golden retriever, but it was too much of a mouthful when I needed it.”

Jack smiled at her rambling and folded his belt in half, then dangled the loop of leather from one hand and lifted the other to stroke her cheek again. “Good to know,” he said, then slid that hand down to circle her throat and lightly brushed his lips over hers.

His grip was gentle, but Sophie wasn’t naive enough to think it would stay that way. Jack had already demonstrated his dominant nature, and judging by the strength he’d displayed earlier, he could squeeze the life out of her as easily as he could blink.

The thought was an arousing one, and yes, she knew her way of thinking was a little left of centre. Not many people would be turned on by the thought of a man literally holding their life in his hands, but many people didn’t understand.

Most didn’t even want to.

Jack might be physically stronger than her, might be dominant and wish to control her, but there was strength in surrendering that control. In trusting someone enough to take care of her when she was at her most vulnerable. He’d told her they could stop whenever she wanted, and she knew it would only take one word.

Golden.

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