Still by Ann Mayburn Read Free Book Online Page A

notch higher, taking her into a more aggressive headspace, a place where she was a Mistress and expected to be treated as such.
    Plus, she was tired and she wanted to go to bed.
    “You have a choice. Tonight you can sleep in your own guest room where everything you need will be provided for you. We’ll have breakfast tomorrow morning and then you’ll be off, back to your home, back to the punk ass excuses that your family lets you get away with.”
    “Fu—”
    “I’m not done!” Her voice echoed in the large foyer, the same voice she’d used as a battlefield surgeon to get a bunch of shell-shocked, wounded Marines to listen to her. “Eyes on me.”
    His head whipped up and he swallowed hard. She ignored the urge to take him in her arms and comfort him. He closed his eyes and breathed out, “Yes ma’am.”
    “I’m assuming you did some research on BDSM since we last spoke.”
    He nodded, but didn’t volunteer any information. She was actually glad because she had enough mental gymnastics to perform with him already. They’d have a deep, philosophical discussion about the lifestyle later. Well, she hoped they would.
    “As I said, you can stay in the lower level bedroom, sleep it off, and I’ll have my groundskeeper drive you home in the morning. We part ways, never to speak again. Or, there is the second option...”
    “That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?”
    “Not at all. I’m being honest with you, Wyatt. Both you and I know that I want you as more than a guy to fuck when I have the urge. If you’re really thinking about giving this a go with me, being my submissive in truth, I expect you to be aware from the start how things will work.”
    “Wait, I’d like to make something a hard limit or negotiate it or some shit.”
    Curious now, she nodded and he gave her a dangerous look that tightened things low in her belly. “When we’re in the bedroom I’ll bottom for you, but out in the real world I want to have an equal say in things. I don’t want one of those relationships where I have to walk five paces behind you.”
    She snorted. “That is so not my thing. Tell you what, I will always consider you as an equal, a partner, but in the bedroom and sometimes at a club or friend’s private party I may want you there as my submissive, not my vanilla boyfriend. And by bedroom I mean my whole house.”
    “Just don’t make me get naked in front of your gardener or groundskeeper or whatever.” He closed his eyes, rolling his neck. “Fuck, I’m tired, Doc. Can we talk about this in the morning?”
    “Yes. But I haven’t given you your second option yet.”
    He grinned at her, the lines deepening around his mouth. “Okay, what’s behind door number two?”
    “That you come upstairs with me and sleep in my room.”
    Now his eyes flew wide open and she suppressed a smile. His shocked look was almost comical. Then, his male brain kicked in and she could almost smell the surge of testosterone flooding his body. Sure enough, his lips curved in that familiar smirk and his chin titled up at an arrogant angle, and he gave her a leering wink. “I’ll take door number two, please.”
    “Don’t get cheeky with me.” She held him with her gaze and the force of her will alone. Her dominance wasn’t a role she was playing in order to fulfill a kinky urge, this was who she was. And the sooner Wyatt recognized it the better it would be for both of them. “If you decide to come to bed with me tonight, we will sleep. You will not try to take advantage of the situation in any way. Understood?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    He had a devilish glint in his eyes, the kind of spark that made things warm low in her body. She couldn’t help but notice how big and strong his hands were, and she knew he could kiss. Lord, could that man kiss. What was it about bad boys, the man who could and would push her limits, who also had the strength necessary to submit himself to her will? She liked a man with some steel in his