She nodded, a bit shyly.
“I don’t like usin’ a spanking as punishment.”
“I’m not usually much of a rule breaker anyway, so see my dilemma?” She peered up at him. “I’d be worried you’d use more than your hand on me.”
“There’s no need for you to worry because it’d be my decision.”
She pursed her mouth into a scowl.
“Ah-ah. None of that.” His lips grazed the plumpness of hers, hovering a breath away, waiting to swoop in and claim the kiss she’d denied him last night.
This time when she opened her tempting mouth, Ben denied her a kiss. Moving his lips to the tip of her chin and cruising up the left side of her jaw. He nuzzled her ear, licking, blowing, nibbling. The more he nuzzled, the harder she squirmed. Coarse hair brushed his cheek and he itched to remove the wig, so she wasn’t hiding anything from him.
Her fingers inched up his chest and she clutched his shirt.
“Hands by your sides,” he reminded, nipping her neck.
She gasped, twisting away from his mouth.
“Stay still.” His tone turned sharp and he forced her hands back down.
“I-I don’t know if I can.”
“Not a request.” When Ben sank his teeth into the section of skin between her shoulder and throat, her knees buckled and she shoved him away hard.
Her mouth was open in shock when she realized what she’d done. She took a defensive posture, wrapping her hands over herself, attempting to melt into the wall. “Sorry. God, I’m sorry, Bennett. I forgot for a second.”
“Then it’s time I give you a very clear reminder about who’s in charge.” He uncurled her fingers from her biceps, forcing her hands by her sides. “Repeat after me. Bennett is in charge of me tonight.”
“Bennett is in charge of me tonight.”
“Say it again. Bennett is completely in charge of me tonight.”
A spark of irritation darkened her eyes but she repeated, “Bennett is completely in charge of me tonight.”
“Good. But because you inappropriately used your hands, you’ve lost the use of them for as long as I see fit.”
“What? No. That’s not fair—”
Ben got right in her face. “Keep it up and I just might rethink my stance on not usin’ spanking as punishment for talkin’ back. Understand?”
She swallowed hard. Then nodded.
“Turn and face the wall.”
She didn’t hesitate at his command. She didn’t move when he unzipped her corset and tossed it aside. She didn’t protest when he tugged her leather skirt down her legs, leaving her in a tiny peach lace thong and the three-inch black patent leather pumps.
But she did tremble when he rested his hands on her hips. “You’re shaking.” He pressed a kiss on the slope of her shoulder. “Why?”
“Because I don’t know what happens next.”
“But it’s exciting, isn’t it?” Ben slid his hands up the front of her body. Over the soft curve of her belly. Pausing to cup her br**sts. Stopping to place his thumb on the erratic pulse pounding in her neck. “What’s your safe word?”
“Broncos.”
“Do you want to use it now?”
A pause, then, “No. Sir.”
Ben twined his fingers with hers and towed her away from the wall. At the end of the bed was a leather foot bench, the perfect height, length and width for what Ben had in mind. He dragged it to the middle of the room.
“Sit.” He opened the top dresser drawer and removed the items he’d need.
She remained in a prim and proper pose. Her head wasn’t bowed and her eyes seemed mighty interested in what he held in his hands.
He stepped so close she had to widen her knees to accommodate him, grinning down at her because her mouth was level with his cock. “So, what do you think I’m gonna do?”
Her gaze traveled up his torso until their eyes met. “I think you’ll unzip your jeans so I can give you a blowjob.”
Ben’s smile faded. He crouched until they were eye-to-eye. “Last night, when you were playing at bein’ a Domme, whose pleasure were you more concerned with? Yours? Or mine?”
“Mine.”
“And that’s where you went wrong, Angel. That’s how I knew you weren’t truly a Domme. Bein’ dominant isn’t about takin’ what you want.”
Her cheeks reddened and she looked away.
“Eyes on me, please.”
Her gaze winged back to his.
“Bein’ dominant is about figuring out what the submissive needs. It’s about trust. Tonight, as your dominant, you’re trusting me to give you what you need, maybe even when you don’t know what that need is.”
“And you know what I need?” she asked with an edge of surliness.
He nodded.
“How? You don’t even know me.”
“That’s where you’re mistaken. I’ve been observing you since I first saw you. Before we even talked I watched you. While you were sizing me up, I watched you. And last night when we walked through the club? I studied your reaction to every scene and your response every time I touched you. When I had my hand between your legs getting you off, I watched you. When I had my mouth between your legs, makin’ you come? Well, I really watched you then. So I may not know your favorite kind of ice cream, or the name of the street you grew up on, or your birthday, but I guarantee that I’ve learned things about you that’d surprise…even you.”
Her eyes never left his as she processed his words. He could practically see her backtracking, trying to remember how much of herself she’d given away.
“What?”
“I was an awful Domme, wasn’t I?”
“Not awful. Just confused about the difference between power and control. So let me show you.” Ben smooched her mouth. “Lay back and let your arms fall to the floor.”
She straddled the bench and stretched out. “Like this?”
“Nope. Scoot down so your head is almost hanging off the end. Now move your feet until they’re right beside the bench legs. Yep. Perfect.” Ben dropped the straps on the floor and trailed the ends of the silk scarves up her sumptuous body. Starting at her knees, zigzagging across her exposed flesh, swirling around her ni**les, watching the tips constrict. “Such a gorgeous body. I love seein’ you nekkid. Once I start touching you I won’t wanna stop.”
The tensed line around her mouth softened.