I shivered at the thought of what we’d done in the past twenty minutes alone. Yeah, it had been more than good. I cursed in my head that he always had the right thing to say.

Chris pressed his lips to my forehead and rubbed my back. “Since we’re being open here, before we go any further, I think it’s a good time to address something important.”

“Okay…” I started to lift my gaze and got as far as his mouth.

“Holly, are you a good girl?” he said seriously, as though my answer was the most crucial decision of my life thus far. Then I saw a shadow of his dimple. “Or a naughty girl?”

I ducked my head again Oh. My. God. My face probably looked like Rudolph’s fucking nose!

###

Even when I’d finally recovered from my shock and found my voice, I couldn’t look at him. I had an inkling about what he was referring to. Yet, I decided to play naïve. “I-I’m not sure what you mean.”

“You read the list,” Chris said, his finger lazily trailing a path down my arm. “I’m curious how you answered the questions. If they matched up to any of mine.”

A shiver ran through me. “Where did you even find something like that?”

“On a fetish website that I subscribe to.”

My head snapped up to stare at him. “A what?”

“Fetish website. It’s where people like me hang out.”

I let out a small squeak and tried to push him away. “P-people like you? I don’t—”

“Shh. Listen.” He kissed me softly, his hand stroking my hip now. His voice was lower…seductive…when he said, “I like to bring my partner absolute pleasure, not pain. Never pain.”

I stilled. “H-how?”

“With my body. Sometimes with just words. Or the aid of some toys.”

“L-like handcuffs…and blindfolds?” I gulped, remembering those and other questions from the bottom of the list.

“Exactly. When a woman surrenders control, she allows herself to experience pleasures she has only dreamt about. It gives a whole new meaning to the word ‘intense.'” He pulled back and looked down into my eyes for the longest time. “I would like to give you a demonstration of what I mean. Do you trust me?”

I hesitated, and Chris added, “But you should know that if you say yes, I intend to touch you. Tease you. Give you extreme pleasure. And ultimately, I will make love to you.”

Before I could start hashing out the pros and cons with my conscience, I slowly nodded, whispering, “Yes.”

He deserved a chance. After what he’d done for me in the short time we’d known each other, I owed him at least that. And I owed it to myself. To prove he wasn’t like the other guys I’d known.

“Good.” He kissed me softly then pulled the covers off us both. He moved to sit on the edge of the bed, patting and smoothing his hand on the mattress beside him. “Come here.”

I was on my hands and knees before I understood what he probably intended. I froze mid-crawl, two thoughts registering in my head. First, the hungry look in his eyes while he watched me made me feel like the sexiest woman on the planet. And second, he was going to spank me.

I was comfortable in my own skin despite some physical imperfections—every woman has ways they wish they were different or better, even the skinny ones. I kept myself toned at the gym, a convenience and a perk of working there. I imagined him seeing the curves of my naked, fit body posed as though stalking prey, my messy, red locks hanging like opened curtains presenting my breasts, which were just about a good handful, nothing more. I did not miss the way the tip of his tongue darted out and licked his upper lip, his lower lip briefly rolling into his mouth when his tongue retracted.

My breath caught at the second thought. He said he did not like to cause pain. I said I trusted him. Surely he would stop if I said he was hurting me? I could not deny that my curiosity was piqued, along with my arousal.

After a couple of deep breaths, I was moving again. I refused to look at his cock when he helped me lay across his lap. I didn’t need that distraction. But I became more nervous when it tapped my belly as I settled into the most comfortable position.

I also noticed a slightly hard and cool sensation that I started to ask about, but his hand rested on my exposed ass, creating yet another distraction. He caressed lightly, his other hand on the middle of my back. A moan escaped before I could stop it.

“Say ‘red’ if you need me to stop, okay? It’s called a safeword. It’s for your security.”

I swallowed heavily. I could do this. I wanted to at least try. “Yes.”

His own moan met my ears at the same time as the words of the latest song on my laptop, which I’d forgotten was still playing. ZZ Top crooned “Rough Boy” while Chris Berry splayed his fingers out across my right butt cheek, massaging lightly.

A slight shudder made me arch my hips, raising my ass toward his touch when he lifted his hand before he laid it down on my left cheek. Then there were more soft caresses. More nerves sparking to life before shooting directly toward my core.

My arms were folded on the bed, my forehead resting on them.