Page 18 of Over the Line

With a smile of thanks, she accepted it and slid onto a barstool tucked beneath a poured concrete island. The kitchen looked like a designer’s dream, with gleaming pots hanging overhead. She rarely cooked, but she appreciated the gas range, double ovens, and miles of countertops.

“I think, Sydney, we should get a few things straight between us.” He moved in closer, standing on the other side of the island.

With her hands wrapped around the glass, she looked at him. He folded his arms across his chest. The brim of his hat, as always, cast him in shadows, making it difficult to read his expression.

“Your feedback, verbally as well as physically, matters to me, so I insist on open and honest communication. I want you to get off, and that’s more likely to happen if you’re interacting with me. I have no interest in just spanking you until you come.”

That sounded all right with her. She took a sip of water and squirmed in her seat. Because he demanded a response, she said, “I agree, Sir.”

“When I request something from you, I anticipate you will either let me know it’s problematic or you’ll do as you’re told.” He raised an eyebrow.

His firm tone brooked no refusal. She took another drink of water to soothe her suddenly dry throat. After releasing the glass, she said, “Yes, Sir.”

“In that case, strip and kneel. Hands behind your neck, head tipped back, chest thrust toward me. I believe I promised to torture your nipples.”

Chapter Three

Maybe he should have heeded Gregorio’s warning.

Michael didn’t consider himself much of a risk-taker. He weighed his decisions carefully and he liked having everything in order. Keeping the family’s ranch after his parents had passed had never been in question. Although his sister had voted in favor of selling, he hadn’t been swayed. His roots went deep into the land. The acreage was as important to him as his next breath.

Yet he couldn’t help his attraction to Sydney’s untamed streak.

Since his divorce, he’d mostly scened with subs at the Den who wore the house’s purple wristband and had no expectations of a continuing relationship. They were professionals who knew all the protocols and could be counted on to behave perfectly.

Sydney, on the other hand, seemed focused on herself. It was all about her, not him, and definitely not about submission.

But he was honest enough to admit that he’d loved the way she’d behaved when he’d had her draped over the fence. Her responses had been real, with no artifice. When he’d brought her to orgasm for the first time, he’d known he’d rather spend the evening with her than anyone else, no matter how well trained they were.

He shouldn’t see her as a challenge, but he did. “Do you need me to repeat my order?”

Slowly, she slid from the barstool.

In the curve-hugging dress, she looked so sexy that it was almost a shame to have her remove the garment. Almost.

Michael stayed where he was while she revealed her skin a slow, beautiful inch at a time.

As she shimmied, pulling the material over her head, he drank in the whole of her. She had an athletic build, not overly thin, and she had definite curves, along with a waist made for his hands. Her breasts were perfect, not too big, and her nipples were already hard.

After laying the dress over the back of the stool, she removed her lacy bra and dropped it on the seat before bending to remove her shoes.

“Leave them on,” he said.

“Of course, Sir.”

For a moment, she stood there, and he simply looked at her. Right now, this evening, she was his.

Finally, she lowered herself to the floor and placed her hands behind her back as he’d requested.

Her chest rose and fell quickly, and he appreciated the betrayal of nerves. She projected an aura of confidence that appealed to him, but that he had some effect on her made him hungry. His cock swelled, but he’d had a hard-on for the better part of two hours. He could wait a little longer.

He walked around her, knowing she was aware of the sound of his boots against the wood. To her credit, she didn’t turn to look at him. “Good,” he said. “That will help you earn an orgasm.”

“Earn, Sir?”

“Behave yourself,” he reminded her, “and you’ll enjoy our time together more.”

“That’s a tall order, Sir. I’m not sure I’ve ever been that satisfied.”