Page 77 of Illicit Education

I opened my eyes and met his gaze full on. “Lust.”

He drew in a quick breath. “Tell me what you want, and it’s yours.”

“I want you.”

His lips took mine in a crushing kiss. He slid his hand up to cup the base of my skull, his fingertips digging into my scalp as he tilted my head to better slant his mouth over mine. His tongue plunged inside, teasing mine with long, firm strokes that sent wave after wave of desire through my veins. I moaned, opening up to him and wrapping my arms around his incredible shoulders. His body pressed against mine, crushing me with its weight and waking up every inch of me as the heat from his frame burned into my skin.

He kissed me hungrily, desperately, as if he’d been just as maddened by desire as I had been all week long.

When he pulled back, his lips were dark and swollen, his eyes heavily lidded as they searched mine. Our chests, pressed closely together, rose and fell on heavy breaths–

Then he released me and took a step back, throwing his hands into his hair and staring at me with widening eyes. “I’m sorry.”

My head reared back. “What?”

“I lost control.”

Okay. Was that something to be sorry about? I pushed off the door and stepped toward him.

He quickly stepped back.

Tilting my head, I pointed to the space between us. “What’s happening here?”

“I didn’t bring you down here to take advantage.”

“Oh.” I laughed a bit awkwardly. I came down here in hopes that he’d takefulladvantage. “You didn't take advantage.” I’d been waiting for that kiss since I first laid eyes on the Smirker. “Mr. Reed, Cabot–”

“Master,” he said, the word clipped.

My eyebrows lifted slowly.

“Here, I am to be addressed as Master. Do you understand?”

I nodded.

“Say it.”

“Master.”

His nostrils flared. “I need to apologize. I lost control for a moment. I took advantage of you.”

“How so?”

“I knew you wanted me, and I acted on that.”

Pursing my lips, I took another step toward him, which he promptly mirrored with one more step backwards. “Forgive me if I’m a bit confused. I want you. You want me. It’s mutual. We acted on that.”

“You’re new here, a guest. You don’t know anything about being a member.” He shook his head. “You’re young, Rylan. You’re just getting started–”

“I’m going to stop you right there. I don’t care how old and wise you think you are. I’m a grown ass woman. I’ve been with plenty of men–”

“You don’t know the first thing about being with a man like me.”

Setting aside the arrogance of that statement because I’d come to expect that kind of thing from Cabot Reed, I focused on the concern in his voice. “I don’t understand. Why are you so freaked out?”

He pointed to a chair. “Sit.”

I did.