Page 81 of Illicit Education

Everything.

We’d been building toward it all week, but now that I’d tasted him, I needed more. And, now that we’d discussed the Rabbit Hole, and what becoming a member would entail, what his sponsorship would mean…

I wanted to be his.

I was his.

Yes,already.

Intoxicated by the power emanating off of him, I’d been his since the moment we met.

Learning more about the way he spent his nights didn’t scare me away from him, it made me want him more. Down in the Rabbit Hole, people belonged to their mates. They gave and took power freely, without judgment or harm. I was far past intrigued.

I’d never felt so pulled to anything in my entire twenty-four years.

Turning toward Reed slowly, I focused on his strong profile. “How long have you been, um…” I paused. This wasn’t a man who appreciated beating around the bush. I’d need to word my questions perfectly. Directness, that was the way to speak to Cabot Reed. “How long have you been dominant?”

His lips twitched but he didn’t smile, didn’t turn toward me. “Left here?”

I glanced at the streets and nodded.

“I have beendominantfor my entire life, Ms. Blake. What is your actual question?”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re frustrating.”

“The same could be said about you.”

“How long have you been Master Creed?”

He made an amused sound low in his throat. “It could be argued that I have been that for my entire life as well.”

I huffed quietly and turned back toward the window. The desire to wipe that smirk off his stupid, perfect face was back with a vengeance.

God, he really was infuriating.

“Look at me.”

I did as I was told and was instantly locked in that dark gaze. His annoying smirk was slightly red from the glow of the stoplight.

“The word you are looking for is Dominant, Rylan. Noun, not verb, though both apply.” He licked his lips and my stomach tightened. “I have been an active Dom in the BDSM community for nearly two decades.”

I nodded slowly as his answer sunk in. Two decades ago, I was four.

Okay. Well then. Pushing that aside.“Is Stella your submissive?” The words were out of my mouth before I could think better of them. I chewed on my bottom lip, too late to take them back.

Reed slowed for another stoplight, but this time, he didn’t look at me. When the light turned green, he didn’t resume driving. A horn blared behind him, but he ignored it.

I almost laughed at how typical this behavior was, but then he pinned me with his gaze.

“Understand something going forward.” He paused and I nodded. “I am monogamous. If you decide to move forward… if you decide you want to be a part of this life.” His gaze flicked back and forth between my eyes.

Cars honked as they passed us.

“If you decide that you want to be mine, Rylan, it will only be you.”

I sucked in a ragged breath, floored by the power in those words and the power in his gaze.

“Do you understand?”