Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“Baby, sit on the floor for me. Right in front of me.” He helped her slide from his lap but kept his hands on her waist.
She was happy to get a little space between them, even if it meant sitting between his legs on the floor. She sat tailor-fashion, staring up at him.
Andrii’s eyes lightened in color, almost to liquid mercury. “Control. That’s something we need to discuss further.”
She didn’t know what that meant, but she had to bite back a whimper. At least it wasn’t a moan. The way he said control, the way his eyes went dark with desire, sent her pulse racing. Heat rolled through her veins and emptied into a pool of melted lava right into the pit of her stomach and lower. That didn’t bode well for her, but he’d been in control of the two of them when he’d had sex with her, and she’d reaped the benefits.
“When I tell you I want to be the one in control, I’m not just talking about in the bedroom. You trusted me to satisfy you there, and I did. I’ll give you whatever you want or need—eventually. I like to play. I know you’re going to like playing. Some of the things we’ll be doing might be a little scary to you at first, but if you trust me enough, you’ll find you enjoy everything we do.”
“With the exception of your punishments,” she whispered.
“Then don’t fuck up. If you do, do it knowing what you have coming.”
Instinctively, she’d pulled back, but he reached down to take her wrist, pulling her hand to his thigh. His touch was gentle but firm. She knew if she pulled away, his fingers would tighten. He couldn’t fail to read her elevated pulse or feel the fine tremors going through her body. She felt mesmerized by him, under a spell she couldn’t quite get out from under.
“You’re asking a lot of me, Andrii. You want me to take everything on faith. That’s a lot of trust when I don’t really have any idea who you are or why you’re asking these things of me. You have to know that it feels very one-sided.”
He sighed but nodded, suddenly looking serious. “I guess now is as good a time as any to discuss our needs. I thought a date or two might be a good thing before I tell you what’s important to me in a relationship. I want to hear what you need, but I’ll admit I’m very good at reading you.”
She blushed. The heat was alarming under her skin. “I don’t think that’s good, Andrii.”
“Because you’re attracted to me? I like that you’re honest. No games with you. When I ask you a question, you answer me, even if it’s difficult for you. You don’t pretend you aren’t interested in me, or that you couldn’t care less about a sexual relationship. You show me every time you look at me that you want me. Do you have any idea how that can make a man feel?”
“Arrogant? Overconfident?”
He burst out laughing and her heart nearly stopped. She found him utterly attractive when he wasn’t smiling, but laughing turned her inside out. She slipped further down that slippery slope of no return.
“I am confident because I have reason to be. And if that makes me appear arrogant, so be it. Just know you can depend on me to take care of you. Men don’t fuck up around me. You aren’t flirtatious with other men. When you’re with me, you look only at me, and I appreciate that trait in you. Everything about you appeals to me.” He stretched out his legs on either side of her, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.
“See, Solnyshkuh, I wanted you in front of me, looking up at me with your incredible eyes, and you sat on the floor without hesitation. Most women would think it was demeaning or that I meant it in a negative way, as if I put myself above you.”
Azelie didn’t know how to respond to that. She liked looking up at him. It hadn’t occurred to her that he might be elevating his position over her. If she didn’t like something, she would simply refuse to do it—unless she decided she wanted to do it to make him happy. In that case, she would weigh what it meant to him before she decided.
She waited in silence, her heart pounding just a little out of control.
“The fact that you’re willing to do things for me is important.”
Andrii rubbed the bridge of his nose, a small frown drawing his eyebrows together. It was the first time he showed that he was uncomfortable with the conversation. Reluctant even. That made her strangely happy. She knew he was going to share something about himself he didn’t share with others.