Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
She liked to challenge him. It made him realize the subs he’d been topping were a little too…well, submissive for him. He didn’t even think that was some weird contradiction. If there was one thing he’d learned here at The Hideout, it was that figuring out what worked for a person and accepting it was important to contentment. He could absolutely run a scene with the subbiest of women, but when it came to engaging his emotions, he preferred someone like Devi.
Or he might just prefer Devi period.
“What makes you think that, sub?” Yeah, that sounded like he was in control. Which he was. Body-wise he was totally in control. There was something going on that made him worry emotionally he was sliding off the deep end.
Which would be a terrible idea. This was a one-night thing.
“Well, you’ve been very circumspect, Sir. I don’t know if you noticed but a lot of the tops were touching their subs quite intimately out there. It was a hot scene. I was surprised you didn’t touch me. Are you worried about my brother?” she asked, her head tilting sideways as though assessing him.
Did she think he hadn’t thought about cupping her breasts as she stood in front of him, practically leaning back against him? “I’m not worried about your brother. TJ is actually a pretty reasonable guy. If I stepped out of line he would deal with me and probably be pretty mean about it, but I could say the same thing about your cousins. I don’t want Team Taggart deciding I’m fucking over their cousin and burying me six feet under. I’ve heard a lot about pools.”
Her lips turned up in a slightly evil smile. “We were all taught that from a young age. Getting a body in right before the frame and gunite go in is chef’s kiss when it comes to handling your enemies. I will start to worry when the twins finally buy a place and talk about pools. So if you’re not anxious about my brother, then maybe you’re not attracted to me and we should call this what it is.”
She wanted to push him? She knew damn well he was attracted to her since his erection had pressed against her ass most of the night. He knew she felt it because she rubbed those sweet, round cheeks against him, making it hard to focus. “What is it, Devon?”
A brow rose over her eyes as though she felt challenged by the deep tone of his voice. “A miscalculation on both our parts.”
He thought about it for a moment. She obviously needed more from him, and not in a beg-for-your-attention way. Even though he kind of felt like it. “If what you need is a Dom who reads your mind and is only involved in a scene for your good, then yes, you have miscalculated, brat. While we’ve known each other for a while, we don’t know each other well. Do you want a quick lay? I’m probably willing to do that. I was attempting to gauge what you like and what you don’t. You were busy teasing me and making sarcastic comments.”
She flushed slightly. “I wasn’t.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, feeling more in control now because she wasn’t exactly running from him. He was deeply attracted to her, but if the brattiness was all there was to her, then that attraction would fade quickly. He needed some balance. “Your response when I asked you what you liked about the scene was all the dicks.”
That flush grew deeper. “Well, it was weird. I’ll be honest, Sir. I’ve never watched a scene with a top before. No one’s ever asked me to watch with them. I’m not a newbie or anything. I’ve run scenes with Doms, but mostly in a training capacity. I was distracted by the scene and Gabe trying to keep the dumbass new Doms in line. And apparently I’m self-conscious in a way I’m usually not.”
Sweet honesty. There she was. “And the teasing?”
“Well, that felt good, Sir,” she admitted.
“We went over the rules before we watched that scene.” He knew exactly where this was leading. He was going to take this night with her. Hell, he was here for at least a couple of days. If she wanted to play, he would be up for it. Literally, and in a painful way. But Zach welcomed it because it meant he wanted something. Someone. He utterly dismissed his previous puppy love for Tasha. It had been exactly that. An infatuation with a kind, lovely woman who belonged to a family he wished was his. He wanted to belong and Tasha would have given that to him, but there was a reason he hadn’t truly pursued her. “Honesty is important. I told you how much I need communication, and you ignored that rule. I asked you questions so I could get to know what you like and don’t like. Now you’re going to find out what I do to pretty subs who try to manipulate me.”