Chapter Six

Rylee woke the next morning alone in bed. She glanced around, but didn’t see Hunter, so she grabbed the chance to take a shower. Standing beneath the weak stream, she was surprised she could stand.

Last night, after that totally awesome show, they’d walked back to their camp naked. Giggling, she had to admit the walk had been erotic as hell. She never even went naked in her own apartment. It had taken them a long time to reach their camp of sin as they’d made a couple stops along the way.

Her sore knees were proof that he’d taken her from behind, and a scrape or two on her back reminded her they’d had sex against one of the thick trunks with her legs wrapped around his waist. She snickered as she remembered the owl they’d startled when their cries of release rang out through the woods.

As she toweled off, she couldn’t help wondering what today held. Surely, they were both fucked out, yet the thought of more stirred her juices. Okay, maybe not totally fucked out yet.

She sighed. Something special had bloomed between her and Hunter ten years ago, and though her heart and those tender feelings of love had been crushed by his rejection, they hadn’t died. They’d only been hidden away. Waiting. Waiting for this. Waiting for him to return and claim her.

And claim her he had. Frowning, she thought about their pending business talks. Should she bring it up? So far, she’d more than done as he asked. Now it was her turn to make some demands.

She dressed in another revealing and tattered costume, this one with a longer, handkerchief skirt. It barely covered her crotch in the front but brushed her thighs in the back. She jiggled her hips and felt sexy as hell as the material swished around her thighs and flipped up to reveal tantalizing glimpses of dark curls.

Humming happily, she entered the main tent. A bed dominated one entire side. The far side boasted an intimate seating area and a small, round table along with two chairs. Hunter sat at the table. He wore a leather vest and leather pants, looking very much like her huntsman. A tray of Danishes and a thermos of coffee sat in the center. There were two covered plates.

“Food.” She sniffed. “Bacon! The elves have been here.” She hesitated. Was it okay for her to just sit and dig in? “Um. Sir?”

Hunter smiled. “Right now, we are two very hungry people. Game resumes after we eat.” He wagged his brows. “Eat. You’ll need it.”

Her body went weak just thinking about resuming the games. She rolled her eyes and needed no further urging. Together, they ate, speaking about impersonal topics, non-sexual chitchat she wouldn’t remember five minutes after they finished. Her mind was too focused on what he had planned. Maybe business talks could wait a bit longer.

When they’d cleaned their plates, he took the basket outside. When he returned, he opened his briefcase and plucked out an envelope. “We should have taken care of a few matters yesterday. These are my lab results. I’m clean. And I saw yours.”

His formality confused her. He was back to being a rich businessman in control of his empire. Or Dom in charge of his sub. “I didn’t think that was an issue.”

Hunter nodded. “Neither did I, but let’s take care of business. There’s other housekeeping we should deal with. I’m assuming you’re on the pill? Even though we’re using condoms, I should have asked.”

“Yes.” She’d taken her pill in the bathroom, finding her morning routine the easiest time to remember.

“Good. Now let’s talk a bit about the BDSM world. The acronym stands for Bondage, Domination, Submission and Masochism or Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, and Sadism and Masochism. Basically, anything goes, but it all comes down to three words—safe, sane, and consensual.”

Rylee nodded. She clasped her hands in her lap. “I read about that online.” She shrugged when he lifted a brow. “After I left your office, I did some research. We fall into the D/s category, or rather you do. I still don’t think I fall into the submissive category.” Her mind still reeled at some of the information she’d uncovered.

He gazed thoughtfully at her. “Today, I will prove you wrong.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Just because I like to be tied and spanked or told to come doesn’t make me submissive. I’m not into the harder core bondage and pain. Whips and canes are not for me.”

“Nor for me. We’ll come back to what you are, later. Let’s continue. Safe is obvious. I won’t do anything to you that puts your life in jeopardy. For example, if I tie you up, I won’t leave the room. There have been cases where one partner leaves, and for some reason, never returns—accident, heart attack, or the like. Or the sub could have a medical emergency so a Dom never leaves a sub bound.”

Rylee nodded. She’d never thought of that. “Sane?”

“Sane means we don’t drink and get drunk. Or do drugs. All acts between us are carried out with mental and physical clarity.” He grinned. “At least on my part. Your job is to feel and not think so if your mind isn’t so clear, it means I’m doing my job.”

Good thing, as he had a way of turning her mind to mush.

“Consensual. That’s obvious as well,” he said. “We’ll come back to that and talk about what you’re up for and if you have any firm nos like whips and canes. But first, let’s talk about safewords.”

Nos? Heavens, what did he have in mind? She shifted restlessly. “I read about that, too. I pick a word like Red, and if I say it, you have to stop.” After last night, the word Red made her think of the scene in the woods and that was enough to stir her juices. She’d never have thought she’d get off on watching another couple fuck.

“Exactly. If you use your safeword, we stop and discuss why you needed to use it. So let’s go with Red as your safeword?”

She nodded, nervous. Would he do anything to make her use that word? So far, sex between them had been absolutely incredible.

He stood, rounded the table, and pulled her from her chair. “Today is about you and for you, Rylee.”

His voice dipped, promised fulfillment, the low baritone washing through her and settling in her core. The thought of an entire day devoted to pleasing her started a slow burn at the juncture of her legs.

Behind her, his body was warm against hers. His hand swept her hair forward, allowing him to kiss the back of her neck. “Once we start, I am your Dom and you are my sub. If you obey, you’ll find pleasure. If you do not, you’ll be punished.”

“Like yesterday.” She tipped her head to one side. “You spanked me in the garden.”

His lips curved against her skin. “That I did.” He turned her, stared into her eyes, and continued. “Yesterday was not a typical Dom/sub role-play. Let’s call it a warm up. Today, what goes on between us is all or nothing. I am asking for a total exchange of power. That means I take charge, and you, as my submissive, agree to relinquish that power.”

“I’m not sure I understand how that works, Hunter. I’m not a slave and won’t be a slave.” She’d read a lot about that one and had been pretty horrified.

He ran his fingers through her hair. “For a Dominant like me, I need a sub to hand over total control. I gain my power when you submit, and in turn, you gain power by giving everything to me and letting me take care of your needs. You’ll have no worries or cares for today and tonight. You won’t feel ashamed of what your body craves or hold back. A total power exchange is all about trust and truth.”

“And I have no say?” She found that hard to agree to. She didn’t understand how she’d get power if she had to give it and take whatever he decided.

Hunter chuckled as though he read her mind. “You, my submissive, have the freedom to enjoy and have no responsibility. You get the bliss that comes from losing yourself in the sensations and mindset I put you in.”

Rylee bit her lower lip. Hadn’t she already given herself over to him? Not formally, perhaps, but he’d made his points about her being a natural submissive. “This is for today?”

“Right now, specifically the rest of today and tonight. Will you trust me enough to hand over the power I need in order to take care of you? Can you do this?”

“I’ll try.”

He shook his head and ran his thumb across her lower lip. “All. Or nothing. You will give yourself to me. Agree to submit. Make no mistake. You mind and body will belong to me. I will demand everything from you and will not tolerate any holding back. I will control your reactions.”

He stepped closer and cupped his hand around her neck. “I’m going to learn what you like and teach you things about yourself you never knew. In return, for your total surrender, I’ll take you on a sexual journey unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.” He brushed his lips along her jawline. “You are agreeing to whatever I demand unless you use your safeword.”

“An exchange of power,” she whispered. “A circle of power and pleasure. I give you power over me, and you return that power in the form of pleasure.”

Hunter lifted his head. “Close enough.” He led her into the bathroom, stood her in front of the full-length mirror, and moved behind her. His hands slid up her arms, his well-defined arms bulging. “Pleasure is just a part of what’s between us. Some of your orgasms will be so intense, you may cry.” He met her gaze in the mirror.

Rylee’s eyes widened, the irises darkening with lust at the idea of experiencing an orgasm that big. She didn’t think they could outdo last night. Three vibrators had been outrageously intense. The promise of more was a sharp jab to her core. Something deep inside her popped, like a balloon filled with hot water. Heat flowed from her center to pool between her legs.

God, his voice alone was lethal, but what he was promised had her knees trembling. The glance he sent her said he knew just what he was doing.

“I’m going to push you, and push you hard. We’ll see if you can take what I give. If you can’t, use your safeword. It’s not a contest. If I’m wrong, and you need to, speak it. What we have is built on trust. You have to trust me to please you and teach you, and I have to trust you to be honest with me. Agree to that right now, Rylee.”

“Now you’re making me nervous.” She jammed her hands against her stomach. His eyes held hers, the golden color deep and intense. She nodded. “I promise.”

His hands massaged her shoulders. “Any questions?”

“What about the rest? When are we going to talk about the sale of my company? And you also said you had something else you wanted to discuss with me.” She was anxious about the negotiations and curious as to what else he wanted to talk to her about. Was it about their past? Did he regret letting her go?

Hunter threaded his fingers through her hair. “Tomorrow morning, we’ll put aside our games to discuss contracts. We’ll be on equal footing.”

Considering she was already turned on and ready for whatever he had in mind, the plan sounded good. “Okay.”

He lifted a brow.

Giving up control wasn’t easy for her. Even in her company, she found it hard not to micro-manage, but knowing it was one of her weaknesses also made it easier to fight it. Rylee drew in a deep breath. “Yes, Sir. I agree to give myself to you and submit to whatever you wish.”

His smile was slow, incredibly sexy and sent a flare of heat through her center. Damn. For better or worse, she just put herself in his hands.

Hunter felt humbled. It had taken courage for Rylee to agree. Yesterday, she hadn’t been committed. She’d gone through the motions with a humor he’d found enchanting. He’d enjoyed their banter, especially her use of Sir Huntsman. In one short day, he’d managed to prove that whatever had flared between them ten years ago remained.

He’d pleasured her and, by god, himself more than he’d ever thought possible. But today, he craved her total surrender, and when she gave it to him, he’d prove to her once and for all, she was submissive—his submissive.

His hands roamed across her shoulders. “Tell me about your sexual experiences.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Can we go back in the main part of the tent? I find it weird to watch myself when we’re talking about sex, Sir.”

Hunter lifted a brow. “No. I want you to see yourself. That is part of your awakening.” He eased the straps of her top down her arms, revealing small breasts, the tips hardening as he watched in the mirror.

A pink flush rose up her chest, her neck, and spread into her face. “Not much to tell. I’ve never done anything out of the ordinary, other than what you and I did in college.”

“I don’t want details.” God, the last thing he wanted was to know what she had done with her husband. He cleared his throat. “But I need to know what you’ve tried so I can make your experience this weekend the best I can. Anal sex?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Once. It hurt, so we stopped. You’re the only one I’ve had sex with back there.” She sent him a shy glance. “That butt plug was a total turn on.”

He steeled his expression to hide his pleasure. He’d given her something her husband hadn’t. He added fucking her ass to his list for the weekend. “Good. Exactly what I needed to know.” His fingers traced the line of color up her neck. “Positions?”

Her cheeks flamed. “Standard. Missionary and doggie, I guess. Sometimes I rode Jerry, but mostly, he liked being on top.”

“Ah, no Wheel Barrows, Kneeling Foxes, or Spiders.” He grinned. “We can cross off the Speed Bump as we ticked that one off during the show last night. We also did the Manhandle Her while the steaks were cooking.” He wrapped an arm around her, glided his fingers beneath her skirt, and cupped her mound. “I’m betting the ATV ride counts as the Galloping Horse.”

Her blush deepened. “Shit. Sir.”

His fingers touched her springy curls. “Okay, how about fantasies. And don’t tell me you don’t have any.”

Rylee sucked in a breath as one fingertip grazed her clit. “Sex in your office. On your desk.”

Hell, yeah. His as well. “That’s it?”

“Well, I might find it erotic to fuck you when that dragon woman walks in on us and is shocked and scandalized.” She rolled her eyes. “But wait, she’s a scary Domme, so that’d never happen.”

Hunter chuckled. “Hmm, I might not mind that one myself, and I don’t imagine there’s much that would shock my partner. What else?”

Rylee had her share of fantasies. Trouble was, this man starred in all of them, and now that he was right there, with her, her fantasies were reality. “Just you. Making me come over and over. That’s all I want or need.” And wasn’t that a submissive behavior on her part? She shoved that thought aside.

Hunter held her gaze in the mirror. “Be careful what you wish for. Take off your costume.”

She removed the sash and yanked the skimpy outfit over her head. A glance at the mirror revealed her naked body. With Hunter’s tanned, muscular frame behind her, she looked pale and small.

“I wish I wasn’t so white,” she said, wrinkling her nose.

“You’re perfect. Pure as the driven snow, my lovely Snow White.” To demonstrate, he cupped her breasts, one globe resting in each palm. His hands closed over her flesh, thumbs and index fingers pulling and rolling her pink tips until they darkened and bloomed with color.

She moaned, her head falling back on his shoulder.

“No. You will watch and see what I see.”

Rylee did as ordered and found it erotic as hell to watch him while he watched her. She’d never seen a man’s hands on her breasts, his fingers playing with her nipples. It was mesmerizing to see and then feel the effects. Without warning, he pinched her twin buds. An electrical jolt jumped from nipple to nipple to clit. She cried out when a rush of moisture gathered at her opening and dripped down her thighs.

“On your knees.” His knees bumped hers from behind, giving her no choice but to drop, with him easing her in front of him as he followed her down. “Now spread your legs. Wide.”

She opened herself, moaning at the heat in his eyes, the promise she saw there.

“More.” His knee nudged hers. “What do you see?”

On her knees, with her legs parted, she looked sexy and desirable. And hot. “Me. Wanting you.” She was too embarrassed to mention how her clit peeped out from pouty lips. He picked up her sash. Her pulse pounded.

His gaze lifted to hers in the mirror. “Hands behind your back.”

Rylee swallowed her groan as she complied. A flush of desire rose up her chest as he tied her wrists. Once again, his hands roamed over her. She understood his action was a demonstration of power and control over her.

“Now, for some rules.”

“Rules?” His hands rested in the indents of her waist, warm and promising. They slid around to her ass. She couldn’t help the involuntary contraction that tightened her center and sent need into her throbbing clit.

“No speaking unless I ask you something or unless you need to use your safeword. Nod if you agree.”

She nodded.

“You’ll address me as Sir. You may demonstrate that now.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Final rule. You are not allowed to orgasm until I give permission.”

Rylee arched a brow. “What if I can’t help it?” She yelped when his fingers dug into her ass and pinched.

“What if I can’t help it? Sir.” He pinched her hard.

She cried out. “I’ll try, Sir.”

A sharp smack to her ass shocked her even as pleasure gathered then burst like a dam inside her. “Try again. Last chance before I put you over my knee and spank you until your ass turns as red as the color staining your face.”

“Yes, Sir,” she gulped. Her face was beet red. She didn’t even want to think about his turning her ass the same shade. Staring at his glittering, golden eyes, she saw no humor. This was no fun, flirty game. He was all Dom, and today, she was his. A shiver of delight ran though her, ending in tingling anticipation.

“Yes, Sir, what?”

“I won’t come until you say.” She hoped. “Sir.”

“Good girl.” Hunter ran his fingers through the crease of her ass and traced a finger around her slit. “So wet.” Her aroused scent had blood racing through his veins, zipping into his balls, and shooting the length of his dick. He was hard as a rock and could barely breathe through his desperate need to shove her forward and take her in one, hard thrust.

Without warning, he shoved a finger into her pussy. Her breathy hiss was cut off by her teeth closing over her lower lip. When her eyes fluttered closed, he tweaked her rosy nipple. Her eyes flew open again and latched onto his.

“I did not give you permission to close your eyes.” God, he loved how she practically melted at his touch, but her true gift to him was the way she obeyed and gave herself so completely. His finger left her tight sheath, and he replaced it with two fingers. He bit back his own moan as her hungry channel sucked him in. Ripples of need gripped him, and her ridged walls unfurled to welcome him.

“You feel good, baby. Wet, hot, your pussy pulsing around my fingers. I bet you want it hard and fast.” He grinned. If she bit that lip any harder, she’d draw blood. “You may answer, my good sub.”

“Yes,” she burst out, rocking her hips onto his fingers. “I want it hard and fast, Sir.”

“I’m going to tease you, bring you to the brink over and over.” His other hand slipped around her, creeping into her pubic curls.

Her gaze tracked his hand, his fingers. She drew in a deep breath and let it out in a rush when he stopped, his finger a breath away from her swollen nub.

“Show me you want me to touch your clit.”

Rylee circled her hips, trying to get his finger to touch her clit. The fingers of his other hand plunged in and out, hard and fast, a steady rhythm. Each movement of her hips brushed both her ass and her hands against his leather-covered, hard erection. She wanted his hot cock in her hand, wanted him in her mouth. She thought of that first blowjob in the meadow and wanted to pleasure him, hear him swear as she drove him over the edge, but he’d said today was for her. God, would she survive an entire day of his loving? She bit her lip to keep from crying out and begging him to take her?

“Do you like seeing yourself like this? All hot, ready, and needing what I can give you?”

She stared at herself. Having her arms behind her back thrust out her breasts, and her nipples were contracted into two hard, pink peaks. Her skin was flushed, and her undulating hips moved faster, harder, seeking more. Never had she seen anything so erotic as her own body in the full bloom of lust.

Meeting his gaze, Rylee sucked air into her lungs. “Yes, Sir—”

A shriek of pure pleasure cut her off as he mashed his finger against her clit. He circled fast. God, he was shoving her toward climax. She panted, remembering his rule that she couldn’t give in to those lovely sensations. Heat radiated hot in her center, the flames setting fire to her pussy and clit.

He fucked her, tormented her, and turned her mind into a mindless mass of desire as he drove her toward her peak. She fought to keep her eyes open. She should be horribly embarrassed to see herself totally out of control, but she loved watching his finger slip and slide across her sensitive heart.

Her orgasm built as his clever finger danced across her swelling clit, but she had to wait. She groaned and whimpered even as her hips jerked, the gentle rotations giving way to desperate need.

Each thrust of her hips sent that tiny nub higher, harder into the path of his circling finger. Deep inside her, tremors began. She gripped his fingers tighter, taking him, demanding that he let her come.

Her breathing changed, her eyes glazed over, and the harsh moans escaping her throat warned she was close. She shuddered and tensed. He withdrew his hands.

She wailed and fell back against him. Hunter eased her back on her knees, waited until she found her balance, then stood and tilted the mirror down. Her gaze tracked his movements as he went to a drawer in a stand-alone cabinet. He pulled out a velvet bag, then resumed his place behind her. He drew her into his lap, her back flush against his chest, her arms still bound behind her. Her fingertips scraped the ridge of his dick, and his quick intake of breath was satisfying, though not as satisfying as taking him in hand or feeling that first delicious slid as he entered her weeping pussy.

He stretched out his legs and raised his knees. “Lift your legs over mine, Snow.”

Rylee, her heart pounding, her clit pulsing, did as he commanded. She drew in a deep breath when cool air teased her overheated sex. He fanned his thighs outward, opening her even more.

“Beautiful,” he breathed, his hands cupping her breasts, his fingers teasing her hard nipples. Each tug was like an old church bell, a pull to her nipples that rang a bell deep in her center.

Her back arched as her body sang its song of need. Heat unfurled, like wisps of smoke traveling up and through her. How could she want this man so much? She knew no matter how many times he had her, took her, brought her to one screaming orgasm after another, it would never be enough.

“Look at your reflection, Snow.”

She sighed. Was that wild, crazy-with-need woman her? Her eyes were so dark a purple, they appeared bruised, her mouth was open, her lips parted as she panted. He wasn’t even touching her pussy, and it hummed. His hands on her breasts alone kept her need ramped.

“Look at your your pussy and clit. Tell me what you see. Tell me what you feel.”

“Oh, god, I’m so pink and wet.” It almost made her ashamed to see the cream leaking from her opening. “I need you inside me.”

His hands parted her pussy lips. “And this?”

She gulped. “My clit is swollen, and it aches for you, Sir.”

“Did you like my toys last night?” He sucked her earlobe into his mouth.

She moaned. “Yes, Sir. I liked them very much.”

“Let’s try some more.” He stuck his hand into his velvet pouch.

He pulled out a clear, curved glass dildo. Bright pink vines snaked around the glass. He slipped it inside her. Again, she found it wildly erotic to watch his movements. The cold glass hitting her heated core made her gasp, but the ridges around the toy set her on fire when he mimicked a fucking cock. Again, her orgasm built until he drove her near the edge, and then stopped.

“Did you like that?” He tweaked her nipples hard.

Rylee whimpered as sweet pain zipped deep into her pussy, making her inner walls contract around the toy. “Yes, Sir.”

“I can make you come right now. Do you want to come? Or would you like to see what else I have in my bag of tricks?”

He was giving her a choice? As much as she wanted to come, she wanted to prolong this scene. “Bag,” she whispered, her gaze trapped by his.

“Good choice.” He reached in, and when he pulled his hand out and opened it, there were two small cylinder objects. “Know what these are for?”

She shook her head. “No, Sir.”

He set one on her nipple and twisted the top, screwing it, drawing her nipple inside. “Nipple suction.”

“Oh, my god.” It was as though someone were sucking, sucking. Sucking hard. The flashes of pain were like bolts of lightning slamming into her core.

“Tell me what it feels like.”

“Good.” Her voice ended on a shriek. “Very good. Shit.” She arched her back, then cried out, barely coherent when he added the second device.

“You okay?” His hand gripped her jaw, forcing her to meet his gaze in the mirror.

“Never felt…anything…so good.”

He turned her head and kissed her roughly and quickly, then looked at her, his gaze intent. “We’re not done, so hang on.” He played with the dildo, easing it in and out. “Do you like watching me fuck you with my toy?”

“Yes. Yes, please, Sir.”

“Not yet, my pretty, sexy sub.” His next goodie was a small, clear cup with an attached pump. “Can’t neglect your clit, can we?” He set the cup against the side of her breast and pumped. “Can you imagine how my toy will look when your sweet flesh fills this cup?”

“No way,” Rylee said, realizing it was another suction device he planned to put it there. She drew in a deep breath, wanted to protest, yet couldn’t.

He removed the contraption from her breast and rubbed it across her clit, teasing her with the cool feel of smooth glass. “Do you want to use your safeword?”

Rylee knew he’d put the toy away without question if she said red. She shook her head. She wanted whatever this man gave her.

He kissed the hollow of her shoulder. “Brave little sub.” He set the cup on her clit and slowly pumped.

She jerked, but couldn’t move much with her hands trapped behind her. She arched her back, jiggled the toys on her breasts, and nearly screamed as waves of the sweetest pain shot into her swollen clit. Blood pulsed and rushed into the tiny organ. When she glanced at herself in the mirror, she groaned. He was right. Her clit filled the tiny cup. She threw her head back onto his shoulder, shaking her head side to side.

“Ready to finish this?”

“Yes. God, yes. Please, Sir—” She screeched when the cup on her clit began vibrating.

Hunter wrapped an arm around her just below her breasts and held her tight. He lifted his knees, keeping hers trapped and open wide while his other hand took control of the dildo.

Rylee was overwhelmed, on fire, and in the most exquisite pain that became the most intense pleasure she’d ever known, that pleasure circling back to pain until she was writhing and tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Come, baby. Come now.”

She shrieked and shouted, swore and pleaded, then arched her back, her body going stiff then convulsing in his arms as orgasm after orgasm ripped through her.

Hunter had never seen anything more arousing than her clit trapped in the cup and the glass dildo driving in and out of her pussy. And Rylee sobbing, overcome by the magnitude of her orgasm.

Gently, he unbound her wrists, massaged her arms and shoulders, and then removed the cups on her tits, sighing at the sight of her red, extended nipples. He did the same with the clit cup, and almost lost control. Her clit capped her mound like the tip of a mountain.

He held her, stroking her tenderly, whispering how pleased he was until she calmed. His body raged with need. It took all his control to keep from flipping her around and driving his dick deep inside her pussy.

A small whimper drew his gaze to hers in the mirror. Tracks of tears streaked her beautiful face. “That was—I have no words for what you did to me.”

“Did you like it?” He tipped her chin up, wiped her tears with his thumb.

She nodded. “It was scary but—

“But what? Be honest.”

“It was the queen of all orgasms. I don’t think you can top that one.”

Hunter was awed beyond measure and surprised as well. Rylee’s continual ability to surrender and give humbled him. Her humor after such an intense session made him want to beg her to give him a chance. A real chance. The thought that she might yet reject him was shoved aside. He laughed gently. “Challenging me?”

She smiled. “Just stating the facts. Sir.”

Shaking his head, he nodded toward the mirror. “Look.”

Rylee glanced in the mirror, and her eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Oh. My. God. That’s me?”

“Every luscious inch of you.” He smiled as her gaze traveled from one reddened nipple to the other then froze on her clit.

“Holy shit. Tell me that it’ll go back to the way it was.”

“Eventually. But I’m not done.” He palmed her tits, his eyes gleaming when she sucked in a breath. “I plan to worship your sweet clit with my mouth.” His balls tightened at the thought, and the pain of denial was nearly too much. So much for his plans to wait until much later to fuck her. He’d be lucky if he could wait to get her into bed.

“You’re going to do me in, Sir.”

“And you’ll take me with you, won’t you, my naughty sub?”

She giggled. “That’s sexy sub, and that’s the plan. Sir.”

Hunter stood, swooped her into his arms and carried her to the bed in the main part of the tent. “So you’re admitting you’re my sub, that you are a submissive?

Rylee threaded her fingers through his golden-brown hair. “Only your sub, my bossy Dom, and only because you give me so much pleasure.”

Eyes dark, Hunter kissed her, then demonstrated just how much pleasure he could give and how much she could take.

****

Rylee sat with Hunter at the table, the contract for Interior Dreams between them. She twisted her fingers together in her lap. He’d said he would negotiate, and she hoped he was true to his word. Her company meant everything to her. She had to save it and wasn’t sure what she’d do if they didn’t come to terms she could live with. Hunter had his laptop out and was typing.

Today, he’d dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt. Even in casual clothing, he still gave the appearance of being a successful businessman. What would she do if he refused to budge on kicking her out, taking her business from her?

Could she give up control, give up her company, in order to allow her employees at least a chance? Could she trust him to take care of them? The answer was no. To him or to any other investor, they would be a commodity and ruled by the bottom line. She stared at the amount typed on the page. Nearly a million dollars and she wasn’t tempted—not much anyway—to take it and run.

“My business is solid. With this new contract we’ll be signing, we’ll be back on our feet. It’s our biggest coup to date, and though I know it’s not a done deal until I have money and contract in hand, I’m confident that the builder isn’t going to back down. I just need a bit of cash to tide us over for the next six months.”

He lifted his head and met her gaze. “I agree. My concern is that it won’t be enough to get Interior Dreams back on its feet. Let’s look at the big picture. Here’s what I see as your company’s strengths. You’ve got a good, solid business plan and reputation. Your attention to detail and to customer needs is outstanding, due to your employees. They are loyal and most have been with the company since the beginning, which means they’ve invested themselves.”

Rylee shoved her fear and worry aside. She was in control, his equal. She folded her hands on the table. “Yet, from what Glorie said, some of those assets would be let go.”

He nodded. “You may need to downsize until you have the work. That’s standard. Letting people go isn’t pleasant, but—

“No.” She tapped a nail on the table. “I have no problem letting go or firing employees who aren’t pulling their weight. I’ve already gotten rid of those not productive or valuable. When this new contract comes in, I’ll need each and every last person on my payroll. And don’t suggest that I can either rehire or hire new. The people at Interior Dreams are, as you said, loyal. As I am to them.”

Hunter moved his laptop to one side. “So your strengths are managing your employees and taking care of the creative end of the business. But your weakness is the back end. Sales and building a future. This is what I see that has failed when I compare the past financial statements to those more recent years. You don’t have someone looking to build the future. The small jobs your staff are getting aren’t enough. There’s no growth, no expansion and now the business is strangling.

That was true. Jerry had been the driving force propelling them forward while she cultivated employees and build customer loyalty by providing excellent customer service. “It’s been hard since Jerry died, and even before when he was too sick to work.” She leaned forward. “You are correct. This is where I need help.”

Hunter sat back and steepled his fingers. “Are you willing to allow me to appoint a new VP to oversee sales and marketing?”

For the first time, hope rose in Rylee. “I can live with that.”

“He’ll have to have final say on the sales team, and that means hiring a new manager. The current manager is in way over his head. He’ll have to step down or be let go.” His watchful gaze held hers.

Ugh, sticky point. To agree meant giving up control, but she had to give, and his demand was reasonable, especially considering the amount he was willing to invest. But he was right. Robert had been Jerry’s right-hand man, and even she knew he wasn’t up to the job of running that department. She even suspected he’d be more than happy to step down and go back to his original job. “Yes. But whoever you appoint, he or she has to be willing to consult with me on all hiring and firing.”

“Oh, I think I can handle that.”

Rylee’s jaw dropped. “You? You want to be my new VP of sales and Marketing?” The thought of working with Hunter thrilled her as much as it scared her. She wasn’t sure what her relationship would be with him.

“Yes. Once things are running smooth, the new manager should be able to deal with the day to day dealings.”

“And I can stay?”

For the first time, Hunter smiled. “Rylee, you are the heart of Interior Dreams. If you leave, the company would probably shrivel and die.”

Her heart melted. He couldn’t have said anything sweeter had he been trying to flatter her. “You never intended to kick me out,” she whispered, unsure if she was relieved or angry that he’d manipulated her.

Hunter shrugged. “No. If you’d accepted that offer, I’d have found a way to keep you.”

More heart tugs. If she hadn’t fallen back in love with him already, she’d have been a goner now. She jumped up, cloaked her feelings with irritation. “You played me.”

Hunter snagged her arm and tumbled her onto his lap. “I wanted you. I’d have done anything to get back into your life. I don’t want your company, Rylee, not as much as I want you. Are you very mad?”

She thought about it. She should be. Her first priority was to save her business and she’d managed that. She wasn’t happy to have been played, but did she regret the weekend with this man? No. What had been between them ten years ago had been strong enough to have never died in her heart. Perhaps she couldn’t blame him if he felt the same way. “No. Maybe I should have given you a chance six months ago. But there is one final point to discuss and that’s the price.” She turned on his lap to face him.

His hands curved behind her head. “Is it not enough?”

“Hunter, it’s almost a million dollars. If you pay that, then you are making a horrible investment. My business isn’t worth that. I’ll accept your original offer.”

Hunter pulled her close, turning her so she straddled him. “A partnership. Not a sale. Fifty-five, forty-five.” His hands on her ass rocked her against him.

“You taking the extra five percent?” God, the feel of his growing erection was quickly turning her brain to mush.

“It is a lot of money.” He pulled her skirt up and unsnapped his jeans.

Rylee was overwhelmed. He wasn’t taking her business. He was truly her knight in shining armor. He was saving it at great risk to himself. “I guess it is. How can I show my appreciation to you?”

“Oh, I think you can figure that out all on your own.”

Taking the square of foil he handed her, Rylee grinned. “Yes, that I can do.” And did.