“Good. That’s much better,” he said. “Now sit up for me.”

She sat up, and the back of his hand brushed against her cheek. She pulled away—on reflex more than anything. Her survival instinct said danger, and she responded the only way she knew how… shrinking back, becoming smaller… trying to fade away until she was forgotten by the predator.

“No,” he said firmly. “You’ll let me touch you.”

Faith fought with herself to stay still and accept the way he petted her cheek. It took another couple of minutes before she could will her body to unclench and take the gentle caress. The touch was innocent, but even so, her body began to crave it as if it were some deficiency she’d just become aware of.

After a few more moments of this, he took his hand away from her cheek. She leaned forward, feeling bereft at the absence of the touch she was beginning to feel comfortable with. Then he linked his hand with hers, his thumb stroking over the back of her skin.

It made her feel like a teenager, her stomach going all fluttery and nervous. Though her fears were very different from the childish fears of a girl holding hands with a boy for the first time.

Without warning, he pulled her to him with his other hand, a firm grip on the back of her neck, angling her head how he wanted it, and he kissed her.

At first she froze, afraid that he wouldn’t stop with kissing, but after a few seconds of his lips caressing over hers, he pulled away.

“We’ve got to work on that. No one will believe that kiss.”

The heat rose to her face, and she looked down at her hands. “I-I’ll do better.”

“Yes, you will,” he said. “Go get your papers. You can go back to your room. I expect you to study and know everything in that packet by tomorrow evening.”

Faith got up without a word and retreated to the kitchen. When she got back to her room she locked the door. He might be mad if he found it locked to him, but it was the only way she’d feel safe enough to sleep.

* * *

Leo contemplated the enigma that lived in his house. She had to be a sub. Somewhere deep down. He’d been surprised from her answers that she wasn’t a virgin. Her level of fear toward him had led him to believe she might be. She’d in fact had several boyfriends in college, and was what he’d call experienced. Even so, she didn’t feel experienced to him. Not in any way. He imagined the college boys she’d been with were just that… boys. Perhaps she wasn’t yet ready for a mature man with an established life and any discernible power.

He tried to see things from her perspective, and admitted he might feel as she did, but he’d never encountered a woman who behaved this way. Of course, he’d never held one hostage, either.