He brushed his lips against her temple. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

Ashley sucked in air, staring at his intense midnight eyes, her body trembling from the light brush of his lips. The moment he’d sat down beside her, her heartbeat had accelerated and she’d found it increasingly difficult to breathe. Just being close to him made her a crazy mess of need, and the thought of him dominating her sent tremors of excitement through her.

He was absolutely right. She wanted to explore these new feelings. To be controlled by him and taken to a new realm of eroticism.

“You see, you can’t. So what do you want to do? Do you want to end our sessions?”

“No, I don’t. I…”

“So tell me what this is really about.”

She exhaled. “It’s just that … you’re the stepfather of my friend and I don’t think she’d like it if something happened between us.”

“That’s what’s bothering you? First, Helen is no longer my stepdaughter. Hasn’t been for years. And how long has it been since you’ve interacted with her?”

“Sure, but—”

“No buts. Ash, you can’t let what other people want—or what you think they want—dictate what you do. If you want something, go after it. Whether it’s the friend you want a romantic relationship with, or having an illicit sexual experience with me.”

Her lips turned up in a smile. “Illicit?”

He laughed. “Well, that does make it sound more exciting, doesn’t it?”

She gazed into his eyes, feeling herself caught up in the deep blue depths.

“Everything about you is exciting.”

A smile crept across his face, wide and devastatingly sexy.

Oh, God, she couldn’t believe she’d said that out loud.

He took her hand and stood up. “Come with me.”

“Where are we going?” she asked as he led her along the path through the trees toward the road.

“We’re going back to my place.”

“But…”

He stopped and turned. With her forward momentum, she collided with his body.

His big, hard, muscular body.

His hands grasped her arms, then his lips captured hers. She pushed onto her tiptoes, needing to be closer. Needing to feel his lips pressing harder on hers. His tongue swept into her mouth and she murmured softly. He took her mouth with passion, consuming her. But then the kiss softened, becoming almost tender. His arms slid around her and he drew her closer, like a cherished lover, while he seduced her mouth with his talented lips.

She melted against him, her heart beating frantically, feeling the echo of his own heartbeat against her.

Then he drew away, his solemn gaze locked on hers.

“You have a choice at every step of the way, but know that when I get you home, I am going to tear away every one of your barriers and build up your need to a fever pitch, then I am going to take full advantage of the situation and take you to a place you’ve never been before. And I warn you, you will quickly lose the will to say no. So decide carefully before you say you’ll come with me.”