He took his Stetson off, tossed it on the desk behind me. “You did. The rules are,” —he raised a finger to start ticking them off— “we’re doing this in here.” He raised another finger. “We’re not sleeping together.” And another. “You’re not riding my dick.” And a fourth. “I’m not mentioning Macon Wainright again. Did I get them all?”

I narrowed my eyes, angry that he’d read me well. Too well, because he had more than a good memory. He was listening. I turned to storm off, but he caught me about the waist and pulled me back against him. I felt every hard inch of his body, including the thick prod of his dick against my ass. His forearm banded beneath my breasts and his mouth was brushing along the side of my neck. “I’ll follow your rules,” he murmured. “But I’m in charge. Yes?”

He was asking for my consent. To do whatever he said. He’d heard me, met my demands. Could I meet his?

I nodded, whispered, “Yes.”

“Good girl. Now you can take off those panties yourself or I’ll rip them off. Your choice. See how nice I am?”

I shivered as his breath fanned my skin. I hadn’t been held like this in… ever. I wasn’t a virgin, but I didn’t do this. Have random, hot sex. Or hot not-sex. I had a local service on speed dial. Being a billionaire had its perks and I took advantage of a stable of hot men who met me at a hotel. On my schedule. With my rules. We fucked. I paid. They left. No strings.

Jed didn’t seem to want strings either, but I wasn’t paying him. He’d volunteered. When his hand cupped my breast, my mind went blank and I’d have to think all this through later.

Now, I melted at the feel of him. His hardness against my softness. He felt… untamed. As if he was only keeping himself in control because of my rules.

“Which is it, princess?” His hand slid down my body, his rough fingertips brushing my thigh at the hem of my dress.

“What if I don’t want this?” I asked, suddenly wary. I might be able to jab my four-inch heel into the top of his foot, but he was bigger and stronger. No one would come running if they heard me screaming. Not in this house.

“You and your shotgun emptied the house, princess. Told me to stay. I don’t force myself on a woman. If you don’t want this after all, saying no works just fine. Any time along the way.”

I didn’t move. I couldn’t. I could barely breathe. I felt small, feminine. Dominated, and he hadn’t done anything yet.

He raised a dark brow, let his gaze drop down over my body. “Are you saying no?”

I shook my head.