“I won’t kneel for you,” I countered, straightening my shoulders.

He took a step toward me. His dick swayed. I swallowed.

“I’ll be the only one you kneel for,” he said, his eyes narrowing. He came close, close enough to stroke my hair back, for his dick to press into my belly. “You like when I take control.”

I shook my head, but his hand slipped around and wrapped in my hair. Tugged.

The slight bite of pain had me gasping. I met his eyes as he held me in place.

“Out there,” he tipped his head indicating anywhere outside this room. “You’re in charge. You can juggle all the fucking balls you want. Make the deals in those dresses and high heels. That dressy armor you wear. In here, when you’re wet and aching for some attention, I am.”

Was that what drew me to him, the fact that when we were alone, I didn’t have to do anything but be me? To feel something real? I wanted that. As much as I craved to lick off that drop of pre-cum and taste him on my tongue.

I stepped back, wrapped my arms tighter around myself. “How do I know if this is real?”

“I’m standing here buck naked, princess. I’ve got nothing to hide.”

I couldn’t look at him, at every inch of tanned skin and sinewy muscle, so I closed my eyes.

I heard him sigh. “He destroyed you.”

“Yeah, he did,” I admitted, knowing he was talking about Macon. “I’ve got a hot guy, naked and hard and we’re talking. Any whole woman would be riding your dick now.”

“He’s six feet under, princess. You’re here. It’s time to pick up the pieces and make the life you want.”

“That’s what you want to do, pick up all the pieces of me? Am I even worth it?”

I heard something like a growl come out of him before I was scooped up in the air and tossed onto the bed. Instinctively, I popped up onto my hands and knees facing the headboard to move away from him, but he grabbed my ankle.

Glaring over my shoulder, I met his dark stare. I was breathing hard. “What are you doing?”

“Getting answers,” he replied. His grip remained on my ankle as his other hand came down on my upturned ass in a hard spank.

“Jed!” I shouted as I tried to kick him with my free leg.

He yanked me back, which had me dropping to my stomach on the soft mattress. He shifted, tugged me onto his lap so my toes touched the carpet while my torso was still on the bed. “What did I say about talking bad about yourself?”

He spanked me again, then tugged down my yoga pants. Another growl. “Good girl. You’re learning how I like you. Without panties.”

Another spank, this time on my bare ass.