Sure did. In truth, I wasn’t applying much pressure. If she wanted to, she could easily pull away. And if she told me to, I’d let go instantly. It was more about the perception of being restrained.

“I like playing around with you.” I grinned, drifting closer to barely brush my lips against hers, then pulling back again. I paused until she met my gaze. “But if you say stop, it’s a hard stop.”

“I know,” she said softly. “I don’t want you to stop.”

I lowered my voice, watching her face. “But do you like me being in charge?”

So far, I had pretty good instincts when it came to her. And I had a strong hunch that I was right about this, but I wanted verbal confirmation.

Her pupils dilated. “Kind of.”

“Kind of?” I said. “Or yes?”

“Is it weird if I say yes?” Her breath grew shallow.

“No,” I rasped. “I like it. But I don’t want to overstep and upset you. That’s why I asked.”

Color flooded her cheeks. “Yes.”

Knowing this took my fantasies to a whole new level. Oh, the possibilities. So many possibilities.

We would have to ease into that, but maybe I could take my foot off the brake a little.

“Mmm,” I murmured, studying her—flushed cheeks, parted lips. “That’s fucking hot.”

Bailey’s eyes gleamed, the shyness fading away. “Why?” She tugged against my hands playfully. “What would you do if you were in charge?”

I shook my head, biting back a smile. “Oh, James. So many things.”

“Tell me one.” Her voice was breathy.

Damn, where would I even begin?

Spank her, blindfold her, tie her up, have her talk dirty to me, talk even dirtier to her, edge her, have her touch herself in front of me…

I could go on all night. God knows I’d had time to think about it.

But we had to walk before we could run, skate before we could shoot, and all that.

“In time.”

Ducking behind her ear, I brushed my nose against her skin, inhaling her sweet scent and holding it in my lungs for a beat. She sighed as I trailed a line of soft, open-mouthed kisses along the curve of her neck. Moving down to her shoulder, I gently sank my teeth into her flesh.

“Right now, I do have one thing in mind.”

“What’s that?” The words were a whisper across her lips.

“Making you come all over my fingers.”

Now that I’d gotten her there with my tongue, I was confident I could do it with my hands too.

And hopefully after that, with my favorite body part.

She nodded, watching me. “Okay.”