“I was always scared you’d find out what had happened to me, and I freaked out, because I didn’t know how you’d react. I knew I’d been stupid, and I didn’t want you to know how stupid I’d been. I haven’t had a real relationship, a normal relationship, since Lawrence. I wanted to try, but I think I was always expecting to fail, and last weekend when you said you knew something had happened to me, I just couldn’t deal with it. I couldn’t stand waiting for everything to fall apart, so I made sure that it did.”

Her breath caught and he gave her nipples a particularly viscous pinch, making her shiver. He felt her hesitate.

“Is that it, sweetheart?”

“No, there’s more.” Her voice was small. Scared. But not in the good way. Michael bit down on her neck again, rolling her nipples and pulling on them until she arched her back in an effort to relieve the pressure. The way she was squirming told him how turned on she was, even as she bared herself emotionally to him.

“Keep going then.”

A whine escaped her as he continued to torment her nipples, before she refocused on the paper. Now her words came more haltingly. Unhappily. “You’re an amazing man and... you deserve... a submissive who can... give you everything you need... not... not one...”

That was enough of that.

Michael released her breasts and pulled his hands out from underneath her shirt so he could yank the paper out of her hand. The unhappy sub on his lap had hunched in again. Pulling her back against him, Michael scooted her down his lap so her legs were splayed on either side of his, her breasts up for his offering, and her head resting back on his shoulder so she couldn’t hide her expression from him.

“Michael!” She tried to fight the re-positioning, reaching for the paper he tossed away.

“No, Ellie, lean back. Safe word or submit.” His voice brooked no argument and, heaving a hefty sigh, Ellie leaned back against him, choosing to submit. Her body trembled against his, not quite as pliable as he wanted. Michael ran one hand back up her shirt while the other moved down between her legs to press against the seam over her pussy. Even though she didn’t moan aloud, he could feel it through her body. “I don’t believe I’ve ever thought about what kind of submissive I ‘deserve’, sweetheart, only about what kind of submissive I want. And I thought I made it pretty clear I want you. Do you want me?”

“Yes, and-“

“Hush, sweetheart, yes or no answers.” He gave her pussy a little slap. It wouldn’t even sting with her jeans blocking the way, but it did get her attention. “Do you believe I want you?”

“Yes.”