“I’m not putting the jumper on.” She laughs, though it’s nervous. Because she knows what’s coming.

“One.” I’ve never met such a willful, difficult woman in all my life, and I doubt I ever will. But she’s my willful, difficult woman. And I love her.

“Do what you like, Jesse,” she goads. “I’m not putting that jumper on.”

Wrong. “Zero.”

She stares at me, straining to appear strong, but she’s unable to conceal her uncertainty. Oh, this is fun. I shake my head at her, breathing in, and I watch as her body engages, ready to bolt. I move fast, and she’s off on a yelp, diving across the bed. I laugh and grab her ankle, dragging her back to me.

“Jesse,” she yells as I spin her over, climbing on top of her and pinning her down. “Get off.” Her hair is in her face, hampering her view, and I just manage to wipe my shit-eating grin away when she blows it away, using her last scrap of breath.

“Let’s clear something up.” I shrug myself out of my jacket, giving me more unrestricted movement in preparation. It takes everything in me to keep my amusement at bay. She looks like she could punch me in the face and take the greatest of pleasure from it. I grab the cream jumper and hold it up. “If you do what you’re told, our lives will be a lot easier.” Her jaw is about ready to snap. “All of this”—I squeeze each nipple in turn, but she doesn’t flinch or buck or yell— “is for my eyes only.” She’s playing a dangerous game, because the more she tries to demonstrate power, the more I’ll prove otherwise. But, make no mistake, she holds all the cards here. Not that I’ll ever admit it. I grab her hip and dig my fingers in.

“No! Please, no.” Her yells turn into laughter, and it’s such a sight to behold. It’s also an opportunity. I use my free hand to start feeding her arms through the jumper, constantly tickling her, using her flailing limbs and uncoordinated moves to my advantage. She throws her arm out, I get one sleeve on. She tries to hit me with the other, I seize her hand and get the other sleeve on. I have another dig of her hip, and her head flies up on a cry. I slip the neck of the jumper over her head and yank it down her body.

Done.