The Boss (The Boss 1)

“You already are. You’re thinking of submission as an act of humiliation.” He let his fingers slide down my jaw, his thumb tracing my bottom lip. “And it can be, if that’s what a sub needs. But you’ve been given the mistaken impression that Dominance and submission are all about taking. You take the orders, the pain, the restrictions, while I take control away from you. The reality is far different. When you submit, you give yourself to me wholly. Your desire, your attention, your mind, and you give these things to me because you want to.”

“So, that makes you the taker?” I asked, sucking the tip of his thumb between my lips briefly.

“There is no ‘taker.’ I give you pleasure, I give you limitations in regards to the sensations you feel and how you feel them. But I’m never taking your control away against your will. I wouldn’t want that.” He leaned up and coaxed me down, until our lips and tongues met in a slow, thorough kiss. His hand fisted in the hair at my nape, and he pulled my head back. I gasped as our mouths parted.

“Your trust in me, your ability to surrender totally and give yourself to me freely... That’s the payoff for me, Sophie. It’s an aphrodisiac.”

I leaned forward, brushing my lips across his with the small freedom of motion he let me have. Then, carefully, so our heads didn’t knock together, he let me go, and I snuggled down beside him.

He was so warm and naked and good-feeling against my skin. No matter how soft and fluffy the pillows were, they were nowhere near as comfortable as resting my head on Neil’s shoulder.

“So, you’ve done this with other women before, right?” I walked my fingertips through his chest hair. “I mean you kind of talked like you knew what you were doing when we were in L.A.”

He covered my hand with his, holding it flat to his chest. “Do you really want to know?”

“I asked.” I rubbed my cheek against his shoulder. I would never get enough of his scent, the feel of him. “I’m not going to get jealous of the people you used to sleep with. They’re not here right now.”

“Yes, I have had prior relationships where Dominance and submission were involved.” He idly stroked the back of my hand. “But I’ve also had relationships where it wasn’t.”

“Which way is better?” If I ever did get long-term with someone, they would have to be able to make me respond the way Neil did. I couldn’t imagine it any other way.

His hand stilled, pressing over mine. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palm. “Being with you is better. Either way.”

My chest squeezed painfully. But it was the good kind of pain.

* * * *

Waking up with Neil beside me was the most exquisite, perfect feeling.

I was all comfortable and warm and safe— a demented thing to revel in, considering I'd never actually been in anything close to danger in my entire life. Sleeping with Neil's warm skin pressed to mine, his strong arm around me, made me feel protected, even if I didn't need protecting from anything.

I wriggled in his embrace and reached for the single-use toothbrushes on the nightstand. I quickly tore one open and stuck it in my mouth, hurriedly scrubbing away my morning breath.

"Vanity, thy name is Sophie," Neil murmured sleepily from behind me as he released me and rolled away.

"Ish not vani-y," I muttered around the brush. I reached for the half-full water glass and quickly swished some around my mouth. "It's just manners."

His hand closed over my hip, and I scrambled to replace the glass on the nightstand before he jerked me down in the bed, smoothly covering my body with his.

"Well then, I have excellent manners," he said, his suspiciously minty breath in my face. "Because I've already been up for morning ablutions."

"Oh, and that isn't vanity?" I wriggled beneath him as he reached over me to a remote on the bedside table. He hit a button and the shades over the windows slowly rose, flooding the room with daylight, unimpeded by neighboring buildings.

"Now, we have the entire day to ourselves. And I haven't the faintest clue what to do with you." The head of his cock prodded between my thighs, making a liar out of him. He knew exactly what he wanted to do with me.

All it would take was a shift of my hips, and he would be inside me. I held his face in my hands. "You didn't shave."

"You like my stubble," he pointed out, rubbing his cheek against my throat.

I sighed, totally content as he nibbled and sucked along my jaw, up to my ear, finding that totally weird and totally awesome spot behind it, the spot that could make me come when he paid it enough attention.