Page 13 of Five Days to Be Mine

His words freeze me, taking me out of the lovely headspace we were in. I push down the irritation I feel and try not to snap. It’s a fair question.

“Because too many experiences have taught me that just because I like my body, men who say they do usually have an expiration date.”

“What do you mean?” Evan asks.

I feel tears gather in my eyes and blink them away.

He signals the server.

A moment later, a glass of water is set before me. I gratefully take a sip.

“They’ll say they like me and then want me to go on a diet or an exercise program, and when I don't want to, suddenly I'm not attractive to them.”

“I hate that you had those experiences, Mara. I'm going to be attracted to you tomorrow morning when you wake up in my bed. I can’t wait to play with you. Any other limits I should be aware of for this scene?”

“No, I don't think so.”

I sit back in my chair. Evan’s eyes roam the length of me, it's not in a judgmental way but in an appreciative way, and my nipples harden as I'm stroked by the searing heat in his gaze.

“I don’t like to be scratched," his tone is all serious.

“Okay, I'll keep my claws to myself," the words come out thickly, past the lump in my throat.

“Good. What about aftercare?”

Nobody had ever brought that up before in a negotiation and I bite my lip, not sure how to answer. If I tell him what I really want, would he laugh at me?

“I’m not sure…I don’t know how to answer that.” I take another sip of water, as if it could cool down the heat I’m feeling.

“What do you need to come down from the scene?” He rests his palm on my arm.

This is suddenly too real. I don’t know if I can go through with it.

This kind of thing doesn’t happen to a girl like me.

For one brief second, I wish I had left with Sabrina and Kyle.

But Evan stands, comes around to my chair and kneels.

A Dom, kneeling for me? I’ve definitely stepped into a fairytale.

His palms are warm through the silk of my dress.

“Mara, tell me what you need.”

The room reels for a moment. His intensity takes all my breath away.

He rubs little circles on my legs, warmth spreads through my nylon clad legs.

“I like to be reassured afterwards,” my voice is so small I doubt he’s heard me.

He tilts his head, and oh, he’s so handsome.

“In what way?” He presses on my thighs softly, his thumbs brushing across the fabric.

“I need to be told that I'm okay…reassured that I'm not dirty.”

Oh god, I actually said the words.

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