Page 29 of Mating Season

“Don’t do that,” I said.

“Do what?” He was the picture of perfect innocence. About as convincing as a demon in church.

“Play with me,” I growled.

I knew it was the wrong choice of words when his eyebrow shot up.

Ranger leaned closer. His teeth gently grazed the shell of my ear. “You don’t want me to play with you?”

“That’s not how I meant it,” I groaned. My body involuntarily arched into his as I closed my eyes. Why did he insist on using words? It was so hard to think this close to him.

“Then you do want to play.” His dark laughter was a breathy caress against my neck followed by soft nips of his teeth as he trailed bites down to my shoulder. “The real question is, do you want to start this game with you challenging me or are you going to be a good girl and sit on your knees?’

There was a gentle tug at the end of my braid that tipped my head back to give him better access to my neck. I kept my eyes shut, enjoying the sensations without the added distraction of sight.

His question hung in the air between us.

I really liked getting A’s on my assignments, but something about him yanked on the inner rebel in me. He coaxed who I really was out in a way that made it safe. Making me want to test the limits.

Just to see.

“Are you going to make me?” I whispered, already a little wet.

The width of his palm wrapped around my throat and my eyes flew wide open. I didn’t dare move, wondering if I’d pushed too far, as he increased the pressure slightly.

Amusement danced across his darkened expression. “Do you want to be punished?”

Did I?

I do.

I really wasn’t sure what I was getting into.

Ranger seemed to read all these thoughts play across my face. “Is there something specific you want?”

I choked on the directness of that question, scrambling for safer ground.

“I don’t know what’s on the table. How far does this go? Are you into ball gags and stuff? Aren’t we supposed to write this all up in a contract? I read that once in a romance novel. We can list everything we’re okay with and what we want to try.”

Yes, I knew I was rambling.

Ranger’s lips quirked again and I got the feeling he was trying really hard not to smile. “Always so eager to jump into the deep end.”

“Not really.” I shrugged.

Okay, maybe.

But in my defense, it was like entering an ice cream parlor and wanting a taste test of each flavor before committing to what I’d like a whole serving of.

I gave a sheepish grin, hoping he understood.

“I’m not sure you’re ready for real punishment yet, but we can ease into it.” His darkpromises had a throbbing ache building in my core. “I do want to see how well you can take a spanking. Would you like that?”

Absolutely not.

Say yes.

I nodded.

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