Page 14 of Passionate Defense

“I have one question though.”

“Only one, counselor? That would be a first.”

“Smart aleck,” she murmured at his teasing. “I have one for now, but I reserve the right to recall the witness.”

“Deal. Lay it on me.”

“That was really intense. I think we need to revisit my need for a safeword.”

His breath was a gentle brush across her throat as he chuckled. “I suppose we should have done that at the top of the hour. What do you think? It needs to be something memorable, but something you wouldn’t ordinarily say.”

“I haven’t a clue. You choose.”

“Okay.” He pushed up on a forearm, looked down on her thoughtfully, then his dimple appeared. “Mickey Mouse.”

Surprised, she gave a short hoot of laughter. “Why on earth would you choose Mickey Mouse?”

He rolled to his side, settled back against the pillows, and snuggled her close. She wiggled until she fit comfortably alongside him, an arm draped over his chest and a leg bent across his thighs. Forgotten were the stresses of the day and the worries plaguing her at the firm, both replaced by a state of pure contentment in Ethan’s arms. She sighed softly as she listened to his explanation, not caring why anymore, simply enjoying the sound of his deep, sultry voice.

“Remember that conference I had in Orlando when you tagged along?”

“And you played hooky to take me to Disney World, which I hated.”

“Yes, who knew that I married the only red-blooded American who hates Disney and the most famous mouse in the world?”

“We should have done Epcot.” Her head resting on his pec, she turned enough to kiss his warm skin. “What of it?”

“When you say it, I’ll know that you really mean it because it’s not something you would accidentally blurt out in the throes of passion. And during role-play, you can say anything else and not really mean it.”

“Like stop?”

“You got it.”

“Or get out?”

“Hopefully not.”

She grinned, her mind swirling with possibilities. “Can I curse you for being an evil-minded bastard?”

“Certainly, if you want to double whatever your ass already has coming.”

She paused as his arm squeezed her tight. The rhythm of his heart had slowed to a strong, steady beat beneath her ear.

“Role-play, huh?”

“I’m going to teach you how to relax if it takes a frequent blistering of your superb ass to do so.” The hand on her hip moved down and cupped one of the round globes he loved so much. “Tonight was a good start, and we killed those two birds.”

Her head tilted back to look at him. “Sorry, honey, but my sex-numbed brain isn’t working as it should.”

“Teaching you how freeing it is for you to give up control...”

“That’s one.”

“And showing you exactly how much I enjoy taking it. You weren’t the only one who got off on that spanking.”

“Huh, you never mentioned being into it. Although as an ass man, I really should have expected that you’d also be a spanker.”

“Funny. I never knew how much so until tonight.”

---