Page 27 of Marked

With one final lick across my bundle of nerves, I cried out as an orgasm crashed through me with the force of a hurricane. Tremors racked my body and my heart pounded furiously in my chest. The intensity was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. It felt like I was floating, yet falling at the same time.

“That was beautiful, Lanie.”

Noah kissed my inner thigh as he stood, gently removing his fingers from my body, only to put them straight into his mouth. The vision was so erotic, I was helpless to do anything other than watch him lick them clean of my excitement. When he was finished, he climbed onto the bed, situating us so he was on his back while I was half sprawled across his chest.

His voice cut through the silence after a few minutes. “How do you feel about what we just did?”

“Honestly, I’m confused. I’ve never thought of myself as submissive, Noah. I’m too strong-willed.”

“Being a submissive in the bedroom isn’t showing weakness, Lanie. In fact, it takes a great deal of strength and courage to willingly hand over control of your pleasure to someone else.”

“Huh. I never thought about it that way.” I paused before asking the one question that had been bothering me since he told me about being dominant. “How many other women have you done this with?”

“None. I’ve never had this type of relationship with another woman,” he answered. “I’ve obviously researchedand studied every aspect of being a Dom, but I think I was waiting for you.”

“Holy shit,” I whispered.

“We’ll navigate this together. Find our own way.”

“I like the sound of that, but this whole Dom/sub thing isjust for the bedroom, right? You’re not going to try to run my life all the time?”

“Would you even let me?” He chuckled when I raised my head, shooting him a glare. “Didn't think so. I won’t lie, there’s going to be some level of crossover. Your health and safety will always come first. That would be the case, regardless of whether or not you agreed to give this a try.”

“You mentioned rules.” I snuggled farther into his side. “Tomorrow’s too far away. You may as well hit me with them now. Rip off the proverbial Band-Aid.”

He huffed a breath, then kissed my forehead. “Communication is key. It’s rule number one in any relationship, but it’s essential in a D/s. If you don’t like something we do, tell me and we’ll discuss it.”

I listened with rapt attention as he went through each one like bullet points in a presentation. The second rule though,Do what I say without question and without hesitation,was going to be broken often. It couldn’t be helped. I was who I was and I made no apology for it. Although, apparently, my lack of self-control would get me in hot water with rule number five:Don’t break the rules unless you’re willing to accept the punishment.Punishment, I discovered, was simply an alternative noun for spanking, which according to Noah, I should’ve received for moving when he told me not to.

As crazy as it sounded, I was on board with everything—even the red ass—as long as it meant I’d be with Noah. The problem was opening my heart up again. It had beenbroken once before, partly due to miscommunication and partly because I was more stubborn than the day was long. Regardless, I was willing to try.

After I yawned for the third time, Noah scooped me up, lifted the covers, then slid us both underneath, my back to his front.

“I need to get out of this bra and put some clothes on.”

His fingers were at my back before I finished talking and the next thing I knew, said bra went sailing across the room.

“Noah,” I screeched, flipping quickly to my stomach.

“In our bed, you’ll either sleep in my T-shirt or nothing at all. Your choice.”

I literally bit my tongue to avoid blurting out one of my usual snarky responses. The choice to delay having a sore behind was an easy one to make, but that didn’t mean I was happy about it.

“Shirt,” I grumbled.

He climbed out of bed to dig through his bag, returning with a plain black shirt. Handing it to me, he unbuckled his pants and stripped down to his blue boxer briefs before rejoining me in bed. I might have thought more about the massive bulge between his legs if I hadn’t been so irritated with his high-handedness. It was something I’d have to get used to, but for now, I really needed sleep.

“I’m not saying thank you.”

I heard a muttered, “Brat,” as I ducked under the covers to slip the shirt over my head. When I emerged, I scooted to the far edge of the bed, away from the bossy dick behind me.

The bed dipped as he leaned over, tagged me around the waist, and dragged me back to the middle where he resumed our previous position.

“And I’m not calling you Daddy.”

The back of my neck warmed where he buried his face and shook with laughter. I didn’t know what the hell was so funny.

“Good to know, Darlin’, but that’s not my kink.”

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