All Good Things Exposed(16)

"I mean they were available to me 24/7."

"I can't be available to you whenever, Jace." I said in what I hoped was a diplomatic tone. "I have a business to run."

"I'm aware." Jace peeled himself from the counter to lean over the island. His eyes were trained on mine the entire time. "But you will spend your nights here with me."

"Every night?" I felt my chest grow warm. Actually, my entire body grew warm. I wanted to do just that. I wanted to be here every night with him. But I couldn't. I had responsibilities at home.

"Yes." He nodded. "Every night."

"I can't." I whispered.

He frowned. "Why not?"

"I have responsibilities, Jace." I scoffed. "I can't be here every night of the week."

"What responsibilities?"

Oh dear - I could see an argument brewing. "Well, I have Moo-moo to think about here."

His eyes widened. "Your cat?"

"Yes." I nodded. I knew I sounded silly. But I had a feeling I was going to need two nights out of the week for me…to recuperate my strength to come back to Jace for more…sexy submissive time. Or, whatever it was called. Hell if I knew.

"Olivia, you're making excuses."

"No." I shook my head adamantly. "I'm not."

"You are." He growled. A vein in his neck throbbed and I knew he was angry. It was more than apparent I was fighting with someone who rarely if ever, didn't get his way.

"If you're all right with Moo-moo moving in then I will spend every night here." I was playing dirty. I knew it and he knew it.

"You can have two nights a week to yourself." Jace ground the words from between his teeth. I noticed his hands fist, blue veins rising from his stressed skin. "Nothing more."

"Good enough." I smiled. "I'll take Friday and Saturday."

"You'll take Tuesday and Wednesday." Jace countered roughly.

"That's not fair." I pouted.

"Life isn't fair, Olivia."

"Jace," I scolded.

"Olivia." He warned.

I huffed. "How about Wednesday and Thursday?"

"No. Tuesday and Wednesday."

"You're ridiculous." I snapped.

"Get used to it, Angel."

I folded my arms over my chest and stared at him. He wasn't dissuaded by my glower and that only served to infuriate me more. He was being completely unreasonable. But that was Jace. I knew this side of him before agreeing to be anything more to him than a sex companion. Obeying his impulsively arbitrary demands came with my newfound territory. I better get used to it sooner rather than later. And, I had an inkling I'd better save my arguments for the ones that really meant something to me.

"Fine." I relented on a sigh.

His eyes glimmered and he grinned as he came around the island. His hands weaved around my middle and he kissed my forehead. "See how easy you submit to me, Angel?"

"I do." I murmured half-heartedly.

"You're already learning to submit." He grinned. "This should be easy."

***

Jace led me by the hand up the stairs, down the hall and into his bedroom. All the while, my heart beat in my chest a thousand miles per hour. What the hell was I doing? Oh good lord…if Trisha knew what I was about to do she would put her foot down and lock me in a cellar. And what exactly was I about to do? I didn't have a clue. After everything Jace had said downstairs, I still didn't know exactly what our sexual acts would entail.

Jace turned to me, and my heart leapt at his predatory gaze. "How do you feel about spanking?"

I felt my brows rise in complete and utter shock. Was he joking? "Pardon me?"

"Spanking, Olivia." Jace repeated. "How do you feel about it?"

I laughed nervously. "You mean like throw me over your knee and tan my hide?"

"That is exactly what I mean."

Oh. Why the hell would he want to spank me? What in the world kind of sexual gratification could someone derive from that? Seriously? "I don't know. I've only ever been spanked for punishment by my grandfather and parents. I didn't enjoy it. As a matter of fact I found it quite degrading."

"Well, I find it enjoyable."

"You like being spanked?"

Jace eyed me warily. "No. I want to spank you."

"I don't think that would turn me on, Jace."

"But does it turn you off?"

Did it? I don't know. The thought of being sprawled, ass up, over his knee was not something I'd ever thought of much less fantasized about. "I don't know."

"Well, we need to establish a punishment you're comfortable with."

"A punishment I'm comfortable with?" The words sounded so wrong coming from my mouth. They were a freaking oxymoron! What in the world was wrong with me? Good lord I was twisted! I must have been dropped on my head as a baby. There was no other explanation. Because…I was seriously considering this.