My Best Friend's Stepfather #1(4)

He raised an eyebrow. “What is it you don’t understand?”

“Well, uh…” She felt out of her depth. Like he was the general of a great invading force and she was a lowly peasant woman. “I need to ask questions about how things work and get background about the lifestyle and such.”

“You don’t learn about Domination and submission by discussing it. I think it’s important that you experience it directly. So while we work on this project, you will be my sub, but we can leave out the sexual aspect, if that’s what you want.” He smiled, his eyes twinkling. “Personally, I think it would be better for you to have the complete experience, but you’re an intelligent, perceptive and creative woman, so I am confident you can do your research to fill in that part of the experience.”

His words of praise elated her, but the idea of being his submissive, even in a role-playing scenario meant to help her, made her insides quiver. She suspected it was as much from a blatant desire to submit to him totally as it was a resistance to being controlled. The thought of being totally under Darien Gallagher’s control … submitting to his every whim—her heart skipped a beat—especially sexually, sent her hormones into a spin.

But that’s not why she was here. She needed to stay focused on her goal and leave these disturbing urges to be examined another time.

“I don’t know about this.”

He gazed at her, and his inscrutable midnight eyes seemed to glow with warmth.

“You do trust me, don’t you?”

When he looked at her like that—the same way he had in the past—she felt like the most important person in the world.

“Yes, of course,” she replied instantly.

“Then think about why you’re afraid. Is it that you’re afraid of giving up your power?” He paused for a moment, watching her. “Or is it that you’re afraid of coming into your power?”

She realized her jaw had clenched up again and she concentrated on releasing it. Damn, how did he know her so well? Her philosophy of life was that the choices we make are often based on fear of success rather than fear of failure and we will often make choices that will sabotage what we believe we want.

She pursed her lips. She wanted to do this project. It would help her move ahead in her career. If that meant playacting with Darien Gallagher, then fine. She could do that.

“Okay. I’ll do it your way.”

His lips turned up in a smile. “Good.”



Ashley gazed at herself in the mirror. She’d escaped to the bathroom for a few moments to collect herself. This wasn’t at all what she’d expected. The intense feelings she had when he controlled how she responded to him … God, his authoritative tone … and his stern expression … it all took her breath away. He was so powerful and masculine.

Right now she felt like her world had turned upside down.

Dare had made a powerful case. To write an effective article about the Dominant-submissive relationship, she needed to experience it directly.

It made sense he’d show her by example, and it wouldn’t have to lead to sex. But the thought of him commanding her … taking control …

Her heart stammered.

As much as she’d insisted there would be no sexual relationship between them, she knew that she was in danger of falling under his masculine spell. That she would lose herself completely to the role of being Dare’s submissive, an option that felt all too attractive right now.

Once he started to command her … She knew in her heart she would do anything he said.

She stared at herself in the mirror. She was thinking crazy thoughts. This was just role-playing. She wasn’t just going to fall into bed with him.

And he probably didn’t look at her that way anyway. He was wealthy, handsome and powerful. She wasn’t his type of woman.

He was just helping her with her research. Because she was a friend of Helen’s.

A look of determination crossed her face. She was just looking for an excuse to run away. Because the situation was a little awkward.

She opened her purse and grabbed her brush, then pulled it through her long, dark hair.

She was going to get a grip on herself and march right back in there and get on with this.



“So how do we get started?” she asked as she sat on the couch again.

“Stand up and come over here.”

At his tone, she instantly pushed herself to her feet and walked toward him.

“Good. As I told you, a submissive follows her master’s commands instantly and without question.”

The word master sent a shiver down her spine. During these sessions, Dare would be her master. He would command her to do things. She had no idea what those things would be.