My Best Friend's Stepfather #1(6)

And with the evidence of her hard nipples thrusting into his chest, he knew how much she wanted him.

Oh, God, I can’t believe I practically threw myself at him. But then, he’d ordered her to kiss him.

She eased back. Feeling extremely self-conscious, she retreated to the couch, needing distance between them. She sat with her ankles pressed tightly together and rested her hands on her knees.

“I thought…” Her words came out hoarse, so she cleared her throat. “I thought this wasn’t going to be sexual. Isn’t kissing crossing a line?”

“There are no lines, Ashley. I can order you to do anything.”

A shiver raced through her. “But what if I don’t want to do what you order?”

“Then you won’t.” He smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. “That’s the key. You have total power over your actions. When I order you to do something, you decide whether to do it.”

And she had decided to kiss him.

“Of course, if you decide not to follow a command, there will be consequences.”

Her mouth went dry. “Like what?”

“I might lean you over and spank you. If you wore a dress with a thong underneath,” his gaze locked on hers, “which I would like you to do from now on, I would lift up your skirt and spank your bare ass.”

Her breath caught and she almost wished she’d worn a skirt today.

Shock vaulted through her at the realization she wanted him to punish her. She wanted to feel his firm hand stroke her behind, then smack it sharply.

Her head was swirling with contradictions.

If he punished her for refusing to perform a command, then she didn’t really have a choice to refuse. Unless she refused to willingly accept the consequences. But what if she didn’t want to be punished? Then she had no choice but to obey.

She gazed at him, confusion swirling through her. She needed time to think about all this.

“We’re done for now.” Dare stood up.

She rose to her feet, too. “Okay, thank you.”

She turned and headed down the hallway to the front door, then pulled on her shoes. She stood up and turned to the door. Her body tingled from his presence behind her.

“Come back tomorrow night at eight.”

She stopped herself from uttering, “Yes, Master,” and just nodded as she pulled open the door.

“And Ashley.”

She turned to look at him again. A shiver quivered through her at the warmth in those midnight eyes.

“Wear something sexy.”



Ashley stared at the scrappy bit of nothing in lace that Jessica held in front of her.

“Are you kidding? I’m not going to wear that,” Ashley protested.

Jessica quirked her head. “Why not?”

Ashley grabbed the tag hanging from it. Close to two hundred dollars for a tiny bodysuit composed of barely a few square inches of satin and lace.

“Because I’m not a slut.”

Jessica laughed. “It’s not slutty. It’s sexy. And you’d look breathtaking in it.” She grinned. “I mean to a man.”

“To a man I’d look breathtaking”—Ashley said the last word with air quotes—“naked and that would be a lot cheaper.”

Jessica laughed. “Well, if you’re bold enough to strip down naked for him, good for you.”

“Jess, stop teasing me.”

“Okay, okay.” Jess admired the crimson lace. “But say what you will, I think it’s worth it.”

“Then you should get it,” Ashley said with sincerity. She knew Jessica loved this kind of thing and she felt a little bad calling it slutty when she was just reacting to her own insecurities about the situation with Dare.

Jessica grinned. “But I’m not going out with Mr. Gallagher-the-sexiest-man-alive.”

Ashley frowned. “I’m not either.”

“But you are seeing him. And you asked me to help you buy sexy clothes to wear for him.”

“I told you. It’s not like that. And I thought you were going to stop teasing me.”

“Yes, you told me and, honey … it is like that. All kidding aside, from what you told me about last night you are headed straight for an illicit, sexual affair with the man.” Jessica squeezed her arm. “And I am so jealous.”

Ashley’s chest tightened. Leave it to Jess to give it to her straight.

“Oh, God, Jess.” Ashley grabbed the hanger from Jessica and hung the garment back on the rack, her cheeks heating. Because as much as she tried to deny it … damn it, Jess was right.

“Come on, let’s get a coffee.” Jessica tugged her arm, leading her from the store.

They went to the food court, then settled at a table with their coffees.