Her quiet plea reverberated in his head as if she’d shouted it. Turn down one night because she wouldn’t allow him more? Was he insane? Her fingers raked up his chest, as if exploring some unknown territory, breasts rising and falling, faster and faster in her excitement. For him. This moment, right now, would have to appease him. There was no other choice. “I suppose we’ll have to make the most of it.” Without another word, he took her hand and led her down a dark hallway lined with doors. Rented rooms. He shouldn’t take her here. He should bring her upstairs to his apartment, but he’d never make it. She’d get away with a screaming fuck in his elevator, and whether she liked it or not, he intended to make sure walking away without a backward glance wasn’t an option.
Jonah splayed his hand on the heavy wooden door at the very end of the hall but didn’t open it right away. He tugged Caroline in front of him, savoring the feel of her trapped between the solid oak and his body. “When we are together like this, Caroline, you will call me Master.”
Time slowed as her gaze shot up to his. “And if I refuse?”
He’d told her he wasn’t issuing ultimatums, but he wouldn’t budge on this. Hearing her call him by that name possessed too strong a pull. He needed it from her. “It will please me if you call me by that name. And when you please me…” His hand slid down her thigh and underneath her skirt, rising to cup her pussy, drawing a thready whimper from her lips. “I’m more inclined to reward. Do you want to be rewarded?”
“Y-yes.”
“Then you know what to call me.” He tightened his hold between her legs. The back of her head hit the door. “But you should know something upfront.”
Her breath escaped in degrees. “What’s that?”
“It’s not just a word. Think about that before you agree.”
They both struggled during her breathless silence. His mind told him to take back the demand, but some untapped part of him wouldn’t allow it. Finally, thankfully, she gave a single nod. “Since this is only for one night, okay.”
Lust whipping through his veins, Jonah pulled her into the room, giving her mere seconds to scan the dimly lit, medium-size space, complete with a coverless bed, with those inquisitive eyes. Mere seconds before he turned her toward the wall and placed her hands palm-down high above her head. His breath escaped in a rush when he molded his body to hers, forcing her up onto the wall. Christ, she hit him in all the right places.
A discussion needed to be had here, but he could barely think with his dick nestled snugly against her ass. He didn’t intend to let this go anywhere she might be uncomfortable with, but he still had a responsibility toward her. The protectiveness he felt toward her extended to himself. “Pick a safe word.”
Her body stiffened ever so slightly. “What? I…”
“You won’t need it.” He rotated his hips, and Caroline moaned. “Choose one anyway.”
“D-dumpling.”
“Of course.” His head dropped down on her shoulder with a groan as he gave in to the urgency to grind against her. “Sweetheart, you have an incredibly tight ass.”
“Likewise.”
Her response surprised a laugh out of him, but it vanished when she spun around in his arms and tried to kiss him. The frantic expression on her face told him exactly what was taking place in her head. She didn’t want anything resembling a connection between them. Simply needed him to slake an urge. Not happening, sweetheart. He’d already made too many concessions tonight, and they ended now.
A gasp escaped her when he let her slide to the floor abruptly. He gave her no time to recover, crowding her back against the wall, forcing her to tilt her head back to look up at him. His thirst for dominance, always so close to the surface, was quenched by the new awareness in her gaze. He’d be willing to bet she’d never let a man dictate her actions or make her want to submit. She didn’t want to like this side of him, either, but she did. He could see it in the way her eyes went unfocused and glassy, dipping to his mouth, his throat. The way her body went pliant in degrees, meshing with his hard form.
“I control the pace of this, Caroline. You’ve set your boundaries, so now I dictate the rest.” He leaned down to speak against her forehead. “Do I make myself clear?”
He could practically see the steam shooting straight out of her inner-feminist’s ears, but she didn’t pull away. Didn’t stiffen. There was a battle taking place inside of her, but desire for him won. Thank God. “Okay. Yes.”
Jonah released her chin and began unbuttoning her shirt slowly, deliberately. “Excellent. Now close your eyes.”