Well, she was nothing if not honest. “I was worried about how I’ll look when you take my clothes off.”
He shook his head and sat down on the bed. His muscular legs were spread apart, his arms going across that cut chest of his. “I’m not going to take off your clothes, Serena. If you thought I would take you back here and rip your clothes off, you’re going to be disappointed.”
She was, actually. And now she was embarrassed. That had been a big assumption on her part. She’d kind of thought that since Adam had made it plain he wanted her, that meant Jake wanted her, too. But he was obviously just playing a role. But he’d kissed her. She had to get it out of her head. This was what a lot of people did. They played. It wasn’t serious. It was just casual sex. The trouble was she wasn’t a casual type of girl. “Sorry. I just thought since we were alone that you would…”
Jake cut her off with a curt shake of his head. “Make it easy on you? No way. You’re going to undress for me. Slowly. You’re going to show me your breasts and your pussy and your ass, and then you’ll lay yourself across my lap and you will accept my discipline. What are your safewords?”
He’d had them written into their contract. “Yellow and red.” Yellow slowed things down, and red stopped them altogether. She was kind of worried that a big yellow light was in her future. She was confused, but that was probably more about her than him. She didn’t have a whole lot of experience. All the men she’d dreamed about lately were in her books. They were safe.
“Why are you scared, Serena?”
“I’m worried that you won’t want me once you see me naked, and I want for you to want me.”
He smiled, a long, slow parting of his lips. “Excellent. I appreciate the honesty, baby. I can’t tell you how much I love the fact that you don’t play games. So I won’t either. I find you intensely attractive. I have had a fucking hard-on since the day you walked into my office. Now, do as I asked and take off your clothes. You won’t know until you try.”
Be brave. It was what she preached in her books. It was time to take a page out of one. None of her heroines got what they wanted without learning to ask for it. She started to undo the corset, remarkably aware of just how awkward she was. She could still hear Doyle telling her she wasn’t sexy. But when she looked up, Jake was smiling at her as though he found her awkwardness endearing.
“Go as slow or as fast as you like, sweetheart. I’ll just enjoy the show.”
She took a deep breath. She felt safe with Jacob Dean. Days of living with him had made her comfortable. She unhooked the first hook and then the second, her breasts spilling out. She laid the corset aside with shaking hands.
“Show me your breasts, Serena.” His tone had gotten slow, his accent thicker than before. He was a southern boy.
She cupped them. They’d always seemed too big, but Jake’s eyes ate her up. It made her nipples hard, her pussy wet, her heart soar. She could ignore everything except her heart. But he was engaging her, and it had been so damn long since she’d really wanted.
“Now get rid of the skirt. I want to see your pussy.”
She didn’t hesitate this time. She pushed the skirt off her hips.
“Very nice, baby.” Jake’s voice soothed her. She understood why he’d brought her here. He’d wanted the privacy because she wasn’t thinking about anything or anyone but him. There was a small part of her that still worried about such trivial things as cellulite, but here, in this place with Jacob, it was easy to silence that minor voice.
The air was cool on her skin, but his eyes were hot. He raised his hands and made a little circle, silently requesting that she turn. He wanted to look at her backside. Her ass, he would say in his deep, gravelly voice. He wanted to look at her ass, and he wasn’t expecting perfection. He was expecting curves and softness. He was expecting her.
She turned, confidence in her every move. He’d told her what he wanted, and she had zero reason to think he was lying. He’d been honest with her. He’d been hurt, and he hadn’t trusted her. Now he wanted her, and he wouldn’t hold back. They were an oddly matched set, both insecure in their own ways. She could feel him looking at her. She breathed in and let it happen.
“Very nice, baby. It’s time, though. Come here and place yourself over my lap.” He patted his lap.
It was time to be in or out. She knew what she was. She was in. She wasn’t about to stop now. She wanted to know where this went and if it was the place for her. She’d dreamed of this. She turned and walked to Jacob. He held out a hand and helped her drape herself over his lap. Her ass was in the air, his knee across her torso. She wiggled a little to try to get comfortable, but Jacob put a hand on her back, and she stilled.