It wasn’t that surprising of a request. To be honest, the surprising thing was that he hadn’t put it into place before now. And she normally ended up naked anyway. But somehow, hearing the command fall from his lips made her want him even more.

   “Yes, Sir,” she replied, tipping her head back and closing her eyes as his lips traveled from her shoulder across her collarbone to the hollow of her throat.

   Normally, when he took her, it was hard and fast. He was a thoughtful lover, but slow wasn’t his typical manner. That didn’t seem to be the case tonight. Tonight, it appeared he was going to be methodical in his pleasuring of her. She wasn’t sure she could handle it; the intensity he brought to the bedroom always left her breathless. How much more would a slow and intentional Cole affect her?

   “If sin was a flavor, it’d taste like your skin.” He nibbled lower, coming to rest at her breasts.

   “If sin was a sound, it’d be that insanely sexy voice of yours.”

   He ran a lazy finger around her nipple, causing her to suck in a breath. He gave a low and seductive chuckle at her response. “Indeed?”

   But she couldn’t answer because he picked that minute to roll the tip of her nipple between his fingers and pinch it. Instead she gasped at the sensation.

   “You see, I think that sound you just made was sin incarnated.” He switched to the other side and repeated his actions, once more drawing a low moan from her. “Yes. That’s the one.”

   She ran her hands down his back. She loved to touch him, but most of the time he directed their sex life and, since she was often bound in one way or another, she didn’t normally have the chance.

   “No fair, Sir,” she teased.

   “What’s that?” he asked, as his knowledgeable fingers drifted lower, seeking out the places he knew would drive her mad.

   “What you do to me. How you affect me. All of it.”

   His fingers stopped and she almost whined, but instead, she opened her eyes to find him looking down at her intently. “It most certainly is fair,” he said, his voice a coarse whisper. “Do you want to know why?”

   “Why, Sir?”

   “Because it works the exact same way in reverse. Do you have any idea what you do to me?”

   She knew parts. The things he’d told her, the few times he’d shared such things. But there were times she still felt the need to pinch herself. It was too hard to believe he was hers. That he was with her and wanted her.

   “Not entirely, Sir.”

   He remained motionless. “Not entirely? Then Sasha, I haven’t been doing my job properly.”

   “I didn’t mean to insinuate—”

   “Hush.” He placed a finger over her lips. “I know you didn’t mean anything malicious with what you said, but I don’t ever want you to doubt what you mean to me or how I feel about you. Nod if you understand.”

   She nodded.

   “I have never experienced anything that even comes close to making me feel the way I feel when I’m with you. And I promise you this, I’m going to find a way to prove it to you.”

   She let his words seep in; he’d spoken them with such passion and intensity, she allowed herself to believe them. “Thank you, Sir.”

   She saw the warring expression in his eyes and wondered what she’d said to put such a look on his face.

   “You have it wrong, little one. I’m the one who should be thanking you.” His lips brushed hers, but this time they were reverent. “Thank you for accepting me,” he whispered against her mouth. “For taking every part of who I am and not trying to change the parts you don’t like.”

   She wasn’t sure who in his past had tried to change him, but it wasn’t the first time he’d mentioned something along those lines. Maybe it had been Kate? She’d been his girlfriend for eight years. Though girlfriend seemed a bit simplistic for the twenty-four/seven, Master/slave relationship she’d shared with Cole.

   Sasha made sure he was watching her when she answered. “Why would I want to change part of you? All of your parts make you the man you are. If I take one away because I don’t like it, then I’m not really with you. I’m with only a part, and I don’t want part of you. I want all of you.”

   He didn’t say anything in reply, he simply dropped his head so he could kiss her again. He loved her with his mouth, worshipping her body with kisses and driving her to the brink of release with nothing more than his lips.

   Even when he shifted himself to rest between her knees, he spoke only three words.

   “Eyes on me.”

   She could do nothing other than obey as he slowly entered her. It was overwhelming—the feel of him above her and inside her, combined with the love she saw reflected in his eyes. Her body shuddered as he seated himself fully inside and she moaned deep in her throat when he didn’t move but stayed perfectly still.

   Just when she thought she couldn’t take any more, he brought his hands to her face and kissed her so deeply and with such passion, she knew if he stopped, she was going to climax before he did anything.

   “Please, Sir,” she whispered. “I’m so close, I can’t . . .”

   “Say my name,” he ground out.

   “Cole, please.”

   “Don’t hold back tonight.” He pulled out, just a touch. “Let me have everything.” He ended the sentence with a forceful thrust and she came apart around him.

   “Ah, little one, you test my own self-control,” he said, and she knew he was doing his best to hold back and not take her with the intensity he wanted.

   “Do it.” She wrapped her legs around his waist. “Let go of your control for once.”

   “I wanted to be gentle tonight.” He rocked his hips in a lazy rhythm.