“Oh, for f**k’s sake. Why can’t we just have lunch?”

“I’m adding that f**k to your list. And to answer your question, because I gave you an order and you didn’t want to follow through. This was the agreement. You do as I say and you get rewards. You disobey and you get punishments.”

“But why can’t you just say, Grace, you look lovely. Let’s eat some f**king food?” I smile at his scowl and have to cover my mouth with my hand to stop from laughing. He’s so easy to mess with.

“I don’t appreciate that, Grace. Now bend over so I can get you nice and wet first.”

“You’re insane. I’m not bending over for you, and you are not”—I shake my head at the vibrator—“using that on me here in this restaurant.”

“I am.”

“You’re not.” I actually stomp my foot and raise my chin.

“Then you’re released.”

I flick my fingers at him in a mocking wave and walk out the door.

He follows me out hissing, “Grace, Grace,” as we walk towards the maître d’.

I stop to beam up a smile at the very tall man standing at the podium. “Table for one, please.”

“You can’t afford to eat here, Grace. Charles, we’re eating with my parents, thanks.”

I whirl around and point my finger up at his face. “Who the hell—”

He clamps a hand over my mouth and then nods to poor Charles, who looks like he’s about to go into panic mode. “We’re eating with my parents, but if you’ll excuse me, I need to speak with Miss Kinsella for a moment.”

Charles clears his throat and waves Vaughn to a dark and empty dining room. I get a push to my back and start walking in that direction. When we’re far enough into the shadows that no one can see us, Vaughn removes his hand. “We need to discuss the rules again, girl. Because there is only one master in this relationship and that’s me. I give orders, you follow them, understand?”

“I’m not putting a vibrator up my vagina so you can have your fun humiliating me. And in front of your parents? What’s wrong with you?”

“It’s a game. They all know I play with my girls this way.”

I just stare up at his handsome face. “How? How is this the person you really are?”

“What person?” he asks, but it’s a flippant question and he’s looking around, like he’s anxious about people seeing us arguing.

“An ass**le. You’re an ass**le. God, I feel so stupid for having this major crush on you all these years. I’m so disappointed.”

He flashes me a glare and snarls, “You wouldn’t be disappointed if you’d just follow directions and trust me.”

“Well, excuse me for having an opinion about sticking a vibrator up my hole in a five-star restaurant in front of your f**king parents!”

He closes his eyes and massages his forehead, like I’m giving him a headache. “Do you want to have lunch with me or not, Grace?”

“I do,” I say softly.

‘Then you have to submit.” He’s still massaging, his eyes are still closed. If I don’t give in, he’s going to walk away. And even though he’s an ass**le and not anything like I expected, I really do want to have lunch with him.

“I will submit, but not in front of your parents. It’s too much.”

He removes his hand and opens his eyes with a sigh. “I’ll find a way.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“If you eat lunch with me, I’ll find a way. You’re mine, you agreed to be mine, and I want to f**k you. Here. In this restaurant. But I will do it when and where I want. And I will get you wet and ready in the manner that pleases me most.”

I turn away so I can hide my grin. Jesus, he’s intense. And he’s serious. He will find a way, I believe him. “So I have no say in how I’m pleasured?”

“No. We discussed this earlier. You trust me and I make you feel good.”

“And humiliate me at the same time.”

“Were you humiliated this morning? Did anyone see you?”

“They could’ve seen me. And then I would’ve been.”

“Grace,” he says, taking my face in his hands and then leaning down to kiss my lips softly. I melt. If my panties weren’t still in his pocket, they’d be wet from the gushing. “My attention was one hundred percent on who was on that path and where you were at all times. You’re mine, no one else is allowed to see you. I made sure of it, so even though there was the possibility of being humiliated, you were not. Your job was to walk back to your bungalow naked. My job was to make sure no one saw you in the process. And I did that. And if you trust me now, all my attention will be on you and while there is the possibility that you will be humiliated, you should know that I will make sure that does not happen.”

I gulp as I stare up at him. His mouth is still so close, his soft breath tickles my cheek.

“Understand?”

“OK,” I whisper back. “OK, I’ll trust you.”

His hand lifts up my skirt and his palm passes over my round bottom. “The curve of your ass is perfect, Grace. I love it.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“Fuck,” he sighs. “You challenge me, Grace. But knowing you’re mine, that is such a turn-on. And I can’t wait to spank you for all your challenging ways. I’ll have your whole body across my lap, your head resting on the floor, your ass in the air”—the vibrator turns on and he slips it under my skirt and drags it over my crease, making me moan—“and I’ll swat you hard enough to make you cry, Grace. I will. But I told you, if you’re a very good girl, and stay still, I will reward you like this.” And then his fingertip sweeps over my clit before flicking the vibrator back and forth. I moan again and then he pulls my hair until my throat is exposed. His whole palm presses against my sex, and I’m wet, but he makes sure I know I’m wet by inserting two fingers, and then he brings them up to my lips.