Rush

at all.
     I gave you a very detailed outline of what our relationship will be to allay any fears
     or confusion. I merely wantyou to know precisely what our agreement will entail. But I never intended for you
     to be frightened or intimidated.”
    She stared back at him, determined to be confident and straightforward. “I trust you,
     Gabe. I always have. It’s the reason I’ve decided to accept your proposal.”
    Something primal entered his eyes. It made her feel extremely vulnerable, but the
     sensation was sinfully delicious, eliciting a shiver.
    “But I have a few conditions of my own,” she said cautiously.
    One eyebrow lifted and amusement twisted his lips. “Do you now?”
    If she wasn’t firm and didn’t stand her ground, she never stood a chance in this relationship.
     Regardless of whether she was turning over power to him, she wasn’t going to be some
     spineless twit who chose to cower rather than to speak her mind.
    “There was a clause that…bothered…me.”
    “And that was?”
    She tried to control her blush because even saying it aloud made her extremely self-conscious.
    “The one about birth control and condoms.”
    He frowned. “Are you unable to take birth control? It’s not a problem, Mia. I would
     never force you to take something you can’t for health reasons. While my preference
     isn’t to wear condoms, I would do so if it meant protecting you when other means aren’t
     available to us.”
    She shook her head. “Let me finish. There was a part that said condoms would only
     be used by…others. I don’t understand what that means. But if it means what I think
     it does, then I want to reserve the right to refuse. Being given to someone else on
     a whim freaks me out. It scares me,” she corrected.
    Gabe’s expression softened and he reached out to touch her face, sliding his hand
     down to her jaw. “Mia, listen to me. The contract is a little misleading in that it
     states I’m given all powerand complete and utter control over you. To a point that’s accurate. But I can assure
     you that I’m never going to do something that I feel you are absolutely uncomfortable
     with. My job is to be in tune with your wants, needs and desires. I’m not worth much
     as a man if I can’t do that for the woman in my care. The ultimate power rests with
     you. Because you control my actions. I want to please you. It’s very important to
     me that I please you. I want you to be satisfied. I want you to be so spoiled, pampered
     and cherished that you don’t want to be anywhere but with me all the time.”
    She swallowed, barely stifling the sigh of relief that threatened to burst free.
    “Were there other concerns?” he asked.
    She nodded.
    He let his hand fall from her face. “Let’s hear them.”
    “There’s not a safe word,” she blurted. “I know enough about these kinds of…relationships…to
     know that most people use a safe word. But there’s nothing about it in the contract.”
    “I wonder what you’re imagining I’ll do to you,” he murmured.
    “There were words like
bondage
and
pain
,” she pointed out. “It’s a reasonable fear.”
    “Yes, it is,” he conceded. “But there is no mention of a safe word because for me,
     it’s as simple as you saying
no
.”
    Her brow furrowed. “The contract was pretty clear that I don’t have that ability.
     That if I sign, I give up any right to tell you
no
.”
    He sighed. “I’m not some monster bent on abusing you, Mia. You’re right in that I
     don’t like the word
no
very much. But my hope is that you won’t be using it often. I’d rather reserve that
     word for rare occasions when you are truly frightened or uncomfortable. I don’t want
     it popping out of your mouth just because you’re uncertain and the idea strikes you
     wrong before you even give it a chance. But if you truly find yourself in a situation
     that you do not want to be in,
no
is sufficient for me to stop. I may not like it, but I won’t ignore that word. Ever.
     You have my word onthat. We’ll discuss what made you uncomfortable and we’ll either address it and soothe
     your fears, or we’ll move on and leave it behind.”
    “So just don’t cry wolf,” she said.
    “Exactly.”
    She was starting to lighten, some of the worry evaporating. There was a tinge of excitement
     that tugged at her as she contemplated being so close to something she’d desired ever
     since she’d been a teenager on the cusp of