Rush

but she was perilously close to losing any semblance of
     pride when it came to him.
    He kissed her. But it was a punishing kiss, meant solely to remind her that she was
     nowhere near in charge. And still, it made her that much hungrier for him. Her need
     was all consuming. She was crazy with it.
    “You forget who calls the shots here, Mia darling,” he murmured as he grazed her jawline.
     “I own you. Which means it doesn’t matter what you want. Only what I want.”
    Her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed. “Oh bullshit, Gabe.”
    He withdrew slowly, dragging his cock through the swollen flesh of her pussy. “I have
     a contract that says I do,” he said silkily. He drove deep again, shocking her with
     the force and speed of his possession.
    “I could tear up that contract at any time,” she said crossly. Shewas tempted to do so now, just to piss him off as much as she was pissed off. But
     it wasn’t what she wanted, and they both knew it.
    He went still, his body tense over hers, his lips halting on its path down her neck
     where they’d eventually slide over her breasts. Her nipples hardened in anticipation
     and she arched upward in a silent plea. She wanted his mouth on her. She was so on
     the edge. So ready. And so very pissed off.
    “Yes, you could,” he said lazily. “Is that what you want, Mia? You want to tear up
     the contract and walk away right now? Or do you want me to fuck you?”
    Damn it but the man made her crazy. He knew damn well what she wanted, but he was
     going to make her say it. He was going to make her beg.
    His gaze grew more piercing. He thrust hard and held himself still within her. She
     pulsed and twitched around his cock, a silent plea for him to continue. But he remained
     still, waiting.
    “Say it, Mia.”
    She was near tears of frustration. She was so close. So on the edge. She couldn’t
     even remain still, so hyperaware was her body.
    “Thank you,” she muttered.
    “Thank you for what?” he prompted.
    “Thank you for spanking me!”
    He chuckled. “Now tell me what you want.”
    “I want you to fuck me, damn it!”
    “Say please,” he said, a smirk toying at his mouth.
    “Please, Gabe,” she said huskily, hating the desperation in her voice. “Please fuck
     me. End this please.”
    “Good things happen when you obey me. Remember that, Mia. Remember that the next time
     you think to take off without so much as a word to me.”
    He leaned over, threading his hands through her hair. He gripped her head, then let
     his hands slide down to her shoulders where he dragged her back to meet his forceful
     thrusts. Hepounded into her, setting a relentless pace that blinded her to everything else but
     him, his cock driving in and out of her.
    She had no idea what she cried out.
Stop. Don’t stop.
She was begging. Hoarsely pleading. Tears streamed down her face as she bowed her
     back completely off the bed.
    And then Gabe was there, surrounding her, his arms gathering her close. He murmured
     soft, soothing words to her. Stroked her hair as he pulsed wetly into her body.
    “Shhh, Mia darling. It’s okay. It’s okay now. I’ve got you. Let me take care of you.”
    She was utterly wasted and bewildered by what had just occurred. She wasn’t this person.
     She wasn’t into kink and spankings and forceful sex. She liked it slow and tender.
     Leisurely. Taking her time. Sex with Gabe was like an inferno. He was a force like
     she’d never encountered, and she knew she never would again.
    He was unpeeling her layer by layer, exposing a part of her she wasn’t familiar with.
     It made her feel vulnerable and uncertain. What was she supposed to do with this new
     Mia?
    He lay atop her, kissing her temple as he stroked through her hair with soothing motions.
     She cuddled into him, seeking his warmth and his strength. He was a safe haven when
     so much was in turmoil. Her mind, her body, her very heart.
    When he found her lips, this time he was exquisitely tender where before he’d been
     possessive and demanding. Sweet, so very sweet. Like they were lovers, reconnecting
     after an emotional round of lovemaking. Only she could hardly count having her ass
     spanked and then fucked long and hard as lovemaking.
    Sex. It was only sex. Hot, mind-blowing, toe-curling, emotionless sex. But sex all
     the same. And it was a dangerous mistake to ever consider it anything else.

chapter seventeen
    Gabe lay in the darkness, his gaze fixed sightlessly on the ceiling