“You think I’m submissive? Maybe I’d be the Domme?” Yeah, right.
He just gave her a look. “Baby, you are definitely submissive.”
She cleared her throat. “Umm, no. I mean, maybe I’ve thought about it but it’s not something I’m going to do. Well, perhaps in the future, but I’m not looking for a relationship. I just got my freedom. I want to be alone for a while.”
“That’s an interesting statement. Your freedom? That implies you were a prisoner, who was holding you captive?” There was a dark note to his voice and she swallowed, feeling a little nervous around him.
“What? No one. Sorry, I was being overly dramatic, I guess. Don’t listen to me.”
“Lying isn’t allowed, you know.”
“W-what?”
“Dishonesty isn’t good in any relationship, but between a Dom and his submissive, communication is key. No lying.”
“Oh, right, but I just told you…”
“I know what you told me,” he said calmly. “I also know you’re a submissive. One who makes bad decisions and puts herself at risk.”
Okay, she wanted to argue that. Except a bad decision was how she’d ended up lying in this bed.
“I’ve never thought of myself as a submissive.” Except hadn’t she done what her parents had told her to for years, hadn’t she? “I don’t want to end up in a relationship with someone who’s going to use me. Who will walk all over me.”
His gaze narrowed. “A good Dominant would never use you. He’d put you first.”
“Yeah? I haven’t experienced that much. How would I know a good Dom from a bad one who would just take advantage of me?”
He watched her thoughtfully. Why the hell was she having this conversation with a man she’d just met? But she was curious about this stuff. And it wasn’t like she had anyone to ask.
“See, this is why it’s best that I be my own,” she told him, managing a small smile.
“I don’t know about that. You clearly need a keeper.”
“I do not!” She glared at him.
Strangely, he just smiled at her. “You’re cute when you’re mad.”
“That’s pretty condescending. I’m not cute.”
He leaned forward and tapped her nose. “Definitely cute. You know, we’re stuck here for a few days. I will be taking care of you. Would you like me to show you what having a Daddy Dom would be like while we’re here?”
Okay, she’d just fallen down the rabbit hole.
“Ellie, you can totally say no. In fact, maybe it would be a good thing to say no. This will probably be a disaster. Can’t quite believe I offered…” he trailed off with a frown. “But I want you to know what to look for in a Dom, I don’t want you getting taken advantage of.”
“I can take care of myself, you know.” Maybe. She wasn’t really sure.
He gave her a skeptical look and she caved. “All right, maybe I can’t. I live in this world in my head where I’m a kickass bitch, instead I’m a mousy little coward who lets people take advantage of her.”
“I don’t want to hear you talking about yourself like that. You are not mousy or a coward.” His voice had grown low. Stern. “That’s rule three.”
Her nipples hardened. Why did that tone of voice turn her on? “Rule three?”
“Rule one is no getting up without my help. Rule two is no lying. Rule three is no talking down about yourself.”
She licked her lips. “Considering I haven’t agreed to anything; I don’t think I should have rules.”
He grinned. “But you so clearly need them.”