Chapter 40

His brows shot up. He looked affronted, then considering. Finally, concern settled into the sharp angles of his face. “Honey, you’re still not getting it. I’m not doing this to you. I’m doing it for us. We can’t really be together until you’re honest with me and with yourself. Your body craves domination, takes to it like surrender is the most natural thing in the world. It’s your head getting in the way. God knows, I’ve made myself clear enough that I want to be the man who grants all your fantasies for the rest of your life. But you persist in thinking that I’m trying to belittle you and break you down, rather than build us up. You couldn’t be more wrong. Explain.”

He punctuated his demand by nuzzling his lips across her low belly, then followed with another nip of teeth . . . at the same moment he brushed his fingertips across her clit. The combination of pleasure and pain was nothing short of hypnotic, cajoling.

Panic, anger, and fear collided, compounded by this dangerous