Page 21 of Beautiful Disaster

Mason holds his wineglass in two hands, watching me. His eyes soften. “Thank you for being honest and vulnerable, Jinx.”

“Can I ask you what you get out of it?”

“To feel in control. I was raised to obey everything. For years, I always felt out of control, like my life wasn’t my own. I’m also turned on by a relationship built on high trust. Giving someone, such as yourself, absolute protection and having you fully trust me is a massive turn-on. I enjoy…” Mason swirls around his wine again and takes another sip. “…being worshiped and needed.”

I guess that makes sense. “Will you tell me what started it all one day?”

“Of course.”

Mason stands, towering over me, and pinches my chin as he’d done earlier. “I will be controlling you often by your throat and jaw. Is this okay?”

“Yes.”

“You will be greatly rewarded for your good behavior. I’m sure you’ll be eager to please me. And after sex, if we have sex, I’ll worship you in return by using aftercare, one of my favorite parts.”

My dick likes the idea of being worshiped. “I like that.”

“Tell me, Jinx. Have you ever had someone just make love to you?”

I shake my head. I’ve made love to my girlfriends, but no one’s ever loved my body back.

“Would you like to do that before we get started?”

I think about it, staring into his eyes because he’s forcing me to. “I’d like it as a reward.”

A crooked smile forms on his face, and his eyes gleam with pleasure. “We can certainly do that.” He leans in, and when I think he’s about to kiss me, he whispers in my ear. “Clean the kitchen thoroughly, then meet me on the enclosed porch with a brandy for me.”

“Yessir,” I breathe, begging him to kiss me.

Instead, he pulls back and walks out of the kitchen.

As soon as he’s out of sight, I stand and completely strip out of my clothes. I may have to obey him, but he said nothing about staying dressed.

After I fold my clothes neatly and set them on the chair, I gather all the dishes and dump everything into the sink. While those soak, I put away the food, throw away the garbage, and clean the counters.

Scrubbing dishes is not my idea of fun. Not one bit. I help keep things clean back home because I owe Julien fucking everything. Hell, I owe him my life. But now, it will be about pleasure.

Once the dishwasher is loaded and running, I wash my hands and dig through his cocktail bar, pulling out a glass and filling it with the brandy sitting out in the open. I hope that’s the one he likes. Then I go in search of Mason, although I’m not sure where the enclosed porch is.

It takes me a minute to find him. He’s sitting in a cushioned chair next to a fire pit with a metal chimney going up through the roof. I open the glass door and step out onto the cold slate floor. It’s chillier than inside his house, and my naked skin breaks out in goosebumps.

When I hand him his glass, he sees my nakedness but doesn’t react. No punishment. No reward. No reaction at all.

Well, shit.

He finally looks up at me. “Why are you naked, Jinx? You can’t taunt me, tease me, push me to do something out of my control.”

I shrug. “I like being naked.” It’s not a lie. I’m often naked at home.

Mason nods and sips his drink. “Makes sense if you’re trying to reclaim your body.”

Huh. I haven’t thought about it like that.

He scans my body again and reaches for my stomach, touching me with delicate fingers. “How many stitches?” he asks.

I’m too exposed. Too vulnerable. Regret fills me that I chose to seduce him.

When I don’t answer, he looks up at me with demanding eyes.