Page 51 of Burn With Me

“Good girl.”

That smirk returned to his face. “Your safe word will be popsicle.”

“I need a safe word?”

“Yes.” He nodded once.

“And you want it to be popsicle?” I giggled. I didn’t know why I couldn’t just use the word stop or something else that made sense.

“Yes, popsicle and no topping from the bottom, Vi.”

I felt my forehead furrow. “No, what?”

“We’ll get there.”

“Okay, then yes to popsicle. Am I going to have to keep doing this?”

“Doing what?” His eyes focused on mine.

“Telling you ‘yes’ or ‘I understand?’ It seems redundant and feels like a mood killer.”

“Trust me.” He growled. “It’s not redundant. I will be in complete control of your body, and you need to understand what that means every step of the way, or I could hurt you.”

I swallowed hard and froze. What the hell did he want to do to me that was so dangerous? I’d had rough sex many times, and the guy never asked for my consent or warned me that he could hurt me.

“Last chance, Vi, or there’s the door.” His eyes flicked toward the front door. “Leave now, or I am going to fuck you like I just laid out.”

The only thing I could hear was our breathing. Asher’s stare was intense, his body rigid as he waited for me to respond. I glanced at the end of the hallway and thought about keeping things strictly professional.

He was bringing too much emotion to the surface, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for more, but the thought of leaving felt like a bucket of water was being poured on my head. He was giving me an out, but…

Did I want this?

Did I want him?

Did I want to take that next step into an unknown world?

I stared into his eyes, trying to convey my feelings, but it wasn’t enough. So I crashed my lips to his and kissed him hard. He opened up, and he kissed me back, surprising me.

Breaking the kiss, I said, “Yes, I’m certain.”

Slipping my hands under his shirt, I watched his eyes flutter as I slid my hands down his back and gave his deliciously firm ass a squeeze. He arched into the sensation, a small groan slipping loose, and my already white-hot need climbed to an insane level.

Pushing him with all my strength, he stumbled back. His eyes went wide as I leaped onto his body, the two of us colliding into the hallway wall. Locking my legs around his waist, I reveled in the way he gripped my ass, holding me in place.

“Oh fuck,” he groaned before he kissed me again.

He tasted so much better than any fantasy I could’ve conjured. He pulled me hard into his body, the roughness of his hands exciting me as they moved over my skin. I needed to be closer. Wiggling back and forth, I found it impossible not to feel his length poking me through his yielding swim trunks

“Do I need to strip you,” I panted out.

“Not a bad idea.” He smirked, and I instantly wanted to smack him.

Why the image was so strong, I couldn’t say, but my hand moved before I realized it. He easily stopped me before I could connect my palm with his face. Asher’s eyes flared with something I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but it made me squirm in his hold.

Ash turned so fast I was once more pressed with my back against the wall as he ground his body into mine. Even the small trickle of fear that came with the understanding that I was giving up all control, something I never did, made me groan. Weakly, I fought the sheer strength of his hands holding me while the idea of being trapped by this man tantalized and terrified me.

“You like it rough, do you? I can do primal.” His eyes darkened like a freaking mood ring as his jaw flexed along with the muscles under his shirt.