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“Understood,” he acknowledged “We’ll discuss everything as we go”

His presence filled the room

Hope moved past him to lock the door Uncertain of what to do next, she allowed her shoulders to collapse against the wall as he turned to face her

More than ten feet separated theoose bumps danced across her skin as if he’d touched her

“Take off your blazer, Hope” His words were soft,

She nodded

“I like the sound of your voice I like to hear the catches, the breathlessness, the roughness, your hesitation, your fear”

Riveted, she looked at him

“When I give you an order, I want to hear you say, Yes, Rafe Or even better if you say, Yes, Sir”

Calling him by the honorific would make this moment even more real She pondered his request while he waited Finally, softly, she said, “Yes, Rafe”

“That sounded sweeter than I could have iined”

The tiny taste of his approval made her yearn for more

“You’reme very, very happy”

She pushed away froed out of her jacket

“Hang it up”

She was beginning the slide toward submission He’d made simple, ordinary requests, and she’d obeyed

“I didn’t hear an answer,” he pro purr

“Yes, Rafe,” she whispered desperately “Anything you say” He’d demanded she talk to him Her verbal acquiescence was part of the spell, a web that wrapped its inescapable silken strands around her She hung the jacket on a nearby coatrack, then faced him, unsure

He studied her, as ifevery detail

A little unnerved, she covered her bare arms with her hands

“Don’t hide I alant to see you The parts you love, the parts you don’t I want your vulnerabilities as well as your strengths All of you”

“You’re asking a lot”

He was crossing an invisible line, one she’d drawn years ago to keep people— too close With a feords, he’d stated his intention of deerous

“I haven’t even begun” His words were a pro “Drop your arms”