“Do you like it rough, Grace?”

She shakes her head.

“No?”

She pulls her face from my c**k and the cool air rushes in to replace the heat. “No, Master,” she says in a demure voice I’ve never heard before.

She’s playing along. She’s f**king playing along and this excites me so much, I let out a long breath and grab her harder. She moans and then her fingers go between her legs and start rubbing her clit in small circles. It occurs to me then that we need a safe word. We don’t have one and she’s saying one thing and meaning another. This might get out of hand.

I’ll be careful. I’m not ready to spoil the mood we’ve got going with serious talk, so I ignore that flashing red light and force my c**k back into her mouth. She gags and then I yank on her hair, hard, and force her to stand.

“Miss Kinsella,” I say as I push her against the wall and thrust my knee between her legs to make her open up. “You will like it rough by the time I’m done with you, won’t you?” I pull her hair, forcing her chin up and her eyes on me again.

“Yes, Master,” she says.

I turn her around and push her face against the wall. “Listen, little blue bird, you’re mine now. I own you, baby. I will pay for you and you will accept my money without question from now on. Do you understand?” Her naked body stiffens as I press against her back. “Grace,” I growl into her ear. “Say yes or I’ll walk out and leave you breathless and wanting.”

She turns her head so she can get a glimpse of me. I’m pushing her limits. A few seconds ago this was a game and she was somewhat in control, but I’m well on my way to dominating her, and she knows it. She’s not sure it’s right to give in, but she wants to. I know she wants to.

“Yes,” she says, her ass pushing back against my cock.

“Tell me I can f**k you any way I want.”

“Fuck me, Asher. Fuck me any way you want.”

I don’t even bother correcting her use of my last name. In fact, it turns me on. I fist her hair again and pull, making her take a few steps towards the living room until we reach the couch. It faces the window, but it’s dividing up the room with the back facing the apartment entrance. I walk her forward until her thighs come in contact with the cream-colored fabric of the couch, and then I push down on her head until she bends over with a whimper.

I slap her ass so hard she jumps, but I place my hand on the small of her back to keep her in place.

“Do you like the slaps, Grace? Tell me truthfully. On the ass?”

“Yes,” she says as I slap her again.

“On the face?”

She says nothing to this so I lean down and kiss the small of her back. “It’s a heat-of-the-moment slap, Grace. Usually when my c**k is in your mouth. Do you like those?”

She shakes her head no and a shiver runs up her body. Like she’s frightened.

I stroke her softly. “OK, I won’t do it. But”—I pull her hair again so she has to look at me—“I like it. And just so you know, I’d never do it hard enough to mark your cheek or make you feel like it was violence. None of this is violence, do you understand that?”

I slip my hand over her round ass, stopping to probe her bud. I expect a squeal of protest, but only get a groan that makes me suck in a breath of air through my teeth. “I don’t want to hurt you, it should all feel good in the end. Unpleasant at times.” I kick her legs open. “Slightly demeaning.” I slap her pu**y from behind and make her jump. “But always, always”—I reach around and grab her nipple as I press my chest against her back—“erotic.” I twist it a little and she writhes underneath me, so I let go.

I know this is a lot for one night. It’s almost crossing a line. But unless she tells me to stop, I’m going to keep going.

“You’ve heard stories about me?” I ask her as I push her face into the couch. Her head turns to the side automatically so she can breathe and she nods. “I hate that you’re not using words, the words are half the turn-on for me. But I don’t want to scare you, so I’m going to let it go.”

“I’ve heard stories,” she says, fighting my control with a lift of her chin and giving me what I want at the same time. Grace might be a true submissive, but she will not submit easily because she hates that part of her.

That can be very fun for me. If she wants spankings and nipple clamps, I can certainly abide. “You like ass-play. You like spankings. You like restraints. You like toys.” I smile at that last part. “You know I like toys. Did you enjoy getting off in front of people at the restaurant?”

“No,” she says, surprising me. “I thought it was rude to do that in front of your parents. You were trying to humiliate me.”

“Yes, and?”

Her mouth drops open and she stares at me like I’m an ass**le. She tries to stand up, in fact, but my hand is still holding her down at the small of her back. I lean in and kiss her mouth. “I like that,” I whisper. “I like that and I’m not going to apologize for it. Because this is our relationship, Grace. Us. It has nothing to do with them. And if you really hate it, then I won’t do it again. But answer me honestly. Did it turn you on?”

She swallows hard and nods her head. “It did. It was exciting.”

Yes. I knew it. “OK then,” I say, continuing my soft whisper in her ear. “If it excites you, I should be allowed to do it.”