“Any man would be lucky to have me,” I murmur.

His hand strokes my hair. “We’re going to work on getting you to actually believe that, but good, for now.” Offering me his hand, he helps me rise to my feet. His mood seems to have softened, and I’m still trying to catch up. Treating me to a warm and unexpected kiss on the mouth, Hale leans in to whisper near my ear. “Go into your bedroom. Undress and wait for me on the bed. I want to see what kind of sexy panties you’ve chosen for me tonight.”

I walk to my darkened bedroom and undress, only remembering my plain white briefs when I remove my jeans. I remove everything but the panties and lie back on the bed.

Soon, Hale is back, carrying his black bag.

The nerves in my belly do a little dance in anticipation of what he has inside that mysterious bag of his.

Setting the bag down, he removes his candle and lights it, placing it on my dresser.

Familiar notes of sandalwood and black currant warm the room, and my nerves dissipate slightly. I have a feeling that I’ll forever associate this scent with him, and I don’t quite know how I feel about that.

I’m not sure if I’m allowed to ask him questions at this juncture, but my curiosity gets the best of me. “What’s with the candle, anyway? Not that I don’t love the scent, I’m just curious.”

“It’s another way for me to set the scene. A Dominant needs to be in control at all times, in all things. It’s a scent I had custom made for me. It provides another way for me to ensure the submissive I’m training is using all five senses in a way she hasn’t before during lovemaking.”

“I see.”

I wait to see what accoutrement or device he’ll withdraw from the bag next, but he turns to face me, letting his eyes wander the length of me.

“Sorry, they’re not sexy,” I apologize, looking down at my choice in underwear.

His smirk tells me he’s about to prove me wrong. “Are you sure about that, peach?” Sitting down beside me, he runs his thumb along the seam of the panties, tracing where the hem meets my inner thigh.

I’m eager to feel his touch between my thighs, though I’m quite enjoying the reverent look in his eyes as he studies me. My gaze follows his path as his thumb moves to the front of my panties where my plump outer lips feel sensitive and swollen. He rubs up and down, making my clit tingle with each swipe of his finger.

I can feel myself getting wet, and I know he must feel the way the damp fabric clings to me.

“I want to fuck you with these on,” he growls, proving every notion I’ve had about myself to be wrong. He finds me desirable, even in my most modest state, and the thought thrills me.

“Anything you want.”

He raises one eyebrow. “Are you sure about that?”

The memory of him telling me he wanted to take me, well, there, is still fresh in my mind. “I’m sure,” I say, mustering my courage. Be brave. This is my time for adventure, to explore.

Leaning down to kiss me once more, he tastes of mint and something distinctly Hale. His tongue sweeps past my parted lips and I open for him, my own tongue desperate to lick against his. My hips push closer toward his hand where he’s still treating me to light caresses over my panties.

I reach for him, gripping the hard ridge in his pants, and he releases a strangled grunt.

“Not yet.” Lifting my hand away from his happy place, he places it on the bed beside me and intertwines our fingers, holding me there while his other hand continues its magic against me.

The knowledge that he’s hard and wants me as badly as I want him is a powerful thing. He’s so much bigger than any man I’ve seen before, and I can’t wait to feel him inside me. My body aches for it. Yet, he’s so in control of everything—of my pleasure and of his own restraint. I want him naked and on top of me, but it seems for now, he wants to torture me.

“I need you to understand something. A basic concept.” With a single kiss placed just below my ear, he pulls back, looking down at where his fingers are still rubbing against me. “Men are visual creatures. And even though you think these plain white panties aren’t sexy…there’s a tiny damp spot I can see right here.”

He rubs his thumb over my clit again, and I release a shuddering breath.

“That is sexy as fuck.” His voice is rough, aroused.

“Hale…” I groan, becoming increasingly frustrated with his fingers teasing between my thighs.

His pupils dilate when I moan his name, and just when I think I can’t take any more of his slow torture, he moves my panties to the side. Sliding his fingers along the seam of my sex, he parts me and sinks two fingers deep inside.

My hips lift off the bed and a groan of satisfaction falls from my mouth. “Yes, please,” I beg.

“Even when you don’t think you’re sexy, move with confidence. When you own it, when you work with what you’ve got, it will always be a turn-on.”

Understanding that this is part of his lesson, my sluggish brain eventually catches on to what he’s saying.

“So, you mean I could do this…” I move my hand between my legs and my index finger begins slowly circling my clit while his fingers slide in and out of me. “…and it would be sexy.”

He makes a hungry noise in his throat and my pulse riots. “Fuck yeah, it is. Move with confidence. Remember that.”

I close my eyes and let my head fell back onto the pillow as I get lost in the sensations. He thrusts his fingers upward, stroking my G-spot, and I begin climbing toward orgasm almost immediately. A few more strokes and I’m clenching down on his fingers, an intense orgasm ripping through me. Blinding white light crashes over me as his fingers slowly withdraw.