She moved her mouth on his and glided her tongue along the seam of his mouth, longing to be closer. He opened and she slipped inside. His mouth was warm, and tasted of wine. The heat rushing through her was intoxicating. She deepened the kiss and his arms slid around her, pulling her tight to his body. Her heart thundered against his warm, hard chest. Her nipples tingled, jutting forward. Pressing into him.

She wanted him. If he told her to strip down right now so he could take her—thrust into her right here on the floor—she would. She wanted him to.

But his lips drew away. She found herself gazing into his midnight eyes, a gleam of amusement clear in those depths. Which acted like cold water splashing over her. Bringing her to her senses.

Suddenly, she felt very conscious of her position—shamelessly draped against him—and what she’d been doing. What she’d been wanting.

And with the evidence of her hard nipples thrusting into his chest, he knew how much she wanted him.

Oh, God, I can’t believe I practically threw myself at him. But then, he’d ordered her to kiss him.

She eased back. Feeling extremely self-conscious, she retreated to the couch, needing distance between them. She sat with her ankles pressed tightly together and rested her hands on her knees.

“I thought…” Her words came out hoarse, so she cleared her throat. “I thought this wasn’t going to be sexual. Isn’t kissing crossing a line?”

“There are no lines, Ashley. I can order you to do anything.”

A shiver raced through her. “But what if I don’t want to do what you order?”

“Then you won’t.” He smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. “That’s the key. You have total power over your actions. When I order you to do something, you decide whether to do it.”

And she had decided to kiss him.

“Of course, if you decide not to follow a command, there will be consequences.”

Her mouth went dry. “Like what?”

“I might lean you over and spank you. If you wore a dress with a thong underneath,” his gaze locked on hers, “which I would like you to do from now on, I would lift up your skirt and spank your bare ass.”

Her breath caught and she almost wished she’d worn a skirt today.

Shock vaulted through her at the realization she wanted him to punish her. She wanted to feel his firm hand stroke her behind, then smack it sharply.

Her head was swirling with contradictions.

If he punished her for refusing to perform a command, then she didn’t really have a choice to refuse. Unless she refused to willingly accept the consequences. But what if she didn’t want to be punished? Then she had no choice but to obey.

She gazed at him, confusion swirling through her. She needed time to think about all this.

“We’re done for now.” Dare stood up.

She rose to her feet, too. “Okay, thank you.”

She turned and headed down the hallway to the front door, then pulled on her shoes. She stood up and turned to the door. Her body tingled from his presence behind her.

“Come back tomorrow night at eight.”

She stopped herself from uttering, “Yes, Master,” and just nodded as she pulled open the door.

“And Ashley.”

She turned to look at him again. A shiver quivered through her at the warmth in those midnight eyes.

“Wear something sexy.”

*   *   *

Ashley stared at the scrappy bit of nothing in lace that Jessica held in front of her.

“Are you kidding? I’m not going to wear that,” Ashley protested.

Jessica quirked her head. “Why not?”

Ashley grabbed the tag hanging from it. Close to two hundred dollars for a tiny bodysuit composed of barely a few square inches of satin and lace.

“Because I’m not a slut.”

Jessica laughed. “It’s not slutty. It’s sexy. And you’d look breathtaking in it.” She grinned. “I mean to a man.”

“To a man I’d look breathtaking”—Ashley said the last word with air quotes—“naked and that would be a lot cheaper.”

Jessica laughed. “Well, if you’re bold enough to strip down naked for him, good for you.”

“Jess, stop teasing me.”

“Okay, okay.” Jess admired the crimson lace. “But say what you will, I think it’s worth it.”

“Then you should get it,” Ashley said with sincerity. She knew Jessica loved this kind of thing and she felt a little bad calling it slutty when she was just reacting to her own insecurities about the situation with Dare.

Jessica grinned. “But I’m not going out with Mr. Gallagher-the-sexiest-man-alive.”

Ashley frowned. “I’m not either.”

“But you are seeing him. And you asked me to help you buy sexy clothes to wear for him.”

“I told you. It’s not like that. And I thought you were going to stop teasing me.”

“Yes, you told me and, honey … it is like that. All kidding aside, from what you told me about last night you are headed straight for an illicit, sexual affair with the man.” Jessica squeezed her arm. “And I am so jealous.”

Ashley’s chest tightened. Leave it to Jess to give it to her straight.

“Oh, God, Jess.” Ashley grabbed the hanger from Jessica and hung the garment back on the rack, her cheeks heating. Because as much as she tried to deny it … damn it, Jess was right.

“Come on, let’s get a coffee.” Jessica tugged her arm, leading her from the store.

They went to the food court, then settled at a table with their coffees.

“What am I doing, Jess?” Ashley lamented over her steaming drink. “I mean, you’re right. If I’m not careful, that’s where this will lead.”

Jess shrugged and sipped her coffee. “So why be careful? Why not seize the moment? He’s handsome, worldly, and soooo sexy. And you’re in this ideal situation where he’ll take total control. That is so hot. You can’t tell me that doesn’t turn you on.”

Ashley compressed her lips. “It does.” She gazed straight at her friend. “Oh, God, does it ever. But how can I do that?”

“You just let him take the lead. It certainly sounds like the attraction is mutual.”

“But I mean … he’s our best friend’s stepfather. And you remember how devastated Helen was when he split with her mother.”

Helen had adored Dare. She’d loved that all the girls at school practically swooned over him, but more, she loved the stability he brought to her family. She had been without a father for a long time and when he came into the picture, she’d confessed to Ashley that she felt more secure. Ashley didn’t know what the problem was—probably financial issues—because Helen always had to go home right after school to do chores. Ashley assumed it was because her mother worked late to make extra money.

“Yeah, sure, but that was years ago,” Jessica said, “and, to be frank, it’s not like Helen has kept up her friendship with us. We haven’t heard from her in years.”

When Helen’s mom and Dare had divorced—the summer after graduation—Helen had dropped out of sight. She’d simply disappeared. At first, Ashley and Jessica thought she’d gone on a trip to Europe, but she’d never sent a single postcard. Then they’d heard she hadn’t gone to college that fall. It was strange, since Helen had been a straight A student, and loved school.

There were all kinds of crazy rumors. Even that she’d gotten pregnant and gone away while she had the baby, then put it up for adoption. But that didn’t explain why she wouldn’t tell Ashley and Jessica about it. They’d been so close.

Ashley had always worried about her friend, but after the divorce, Helen’s mother had moved to Cambria, a small town about a hundred miles south of Autumn’s Ridge, and Dare had moved to New York, so she’d had no way to contact any of them.

“That doesn’t mean we’re not friends anymore,” Ashley said.

Jessica raised an eyebrow. “Doesn’t it?” She leaned forward. “Look, Ashley, I’m all for being loyal to a friend, but Helen walked away from us, not the other way around. As much as I loved her, we both have to face the fact that she’s not our friend anymore.” She squeezed Ashley’s hand. “So don’t you dare give up an opportunity of a lifetime for someone who can’t even be bothered to keep in touch.”