“Why wait for him to ask you? If you want to be with him, why don’t you take the lead?”

She bit her lip. “I’m not good at that sort of thing.”

He smiled. “That could change. As you learn more about Domination, you might like to try taking charge. Maybe you should take this opportunity to learn to be more assertive. And once you’re comfortable with being in the lead, you can take control of any situation you want. At work, at home. In the bedroom.”

She shivered at his words, and the intensity of his midnight eyes.

In the bedroom was where she wanted to be with him right now. With him in control.

“So we’ll watch a movie,” he said.

Disappointment washed through her. How much would she learn while sitting watching a movie for two hours? On the other hand, she would be spending time with a sexy billionaire drinking expensive wine.

But she didn’t really believe that Mr. Gallagher … Dare … would waste time. He was the type of man who was focused on his goals.

“Get the fourth movie on the top shelf beside the entertainment center and put it in the Blu-ray player.”

She walked to the shelf and retrieved the movie then inserted it in the device. The case was all black and she didn’t recognize the name on the disc label, so she had no idea what the movie was about. She sat down beside him again as the movie started.

“I want you to sit on the floor beside me.”

She put down her wineglass and stood up.

“Actually, I want you to kneel, so take off your shoes.”

She sat again and crossed her legs, then unfastened the strap of her high heels. Her skirt hiked up a little and his gaze lingered on her legs.

She placed her shoes to the side then knelt on the floor.

“Right here between my feet,” he said, moving his legs apart.

She moved in front of him then settled between his calves. He rested his hand on her shoulder as he watched the movie start up on the screen. At the warmth of his fingers cupping her shoulder, she felt a humming deep inside her. She barely saw what was happening on the screen as she found herself leaning against his knee.

He stroked her hair, his fingertips parting the strands gently as they moved. She felt like a cherished pet. She wanted to rest her head on his knee and just enjoy his attention.

Then the sound of muffled moans drew her focus to the TV.

A naked woman with a gag in her mouth was tied to a pole while a bare-chested man flicked a flogger across her back. The soft sounds she made turned to sharper cries as the man struck harder, leaving red marks on her skin.

Ashley’s jaw dropped as she watched. The man pulled the gag from the woman’s mouth and asked her what she wanted. She begged for him to touch her … to fuck her.

The man dropped his pants and held his fully erect cock in his hand, then walked toward her. Another naked man appeared and untied her, then he pushed on her back until she was bent forward. The first man pushed his cock into her mouth. The other man stepped behind her and thrust deep into her, to her moan.

Ashley turned her head away. She didn’t want to watch this, especially with Dare sitting right here. Embarrassment burned through her.

“Don’t you like the movie?” he asked.

“Not really.”

“Call me Mr. Gallagher tonight.”

Oh, God. Her embarrassment burned hotter, as if she were a teenager who’d been caught watching porn.

“Ashley, turn your head and watch the movie.”

She heard the woman’s moans increasing and she wanted to watch … to see the two men driving their cocks into her … then she wanted Mr. Gallagher to do the same thing to her.

But she couldn’t look. Because then she’d have trouble holding back.

“No, Mr. Gallagher.”

He arched an eyebrow. “You’re refusing?”

She just nodded.

His expression turned stern. “I told you to watch.”

She sucked in a breath, reconsidering her position, but then she shook her head.

He grasped her shoulders and stood up, pulling her to her feet with him.

“I told you there would be consequences if you disobeyed me.” He marched her behind the couch then pressed on her back until she was leaning forward, just like the woman on the screen. Ashley grabbed the back of the couch to keep her balance, then …

She felt cold air on her ass as he flipped her skirt up out of the way. Facing this way, the screen was in front of her so she saw the three people on the screen, the woman with a cock in her mouth and another driving into her from behind.

Then she felt the sting of Mr. Gallagher’s hand slapping her ass. It was … invigorating. He slapped again and she felt her flesh heat. His fingers glided over her behind … soothing … then his hand lifted and connected with her ass again. This time, she whimpered as he stroked her, the pain mixed with pleasure from his touch.

She found herself staring at the TV, watching the woman pull the big cock from her mouth, her hand tightly around the base, and moan as the man behind thrust into her. The woman’s eyes closed and she moaned her release.

Ashley’s insides tensed and she longed for the same release.

“What do you want right now, Ashley?” Mr. Gallagher asked.

“I want you to…” But she bit back the rest of the sentence. She couldn’t tell him she wanted him to drive into her just like the man on the screen was doing.

“Tell me,” he demanded sharply.

“I want you to … touch me.”

His hand slapped across her naked ass again. She started and turned to stare over her shoulder with wide eyes.

“That’s not what you were going to say.” Then his fingers stroked between her thighs and over the crotch of her panties.

Oh, God, she was soaking wet and he had to feel it. He could tell she was turned on.

“But I’ll let it go this time.”

He smacked her again. Then he stroked her molten folds through the silk of her panties again.

She couldn’t stop her reflex to push against his hand.

His touch slid away and she felt her skirt drop back into place. Disappointment washed through her.

“Stand up.”

She stood and turned to face him.

“You can refuse me. It’s clear we both enjoy the consequences.” His steely eyes bored into her. “But if you want this training to continue, never lie to me. Understand?”

“Yes, Mr. Gallagher,” she whispered.

“That’s enough for tonight. Come back in one week. In the meantime, I want you to practice what you’ve learned so far, but I want you to take the lead and practice being dominant. Invite your friend to help you.”

“I don’t think he’d want to—”

“He’s your friend. He’ll want to.”

*   *   *

All Dare could think of was the feel of Ashley’s soft round ass in his hand, her skin heated from his spanking. He shouldn’t have stroked between her legs. The feel of her wetness nearly drove him over the edge. He’d wanted nothing more than to sink his hard, throbbing erection into her sweet, melting heat.

But he’d held back.

The sight of her desire-filled eyes had almost been his undoing, though. She clearly loved him touching her and she would have begged him to fuck her if he’d pushed it.

And maybe he should have. But it just felt wrong. Not because he was older, or because she was friends with his ex-stepdaughter. Ash was an adult now—his cock twitched as he thought about her shapely body—but she had come to him for guidance, not for a sexual tryst.

She was new to this. Vulnerable to her own newly discovered desires. And as much as he’d like to fulfill those desires, he didn’t want to take advantage of her.

So he’d sent her on her way. Even suggested she practice with this man she was interested in. If he reciprocated Ashley’s feelings … feelings she was too shy to express … then Dare had done them both a favor, because Ash cared for this man and wanted more from their relationship, so surely when pushed into this situation, the man would be able to sense Ash’s need.