Page 193 of The Donovan Dynasty

“Sometimes I may instruct her to keep her eyes open, but to focus on an overhead beam.Maybe on that crystal.”

Until now, she hadn’t noticed it.The exquisite piece of glass was shaped like a teardrop, and it hung from an overhead beam, unmoving.

“Other times, I may request she keep her eyes closed.That can be a real challenge.A sudden sound, like a smack”—he clapped and she yelped—“might tempt her to disobey.”

Desperately she wanted to know what happened if the sub didn’t do as she was told.

As if he hadn’t just startled the hell out of her, he continued, “I can see whether or not she tests the bonds.Does she need to see if they’re tight?Is she hoping she can escape them?Or praying she can’t?”

Sofia’s wrists seemed to chafe.

“Or perhaps I have positioned her in a way that’s pleasing to me and I’ve instructed her not to move.Depending on the sub, that can be all the more challenging.”

She could imagine it.Vividly.The waiting.The anticipation.Wondering if he’d touch her, when he’d touch her, and would it be a caress, or something harsher?This, her reaction, couldn’t be happening to her.

“Alternatively, my sub can be draped over my knee while I please her.”He paused.“Maybe I’d tease her clit.Maybe I’d put a finger up her ass.”

Her mouth dried.She’d never been with a man who was this frank, and she’d never had a guy even suggest trying anal sex.And he spoke of it so casually.

“Depending on my mood, I might spank her.It could be a pleasure paddling, but perhaps it’s something more serious, a transgression that needs to be rectified.My imagination is my only limitation.”

His words seemed to swim in her mind.No matter what she did, she couldn’t banish the images that had formed.Instead, a wicked part of her yearned to be the nameless submissive, doing as he commanded.

“Would you like to have a closer look at the wall?”he asked.

“It makes me think of a medieval torture chamber.”Still, she was intrigued enough to walk toward it.She’d never stepped foot in an adult-themed store, but she’d looked at so many sites online that she could guess what the things were and how they were used.“It’s a little scary,” she admitted.

“It doesn’t have to be.Domination is more about control than anything else.Would you like me to show you?”

She told herself she wasn’t going to do this.She wasn’t.No way.

“Any Dom who’s worthy will insist you use a safe word, something that immediately stops play.”

“You have an interesting definition of the wordplay, Mr.Donovan.”

“Do I?It’s a lot of fun.”

“For whom?”

“Both parties,” he said.“Why else would a sub do it?”

“Because it pleased her Dom?”she asked, glancing over her shoulder.

“That’s a hell of an answer and not altogether incorrect.”His voice was hoarse in a way that made a thrill slip down her spine.“But I’d say a lot of subs wouldn’t do it more than once, let alone often, if they didn’t get something out of it.”

“I’ll be honest, I’m a bit skeptical.”Even though Lara had told her the same thing.

“I can’t blame you.”He took a few steps and stopped near her.“Communication is the key to success.Each person needs to have clear expectations.”

“It’s the same way in business.”

“It is.”

Even though he wasn’t uncomfortably close, her senses blazed.

“Before a scene, individuals talk about what works for them.The submissive will let the Dom know if she has hard limits—things she refuses to do.There can be soft limits, as well, things she likely doesn’t want to do but is open to talking about or considering, depending on the situation.She also lets him know if she has physical issues that prevent her from doing certain things.It’s the Dom’s responsibility to ensure she’s kept safe at all times.”

“It sounds very serious.”