Cowboy Casanova - Lorelei James [59]
“We haven’t talked about that.”
“You need to. Next time you’re together before the clothes fly off and the restraints come out.”
Ainsley rolled her eyes. “Gotcha.”
“I worry about you, knowing he’s in the area. You’re trying to prove you can handle the bank president’s job. You’re new in town and it’d be easy to spend all your free time with Bennett. I don’t want you to get too attached to him, because it won’t last.”
As much as Ainsley wanted to protest, she’d be wise to listen to Layla since she’d known Bennett for years. “All right.”
Relieved, Layla sagged against the loveseat. “Good.”
“Thanks for the advice. I never would’ve mustered the guts to do this if not for you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad we’ve reconnected, A.”
“Me too.” Ainsley stood. “Let’s eat. Then you can give me hints on how to keep my Dom on his toes while keeping my butt from getting paddled.”
“Don’t even pretend you don’t want that man spanking your ass at every opportunity.”
“I’m blindfolding you tonight.”
That was an abrupt subject change. “I guess that’s one way to start the weekend,” Ainsley said dryly. She’d weighed Layla’s advice and ignored it simply because she’d wanted to spend the whole weekend with him. In his house. In his bed. Under his control.
Bennett traced the line of her jaw and stared into her eyes. When he studied her so intently, as he touched her with such familiarity, she felt more naked than when she was actually naked. Stripping her defenses was more intimate than stripping her clothes.
“Will I need to bind your hands so you don’t tear the blindfold off?”
“Maybe.” Ainsley’s heart pounded. How could he make her so skittish with just words? “So you’re going to blindfold me, tie me up and then what?”
“Leave you in the barn while I come back inside and watch The Speed Channel.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“Isn’t that what you’re afraid of? I’ll take away your choices and leave you powerless and at my whim? Then I’ll somehow abuse you, or your trust, which will allow you to get upset and leave, which also lets you regain control?”
“Ben—”
“Bennett,” he corrected with an edge. “Answer the question.”
“I still don’t know…the truth is I’m confused.”
“I’ll un-confuse you. Because you’re not supposed to be thinking, are you?” His smile, usually so sexy and sure, took on a decidedly wolf-like gleam. “Get undressed and bend over the arm of the couch.”
Ainsley bit back her question. But the uneasiness wouldn’t go away. Just focus on each step. She removed every stitch of clothing. She stretched across the couch arm. She tried to concentrate on how the soft cushion molded against her hips and belly. How the fabric abraded her nipples.
Bennett crouched beside her. “Do you know the difference between discipline and punishment?”
Yes. But she had the urge to stall. “No.”
“Discipline is what a Dom uses to remind the sub who’s in charge. Punishment is to correct offensive sub behavior.” He plucked her bra from the floor and quickly bound her arms with it.
Neat trick. Okay, scary trick.
When he rolled up her blouse, she understood he intended to use her clothing to truss her up. That made this lesson more personal somehow. He covered her eyes and tied a knot at the base of her neck. Everything turned dark and her anxiety increased exponentially. Why was she naked, bent over, blindfolded and about to let this man do whatever he wanted to her?
Retreat! Retreat now. It’s not too late.
“Ignore that voice,” Bennett whispered in her ear. “The voice of doubt, the voice of reason that demands you assert yourself has no place here. The only voice you should be listening to is mine.”
The deep cadence held a compelling, but rough edge. But when she let go of her fear and trusted him, when she pleased him, those harsh tones mellowed into warmth. Ainsley tried to shut off everything but the reality of him: his voice, his touch, his scent, his presence.
“That’s it.” A single fingertip traversed her spine. “Don’t think. Feel. Anticipate.”
Sensual touches zigzagged from her shoulders to the top of her butt in a constant stream