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  Sabrina nearly choked. Oh, yeah. She’d gone too far. Shit.

  “Words, Sabrina.”

  “Yes, Sir,” she muttered, suddenly far more humble than she would like. She didn’t know Conner well enough to presume what his idea of punishment might entail.

  Just as suddenly, he picked up his fork. “Finish your lunch, baby. I have a class this afternoon.”

  She nodded, unsure if she could swallow the rest. Luckily, she was still hungry, and she didn’t think it would be prudent to defy him again right then. Perhaps if she toned down the sass a bit, he might go easy on her later.

  That was what she wanted, right?

  She managed to eat the rest of the meal without giving the professor any reason to reprimand her further. As she set her fork down, she lifted her gaze to find him leaning back, his gaze on her.

  He was smiling. “What do you do, Sabrina?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “For work.”

  “Oh.” She relaxed. “I’m an editor.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “For the paper?”

  “No, books.”

  “Proofreading?” He said that one word with a bit of disdain.

  “No. Content edits. I’m a freelance editor.”

  “Really? Huh.” He seemed surprised.

  “What’s so strange about that?”

  He shrugged. “Nothing. I guess that explains your excellent writing and grammar.”

  Now she was shocked. “You think my writing is good?” He had given no indication of that the entire semester.

  “Of course. Some of the best I’ve ever seen.”

  Then why did you ride my ass for four months?

  He chuckled. “You didn’t think I cared much for you, did you?”

  “I thought I was the scum beneath your shoes you couldn’t manage to avoid stepping in.” She gave him a fake smile, keeping her voice level as though she’d announced it would be a sunny day.

  Now he laughed. “Good.”

  She flinched.

  He leaned closer, setting his elbows on the table again. “Didn’t want anyone in the classroom to realize how fucking hard I was for you.”

  Sabrina stopped breathing. She grabbed the edge of the table.

  He grinned. “Including you.”

  “Why?” She swallowed. “I mean why the charade? You could have just talked to me.”

  “Really? And said what?” He altered his voice to make a fake speech. “Hey, Ms. Duluth, may I speak to you a moment after class? Yeah, I just wanted you to know that I totally want to dominate you. How about when you’re done with school, you get down on your knees and suck my cock like a good girl?”

  Her shock gradually slid away until she giggled. “I see what you mean.”

  He lowered his voice. “You aren’t a student anymore.”

  “Nope.”

  “Still not sure what to do with you. You’re so young.” He held up a hand before she could contest this repeated territory. “I get it. And I’ll agree you do seem more mature than your twenty-six years. That helps. And you have experience as a submissive. That also helps. Although I do wonder who the hell trained you, seeing as your mouth runs you in a ditch most times you open it.”

  She smiled smugly. “Only with you. No one else ever complained.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “If you agree to be mine, Sabrina, you’ll have some relearning to do. If you think you can run roughshod over me like you may have gotten away with in the past, you’re mistaken.” He didn’t give her a chance to respond before he continued. “And put your arms at your sides, baby. Don’t cross them like that. You aren’t to close yourself off from me.”

  Sabrina sucked in a sharp breath and dropped her arms to her thighs.

  “The plain T-shirt and jeans are a hoot by the way. I’m sure you thought hard about what to wear that would be the least attractive. You missed the mark, however. The white tee is snug enough for me to enjoy your chest and the lace of your bra. I can even see your nipples puckering under the material.” His gaze lowered to her breasts. “And those jeans are fucking tight and sexy as hell.” He smirked.

  “How would you know?”

  “I watched you all the way from your car to this booth, baby.”

  She jerked her eyes wide. “You were already here?”

  “Yep.”

  “You hid and watched me?”

  “Yep.” He continued as if that revelation weren’t the least bit odd. “In the future, unless I give you permission, no jeans or pants when you’re with me. Understood?”

  Her mouth fell open. Was he serious?

  “I like to know your pussy is open to me. I don’t like to struggle to get to the prize. I almost came in my pants the last time I attempted to get to your cunt in this restaurant.”

  Sabrina bit her lip. So many emotions slammed into her at once. He was so cocky and dominant. He was also right. She’d never subbed for anyone remotely like him before. No man had ever spoken to her like that. And she’d never heard someone use the word cunt. Shock was too mild a word for how she felt.

  “I know you’re overwhelmed. That’s to be understood.” He slid from the booth and stood, leaning over until his lips were right next to her ear. “Think about it, Sabrina. Has your pussy ever been this wet? Have you ever needed to come so badly with any other Dom?” He didn’t wait for her to respond. And she couldn’t have with his lips driving a shiver down her neck. He slid a folded piece of paper into her hand and pressed it against her palm. “This is my number. Text me your address. I’ll be there tomorrow night at seven. That gives you a full day to think about submitting to me.”

  What? So, if I text him, that’s my consent. And If I don’t… Who was she kidding?

  He stood. “I’ll pay the bill on my way out. Leave whenever you’re ready.” With that, he turned and walked to the front.

  Sabrina sat frozen while he handed a credit card to the waitress and took care of lunch. She continued to watch as he turned toward the front door without glancing back.

  As he reached to open the glass door, it swung in and a cute girl Sabrina remembered from her class last semester stepped inside. Angela or something…

  Sabrina watched as the girl ran a hand through her long, thick black hair and flipped it behind her. She smiled too broadly and batted her eyes. She spoke to Conner as though they were long lost friends. She was flirting. It made Sabrina cringe.

  What the hell? Are you jealous?

  The girl was maybe nineteen at the most. If Conner thought Sabrina was young, he would think that co-ed was a baby. But Lord was she ever gorgeous. She had the entire package—hair to die for, fantastic bronzed skin, boobs any model would be happy to show off, a narrow waist, and an ass most men turned around to watch go by.

  The girl tipped her head back and laughed hard at something Conner said. Conner’s expression from the side was one of shock. He stepped back a pace.

  Good.

  Sabrina needed to kick the ugly green monster out the door. The man had fucked her in the restroom of this very restaurant. So take that, Ms. Cleavage.

  Finally Conner left, nodding at the girl as he went.

  Sabrina stared long and hard at the entrance before she finally shook herself out of her stupor. “Fuck,” she muttered, a new shiver racing down her spine at the expletive he hated. His ass was fine. He was the entire package.

  Before she knew it, the girl from class walked right toward Sabrina’s table. When she reached Sabrina, she paused. If Sabrina wasn’t mistaken, she would swear the girl narrowed her gaze in disgust before she pasted on a sickly sweet smile. “Hey. Sofie, right? Weren’t you in my lit class last semester?”

  “Sabrina. Yes.”

  “Right. Sabrina.” She looked like she was going to say something else, but then decided not to. “Well, gotta run. Have a nice lunch.” She bounced away, heading deeper into the restaurant. Weird.

  •●•

  Angelica couldn’t believe it.

/>   Interesting day. She saw Sabrina’s car in the parking lot as she pulled in. Perfect opportunity to get some retaliation and wipe some of that glass-half-full expression off the bitch’s face.

  Running into Professor Bascott was even better. Finding out he’d undoubtedly been dining with that bitch from class again was epic.

  Feeling lighter than she had in days, she headed straight for the restroom and locked the door—the very same bathroom she knew good and well Dr. Bascott had fucked that skinny bitch in over the summer.

  What the hell did he see in her? She was mousy and annoying. Who liked a know-it-all? Sabrina sat at the front of the class all semester with her hand raised and a ready answer to just about anything.

  Hell, Dr. Bascott never gave that bitch the time of day all semester. In fact, he seemed downright annoyed by her most days.

  Nope. She was certain the man didn’t like a know-it-all. Then why the hell was he dallying with the flat-chested waif now?

  Angelica used the facilities and washed her hands. As she reached for a paper towel, she stared at herself in the mirror. She was having a great hair day. She lowered her gaze and plumped up her ample chest. Yep, her cleavage was smokin’ today also.

  She hadn’t made great strides with Dr. Bascott on Monday, but after working on her paper this coming weekend, she intended to show up during his office hours again. He was bound to notice her sooner or later.

  In the meantime, she had more important things to deal with. Namely, her plans for Saturday night. Leo… She’d met him at a club a few weeks ago and things had really been heating up between them. He was sexy as hell and totally into her. She intended to make a move on him this weekend and put that damn professor out of her mind.

  Chapter Six

  The following day was long for Conner. No day had ever been that long. He had confidence Sabrina would come through for him. But waiting to see her again was a challenge. He’d left the restaurant so hard, he thought his dick would explode out of his pants.

  The woman was hell on wheels, and he loved it. He was so going to enjoy bringing her to her knees and training her to do his bidding the way he liked.

  And the mouth on her. Oh Lord. For as much as he hated hearing her cuss, at the same time he loved how feisty and determined she was.

  She was an editor? Who made a living editing books? He hadn’t even asked her what type of books. But he couldn’t imagine she made much money. He didn’t know anyone who edited and earned enough to survive on.

  He did his best to ignore the feeling of impending doom that haunted him day in and day out worrying about the person who was trying to frame him. He’d come up with no feasible explanation. If he’d been asked to make a list of his enemies, it would have been lengthy, especially lately. He seemed to have managed to piss off a slew of people in the last few weeks.

  As expected, Sabrina didn’t text her address until six thirty. The imp.

  When he pulled up to her house at seven, he was shocked to find not an apartment or condo, but an actual house. Maybe she had roommates.

  His cock was already hard before he got to the front door. As he knocked, he adjusted himself, shaking his head at how the woman affected him.

  It took several seconds for Sabrina to answer. But when she did, Conner couldn’t decide whether to laugh or scream.

  The woman wore jeans and T-shirt again. He wasn’t kidding. She looked hot in anything. The denim hugged her hips perfectly and curved around her ass in a way that made any man drool. He could definitely see the outline of her bra beneath the plain tee. And like yesterday, her nipples made an impression.

  She stepped back to allow him entrance, her face unreadable, but he decided on cocky. Determined. Strong. All characteristics he loved and hated at the same time.

  “I see you decided not to heed my advice about the jeans,” he stated as she shut the door behind him.

  She shrugged. “This is what I wore all day. Didn’t see a good reason to change. And besides, you gave me no indication as to what we might be doing this evening.”

  “Going over my expectations again apparently.” He stepped farther into the room and looked around.

  Every surface was covered with books. Even the couch had a book on it, open and upside down to hold her spot.

  “Can I get you something to drink?” she asked.

  He picked up a novel from her coffee table and lifted his gaze. “Do you have a beer?”

  “Of course.” She shuffled through the room into the adjoining kitchen.

  While she was gone, he examined the book in his hand. A romance novel. He set the book back down to grab another. The same. He tipped his head to one side to stare at the spines of dozens of books. Romance. All of them.

  A beer appeared in his line of sight. “This okay?”

  “Perfect.” He took the bottle and lifted it to his lips. He was going to need a few of them.

  Sabrina also held a beer. She plopped onto the couch and crossed her legs under her while she drank. Lord, she was cute.

  “You read all this shit?” he asked.

  Sabrina pursed her lips and narrowed her gaze. “Excuse me?”

  He waved his free hand through the air, indicating all the literature in her living room. “Smut. Sex. Whatever you want to call it.”

  She lifted one brow, challenging him. God he loved sparring with her. “I don’t just read it. I edit it.”

  Now he tipped his head back and laughed. She edited trashy romance?

  “What’s so goddamn funny?”

  Still chuckling, he met her gaze. “Language, Sabrina. Watch it.”

  “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m good with my language. Now what’s so funny?”

  He took another look around. Her house was a home. Lived in. Loved. Warm and inviting. “You have roommates?”

  “No. Why would I have roommates?”

  “Some sort of inheritance?”

  “Dr. Bascott. Are you insinuating I couldn’t possibly make enough money as an editor to afford to live my life?”

  “Nope. Not insinuating anything. Flat out stating the facts.”

  She jumped to her feet and set her beer on the corner of the coffee table. He’d hit a nerve.

  “So it’s true, then.”

  “What’s true?”

  “You are an asshole all the time. It’s not a part-time gig.”

  He laughed again. “I’ve been called worse.”

  “Why?”

  “How should I know? People must not like how brusque I can be. Never have held my tongue well. Ask my mom.”

  “No. I mean, why are you an asshole? I don’t frankly care how many people agree with me.”

  He stepped closer, thankful she held her ground and didn’t back away. She was way shorter than him, but she tipped her head back and met his gaze, hands on her hips. “Actually, it’s mostly just you. I mean, I do tend to speak my mind, but I’m harder on you than other people.”

  “Why?” The word came out softer. She’d lost some of her anger.

  He took a deep breath. “Because I want you so badly I can’t sleep. And I’ve fought that need for nine months.”

  She tucked her lower lip between her teeth. He reached to cup her face with one hand and grazed her lip with his thumb, tugging it away from getting mauled. She opened her mouth when he did so and tipped her head into his palm.

  Damn, she was so fucking sexy. And so submissive when she let herself slip into the role. Now if only he could get her to submit to him more fully.

  She repeated the same question again. “Why?” This time her voice was deeper, breathy.

  “Thought you were too young. Too innocent.”

  “I’m not. And you know that now. Yet you’re still an asshole.”

  He chuckled.

  “You have a new excuse?” She crossed her arms over her chest like she had at lunch, cocking one hip to the side and putting all her weight on one leg.

  “Now? Hmmm…” Good question. Conner set his beer
next to Sabrina’s without having to do more than lean down a few inches. Then he wrapped his hands around her wrists under her breasts and tugged them free. “Please don’t cross your arms. It closes you off in more ways than one. I don’t like to feel alienated from you.”

  “Then don’t talk to me like I’m a stupid child, Dr. Bascott.”

  “I think we can lose the formality, Sabrina. Conner. Or Sir when you’re subbing for me. Stop calling me Dr. Bascott.”

  “Okay, Conner then. Stop changing the subject.” Her hands hung at her sides, fisted, but at least not crossed.

  Conner couldn’t help himself. He cupped her face with both hands and leaned down to kiss her. He intended a quick peck, but after his initial taste, reminding him of the last and only time he had her mouth, he couldn’t keep from slanting his head and deepening the kiss. He licked the seam of her lips, and when she opened for him, he dipped inside her mouth.

  Instantly he heard a moan. And it was his. The woman had his balls. And this was why he busted her ass all the time. He hated that she held his balls. He knew he would do anything for her. Even tolerate her sharp tongue, her cussing, and her need for trashy romance.

  She tasted of mint and beer. He moaned again. She may not have changed clothes for him, but she had brushed her teeth.

  When her hands landed on his forearms and gripped him, he knew she was as lost as he was in the kiss. He needed to pull back. If he didn’t, he’d end up fucking her in the living room, probably on the coffee table, before they’d had a proper conversation about what he expected from her.

  Conner reluctantly broke the kiss, setting his forehead against hers, noting her eyes were glazed and she swayed slightly.

  Thank God she seemed as affected as him.

  “Your stalling tactics are amazing,” she muttered.

  “If I keep kissing you, can we forgo conversation?”

  “Probably, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”

  He released her and stepped back enough to put a foot of space between them. “You’re right.” He ran a hand over his short-cropped hair. “Sit, baby.” He pointed at the couch where she’d been before.

  “So bossy,” she mumbled as she resumed her spot, reaching for her beer to take another sip.