rent and stupidly thought he'd let me keep chippi

ve your new place. I'll take you r

of tequila, downs it, then hops

nder, and take her hand. I like that she's not as nervous with me t

care of her and her problems because

*

Le

ng for," Bobby says in the car, surprising

product company. They're looking for a representati

unds

h benefits, but I don't know if

hy n

on't know...I mean, m

ut w

on't know if it

od enough?" There's a demand in his voice, but it's

position? "Yeah." I'm sort of surprised by my answer. "I'm good." Admitting it out loud feels sacrilegious but also wonderful. Like I'd been hiding how good I was from th

baby. You're fantastic, and

hands clutching my p

io in with that attitude, and t

seat, feeling more c

nees. "Don't thank me. It's all you, d

anly curls dusting his chest. Using him out of financial desperation isn't really a sacrifice. He doesn't seem like the kind wh

n't get emotionally involved because it's not a real relationship. It's more li

evator with his hand at my low back. He kisses me on the way up, and I melt with each pers

rtment. "The washer and dryer are in that closet over there. Garbage gets dumped in t

ll live in a luxe apartment that com

r, and the pool is on the roo

ranite countertops, and gleaming stainless appliances. I never lived in any sort of luxury-my lower

this arrangement with Bobby long-term. To have this be my

l never happen. But I

b. "So I can stay here? You're gi

you, Lexi." He lowers his head. "You're hot as fuck. You're re

n know me. Aren't you afraid I'll walk

body steals from

course not. No one robs a mafia boss if the

st the hard planes of his body. My hands come to his chiseled chest. "Hey,"

and reassurance of this man who feels so much larger-than-lif

le. You have m

you think you

etting involved with a guy like me. I know it goes against your better

o want him again. I liked the sheer animalism of the way he handled me. The confidence. The dominant but attentive way he tou

r salon, your time is mine. You don't have to sit around and wait for me-I'll text you

Oka

. You don't sleep wi

say, trying o

itch. "Capito

. I'm a quick le

w that. You listen more than you ta

our definiti

knowing, the thick dark lashes giving

nether region on fire whe

yfriend. Don't make demands of me. I'll ta

w on the inside of my cheek. "

. "Definitely not married. No girlfriend, either. I'm a one-woman g

re a man who know

y don't see why someone hasn't locked him do

my belly flip. "You don't talk about me to anyone. You don't tell your friends or anyone

a thug, but whatever he does

f my rules will g

the threat. I draw in a breath, ha

eye. "Spanked. Whipped. Tied up and fucked hard. Put on your knees

episodes. But Bobby Manghini has a kinky side, it seems. No wonder he prefers an arrangement–calling the shots is part o

s," I

his gaze is warm on me

od. "

He moves in for a kiss at the same time his fingers work the buttons on my designe

p up with the onslaught. He has my jeans down in record time, giving me no chance to f

straightening and cupping one breas

h excitement. He slides his hand inside my bra and rubs my nippl

spreads my knees and pulls my panties to the side. I jerk when his tongue meets my pussy, the shock of sensation maki

me, stroking my inner wall, then pumping, but I still can't crest the peak. In general, I h

and try to stand, but he holds me down with a hand at my low back, continuing to spank my bare ass with the flat of his hand. The slaps sound loud, and the initial impact makes me jerk, but th

then grips the cheek of my ass and

ass but burning inside me. I want him–want comp

t of it all–sex with a near stranger, the proposed sugar

snap of a condom. He pushes into me easily

nd my back as if restraining me-as if taking me by force rather than invitation-I shatter, bucking. My muscles

ly notice Bobby pull out or move until he pulls me up and turns me around, scooping

neck and mumble, "Okay, yo

in his chest. "I'm always right

. "You're

to please. I don't have to guess at what he wants, don't have to try to perform. He takes care of everything–tells me clearly what he wants from me and what to d

ike naked. Before tonight, I had no idea I would react to a spanking or being handled roughly, but that was the fa

et spanky during sex and all, but w

rking. "I didn't. It's j

*

Bo

could have described all the little signs she gave that told me she's the type who got

g out my full aggression and desire to control. Finding a girl like Lexi, who doen't just tolerate my quirk but resp

with my thumb. "So, can

er head. She smiles up at me like the move warms her. Like I'm planting butterfly kisse

sense the tinge of nervous energy behind it. I don't mind-it proves

f you, sweetheart," I murmur and mean it. I like to pamper

r and climb out of the bed. "I hate t

them some independence if they stayed with me, rather than stay at home with their mom in the suburbs or move into the dorms at NYU last fall. Yeah, I'm protective as hell

o holds her at night and makes her coffee in the morning. Not unless we

e cash, so you can go out for a nice breakfast on me." I drop two h

s. "Eleve

ur salon, and I'll pick you up after

hank

ve any clothes to wear, do you? If you have time, go buy yourse

"As you wis

to make her yelp. "You'd better watch out, little

threat. I give her another kiss and leave, the victo

etter than my last few mistak

o be in a romantic relationship with someone. I don't need the h

a keeper in terms of

s not a thing. A girl like Lexi isn't going to stick around lon

have to worry

me to an agreement

for her in the future,