Linger by Lauren Jameson Page B

front of his jeans.
    â€œYou really want to start out this way?” He looked into her face, his expression set in stone, and for a long moment Scarlett felt her heart leap into her throat—he was going to reject her, and this was going to get even more awkward, if that was possible.
    But how could he ignore it? That pull between them?
    When she looked into those cerulean eyes and saw a hunger that mirrored her own, she understood that he was just as confused as she was. She couldn’t help it—she smiled, a slow curve of the lips.
    â€œYou fight dirty.” Logan growled, his gaze raking her up and down. Scarlett felt as though his hands had touched her in all the places his eyes had looked.
    And with those words, the admission of the need vibrating beneath his sneer, that delicate balance of power shifted yet again. Triumph, relief, washed through her.
    Scarlett drew herself up tall and placed her hands on her hips. “On your knees.”
    That twist of his lips faded for a moment—with shock, Scarlett assumed—and then it was back.
    â€œWe’re not at Veritas, little girl.” He took a step toward her—crowding her, trying to take some power back. “You don’t give the orders here.”
    Scarlett didn’t move.
    â€œBut if you want me, all you have to do is say so.” Another step—now he was close enough that she could feel the heat emanating off his skin.
    And she felt that connection snap back into place like it hadn’t been three days since they’d rocketed each other into a state of bliss.
    â€œI said, on your knees.” He didn’t move; neither did she.Her mind raced, trying to think of a way to make him submit that didn’t involve physical force.
    His chin tilted up with defiance, pride, and it hit her. A big, stubborn alpha like this—she hit him in his Achilles’ heel.
    â€œI’d have thought a big, tough cowboy would be man enough for a real Mistress,” she taunted, twisting her lips into a wicked smile. “But maybe you can’t handle anything more than a little playmate who has no idea how to top you.”
    Logan’s spine stiffened, and victory lit her up when she saw the flash of anger in his eyes.
    Challenge accepted.
    â€œYou’re kind of a bitch, aren’t you?” There was no heat in his words—it was merely an observation he offered as he finally sank to his knees, shifting to look up at her.
    â€œArms behind your head,” she said quietly, savoring the rush of power that came from obedience—from
this man’s
obedience. “Head down.”
    Another pause, a mutinous glare, and then he did as she said. Scarlett looked at him for a long moment, noted the tension and the desire stringing him tight.
    She also noted that his cock had swollen to full hardness as they’d interacted, telling her that, at his most base level, he wanted this. In fact, it looked like he wanted it so much that it was damn uncomfortable.
    â€œDon’t move. Not even an inch.” She’d just let him think on that for a few minutes. And allow time for her to compose herself, to think about what all of this meant now.
    She’d been kicking herself for days over leaving him behind, never dreaming that he hadn’t lived in Vegas, too. And here fate had smacked a second chance down in her lap.
    She just had to reconcile that with how badly she wanted to learn while she was here.
    â€œI heard you the first time.” Logan glared at her, and Scarlett raised an eyebrow to hide her amusement.
    She turned to the purse she’d tossed on the bed, rummaged through it, then returned to Logan with a bandanna.
    â€œDon’t you dare,” he spat as she folded it into a long strip. His muscles twitched, like he was fighting the urge to stand.
    â€œWhen I tell you to kneel, I expect you to embrace the posture fully. That means no fighting it. Not even with words.” He narrowed