The Professor's Pet (A BDSM Romance Novel) by Tara Crescent Page A

my eyes. “Perhaps he has additional rope in his storeroom,” he suggested silkily.
    I deliberately tamped down the irritation in my eyes. Submit with grace, I muttered to myself again. When I met Jake’s gaze, my look was calm and serene. “Yes, Professor Ballard,” I said softly. “I will check.”
    It was startling. The instant I changed my attitude, the instant I resolved to accede to his orders, calm descended on me. I was here, of my own free will, doing as he asked because something in me needed to let him control me. The moment I stopped fighting it, I was relaxed and centered.
    I walked over to the guy. “Hi,” I said hesitantly to him. “Could I get some help, please?”
    His eyes had been following us walking through the store. “Sure thing,” he replied readily. His eyes met Jake’s; both of them looked amused. Working in a sex store, he probably saw a little bit of everything in his work day. A woman in that store might be a trifle unusual, but it was hardly likely to be the craziest thing he’d ever seen.
    “I need cotton rope,” I said. “A hundred feet.” I blushed as I said it; A hundred feet of rope provided a lot of binding possibilities.
    “Hmm,” he said. “I don’t think I have any, just the fifty feet packages. But let me check in the back.” He disappeared through a door in the back.
    Jake was just behind me, I leaned back a little, wanting to feel him against me. He pulled me close, my back to his chest. “Buy two of the fifty feet packages if you can’t find a hundred feet,” he said in my ear. His breath tickled me faintly, and my sudden arousal almost overwhelmed me.
    “Yes, Professor Ballard,” I said softly.
    He kissed my neck briefly, as the clerk re-entered the shop, then backed away from me. The clerk was shaking his head as he walked up. “Sorry, don’t have any,” he said.
    “That’s okay,” I replied. “I’ll just take two of the fifty feet packages.” I looked at my list again. “Nipple clamps,” I said, red-faced.
    He pointed to the glass display case. “We have several kinds,” he said. “What are you looking for?”
    I flushed. “They need to have bells,” I read from my list. “And a chain that connects them.” My voice had gone very quiet as I spoke; I was mortified. I could feel Jake’s amusement radiate off him. Submit with grace, I reminded myself.
    “Hmm,” the clerk said. “Let’s see.” He took out a few packages from his cabinet, placed them on the counter. “This is what I have,” he said. I looked, setting aside the ones that were for beginners. Two were left. I looked at Jake in appeal; he just smirked at me. I remembered the rules; he wouldn’t help me.
    “Between these two,” I asked the clerk, gesturing to the packages, “which one would you recommend?”
    He eyed the two clamps. “This one,” he said promptly, picking up one package. “My girlfriend swears by it. It’s adjustable, and you can add weights to it as well, if you’d like.”
    Jake spoke up for the first time. “Weights, that’s a good idea.” He quickly pointed to a couple of packages, those were added to my growing selection of sex toys.
    “You can leave your packages on the counter while you shop,” the clerk said helpfully. I reddened. He was trying to be helpful, but it was embarrassing to see the pile of toys; anyone could see it as soon as they walked into the store. But I did as he suggested; I could hardly shop for floggers and crops if my arms were laden with parcels.
    I surveyed my list again, went to look at the butt plugs. Thankfully, that was easy, there were several packages that fit my requirements. I picked one set of black pl ugs. The Ben Wa balls were on the same wall, and I grabbed one. Also black.
    “Might as well stay colour-coordinated,” Jake said dryly.
    I flushed, but met his gaze with a smile. “That’s what I thought,” I grinned.
    He laughed and shook his head. “Crops, Emily,” he said. “I’m very much