“Negotiate?” Rachel asked, managing to push the word past the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat.

Her eyes tracked Cole’s movements as he began to button his shirt from the top down.

“Yes, negotiate. You didn’t think this was over, did you?” he inquired, gesturing between the two of them.

Rachel didn’t know what to think as she stared at him, slack-jawed. All she could remember was his voice offering to do dirty, sexual things to her, and it was making her nerves start to tingle all over again.

Is a possible second orgasm on the table? If so, count me in.

“No, I can see that you’re starting to know me better than that. You see,” he informed in a voice that sounded far too calculating, “I never leave a negotiation until I get what I came for.”

Rachel finally removed her hand from between her thighs as his perceptive eyes glanced down there.

“Did it feel good?” Now that his shirt was in order, he took a step back toward her.

“Well, it certainly wasn’t awful,” she told him in a caustic tone.

Placing his left hand on the wall by her head, he raised his right hand to where she could see it. “I can make it feel even better. Let me touch you.”

Rachel couldn’t control the shiver that racked her body.

“I’m only asking you out of common courtesy. I figured I owed you that since your first agreement was given in the midst of an ear-blistering climax. So, what will it be, Rachel? Will you stick to your original decision? Or will you renege?”

Rachel’s brain was screaming, Renege, renege, renege! That did not, however, have any impact on the way her thighs tightened as Cole bent his head and licked the shell of her ear.

“Plus, there is one promise I haven’t kept tonight, and it goes hand in hand with my hands on your body.”

Turning her head up, Rachel looked into eyes that seemed to see and know everything. “And what would that be?”

The look on his face was so devious and alarmingly sexy that Rachel felt her nipples harden.

He revealed, “I promised you’d scream my name.”

Rachel didn’t remember that promise, and surely, that wasn’t something she would forget. “I don’t remember you promising me that.”

“Who said I promised you? I promised myself. Now, tell me what I want to hear, Rachel.”

Slowly, he moved his free hand toward her, and his index finger touched the satin ribbon around her neck. When she offered no complaint, he continued to stroke it.

“I want to take this and every other piece of material off you and start fresh. I want a blank canvas to play with. I want you to play with. I have from the moment I saw you. So, was that yes real, or should I go back out there and find a willing participant?”

Rachel considered all the erotic possibilities as his words began to tempt her, but before she could offer up an answer, Cole removed his finger from her throat and stood to his full towering height. He crossed his arms and took a step back from her, allowing his eyes to run down her body, and Rachel felt them like they were his hands touching her.

Hell, who do I think I’m kidding? I want his hands on me, his tongue in me, and that body naked and covering me. ASAP.

Rachel finally decided. “Don’t go anywhere. Stay here, and let’s negotiate.”

* * *

Cole wouldn’t have left if the building were on fire, but he wasn’t about to tell her that. “Okay, let’s negotiate. Well, obviously, you have issues with men—”

“I don’t have issues with men.”

Cole lifted his right arm and index finger in the universal hang-on sign. “For this to work, you need to listen until I am finished, or you will jump to the wrong conclusion. So, do you think you can hold your tongue for a minute? Or would you like me to?”

He watched her carefully as she pouted her lips.

“Thank you. Being interrupted isn’t something I enjoy. It would be a smart thing to remember.”

Re-crossing his arms, he remained silent as she straightened up against the wall. He could tell she was annoyed by his tone and getting ready to leave, but the look in her eyes belied her internal conflict. This was a woman who wanted the same thing he did. She was just too scared to admit it or chase it.

Good thing for her that I’m not.

“Now, as I was saying, obviously, you have issues with men controlling you or touching you. As I’m sure you know, I want to do a lot more than just touch you, Rachel, so maybe we can start slow. One hand, and if I prove to you that you can trust me, we’ll renegotiate.”

As she stood there, headstrong as ever, Cole stepped forward to her.

“Being petulant won’t help your case either. Tell me, Rachel, do you really want this? Because I need to know that you are in all the way before we go any further here.”

When her tongue came out to moisten her lips, Cole couldn’t help but reach out his hand, allowing his finger to follow the path it took.

“What exactly is it that you want from me?” she finally asked as she raised her eyes to his.

Cole re-crossed his arms and bent at the waist, so his face was hovering over hers. “I want you to give yourself to me.”

As he watched her pupils dilate, he knew the idea was as appealing to her as it was to him.

“For how long?”

“See? Now, you’re negotiating. Let’s start with a week.”

“A week? So, we meet here?”

“No.” He shifted, pressing his mouth to the corner of hers. “You come with me for the week. You stay with me, sleep with me, eat with me. You be with me.”

When a moan slipped free from her lips, Cole couldn’t help himself from kissing her hard and quick.

Then, quietly, he demanded, “Say yes.”

* * *

Yes, yes, yes! Rachel’s body was screaming, but nothing was coming out. Her stupid brain had to make sure this was a choice, not a takeover. So, of course, it had demands of its own. “I don’t think this is a negotiation right now. It feels a lot like coercion.”

She experienced a small slither of delight in the humor that tugged at the corner of his serious mouth.

“Very good, Rachel. You are right. I’m trying my hardest to coerce you without becoming physical. So, in my book, I am not actually stooping as low as I could.”

“This isn’t physical? It feels pretty physical to me.” Time to give him some of his own medicine. “My nipples are hard, and the ache between my thighs—”

“Could all be taken care of with one word.”

Raising her hand, she recklessly pressed her index finger to his lips. She was starting to fantasize about those lips that had just sent a jolt of pure lust through her. “Shh, it’s rude to interrupt during negotiations.”

“Rachel,” he cautioned.

“Yes?”

She watched him close his eyes for a moment, almost as if trying to calm himself physically.

“Nothing. Continue. Your terms?” he asked.

“You said one hand. As in, you will only touch me with one hand?”

“Yes. If you agree and come with me, I will not touch you with more than one hand. When I prove to you I can be trusted, we will renegotiate.”

Rachel shivered at the thought. “Will you use your mouth?”

Cole gave her a look filled with so many hot, dirty promises that it melted away any resistance she thought she had left. That was the moment their two lives became soldered together by mutual desire and understanding. Whether it would go beyond a week was anyone’s bet, but it was one she wanted to take.

“If you agree, I will use my mouth, tongue, and anything else I need to make you whisper, groan, and scream my name.”

“Okay. I agree, but no straps and no…” She paused, looking away. “Handcuffs?”

A strong hand lifted her chin, so her eyes were directly on his.

Sincerely, he replied, “There will be no physical restraint, just your free will.”

“No pain?”

“Rachel, I don’t know who hurt you in the past or what kind of relationship you were in, but with me, no pain, no humiliaton, and no harm will come to you. I want to please you as much as I want you to please me. I want to use my body and yours to bring you the most pleasure you have ever felt, and after it’s through, I want to start all over again.”

Rachel felt her body shake at everything he was saying. She finally realized it was everything she had ever wanted, and she could have it for a week.

One week of perfection.

“Why me?” she asked.

She felt him remove the hand he had at her chin, and slowly, he wrapped it around her waist as he tugged her forward. She could feel the full length of his muscular body pressed tightly against hers.

“From the minute you walked in, it was you. I’d been coming to this place for months, looking for someone—not someone who wants gimmicks, not someone who wants to act a part in the bedroom. This is me and my life, Rachel. I’m bossy, I’m arrogant, and I can be an asshole at times, but I also crave the power to control my surroundings. So, that is what I ask of you. Will you let go and give me the power to make you happy? To make you scream when your body finally explodes around mine? I want the power to make you smile and curse at me, so if you want to try that, then come with me. Say yes, and come home with me.”

Really, it’s a no-brainer, she thought as she said, “Yes.”

* * *

One silent cab ride later, Cole found himself staring at the woman standing opposite him in the elevator as it ascended to his condo’s floor. She hadn’t taken her eyes off him the whole ride up. He liked that about her. She was daring, just like her bright red hair and tattooed spine He might want someone to let him hold the reins, but he’d be damned if he wanted someone meek and mild who wouldn’t give him a challenge.