“Have you ever heard the words ‘frugal’ or ‘economical?’”

“I have. They only apply when I wish them to. Don’t worry about money, Gia. I have nine zeroes in my bank total. I can handle a day of shopping.”

“I won’t wear any of this when I go back to work.”

Her argument was somewhere between tiring and insulting. “So I should not wish to buy things for my wife for the express purpose of seeing her look good or smiling?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Then explain. If I had to guess, you think that if I spend money on your clothing, I’ll demand something from you in return.”

“It feels a lot like you’re trying to buy me, the way your father did your mother.”

So she wanted his money without strings? That made sense to the cynic in him, but every other part of him protested that Gia wasn’t mercenary.

Jason snorted. Either he was getting soft or his wife had played him well.

“Not at all. Let me put it to you this way: Would your mother ever object to your father if he wanted to do something nice for her?”

Gia paused, obviously trying to think of some way—any way—she could say yes to that and mean it. Finally, she gave a little huff. “No.”

“Because if your father told your mother they could afford something, she would just accept that as fact.”

Her long sigh told Jason he’d hit a bull’s-eye. “Yes.”

“Can you give me the same courtesy?”

“My father would never buy her all the things you’re suggesting,” she argued.

“He likes to make her happy, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then if he had the means, I guarantee he would buy her everything in the store she wanted. Hell, you make it sound like he’d give her the world.”

“He loves her.”

“He values her above all others.” And now they were playing a game of semantics. “Just like I value you. I fail to see the difference.”

The sales associate saved him whatever argument Gia had on the tip of her tongue by coming in with an armful of bright but warm clothes for the coming winter. She set them in the first dressing room then disappeared and returned moments later with two fellow employees, who each carried in shoes and bags and a stack of lacy panties, sheer bras, and even a pair of stockings or two.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes to check on you. If you need me sooner, there’s a call button on the wall.”

“Give us half an hour, please.” He smiled politely, but it wasn’t a request.

The woman didn’t hesitate. “Of course.”

As she left, Jason looked around in satisfaction. He’d been inside dressing rooms equipped with what his father used to refer to as the “man chair,” but he’d never seen one outfitted with something between a chaise and a bed. It looked ready for sex. Draped in fuchsia, emerald, bright blue, and gold, he lounged back on the soft surface and watched his wife stomp toward the first dressing room.

“Problem?” he asked.

“You just take over everything. You bossed that woman around. You always tell me what to do. You even buy me things when I’ve asked you not to.”

“The sales clerk is here to assist us. She doesn’t seem unhappy with the tasks I’ve given her. And I fully expect that, by the time we’ve left, I’ll have made any extra effort worth her while.”

“Not everything is about money.”

His pretty wife sounded naïve. “Most everything is. It’s ugly but true. As for you…” He rose from the bed and prowled toward her. “It’s a husband’s right to provide for his wife, and maybe indulge her every now and then. If it will make you feel better, I won’t ask you for a blow job in exchange for anything I buy. All I want is your company. Why are you angry?”

When he cupped her shoulder, she shrugged it off and turned away with a sigh. “I’m not angry. I just feel everything spinning out of control. No matter how I try to stop it—”

“That’s the problem. You’re trying to control not only this situation, but everything in your life. Baby, no one can.” He turned her back to face him, something inside him hurting when he saw the tears gathering there. “When we met at Dominion, you agreed to my Dominance because you said you were ready to give me control. It took you months to truly let go, but every time you relinquished a bit of your tight grip and began to trust me, I was so thrilled and proud of you. During our separation this past year, you seem to have forgotten everything we once worked on.”

“Because there was no one else to take on all this responsibility. I had to be strong.”

That stung. “No one?”

She flushed and looked away. “After all these months, submitting still feels kind of foreign and irresponsible. Maybe I’m not wired for that any more.”

Gia still believed she couldn’t let loose and see to her own needs because she’d been so busy caring for everyone else’s for months. She was mistaken. And he’d still love to paddle her for refusing to let him shoulder any of her burden. Arguing certainly wouldn’t get him anywhere. He simply had to show her.

Jason pressed a kiss to her forehead, her lips, then stepped back. “Strip.”

“What?” She looked at him as if he’d lost his mind.

“Did you have difficulty hearing my command?”

“No, I’m just—”

“Overthinking everything. I’ve given you a simple command.” She wouldn’t remember how much surrender fulfilled her until he gave her the experience again. Once she did, it would bring them closer. “I expect you to obey. Deep down, you want to.”

Gia hesitated, her dark eyes searching his face as if looking for answers. “What if someone walks in?”

“Leave that to me.” He smiled as he shut the door to the dressing room, enclosing them alone together.

After another hesitation, she nodded and dropped her hands to her blouse, her trembling fingers working the buttons.

Jason knew that Gia she was still a police officer who, if caught, would face censure for breaking the law. It had worried her in their past. After playing the role of parent to her niece and nephew, it would worry her even more. But she still trusted him enough to peel off the gauzy shirt covering her pretty breasts and slide it to the floor.

He began loosening his own shirt buttons, watching as she fiddled with the waistband of her skirt and hesitated. Gia had to work through this in her head. She’d always had an exhibitionist streak, but struggled with letting go away from the privacy of the bedroom.

“Off with the skirt. You didn’t disobey me and wear panties, did you?”

“No.” Gia sounded breathy and aroused, just the way he liked her.

“Good.” He waited until she pushed the skirt down her hips and stepped out, holding it in front of her like a shield. “Hand it to me.”

She swallowed nervously and paused, then finally held the skirt out to him. Perhaps he’d ease up and take pity on her if her nipples weren’t peaking through her thin bra and she didn’t already look wet.

Damn it, he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her. It might sound trite, but every time he explored Gia’s body, he found something new to appreciate, another way to savor her.

For now, he merely pushed her comfort zone by hanging the skirt over the top of the door behind him, far out of her reach. “Now your bra.”

Her fingers curled up as she formed fists. She pressed her lips together. Jason could see the pulse beating furiously at her neck. His wife was going to give into him, and the thought drove him mad with anticipation. Fire seared his veins, engorged his cock. He fought the urge to grab her and tear the undergarment away, then shove her down on his stiff length until she took every inch. Instead, he snapped his fingers, letting her know that his thin patience had given way to expectation.

She let out a shuddering breath. “Jason…”

“Your safe word is still divorce. It’s your only out. Unless you want to use it, give me your bra now. If you make me wait any longer, I’ll spank you here and now. I won’t care at all who hears.”

Her eyes went round. Gia believed him. Good, because every word was the truth.

He held out his hand again. “You’ve got three seconds.”

“You’re pushing me.”

And she was stalling.

“It’s what a Dom does.” He wriggled his fingers.

With a little wince, she reached behind her and pulled off her bra, then handed it to him. Jason barely looked. He was far too focused on her breasts, their natural weight plump and pretty as they rested gently on her chest. Her nipples stood straight and so beautifully engorged. He’d started this to remind her how satisfied she felt when she put her submission into his hands. But no way could he ignore how stunning she looked.

Without once taking his gaze from her, he slung her bra on top of her skirt. “Come closer. Cradle your breasts in your hands and present me your nipples.”

At his words, she whimpered, but she did as he’d commanded, settling her palms underneath the weight of her orbs and lifting them up just enough to thrust their hard tips higher.

Jason watched her image reflected in the trifold mirror. They showed him her body from every angle, and he decided then to install one near his bathtub just so he could watch her emerge from the warm water, skin steaming and dripping, for his viewing pleasure.

Easing into the simple black and chrome chair behind him, he stared at Gia as she edged nearer. Hungry, ready, he itched to fasten his hands on her hips and drag her close enough to taste. Instead, he waited. She had to dredge up her courage and dig a little deeper into her submission with every step forward she took.

Finally, their knees bumped, and he cast his gaze from her nipples to her face. Nervously, she licked her lips. Smiling, he scanned the rest of her. Gia’s flat belly twitched. She looked far wetter than the last time he’d peeked.