Burn (Breathless #3)(43)

Satisfied that she didn’t look an absolute mess, she went into the bedroom and stripped out of her clothing. She folded the jeans and the shirt, not knowing if she’d dress afterward or if Ash would keep her occupied until bedtime. She’d tackle that particular issue when the time came.

But what now? Did she wait in the bedroom? Should she sit in the living room and wait for him there? She frowned pensively. They hadn’t gone over the particulars, just that he wanted her naked and waiting for him.

He’d been specific in that he didn’t want her to kneel unless he wanted her there because she was sucking his cock. Her cheeks flamed in remembrance of that statement. Michael had liked her to kneel. Liked her subservience. At the time it hadn’t bothered her. It was a part of their relationship, one she’d readily agreed to. Now she felt foolish for offering the jerk her submission.

She walked into the living room, deciding this was where she’d wait for him. He’d liked the idea of coming home and finding her naked and waiting, which told her that he’d probably like to see her as soon as he walked in. If he had to look for her, then she wasn’t waiting for him very well. And she liked the idea of being the first thing he saw when he got off the elevator.

Since she wasn’t going to kneel, she opted for the plush leather couch, but she put one of the throws down so it would be comfortable against her bare skin. And then she pondered over whether she should sit up? Recline? Laughter bubbled from her throat. She was so overthinking this.

She was an artist and visuals appealed to her. She knew all about provocative poses and Ash would appreciate one of those surely. She wanted to wow him the first time he came home to her.

Warmth entered her chest as those words settled over her. Coming home to her. How easily she fell into his life, his apartment, and adopted it as her own. Was she really considering this home now? And that she had a man coming home to her every day?

Not deliberating over whether she was crazy for entertaining such thoughts, she settled onto her side, arranging her hair to hang over her shoulder, partially obscuring her br**sts. It wasn’t that she had any inhibitions. But less was often more. Men responded to what they couldn’t see often as much or even more than what they could see.

It was what made her paintings provocative. The hint of flesh. Just a glimpse of the forbidden.

She rested her head against the arm of the couch and let her gaze drift toward the elevator door. Her skin tingled, anticipation licking over her body as she imagined what Ash would choose to do when he got home.

Arousal hummed low in her body. She was tempted to slide her fingers between her legs and stroke herself to a quick orgasm. It wouldn’t take much. She was worked up just thinking about Ash’s arrival. But she didn’t want to take away from whatever he planned.

So she waited, each second seemingly an hour.

When she heard the elevator, her breath hiccupped and stuck a moment in her throat. Her mouth went dry and she hastily licked her lips just as the doors slid open, revealing Ash in the suit he’d worn to work.

One hand shoved into his slacks pocket, his pose casual and arrogant. He exuded wealth, charm and . . . power.

She shivered as their gazes met and held. His eyes burned over her, flaring when he took in her pose. Appreciation gleamed, and she was glad she’d opted for seductive instead of just sitting and waiting.

He strode toward her, his jaw tight, eyes blazing. She lifted her head, tracking his progress.

“Hello,” she said huskily. “And welcome home.”

He surprised her by dropping to his knees in front of the couch. He swept in and fastened his mouth to hers in a heated rush that took her breath away. His hand tangled in her hair, yanking her closer so there was no space between them.

“Fucking beautiful,” he growled. “Been thinking about this all day. Me coming home, seeing you waiting. But nothing could have prepared me for the reality.”

He traced a finger down her cheek, stroking gently as he sucked in breaths to catch up from their kiss.

“Really glad you’re here, Josie.”

“I’m glad too,” she murmured.

“Had a dozen different ideas on the way home. Thinking of how I’d take you when I got here. The minute I saw you, I forgot everything but the way you look perched on my couch.”

“I’d love to hear all those ideas. I’m intrigued now.”

He smiled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Some of them are probably illegal.”

“Even better.”

He laughed, low and husky, the sound vibrating over her skin. “I like your enthusiasm.”

“Should we write them all down and draw one out of a jar to decide how we have sex?” she asked with a grin. “Or can I count on you to be decisive in the matter?”

“My darling is being cheeky today,” he drawled. “I might have to punish you for that.”

Heat rushed into her cheeks. One of his eyebrows lifted.

“You like that idea.”

She cleared her throat, unsure of what to say. Ash had said he wasn’t into games. Wasn’t her playing the naughty submissive to earn a punishment a game?

Ash’s gaze narrowed and he slid his fingers underneath her chin, forcing it upward so she met his gaze.

“What the hell are you thinking right now?”

She sighed. “It’s silly. I guess I was worried about how to respond to that. And how it would make me sound if I did say that the thought of you punishing me turned me on. You said you weren’t into games and you wanted to keep it real.”