Rush (Breathless #1)(17)

But what he should do and what he was going to do were two different things.

He wanted Mia, and he’d do whatever it took to possess her.

Chapter six

MONDAY, HCM OFFICES, PRESENT TIME

Mia stood in the doorway of Gabe’s office staring at him.

So he wasn’t as sure of her as he’d initially appeared. Relief still simmered in those dark blue eyes.

She opened her mouth to tell him she hadn’t given him her decision, but it wasn’t a good idea to tease him. He seemed so on edge, and the last thing she wanted was to start things by pissing him off.

“I’m here,” she said huskily.

He reached down and took her hand and then pulled her toward the sitting area on the opposite end of the room from his desk.

“Would you like something to drink?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I’m fine. Too nervous to drink anything.”

He motioned her down on the small leather couch and then sat next to her, pulling her hands up and into his lap.

“I don’t want you to be nervous or afraid of me, Mia. That’s not my intention at all. I gave you a very detailed outline of what our relationship will be to allay any fears or confusion. I merely want you to know precisely what our agreement will entail. But I never intended for you to be frightened or intimidated.”

She stared back at him, determined to be confident and straightforward. “I trust you, Gabe. I always have. It’s the reason I’ve decided to accept your proposal.”

Something primal entered his eyes. It made her feel extremely vulnerable, but the sensation was sinfully delicious, eliciting a shiver.

“But I have a few conditions of my own,” she said cautiously.

One eyebrow lifted and amusement twisted his lips. “Do you now?”

If she wasn’t firm and didn’t stand her ground, she never stood a chance in this relationship. Regardless of whether she was turning over power to him, she wasn’t going to be some spineless twit who chose to cower rather than to speak her mind.

“There was a clause that…bothered…me.”

“And that was?”

She tried to control her blush because even saying it aloud made her extremely self-conscious.

“The one about birth control and condoms.”

He frowned. “Are you unable to take birth control? It’s not a problem, Mia. I would never force you to take something you can’t for health reasons. While my preference isn’t to wear condoms, I would do so if it meant protecting you when other means aren’t available to us.”

She shook her head. “Let me finish. There was a part that said condoms would only be used by…others. I don’t understand what that means. But if it means what I think it does, then I want to reserve the right to refuse. Being given to someone else on a whim freaks me out. It scares me,” she corrected.

Gabe’s expression softened and he reached out to touch her face, sliding his hand down to her jaw. “Mia, listen to me. The contract is a little misleading in that it states I’m given all power and complete and utter control over you. To a point that’s accurate. But I can assure you that I’m never going to do something that I feel you are absolutely uncomfortable with. My job is to be in tune with your wants, needs and desires. I’m not worth much as a man if I can’t do that for the woman in my care. The ultimate power rests with you. Because you control my actions. I want to please you. It’s very important to me that I please you. I want you to be satisfied. I want you to be so spoiled, pampered and cherished that you don’t want to be anywhere but with me all the time.”

She swallowed, barely stifling the sigh of relief that threatened to burst free.

“Were there other concerns?” he asked.

She nodded.

He let his hand fall from her face. “Let’s hear them.”

“There’s not a safe word,” she blurted. “I know enough about these kinds of…relationships…to know that most people use a safe word. But there’s nothing about it in the contract.”

“I wonder what you’re imagining I’ll do to you,” he murmured.

“There were words like bondage and pain,” she pointed out. “It’s a reasonable fear.”

“Yes, it is,” he conceded. “But there is no mention of a safe word because for me, it’s as simple as you saying no.”

Her brow furrowed. “The contract was pretty clear that I don’t have that ability. That if I sign, I give up any right to tell you no.”

He sighed. “I’m not some monster bent on abusing you, Mia. You’re right in that I don’t like the word no very much. But my hope is that you won’t be using it often. I’d rather reserve that word for rare occasions when you are truly frightened or uncomfortable. I don’t want it popping out of your mouth just because you’re uncertain and the idea strikes you wrong before you even give it a chance. But if you truly find yourself in a situation that you do not want to be in, no is sufficient for me to stop. I may not like it, but I won’t ignore that word. Ever. You have my word on that. We’ll discuss what made you uncomfortable and we’ll either address it and soothe your fears, or we’ll move on and leave it behind.”

“So just don’t cry wolf,” she said.