Read Online Command by Sierra Cartwright - Free Book Online

been spanked, a small frown had buried itself between her eyebrows. And when he’d offered to let her open the bag, her mouth had parted in shock.
    But he didn’t see fear in her rich green eyes. A small degree of curiosity, maybe. Anything beyond that might be wishful thinking on his part, but what a wish. He’d love to have this woman’s bare skin exposed to his lash. He wanted to see her body jerk from the pleasure only a strip of leather could deliver. And her screams of pleasure…? “There you have it. Transparency. Everything there is to know about me. You know where I stand and what I like.”
    “Maybe a few things I’d be better off not knowing. Do you share this with all of your coworkers?”
    “No. Julien is the only guest I’ve had here. And even he hasn’t seen the portrait of the submissive. Other than my housekeeper and my designer, you’re the only person who’s ever been inside my bedroom. Honestly, Aria? You’re the first coworker I’ve ever been attracted to. And I want you to know what you’re getting yourself into if you decide.” Deliberately, he left the end of the sentence vague. He gave her the opportunity to either begin or end the conversation.
    She was silent for a few moments before quietly asking, “Decide what?”
    “To give me a sign that I should act on what I’m thinking.”
    Again, a ridiculously long amount of time passed before she picked up the thread he was using to weave his images. “What are you thinking about?”
    “Kissing you. I’m imagining that your lips feel as full and as soft as they look. But I’m also wondering how you taste.” He already knew that her scent reminded him of the earth after a cleansing storm. In just the short time she’d been here, his perception had been altered. Her bag was in his guest room. Her coat was on a peg near his. Her purse sat on his entry table. His refrigerator was stocked with artificially sweetened creamer to ruin a perfectly good cup of coffee—and he didn’t mind any of it. For someone who didn’t like having his space disturbed, he was enjoying the feminine touches. “I’m picturing your mouth parting in an unspoken welcome as I stroke my thumb up the column of your neck and pull back your hair.”
    “That’s not happening.”
    “You’re not even the least bit curious?”
    She hesitated a long, rewarding moment before answering. “No.”
    “In that case, let me show you my workshop.” He stepped aside.
    Aria took another quick look at the portrait before passing him.
    Her boots echoed off the wood floor as she walked up the hallway. If he’d ever heard a sexier sound, he suddenly couldn’t remember it.
    He was man enough to notice the sway of her hips and the way the skirt hugged her body. Her legs seemed to go on forever. And, not for the first time, he pictured them wrapped around his waist.
    Maybe he should get out more, much as he hated to admit that Julien might be right.
    Aria stopped near the door, and Grant moved in and put his hand near the palm print scanner.
    “Can’t Molly just let you in?”
    “Not into this room. We wanted the best security available. I’ve set up the system so that my print must match, and it must be at normal body temperature.”
    “Overkill?”
    “I always hope. It’s doubtful anyone would get past my fence—”
    “How hard can it be to go over? Or, even wiggle under?”
    He grinned. “That’s not happening unless there’s a power outage and my generator fails.”
    “It’s electric, also?”
    “Among other things. As I was saying, the things I develop for Bonds in my workshop have practical applications for other businesses, governments, the military. So with this sensor factored in, I don’t have to worry about someone having a hand cut off and used on the scanner—at least theoretically.”
    She wrinkled her nose.
    “But some people in charge of security do. You know all that, though.”
    She shook her head. “I may have the title of Director of