Free Sweet Persuasion by Maya Banks

that, she looked desperate.
    With a glum look at her reflection, she sighed and turned away to get the oils ready. She’d chosen them especially for Nathan because all her other stuff was too girly. Nathan . . . mmmm, he was all rugged man. He needed something that wouldn’t make him smell too soft and flowery.
    She pushed her cleavage up one more time before she headed into the massage room. A few times leaning over Nathan, a brush or two against him, maybe an accidental shove of her bosom into his face as she leaned across to get a towel.
    Surely he couldn’t continue to ignore her. She just needed to be brave. More forceful. Own her sexuality. Yep, that was it. Faith had owned hers (and then some), and Serena was well on her way into sexual slavery.
    She rolled her eyes and shook her head. Sexual slavery, for the love of all that’s holy. What possessed the woman? Not that the idea of Nathan tying her up and having his wicked way with her didn’t inspire some serious heavy breathing, but she had some wicked and wild fantasies and in half of them, Nathan was completely and utterly at her mercy.
    A decadent smile curved her lips as her groin tightened and pulsed. Oh, hell yeah, did she have plans for one Nathan Tucker. He didn’t realize it yet, but he was going to be hers. And he’d never know what hit him.
    Her business line rang, and she reached for it even as she surveyed the massage table to make sure everything was in place.
    “Julie’s,” she sang out.
    There was a slight pause. “Hey, Julie, this is Nathan Tucker.”
    “Hi, Nathan, are you running late today?” Hell, even her voice came out all breathy like some sixteen-year-old crushing on some college guy.
    “Uh, that’s why I’m calling. I can’t make it today.”
    Her heart sank. “Oh. Well, okay.”
    “Can we reschedule?” he asked.
    “Uh, sure, let me just check my schedule.”
    She walked over to the counter where her appointment book sat and rifled through the pages, though she knew every time slot by heart.
    “When would you like to come in?” she asked.
    There was another pause and she heard him talking in the background to someone else. And then she heard a very feminine voice float through the line. There was a light giggle and then, “Oh, I’ll give you a massage, Nathan. No need to pay someone else.”
    She stood there feeling ten times a fool. She glanced down at her cleavage and laid a hand over her chest to shield the low-cut shirt.
    “Stupid,” she muttered.
    “What was that?” Nathan asked.
    “Nothing. Did you want to reschedule or not?” she asked through gritted teeth.
    “I’ll tell you what. Let me call you in a few days and we’ll set up a time then.”
    “Sure,” she said stiffly. “Have a nice day.”
    Before he could respond, she hung up the phone and blew out her breath with puffed cheeks.
    “Look on the bright side, Julie. You were saved from making a huge ass of yourself.”
     
     
     
    Serena walked out of her apartment to the parking lot where Damon’s driver waited for her. She had to stifle the giggle that threatened to emerge when she saw several of her neighbors openly gawk in curiosity.
    Tonight’s date with Damon was at his home. That fact made her a little nervous because they weren’t meeting on neutral ground. But at the same time, she was looking forward to seeing him in a more intimate environment.
    She’d dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, purposely not going for an overtly sexy look. He was already well acquainted with her desires, and she didn’t want to pressure him, to make everything about sex. She wanted to feel comfortable around him and vice versa.
    When she arrived, Damon greeted her in the circular drive of his large home. He opened the door and held out a hand to help her out.
    To her surprise, he too was dressed casually, and if she thought he couldn’t look any better than when he was outfitted as Mr. GQ with the expensively tailored slacks and silk shirt with the leather