Free Master (An Impossible Novel) (Impossible #6) by Julia Sykes Page B

softened deep within me.
    My instinct to fight was utterly absent.  My body became strangely light, pliant, and my will bent to his.  It was automatic, a natural response to his dominance.  The pressure of his fingers against the side of my throat increased, and my head dropped back.  Light reflected off his polished ebony eyes as they flashed with satisfaction.  My lips parted in invitation, and his descended on mine.
    His kiss was deliberate; there was nothing hurried about the way his mouth moved over mine, but his lips firmly demanded that mine shape to his.  I sighed into him, and his hand slid up into my hair, slowly curling into a fist, increasing the pull on the copper strands until tingles raced across my scalp in response to the delicious little pain of it.  His arm wrapped around me, and his hand found the small of my back, pressing my hips into his.
    Even as lust flared, it was the intimidating size of his thick erection that brought me back to my senses.  Images from my dream flashed across my mind, and I remembered how desire at his hard cock against me had morphed to terror.
    I stiffened beneath him, and my hands came up to press against his chest.  The feel of his hard muscles tightening beneath my fingers almost made me melt all over again, but Reed was already pulling away.
    My breath came in little pants as I stared up at him, and his eyes clouded over with his own confusion.  He took a careful step back.
    “I’m sorry,” he said, but his voice held no contrition.  “That was inappropriate.”
    I blushed and looked away.  “Yes,” I agreed.  “It was wrong.”
    His fingers curled under my chin, lifting my face to his.  When I met his gaze, I found that his expression was stern.  “No.  I’ll apologize for kissing you because we’re coworkers, and that was inappropriate.  But it wasn’t wrong.  I meant what I said, Katie.  You need a Dom.  You need someone to help you let go and make you see that it’s okay to be vulnerable.  And you naturally crave that submission.”
    I shook my head.  “Reed, I-”
    “Don’t deny it,” he rode over me smoothly.  “You’re not allowed to lie, remember?”
    My teeth sank into my lower lip.  “Yes.  I remember.”
    Reed blinked and stepped away again, releasing me from his touch.  I rocked forward slightly as my body protested the loss.
    “You need a Dom, and I won’t deny that my instincts are to fill that need.  You’re innocent and submissive and beautiful, and you need a firm hand to make you see sense when it comes to protecting yourself.”  His eyes darkened.  “Do you have any idea how goddamn irresistible you are?”
    Unease stirred through my dumbfounded moment of flattery.  “Reed, I…  I don’t want this.  I mean,” I said quickly before he could warn me against lying, “I’m scared of this.  I shouldn’t want to be made vulnerable.  Not after everything I’ve seen…”  I trailed off, unable to compare Reed to Martel.  The two men were nothing alike, but that didn’t stop my subconscious from fearing submission.  I was afraid to willingly make myself powerless.
    Reed’s lips thinned, and the lingering lust seeped from his features.  “Okay, Katie,” he finally allowed.  “I can understand that.  I won’t push you to be something you don’t want to be.”
    I blew out a relieved breath.  “Thank you.”
    He nodded curtly, his expression disapproving despite his capitulation.
    “Come on,” I said to break the tension.  “Let’s get breakfast.  I might even try coffee.  If I load it up with sugar, it might be bearable.”
    Just like that, Reed’s levity returned.  He gave a dramatic shudder, but his smile was back.  “Blasphemy,” he declared.  “You drink it black, or you don’t drink it at all.  I’ll teach you to like it.”
    I nodded my surrender.  Oh, I was sure Reed could teach me to like a lot of things.

    Chapter 7
     
     
    “Take a bite of the iced lemon cake