Im here, I replied.

Youre there, he returned with a tip of his head to me then he gestured to his lap with a hand. I want you here.

Oh boy.

I pressed my lips together. Then I moved around his desk.

When I was within reaching distance, he reached. Hooking his arm around my waist, slowly and gently, he guided me in, turned me then pulled me into his lap so I had my legs over one arm of chair, my back resting against the other, my behind in his lap and both his arms around me.

Okay, Anya, babe, before I take you home to my bed, its important you get me, he said quietly.

I stared at him and when he didnt go on, I nodded.

I think you get from the times youve been with me that I like control, he went on.

Well, I got that all right.

I nodded again.

Right. His arms gave me a squeeze then one hand slid lightly up my arm causing goose bumps the entire way until it went over my shoulder and finally stopped at my neck where he curled his fingers around. Then he dipped his face close to mine. What you need to get is I like control. In all things.

Okay, I whispered.

So, I tell my woman not to drink, she doesnt drink. I tell her not to dance, she doesnt dance. I do these for my own reasons and you comply. You dont, you answer to me. You put one of my boys out, you again answer to me. And, baby, you dont want to answer to me.

Right, okay.

This I did not like.

Knight

His hand at my neck clenched gently and his face dipped closer. I wont hurt you. I would never hurt you. Not the way youre thinking. But I would make you pay and how youd pay might involve pain.

Oh my God.

What? I breathed.

An example, you got this, you knew it before now, you told Kurt you were gonna dance anyway, right now youd be over my knees a different way. Do you get me?

Oh. My. God!

My body went still.

Knight pulled it closer. The punishment will fit the crime, Anya. Not lasting, no marks and it wont go on for hours. And after, always, Ill take care of you. Tonight, you look good, that dress looks good on you and mens eyes were on you. I didnt like that. In your section, they can look, they can see, they cannot get close. On the dance floor, they see more, you movin the way you do when you dance, you give them more to see and they can get close. Youre mine. No one touches whats mine, gets close to whats mine, they dont even think about it. You on that dance floor, I saw them watching you and I knew they were thinking about it. That bothered me. I stopped it. If you dont get it now, you will that I wont ask you to do something you dont like or that makes you uncomfortable. Ill only ask you to do shit or not do shit thats important to me. If Im important to you, youll do it. And all this is the same when were in bed.

I didnt say anything, couldnt think of what to say. I just stared at him.

Knight kept talking.

You please me, Ill please you. You do what I tell you to do, Ill take care of you. You disobey me or act out, Ill punish you then Ill take care of you. His thumb swept my jaw and he whispered, And if you like your punishments, act out all you want, baby, then Ill give them to you but Ill always take care of you.

Was he crazy?

Or just kinky?

Are you into S&M? I whispered.

He moved back an inch. What Im not into is labels. What I am into is control. You do not drive my ride. You do not get drunk when I want to f**k you sober. You do not dance if I tell you not to. I am not into kink, animals, candle wax, toys, knives, blood, needles, clamps, strangulation and definitely not any shit that goes beyond all that. Its not a chosen lifestyle, playrooms and gear. Its not an inclination. Its life. I told you Id ask very little of you, baby and this is what Im asking. That you get this about me, you give it to me and if you f**k up, you take your punishment and we move on. You like it, wanna make it a game, youll get my limits, youll understand how I hand out punishment, youll know what youre buying. You buy it, I give it to you. I dont need it but I like it and if you want that game, Ill say, straight up, Ill be happy to play it.

And what if I dont want that game? I asked hesitantly.

That would be disappointing, he answered unhesitantly.

I studied him, my heart beating wildly and I whispered, Is this what dresses, shoes and cell phones buys you?

I froze solid at the change in his face and the fury in his eyes as he whispered back, That, Anya, you confirmed you got me, would right now have your ass bared to me.

Oh God.

I pushed away.

His arm and hand got tighter.

I stopped pushing and breathed deep.

You stick by me, he ground out, you, and only you, will learn why I am how I am. No one knows. No one. But you, Anya, you stick with me, Ill share. And right now, bonus. Ill tell you what you already know but you dont understand. I like control and I have a temper. I see the world a certain way. I want my world a certain way. And I set about getting it. If I dont, if I cant control that, harness it, things can get ugly. So I do. When I do, say when Im punishing you, I never lose control because what Im doing is a release. And the only time Ill lose control is when Im finally inside you and youll like that, I promise you.

God, now he was turning me on, putting me off and making me curious all at the same time!

He drew in breath and the anger slid out of his eyes.

Then his thumb glided over my jaw, his hand shifted up to cup it and then his thumb slid across my cheek and then my lips as his eyes held mine and he whispered, I can do gentle. I can do normal. I can and will do you a lot of ways, baby. And you got a preference, all you gotta do is ask and if Im in the mood, Ill give it to you. But youre in my bed, my home, my ride, my club, you gotta get that Im the man, yield to that and trust that Ill always take care of you.

Do me a lot of ways?

I sought clarification.

Are you into, like, um tying me up? I asked.

Bondage? Restraints? Gags? he asked back.

I nodded.