She rested her head against the arm of the couch and let her gaze drift toward the elevator door. Her skin tingled, anticipation licking over her body as she imagined what Ash would choose to do when he got home.
Arousal hummed low in her body. She was tempted to slide her fingers between her legs and stroke herself to a quick orgasm. It wouldn’t take much. She was worked up just thinking about Ash’s arrival. But she didn’t want to take away from whatever he planned.
So she waited, each second seemingly an hour.
When she heard the elevator, her breath hiccupped and stuck a moment in her throat. Her mouth went dry and she hastily licked her lips just as the doors slid open, revealing Ash in the suit he’d worn to work.
One hand shoved into his slacks pocket, his pose casual and arrogant. He exuded wealth, charm and . . . power.
She shivered as their gazes met and held. His eyes burned over her, flaring when he took in her pose. Appreciation gleamed, and she was glad she’d opted for seductive instead of just sitting and waiting.
He strode toward her, his jaw tight, eyes blazing. She lifted her head, tracking his progress.
“Hello,” she said huskily. “And welcome home.”
He surprised her by dropping to his knees in front of the couch. He swept in and fastened his mouth to hers in a heated rush that took her breath away. His hand tangled in her hair, yanking her closer so there was no space between them.
“Fucking beautiful,” he growled. “Been thinking about this all day. Me coming home, seeing you waiting. But nothing could have prepared me for the reality.”
He traced a finger down her cheek, stroking gently as he sucked in breaths to catch up from their kiss.
“Really glad you’re here, Josie.”
“I’m glad too,” she murmured.
“Had a dozen different ideas on the way home. Thinking of how I’d take you when I got here. The minute I saw you, I forgot everything but the way you look perched on my couch.”
“I’d love to hear all those ideas. I’m intrigued now.”
He smiled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Some of them are probably illegal.”
“Even better.”
He laughed, low and husky, the sound vibrating over her skin. “I like your enthusiasm.”
“Should we write them all down and draw one out of a jar to decide how we have sex?” she asked with a grin. “Or can I count on you to be decisive in the matter?”
“My darling is being cheeky today,” he drawled. “I might have to punish you for that.”
Heat rushed into her cheeks. One of his eyebrows lifted.
“You like that idea.”
She cleared her throat, unsure of what to say. Ash had said he wasn’t into games. Wasn’t her playing the naughty submissive to earn a punishment a game?
Ash’s gaze narrowed and he slid his fingers underneath her chin, forcing it upward so she met his gaze.
“What the hell are you thinking right now?”
She sighed. “It’s silly. I guess I was worried about how to respond to that. And how it would make me sound if I did say that the thought of you punishing me turned me on. You said you weren’t into games and you wanted to keep it real.”
He brushed his thumb over her lips to silence her.
“First of all, never ever hesitate to tell me anything. Especially what turns you on, what you want, what you need from me. Sexually, emotionally, whatever. Second thing, your desires aren’t a game. I get that what I said may have caused some confusion. What I meant was that you and me, we’re real. Not a game. Doesn’t mean we can’t play together. As long as you get that what we do is real.”
“Clear as mud,” Josie said, amusement thick in her voice.
“We haven’t talked about punishment. Have to tell you, I’m not much into the discipline thing. I’m not your father and you’re not a child. But there are things I like, and there’s a big difference between thinking you need punishing and me wanting to redden your ass because it turns me on. Get where I’m coming from?”
“Yeah,” she said breathily.