Cherished by Lauren Maya; Dane Banks

majority of the day. How easily she was already becoming acclimated.
    In the middle of the large sitting area was a large, plush-looking cushion.
    “Go kneel on the pillow,” Xander directed her.
    Her first instinct was to hesitate, to question, but she was fast learning her role. She was also learning that she had no desire to disappoint Xander—or the others. They seemed so eager to please her and in return, Xander had asked only for complete obedience. She intended to give it to him.
    She dropped his hand and walked to where the deep-red-colored cushion lay on the floor. It was thoughtful that if he’d expected her to kneel, that he’d provided a barrier to the stone tile of the floor.
    She sank to her knees, settling onto the comfortable pillow.
    “Up higher,” Xander said from across the room. “Up on yourknees. Pull your hair back and then place your hands at your sides.”
    Gone was the tender, gentle tone of the man who spoke of spoiling her, replaced by the steel thread of command.
    She complied, pushing up to her knees so that her bottom no longer rested on the backs of her legs. She pulled her hair over her shoulders, letting it fall down her back and then she placed her hands down at her sides.
    “Very nice.”
    There was approval in Xander’s voice that gave her satisfaction. She wanted to please him.
    From the corner of her eye, she saw Xander take a seat in one of the comfortable leather armchairs a short distance away. She wasn’t certain what exactly was in store for her, but she was hyped on nervous energy and intensely curious.
    Her gaze jerked up when she heard footsteps. Garon entered the room. He glanced her way, his heated gaze traveling over her body, but he made no move toward her. Instead he went to sit in one of the chairs by Xander.
    A moment later, Nico followed behind and he too gifted her with an appreciative look that curled her toes. But he, like Garon, found a seat to slouch in.
    She managed to keep her frown to herself. Was she to be an ornament on display? She hated not knowing.
    Several minutes passed. She grew fidgety and flexed her fingers. So okay, she probably wasn’t good submissive material. It wasn’t that she didn’t have what it took to submit or to be obedient. She was just…impatient. And impetuous. She wasn’t used to having to restrain herself or her responses. This all felt extremely alien to her.
    Another set of footsteps sounded. She looked up and this time saw Sebastien standing across from her, his eyes gleaming as hetook in her pose. Instead of going to sit as the others had, he walked toward her.
    He stopped right in front of her and reached down to cup her jaw.
    “I wonder if you have any idea how you look to me? To them? A beautiful woman, naked, kneeling in submission, awaiting our pleasure. I wonder if you realize how much power you have.”
    She raised an eyebrow at his choice of words. Power? She wouldn’t have thought she had any. She’d signed away any power, any choice she had when she’d agreed to this whole arrangement. And yet somehow she thought he was talking about a different kind of power altogether. Feminine power.
    He rubbed his thumb over her cheek, still holding her so that she was forced to look up at him. “Tell me, Talia, have you ever seen a man’s cock?”
    Her eyes narrowed. “You showered with me. Of course I have.”
    “Other than mine,” he said softly.
    “I’ve seen…pictures.”
    “So you’ve never held one. Never touched one. Never had one in your mouth.”
    She blushed and shook her head, not able to speak without squeaking in embarrassment.
    He released her jaw and then reached for the zipper of his pants. The sound was loud in the silence, the rasp sending chills over her skin. He unbuttoned his jeans and pushed just enough that they were down around his hips.
    “Well, my innocent little virgin. You’re going to learn to suck cock,” he said in a lazy tone. “When I’ve finished, you’ll suck the