Deep Domination (Bought by the Billionaire #2) by Lili Valente Page A

was it something someone taught you to enjoy?”
    He hummed thoughtfully beneath his breath as he took another bite of his sandwich. She glanced over to find him gazing out at the sea, seeming to seriously consider her question.
    “A little of both I guess,” he finally said. “Control was always important in my family. I learned how valuable it was to possess and costly to lose at a young age. But I think the first time I realized I was turned on by it was when I used to play jewel thief with the little girl who lived next door. She would pretend to be a cat burglar and I was an American spy working for the CIA.”
    He smiled softly to himself. “There was nothing more exciting than catching her with a sack of her mother’s jewelry and tying her to a tree.”
    The unexpected confession made her laugh. “That’s cute. A little twisted, but cute.”
    “There was nothing twisted about it,” he said, smile widening. “Laney enjoyed it. I could tell. Even back then.”
    His words made Hannah’s thoughts turn back to the night she’d awoken with her arms tied above her head and Jackson hovering over her in the darkness, smelling like rain, sex, and temptation. The memory made her nipples tighten and a flush of arousal sweep through her.
    “I bet you could,” she murmured, reaching for the chilled bottle of guava juice, hoping it would cool her off.
    “How about you?” he asked. “Did you ever live out those submissive fantasies of yours with anyone else?”
    She swallowed the juice, grateful for the extra moment to think. She didn’t know how Harley would have answered that—whether she had lovers before Jackson who were Dominant or not—but she figured she was safer sticking to her own truth. “No. There hasn’t been anyone since we moved. At least, nothing serious. I dated a couple of men a few years ago, but I’ve been too busy for that kind of thing.”
    “Too busy for a fuck buddy?” He lifted one brow. “I find that hard to believe.”
    “It’s the truth,” she said. “Seems like we’re both into honesty today.”
    He met her gaze and something flickered behind his eyes.
    “What are you thinking?” she whispered, even though she knew she shouldn’t push. She shouldn’t crave the intimacy of knowing his thoughts any more than she should crave his touch. He was the enemy, but it was hard to remember that on such a seemingly normal afternoon, when she felt more like she was on a first date than enjoying a brief break in her captivity.
    “I am very interested in honesty today,” he said, his voice rough with an emotion she couldn’t decipher. But it wasn’t anger and whatever he was feeling made it impossible to pull her eyes away from his. “But this isn’t the place for it. We should finish up and start back soon so we’ll have time to clean up before dinner. The cook is making something special.”
    “Her name’s Eva,” Hannah whispered, feeling it needed to be said. Names were important. Names helped strangers become friends.
    If only she could tell Jackson her real name.
    She wondered what would happen, if maybe he would understand why she’d lied…
    “I know,” Jackson said, leaning closer. “But she wasn’t supposed to tell you her name. She wasn’t supposed to talk to you at all.”
    Fear whispered through Hannah’s chest. “She was just being polite. She didn’t say anything else, except that she didn’t speak English. Please, forget I said anything. I don’t want to get her in trouble.”
    Jackson reached up, grabbing the back of her braid and giving a gentle tug, forcing her to tilt her head back, bringing her lips closer to his. “If I didn’t know better I would think you cared.”
    “I do care,” she said, heart racing as Jackson’s mouth moved closer and the spicy, masculine smell of him swept through her head.
    “Maybe,” he murmured. “Maybe you do.”
    Hannah’s pulse stuttered and her lips burned. She was so certain he was going to kiss her—and