The Billionaires Sub by MS Parker

hadn’t been able to argue with that even though I’d still wanted to.
    He took the suitcase, giving me a stern look when I picked up the smaller bag. I narrowed my eyes and waited for him to say something. He didn’t, but his mouth did that twitchy thing when he was trying not to smile. I followed him into the cabin – the house, my mind contradicted – and kicked off my shoes. A stairwell was to our right and he started up that, pausing a few steps down the hall until I got to the top of the stairs.
    “There are three bedrooms,” he said. “The first door on either side are master bedrooms with their own bath. The last door on the right is to a bathroom, the one on the left is to a small bedroom. Take your pick.”
    A part of me was a little disappointed that he didn’t simply lead me into his bedroom, but another part was relieved. I knew that anyone witnessing this situation would automatically assume that he wanted sex in exchange for what he was giving me, but they would be wrong. The fact that he was letting me choose the room told me that he wasn’t asking for anything.
    “I’ll take the other one,” I said with a smile. “I’m sure you have one where you prefer to sleep.”
    He gestured to the door to the right, so I moved to the one to the left. I felt him watching me, but he didn’t say anything, so I didn’t either. We put my things that weren’t really my things down in the room, and then he asked me if I wanted a tour.
    He showed me the two other rooms and the bathroom even though I had my own. Then we went downstairs, and he showed me the living room, the dining room, and the kitchen. He walked past another door without acknowledging it.
    “The porch is enclosed and heated, which is nice when it’s cold but you want to get a feel of being outside.”
    He was just starting to turn around when my curiosity got the better of me and I opened the door he’d passed.
    My jaw dropped.
    The room was about the same size as the bedrooms upstairs. And there was a bed in it.
    But the similarities stopped there.
    I recognized one of the things on the wall as a flogger. I assumed there were names for some of the other things I saw, but I had no clue what those would be. I knew what rope was. Scarves. And I was pretty sure there were some sort of leather restraints.
    I saw all of it and none of it. Pieces of it. The room was done in tasteful black and white, but it was almost glaring. Shocking.
    “I usually keep that door locked.” His voice was mild, almost as if he was discussing the weather.
    I managed to tear my eyes away and look as Cross came to stand next to me. He had that careful expression on again, and his body was stiff, as if he was bracing himself for some sort of blow. His eyes met mine, and held for a few beats before he broke the silence.
    “You’re not running away,” he said slowly.
    I shook my head. “I’m not.” My voice was barely above a whisper, and I couldn’t look away.
    He reached out and ran the side of his finger along my shoulder and up the side of my neck. I shivered, goosebumps breaking out along my skin. Arousal tightened my stomach, brought heat to my cheeks. If a single touch could set me on fire, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to handle anything else.
    “I want you, Hanna.” His voice was low, caressing my body with an almost physical touch.
    Oh fuck.
    Now should’ve been the time I told him that this wasn’t a good idea, that this wasn’t going to work. I needed to tell him that I wasn’t what he wanted, what he needed. I had to let him know that I wasn’t the sort of girl who had one-night stands, or who would be satisfied being one.
    “I want you,” he repeated. His voice was hypnotizing. “And not just for one night. I want to introduce you to my world, Hanna. I think you’ll like it.”
    The silence stretched as his invitation hung in the air.
    “I don’t know,” I answered honestly, knowing that’s what he’d want.
    If I’d learned