Under His Command (For His Pleasure, Book 17) by Kelly Favor Page A

her eyes. “And I see you locked me out of your calendar, too.”
    “I’m not discussing this with you right now. I’ve got to go, and you should too.
    You’re clearly not in any condition to continue working.”
    “Fine,” she said, tossing a package of Cup ‘a Soup against the wall by the sink.
    Then she crossed the room to her desk, grabbed her purse and coat, and started out.
    As she passed by Easton, he grabbed her wrist forcefully. His breath was against her hair, her cheek. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but it’s going to stop right now.”
    “Or what? You’ll fire me? You’ve already started pushing me out, so I don’t see how I’m making anything worse.”
    He stared at her intently and she could feel the heat and anger and need pulsating off him. “I’m not going to fire you,” he whispered. “But I do have to punish you. Now go outside and wait for me by the garage, around back.”
    She gave him a sidelong look, afraid he might take it back if she said anything else. “Fine,” she whispered.
    He released his grip on her wrist. “Go, I’ll be out soon.”

    ***
    Easton wouldn’t say much to her as they drove to where he was taking her, and Kennedy was afraid to ask. She didn’t want to spoil it or make him change his mind.
    She was happy to just be in the car next to him, knowing that something would soon happen between them.
    But as they got closer and closer to the destination—whatever the destination was—she started to get anxious. He was very serious, his hands gripping the steering wheel, eyes on the road, unwavering.
    What if he wants to have sex? She wondered.
    Well isn’t that what you wanted? Why are you getting cold feet now?
    Of course she still wanted him. At the same time, she was in a much different headspace today than she’d been the last time they’d been together like this. There was a feeling of disconnection, a total lack of warmth or even interest from him. Easton seemed cold and distant and angry, and she didn’t want to have her virginity taken away under those circumstances.
    Kennedy felt inhibited.
    What if he thinks I’m like a dead fish, totally uptight and dull in bed?
    Then again, she thought, as they continued down twisting streets—he might not have had any intention of making love to her.
    He might just want to hurt me, tie me up, cause me pain.
    She began aggressively biting her nails, and when they pulled up out front of The Church, she started to shake like an animal about to go to the slaughterhouse.
    Easton stopped the car and looked at her. “What’s wrong with you?”
    “I…I don’t know,” she whispered, still biting her nails.
    “Yes you do.” His voice was clipped and impatient.
    “Actually I don’t.”
    “Who do you think you are?” he said. He turned to her, his broad chest expansive in his suit, his entire aura was overpowering in its masculinity and brute sexuality.
    “I’m not anyone.”
    “Don’t try that with me, Kennedy. You and these games—it’s beneath you.”
    “I’m not playing games,” she told him, her lips drawing back defensively.
    “Maybe I have a brain, maybe I have feelings, maybe I’m not just some toy for you to play with and throw away.”
    “I thought you said you wanted this. Correct me if I’m wrong, but you said you’d do anything, that you trusted me.”
    She started biting her thumbnail. “I do want this, and I will do anything, but...”
    she wasn’t sure how to explain the dread that had come over her. “Something just feels…off.”
    “Okay. I suppose when you said you’d do anything, you meant as long as you get to call the shots and play your little games,” Easton said. “I believe you’d prefer I take you back to your apartment and your neighbor friend. He seems nice and safe. All right, then, Kennedy—have it your way.” He put the car in drive and peeled out into the street, hugging a turn as they hit the main drag.
    “I didn’t say I wanted to go