i climbed him leisurely, systematically kissing his throat, his chest, nibbling the dark disks of nipples as they hardened under my touch. i finally turned my attention to his cock, tonguing his length and licking off the drop of pre-cum at its tip, savoring his flavor before gliding him into my mouth, deeper until he hit the back of my throat.

"christ, erica." he sucked in a sharp breath.

i reveled at the small victory. he was much better at the self-control game, never letting on that i was tormenting him with my touches until now. his thighs were taut with restraint when i released him, sliding him out of my mouth with slow retreat.

"how do you feel?" i asked.

"come here, and i'll show you." his eyes were half-lidded and dark with lust.

my body hummed. i positioned myself above his cock and inched onto him slowly, giving my body time to adjust to his length.

a wave of heat rolled over me as i sheathed him completely. i rose, and he grabbed my hips, slamming me down onto him, reminding me of the place inside me that only he could satisfy. i threw my head back and cursed. i stilled, overcome with how well we fit, how no one else had ever come close to this.

he grasped my hips and tried to flip me, but i angled away so he couldn't.

"no," i said firmly.

he stilled and loosened his hold. "we should probably talk about safewords."

"that is my safeword. when i say no, trust me, i mean it."

"okay," he said quietly.

"i'm going to fuck you until my legs turn to jelly and i can't remember my name. and then you can be in charge, all right?"

"whatever you say, boss." he swallowed hard and laced his fingers behind his head, a self-imposed restraint.

i circled my hips, rising and dropping down with measured impact until i found a rhythm. my breasts were heavy and tender. i tugged on my nipples to quell the deep ache to be touched. blake's hands never strayed but his eyes never left me. his hips lifted, meeting my strokes and hitting me deeper with each one. the climax coiled inside me. i quivered, biting my lip until it was numb, trapped in an orgasm that kept climbing to its peak.

"i want to hear you," he said. "now, erica."

the damn broke and a strangled cry left me as i came hard. breathless and losing steam, i fell forward, threaded my fingers with his, and kissed him passionately.

blake sat up with me, took one nipple in his mouth and then the other, and drove himself deeper into me. i whimpered. he cupped my face with one palm and circled my waist with the other, bringing me tight against him and kissing me-a deep, penetrating kiss that spoke volumes. i could taste the need on his lips. i was more than ready to let him take control.

"it's okay," i said.

he turned us over with measured control, covering my body with his before lunging hard. i arched, welcoming everything he had to give me. with each thrust i unraveled, hours of wanting him coming to a peak, to this pinnacle of a moment where i could lose myself in him.

i kissed him frantically, caught between anger and love and passion. my nails scratched down his back as we climaxed together, slick with sweat.

blake buried his face in my neck. "you're mine," he whispered.

i squeezed my eyes shut and held him close. he had no idea how true that was.

we lay, breathless and sated, on the bed, side by side. i admired blake's amazing body stretched out before me. i trailed my fingers lightly over the raised flesh on his back where i'd dug into him harder than i meant to.

"i got you," i whispered.

"if you keep touching me like that, i'm going to get you."

i giggled and rolled to my back, mesmerized by the moment and unable to take my eyes off the beautiful man in my bed. he propped himself up and stared at me.

"that was incredible, by the way," he said. he tucked my hair behind my ear, tracing my curves, as if he were committing them to memory.

"why is that you can trust me with your body, after everything you've been through? and while i've built and sold dozens of businesses, you won't trust me with yours?"

i groaned and closed my eyes. he wasn't going to let a little fucking get in his way. in fact, he'd likely use it to his advantage.

"the business is everything to me." i cringed as the words left me, but in some ways, it was true. "that's not what i meant. the business, it represents years of effort. not just the time i spent building it, but the years i spent putting myself through school and becoming who i am."

"yes, and..."

"when we're together it means something to both of us. i do trust you, more than i've ever trusted anyone. but what about when something happens between us, or you get tired of my little business venture? what if it becomes a drain on you, or fails?"

"the amount of money you're asking for is inconsequential to me," he said. "it's unlikely, if not impossible, that it could ever become a drain. plus, i wouldn't let a business i was involved with fail."

"then why didn't you just invest when you had the chance? what's the difference now, other than you flying into a rage every time i get within five feet of another man?"

"i was more interested in figuring you out than writing you a check. i knew if i passed, max would pick it up. i was right. now...things are different. i care about you, and i want to care about the things that matter to you."

the proclamation settled over me, and a little part of me even wanted to give in. i'd spent weeks harboring doubts about the business because he'd passed so easily. to know that he'd seen value from the start was reassuring, but this didn't change the fact that mixing business with pleasure, at least to this degree, was a terrible idea.

"i appreciate that, but it's not a good reason to invest. it's bad enough that you and max have issues, but i can't put the business at risk if you and i have tension. it's just too much."

he was silent, but i sensed that the conversation was far from over. he drew me closer and tucked me against his chest where i fell asleep, warm and safe.

i checked my email in the morning, still worn out from the previous night. blake had woken me more than once, possibly attempting to screw me into surrender on the investment issue. i didn't argue, but i didn't surrender, at least when it came to the business.

i fished through the junk mail until i hit a message from sid titled "results." my stomach dropped.