Love and Language Read online

  “Some are hard to pick out. I bet she never dreamed either of us are Doms. She’s private so you two should work out there. Unless you don’t like older women.”

  “I wouldn’t say that. I prefer a woman who knows what she wants and who she is.” Ben chewed his straw. “Thanks.”

  “Go get that tutoring job before someone else does.” Nelson sat back and grabbed a wireless keyboard.

  Ben found no flaws in Nelson’s logic. If Jane didn’t want him, he could still tutor her. It’d be something to take his mind off his wait. Ben got up and nodded to Nelson. “I think I will. Talk to you later. Thanks.”

  * * * *

  Ten minutes later, Ben knocked on Jane’s office door. If he thought about it too much, he’d find a good reason not to make the move. She might not want a younger guy, especially for a Dom. She might think of him as a student. He could change her mind by taking control, but a sub that intrigued and sparked for a Dom always had a little more power over him than any other could.

  When she looked up from her desk, desire grabbed hold of him.

  “Can I help you, Ben?” she asked.

  He walked in. “Actually, I wanted to help you. The tutoring job you posted.”

  Her face brightened, and those brown eyes sparkled. “Oh, that’d be great. I’m leaving in July, so there isn’t a ton of time, but I just need the basics.”

  “You know nothing about either language?”

  “I tried some computer stuff, and I have a phrase app and translator on my phone. I want to enjoy the trip and not be constantly frustrated. I do better with a person.” She blushed.

  He wanted to feel her warm skin. Instead, he stuck his hands in his pockets but inched closer to her. “Okay, well most tourist places will have things in English and guides who speak your language. But it’s good to have the basics. I can help there. Italian is much easier because, like a lot of English, it has a Latin root. Greek is trickier.”

  She nodded. “Well, I’d like to try. What do you charge?”

  “You know, it’s really not about the money. I could use a project to distract me from waiting to defend my dissertation. How about some homemade dinners in exchange for lessons? I’ll come up with some drills to get the basics down quickly, and we’ll see how good of a student you are.” He grinned at her and resisted the urge to look down her crisp, white blouse.

  “That’s all? I guess college guys don’t have much home cooking. With the food court around, you don’t need to. I don’t make anything exotic or fancy, but it’s edible.” She shrugged. “Are you really sure that’s all you want?”

  “Good conversation along with it. Really, my evenings are filled with waiting for that appointment to defend my work. I just need that PhD, and I’ll be fine. This will give me something else to do.”

  Dinners meant they’d meet at her place and in private.

  “I remember those days. Don’t worry, you’ll sail through it. Then you can stress about publishing and getting tenure. We won’t talk about that. If you’ll be ready, we can start tonight. Does six work?” She scribbled her address on a piece of paper.

  “Six is great.” He slid his fingers over the back of her hand as he took the paper. A spark hit him, and he swore she blushed a little deeper. “See you tonight.”

  Chapter Two

  Checking the saucy mushroom chicken, Jane couldn’t believe her luck. Food in exchange for tutoring was a steal. Most college kids ate junk, but he wasn’t a kid! She had created a big line between her and the students so she wouldn’t make any missteps. The gray area Ben was in mixed her up. He was in his late twenties at least and had worked hard for his degrees. The man knew six languages fluently so this wouldn’t be much of a challenge for him. He had teaching experience that could help her. She wanted this tutoring. The fact that it was Ben, however, would be distracting! She had to focus on the language lessons and not his firm ass. Ben was everything she wanted. Smart, sexy and here. Okay, maybe he wasn’t everything.

  She left the chicken in the oven on low as she checked the rice pilaf and green beans. Setting those next to the chicken to keep hot, she tried to fight the impulse to go online to check if her post had any new responses. Ben was due any second, and his attention would be satisfying enough. The attraction couldn’t be ignored, but she refused to get her hopes up. There was no reason to suspect Ben was a Dom, and it didn’t matter how wonderful he was to look at or talk to. If he wasn’t into sexual dominance, he wasn’t the one for her. Ben could be a friend and colleague for years to come. She wouldn’t throw herself at a man and beg to be spanked if he wasn’t into it. Humiliation wasn’t her thing.

  That was actually a relief. She could lust after him and know that he simply wasn’t meant for her. A lifetime of working hard for what she wanted had proved to her that she didn’t need to settle for less than what she really desired.

  Giving in to her impulse, she opened her laptop and clicked on the link to the Masters Wanted blog just for a distraction. Maybe someone had responded, and she could get her hopes up about a stranger. The replies were all asking for more detail. Size, appearance, what she was into, her hard limits and kinky preferences. They all read more like job searches than romantic matches.

  None of those Doms were the right one for her. She wanted more than just someone for play. Why did her private life have to be extra complicated? Leaving the computer on, she checked herself in the mirror. It felt silly, but she did it. She hadn’t changed clothes. That would look odd unless she’d changed into something casual. The white blouse and black skirt looked fine. Her cheeks were flushed, and her makeup only touched up.

  The doorbell rang. She crossed to the front of the house and opened the door before she got nervous. Ben had gone more casual, wearing black jeans and a black T-shirt with a light jacket over it. A messenger bag crossed his body and showed off his strong chest and that damn nipple ring. Her insides warmed, wanting to see it.

  “Hi, come on in.” She stepped back. “Dinner’s ready.”

  “Hi, great. I’m starving.” He followed her inside and closed the door behind him.

  “I can take your coat,” she offered.

  He set his bag on the loveseat then slid off the coat and set it on top. “It’s fine here.”

  “Okay.” She gestured to the set table. “Sit, and I’ll grab the food.”

  “It smells great.” He sat down and looked quite at home.

  As they ate, he told her about the plan for her lessons while she tried not to stare.

  “I’ll give you some sections to read over and practice. Then I can drill you in the evenings and see how far you’ve come. Some people learn faster than others. Some need to hear it. So we’ll play.” He grinned.

  Her cheeks went hot at his use of the word play, and she cleared her throat. After some water, she smiled. “Sounds great. Are you sure the food is a fair trade? I don’t want to steal your time and knowledge for a little home cooking. I’m sure your mom stuffed you over the holidays.”

  Ben chuckled and wiped his mouth. “My mom was never much of a cook. She and my dad were—well are—workaholics. They’re into international law and human rights campaigns. We’d end up in a country for a year or two and then another. All over Europe and the Americas.”

  “That’s how you learned all those languages,” she said.

  “Yes. Plus, I can eat just about anything. You have to try different stuff.” He grinned. “But my mom didn’t cook. Some places, we had a housekeeper. In the states, it was takeout or ordering in every night. Everyone was busy. When you change schools all the time, it’s like catch-up even if you’re ahead on the class work.”

  “It must’ve been hard to make friends. You’d feel so out of control all the time since you were always in a new environment.” She started thinking of him as a Dom and tried to stop it fast. Something in his presence and the way he stared at her with confidence sent her submissive sensors off. It wasn’t how he looked at her on campus. He stood taller
and spoke more firmly. Even if he were a Dom, he’d probably get his PhD, put in a little time teaching, and then move off somewhere exotic. “Do you miss traveling?”

  “No!” He sat back. “I like the odd vacation but not routinely traveling. College has been the longest time in my life where I’ve had the same address, the same friends and the same community. Most kids want to see the world, and I just wanted to settle down and have a life.”

  “Sounds like a lonely way to grow up.” She sympathized since she’d been a lonely child herself.

  “Oh no, I had two older brothers who made it crazy but never lonely. Our parents loved us, but they loved their work, too. Some days were an adventure, but most times, I wanted to be normal.” He shrugged. “I wouldn’t trade it, but that’s not what I want now.”

  He looked at her intently, and she had to break the gaze, or she’d be under the younger man’s spell. She reached for his plate. “Want more?”

  “No, I’m stuffed, thanks. It’s great. Where did you learn to cook?”

  “Self taught. I was a poor college kid on scholarships and student loans. It was cheaper to cook than order in or go out.” His childhood sounded so glamorous, with important parents. She didn’t want to talk about herself at all. “I’d offer dessert, but I don’t really have anything handy. Maybe, we should get to the lessons, so I don’t take up your entire evening.” She wiped her hands on a dishtowel then tugged the tablecloth off the old wooden table, so they had a clean working surface.

  “My entire evening is yours. I’ll stay all night if I have to.” He grabbed his bag and set it on the table.

  “Hopefully, I’m a better student than that.” She grabbed a pad of paper and a pen before taking her seat. Then she spied her laptop. Casually bringing it over to the table, she closed it. “Just in case.”

  “Well, you’ve got the phone app so you’ll never be totally screwed. Italian is easier for most people, so we’ll start there.” He sat next to her. “Now, close your eyes.”

  She looked at him as if it were a trick.

  “Seriously, listening is half the work. You’ll focus better with your eyes closed. I have a sleep mask if it will help you.” He pulled it out of his bag.

  To her, it was a blindfold, and she craved it, except she wanted to see him. “I guess.”

  “Okay.” He put the mask on her. “I’ll say something, and you repeat it.”

  She nodded. The sound of his commanding voice rippled over her body. When he started in Italian, she copied him and tried to focus on the tutorial and not the wetness between her legs or the heat from his body.

  “You’re a great student,” he said.

  The English jarred her. “Thank you. Repeating is easy.”

  “Comprehension will come from studying during the day when you have pockets of time. Getting your mouth and throat to obey and make the right sounds is the first step in a crash course.” He moved closer, and his arm slid along the back of her chair. “Now, tell me something else.”

  “Okay.” She licked her lips.

  “Why did you post on the Masters Wanted blog and never attend a single BDSM fetish group event?” he asked.

  Her stomach sank, but her arousal flipped into overdrive. “You looked at my computer?”

  She reached for the blindfold, and his hands covered hers. “Not at all. I can explain.”

  “You better!” she shot back.

  He laughed. His lips pressed to her ear, and his voice came out hushed and dark. “First, you need to finish your lesson.”

  For a split second, she wanted to throw him out. To run. But her feet wouldn’t move. Her back remained board straight, and her body was eager for attention and orders. If he was making fun of her, she didn’t care. The hope that he was the real thing kept her in that chair.

  Ben saw the conflict in her face. Her lower lip quivered, and her hands gripped the sides of the wooden seat.

  It was so homey here that he never wanted to leave, and this sexy domestic woman was nothing like his mother. He’d been teased countless times by newbies and part-time players who thought he must be working out mommy issues when he wanted to top an older woman. Truthfully, he hated newbie games. Young subs played them more often than older ones. He had control in his life now, and the sex was fun and intense his way. There was a calmness about Jane that spoke to him. She was a strong person but knew when she needed to give up control. She wasn’t one to be bossed around all the time. He saw her fighting the urge to disobey him right now to push the play forward.

  Another Italian phrase seemed to soothe her. He’d give her the lessons in language and see what else she needed. She repeated the phrase but didn’t wait for him to respond.

  “How did you know it was me who posted?” she demanded.

  “Don’t blame me. I’m no computer hacker. A friend in the fet group who administers the blog recommended you to me. He’s very skilled at hacking information but don’t worry. He wants to help, not cause trouble. It’s all very innocent. Don’t worry. There’s no shame in submission.” He ran a finger along her chin and watched her tense.

  She pushed up the blindfold and bolted from the chair. “Leave. I didn’t agree to sub for lessons. This is insane.”

  He grabbed her around the waist and pinned her arms to her sides. “I didn’t demand anything from you. Your secret is safe. I swear, I won’t tell, so please don’t tell anyone about me. I want to get my PhD and keep my job prospects. No one wants a guy teaching their eighteen-year-old daughter when they find out he likes to tie up women and spank them.”

  “You want me to trust you; trust me to play nice.” She struggled. Finally, she relaxed completely against him. The scent of her perfume and her soft short hair brushing his cheek sent Ben into a needy state of arousal.

  “You know I’m right. You’ve got more power here. You’ve got tenure and years of experience. It’d be embarrassing if students found out you’re a sub, but the college wouldn’t do anything to you. It’d be a joke. It could ruin my career, but I trust you. I haven’t done this with anyone from the college, but I can’t resist you.” He kissed the back of her neck.

  She shivered and wiggled against his body. “Why didn’t you say something before?”

  “In your office? You’d have thrown me out. I could feel it. We both like our privacy and professional reputations. That doesn’t mean we can’t have what we need, too.” He walked her back to the chair and sat her in it. “Tying you up might make the lessons more stimulating. Do you want to play with me?”

  She licked her lips. “How do I know you’re experienced?”

  “You know the BDSM fet group online? That’s how we were matched. That blog is an offshoot and a matchmaking meddler saw your post. He found out who you were and works at the university. He suggested I might fit all of your needs.” He cupped her gorgeous face in his hands. “I don’t need to tie you up. I can spank you. Tease you.”

  Her eyes darted to the messenger bag. “What’s in there?”

  “Whatever I might need.” He plucked open the buttons on her blouse and revealed her cleavage as it rose and fell with her deep breathing. Dropping a kiss between her breasts, he expected a harsh word or a shove. She gave him neither.

  He looked her in the eyes and kissed her. “Nelson was right. We’re a good fit.”

  “Nelson? Fit? We haven’t done anything yet. I’ve never subbed for anyone named Nelson,” she snapped.

  “Damn. No, you haven’t. He’s the one who figured out the post was from you. That’s enough question and answer for now. Do you want to play or not?” He stood and towered over her. Deep down, he prayed she didn’t throw him out. Not just for his career but because he wanted her now more than he’d ever wanted any woman. Her curves, her inner strength, and the pain behind her eyes that longed for someone to dig in and release her called to him.

  “Light play. A try out.” She nodded.

  “Safe word?”

  She shook her head. “Red. Yellow means slo
w down. Let’s stay standard and generic for now.”

  “Fine.” He put her blindfold back in place.

  Tension oozed from her. He could sense she was partly ashamed but very eager and curious to find out how she’d been discovered. He pulled nylon rope out of the bag and wrapped it around her arms and waist. Her posture is perfect, but the need for play was there.

  Slowly, he unbuttoned the blouse more and rubbed her perky nipples through the beige, cotton bra. “You want to be a good student, don’t you?”

  Her face went red as she nodded. He pinched her nipples before kissing her mouth. When she leaned into the kiss, he knew he had her. The soft moan from her lips went straight to his growing cock. It didn’t take much encouragement for him to get hard. He tugged the bra out of the way and sucked her nipples until she arched her back for more.

  Then he moved lower, pushing her legs apart and skirt up. Her legs pushed back a little. “Want to stop?” he asked.

  “No,” she said.

  He spread her legs and rubbed his fingers over her cotton panties. A groan escaped her lips.

  Dipping one digit under the fabric, he made lazy patterns in her folds. “You’re sure you don’t want to stop?”

  “Please don’t stop,” she gasped.

  Definitely not a newbie. Her legs stayed open as he tugged the panties aside and licked her cunt. She was wet and ready, but he’d make her wait. He just wanted a taste of her now. She needed to appreciate how eager she was for him.

  “You want me,” he said.

  “Yes, Sir,” she answered.

  The proper reply filled him with power and desire. “Good. You want to please me?”

  “Yes, Sir,” she said.

  “I’ll let you, but we’ll have another lesson tomorrow. You won’t get to play if you don’t pass your oral quizzes. Do you understand?”

  Her brow furrowed. “I think so, Sir.”

  “Cooking is paying for lessons. The play is your reward for being a good student. Understand now?” With one final lick to her clit, he let the panties go and stood up.