Surrender Under His Command

my God she's beautiful

Jessa stood on the street corner, waiting for Damien. She knew she was early, but each minute she waited, doubt and nerves settled in.

She shifted from one foot to another. What had she been thinking, agreeing to this? She had no business going out for dinner with anyone at the moment. She needed to keep her head down and concentrate on herself and the baby.

But Damien was hard to resist. She only hoped she wasn’t making the same mistakes all over again.

When she had first met Victor, there had been something about his take-charge attitude that had intrigued her. She’d thought him protective, caring, strong.

She had been so wrong.

Was she also wrong about Damien? Could he be an asshole as well?

Maybe all dominant men were? Maybe everything she had read about how protective and loving dominant men could be was really just fiction. Nerves bubbling, she turned to walk away. This was stupid.

“Jessa!” Damien called out.

She stopped, unable to ignore the command in his voice. Damn it.

Turning, she watched Damien stride toward her, her throat dry. She swallowed, trying to find her voice. He was so handsome, he took her breath away.

He stopped in front of her, holding out his hand. Against her better judgment, she let him take her hand in his. Tingles of pleasure raced up her arm, her n*****s instantly hardening. Victor had never had this effect on her.

“You weren’t leaving, were you?” he asked.

“N-no,” she stuttered.

He stared down at her knowingly. She thought she’d been getting better at lying, but it seemed Damien saw straight through her.

Then he smiled and letting go of her hand, held out his arm. She slipped her hand in the crook of his elbow.

“Good,” he said. “I have been looking forward to this all day. I would hate to be deprived of your company.”

“You’ll probably be disappointed. I’m not that interesting.”

“Hey. Look at me.”

Jessa glanced up at him.

“You could never disappoint me.”

Oh, if only he knew. But she gave him a small smile and straightened her shoulders. What was up with all this self-pity? Must be fatigue, she always grew more emotional whenever she was tired.

“Let’s go eat. I’m starving.” Damien patted his stomach and Jessa snorted, leading him around the corner to the restaurant. It didn’t look like much from the outside, and she snuck a glance up at him as she steered him toward it.

Damien’s expression didn’t change, though. He just reached forward and opened the door.

“Ladies first.”

…

Jessa chuckled as she and Damien left the restaurant. She’d spent most of the evening laughing and eating. She felt pleasantly full and happy.

As she stepped out onto the pavement, reality hit her. Damien wasn’t hers. This was just a one-time thing.

And now she had to say goodbye.

“I had a really good night,” she said, stopping so she could face him.

Who knew he’d have such a good sense of humor?

“That sounds like you’re saying goodbye,” he murmured, cupping her cheek. “Let me drive you to your apartment. I’ll walk you to the door, we can neck for a bit and then once we’re all hot and bothered you can tell me goodbye.”

“Neck?” She giggled. “Nobody says neck anymore. I’m pretty sure that went out in the fifties.”

He shrugged good-naturedly. “I can be a bit old-fashioned.”

“How long have you lived in the states?”

She was changing the topic, but he didn’t seem to mind.

“Nearly 13 years, long enough for me to lose most of my accent.”

“Do you miss it?” she asked.

He looked off into the distance. “Sometimes.” A sad look crossed his face.

Jessa tugged on his hand. “Take me home with you.” It was incredibly bold. Something the old Jessa would never have done. But it was time to embrace the new her, the Jessa that had escaped her abusive husband, who was trying to carve out a life for her and her baby. She was more determined and stronger than she had ever thought.

She could have refused a ride home with him. Could have gotten him to drop her off at the same place as she had the other night, but she was lonely.

She wanted just one night where she felt safe and happy. Damien could give her that. She might not know him well, and her instincts about men had never been good, but right at that moment she was willing to throw caution away.

His eyes widened as he stared down at her.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

She nodded. “I’m sure. Let’s go.” Before I change my mind.

Thankfully, he wrapped his arm around her waist and led her down the street to his car.

***

By the time Damien pulled up in front of his sprawling two-story home, he could tell that Jessa’s nerves were starting to get the better of her. She’d grown increasingly pale and her hands were clenched together on her lap.

That backpack she carried with her everywhere was tightly pressed between her legs. One leg jiggled up and down as she looked nervously up at his house.

It didn’t seem like she had much, her clothes were worn, her backpack scruffy and well-used, so his house was likely as intimidating as hell to her.

Glancing up at it, he wondered if he shouldn’t have gone with something smaller. But he liked plenty of space and hated having neighbors pinning him in.

“Too much?” he asked.

Jessa turned to look at him. “What?”

Good, at least she was focused on him now.

“The house, is it too much? A bit gaudy?”

Her lips twitched. “Gaudy?”

“What? Another word that went out in the fifties?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I think that one went out well before then.”

“Cheeky brat,” he told her with a grin. Reaching out he grabbed her hand. “Jessa, it’s just a house. I promise that nothing is going to happen here that you don’t want to happen. We can just go in and have a nightcap, maybe watch a movie. You can stay in the spare bedroom if you want or I can drive you home. It’s entirely—”

“Damien,” she interrupted.

“Yes?”

“Shut up and kiss me.” Leaning over, she grabbed his face between her hands and kissed him. He soon took over the kiss, thrusting his tongue between her lips. He drew her closer wanting to drink her in.

When he finally pulled back, they were both breathing deeply and his c**k was pressed against his pants, demanding release.

Jessa’s cheeks were red, her eyes dazed.

“Wow.”

“Yes,” he agreed, trying to calm his racing heart. “Let’s take this inside.”

He kept a firm hold on her hand as he led her into his house, as if he were afraid she might just disappear. She paused in the foyer to remove her shoes.

“Don’t worry about your shoes, love,” he told her.

Shrugging, she pushed them to the side. “Does anyone else live here?”

He shook his head. “I have a housekeeper, but she lives offsite. Robert, my handyman, lives above the garage. Sometimes Holly stays, but not very often.”

“So this whole house is for you?”

“Yep, house, grounds, pool.”

“Oh… you have a pool.”

He heard the longing in her voice. “Come,” he commanded, pulling her through the large living area to the French doors that led out to the pool.

Switching on the outdoor lights, he turned to face her.

Jessa’s face was filled with longing as she stared at the crystal waters. It was definitely a warm enough night for a swim.

“Let’s go for a swim.” He was already stripping off his shirt.

She shook her head. “I don’t have a bathing suit.”

“You have a bra and panties, same thing.” And she would have to stay here until they dried.

She watched him, seemingly riveted as he stripped down to his underwear. He was gratified by the way her eyes widened, her breathing quickening as she took note of his erection pressing against his underwear.

Damien let her look for a long moment before turning and diving into the pool. Maybe the water would help cool his raging libido.

Then again, maybe not. He watched as Jessa stripped. Pulling off her pink shirt, she folded it neatly. She hesitated a moment then quickly stripped off her jeans.

My God, she’s beautiful. She crouched down in her underwear, sitting on the side of the pool with her legs dangling in.