Read Beck & Call for Free Online

in hand.” He’d had to, though sometimes—when it suited a mission—his bosses at Langley had ordered him off leash.
    Not knowing this, Mia eyebrows waggled. “There’s a joke there, you know. Keeping yourself ‘in hand . ’”
    He returned half her smile. “I have a gift I want you to wear.”
    He retrieved the jewelry box from the inside breast pocket of his coat. Wisely, Hillary had left accessorizing Mia to him. Jake opened the case to show her what was inside.
    Mia’s hand went toward the gleaming contents but retreated. “Is it a necklace?”
    “It could pass for one, but it’s a collar.” Made of parallel steel chains in varying thicknesses, the thing was decorative but with a hint of brutality. Its links were slightly flattened, resembling those on chunky curb chain bracelets. Here and there a larger steel circle lay.
    Mia touched one with her finger. “What are these for?”
    “For attaching other things.”
    She looked at him, her big eyes searching his. He had a feeling his expression was giving things away. “Will you put it on me?” she asked softly.
    He wanted to kiss her so badly his mouth watered. “Face the window,” he said gruffly in command. “Hold your hair up out of my way.”
    Mia complied without hesitation. The exposed nape of her neck looked soft, but he didn’t kiss that either. He secured the heavy collar, smoothing it with his thumbs before drawing his hands away. Mia turned back around. The hot color on her cheeks created the impression that more than a necklace had been put on.
    “Will the people at Audition think I belong to you if I’m wearing this?”
    “They’d have thought that anyway,” he said.
    “Jake,” she began, and he sensed she was about to say something serious about her feelings.
    “No,” he said, firm but soft. “Property doesn’t speak unless it’s asked a question.”
    “Property—”
    He laid his hand across her mouth, silencing her. “From this moment forward you obey me. If you truly wish to object to something, your safe word is ‘daffodil.’ Say it, and I’ll listen to a request.”
    He’d succeeded in shocking her. Her lips worked but no sound emerged.
    “Good,” he said, dropping the lightest kiss onto them. “I know you’ll remember.”
    ~
    Mia felt like she’d stepped into an alternate reality, one where things she hadn’t known could arouse her did. Waves of excitement crashed through her nerves, simply because Jake had ordered her to obey. Her lips tingled from his glancing kiss the same as if he’d marauded them. Her pussy was growing wet and her nipples tightened. The strength of her reaction was a little alarming.
    It made her wonder what their exchange had done to him.
    When he shifted to check their progress through the side window, her gaze arrowed to his crotch. He didn’t wear his clothes super tight, but a bulge lifted his zipper.
    She fought a shiver at the healthy size of it.
    She looked away before he caught her staring, but of course the image lingered in her mind. Even without her gift, she’d have memorized it. Jake’s erect cock was impressive.
    Truthfully, she wasn’t sure he was wearing underwear.
    She bit the side of her thumb. The heavy collar had warmed around her neck, as if his hands were touching her and not chains. Her clitoris throbbed in reaction.
    Property doesn’t speak, he’d said.
    This is pretend, she warned herself. Don’t get too into this.
    Her body refused to listen. Jake reached without warning to take her hand, sending an involuntary jolt up her clit and deep into her. Mia inhaled loudly enough to be heard. The burst of sensation had almost felt like coming.
    “We’re nearly there,” he said, his gaze penetrating hers. The gleam in his hot blue eyes said he suspected what had happened. His callused fingers gripped hers a bit tighter. “Keep hold of my arm while we go inside. And behave yourself. Management will watch every move we make.”
    She opened her mouth to speak