Love and Language Read Free Page A

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