"Dirty talk?"

She lifts a shoulder in a half shrug as her cheeks flush. I take that as a 'yes'.

"Being watched?"

There's the reaction I've been waiting on, the flush extending down her neck, her lips twitching as she averts her eyes.

Ding.

Ding.

Ding.

I pull on her, and she doesn't resist, letting me slip my hand into hers and lead her outside, onto the balcony. It's near dusk, the sky a vibrant pink and orange swirl that's slowly fading into darkness. I pause on the balcony and gaze at her, eyes raking down her body.

This is going to be fun.

Letting go of her, I take a step back, holding my hands up to stop her before she follows me. Her brow furrows, but she listens, watching me warily as I take another step and sit down on an oversize lounge chair, long and wide enough that I can stretch my legs out and still have plenty of room.

I settle in, relaxing back, and kick my shoes off before looking at her again.

She's fidgeting nervously. Good.

"Strip."

The word sets her face on fire, cheeks bright red, eyes widened with shock. "What?"

"Strip," I say again. "Take your clothes off."

She doesn't move an inch. "I thought you wanted to play around, that we would..." Her eyes dart toward the glass doors leading back into the room. "That you'd, you know..."

"Playing around isn't always about me. I was rough on you last night. Tonight we'll try something different."

"Oh."

That's all she says, like she never considered we could play around any other way that didn't involve violence.

I nod toward her as I say the word for the third time. "Strip."

This time she doesn't question it.

Reaching down, she grasps the bottom of her dress and quickly pulls it over her head before letting it drop to the floor, leaving her in a strapless black bra and a matching thong. She kicks off her shoes before hesitating, eyeing me questioningly.

I nod, encouraging her to go on.

The bra hits the patio floor within seconds before she hooks her thumbs on the sides of her thong, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes as she yanks them down. She stands there afterward, completely naked, but positions her arms in front of her in an attempt to shield her body.

I just stare at her, taking in every curve that she'll let me see.

She fidgets more from the unabashed attention.

"Well?" she says, a bite to her words. "Are you happy now?"

Huh. Defensive.

I like it.

"Very," I confess. "Although, your stripping skills could use a bit of work."

"Yeah, well, excuse the fuck out of me. You just said take them off... wasn't aware I was supposed to put on some Def Leppard and make a show of it."

"Now you know for next time."

She rolls her eyes, and I can't help but laugh.

"So is this how we're playing around today? Humiliating me?"

"No, but I'm intrigued by the fact that you're humiliated. I was under the impression being watched turned you on."

"This is different."

"How so?"

She groans with frustration. "It just is. You're looking at me, and you're not saying anything."

"What do you want me to say?"

"I don't know." She throws her hands up in exasperation, forgetting she was trying to cover herself. "Anything!"

I motion for her to come closer and she obliges, stepping right over to me. As soon as she's close enough, I grasp her hips, pulling her down onto the lounge chair with me. She straddles my lap, her hands resting between her legs.

"I love every inch of you," I tell her. "Every part of your body that makes you nervous gives me pleasure. I see no flaws, nothing for you to be ashamed of or humiliated over... nothing you should hide from me. I've seen it all, and I love it. You're beautiful, baby."

Her expression softens, shoulders relaxing. "That's the first time you've ever called me that."

"Called you what?"

"Baby," she says quietly. "You never call me that."

"Does it bother you?"

"What? No, of course not." She looks at me like she's legitimately confused. "Why would it?"

"Some women find it degrading."

"Not me. It makes me feel..." She smiles softly as she trails off. "Well, you know."

"Makes you feel what?" I ask curiously.

"Like I'm special," she says. "Like you cherish me. Like you love me."

"I do," I say, my hands drifting from her hips up to her chest, my fingertips grazing her breasts, thumbs brushing against her erect nipples. "I'm in love with you, baby."

She smiles when I say it again, biting down on her bottom lip to fight off a full-blown grin. Had I known the word would have such an impact on her, I'd have said it long ago.

And I would've said it over… and over… and over again.

I kiss her softly, tweaking her nipples as she squirms against me. My lips move from hers, tracing her jawline, before I whisper in her ear. "Touch yourself."

Her eyes widen as I pull away, relaxing back in the chair. "Seriously?"

I nod, my hands moving back to her hips. "I want to watch."

"I, uh..." She's nervous again. "I don't know."

"Just lay back and close your eyes," I say. "Show me how you pleasure yourself."