She turned more toward him, her knee brushing against his hand on the gearshift. “So you’re a Dom?”

“Yes.”

“Do you…” She swallowed, wondering how to approach the subject. What if he said no? “I mean… are you open to new clients?”

“Sorry.” Liam shook his head, giving her jean-clad knee a gentle let-down squeeze. “I’m very particular.”

Her heart lurched in her chest. She couldn’t take no for an answer. She just couldn’t.

“So…? What…? I have to submit an application? Go through an interview process?”

“No.” He shook his head slowly, sadly.

“But-”

His hand moved to the gearshift, leaving her feeling cold again. “I’m afraid it’s invitation only.”

“And I’m not invited?” She turned toward the door, folding her arms across her chest, trying not to take what he said personally and failing, miserably. Patrick had been more than willing to talk to her, to set her at ease, to educate her and offer to set a scene with her.

This man-he was stubborn. Arrogant. And what did he know anyway?

“Why do you want to be a submissive?”

She sniffed. “I don’t.”

“No?” He looked at her, confused.

“I don’t want to be a submissive.” Katie swallowed, turning her face toward the window, feeling tears welling up. Oh god, not again. Hadn’t she’d cried enough in front of this awful man? “I am a submissive.”

They were quiet, the silence stretching as the Maserati covered the snow-covered road like a cat, purring low to the ground. They were getting closer to her home now and she wanted to give him a real answer, something that might change his mind, make him understand how important it was, how desperate she was.

So she told him about Thomas Dunn and “The Erotic Bondage Handbook.” And once she began, she couldn’t stop. She told him about all the other books and the web sites and how she’d found Patrick.