Page 203 of Masters of Pleasure
“I get that, but… I mean, most people don’t immediately jump into a relationship after a first date.There are multiple dates before they do a relationship.”Iris squirmed on top of the bed, trying to get comfortable and also make herself look a little more seductive.Seductive was good, right?She leaned back on her elbows so she was propped up and hoped it didn’t look stupid.
“This isn’t a date.”He said the words so quickly, Iris had to roll her eyes.
“Are you trying to convince yourself or me?”Before he could answer, she quickly went on.“Why can’t we just go with the flow?This was a fun night.I’d love to do it again with you sometime, with no expectation of a relationship.Though I’ll be honest, I’d rather not close that door entirely.It would be nice to know there’s a chance we could go on a real date in the future.”
He finally turned around, coming to sit at the end of the bed before he answered.
“I’m too old for you.”
That wasn’t a no.
“How old are you?”She was pretty sure he was around her brother’s age, maybe a little older, but she wasn’t sure.
“Thirty-four.”
“A whole nine years… oh, no…” Iris flopped back onto the bed, throwing her arms out wide.“You’re right, Grandpa.I can’t believe I let you put your wrinkled, old— eek!”
Do not poke the cranky Dom too much.
On the other hand, poking at him got him to put his hands on her again, even if it was to turn her over on the bed.Since her butt had been right on the edge, that put her in the perfect position for him to spank—and he did exactly that, right on top of her already tender-from-being-flogged cheeks.
Iris yelped and wriggled, trying to escape his hand, even as she enjoyed the sensation of being pinned down and spanked.
“You were saying?”Despite the sternness in his voice, she could hear his amusement.Iris turned her head to look over her shoulder and pouted at him.
“I said the same thing you did.I don’t see why I should be punished for agreeing with you.”
Law
She was an incredible brat, and he didn’t know why he liked that so much.He shouldn’t.
He also didn’t know why he was pulling her up from her position, so he could settle her on his lap.He knew he shouldn’t, yet he did it, anyway.It felt good.It felt right.She was seriously messing with his self-control, and he was on the highway toward destruction.
Once she was on his lap, she snuggled in and rubbed her face against his shoulder, sighing happily as she settled.
“I’m not really a go-with-the-flow kind of person,” he said finally.“I’m… I’m the person with a plan.The responsible person.The one everyone can count on to know what the next step is, the one who won’t let anyone down.That’s who I’ve chosen to be.”
He hadn’t always been that person, and he never wanted to go back to being the person he had been.He’d let down the people most important to him and had vowednever again.
“I can’t imagine you being anything else.Will keeping the future open to possible dating change all that?”Iris rubbed her face against his chest and yawned.
No.
Maybe not.
I don’t know.
It was thenotknowing for sure that stymied him—not knowing whether he’d be able to keep control of himself, not wanting another woman to become collateral damage if he fell off the wagon.
I’ve been sober for nine years.What makes me think I’ll fall off the wagon?
The little voice in his head sounded an awful lot like Asad.As usual.Law scowled.
But it had a point.
He’d had strict rules in place because he’d needed to prove something to himself.He’d never put a time limit on those rules, but maybe he should have.Did he really believe he needed to keep everyone at a distance forever?That he couldn’t have a relationship with someone ever again?
Also maybe.
