They spent a lot of time down here, obviously.
Not looking back at Ian, I went to the center of the rug, eased down to my knees, and waited for him to join me.
With every passing second, I could hear my heartbeats increase, anticipation building, making it easy to drift in my head. Dozens of questions appeared: Why was I here? What did I want from this guy? Would it even be possible to find a Dominant who would take on someone like me? If and when I did, would he understand me? Get that I only wanted to please in whatever way possible?
Ultimately, that was what I needed. Probably more than I needed love. I needed to serve, to feel appreciated. Maybe one day I’d feel loved in a way that mattered, but I didn’t hold my breath thinking about it.
“Tell me something about yourself,” Ian said when his feet came into my field of vision. “Something most people don’t know.”
“My mother was fifteen when she had me,” I said easily. There were millions of secrets stored in my head. While I felt they were better left there, I didn’t think Ian would agree.
“Fifteen, huh?”
I heard the familiar creak of leather when he took a seat on the sofa. “Our mother was nineteen. What about your father?”
“He was not fifteen.”
“Ah. And how old was he?”
“Twenty-eight.”
Which, yes, meant he had been having sex with a minor. That wasn’t the worst of his transgressions, though. Not by a long shot.
“Did they get married?”
“No, Sir. My mother left me with him when I was two, said she was too young to have a baby or a husband. Or at least, that’s what my father told me.”
“Just you and him, then?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Do you love Everly?”
The question took me by surprise, but I hid it the best I could. “Yes, Sir.”
“I can tell.” He was quiet for a moment before he added, “She loves you, too.”
It wasn’t a question and I wouldn’t have known how to respond if he’d asked it.
“She doesn’t know how deep that love runs, does she?”
“No, Sir.”
“Why haven’t you told her?”
“Because … it’s complicated,” I admitted. “It wouldn’t change things between us, so I figure it’s better left unsaid.”
“Complicated how?”
I should’ve known he was going to give me the third degree. “I’d rather not get into it.”
“Fine.” I could hear him moving. “You can go back upstairs then.”
“No, wait,” I blurted when he began walking toward his desk.
He stopped, pivoted.
When I looked up at him, I saw his disappointment. He wasn’t angry, which didn’t surprise me. The man was completely controlled.
“You’re finished talking,” he stated. “Seems like the conversation is over.”
I didn’t want it to be over and I told him as much.
Ian stepped closer until he was standing directly in front of me. I stared up at him and a tremor danced down my spine. It was an intimidating stance, one that generally put me on edge.
Unlike with most men I’d encountered in my life, I didn’t feel threatened by him. It was such a strange feeling, I wasn’t even sure how to process it. And because of that, I needed this, needed him. So, if he wanted to talk, I couldn’t see any reason not to tell him everything he wanted to know.
“Stand up,” he commanded.
I rolled to my feet, keeping my movements smooth.
“Strip.”
Swallowing hard, I heeded the command, stripping off my shorts and T-shirt, setting them on the sofa cushion before resuming my spot in front of him.
“Turn around, face the sofa.”
I did.
Ian moved around me, returning to the sofa and taking his seat.
I didn’t fidget, didn’t so much as flinch. I knew the purpose of being naked in front of a Dominant. It was my vulnerability he was after.
“Do you run?” he asked.
“Yes, Sir.”
“Look at me, Dante.”
I lifted my gaze to his face.
“Very nice. I like to see your eyes. I’m a runner also,” he admitted. “Isaac and I usually do five miles each morning. Perhaps you’ll join us.”
“If you like, Sir.”
“I’d like a lot of things from you.”
His admission had warmth coursing through me.
“Now tell me how your relationship with Everly is complicated.”
With my eyes locked with his, I decided to confess. “I love her. Have for a long time. But what she wants and what I want are too similar for it ever to work between us.”
“And what do you both want?”
“To serve our Dominant, to find someone who would put us before all others.”
“Do you lean more toward male or female Dominants?”
“Male.”
“Why is that?”
“I don’t want to serve a female.”
He didn’t say anything, but his eyes implored me, urged me to continue.
“Everly and I are friends,” I told him. “Good friends.”
“Have you fucked her?”
“No, Sir.”
“But you want to?”
“Not fuck,” I admitted. “Make love.”
“You have something against fucking?”
“No, Sir. But that’s not what I feel with Everly.”
