Page 80 of Long for Me
Chapter Twenty-Six
Rebecca
How I concentrated on my dinner after Bennett’s proclamations and promises, I had no idea. Yet, somehow, I was able to eat my entire meal. As soon as our food was delivered, our kiss being separated well before I wanted to be done kissing him—although I was expecting that would never happen—Bennett guided our conversation to more pleasurable topics so fluidly, I was a step behind for a moment.
And yet, it was seamless, as talk shifted to simple things, childhood memories, hobbies, everything that was typically covered during a first date, and yet we were so far past that.
But it was easy. And that alone was tantalizing. It didn’t matter if Bennett and I were talking about work, our families, or sexual expectations, he guided everything with such strength and confidence, he made everything easy.
It was a delightful change from my past, the challenges I’d always had to fight for and yet now he was making things so simple, it was almost scarier to me than the first night I’d walked into Miranda and Shawn’s playroom.
“A hockey game?” I asked, scooping into a piece of a delicious chocolate mousse he’d ordered for us. “Is that what we’re doing tomorrow?”
“If you want to go. Simon’s a friend of mine, and I make as many games of his that I can. I told him we’d go and have dinner afterward with him and Chloe.”
“I told Miranda—”
“I know,” he said. “Miranda invited us to their house for dinner tomorrow. Said something about Shawn owing you a rack of lamb dinner.”
My cheeks heated. “He promised he’d make it for me if I went to Luminous for New Year’s.”
“Then, I suppose I owe Shawn as well.” He leaned in, lowering his voice. “We’ll do whatever you’re comfortable with, but Miranda said Simon and Chloe can come as well.”
“They know each other?” I asked, and at Bennett’s look, I understood. “They go to Luminous.”
“It’s dinner with friends, Rebecca. It’s not like we’re going to break out into an orgy.” He wrapped his mouth around his spoon, eating some of the mousse. And holy hell, it was sexy. His full lips, the gleam in his eyes as he winked. “Unless of course, you’d want that.”
I choked on my own bite of dessert and reached for my water. “Funny.”
“I wasn’t joking.”
Blood fled my face, and my body chilled. “What?”
“Luminous isn’t all whips and chains and crosses and bindings, Rebecca. I haven’t lied when I told you I prefer bondage being done by my body and my hands and I don’tneedthe floggers and canes and harsh play of others, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the lifestyle, exploring it, watching—” he paused “—or being watched.”
Holy shit.
“I’m only asking you to consider it, whenever you’re comfortable. If you ever want to explore things more deeply, you just have to ask.”
I gaped at him, unable to fully comprehend everything he was saying, but at the same time, a warm pulse began at the tops of my thighs. The chill that had trickled through me turned hotter, a slow, rolling wave spreading from my pussy and outward, upward.
He grinned at me knowingly. Leaning toward me, he cupped my face. The brush of his thumb over my cheek made me shiver.
“Although it pleases me greatly to see there might be a chance of it someday. Until then, we’ll enjoy tonight. Finish your dessert. I’m hungry for something else and considering I don’t think you want the waiter to see me eatingyou, we best be going soon.”
“Jesus, Bennett.”
He chuckled huskily, deep and growly, and it was glorious.
So much for him making things easy.
Good grief.
I finished a glass of champagne, thinking of what he wanted to do to me. Thinking of how much I wanted him to do those things to me, although, perhaps without the audience.
And then I thought of all the other things he said he wanted to explore.
He was willing to wait for me to be ready, but as he gathered our coats, helped me into mine and then guided us to his car, I couldn’t stop the possibilities from swirling in my mind.
