Carter held off onpointing out that they’d met at a family barbecue so he hadn’t been worriedabout much going wrong, but Grant was so pleased Carter didn’t want to burst hisbubble. By the time they finished browsing around, Carter had some good ideasfor the shop and a full stomach from all the cookies they’d eaten. As theywandered back to Grant’s car, Carter smiled. “I had fun. This was a good idea.”
Getting a chanceto talk to Grant and get to know him in a casual environment had been a muchbetter choice than a movie or anything like that. Even the few off looks they’dbeen given hadn’t dampened his enthusiasm for the evening. The only thing thatwas pulling at him were the unanswered questions he still had but wasn’t readyto ask—and wasn’t sure how to bring up.
As they drove backtoward Carter’s house, Grant looked over and gave him a wicked grin. “You knowI’m going to make everyone look at schedules tomorrow to figure out when we cango up to the club.”
Carter barked outa laugh. “I had a feeling you were going to do that.” He’d have been verysurprised if that wasn’t top on Grant’s to-do list.
“You still goingto let me dress you up?” Grant’s gaze was heated, and Carter could feel thearousal radiating from him. How much did the idea of picking out his clothesappeal to the Dom?
“Yes. I won’t backout.” Even though he probably should. “I just want to make sure I won’t lookridiculous or anything. I don’t want to embarrass Wyatt or your family.”
Imagining going upthere with everyone made him queasy, but he wasn’t going to change his mind.When Wyatt had initially brought up going a few years ago, he’d thought thehardest part would be all the strangers. Now it was going to be all the peoplethat he knew.
“You are going to lookincredible. Now, you know you’re going to have to show me what you have beforewe go so I can pick it out. I don’t want to wait until the last minute, in caseI need to buy you something else.” Grant’s eyes lit up and Carter wasn’t surewhat turned his boyfriend on more, buying something new for him to wear orgoing through his lingerie drawer.
“I never said you couldbuy me something.” That seemed too intimate, even though theyweretalking about going to a BDSM club.
“That’s justunderstood as acceptable boyfriend behavior when he’s a Dom.” Grant nodded likethe discussion was done and the issue settled.
“Hmm, we’ll seeabout that.” He had a feeling he would have to learn to pick his battles withthe train that was Grant, or he’d end up getting flattened.
Did he mindGrant buying him something?
The first thingthat came to Carter’s mind was yes, but he couldn’t decide why. Grant was goingto be looking through his lingerie. Why would buying something matter? Maybe itwas because it felt more real…more nerve-racking.
If Grant boughthim something, especially something that was sexy and feminine, it would meanthat he really understood Carter. The idea was frightening—and that made him feelstupid. Just because he hadn’t found a man who understood and supported what heliked didn’t mean there was anything wrong with finding one who did.
He’d wanted aunicorn, but now that he had one, he was thinking about running in the oppositedirection—that wasn’t the most reasonable behavior. If it were something elsebesides lingerie, he wouldn’t have thought about it. Flowers, fine. Dinner out,fine. He was going to have to do some thinking.
Carter hadn’t evenrealized they’d pulled up into his driveway until Grant turned off the engine.He turned to Grant awkwardly and was relieved when the Dom didn’t seem to care thathis mind had wandered.
Grant smiled andgave him a knowing look before leaning back against the door. “I had funtonight. Thank you for going out with me.”
It was sweet andpolite. Carter was immediately suspicious. “I had a good time. Dinner waswonderful, and the market was a great idea.”
Grant’s chestpuffed up. “I know.” His grin took on a serious note. “Don’t forget to mentionthat when my mother asks.”
What?
“Your mother?”Carter thought he had to have misunderstood something.
“With everyonefinding ‘Mr. Right’ there’s only so long she’s going to stay traveling. We’vegot a bet going about how much longer it will be. I’m thinking about a week,but Brent thinks another three because she should be traveling for several moreweeks. Bryce, on the other hand, is saying two weeks, and he was very confident.I think he’s cheated somehow, but I can’t prove it. Garrett refused to guessbecause he said she was like a ghost and talking about her could conjure her.He’s been hanging around Calen too much.” Grant frowned and shook his head. “Bryceis the sneaky one. You have to be careful, because he looked too innocent.”
Carter was stillreeling from the comment about Grant’s mother, and was having a hard timecatching up. “But your mother?”
Grant noddedseriously. “Will grill you to see if I behaved myself.”
“Huh?”
The Dom lookedslightly sheepish but waved his hand like it was nothing. “Don’t worry aboutthat part. You can just tell her I took you out to dinner and we walked aroundthe night market, and that I was a perfect gentleman.”
Oh, there was astory there. Carter wondered if Wyatt had heard it yet.
If he hadn’t, itwouldn’t be hard to figure out. The brothers were always trying to tattle oneach other, and someone would be glad to fill Wyatt in on the family gossip.Carter nodded reluctantly. “Sure. I’m just not supposed to mention the lingeriestuff or the fact that you thought you’d earned a good night kiss?”
Seriouslyconsidering the question, Grant nodded. “Probably not, just to be on the safeside.”
What had the Domdone?
