“I didn’t want to crowd you guys.” Hereached out and took a sip of his water, trying to cover another yawn.
We’d basically thought the same thing. “Welike having you over, but we don’t want to rush you.”
It was a big leap from meeting a guy in aclub to sleeping over several nights a week. The fact that it was two guysdidn’t change that. I took a deep breath then forced myself to continue totalk. “I think part of it is that we’re not sure how to approach things likethat.”
I glanced around and made sure no one couldoverhear me. “If the relationship was vanilla and going this well, I probablywould’ve asked you to stay over earlier in the week, but I didn’t want you tothink…I wasn’t sure how to…”
I was so good at talking to people at work,but when something like submission got thrown into the conversation, my brainjust seemed to stop functioning. I closed my eyes for a moment and picturedmyself in my office. Dare was sitting in front of my desk and we were talkingabout his portfolio.
“I wasn’t sure the best way to approach thesituation. I also wasn’t sure if asking you to stay over, since that wouldprobably lead to sex, would be too forward.” Ha, got it out and soundedreasonably functional.
As I opened my eyes, I saw Dare smilingsoftly, but he nodded and was taking what I said seriously. “I get that. It’sprobably something we should’ve spelled out earlier. I don’t mind you guystaking initiative on anything. If a situation turns sexual, I’ll probably take overunless you specifically say something, but when it comes to dates or myspending the night, I need to know what you want.”
He reached across the table and squeezed myhand. “I love knowing what you want.”
I could feel the heat crawling up my face,but I didn’t look away. I wasn’t sure if he was just talking about the sexualpart of our relationship or something more, but from the look on his face, Ihad a feeling he was hinting at the emotional side as well.
“Well, I want you to spend the night.” Ifelt a surge of pride when his smile widened.
“Good, because I have a bag in the car.”That had me laughing as Dare grinned. “I was hopeful but wasn’t going to makean issue of it if the topic didn’t come up.”
“I’d have been disappointed if it hadn’tcome up.” Just because I couldn’t work up the nerve to talk to him aboutsomething didn’t mean I wouldn’t like it.
But he had no way of knowing that.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to let outsome of what I was thinking. “I’ll let you know when something is pushing toomuch, but I don’t think you have to worry about anything. Feel free to bring uptopics you think might make me uncomfortable.”
We couldn’t go through a relationship withhim worrying about upsetting me.
Dare’s fingers caressed over mine. Heseemed to be processing what I’d said, but I wasn’t sure what was going throughhis head. That needed to change. I’d thought that sentence entirely too manytimes lately. “What are you thinking?”
Ha. Not so difficult, was it?
A smile spread over his face. “I’m thinkinghow special you are.”
Now I was the one who just sat therestaring. I hadn’t been expecting that response.
His eyes twinkled with laughter but hetried to hold it back. “I was also thinking about how glad I am that I noticedyou at the club.”
“Me too.” I wasn’t the best atcommunicating my feelings, but I hoped he knew I meant it.
Glad might not even be the right word, butI wasn’t sure there was a better way to describe how it felt. I’d met just theright person at just the right time to make me see what had been in front of meall along—and what I’d be missing if I didn’t open up.
He squeezed my hand and his thumb startedmaking slow strokes over my wrist. “Are you ready to go home, handsome?”
“Yes.” I was more than ready to go homewith my Dom and boyfriend.
Chapter 11
Ryan
Mom, I’m dating two men.
Dad, Scott and I aren’t just friendsanymore.
Guys, Scott and I are both dating thiscute, sexy Dom.
Yeah…the last one probably wasn’t my bestoption. But really, the other two wouldn’t win any awards either.
