Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
He couldn’t seem to decide how to respond and sighed a few times before he gave in. “You’re right.”
It was painful but I wasn’t going to deny it.
“I know.” That had sexy frustration flashing in his eyes, but he held back whatever he was imagining doing to me. “I also know this is new and we need to work on talking more. I also need to figure out when I can push you and when you don’t want me to.”
Because that was clear as mud.
That earned me another big sigh but he managed not to roll his eyes. “I’ve never had to figure that out but it’s a reasonable point.”
“I know.” If he thought I wasn’t going to point that out, he was crazy. I was going to enjoy being right while I was on a roll. “So we’ll start working on that at dinner?”
Frowning still, he cocked his head. “No.”
It was thoughtful more than argumentative and not a safeword, so I waited to see what he would do next.
“I think…I think we need to start now?” Not looking quite as confident as he was aiming for, he faked it by standing straighter again. “I think we need to start now.”
His brain was a wonderfully curious place.
“Where would you like to start?” I wasn’t even going to begin to guess.
His sigh said that had been a good decision on my part. “Um, I shouldn’t have shut you down when you texted me at lunch. I realized at the time that you were trying to get me to talk about what I was comfortable with and I kept playing dumb.”
Wessie did that really poorly most of the time, so it hadn’t been hard to read between the lines. “If you’re not ready for a conversation, that’s okay.”
Most of the time.
“But you need to know when you can push and when you can’t.” Closing his eyes, he took a breath before opening them and stepping closer to me. He wasn’t quite touching but he’d very deliberately put himself in my bubble. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry for not asking more questions and for not getting clearer limits from you about this kind of stuff.” I wasn’t going to tell Conner we’d skipped a few steps unless I had to. “But we’re going to work on it.”
Then I wouldn’t have to face the drama monster and tell him we’d done everything backward.
“Yes.” He looked like he was agreeing with me, but he didn’t move back or start heading for the locker room. “If you’d…”
Pausing, he shook his head and started again. “If I hadn’t stopped you from being…more than my friend earlier, what would you have done?”
A lot.
His Dom would’ve done a lot.
“I don’t mind being professional here and simply being friends when we’re at either of our workplaces.” I was out and didn’t care but that didn’t mean we had to change how we behaved. “But if I hadn’t been thinking of that kind of stuff, then I’d have probably fucked with you a bit between sets. Stood too close and made sure you knew you made me hard.”
Just listing it off logically was enough to get a sexy whine out of him.
I had to pretend to ignore it as I shrugged and kept going, though. “I’d have touched you more and talked to you about this morning.”
There were so many ways we could’ve made working out even more fun.
“Then after we were finished, I’d have made you get a shower in the locker room…right beside me, of course.” That had his mouth dropping open…which definitely wasn’t a safeword. “I’d have kept my hands to myself and behaved, but I think it would’ve felt a bit different now.”
He’d showered at the gym on a regular basis, especially if he was heading out afterward. He was just usually very careful not to end up naked near me, and it was easy to see why based on his reaction. “You could behave, though, couldn’t you? I mean, you’re not that big of a slut, are you?”
Desire and what I’d come to realize was humiliation flashed in his eyes.
He was that big of a slut and we both knew it.
Chapter 19
Weston
He knew the best ways to fuck with me.
It was frustrating…okay…sometimes it was frustrating.
“I.” Managing not to whine too loudly, I closed my mouth and paused before I tried again. “I’m really working to control my reactions around you. I didn’t have to work this hard before but…but before there wasn’t any reality to think about.”
Reality was crazy real sometimes.
Cyrus smirked. “Reality is distracting, huh?”
“Yes.” I tried not to sound dramatic but I was pretty sure it hadn’t worked based on how wide his smile got. “I should’ve made my thoughts…”
Louder?
Clearer?
Less confusing?
When I shrugged and probably looked dramatic, he chuckled. “I should’ve asked and not backed away from the conversation. But in my defense, in the past you mentioned not wanting a Dom to take over your life outside of the bedroom.”