“You haven’t safeworded, so I hope I haven’t crossed a line,” he said. “You know your safewords, right?”
I side-eyed him. “We went through them fifteen minutes ago.”
“Right. Yeah. Just checking.”
He was more than checking. He was struggling to let go.
“Allow me tojust checktoo,” I said, gesturing for him to take the other couch while I sat down on the closest. “You’re a masochist, Jordan. I’m a Sadist. You’ve beenveryclear on the fact that you get the best mental releases from pain. Pain also fuels you, you’ve said. It makes you angry and fight back until there’s no fight left.”
He nodded hesitantly. “I feel like you’re building up to something here.”
“You’re sharp.” I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my thighs, and I clasped my hands casually. “So I’ll ask again. What did you call me earlier?”
He bit his lip. “I have a better question?—”
“No, you don’t.” I felt my jaw tick, and I stared at him.
“Gosh.” He shifted in his seat. “Like a cute noodle, I’m trying to wriggle myself out of this situation.”
“How’s that going for you?”
He tipped his hand in a silentso-so.
I waited him out.
He was stubborn, I could give him that.
Even better for me. “I like ’em feisty” would be engraved on my headstone.
“Is this where you go fetch floggers and shackles to put me in my place?” he asked.
“Why would I fetch a flogger? You’re not getting a reward.”
There it was, the yikes-face. He hid it quickly, though.
He tilted his head. “Why even bring up that I’m a maso? Wouldn’t that be a reward too, if you beat me?”
I leaned back and draped both my arms along the top cushions. “You’re not here to suffer tonight, whether you get off on it or not. You wanna play with Daddy for the first time and lose yourself in his control.”
He swallowed. Even with his mask on, I could see the uncertainties amassing. The question was if he could swallow his pride and retreat.
Fuck me, I’d missed this—and I’d never really had it in the first place. I’d gotten a weak taste of it here and there, just enough to make me work harder to deny my nature.
“We could do that, you know,” he reasoned. “If we just forgot this little hiccup ever happened. I’m ready to cuddle. Are you?”
I smirked faintly.
Nate and James were on their way over. I saw them in my periphery, but I didn’t break eye contact with Jordan yet. For this to blow over, I’d settle for nothing less than sweet redemption. I wanted him on his knees, begging me to forgive him.
It was me he was testing. He’d lose respect for me if he could walk all over me.
I wasn’t even gonna let him step on my toes.
“How’s it going over here?” Nathan asked.
I gave Jordan one more stare before I shifted my gaze to my husband. “What did you bring us?”
“A whiskey sour for you, and a vodka Sprite with a splash of blue curaçao for little Jordan. James informed me it’s a favorite.”
