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He gazed at her then, and even though she was dying to say something – anything, really, because this kind of silence chafed at her – Daria managed to stay silent and wait with bated breath. Nothing had hurt more than seeing Nik fully dressed and ready to leave her, but she had her pride, too. He might be God’s personally delivered gift to her, but she would not beg for him to stay.
When Nik finally spoke, his voice was harsh. “If we do this, it must be on my terms. My rules.” Even as he spoke, a part of Nik was disbelieving, unable to credit him for going this far and breaking so many of his self-imposed rules just to allow Daria into his life.
Daria swallowed. “What kind of rules?” Please make them about BDSM, since that would be so cool—-
Then she caught him frowning in exasperation. “You were thinking out loud.”
She turned red. “Sorry.”
“And it’s not about that.” His jaw clenched. “Rule number one for me is that I don’t share.”
Oh.
She smiled tentatively at him. “I don’t like sharing either.”
“I must be in full control of this thing we have between us.”
This thing between them, she repeated to herself. Wouldn’t it be easier to just call it, well, a relationship? She thought of telling Nik so but again decided against it at the grim look on his face. Instead, she said obediently, “You’re in control.”
His gaze turned skeptical, as if doubting her capability to be completely obedient. “You will be in control. I mean it. I’ll make the perfect Sub, I mean—-”
But he had already caught on, and Nik was torn between amusement and exasperation. “What is it with you and BDSM?”
Instead of answering, she said breezily, “Next rule, please.” She was barely done speaking when Nik cupped her chin and made her look into his eyes. Her smile faded at the intense look in his gaze, and she knew that whatever he was about to say, this was truly the rule that mattered.
“I don’t like liars.”
Ah.
“I’m not a liar.” Mostly. There was the thing about the Gatorade bottle, which she hadn’t yet told him about, but surely that didn’t count?”
“I mean it, Daria,” he warned. “There are no second chances with me for people who lie.” His gaze bored into hers. “So if there is something you want to confess now...”
She seriously tried to think of something to confess, just to be on the safe side. “I honestly think I’m pretty? Is that bad?”
His lips twitched, but he managed to keep his voice solemn as he answered, “No.”
She sighed in relief. “Then that’s the only thing I need to tell you about.”
“Are you sure? There are no other skeletons you believe I should know about?”
She thought about her mother. “Umm, no.” And there goes Lie #1.
When she didn’t say anything else, he decided it was up to him to ask what he cared most about. “I told you I don’t like sharing. I want to own you while you’re with me – your mind, your body, your soul. And that means...” His face hardened. “I don’t want even the memory of past lovers lingering while you’re with me.” Releasing her chin, he moved his hand down, stroking her neck before settling to cup her breast, his large palm more than enough to cover the entire globe.
Her breath caught.
Nik squeezed the pale, warm flesh. “So tell me,” he invited quietly. “Do you have any past lovers?”
She thought about the twenty-eight frogs she had kissed. She had never lied about it to anyone, but somehow, when she looked at Nik, she just couldn’t make herself say it.
“No.”
Oh God, she had just lied to Nik the second time.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
