“Bottled?Or maybe some mineral water?”
“That would be wonderful.”She gave a polite half smile.
The loft was open, so she could watch as he went into the kitchen and pulled out a bottle from the fridge.Then he grabbed a lime, a knife and a cutting board.
He cut the fruit into precise pieces and dropped one into the bottom of a thick glass before adding the sparkling water.He nicked another piece of lime to garnish the rim.
“That was more work than you needed to go through,” she said as she accepted the drink.
She took a sip then toyed with the lime piece as she watched him pour a glass of wine.
“Something wrong?”he asked.
“I feel like you’re being polite.Overly polite, maybe.”
“Are you waiting for my evil twin to show up?”He grinned, and she felt completely disarmed.
“Sounds ridiculous that way.”
“But?”
“Yes.”
“You’re wondering when I rip your clothes off and beat you?How the whole BDSM experience fits with your expectations of marriage and what I mean when I ask you to submit to me?”
Her finger slipped, and the lime piece splashed into the mineral water.
“The answer to the first question is the moment you ask me.”
Her mouth dried.“I think I made it clear earlier.I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong woman if you think I’m going to ask you to rip my clothes off and beat me.”
“Perhaps.”He walked into the living room and invited, “Join me?”
She took a chair near the fireplace, her back to the window.Her choice was meant to keep as much distance between them as possible.
As she’d planned, he sat on the couch.“Tell me what you were hoping for when you came here.”
“I don’t know.What happened this afternoon bothered me.”
“In a good way?Bad way?”
“Both.”She placed her drink on one of several coasters that were scattered across the glass coffee table.“And truthfully, I want to appeal to your business sense and reiterate—”
“You have.”
She closed her mouth.
“Let’s start where we agree.Having me on BHI’s board will provide you with needed support and give the company some valuable feedback and direction.”
She nodded.
“Further, both companies benefit.”
“Yes.”
“So your hesitation is due to the fact I’m a Dom.”
“It is.I’m willing to make some arrangements with you.Maybe you could go to clubs, get your needs met that way?”
