“How so?”
“I guess I thought you would have expected me to go get the drinks.Maybe to have brewed the coffee this morning.”She shrugged.“I’m not sure.It seems like you’re always doing little things for me.”
“First of all, it makes sense that the first person out of bed would make the coffee.”
She shook her head.“It makes more sense to set it up the night before, put it on a timer and have it waiting when you get out of bed.”
“I forgot I was dealing with an expert.We should do that.”He took a drink from his smoothie.“Back to your question.Some relationships include that, certainly, just like many vanilla relationships do.But we’re both busy executives.Working together will make our lives together easier.To me, the most important part of the D/s dynamic is the respect.When something matters to me, I want you to very carefully consider what I say.And sexually…” He looked at her.
She felt the full force of his personality.
“I think you know what I expect.”
“To be in charge.”
“That has enormous responsibilities with it.I take them seriously.Your safety and well-being are paramount.”
She’d already seen the proof of that.
“But if you ever feel the overwhelming urge to get up before me, after I work out, I have coffee and an omelet, three eggs, fresh veggies, including onions and green peppers.Red ones are nice for color.Heat them in olive oil before adding the eggs.”
“I keep telling you that you have the wrong woman.”
He took the final bite of his bagel.“Couldn’t hurt to ask.”
Her phone rang and she checked the caller identification.“Erin,” she said.
“Surprised she waited this long.”
“Uhm…”
“Go ahead and take it.I’m sure I have email, and I’ve got newspapers to read.”He pulled out his own phone.
She left the coffee shop and moved to a shady area beneath a tree, away from potential eavesdroppers.
“What the hell?”
“Good morning to you too, Erin.”
“Are you kidding me?You’re marrying my brother and I have to find out from him?And I’ve been waiting twenty-four hours to hear from you.Isn’t that cruel and unusual punishment?What about chicks before dicks?Hmm?I’m not waiting another minute.Spill it.Now.Every detail.”
She stood and began to pace.“Nothing much to tell.There’s been no decision yet, and I’m not sure we’ll be able to come to terms.”
“What, did you two sign a blood oath to stick to the same story?”
Lara laughed.“It’s the truth.”
“Okay, fine.I’ll pry.Who proposed?”
“I did.”
“What?Did you at least buy him dinner first before frying his male mind?”
She shook her head.No matter what was happening, Erin kept her outrageous attitude.Lara was reminded of their times in college where Erin would dramatically enter their dorm room, throw herself on the bed, hug a pillow and regale her with stories.“Nothing like that.After I met with you—”
“So you weren’t playing it cool on Wednesday night?It was my idea all along?”
“I went back to the office after I had dinner with you.I ran into Connor.He was getting on the elevator as I was exiting.”
