My nerves are palpable, Ryder reaching over to steady my knee in the passenger seat of his car. “Talk to me, baby girl.”
“What if your family hates me?”
“They’re going to love you. They are excited to meet you.”
“Maybe I should have brought Jude with me. Someone in my corner. Although I think she would mount your brother, given half the chance.”
“Look at me.” He quickly glances at me. “I’min your corner.”
“What if they can tell I’m your dirty little sub?”
“Unless you’re wearing a shirt that says those exact words, I think we’re going to be just fine. And you say it like it’s a bad thing. You’re my girlfriend. The first I’ve wanted to bring home to meet my family since I was in high school, and my mom insisted that she would get pictures of me and my prom date.”
“Not even your last sub? I heard you were close.”
“Who do I have to thank for telling all my secrets?”
“I’m not ratting them out.”
“One of the subs.”
I look to him with a sickly-sweet smile. “I’m making kinky friends. Be happy.” I can’t be mad when she looks at me with that face.
“No, I didn’t take her to meet anyone outside of the club.”
“What happened if you don’t mind me asking?”
“She was cheating on me with a Dom that had been invited to play with us. I was getting ready to collar her. I thought it was love.”
“And that’s why you freaked out when you thought I was cheating.”
“What I feel for you… she doesn’t even come close. IknowI’m in love with you. It’s as permanent as true north.”
“And if your family hates me?”
“It won’t happen. Try to relax. As your Dom, I need you to trust me. Can you do that, baby girl?”
“We’re not in the club right now. It’s different.”
“I know…” he says with a frown, “… you’re not a twenty-four-seven sub.”
He moves his hand back to the steering wheel.
“Does it bother you?”
“It’s fine.”
“That’s not what I asked.” My pulse quickens.
“Eventually, I would like that.”
“And maybe one day I will be okay with it, but not right now. I’m just finding my feet at the club. I love what we have.”
“So do I. I’m just being honest. It’s not something I’ve done in the past. I want more when it comes to us. I want it all.”
“Most guys would give a girl a marriage license rather than a license to whip her twenty-four hours a day.” The moment the words leave my lips, I wish I could take them back.
“Is that something you would want? Down the line.” The firm set of his jaw tells me I’ve hit a nerve.
