She heaves a sigh of relief. “Lead with that next time.”
“After everything we’ve been through, would you seriously be worried I might cancel our contract?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re stuck with me. For life. End of discussion. Can you live with that, baby girl?”
“I can handle that,” she says with a heartfelt grin. She’s so damn cute, it’s difficult to ever say no to her.
“Things have been different since the fire. Circumstances led me to be your twenty-four-seven Dom because I felt that was best for you as you recovered. Now that you’re doing so well, we need to discuss how you would like to proceed. Our contract specifically does not include your agreement to be my full-time submissive.” I try to read her expression, but she’s got quite the poker face.
“What do you want to talk about? Going back to the terms of our contract?”
I lean over, tucking a loose tendril of hair behind her ear. “I’m just aware that you’re moving forward. Your confidence is back. You are back in the kitchen, and we’ve been using the playroom at Venom. I don’t feel that youneedme to be a full-time Dom at this point, so it is entirely up to you how we proceed.” My pulse quickens as the words leave my lips. The mark of a strong Dominant is keeping your sub’s best interests at the forefront of everything you do.
She considers me for a moment, the knit of her brow marring her flawless features. “You don’t want to be my Dom all the time?”
“It’s not that. I’m asking whatyouwant.” Her cheeks blush as her eyes find mine.
“I know I wasn’t interested before, but…” That is the most glorious ‘but’ I’ve ever heard. Hope blooms in my chest. “I’ve found it freeing to be yours all the time, and I don’t understand it.”
“It’s a common consensus for submissives. You can rest easy knowing someone will always have your back. Trust is the number one tenet of a Dom/sub relationship. You should chat with Helena or Nadia. They can probably offer more insight than I can.”
“I feel content in our current dynamic. I don’t want to change anything.”
“Then would you like to add it to our current contract?” My tone is measured as my insides erupt like a volcano.
“Do we need a contract? We live together. We both know what we want from this relationship.”
“I’ve never had a relationship without a contract.”
“Let me be your first, Ry. I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me I’m yours.”
“Fucking hell, baby girl.” I’m floored. This is not what I was expecting. “If you’re sure, then make it plain to me. Tell me exactly what you want.”
“I want to be your twenty-four-seven submissive. I want to continue to build a life with you. I need you to be mine, Ry.”
“Always. And if there’s ever something you’re not comfortable with.”
“I’ll use my safeword.”
“Good girl.” I reach over, grab her waist, and pull her over me again, my cock straining, desperate to be inside her. “You are so fucking beautiful, Aspen Struthers.”
“Thank you, Sir.” It’s the first time she’s accepted a compliment since that night at Dulip. The girl she was dances in her eyes, and I’ve missed her so goddamn much.
“I’ve missed that smile.”
“Me too.” Her lips crash down on mine, and I lose myself in her for a few hours before work.
The restaurant is slammed tonight for our food kink indulgence evening. I had originally decided to keep Rooftop kink-free like the bar downstairs, but I still want to provide a great space for those who love to bring food into their play, so, once a month, I will host an evening of debauchery for all to enjoy.
Tonight is the first event, and the first time Aspen and I have been outside the privacy of our private room. She’s helping me prepare the food, but I’ve asked her to join me once everything is up and running smoothly. I’m not sure if this is the best way to introduce her to a group dynamic, but I figured using food—something we’re both passionate about—might help ease her in. We’ll find a corner, and she can watch, maybe topless if she’s feeling brave. She’s not ready for what I want to do to her.
“Earth to Ryder.” Aspen’s silky voice brings me back to the task at hand.
“What?” She slinks up behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist.
“You’re a million miles away, Sir.” The way her mouth caresses that word has my cock twitching. “What’s on your mind?”
