“You’re sure you’re okay to meet with Eli about the wine list?” Ryder’s voice snaps me out of my heated daydream.
“Yes. You’ve got enough to do. I have the notes you gave me. You have a million other things to do before we open.”
“You’re cute when you take charge.” He slinks up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Do I need to show you who’s really in charge?”
“Maybe,” I whisper as his lips find my neck.
“Oh, my girl is feisty today. I’m sure I can show you tonight. My place?”
“Sure. I need to stop home and get some clothes if that’s okay.”
“I’ll order some clothes and toiletries for you to keep at my place.” Did he just say what I think he did?
“You’d be okay with that? Most guys aren’t. Not this early.”
“I’m not most guys. I insist that you’re comfortable in my apartment.”
“Okay. If you don’t mind, then that would be great, but you don’t need to buy anything. I can bring everything I need.”
“Do you have to fight me on every little thing?” He turns me to face him, his lips brushing against mine.
“You love it.” I wrap my arms around his neck.
“That I do. You’d definitely be a brat.”
“What? I’m not a brat.” I move to extricate myself from his arms, but he holds tight.
“Not what I meant. It’s a term Doms use for certain submissives.”
“And it’s a bad thing.”
“No. Not at all. I’ve always enjoyed a woman who pushes back. It was a term of endearment.”
I relax back into his arms. “Maybe I would make a good submissive. If it’s what I want, can’t we at least try?”
“And when you don’t like it, we split up? I’m not willing to risk losing you.”
“Or you get everything you want.”
“Will you stop asking questions if I agree tothinkabout it after the restaurant opens? This isn’t the time to be making big decisions.”
“Really? You mean it?” I push up onto my tiptoes and capture his lips with mine.
“Yes. I’m a man of my word.” His hands slide up into my hair. “You’re going to be the death of me, Aspen Struthers. But first, I need you to promise me something.”
“Anything,” I whisper, my voice thick with desire.
“That you won’t walk away if there’s something you can’t or won’t do.”
“Yes.”
“That means one hundred percent honesty.”
“Ryder…”
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
