I shifted my gaze from her to the couple, then back again when she asked, “is it safe?”
“It is a headspace that can affect a sub’s judgment and ability to communicate. If a Dom takes her there, he is responsible for ensuring she can still consent or guide her down from anything she might ask for that is out of her sober comfort zone. Safety is key, always.”
“Can I be a submissive?” her question was so left-field she caught me by surprise.
Saint and Levana arriving, prevented me from answering. Mikaela’s eyes flashed with an unmistakable show of rebellion, further startling me. Quite clearly, her personality was beginning to take shape—a mixture of reticence and boldness peeking through had me wondering which would dominate. If the latter won, I was in for a ride of my life. I craved insolence, yet every part of me knew, with this woman, I’d take it all.
“No,” I said, wanting to see her response.
She opened her mouth to say something and thought better of it. I didn’t miss the challenge in her expression before Levana distracted her with a light tug to her arm, dragging her away.
“Do I even want to know what that was about?” Saint asked as I watched Levana and Mikaela chat with Juliette. I brought my gaze back to my smiling son. “I can read hidden signals much better than you.”
I chuckled. He was right, though. Saint had a flair for picking up on my emotions, unlike his brothers. Patrick and Michael always grumbled that I favored Saint over them. That wasn’t the case. I loved all three sons with equal vigor, and only because I’d spent more time grooming him while the other two stuck with their mother did my connection with Saint go a tad deeper.
“She asked if she could be a submissive?”
“Not a bad idea.” His lips twitched, earning my scowl. “Nice surprise having her here, is it not?” His change in subject wasn’t subtle enough.
“What are you up to?”
He glanced over at the girls. “Hoping to bring out a dormant Dom.” His tone, matter of fact, his eyes came back to me.
“You know she’s not cut out for this lifestyle,” I said with a warning smile.
My son wasn’t easily daunted. “Considering how fearful she was of disobeying you, I think you have nothing to worry about.” At my frown, he added, “when I asked if she’d like to attend the ball, her response was, you said she wasn’t allowed to.”
Accepting a drink from a passing server, I laughed. “Admittedly, I toyed with her request despite denying her. I came very close to changing my mind until sheer willpower won.” Once more, my thoughts raced back to that night in my shower.
“Sometimes, you need to say fuck it and surrender to your desire.” Saint lifted his glass to mine. “Otherwise, someone else is likely to rape you of that opportunity.”
I followed his gaze, hating that tumultuous churn burgeoning through my veins as I watched Rhett chat with Mikaela before leading her onto the dance floor. Half tempted to walk up to him and declare my ownership, I realized I hadn’t made any claim on her yet. I’d tactfully sidestepped her open need to take our relationship further. Rhett, on the other hand, was taken with Mikaela since their meeting at the boutique. He’d even managed to get her to go outside a bit more. His reference to competition made sense now. He wouldn’t back down.
Not happening, son.
Bringing my gaze back to Saint, his raised brow spoke to the annoyance running riot over the feigned smile I attempted.
“Trust me. She only has eyes for you, Father. Just don’t give her time to let it stray.” He walked away with a gentle squeeze of my arm.
My gaze pinged between his retreating frame and Mikaela’s unerring attention to something Rhett said. Jealousy, a foreign sensation to a man like me, gained traction with each passing second. I had two choices. Walk away or lay claim. My determined steps chose for me.
“Care to join me, Mikaela?” I asked as they paused on my approach.
She looked from Rhett to me, then shook her head, surprising my nephew more than it did me. I caught his nervous swallow at the same time I snagged her cheeky expression again. I was intrigued, yet not as much as the man in my trousers. With a reassuring smile to my nephew, I walked away. My thoughts remained stuck in a loop for the first time in my organized life.
I was a man who knew only how to control, but this woman was slowly taking over that reign without even trying.
Yes, I was absolutely fucked.
