Chapter 3 #3
“You’re very lucky,” she said. “I have to admit, I envy you having that kind of family. But… here at the Ranch I’m developing a new family, of sorts—my chosen family—and that helps. I just need to figure out what I want to do long-term.”
“You don’t see yourself staying here?” he asked.
She shrugged. “Possibly. I’m certainly happy here—happier than I’ve been in years.
But I feel like this place doesn’t have to be my permanent home.
Wherever I go, I’ll always have a piece of Rawhide Ranch with me.
Not that I see myself leaving any time soon, but I’m trying to stay open to what life may bring me. ”
“I like that; that the Ranch will always be with you. It’s a pretty incredible place.”
“It is. It’s been so helpful being here, developing these deep friendships that mean so much to me and help me feel safe in the world. But it’s definitely time to take that next step.”
“That’s what we’re doing right now.”
“So, what happens now?” she asked.
“I’ll send you a negotiations questionnaire tonight.”
“A questionnaire?”
“Sometimes it’s easier to approach the hard stuff in writing, and it’s good to have to think about your answers.
It can really clarify things for you. It gives me a good base to start from, then we can go into more detail in conversation as needed, and I’ll have it all in writing to refer back to.
But I’d really like to have dinner with you first and continue our conversation.
It’s getting a little chilly out here. And I’m getting hungry. How about you?”
She smiled, and her smile was so lovely, it felt like a soft punch to the gut, but in the best way possible.
“I’m actually starving.”
“One of the restaurants here okay? Or we could head into town, if you’d rather, since you work here.”
“There’s a nice diner in town,” she suggested.
“Hard to beat good old-fashioned diner food. Let’s do it.
” He stood and offered her his hand, and she took it, hers small and soft in his, soft in a way that made his heart pound in his chest. “Let me grab my car—I’ll pick you up in front of the apartments in a few minutes, unless you need more time to get ready? ”
“I should run back up to get my purse and my coat, but that shouldn’t take long.”
“Sounds good. Come on.”
He held on to her hand as they walked out of the barn, and he could still sense the heat of her touch even after she slipped her hand from his when they got closer to the staff building.
Something about this woman.
He really couldn’t wait to spend some time with her tonight, or more, if things worked out the way he hoped they would.
They parted at the elevator of the apartment building.
She took the elevator upstairs, and he took the stairs down to the garage level, then a few minutes later he pulled up to where she waited for him.
He got out and went around to open the car door for her.
She looked up at him, her brows furrowed in confusion.
He gestured to the seat, but she only blinked at him.
“I-I’m sorry. I’m not used to anyone being so… nice to me. So gallant.”
“Is it gallant? Yeah, I guess I don’t mind that. But I should tell you, in my mind it’s nothing more than good manners. Well, maybe a little more than that, in my case, but either way, you’ll have to get used to me opening the car door for you.”
She smiled, a look of pure pleasure on her face. “It might take some practice on my end.”
“Don’t worry—I’ll remind you. And if you forget too often, I can always take it out on your ass.”
“Oh, we’re going there, are we?” she asked with a laugh.
“Gotta start sooner or later, and you did say you wanted to start sooner. It’s good for you to know what you can expect from me.”
“Okay, so smack on the ass if I forget the rules. Got it,” she said, sass in her tone. But he liked it.
Despite the humor, he felt some kind of understanding pass between them in that moment, that the roles they were going to discuss were already kicking in, and that was exactly where he wanted her to be: in recognition of his dominance.
In recognition of her submitting to him when the time was right.
It was a small gesture, but in a power dynamic, the smaller, more subtle things were often the most telling.
They chatted idly on the way into town, with Claudia pointing out different sights, telling him a little about the history of the Ranch. It really was a beautiful area, even more so when a light snow began to fall from the darkening sky.
Porter’s Corner was a small quaint town, and he liked it immediately. He found a parking spot on the street and pulled over. He shut the engine off, and as he unbuckled his seatbelt, she did the same and reached for her door.
“Ah-ah,” he chided gently, reaching out for her hand.
“Oof! I forgot already.”
“A mark in the ledger on night one? At this rate, you’re gonna be in so much trouble.”
She just laughed and made a show of holding her hands palms up in front of her in surrender.
“Much better. You’ll get used to the way I operate, and what I’ll expect from you, not only when we’re in scene, but any time we’re together or we talk. Here, I’ll help you out.”
“Thank you,” she answered, a small, Mona Lisa smile on her face as he guided her from the car.
“Good girl,” he said before he could stop himself.
She blinked, her smile widening, then she laughed once more, and he knew it was alright that they were slipping so naturally into those roles.
He led her inside the retro-looking diner and they were seated right away at a small table, with Brody pulling her chair out for her. Once they’d ordered and the waitress brought their tea, they settled into conversation.
“So,” he started, “tell me more about you.”
“What kind of things do you want to know?”
“What was it like growing up in France? What part of France are you from? And is that where you met your ex-husband?”
She laughed. “So many questions!”
“Tonight is about getting to know each other.”
“So you mentioned,” she said, wry humor in her voice.
“More back talk?” he asked with a low growl.
“Maybe,” she answered, her eyes sparkling.
“A little brat in you, huh?”
“Maybe,” she said again. “Although I think it’s something new. I guess you bring that out in me.”
“Apparently. Not that I mind—I enjoy bringing a brat to her knees.”
“Oh, do you now?”
“You’ll see,” he said, enjoying their banter. “So, talk to me, Claudia.”
“Okay, okay,” she said with a small chuckle.
“Um, well, I was born in Nice, and grew up there. I was waiting tables at a café when I met Kenny, my ex. He was there on vacation. He came in one day, then he came back the next day and asked me out. We ended up traveling all over Europe for the next three months, and when he was due to return to the States he asked me to come with him. So I went to Austin where he lived, and we got married almost right away. I was only twenty-one; he was a bit older. He introduced me to kink, and although later he grew distant and the power play became unbalanced, at first I fell in love with it. I loved going to the clubs. Loved the way it made me feel, like something precious, valuable. And I admired him so much—too much, perhaps. He was a sound engineer, then after a few years he began to produce music. And just as his career was really taking off, I… um… Never mind. You don’t want to hear this part. ”
He reached across the table and laid a hand on hers. There was that warmth again that somehow always landed in the pit of his stomach. “I want to hear everything, remember? Anything you’re comfortable sharing.”
She took in a long breath, then exhaled slowly. “This is the not-so-pretty part.”
“Then it’s probably the most important part,” he answered.
“Tell me whatever you want to. I’m here to listen, no matter how not-so-pretty it is.
This is what we’re doing here. I want to know all of you, Claudia, the good and the bad.
It’s only then that I’ll really know how to begin our negotiations.
When you fill out the questionnaire, you’ll be answering questions about your deepest fears, your triggers. We might as well start now, yeah?”