Chapter 24
RYDER
Today is moving day, and a first for Aspen and me. She’s never lived with a boyfriend, and I’ve never had a submissive in my personal space. I’m not nervous at all. I thought I would be, but I know in my gut that Aspen is the one.
I spent most of this week helping her move during the day before we work nights at Rooftop.
Flex was questioning whether it was a good idea to work and live together, but I swiftly pointed out that Dalton works closely with Nadia, and Pierce and Freya work together.
Why should it be any different for me? I love working with Aspen.
She’s such a talent in the kitchen, and seeing her blossom is rewarding.
“This is the last box.” Aspen beams at me with giddy excitement. I take it from her, giving her a moment with Jude before we go. I know it’s hard on both of them.
“I’ll take it down to the truck. Take your time.”
“Thank you.” I take my leave and head for the elevator.
My pulse quickens with delight, knowing that my girl is going to be with me in our penthouse.
Once I’ve handed over the box to the movers, I wait by my car for Aspen.
I’m anticipating some tears, but when she finally comes down, she’s visibly shaking.
“What’s wrong?” I pull her into my arms. She’s shaking.
“I’m fine. It’s just hard to say goodbye.” I feel like there’s something she’s not saying, but I don’t want to push it. She’ll tell me when she’s ready.
“You’ll still see her all the time. I’m already planning on having to share you with Jude.”
She looks up at me, her eyes glassy. “Tell me it’s all going to be okay.”
I wrap her tight. “Everything is going to be okay. We’re a team. We face this life together. I’ve always got you.”
She heaves a heavy sigh before leaning into my touch, her head resting against my chest.
“Your heartbeat is soothing. So strong and steady.” I smile as I drink her in.
“Let’s go home, baby girl.”
“Yes, Sir.” A flicker of hope blooms in my chest. Maybe one day Aspen will have that unwavering faith in me and want to be my twenty-four-seven submissive.
The drive back to the penthouse is quiet, Aspen staring out the window. There’s something more she’s not telling me. She was upset this morning at the prospect of leaving Jude, but she was still overwhelmingly excited. The wind seems to have gone out of her sails right now.
“Are you rethinking this whole living with a guy decision?”
She turns to me as we idle in traffic. “Not even a little bit. I love you. I want to be where you are. Besides, your apartment is nicer than mine.”
“It’s our apartment now. You and me.”
By the time we reach the penthouse, she’s in a much brighter mood, so I guess she was just struggling with saying goodbye.
I had the club’s designers make a few changes to the house for Aspen’s move-in.
“Welcome home, baby girl.” My housekeeper set out fresh flowers and put new bedding in our room. I wanted it to be a clean slate. Carter gave me a heads-up that the modifications I asked for were completed yesterday. I took a look this morning, and it’s perfect.
“We’re really doing this, aren’t we?” She looks a little shell-shocked.
“The time to wonder about that was yesterday before we started packing all your worldly possessions into boxes.”
She walks into my arms, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I don’t have cold feet. It’s just so quick. Everything with us seems to be at warp speed.”
“When you know, you know.”
“I’ve dated guys for years without feeling ready for this level of commitment.”
“And thank fuck, they were wrong for you. None of them were me.” I’m genuinely so lucky to have found Aspen.
She’s everything I ever wanted and more.
I know we’re finding our way with the Dom/sub dynamic, but I know we’ll eventually get there.
I’m happy to take it slow so I don’t spook her. It’s a huge life adjustment.
When I was introduced to BDSM, I was young and horny as hell.
My professor could have asked me to crawl over hot coals to fuck her, and I’d have done it without question.
It’s only in hindsight that I see her position of power in our dynamic.
As much as she wanted me to dominate her, it was at her command.
That’s different from any of the relationships I’ve had since training.
I had found my sweet spot, knowing exactly what I wanted or what I thought was everything I needed.
Aspen has upended everything I thought I knew, and I gave in to my desires.
I should have walked away at the beginning, but I fell hard and fast for her.
I couldn’t walk away. For a time, I felt so guilty about it, but seeing her flourish as a submissive tells me it was in her.
Somewhere, deep down, she wanted the security that comes with a Dominant.
I will always put her needs above my own.
She will always be safe to speak and act as she wishes in my presence.
In the end, I know I will give her more than any other man could—my unwavering love and devotion.
“I have something to show you.” I take her hand in mine, leading her down the hallway.
“Is it a pony?” She quips.
“Not quite, but there is a riding crop.” I stand before her, nervous about what she’ll think.
She’s not my twenty-four-seven, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun at home.
“You don’t have to feel any pressure. If you don’t like it, I’ll get it changed out for a home gym or something.
” I step to the side as I throw open the door.
She’s silent at the sight, her eyes going everywhere at once. “You built us a playroom?”
“Yes, and before you say anything about our contract, this is in no way a push for you to be a full-time submissive. I just know that we work long hours, and sometimes we might want to indulge from the comfort of our own home.”
She takes a step inside, running a hand over the ebony wood drawers. “Our home. That has a nice ring to it.”
I walk to the far side of the room, grabbing a black leather riding crop. “As promised, a riding crop.”
“You’re usually a man of your word, but I remember you telling me I was going to be rewarded for taking off my panties a few weeks ago, but it didn’t materialize.”
“You’ve had plenty of rewards since then, baby girl. What were you hoping for?”
“At first, I was thinking a light spanking followed by your head buried between my thighs.”
“And now?” I gently caress her curves with the hard leather.
“I think you should choose something new to punish me with.”
“You want some punishment as a reward?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“It turns out I didn’t shape you into a submissive after all. If anything, you are shaping me into the Dom you desire.”
With a wicked grin, she undresses in front of me before dropping to her knees and assuming the position. “I desire you to punish me and then fuck me with that glorious cock of yours.”
“As you wish, baby girl.” We play long into the night, ignoring the boxes that need unpacking. My cock is the one thing I’ll never leave my girl waiting for. Over, and over, and over again.
“It wasn’t in the contract.” I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. This is one of the ways Aspen shows her maturity—or lack thereof—as a submissive. It would appear our honeymoon phase is over.
“I didn’t think it had to be. We’ve had this discussion. Being an escort is not acceptable.”
“I suggest you rephrase that. Are you asking or telling me what I can do with my life?”
“Are you telling me I don’t matter? I’m not comfortable with this. You said yourself that you weren’t going to do it anymore.”
“It’s one last job. It’s Joseph. He offered to pay five times what he normally would. I’m surprised you didn’t get a call from my agent, what with your ‘retainer’ on me.”
“She did. An hour ago. I told her it wasn’t necessary, considering you aren’t an escort anymore. My motherfucking bad.”
“I’m saving to buy my own restaurant, and this will push me over the finish line. It’s a few hours, and then I’m done for good. Plus, it will help me pay rent to you.”
“I’ll write you a fucking check. How much do you need? And there’s no chance in hell you are paying me rent. I own this property outright, and we’re a team now. What’s mine is yours. I won’t take your money.”
“And I’m not taking your money, Ry.”
“And you’re not taking some skeezy guy’s money either. If I have to pay five times the price, I fucking will.”
“Stop! I won’t be your whore. Submitting to you is one thing, but accepting money to spend the night with you made me feel like a prostitute. I vowed I would never let it happen again.”
“Then we agree. Being an escort is off the table.”
“Don’t twist my words. Everything has been going so well. I just need to take this one job. It’s a gala. Four hours max.”
“You mean for the gala I’m the keynote speaker at? Did you forget that asshole and I run in the same circles when it comes to business? I can’t stand the thought of you with some other guy.”
“I’m not fucking him. It’s a fancy dinner in a pretty dress. That’s it. I didn’t know you were going to be there when I accepted the job.”
“And now that you do know?”
“I can’t say no to this. I’m almost at the finish line, Ry.”
“Aspen, I’m never going to just back down on this. It’s a fucking hard limit.”
“I signed your contract. I set my boundaries, and I’m sticking to them.”
“Fuck!” I start pacing our bedroom. “I fucking hate this.”
Now that we live together, I thought she understood that her time as an escort was finished. She said as much.
It’s strange how the goal posts have changed for me. Everything I convinced myself I’d never want again has become the milestones I crave with Aspen. Collaring her will be a vital step in our relationship, but so will the ring I put on her finger when the time is right.