Chapter 28
RYDER
Now that Aspen is somewhat back to normal, I need to broach the question of our contract.
In the thick of recovery, I made her my twenty-four-seven submissive.
It’s what she needed at the time, but we previously agreed that wouldn’t be the case.
I want her to decide now that she’s in a better headspace.
I know what I’d like, but I won’t force her to do anything she doesn’t want to.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Aspen lies next to me, the sheets barely covering her as we catch our breath. Having my submissive live with me has some pretty amazing perks.
“We need to talk.”
She moves, straddling me as if I were a prize bull, and she looks hot as fuck doing it.
“About what?” She slowly grinds herself against my growing erection.
“Our contract.” She stops dead in her tracks.
“Oh.” She scrambles off me, pulling the sheets around her as if she needs protection.
“It’s nothing bad.”
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 you need me 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 what you want.” 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?”
“I’m just wondering if we should give this event a miss tonight. We can stay in the kitchen in case something comes up.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re still new to all this, and it’s going to get unhinged with submissives naked on tables, having food eaten off them. You’ll be able to watch people having sex.”
“Do you enjoy it?” Her voice gets smaller. I twist in her arms.
“I enjoy you.” I press a soft kiss to the tip of her nose.
“If I were a seasoned sub, what would you do?”
“You’re not, though. That’s the point.”
“What would you do? Please, tell me. How will I learn if you won’t share all of yourself with me?”
I reach up, tucking a loose tendril of hair behind her ear, before caressing her cheek with the back of my hand. “You really want to know?”
“Yes.”
“I would strip you naked in the middle of the dining room. I’d let everyone see what belongs to me. The way your curves drive me wild, and that pretty little cunt of yours, wet and ready for me.”
I watch the rapid rise and fall of her chest before I continue.
“I would spread your legs wide as you lie on one of the tables, and then I would tease and kiss every inch of your body, dripping champagne over your breasts, licking and flicking your nipples until they’re tightly budded, knowing you’ll want me lower.
” I lean in, my lips caressing the shell of her ear.
“Then, I’d fill my mouth and bury myself between your legs, letting the bubbles explode on your clit, making you beg for more. ”
“That sounds hot.” She gulps.
“But I wouldn’t let you come.”
“Why?” She’s completely enthralled, and it has me thinking she might enjoy being on display for everyone to see.
“Because after the bottle is finished, I’d fuck your pretty little cunt with it while I wrap my hand around your neck.
They’d all be watching you, baby girl. You’re too fucking sexy to ignore.
And only when you splinter into a million pieces would I reward you with my cock.
Then, I’d fuck you so hard you forget your own name. ”
Aspen pushes herself up onto her tiptoes, capturing my lips with hers in a fierce kiss, her heaving breasts tight against my chest. Fuck. I need her more than my next breath.
“Do it. Strip me. Fuck me.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“I’m asking you to make me yours for everyone to see. I want it.”
“Aspen, you’re not ready for this.”
“When will I be ready? Do you want to keep me locked in your private room forever? You told me not to shy away because of my scars. This is it. I need to know I can do this.”
“If I say yes, would that bother you?” Every conversation has me gauging her reactions in ways I’ve never had to consider before.
“Yes. I want you to let me in. All the way. I want everyone to know that I am yours and you are mine.”
“And you think me fucking you for others to watch will do that?”
“I think that I want you to do everything you just told me. Maybe I won’t like it, and we can go back to your playroom. Or, it might be exhilarating, and I’ll come so hard I will be begging you for more. I want to be your submissive. We agreed that I am yours, and I feel like you’re holding back.”
“I’m trying to ease you in.”
“I want to see you in all your glory, Ry. I want to know what my Sir is capable of.”
“I…” My lips crash down on hers. “Tell me your safeword.”
“Ruby.” She pants. “Does that mean you’ll do it?”
“It means I will consider it.”
“Get a room, guys,” Flex interrupts our moment. “I came to see how the prep for tonight is going, but I see you two are starting early.”
“Hi, Flex.” Aspen giggles. “Sorry, that was my fault. I’m excited to be out of the playroom tonight.”
Flex looks at me with skepticism. “Is that right?”
“Maybe. I haven’t decided yet.”
“If our in-house chef doesn’t take part in the revelry, it’ll be bad for business.” He gives me a shit-eating grin, knowing how protective I’ve become of Aspen.
“Will you and Helena be here?” Aspen is getting to know my friends, but she’s yet to see Helena and Flex in action.
“Of course. Wouldn’t miss it. I’m sure you’ll be a pleasure to watch, Aspen. However, I do wonder how Ry is going to handle all eyes on you. He’s been keeping you under wraps.”
“I want to be a good submissive. Does Helena like to… do stuff with an audience?” Jesus, if she can’t even say it, how is she going to feel under pressure?
“It doesn’t matter. Stop comparing yourself to other subs. What works for someone else isn’t necessarily something you’ll enjoy.”
“Everyone has watched my little pet climax,” Flex brags. “She’s breathtaking, and she ends every night in my bed.”