Chapter Fourteen #3
I waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t that time, either.
There was a glint of anticipation and enjoyment in his dark eyes, and I got the feeling he enjoyed forcing me to voice my questions.
Since I was far too curious to back down, that was exactly what I did. “Is it, like, a sugar daddy arrangement?”
“I don’t need to pay for a date.”
That means it’s the actual kink, but how extreme does he take it?
I moved on to my make-or-break questions. “Are you into age play?”
He froze with his cup at his mouth. “What do you know about age play, little dove?”
“I did some research,” I admitted.
His eyes flared, but he shook his head. “No, I don’t do age play. I know people who do, but it’s not for me.”
“What about, like, humiliation stuff?”
“Not my personal preference but I’m flexible. Is that something you’d like?”
I rapidly shook my head. “I can’t even watch awkwardness on TV. I get secondhand embarrassment.”
“Noted.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have admitted that.
“But you do like to tell your partner what to do?” I asked.
He studied me carefully. “Yes.”
I thought about what I’d read, both online and in fiction. “Why do you like it?”
“Are you asking if something shaped my preferences?” At my nod, he said, “No. There’s no tragic backstory. No outlandish reasoning. I like control in all areas of my life. It’s what I’ve always preferred and who I’ve always been. Simple as that.”
Nothing about this seems simple.
“Are there rules and a contract?” I asked.
“There are rules, but I’m not big on wasting time and energy producing a bullshit contract that isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. We’d communicate like any other relationship.”
I flipped the fork back and forth, pressing the prongs down on the cake crumbs as I gathered my nerves. “Do you, uh, share or loan out your—”
“Fuck no.” Maximo’s eyes blazed as he pinned me with an intense stare. “If you’re mine, you’re mine .”
That was all well and good, but it didn’t mean there weren’t a dozen other women spread about, loyal to him while he alternated between them.
I swallowed. “And you’re…”
“Every fucking bit as much yours.”
I had to force myself to breathe past the hammering in my chest and the thrumming of my clit.
Maximo must’ve misconstrued the tension that’d infused my body because his expression softened. “We can finish this conversation another time. Eat your cake and relax.”
I nodded but didn’t eat, my thoughts too busy racing. After a minute, I asked, “Is it only in the bedroom? Scenes or whatever?”
“No. It’s not playtime for kicks and giggles. It’s twenty-four-seven. If you agree, it will be your life until you decide you don’t want it to be anymore.”
“How would that work once I move out?”
His jaw clenched. “You won’t be moving out.”
“I can’t stay here.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because I’m eighteen.”
“And?”
“And I’m old enough to be on my own. Get a job. All that. I can’t just stay here and… what? Be your whore?”
Slamming a palm down on the table, he held up two tattooed fingers on his other hand. “That’s twice now you’ve insinuated I need to buy it. I don’t pay for pussy, and you’re sure as fuck not a whore. Whatever asinine notion you’ve twisted around in your head, get it out of there. Now.”
His words helped wipe away the shame that’d been festering. The little voice in my head that’d said I was wrong to be intrigued by what he offered. That I was a whore for wanting it.
I focused on my plate. “I just don’t understand this.”
“Look at me.” Once I did, he asked, “What part?”
“What would I do?”
“You’d do what I say. Beyond that, swim. Read. Sew. Do whatever the hell you want.”
“What do you get out of it?”
“Other than you? I get to take care of you.”
“And that’s worth all this?” I asked, not understanding how taking care of me was beneficial to him.
Leaning back, he rubbed his jaw, his thumb sweeping across his bottom lip. “Oh, little dove, it’s more than fucking worth it.”
If it were possible to spontaneously orgasm, I was sure I would have.
Trying to stay on track, I asked, “The stuff you’d tell me to do… is it unusual? Like, do you have a fetish?”
“Fucking Christ,” he muttered, but he didn’t sound insulted, so that was good. “No, Juliet. I’m not going to ask you to dress in a gimp suit and beat the shit outta me or anything like that.”
“Gimp suit?”
“Never mind. What I’m saying is, all things considered, my tastes are fairly tame.”
“Except you like complete control over everything,” I deadpanned.
But Maximo didn’t take it as a joke and merely lifted his chin in agreement. “Except that.”
I was glad he wasn’t into anything weird, but I still wasn’t sure I could do the basics. I’d never had sex. I could be awful at it.
It was entirely possible he was going all-in to win a five-buck pot.
Inhaling deeply, I blurted in a rushed whisper, “I’ve never had sex or done much of anything.”
At his quiet curse, a pit formed in my belly.
He’s gonna change his mind.
And I’m disappointed.
Why am I so disappointed?
“Look at me,” he ordered.
And what is his obsession with eye contact?
Still, I did as he said and was relieved to see a satisfied smile curving his lips. “I’ll teach you what I like.” His smile grew into a wolfish grin. “More importantly, I’ll teach you what you like.”
Definite spontaneous orgasm.
At my silence, he prodded, “What else are you confused about?”
“It seems abrupt.”
“It’s not.”
“We don’t know anything about each other,” I pointed out.
“What would you like to know?”
I thought for a moment before starting with the basics. “What’s your favorite color?”
His lips tipped. “Gray.”
Makes sense since that seems to be where he lives.
“How old are you?”
“Thirty-three.”
That was about what I figured, but it was still surprising.
“That’s young to own resorts and,” I gestured around, “all this.”
“I inherited three of my four properties, though I’ve worked hard to build them up and make them my own.” He gave a similar gesture around. “And they do well.”
That’s an understatement.
“Is your family around?”
I couldn’t imagine family dinners happening while I’d been locked upstairs, but I had no idea.
“No. I’m an only child and my mother passed away seven years ago.”
“And your dad?”
“He died when I was nineteen.” He took another drink of his coffee before setting it down. “We’ve talked enough tonight. Go get some sleep.”
Since I wanted to go do more research, I didn’t argue.
When I stood, he ordered, “Kiss me goodnight, dove.”
I hesitated, not because I didn’t want to, but because he’d caught me off guard.
He pushed his chair away from the table, his air of authority filling the room until I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Or like I was breathing him in.
“Now.”
I jolted and stepped closer to stand between his spread legs. Bending, I pressed my mouth to his. When his tongue teased my lips, I parted them and involuntarily moaned at his taste.
And then the kiss went wild.
Spearing his fingers into the sides of my hair, Maximo cupped my head in both hands.
He held my mouth to his as he stood so fast, his chair fell back with a clatter.
Backing me up until the table dug into my thighs, he devoured my mouth.
His kiss tasted of rich, dark coffee and something even better.
Him.
He released my head to grip my hips and lift me onto the edge of the table. His hands dropped to my thighs, spreading them before running his palms up.
I wanted him to keep going. I wanted him to touch me. I wanted it all.
But Maximo had more control than I did. He tore his mouth from mine and stepped away, his gaze locked on my parted lips. “Go to bed.”
Shimmying off the table, I tugged my dress back into place and walked on shaking legs.
I was at the threshold when he called, “Juliet.”
I looked over my bare shoulder to see he was sitting, casual and chill like he hadn’t just rocked my world with a single kiss.
“This isn’t a choice between me and homelessness. If you don’t want this,” he motioned between us, “you can stay here, same as it was before today. If you want to move out, I’ll get you your own place somewhere safe and help you. You can take your stuff with you, no strings attached.”
Again, it didn’t say good things about my life that his kindness surprised me. It also made me choked up and suspicious at the same time.
“Why would you do that?” I asked.
“Because I like you.” Even at the distance, I could feel the heat from his gaze. “And you need someone to take care of you for once.”
My emotions and thoughts were so jumbled, I didn’t even know what to say, so I remained silent.
“Happy birthday, little dove.”
“Thank you,” I whispered before hightailing it out of there.