“I didn’t know you have a cat.”

“Even men like some feline companionship.” I gently push her toward the couch and think of offering her a drink. Probably not the best idea. “What’s on your mind?”

She shrugs me off and doesn’t continue. While she doesn’t look like a girl in trouble anymore, she does look like someone in need of a kiss and a stiff drink. I offer neither. Women like Katie aren’t reassured with those things unless it’s established to go ahead. I have no such establishment.

“Ian.” Her voice is firm, unwavering. Standing before me is Kathryn Alison, untouchable in her gray pantsuit. “We need to talk about that bet.”

“It’s fine,” I say. I haven’t really thought about it that much. Especially with everything else going on. “We were drunk.”

“No, no, we need to talk about it.”

“All right.” I once again offer the couch, but she declines.

“I didn’t show up on Wednesday because I was afraid. No, not afraid. Too nervous.”

“About what? It was a date.”

“A date with certain expectations.”

“What expectations? I didn’t anticipate anything except some dinner and maybe some, you know…”

“Exactly. That’s what I was nervous about.”

“Why? I wasn’t going to force you to do anything.”

“I know that, but you have to understand my point of view.”

“All right, what’s your point of view?”

She looks at me as if I’m an idiot. Okay, so maybe I am. If I can’t read her right now, I must be an idiot. That’s fine. I can handle being an idiot.

What I can’t handle is worrying about her.

Finally, Kathryn leans against my couch, in that exact spot Stephanie was in only a few minutes ago. “It’s not the sex, Ian. I’m a big girl and can obviously handle casual sex. It’s the… type of sex.”

“Is casual sex not a type of sex?”

“You know what I mean.”

“I’m afraid I don’t.”

I also don’t have time for this kind of bullshit. No mind games. Just tell me what’s going through your head, Katie. I don’t want to misjudge you. I don’t want to misinterpret something you’ve said. Just tell me what’s on your fucking mind.

“I wasn’t ready to submit to you.”

“What?” I’m on the verge of laughing. Holy shit, was she going to go through with the bet? “I didn’t expect you to do that at all.”

“Really?”

“Why the hell would I?”

“The bet…”

“Fuck that stupid bet. Like I said, we were drunk. What, were you going to hold me to it if I lost?”

“You weren’t?”

“No!”

“Shit…”

I put a hand on her shoulder, ready to shake with laughter. “I know that’s not who you are. So, I don’t expect you to ever do that.”

“But I…”

“Hm?”

Kathryn turns away, blushing. What have I done to her this time? “I’ve been thinking about it a lot. Submitting, that is.”

Well now.

“Not only because of the bet, but also because I’ve been thinking about you a lot in general.” She glances at me. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

“Which one?”

“Shut up.”

At least I got an eye roll out of her. I’ll take that over this indecisive Kathryn any day.

“I’m being serious, Ian. I know you’re a Dom. At some point even in a casual relationship, you’re going to want to push my boundaries. I have to be prepared for that.”

To admit that I haven’t thought of this is an understatement. I really haven’t. Why would I? As far as I was concerned, we would go along our merry way, having sex when we felt like it. Regular, non-kinky sex outside of maybe some dirty talk. Yet she’s not too far off. I probably would want to push her boundaries in the heat of the moment. Spank her ass while I take her from behind. Shove my cock down her throat and call her filthy names when she’s giving me head. Edge her. Just because I’m not tying her up doesn’t mean I’m not being a Dom in any given situation.

I never even thought about it going the other way around. What if she pushed my boundaries during sex?

“So what are you saying, exactly? That you were afraid I would put you into a compromising situation right away?”

“I don’t know, but I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. Thinking that includes what I want not only from you, but my own sex life.”

No way I’m interrupting here. I stay silent, urging her to continue.

The businesslike look on Kathryn’s face intrigues me. This isn’t a woman flirting with me. This is a woman looking to make a business proposal. This is the Kathryn who was ready to twist necks at the presentation last week. You know, the one who turned me on so much I had to have her right there and then.

Be still, my heart.

“I want you to do it, Ian.” She’s puffing out her chest, making herself feel bigger. And letting me see her chest better – let’s not forget that. “I want you to dominate me. For one night.”

Excuse me? I don’t think I heard that correctly. It almost sounded like Kathryn Alison asked m to dominate her.

“I’m serious. I want to know what it feels like to submit to you.”

Normally, I would be enjoying this most immensely. A Domme like Kathryn coming to me under the utmost discretion to ask me to dominate her. Something I’ve been fantasizing about for two weeks now. Her, me, a comfortable playroom where I can do whatever the fuck I want. My way.

I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to know how she feels, looks, sounds when she’s submitting to me.

But I know it’s not that simple.

“Are you sure?” I don’t touch her. It’s hard enough to look at her right now without feeling like I’m going to scare her off. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it if you weren’t.”

“See? That’s why you’re a good guy for this. I’m attracted to you, and you’re not… that much of an asshole.”

I feel so vindicated.

“Tomorrow. Let’s do it tomorrow before I lose my nerve.”

“Tomorrow?” I have an appointment in the early afternoon. Possibly a dinner. “Eight is the earliest I could do. Right here. But… are you sure? You’ve never subbed before.” I state it as a fact, because I know it’s true.

She shakes her head, that bun swishing in the air of my dimly lit apartment. “Don’t make me second guess myself. Tomorrow at eight. I’ll submit to you.”

“You don’t have to do this.” What am I doing? This woman is throwing herself at me, and I’m trying to get her to change her mind? “I’m not going to hold you to any bet.”

Katie keeps shaking her head. “I’ve made up my mind.” Fuck me, she sounds like such a Domme. This will not end well. “Don’t try to talk me out of it.” Her finger is in my chest, hard and unrelenting. “Unless you don’t want to dominate me.”

That low voice. That hiss. That throwing down the gauntlet. She knows how to speak to me, both the man and the Dom.

All I see is me pushing her over the edge of this couch and giving it to her.

I hold back, however. I won’t let myself touch her tonight. Not when it’s like this.

“I’ve thought of nothing but dominating you for ten years now.”

“I knew it.” She’s still growling. “Well, tomorrow you’ll have your chance. You better make it count.” Kathryn begins to leave, fixing any stray hairs in her bun on her way out. “Mr. Mathers, you’d best show this Domme a good fucking time on the other end of the leash. You’d be my first Dom. You better be up to the challenge.”

No pressure, Ian.

No pressure at all.

Chapter 23

KATHRYN

My mind is so clear that I’m having bouts of insecurity regarding my sanity. When I woke up this morning, remembering what I had said to Ian before leaving his place last night, I groaned and thought about calling him to cancel.