He finally nodded. “Yes, it was something that turned her on. We made sure she enjoyed herself. There was one other time, and perhaps I enjoyed this encounter more. It was more …intimate.”

Ren shifted her position so she could lean back against the couch with her feet over his belly and dangling off the couch. “This is a fascinating conversation. I’m so intrigued by all of it. So there was another time. With just you, Micah and Angelina?”

He nodded. “Yes. Micah invited me to The House. At the time he and Angelina were staying there. She had some asshole stalking her and Micah wanted to keep her safe. For the first time, I understood the appeal in sharing a woman with another man. The first encounter, with the other men, was more clinical for me. I was there to perform certain services. This time he wanted to watch. He wanted to watch me dominate his woman. His possession. I’d never considered how arousing it would be.”

“So the other night when Lucas …when he intervened. Did you like it then?”

He grimaced. “Yes and no. I hated that he inserted himself. But then I understood why. And well, if I’m honest, it was fucking hot. I loved seeing you between us. I can’t even begin to explain why. Maybe it’s best if I don’t analyze it. All I know is that it was a hell of a turn on.”

“It’s the first time he’s ever shared me with someone else,” she admitted softly.

“Did it upset you?”

She sighed and pulled her hair behind her head and held it there in a ponytail before letting it go again. He watched her closely because he sensed …It wasn’t disappointment exactly. But he’d seen the curiosity and even perhaps desire that had flashed when he’d spoken of Angelina having had sex with multiple men. If he had to guess, it was a desire that perhaps Ren had entertained but that Lucas had never provided for her.

“Lucas …Well, here’s the thing with Lucas. He’s hard. I’m sure you know this, and well, I wouldn’t be with him if he wasn’t providing me exactly what I need in a relationship. He’s unapologetic. Don’t get me wrong. I know without a doubt he’d never do anything at all that would harm me. But I belong to him. Not just in a sense of being his. Even for a dominant submissive relationship, he’s hardcore. I’m his. I’m his property. He does what he damn well wants with me when he wants unless it would cause me physical harm or emotional distress.”

Cole nodded. “I get that.”

“So, one of his kinks, like you said about Micah, is that he enjoys watching another man dominate, and I mean completely dominate, his woman. Sometimes he just likes to watch while another man completely owns his woman. Other times he likes to direct. And by that I mean he watches but he orchestrates every thing that happens. He tells the man what to do, how to do it, how hard to spank or flog, how hard to fuck. Whether to fuck her ass, her pussy or her mouth. I know he enjoys this and has practiced it with his other submissives.”

“But not with you,” Cole guessed.

She shook her head. “I’ve expected it. And maybe a part of me has even anticipated it. I think it’s the unknown and that it’s all kinds of forbidden and edgy.” Then she laughed. “Okay, that sounds ridiculous. Like having a threesome is edgier than the absolute lifestyle I live with Lucas …and now with you,” she added softly.

“I’ve wondered if it would be something I would enjoy, and then the other night when he took me to his club—”

She broke off and her cheeks colored slightly. Cole raised his eyebrows. “What happened at the club?”

“Well, he’s always so possessive of me. Like, look but don’t touch. That sort of thing. He’s very picky about who he allows near me. Especially at the club. But he sent me off to dance with these three guys, which was surprising enough. But then he comes out and dances with me, and, well, it was different. He’s not much of an exhibitionist, but he was fake fucking my mouth, he had me bent over like he was fucking me from behind. And then …”

“Oh you can’t stop now,” Cole said dryly. “Not when it’s getting good.”

“He allowed one of the men to touch me. With his mouth. He sucked at my breasts. And then he touched me. He slid his fingers inside me.”

“Did you like it?”

“Yeah,” she breathed. “It was hot. Exciting. I felt so naughty and wicked. And now I think maybe it was just a precursor or a warm-up because he knew he was going to give me to you.”

Cole frowned. He didn’t like the idea of Lucas letting random guys feel her up just to get her ready for him.

“So last night, when Lucas and I both were inside you. Was that the first time you experienced that?”

Her pupils dilated and she nodded. Her skin had flushed and she was warmer than she had been just a moment ago.

“You liked it.”

He knew she had, but he wanted to hear it from her.

“Yes, I did,” she whispered. “I can’t even explain it. It was so …powerful. Completely different than the night in the club. I didn’t know that other man. And while it had this edgy, forbidden feel to it, I still clung to Lucas because I felt safe with him. Last night, I was between two men I trust. I felt completely safe with both of you. I knew neither of you would ever hurt me. It was …freeing. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more powerful and yet I was completely and utterly powerless and vulnerable. I loved it.”

He pulled her down to kiss her again, as he’d done so frequently over the last hours. He simply couldn’t get enough of her. He loved reminding himself that she was here, in his arms. She was his.

“You’ll always be safe with me, Ren. Even when I’m pushing you. When I’m hard and demanding, and I can be both, no doubt. I love that you’re open with me about what you like. What turns you on. And what makes you feel safe. I’ll never willingly or purposely do anything that ever makes you feel afraid, insecure or inferior. And I’ll damn sure never do anything to humiliate you. If you don’t feel comfortable going to dinner with Angelina because she’s someone I’ve fucked, then we’ll absolutely stay home. But know this: I fucked her. Did I like her? Did I respect her? Absolutely. I’m not an asshole. But I fucked her because it felt good, it turned me on and it was what she and Micah wanted. I didn’t make love to her and therein lies the difference.”

Ren smiled and leaned down to kiss him and then she curled her arms around his neck and hugged tightly. When she finally pulled back, she wore a mischievous smile.

“I do hope this doesn’t mean that you’re going to spend the whole two weeks ‘making love’ to me.”

He sent her a smoldering look that should have worried her. And maybe it did by the sudden increase in her respirations.

“Oh no, Ren,” he said in a soft voice. “I’m going to make love to you, absolutely. But I’m also going to fuck you so long and so hard that you’ll beg me for mercy. And if you’re a good girl, I just might decide to have a little.”

He knew he’d said exactly the right thing because her eyes caught fire and she stirred like a wild thing in his arms. He remembered all that Lucas had said in their meeting and as much as it galled him to receive advice from another man—especially a man who had such a strong hold on Ren—he also knew that Lucas was exactly right.

Ren didn’t want or need a man who’d coddle or pamper her endlessly. She needed a dominant man who wouldn’t give an inch and who would take her to the very edge of her boundaries and then pull her back with a gentle hand.

And hell yes, he could be that man. He was that man. Ren may not know it yet. But in a few days’ time, any doubt she may have would be gone. He’d damn well make sure of that.

Shopping with Cole was a whole new experience for Ren. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t shopped with him in the past, but they’d had a decidedly smaller budget back in the day. They’d bought things like jeans, tennis shoes and seen budget films at the dollar cinema. They may have walked by an exclusive retail shop, but that was the extent of any name-brand shopping for them.