CHAPTER 10

"You see after you left that night and never called, which by the way is the first time that has happened to me and I truly didn't appreciate the experience, Lizzie came back a few weeks later and signed on. When I asked about you, she insisted that this would not be the kind of thing you were into. She said it'd be best if I left you alone."

“Honestly, I'm surprised Lizzie is," I said quietly and ignored the sharp calculating look he pinned me with as I waved at him to continue.

“Lizzie showed up from time to time to play and finally ended up with Jordan. So, I started to ask her about you, however, she was not very forthcoming with information. So, when this place came up for sale, I jumped on it, I had to see you again. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't forget about you,” he said.

His eyes were boring into mine begging me to understand and I couldn't break his gaze as I processed everything, he told me. I wasn't stupid, but I was having a hard time processing what he was telling me.

“Is that why you came here?" I asked cautiously.

"Yes and no. I wanted to buy this place because the coffee industry is booming. But the fact you worked here was a key deciding factor,” he replied with a gentle smile on his face.

"Are you insane?" I almost yelled at him in disbelief.

"Maybe,” he answered with a thoughtful nod.

I shook my head my mind reeling. “I can't believe it."

“It's true,” he insisted and then grabbed my hands.

"The day I bought this place I mandated an employee meeting just because I couldn't wait for another second to see you again. But then I got the joy of walking in to see you checking out Jordan. Needless to say, I was very upset,” he said with a chuckle that was pointed mainly at himself.

“I wasn't checking Jordan out," I said defensively, then instantly backtracked at the look on his face.

"Okay I did check him out but he's a very good-looking man and that's got nothing on the way I check you out," I admitted with a blush.

"Yes, I do recall the look on your face when you literally fell into my arms,” he remembered with a smug smile on his face.

"Why were you looking for me?" I asked getting back to the question at hand before I forgot why I was here.

"You are everything a submissive should be,” he explained looking me over with passion clouding his eyes.

"Do you really think so?" I asked slowly, almost breathlessly.

His smile ramped up a few watts at that question. I knew I had just basically admitted that I knew exactly what he was talking about, and it showed my willingness to be submissive.

"Yes, now comes the part where we discuss our relationship. I am a Dom. But apparently, you already knew that. Reminded me later to punish you for not telling me that yesterday when I was at your house. No, scratch that for not dropping to your knees the minute you realized it was me."

I swallowed hard because my mouth was suddenly dry. I nodded though it wasn't clear to me if I was agreeing to what he had said or if I had just agreed to remind him about the punishment.

“How exactly do you know so much? Lizzie was absolutely sure you were not submissive or even interested in being one."

I felt my cheeks flush bright red, and I looked down at my hands. Of course, Lizzie didn't know the truth. How on earth would I ever be able to be so open about something so intensely personal? How was I going to be so open with Reed? But with one glance at him, I knew I could not hide it either. Nor did I really want to.

“I own a few books about all of this," I explained quietly.

Exposing my deepest fantasy to this man had me scared out of my wits. However, all he did was smile widely and pick up the papers on the table, pulling one out of the middle.

“How many exactly?"

I did a quick count in my head, "Twenty-three give or take a few."

The startled look on his face made me giggle despite my apprehension.

“Little one, that's quite a bit more than a few. How on earth did you keep this a secret for so long?"

“How on earth did Lizzie keep it a secret that she was into the lifestyle as well? I don't take much crap from people, but when it comes to the men in my life, I've always given them the upper hand because that's how I wanted it to be. Though apparently, I've always picked some wimpy men," I said with a laugh.

"That's amazing,” he said shaking his head.

“So, I'll skip the instructions to our way of life and get right down to the rules and expectations."

I held up a hand to pause him. I had an idea what he was talking about, but I didn't want anything left up to chance, my heart needed this spelled out.

"Wait, I need to make sure I've got this correctly. You want me to be your submissive right?" I spoke.

He looked up at me from the pages.

“I want you to be my submissive, I apologize I haven't been more open with you. But when I get around you, my dominant side pops out and I crave your submission. Which you have been so wonderful to give me despite your doubts. But we will do this properly from now on. This paper says you are of age and consent to our lifestyle,” he explained handing me the top paper.

I nodded and looked it over, it was short mostly consisting of our names and the words 'due swear', 'of legal age', 'sound mind' and all of that, yet what really caught my attention was the date was that it was dated for three years ago starting the day after we had first met at the club.

I looked into his eyes and knew he had indeed been prepared for me to come back and be his sub back then, even after only knowing me an hour. That knowledge sent tingles of pleasure through me and went straight to my head.

"This page is one of the main parts of the contract, it gives me an idea as to what you know. Along with a detailed questionnaire that I want you to fill out, this is about what you are and are not willing to try. So, you know the difference between a hard limit and a soft limit?” he asked handing me a small stack of papers.

I nodded, I had dreamt of this moment every night after reading my books, but I always thought it would be just a fantasy. Now here I was on the edge of a cliff afraid that if I jumped, I would fall and plummet into an abyss. I felt my heart start racing and my palms sweat as I waited for myself to wake up again.