She could do this. For some reason, it was suddenly important to show Dominic she could follow orders. It was fucking hot, and she liked the way it made her feel. Her insides were on edge and tight. A constant, low arousal ruled the evening.
There may have been a lot of things unspoken between her and Dominic, but there was no longer a shred of doubt he was a Dom. A firm one.
The others had left two chairs next to each other on the back side of the table. Dominic, the true gentleman, pulled hers out and slid it back in as she sat. He took the seat next to her, tucking his tie with one hand so it didn't hit the table.
"Did you get lost?" Brett asked, chuckling. Obviously Dominic must have told him what had happened a few months ago, though she truly doubted he'd known very long. Same as Zia.
Dominic easily answered. "No, but Lily was out of gas, and we had to go to two stations before we managed to fill the tank. Is there a shortage or something?" He glanced at Zia without hesitating. "I hope Brett doesn't let you keep your tank nearly empty. It's not safe." He shot Lily a glare and shook his head.
He was so convincing that even she believed his lie.
She lifted her ass a few inches off the seat to tug her skirt down lower. It felt like her bare butt was on the chair.
Dominic casually reached under the table and gripped her thigh, silently telling her to sit still. Without a word or a glance, she knew his cue.
She swallowed around the reprimand, trying to figure out in what universe she would obey a man's demands and be hornier than ever at the same time. It made no sense.
Even though she'd read everything she could find on the Internet about the fetish world and found it unbelievably titillating, it shocked her to find it arousing when put into practice.
She lowered both her hands to her lap and attempted to pry his fingers off her thigh.
He ignored her and instead smoothed his hand down her leg a few inches to push her skirt up higher until his fingers rubbed against her bare leg instead of her dress. Almost too hard. Just the right amount of pressure to control her without leaving a mark.
He was good.
She gave up the fight and reached for the glass of white wine someone had already poured. Zia knew her well.
While everyone spoke over one another discussing the menu, she took a healthy drink of fortification.
Dominic leaned closer to her. "One glass. And take it slow. The first time you need to use the restroom, I'm going to follow you and make you come somewhere inside this restaurant. We clear?"
She lifted her face from the menu, not breathing. Total shock. Wading through all the demands, she found herself wondering once again why everything he said made her hotter. Was it his tone? The idea of being controlled? The way he gripped her thigh? Probably a combo.
So many thoughts went through her mind. Her heart raced. Was she going to let this man, a near stranger, control her like this? Right here in public? Place one demand after another on her every move? Tell her how much to drink and at what speed?
She should shake free of him and leave the restaurant. Tell Brett and Zia she was sorry, but they were going to have to get married without her, and that their friend was a total pervert.
But she wasn't going to do anything like that. She intended to stay. Obey. See where this led. Because she was intrigued by her body's response and so flipping aroused.
"Lily? We clear?"
"Yes." Her hands shook as she set her wine glass back on the table and pretended to read the menu.
"You okay, Lily? You look kind of pale," Zia commented.
Lily plastered on a smile and lifted her gaze. "No. I'm fine. Just hungry. What's good? I've never been here."
Zia glanced at Lily's glass and back at her face, frowning. She knew Lily well. Lily never met a glass of white wine she didn't hold until it was gone. "Is the wine okay?"
"Yes. It's perfect. But my stomach is growling. I don't want to drink too much before I eat something." Also a lie that Zia would read through. But hopefully, it was a bold enough lie that Zia would catch on and stop questioning her.
"Ah. Good point. Let's order."
Brett rattled off his favorites with his gaze scanning the page.
Meanwhile, Dominic reached across with his free hand and tapped a spot on the menu. His other hand began to stroke the skin between her thighs maddeningly.
She glanced at his subtle suggestion, wondered what he would do if she ordered something else, and hated that he'd pointed out the very item that would be her first choice-Chicken Marsala.
"Hmm." She lifted the menu to draw it closer. "I wonder what might happen if I order the lasagna?" she said under her breath.