“I have a date,” he said. “I’m taking her to a Degas exhibit.” He groaned. “Don’t I sound boring?”
“No,” I said lightly as my heart lurched.
“You’re too sweet, Alice,” he said, his voice sounding sexy as hell. “I just hope Elizabeth enjoys it.”
“Elizabeth Jeffries?” I said, unable to stop myself.
“Yes, how did you know?” He sounded surprised.
“Good guess,” I said and then sighed. “But I have to go. Talk to you soon.”
“Oh, okay. Bye, Alice,” he said softly, and I hung up. I looked at Liv and Xander and I knew that I looked like a sad case because that was how I felt—really sad and sorry for myself.
“What’s wrong?” Liv jumped up and ran toward me. “What did my brother say? God help me, but I’ll kill him if he was a jerk.”
“He has a date,” I said softly, my voice cracking.
“You did just tell him another guy had called you,” Xander said and closed his mouth as Liv glared at him.
“Oh, no.” She rubbed my shoulder.
“And he knew it was me that night.” I rubbed my forehead and then sank down into the couch. “He knew it was me before the next morning,” I said again in a daze. “I can’t believe it.” I shook my head and my mind went back to that night six years ago, the night that had been both the best and worst in my life. The night that I was determined to experience again. Only this time I was a woman and I sure wasn’t going to sneak out of the room the next morning with anything other than a grin and a well-loved body.
“So what are you going to do?” Liv said, her eyes wide with shock.
“I don’t know,” I groaned. And I really wasn’t sure. “I guess I’ll start by joining the flag football team.”
“Hold that thought, I’m going to get us some drinks.” Liv jumped up and hurried out of the living room. I nodded at her and sat back and closed my eyes, my heart still thudding from my call with Aiden.
“So I need to talk to you.” Xander moved closer to me on the couch as Liv left the room. My heart raced as his voice lowered, and I felt him next to me. What was he doing? Was he going to make a move on me? What sort of woman did he think I was? Did he really think I was going to let him come on to me when he was dating my best friend?
“About?” I looked up at him warily, and his green eyes looked amused as he gazed at me. Oh God, please don’t tell me you want me to experience your miracle tongue as well, please do not make me have to slap you.
“What are you thinking, Alice?” he said softly, a small smile on his face as I glared at him.
“Liv is my best friend, and I will tell her if you do anything inappropriate.” I made a face at him and then took a deep breath. “And then she’ll leave you, and you’ll—”
“Alice.” He cut me off as he rolled his eyes. He looked as if he wanted to laugh at me. “I need to tell you something, and I don’t want Liv to hear. Not because I’m trying to hit on you, but because I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable how?” I asked him suspiciously.
“It’s about Aiden.”
“What about Aiden?” I frowned and leaned forward as my heart raced. What did he have to tell me about Aiden that he couldn’t say in front of Liv?
“I think Aiden is a Dom.”
“Say what?” My eyes widened as he spoke.
“I think Aiden is a Dominant.”
“What?” I screeched as I stared at him. My face was reddening as I thought about Aiden with a whip in his hand and me lying across his lap. Wait, could that even work? And would I even want him to use a whip? I chewed on my lower lip as my mind raced. Maybe I’d just be on his lap and he could use his hand. Yes, that was preferable to a whip.
“A Dominant is someone who takes a superior position in the bedroom and—” Xander interrupted my thoughts, and I blushed as a dart of embarrassed heat spread through my body.
“I know what a Dom is.” My face reddened. “I’ve been around town, you know.” Well, I’ve kinda been around town. I’ve never been with a guy that was into much experimental play, not that I haven’t tried, but, well, it’s just never worked out for me.
“Okay, Alice,” Xander answered me smugly.
“Why do you think he’s a Dom?” I asked him curiously, my heart racing quickly again, this time in excitement. Had Aiden told Xander that he wanted me to be his submissive? I wasn’t sure what I’d say to that. I’m not exactly the submissive type. I think I talk too much and I don’t take orders well. In fact, I like to order men around. Especially in the bedroom; I like to let a man know what I want very clearly.