Then he’d gotten her email last week and hope had soared within him.
Now it seemed she had a secret, too.
She gazed at him, her blue eyes wide. “This might come as a shock to you but… I’m not what you think I am.”
He grinned and arched his eyebrows. “Are you a dude?”
But her expression remained serious. “This is really hard.” She stroked his cheek again, her gentle touch sending shimmers of heat through him. “I love the way you look at me and I’m afraid that after I tell you, that look will… change.”
He took her hand and squeezed. “I don’t think that’s possible, but go ahead and tell me.” At her continued hesitation, he said, “Just take a deep breath and do it.”
He watched her chest rise and fall as she took his advice, then she gazed down at their joined hands.
“You think of me as sweet and a little naïve, but that’s far from the truth. When you and I have sex it’s tender and passionate and lovely. Everything a woman would want.”
He smiled, delighting in her praise.
“At least, most women.”
Fuck, was she going to tell him he wasn’t good enough in bed?
“So what am I doing wrong?”
Her eyes widened. “No, it’s not you. It’s me.”
“Ah, classic break up line.”
“Abel, this is serious.”
“I know, sweetheart. Just tell me.”
“Okay. I’m into BDSM.”
He didn’t know what he’d expected, but it wasn’t that.
“So you want to be tied up? Or you want me to dominate you?”
“Well, no. Actually…”
“She’s a Domme.” Abel picked up the burger Marie, Drake’s wife, set in front of him and bit into it.
“A Domme?” Drake’s eyes twinkled. “So does she have whips and chains?”
Abel shrugged. “I don’t know.” He grinned. “But I’d sure like to find out.”
“I can’t help envisioning a full latex suit with spike heeled boots,” said Drake. “And a whip.”
Marie grinned at him. “Are you trying to tell me something? Does someone want to submit to the control of his woman?”
Across the table, their other brother, Craig, raised his hand. Drake also put his hand in the air.
Abel laughed. “Well, girls, maybe you can take lessons from Nicole.”
Lori smiled. “That could be fun.”
“So you and Nicole are together again?” Marie asked.
“No.”
Marie’s eyes widened. “No?”
“Well, not yet. I told her I needed to think about things.”
“Why?” Lori asked.
“Well, she seemed so convinced that I might need time to get used to the idea that I didn’t want to disappoint her.”
Marie shook her head. “That just sounds mean.”
“Not at all. It gives her a chance to try and convince me. And more importantly, it gives me a chance to ask a few questions to find out if she’s okay with my secret. Not every woman is okay with a man sharing her with his two brothers.”
Lori giggled. “Though for the life of me, I can’t understand why.”
“When are you going to see her again?” Craig asked.
“I’ve arranged to meet her at her hotel tomorrow night.”
Nicole was worried.
She hadn’t known exactly what to expect when she told Abel about her being a Domme, and at least he hadn’t outright rejected her, but he hadn’t accepted the idea with open arms, either. He’d seemed cautiously curious and had suggested they talk about it when they had more time and could go somewhere private. So she’d invited him to her hotel.
A knock sounded on the door.
She stood up and approached the door. She loved him and she was determined to convince him they should be together, so she would do everything she could to persuade him. When she peered through the peephole, her heart swelled at the sight of his familiar, handsome face.
She opened the door. “Come in.”
She wanted to throw her arms around him and kiss him, to feel his hard body against hers, but instead she turned and walked into the room. She wore a black leather skirt and a silk shirt that fluttered as she walked. Although loose fitting, the shirt draped nicely and silhouetted her curves in a flattering manner. She could almost feel the heat of his gaze on her ass as he followed her. She sat down in the upholstered chair by the low table she’d pulled into the center of the room and gestured for him to sit in the desk chair she’d placed facing hers.
“Thank you for coming. I’ll answer any questions you want.”
He nodded. “Good.”
His expression was serious and she worried he’d already made up his mind and had just come here out of courtesy.