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It sounds selfish even considering it, and yet… Teddy sure didn’t seem to mind running the show last night.
“It’s not about work, Kipp. I don’t want you to think of it in those terms.” Teddy pauses for a moment, thinking over what he wants to say. His plate is empty now, as is mine, but neither of us moves from the island. “In a power exchange, each person should benefit equally. The dominant partner enjoys having control, and the sub enjoys giving it. That’s not to say the submissive partner is powerless. Not in the least. And to answer your question, yes, I think letting go of control is something you’d enjoy given the chance.”
“How do you know that?” I ask quietly.
Teddy’s gaze turns sharp. It’s a look that has me taking immediate notice and sitting taller in my seat.
“Because,” he says, voice low, “if I told you to hop up on this counter and let me have you for dessert, you’d do it without hesitation.”
“I mean,” I cough, adjusting myself, “who would say no to that?”
His smirk has me pondering the answer to that question.
“Let me ask you this,” he says, turning his body my way. “In your past relationships, were you happy? Were you getting what you needed?”
His question nearly pulls the air from my lungs. Because no, I haven’t ever found a guy that gave me everything I needed. Who made me feel settled and secure. I’ve never met someone I wanted to spend my life with. Never been in love.
There has been something missing all these years. Some intangible piece of the puzzle I’ve been searching for. I started to wonder if maybe I just wasn’t made for relationships. If I’d be the perennial bachelor who had to make do with friendships in lieu of true partnership.
But I do want partnership. No matter how much I’ve tried to prepare myself for the possibility that I’d never find my person, I want to fall in love and create a family of my own and have that knowledge that me and him—we’ll be forever. And love, well, doesn’t it start with lust? Or even like?
I sure as hell like Teddy. And I more than liked how he made me feel last night. I still don’t understand it—why Teddy seems to think I have some sort of untapped submissive potential. But maybe I don’t need to understand it. I trust him. And I’m curious enough to explore what it is he’s offering. After all…
If I’m lucky, maybe my husband could be the one.
Chapter 9
Teddy
Since it looks like Kipp’s head is about to explode, I suggest we take a breather. He nods wordlessly before bringing his plate to the dishwasher and loading it inside. I follow, giving his neck a squeeze before he can run off. He shoots me a smile, his shoulders lowering, and then he leaves the room.
I settle on the couch, letting him have the privacy of the bedroom. He only stays in there for five minutes.
“I want to kiss,” he declares, stormingback into the room.
“Right now?” I ask, my pulse jumping.
“In general,” he says, waving his hand through the air. “We’re supposed to negotiate terms, right? That’s a thing?”
My lips twitch. Has he been Googling? “We can do that.”
“So, kissing,” he repeats, sitting next to me on the couch. He stays that way for all of three seconds before he flops sideways, his head landing in my lap. “Is this okay?”
“More than,” I assure him, sifting my fingers through his hair.
“Okay, so I like kissing,” he goes on. “And I’m vers, but I do prefer to bottom.”
His eyes meet mine, checking in, and I give him a nod.
“And, um…” He falters. “I don’t know. You go.”
I give his hair a gentle tug until he relaxes against me. “I want to hold you after sex, Kipp.”
Blue eyes flash to mine in surprise.
“Aftercare is just as important to me,” I explain. “I need to be close, to know you’re safe and not having an emotional drop.”
“That can happen?” he asks.
