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Grace hung up the phone and clutched it to her chest. Even though she was nervous, she was also certain she was doing the right thing. All she could do was hope that Alexander agreed.
***
Alexander pulled up in front of Grace’s house at six fifty-six. The porch light was on, welcoming him, even though sunset was still almost an hour away. He took his time getting out of his vehicle, even though his leg wasn’t bothering him tonight, and made his way up the walkway. It had been almost forty-eight hours since he’d watched Grace scurry out of Serpent’s Kiss. To say he was anxious to hear what she had to say was a vast understatement.
He rang the doorbell and within seconds she was there, framed in the doorway. She looked small and unsure of herself. Over the last month he’d seen her begin to come out of her shell, some of her shyness melting away. However, the more lighthearted Grace he’d gotten to know was nowhere to be seen.
“Good evening, Grace.”
“Hi.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and took a step back, inviting him inside. “Dinner’s almost ready.”
Alexander stood off to the side as she closed and locked the door, before following her into the kitchen. This was her show, and as tempting as it was for him to demand answers, he was going to wait her out.
She busied herself with finishing dinner but every now and then he caught her shooting glances in his direction. When she finally did join him at the table, she kept her gaze on her plate. She didn’t make a move to start eating, so neither did he.
“Aren’t you hungry?” she asked in a shaky voice.
“I am.” He paused before reaching for the serving spoon she’d placed on the table and handing it to her.
“I’m not sure if I can eat.”
He didn’t budge. “You invited me to dinner.”
There was a moment’s hesitation before she took the spoon and scooped some of the casserole onto her plate. He waited until she was done before getting his. The meal was awkward. She picked at her food more than she ate it. The temptation to order her to eat was strong, but he bit back the urge.
Her fork slipping from her fingers and clattering onto her plate drew his attention.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Alexander wiped his mouth with his napkin and placed it next to his plate before speaking. “What are you sorry for?”
She released a loud breath and for a second he thought maybe she was crying, but then she looked up to meet his gaze. “I told you I wasn’t ready, and then I went to the club.”
He waited for her to continue.
“I didn’t lie. I still wasn’t sure I was ready, but...” She looked down at her lap. “I told you about Kurt’s letter. About how he wants me to move on.” When he didn’t respond, she glanced up. “You’ve probably guessed that Kurt and I... we... he was my Master.”
Alexander had suspected as much after seeing the necklace she wore the first time they met, but hearing her say it out loud had him putting what she hadn’t said into perspective. “When he said he wanted you to move on, he didn’t just mean for you to start dating again, did he?”
She shook her head. “No.”
It made sense. Kurt would want his sub’s needs to be taken care of. “So you were at Serpent’s Kiss to find a Dom.”
“Yes.”
He was still digesting this new information when she slid to the floor, kneeling next to his chair. She placed her hands on her thighs, palms up. He knew that pose. Knew what it meant.
Placing a finger under her chin, Alexander made her look at him. He raised an eyebrow, silently asking her to explain herself.
“I would like for you to be my Dom, Sir.” Her gaze didn’t waver.
As the moments ticked by, Alexander couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease her. “How do you know I’m a Dom? Maybe I’m a submissive.”
Grace’s eyes widened for a second before the look of panic in them faded. “I don’t think so, Sir.”
“Why’s that?”
She took her time thinking about her answer. “I guess it’s a lot of things. The way you carry yourself. The way you’ve looked after me, even when you didn’t have to.”
