Page 126 of Made Better Together

“No, I was nervous I wouldn’t have time for a lab-based project. More scheduling to worry about…so I’m doing a case study report on existing literature.”

“On a neuro topic?”

She puts her hand on my knee. “Yeah, how the brain and the gut communicate.” She turns her face up to me, grinning. “Not exactly date material.”

I’d listen to her talk science all night if I didn’t have other plans for us. “Do you know how hot it is that you’re so smart?”

“I’m not that smart. Just normal smart.”

I pull her into my body, closing the small gap that remains. “Yeah, not buying it.” I cup her cheek and bend down to kiss her softly.

When I pull back, a delicious blush has once again emerged on her cheeks. Reminding me of what I intend for tonight.

“Let’s debate your brilliance another time. Do you want to eat?”

36

EDEN

“Do you want to eat?”

I’m still not over the flowers, and now he’s going to feed me up here? This man sure knows how to plan a date…I’ve never had any guy make a fraction of the effort Connor has over our three outings.

“I’m a little hungry, sure.”

He brings his hand over the one I have resting on his knee. “Okay, so I’ve been studying.”

Studying? “Like how to cook?”

He shakes his head, laughing. “Sorry, I jumped subjects on you. No, on our personal research project.”

Oh, studying that.

“In the articles I’ve read, one of the important foundational things for us to do is work on our trust. I need to deserve your trust, as your Dom.”

It’s the first time he’s said that word out loud to me—Dom—and my chest tingles with anticipation. How does this connect to dinner, though? “I trust you.”

“I know you do, in general. This is a different kind of trust, in the context of a power transfer.” He says those two words like it’s the first time they’ve left his lips. Slow, and heavy.

“You have done your research.”

“You know what that is?” I nod. “Of course you do. My smart girl.”

I do now, after the last two weeks of reading. In simple terms, I’d be yielding authority to Connor, subject to any rules we set and my safe word. I initially assumed the dom-sub dynamic was sexual in nature, but I learned while studying it can be broader in scope. The power transfer can be about everyday things.

“So…trust exercises are what you have in mind. Not dinner?”

He smiles. “How about both?”

“Okay.” I glance around. Isn’t this a public space? “What will your neighbors think if they come up here?”

He stands up. “I reserved it, so we should be good. But let me lock the door.” He heads over to the exit and turns the lock.

“Cameras?”

“Checked on that too. They only have them on the stairwell and door. Not out here.” He walks over to a basket, sitting next to the cooler.

Okay, he’s got everything covered. I relax in the couch. “Thanks.”