Page 55 of Five Days to Be Mine

Her body softens against mine, a little sigh escaping her pouty mouth. “No other expectations?”

“What expectations did you want there to be?” I put a bit of a bite in my tone, thinking back to how she asked to take the phone call.

“I don’t know. It just seems one sided.”

“I’m a Dominant, but I am not huge on formality. Is that something you want?”

Mara shakes her head. “I’ve never really explored it before.”

“I need to be dominant in the bedroom and, to an extent, outside. I need my partner to let me take care of them. Can you give me that?” I brush my hand through her hair.

“It feels…like I'm giving up control.”

I kiss her mouth, hard. “Think of it as participation. You’re not just responding passively, Mara. If I said, ‘please text me when you arrive at your friend’s shop and let me know when you’re leaving,’ how does that feel to you?”

She brushes a hand along my arm. “Like you’re looking out for me.”

I kiss her forehead, cup her hand with my jaw. “Then let me look out for you. Please text me when you arrive. And as often as you want during the day.”

“Okay. What are you doing today, after your meeting? Is that okay to ask?” She flushes.

“Of course. I’m seeing Steff Goldstein, my designer, in the afternoon. We have this anniversary party next month and I want to go over details with her. Then I have a staff meeting. We have three private group bookings for this evening. I like to be there to greet the guests. It makes them feel exclusive.”

Her face turns scarlet.

“What is it?” I crowd her space, staring into her blue eyes.

I’m pretty sure her reaction is because I dropped Steff’s name.

“Nothing. You do like looking after people,” Mara murmurs.

I hadn’t thought of looking after the restaurant or the guests as looking after people like I would romantically, but I guess it isn’t a stretch.

“Especially you. How long do you need to get ready? I’ll walk you to the car.”

“Five minutes.”

“Good.” I lean down and kiss those lips.

It’s not like I don't know this is a little…wild.

But I'm thirty-five. I’m tired of one-night stands and commitments that don’t work out.

I’m tired of people being after me only for my money and I am tired of head games.

One night with Mara was all I needed to know that I wanted her to be mine forever.

I’m determined to do whatever is necessary over these days to convince her of that.

Mara touches my forearm, pressing down on me. She stands on her toes, kissing me back.

The sweet taste of her is so good, this is what I have missed. A woman who gives me what I want.

Her hand turns, her nail catches my skin and I jerk away immediately.

“What? Evan, are you all right?”

“It’s fine,” I murmur.

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