Page 17 of Ravish

Colby placed the bag between his feet, cupped Lara’s chin, and lifted her face up. “All you agreed to was the classes, nothing more. If you feel you don’t want to go beyond the classes, that’s your decision. Everything is your decision.”

“You’re serious.”

“Yes. You’ve been with people in the lifestyle; didn’t they teach you about it?”

“Ummm…” Color flared in her cheeks. “Sort of.”

Colby thought for a minute. “I have no expectations or requirements. I only want to be your Dom while you take the classes. After that, it’s your decision. Does that work?”

“You won’t get angry or upset?”

“No.” He wouldn’t. It would always be her decision. “Did someone in the lifestyle get upset or angry with you because you didn’t want to play with them?”

She shook her head. “You’re a very different man, Colby.” Her palm cupped his cheek.

“What do you mean?” He wanted to know what she saw.

“You’re...what’s the word I want...there’s a confidence about who you are and you’re not afraid of it. But there’s something else. I can’t find the right word.”

“I’m just a man.”

“You’re more than that.” She went up on her toes. “You’re a very special man.” Her lips brushed over his before she slipped from his grasp and moved away.

Colby chuckled. Lara was going to be fun to play with.

* * * *

Lara smiled as she walked through the farmers’ market with Colby at her side. There was something about him. She told him he was special, and he was. Her ex would never stroll around like this. Who was she kidding? He’d never even come to a place like this.

But there was also a protective side of Colby, one that made her want to curl up into his embrace. Her lips tilted up. She didn’t need a man to protect her, but there were times when it would be nice to be held and be told she was making the right decisions.

It was also obvious that Colby had a special relationship with his mother. She could only imagine what it was like growing up without a father. Lara and her father might not have gotten along well, but he’d made sure she never wanted for anything.

Maybe that was the problem. Lara didn’t consider herself spoiled, but maybe she was. She spied her aunt ahead of her with Colby’s mother. The two were chatting like they were old friends.

“I wonder what they’re plotting,” Lara said.

“Probably cooking up ways to put us in the same room together.”

“Like that’s a hardship.” Lara liked being around Colby. That could be dangerous to her heart if she wasn’t careful. They met up with the two older women, then went their separate ways at the parking lot.

“Aunt Tammy, do you think I’m spoiled?” Lara asked as she drove them back home.

“What ever gave you that idea?” Her aunt’s voice sharp. “Please don’t tell me Walter has been talking to you?”

Lara shook her head. “No. It was talking with Colby and his mother. I was brought up with so much, and it seems like they had so little.”

“Lara, sweetie.” Her aunt’s voice was gentle. “You are not spoiled. Yes, you did grow up with things other children never had, but you never ever asked for anything except to go to Berkeley and not one of those stuffy colleges back east.”

“Dad only allowed it because I threatened not to go at all.”

“I’m glad you stood up to him, but to answer your question. You aren’t like your brothers, or Walter, for that matter. Where only money matters to them, you, my sweet child, have a heart.”

“Thanks, Auntie.” While her aunt’s words did soothe the open sore, they didn’t heal it. She’d had much more opportunity than Colby. How would he feel about that if they started a relationship?

Don’t put the cart before the horse, she warned herself.

When Lara got home, she put her purchases away and then sat down and started writing out a list of pros and cons. After fifteen minutes, she realized there were more pros than cons in being with Colby. And those pros were going to make it even more difficult to guard her heart.

---