Page 29 of Possess

“Whether we can move past friendship and on to a relationship.”

Her first impulse was to push away from him, but she was going to be honest with him and herself. It was time. Her heart did a rapid tattoo in her chest.

“We can move to a relationship.” Relief spread over his face, and his shoulders visibly relaxed. He’d been tense; she hadn’t realized.

“This next question is a little more intimate.” He leaned down. “How do you feel about kink?”

Heat swept through her.Oh my God, Zeke was kinky? “It depends on your definition of kink. I’m not into the slave/master type of stuff.”

“That I could have guessed. I’m not either. More into the Dominance/submission. The deep relationship between Dom and sub that can form a bond of trust like nothing else.”

Allyson sucked in a breath. Was he talking about a power exchange? She thought that was a myth. She’d never seen one in her years at the play parties. Would she recognize one if she saw it? It was one of the reasons she stopped going. She wanted something deeper, more meaningful.

“All right.” This was new territory for her. She’d talked with a Dom at a play party and negotiated before they played together, but that was usually a one-night type of thing. Zeke wanted more than that.

“How much do you know about the lifestyle?” he asked.

“More than you think.” Her hand fluttered to her throat. Was she going to do this? Yes, it was time to jump into the deep end.

“We will need to discuss that, but for the moment, let’s start off slowly and see how things go.”

“What does that mean?” Slow? She already wanted to possess him and be possessed by him. Could she be patient enough to go slow?

Zeke blinked at her. “It means we’re going to talk and talk some more. It also means being honest with each other and answering questions fully, holding nothing back.”

She stiffened. “Do you think I’ve been lying?” Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

“There you go. Jumping to conclusions. I see the tension in you. Why are you ready to run?” He kept his tone even and soft.

Allyson froze. Was she ready to run? Yes, and he’d noticed. Most men wouldn’t. “Habit,” she muttered, forcing her muscles to loosen. Wasn’t that the truth?

“Can you talk about why it’s a habit?” His fingers tightened around hers where their hands rested on her thigh.

“Maybe because my ex-boyfriends were jerks who never hung around, well, except the last one. I kicked him to the curb.” Well, she certainly blurted that out. Allyson closed her eyes, not wanting to see Zeke’s reaction.

“Allyson, honey, open your eyes, please.”

She shook her head. Warm fingers cupped her chin, then the other hand released her fingers and slid around the back of her neck. “Maybe this will help. I’ve never had a lasting relationship either.”

She peeked from under her lashes. “Oh?” She hadn’t expected that from him. So he’s a love ’em and leave ’em type of guy. Maybe they could have a fling.

“Yeah, I think my family scares them away.” He released her chin.

“Your family?” Her lashes rose, and she stared at him. Could his family be scarier than hers? She doubted it.

“Yes. I have a younger brother and sister, remember.” She nodded. “I love them to death, but they like to make a fuss when I bring someone to dinner with my parents. Well, right now it’s just my sister, since my brother is military.”

“Have you taken someone home for dinner often?” A pang of longing hit lower in her belly. Her parents had all but abandoned her by the time she was twelve. She had to rely on herself for meals, getting her butt to school, almost everything.

“I’ve taken women home to meet my parents three times to be exact. I’m not a monk, but I don’t take all the women I date home to meet the folks.”

“Then why hasn’t some woman snatched you up by now?” She clamped her hand over her mouth. What was it with Zeke that caused her to blurt out what she was thinking?

His laugher floated over her skin like soft breeze. “Because I haven’t found the right woman yet.”

Her eyebrows rose. “Really?” Somehow she couldn’t see it.

“Yes, Miss Doubter.” His fingers caressed the back of her neck. “So the exes were jerks. Did any of them hurt you?”

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