Page 38 of Possess

“I’m your friend.” Dani put her credit card away, then took the bag. “See you around, Destiny.” Dani took Allyson’s hand and pulled her out of the shop.

“I should have paid for the stuff.”

“A gift.” Dani put the bag in the bench seat and climbed into Allyson’s truck.

Allyson cocked one brow in response to Dani’s declaration before driving Dani back to her office. When they arrived, Dani got out but stood with the passenger door open. “Start with the romances, and then read the intro to BDSM. When are you seeing Zeke again?”

“Sunday. We’re going to lunch.” He’d called her earlier asking to see her Sunday.

“Good. Get through as much as you can by then. It will give you lots to talk about. Don’t be afraid to ask him questions, Allyson. Communication is key.” Dani grinned. “Call me if you need anything before you see Zeke.”

With that, Dani slammed the door. Allyson drove to her apartment and carried the bag inside.

Why did she have a feeling she was about to enter a world different from anything she’d previously experienced or imagined?

Chapter 6

Zeke rubbed the back of his neck before he got out of his truck Sunday at Allyson’s apartment complex. He’d just come from his parents’ house. He could still hear his mother complaining he didn’t eat enough breakfast.

He hadn’t mentioned he had a date for lunch. His family could be a little overwhelming when it came to him dating anyone. He’d talked with Allyson yesterday and asked her if having lunch at his home was an issue. She’d paused and then consented.

Consent was important to him. In kink and in a relationship. His stomach churned as he made his way to the front door. Zeke paused and took a deep breath before pressing the button for her apartment. Why was he so nervous? It didn’t make sense, but he was.

Her clean, sweet voice came over the speaker. “Yes?”

“It’s Zeke.”

The door buzzed. He pushed it open, making sure it closed before walking down the hallway to her apartment. The door opened the second he stopped in front of it.

“Hi.” She had pulled her hair back with clips, exposing her luscious neck.

“Hi, yourself.” He smiled, and his nerves settled. “You look amazing. Ready to go?”

“Yes.” She patted her purse and stepped out. Zeke waited while she locked up, then they headed for his truck.

“Do you live in town?” Allyson asked when he pulled out of the parking lot.

“I do. Over on Jackson.”

“That’s a nice area.”

“I like it.” Zeke concentrated on traffic, not that there was that much on a Sunday. Would Allyson like his modest home?

He’d been lucky enough a few years ago to find the land had already been developed and all the utilities run, but no homes had been built. He inquired and found out the builder had gone out of business. He bid on a half-acre lot and bought it for a song.

Since he was in construction, he decided to build his home the way he wanted it. Gabriel drew up the plans and helped him, along with his crew, to construct it.

It hadn’t taken them long to get the house done. Furnishing it was another thing. Zeke asked his baby sister to help him. She laughed and told him he was helpless with interiors.

What was nice about the area was that most of the homes stood on half-acre lots, so there was plenty of room between houses, plus lots of green.

He turned up his long driveway.

“Is that your house?” Allyson asked with a note of awe in her voice.

“Yes.” Zeke was proud of his home. The stone columns that held up the covered entryway. The wraparound porch. The exterior was a façade made to look like wood, while the solar panels on the roof gleamed in the sunlight.

Zeke stopped his truck at the front door. He hopped out and then opened Allyson’s door.

---