Page 17 of Shadow

He winked, and it sent her heart fluttering. “I’ve got a few surprises up my sleeve. Can I buy you a drink?”

She held up the nearly empty glass. “Got one. But thanks.”

Looking around, she tried to find someone to go say hello to. But everyone she normally socialized with at Exposure was currently playing. So, she was forced to sit and make small talk.

“I was telling Olivia that she could run one of her nerd games in the Library sometime if she wanted.”

Ripley hopped onto the barstool next to her, so now she was sandwiched between two very masculine Doms. “Oh yeah? What are you thinking? D&D?”

She grinned. That was one thing she liked about Ripley. He didn’t play any of her games, but he never made fun of her for them the way a lot of people liked to make fun of the geek crowd she ran with.

“Definitely D&D. It’s more accessible than anything else.”

“Tell me when. I’d love to learn some time.”

She swallowed the last of her drink, surprised by that. He’d never shown interest before. “Yeah sure. Of course.” What else could she say? No, you can’t play. That was just rude.

“I’m going to excuse myself,” Gage said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “But you two behave.”

Fuck. No. Don’t leave me. She silently pleaded with Gage using her eyes, but the Texas-born soldier either didn’t notice or didn’t care. He simply winked, set his empty beer bottle on the bar, and walked away.

“Bastard,” she muttered.

“What’s that? You afraid of being alone with me?” Ripley sounded a little too smug for her liking.

“Not at all. It’s just not my first choice of ways to spend this evening.”

“Ouch. But I hear you. How was your day?”

She sighed. “I don’t really want to shoot the breeze with you, Cannon.”

His gaze darkened and he leaned in close. “I’m Ripley here. Or Sir. Or Daddy. Your preference. But never Cannon.”

“What about Boomer? And seriously? Daddy? Not in a million years.”

“Call me Boomer again and see what happens.” His voice was quiet, but the threatening tone was not lost on her. And it twisted her insides in a confused jumble of arousal and annoyance.

Still determined not to let him get to her, she snorted. “Nothing will happen because we’re not together and we’re certainly not in a power exchange relationship… Boomer.” It was bold of her, considering his tone. It was one that wasn’t to be argued with. But she had to set boundaries, or she would wind up right back in his bed.

He clenched his fists and something about getting him all riled up made her blood pump a little faster. They’d always played rough in the past, and she imagined if she pushed his buttons enough, he would have her pinned against a wall, making all manner of threats in her ear. Dark, dangerous threats turned her on. Even if she knew, he would never follow through with half of them. But it was the ones he would follow through on that really got her going. And it used to be a game to see just how far she could push him. Maybe that made her a brat. She wasn’t sure. But she liked the fight, and she never made it easy for him. And when he finally did get his way—and he always got his way—the orgasms that resulted were mind blowing. No one else made her come that way.

“Whoa. Where’d your head go, Liv? Because if I had to guess it went somewhere that includes my hand around your neck or holding you down while you scream.”

Fuck. He always could read her like a damn open book

She cleared her throat. “Think I’ll take that drink now.”

“Uh-huh. You’re not so hard to figure out, baby girl. Now tell me how your day was. Did you get things sorted to repair the bar?”

He flagged the bartender down and ordered the second drink then turned back to her, waiting for an answer. The bar was probably a safe topic for conversation, so she blew out a breath and answered.

“The Fire Marshal said at least another twenty-four hours before I can get construction in there. I’ve got people coming on Monday to do an assessment and give me a quote, but my wallet is already crying.”

“I can help.”

Olivia shook her head. “No. I don’t need help. I’ve got plenty in savings. Between the bar’s success and my divorce settlement, everything will be fine. Just means making a few changes to my long-term plan.”

“Ah yes. The plan.”

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