Page 18 of Kissing Kayley
“Maxwell won’t care, honey. Believe me.”
Derek smiled. “It’s safe to say we have a diverse cross-section of guests, including some who are, shall we say, high-visibility people. All of our employees, residents, and guests are thoroughly vetted. And it behooves everyone to abide bythe NDA everyone signs, including you.” His smile faded. “And considering today’s events, I think paparazzi trying to locate you will be on no one’s mind but yours.”
Twenty minutes later, we’d filled out electronic paperwork on the tablet, loaded into the SUV, and followed Derek in his truck through the night.
My nerves were completely shot. I’d stepped onto the chartered jet this morning with hopes of being completely wrecked, drunk, naked, cumdrunk, and draped over Vic in a comfy bed while staring at a gorgeous sunset out over the Pacific Ocean.
Not driving into the middle of nowhere to a kinky resort.
“You won’t be marching me around naked or something, will you?” I snarked.
He laced fingers with me, his thumb stroking my hand. “Sweetheart, I promise I won’t violate your safe word. Even if all we end up doing is spending our time cooped up in the room with room service, then that’s what we’ll do.” He heavily sighed. “Sorry that our plans had to change.”
A laugh barked free from me. “Apology accepted, but not needed. This is in no way your fault. Honestly? I’m pleasantly surprised and impressed you seamlessly pivoted like this.” I had a thought. “Do I even want to ask about your brother and his wife?”
He shrugged, smiling. “I mean, that’s up to you. Do you think it’ll make you more or less comfortable at any future family gatherings we attend where they’re also in attendance?”
I thought about Elliot and Jordan, about the bracelets they wore.
Their devotion to Leo.
That the president of the United States would literally bend a knee to my brother.
And that I really didnotwant to know more about what the three of them did together.
“Never mind,” I muttered. “I’m good.”
I knew Vic was kinky. I’d intuited that during our first nights together in Yellowstone. It took me time to finally put together that he wanted to be in control outside the bedroom, but that he held himself back for obvious reasons.
Being that he was dominant and not domineering.
And I hadn’t yet admitted to him that his not-so-secret concern that I would chafe and soon rebel under someone trying to run my life was valid.
If Vic wanted the equivalent of an obedient bang-maid, I wasnotthat woman. And no amount of love for him on my part would turn me into one, either.
I didn’t think that’s what he wanted, which was what complicated everything.
Yet another reason I adamantly refused to give up my career. I’d seen too many clients, women who’d given up nearly everything for their partners out of love, just to be discarded and finding themselves starting over worse than from scratch because their identity had become so enmeshed with their partner that they literally had to figure out who they were, what they wanted—hell, sometimes what their actual enjoyments were in life, from music to TV, even to decor and clothes.
This wasn’t merely a test of could I be the partner Vic needed and deserved, but could he be happy being the kind of partner I needed? If he could be happy settling for the limits I required to be happy.
It was something I’d wondered before but, now faced with that reality, I prayed I could stand my ground, not give in just tomake him happy, and figure out how much I could honestly give him in return without making us both miserable.
Because I damned sure didn’t want to lose him.
CHAPTER 8
Victor
I knew about Rawhide Ranch—the resort’s name—thanks to my brother. I had stayed with him and his wife at their home but I’d never taken them up on their invitation to spend a few days at the resort on their dime.
Mostly because while they’d said it wasn’t uncommon for people to meet and form relationships at the Ranch, I hadn’t wanted to go if I didn’t already have a trusted romantic partner with me. That was for multiple reasons, the first being my job and the security clearances I hold. No way in hell would I jeopardize that.
My original plans for this vacation had consisted of Kay and me spending the first couple of days fucking our brains out until we exhausted each other, then diving into deep relationship conversations regarding our long-term future, which we’d deftly danced around these past three years.
At my age I finally felt ready to have a full-time partner. Someone living with me, not on the other side of the country.
I also knew it wasn’t fair to ask Kayley to uproot her life and give up her career to be with me. In fact, I suspected demanding that of her would be the fastest way to end our relationship.
