Page 23 of Stay

“Sky’s the limit.”

Mandy returns with our drinks. “Nachos will be out shortly.”

“Thanks,” Haley and I both say at the same time.

“And what about food and drinks? You want an open or cash bar?”

“Definitely open bar. I’m not sure about the food.” We’ve never had a full dinner at one of these things in the past. It’s always been crappy appetizers and little food stations. It might be a good opportunity to step things up a notch. “Let’s do a dinner.”

Her eyes crinkle when she smiles. “Okay.”

“You got any places in mind?”

“Not yet.” She clicks her pen. “But I will.”

I love her confidence.

Our eyes lock and I lose my breath. If I’m not careful, I’m going to fall. Taking the upper-hand, I tilt my head to the side. “You got that look in your eyes, Angel.”

She draws back. “What look?”

“The one that says I won’t regret this.”

The nachos arrive, but we don’t tear our gazes from one another.

“I won’t do anything you’ll regret later, Cole. I promise.”

She said that to me once before. Only then she was in a latex bodysuit and had me tied to her bed.

I didn’t regret it for a second.

“What are you thinking about that has that goofy grin on your face?” She plucks a heaping stack of cheese-laden chips and puts them on her little plate.

“I’m thinking about that time you poured hot wax all over my chest and sucked me off.”

Haley’s chest rises and falls with her heavy breathing. Her next words are cautious as she sucks sour cream off her thumb. “Oh yeah?”

Grabbing a chip with three jalapenos stacked on top, I shove it into my mouth, hoping it’ll stop me from running the damn thing.

My tongue sets on fire. Shit, that’s spicy.

My eyes water and I grab my beer, chugging half of it.

Haley’s still eyeing me like a hawk. “What was your favorite thing we did back then?”

“I don’t have one.” I loved them all. “What about you?”

She swallows hard before glancing away. “I think it was when you made me crawl to you on my knees, with that collar and leash around my neck.” Her cheeks flush. “Remember that?”

Fuck yeah, I do. She’d lost a bet the week before and had to do my bidding for an entire day and night.

I’m still not sure what role I love more—being the Dom or the sub. Both work for me. But being a Dom worked best for me with Haley. It was the only time I had some semblance of control, and she was able to relax under my attention.

For someone who’d struggled to survive her whole life, being able to not worry was a nice change of pace for her.

And as someone who always goes with the flow, I loved being the one in charge.

Leaning back, I study Haley through hooded eyes. “You miss being on your knees for me?”

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