Page 69 of Succumbed

“That sounds like a string.”

She glances down at her lunch, swallowing. “Maybe it doesn’t have to be. Two people can get to know one another without getting attached, can’t they?”

“Can they?” I challenge.

Her nose scrunches. “Some level of attachment is probably inevitable. But…there can be attachment between friends.”

Friends, my ass. There’s nothing friendly about the way I crave her. “Maybe we start with topics that are already on the table.”

“What, work and sex?” she quips as she takes another bite.

“Exactly.”

She considers my words. “I can get on board with that.”

This should be fun. I wait for her to go first.

“When did you know you liked…being in control? In the bedroom.”

“I guess I’ve always known. I mentioned my mom earlier.” Lex nods, focused on me. “She…didn’t have a stable source of income, and there was always a new guy around, someone she thought would take care of her. Of us. I didn’t know what a healthy relationship looked like until I met Dec’s parents.”

“I’m glad you had them.” Her tone is gentle.

“Me, too. But I’d seen enough with my mom to know I wasn’t going to leave my future up to someone else, not unless I trusted them completely. And…that’s kind of extended into all aspects of my life.”

“I can relate, in a way. On our first night together, Linc asked me if I was used to being in control in the bedroom. I was, but if I’m honest with myself, I used that control as a defense mechanism.”

I take her hand in mine. She threads our fingers together and smiles softly.

“For me, it might have started that way…but I realized pretty quickly I got as much of a rush from being the one directing the scene as I did from participating. Now, it’s more about maximizing pleasure–for my partner or partners, and for myself.”

Her eyes glaze as she looks off to the side.

“Where’d you go?” I whisper, squeezing her hand.

She flushes. “Just thinking about the other night.”

My cock twitches at the memory of the three of us in bed together, the muscles in Lex’s back flexing deliciously while she rode me, Linc’s fingers between her legs. I clear my throat.

“Which part?”

Her mouth opens on a deep breath, and she grips my hand tighter. “When you told Linc to fuck his hand.”

“What about it?” I murmur encouragingly.

“I mean, it was hot, but I was also surprised you were…telling him what to do, too. He’s so dominant when it’s just the two of us.”

“Yeah, Linc’s great at reading people. Sometimes I think he knows what the people around him want before they do. He knew I would want to be in control, and you’d want us to take the lead. If we’re all enjoying the scene, he’s happy.”

“So you get off on the control, and Linc gets off on…everyone’s pleasure?”

A lazy smile tugs at my lips. “Something like that.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “What do you get off on, Lex?”

Her pupils dilate as she studies my face, that flush creeping up her neck.

“The freedom.” Eyes glassy, she sighs.

Seeing she’s finished, I take both of our containers and set them on the table. I turn to lean back against the armrest of the couch, my legs spread.

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