Page 61 of Guardian Daddy

“Do you know what a Dom is, Cate?”

“Well, yes. Dominance and submission is a subset of BDSM. If agreed, a Dominant may have control over a submissive partner either in the bedroom or out. They might make and enforce rules.”

Ethan blinked at her explanation. She wasn’t incorrect, was she? She thought she almost recalled word for word the description of a Dominant that she’d read online.

“Yes, that’s right. Have you had experience with a Dom before?”

“No. I’ve just read stories with BDSM in them.”

“Okay, that’s a start, I guess. The first time I went to a BDSM club, I was only twenty-five and thought I knew everything. I was wrong.”

Wow. He admitted to being wrong?

“I figured I’d jump right in, start bossing subs around, and have endless orgasms. I ended up getting kicked out for being a dick and was told I could come back after I’d taken some lessons on how to be a good Dominant.”

“You took those lessons?”

“Reluctantly. But yeah. Gradually, I came to realize that, for me, being a Dom was all about looking after someone else. Being in control of my partner . . . their pleasure, their health, their safety. About providing what they needed so they could give me what I needed. Their submission.”

She studied him in fascination. “I bet you are a very good Dominant. You seem to be excellent at reading people.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

“You also like to be in charge and can be quite bossy.”

“Noted.”

“I still don’t understand what this has to do with last night.”

“I’m still going,” he said softly.

“Oh. I apologize. Please, continue.” It was taking him a while to get there, but she wasn’t complaining. Sitting here and talking to Ethan was no hardship. He had a very nice voice. When she spoke, she could tell he was really listening and not just humoring her.

“After a few years of going to the club, I was asked if I could help out in the Littles area. It was a recent addition. Most clubs don’t have a dedicated Littles area, but the owner of this club wanted to add one.”

Cate stiffened. Oh God. Now, she had an idea of why he was telling her all this.

It was her worst nightmare.

That she’d show that side of herself in front of someone else.

“I have to go . . . I have to leave.”

Right. Now.

16

“Cate, don’t, please,” he said. “Cate, sit down. Please.”

She stilled. Strangely, her body wanted to sit. But her brain kept telling her to run and hide.

Idiot. Such an idiot.

She grasped hold of the hair tie and flicked her wrist.

“What are you doing?” he asked sharply.

Crap. That was the last thing she needed to be doing around him. Ethan was far too observant. And she couldn’t have him telling Rhodes about this.

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