Page 84 of Always

I nod and take another sip. “Eat slowly. We’ll only have one glass of wine, as well.”

“Okay.”

She takes dainty bites of my food. She finishes all of her salad, most of her bread, and half of her lasagna. Good. She won’t be too full.

Neither will I. I eat half of my salad and all of my lasagna. No bread.

She pats her lips with her napkin and then rests it on the side of her plate.

I meet her gaze, my eyes heavy-lidded. “Are you ready, Skye?”

“Yes, Braden. I’m ready.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

I lead her to my bedroom, where candlelight emits a soft glow.

I wanted to make tonight special for Skye, so I lit some candles. I don’t usually have candles at my place. When I’m at a restaurant, I ask the waiter to remove any candles from the table.

Fire is not something I want in my life.

But this is for Skye. I’ve given her candlelight, to make the mood romantic.

I cup her cheek. “I was ready to take your ass that night at the club, but in retrospect, I’m glad it didn’t happen there.”

“Oh?”

“Yes.” I thumb her lower lip.

“Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious? This is where we should engage in that intimate act for the first time. That’s not to say we won’t do it at the club, too, but for the first time, we should be here, in an environment where you’re the most comfortable. Where you feel safe.”

“I always feel safe with you, Braden.”

“I know. I guess I’m not explaining what I mean very well. Let me be blunt. I changed my mind. I want to do it here. In my bedroom. I want to be here because this is something intensely personal to me. Personal and private, and I want us to be alone.”

“But Christopher and the rest of the staff—”

“Aren’t here. I sent them all away for the weekend. They’ll beback tomorrow evening.”

“Who will drive me home, then?”

“No one. You’re not going home this weekend, Skye. You’re staying here. With me.”

She smiles. “That sounds good.”

“I’m going to take care of you. I’m going to make this good for you in a way I couldn’t at the club. You’ll be pampered.”

In the candlelight, her breasts glow. I drop my gaze and groan from my chest. She’s quivering. Naked and quivering.

I’m so ready. I don’t want to wait any longer.

“I’ve waited a long time for this,” I say, “and we’re going to do it right.”

Being here means something to me. Here, in my bedroom in Boston, where I don’t do things I may participate in at the club.

She simply nods. “Whatever you want is what I want.”

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