Page 26 of Relentless Pursuit

“I’m glad you brought up your brother.” He made a platter for himself. “I planned to speak to you about him today. I spoke to him the other day and mentioned I had run into you.”

“Did you tell him where?”

“I would never break that confidence,” he assured her. “He didn’t ask where I saw you, and I didn’t offer. He did ask me if I could help you find a job.”

“He shouldn’t have done that.”

“He’s worried about you and, in turn, that makes me worried about you.”

“You don’t have to be.” She popped a grape into her mouth. “I told you I could stick this out.”

“I admire that, but if you change your mind, I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you.”

“What would you like to tell your brother about us?”

“Nothing.”

Was she ashamed of him? Ashamed of what they were doing? Of course she was.

“I don’t want to lie to him,” Julian said.

“I don’t want him in my business. It’s not like what we’re doing is...”

“Normal?”

“I don’t know if it is.” She sighed. “It’s not like it’s traditional, and I can’t exactly tell him and Caroline that we’ve entered into some kinky agreement for sexual gratification.”

“That’s a valid point.” He liked her bluntness. At least she didn’t have any illusions about who he was.

“It would be different if we were... Well, if I was your...”

“I understand.” He rested his hand over hers. He didn’t want to give her the chance to mention thegirlfriendword. “We don’t have to justify to anyone what we do behind closed doors, but I’ll admit our relationships with Jack does complicate matters. I’m fine with revisiting this once we see how far we progress. Does that ease your mind?”

“Yes, thank you.” When she sipped her wine, he focused on her mouth, remembering how sweet she had tasted the night before. “I’m jittery. I’ve never done anything like this before.”

“You can relax.” He took her hand and set it in his lap, running his fingers along her wrist. “I promise, I’ll take things slow with you. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want. Not today, not ever.”

“I want to try with you.” She squeezed his hand, having no idea he didn’t allow matches to touch him unprovoked, and he wasn’t sure he was going to tell her.

A different approach.

“You will try.”

“I read through your requirements.”

“You must have questions.”

“Your safeword system. Is that necessary?”

“Very much.” He liked to use the traffic light approach. “It’s set up for both of us. If I ask you a color, I can gauge where you are. What your mindset is. You should be honest with not just me, but yourself. You should never do something because you think I want it. You can’t let me go any further than you can endure, but sometimes you might have trouble expressing that. That’s why the safewords are important.”

“But isn’t that the point? To please you?”

There was that innocence again. The thought of it almost made him come in his pants, but at the same time, it only served to remind him how in control he was. How much influence he would have over her. He’d have to be very careful, because she wasn’t going to know when enough was enough. She had no point of reference.

“It’s also my job to make sure you have pleasure. It’s my goal to put your needs above mine.”

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