Page 24 of Relentless Pursuit

“Look them over.” He nodded toward the file. “You can take it home with you if you want, and we can meet for lunch tomorrow afternoon and go over everything.”

“That won’t be necessary.” She didn’t care what was in that file. She could handle anything he threw her way. He needed to understand she was committed to his terms. “You can teach me whatever you want. I know why I’m here.”

“I don’t think you do.”

“Please stop saying that. What am I going to have to do to convince you?”

“You’ve more than convinced me. You need to understand that you’re different from my other matches. I’m going to have to take a new approach.”

“I don’t need you to go easy on me.”

“Read number three on my list.”

She did as he asked. It detailed bondage using ropes, cuffs, and shackles.

“I said I was fine with being tied up.”

“What about number four?”

She glanced at the next section. Twice, to be sure she’d read it correctly.Riding crop?

“Will you hurt me?” She understood that pain could be a big factor in pleasure. She just didn’t know how much she’d be willing to take.

“Of course not.” He stroked her cheek. “That’s why you’re with me. So I can guarantee you won’t get hurt.”

“Is that the only reason?” She looked down at his list. “I mean, if this is just to be about sex, then I’d like to know going in.”

“It’s always about just sex for me.”

Well, that sucks.

She continued reading his wants and needs. Most requests she had seen in her research. Many they had already discussed during their meetings.

“Kayla.” He tilted her chin. “What I’m about to say is very out of character for me, but I feel it needs to be said if we’re going to make whatever this is work.”

“I want this to work.”

“When I’m matched with a woman, it’s understood that it won’t go any further than what we create in the bedroom. I’m a busy man. My job is very demanding. I don’t have time for romance and matters of the heart. I don’t want to hurt anyone. You asked if I would hurt you, and I assume you meant physically. I won’t give you anything you can’t handle. But when it comes to the other stuff, the things people do when—”

“I get it.” She had to contain the disappointment of hearing the man she had dreamed about loving her most of her life tell her he would never want more than sex. “No need to complicate anything.”

“This is the out of character part.” He touched her lips with his fingertips. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to be as calculated with you. We have a history. You’re different from the others I’ve been with. I won’t make promises I can’t keep, but I’m already going into this with a mindset totally unfamiliar to me.”

“Let’s not overcomplicate this.” She could give him his space. “I didn’t come here for romance either. Let’s just see where it goes.”

“Sounds like a plan.” He trailed his finger along her jaw and down to her throat. With every touch, she wanted more. “I want you to read my list over. We’re not going to do everything on there. Some of it isn’t for you. Maybe some of those items aren’t for me anymore either.”

“How do you know they aren’t for me? I might surprise you.”

“I’m sure you will.” He leaned forward and kissed her softly. “As I said, let’s meet tomorrow. I’ll have Francis come for you around noon. He’ll bring you to my place, and we’ll have lunch.”

“I can get there on my own.”

“Francis will come for you.” He stood, extending his hand. “He’ll also be taking you home now.”

“Non-negotiable?” She wanted to stay with him.

“Precisely.” He pulled her from the sofa and wrapped his arms around her. “After tonight, you won’t be coming back to this club unless you’re accompanied by me.”

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