“Are you a Dominant?”

I blurt out the question because it’s been rolling around in my mind, and I can tell it catches him off guard.

He’s doing bicep curls and I’m hanging out on the stair-master, doing my cool down.

I’m not letting myself think about the fact that it’s been two weeks and we’re that couple that’s working out together.

He just…has fallen into my life so easily. Seamlessly, almost. Everything I thought was true about relationships and sharing a shit-ton of time with someone is just going up in flames the longer I’m around him.

Part of me thought we’d start this and it wouldn’t really be real. But that changed when I told him about my past. We just…work. I keep waiting on things to go to shit, for him to say something that makes me completely question everything, but he hasn’t.

He’s exactly who he’s shown himself to be, and that’s even scarier. I’m starting to trust him and count on him to be consistent. What happens when he isn’t? What will I do then?

There’s still so much we don’t know about each other. Stuff you learn over time, habits, thoughts. There’s no way I can know it all before I really give in and…fall for him.

I can hear Mickey telling me I’m doing way too much thinking, and I should enjoy it and just live in the moment. But people are fickle, and I just…the more I run through the possibilities, the less it’ll hurt me in the end.

“Uh…I don’t really go by those labels much.” I grab my towel off the railing and step down, wiping off my face.

“Why not?”

“Because it’s just…not my scene. I don’t need set rules and contracts and all of that. I just…go with what I like.” He has such nice arms. I sit on the mat in front of the mirror, and drink from my water bottle, just watching him heft a 65 pound dumbbell so effortlessly.

He switches hands for his last set and I don’t know if it’s because working out riles my blood or if he’s just even more delicious with a thin sheen of sweat, but I just want to crawl in his lap and let him have his way with me.

I can’t, because my dad’s big cookout is today and we’ve got to shower and all, but it’s a nice thought.

“I just thought it seemed a lot like what you’re into, so I was curious if you officially identify that way or what.”

“I used to think I was more of a sadist, but I was really only into it because Delia liked it so I just did what she asked me to. When we broke it off, I realized I didn’t have any desire to do that same stuff to that extent.”

“And Delia is the one in the tape, right.” I’m watching him closely enough to see the slight hesitation on his last curl, before he keeps his usual smooth motion.

“Yep.”

“So when do I get to watch it?” I waited to say that until he’d put the dumbbell back on the rack, and I’m glad because he turns so quickly, he probably would’ve sent it flying towards the mirror if it were still in his hand.

“You don’t. Nobody does, if my team can help it.”

“You know with the internet being what it is these days, it’ll pop up eventually. I want to see it before it does. I don’t want to be surprised.”

“And I’m not comfortable with that. End of story.” He snatches his towel off the bench and picks up his water bottle, walking away.

I don’t chase after him, since we’re in his condo building. I want him to have time to calm down before I broach it again. I’m not just going to let it go.

I want to know what’s on it, what he feels so guilty about.

When I think I’ve given him enough time, I grab my stuff and head up the elevator, opening his door and hearing him in the kitchen.

“Sorry for walking away.” He mumbles, tossing powder into the blender.

“Everything can’t be solved with talking in the moment.” I tease. “I’m going to grab a shower and give you some time, but I want to discuss it more later.”

“There’s nothing to discuss.”

“Okay.” I know when not to poke the bear and I know he’s done with it for now, because he turns on the blender and I head to the shower.

I’m patient when I need to be.

* * *

“If I were just a little younger.” Sina comes up beside me and whistles, watching the guys play impromptu football.

And I mean, really impromptu. You’ve got some with rolled up button downs and chinos. It’s amazing and so funny. Of course, Harlan and the few actual sports players dressed a little more casually. Even Charlie is out there, tie-less for once.

“You don’t need to be younger, just single. You’re a milf.” I hug her with one arm, smiling.

“Sadly, I’m stuck on a certain knucklehead.” She shakes her dark blonde head, sleek hair falling over her shoulder. She’s always been a whole lot more put together than I’ve been.

“Whose idea was this game?” Mickey comes up, plopping into a deck chair and sipping something brightly colored from the bar.

“I think it might’ve been Nico’s, actually. Leave it to the old heads to get wrapped up.” My dad told me to tell Harlan to invite his family, and I discovered his mom is my new favorite person in the world. She’s 100% real, no pretense there and it’s been amusing watching Keyra try to “get to know her.”

“I’d like to thank Kaija for contributing the hockey eye candy to this cookout.”

“Thank Mickey. Her meddling is part of the reason I even saw Harlan again and all this happened.” I raise an eyebrow, to which Mickey just salutes me and sips her drink happily.

Dane, Hanson, Brandon, and Harlan are playing ball with my Dad, Nico, Ethan, and a few of my dad’s friends and Charlie. Everyone else is milling around inside the house and out, talking and eating. It’s like a hybrid family cookout/social event.

We’ve had one every year as long as I can remember.

“What’s that? Can I taste it?” Jasmine sits next to Mickey and my sister, open person that she is, starts to pass the glass to Jazz and I swipe it before she does.

“Absolutely not. There’s no telling what’s in this.” I pass it back to Mickey with a glare. “No alcohol for the minors, please.”

“Fine.” Mickey shrugs, and Keyra comes over, her sun-hat balanced perfectly on her head.

“Kai, can I steal you for a sec?” I start to say she can say what she needs to in front of everyone, but she raises her chin and I see how serious her face is.

“Yeah.” We walk away from the back deck and into the house, going to my dad’s study.

Fuck, does she know about the sex tape?

“I wanted to talk to you about Bahi.”

Well, that wasn’t what I was expecting at all.

“Bahi? My bar manager?” Confusion is all in my voice, and Keyra takes off her hat, sitting it on the edge of the desk and moving to a drawer. She pulls out a folder and takes out photos, sliding them across the desk to me when I sit down.

“Do you know who this man is?” She taps a pristine nail on a photo that has Bahi through a window, leaning across a table and talking to a man in a dark suit jacket. I look at the other photos, getting to one where his face is turned towards the window.

He’s older, probably around my dad’s age, but I don’t think I’ve seen him before.

“No idea. How the hell do you have these pictures?”

“I keep tabs on everyone close to this family now.” She takes those pictures and slides a few more out. “This woman?”

I look at the photo and my mouth drops. “Yeah, that’s the director at the rehab center. You’ve met her once or twice.”

“I know. I wanted to confirm, since you’re in more contact with her than I am.” She slides one more picture across the table, and it’s the guy from the picture with Bahi kissing the rehab director.

I’m confused.

And Bahi is outside with her kid.

“It’s a small world.” I mutter. “You got anything else in there you wanna throw out?”

“Not right now. You got anything you want to tell me?” She crosses her arms, looking every bit the mother figure and I roll my eyes.

“Nothing I can think of. Oh, except my boyfriend has a sex tape.” I read about this tactic once, throw something out when it seems unbelievable, that way you can say you told them and they didn’t believe you.

“Very funny. We need to figure out what’s going on with,” she gestures to the photos, “this. Because I can’t fix what I can’t see coming.”

“Why would there be anything to fix? You think I had something to do with this?”

“No, but it’s obviously happening under your nose so there might be some implications.”

“Always thinking a mile a minute.” I can’t even be mad at her for apparently having who knows how many people under surveillance. I know that in her way, she’s just watching out for us, as much as it pisses me off how she does about it sometimes.

She’s family.

“That’s what I’m paid for. I wanted to talk to you before I have Dad’s guys question Bahi. That guy in the photos? He’s bad news. And when I say bad news,” she hesitates, face grim. “I mean Wesley bad news.”

My blood chills.

“No.” I get up, pacing to the window and looking out at everyone. “No. There’s no way.” I turn back to her, shaking my head. “Nina wouldn’t do anything like that. Not to those girls.”

Analytical, that’s always been Keyra. Even when we were younger. She doesn’t let emotion get in the way.

“I know that you got close to her, but this isn’t just a coincidence. There’s a common denominator here, and that’s you. That means that I now have a stake in this, and I’m going to find out what the hell’s going on.”

“Key, I…Nina wouldn’t. Bahi wouldn’t. It’s gotta just be…something else.”

“I hope you’re right…because I saw what you went through and we all know how much worse it could’ve been. I don’t want to think that anyone that’s been in this house, had dinner with us, would be capable of being involved.” She grabs up her hat again, daintily settling it back over her dark brown curls. “Pretend I was doing my usual, berating you about some life choice.” She walks ahead and I gape at her back.

Holy shit, did she just poke fun at herself?

“Was that…was that a joke? How did you not melt?”

“The stick in my ass keeps me upright.” I laugh aloud before I can stop myself and she winks at me, nudging me as I walk up beside her. “I know that I’m not the easiest person to deal with all the time, but running Dad’s campaign, it’s…I can’t afford to take a day off. There’s too much on the line.”

“I know, big sister. We should take a day off soon, though. You could come over, have some drinks with us, let your hair down.”

“Who is us?” She asks warily, stopping before she opens the sliding door to the deck.

“I want both of my sisters in the same room, Keyra. I’m not going to choose. You have to forgive her at some point.” That stubborn look comes to eyes the same as mine for a second, but she glances outside and back at me.

“I’ll think about it.” Wow, all the surprises today.

“Okay. That’s good enough for me.” When I step outside, I happen to look over at one of the tables that’s set up and Bahi is looking at us. I give a small wave, like nothing is amiss, and she smiles before going back to her conversation.

“I will ruin her life if she’s a snake.” Keyra murmurs, but her face brightens before I can respond. “Senator Johnson, have you RSVPd for the dinner next week yet?”

And off she goes, back in campaign mode. I have to admit, I’m proud of her. It’s not something I could handle.

“What was that about?” Mickey passes me a drink, and I sip it cautiously, hoping there’s not a shit-ton of alcohol in it that’s masked by the fruitiness.

“Just Keyra being Keyra.”

But this time, I’m nervous that she’s exactly right.