Beth pulled the sheet over both their bodies and curled up alongside Drew. She had untied his wrists and then dropped the rope on the floor next to the bed before curling up next to him. As she placed her cheek against his chest, she felt a tremor pass through him. “Are you all right?”
He didn’t answer right away. She tilted her head up to see his face. Drew had his eyes closed and he was still breathing deeper than was normal. Unsure what else to do until he started talking to her, she held him tighter.
Drew lifted his arm and rested his hand on her hip. With his other hand, he caressed the side of her face. “I don’t think I’ve ever come so hard in my life. Scratch that. I know I haven’t.”
She smiled and kissed the smooth column of his neck. “Are you thirsty?”
He swallowed and then nodded. “Yeah. I could use some water.”
Beth reached behind her to grab the bottle of water she’d left on her nightstand. When she turned back around, she saw he’d propped himself up on his elbow. She handed him the bottle and then reached for candy that had been sitting next to the water. “You should suck on this as well. It will help.”
There was a slight hesitation before he took the offered candy. “Thanks.”
She stayed close, but gave him some space as he downed almost half the bottle of water before unwrapping the hard candy and popping it into his mouth. “Are you feeling lightheaded at all? Cold? Jittery?”
Drew took another sip of water before reaching for her. “I feel a little off balance. And I feel a strong desire to wrap my arms around you.”
She smiled. “That can be arranged.”
They propped some pillows up behind them so Drew could still suck on his candy, drink his water, and get the connection with her that he wanted. Beth enjoyed being a Domme. There were so many things about it that turned her on. But this was one of the best parts for her. She loved the quiet moments after a scene when everything was still raw. It held an intimacy that she couldn’t explain to someone who had never experienced it.
He traced a line with the tips of his fingers down her spine, and then curled his palm around her hip. “I guess I like CBT more than I thought I would.”
Beth giggled. “While that may be true, that wasn’t really what I’d consider CBT.”
“It wasn’t?” He seemed shocked by her statement.
“No. That was more me giving you a preview of what knife play is like without the actual knife.” Drew was quiet for several minutes, and she remained silent allowing him time to process what she’d said.
“Interesting.”
“That’s it, just interesting?”
Drew grinned down at her. “Well, my head is still spinning from that out-of-this-world orgasm I just experienced. Maybe I’ll be able to come up with something better in the morning.”
Although she really was curious to hear his thoughts, now that he had more insight on what she had in mind when she’d talked about knife play, she understood that he really did need time to recover.
“Beth?”
She looked up at him. “Yes?”
“I never thought to ask before, but . . . what’s your full name? I figure since we’re now officially dating and you’re going to meet my family soon, I should probably know something like that.”
Burying her face in his shoulder, she couldn’t help but chuckle. Given what they’d just done it felt silly, but kind of appropriate, too. “Bethany Paige Davenport.”
“Bethany Paige,” he repeated. “I like it.”
She pinched his side and he laughed. “Glad you approve.”
Finished with his candy, he slid down lower on the bed, and took her with him. “I’d wondered if Beth was maybe short for Elizabeth, but for some reason, you didn’t strike me as an Elizabeth.”
Having his arms around her—feeling the warmth of his body—could easily become an addiction all its own. She couldn’t seem to get close enough. Luckily, Drew appeared to have the same problem.
“Mom had a friend in school named Bethany. She loved the name, so when she found out she was having a girl, Bethany it was.” Beth lifted her leg and wedged it between his, aligning their bodies even more. “Paige was my dad’s contribution.”
She left it at that, and he seemed to sense there was something more.
“There’s a story there.”
Beth shrugged. “Dad had a sister that died. From what I understand, she never made it home from the hospital, but they named her Paige. My dad was old enough to remember her.”
Drew kissed the top of her head. “It’s a good story.”
“Whenever someone asks, Dad just says it’s a family name. He never goes into detail.” She took a deep breath. “What about you? Since we’re talking names, is Drew short for Andrew?”
He nodded.
“What about a middle name?”
She felt the rise and fall of his chest beneath her before he answered. “Raymond.”
The way he said the name gave her the impression that he wasn’t a huge fan of his middle name. “Andrew Raymond Parker. I like it.”
“You wouldn’t if the only time it was ever used was when you were in trouble.”
Beth couldn’t hide her amusement. “Got in trouble a lot, did you?”
“I was a boy. Of course I got in trouble. It’s part of the job description.”
“Is that so?” She traced a line from his abdomen and along his hipbone. Placing her hand flat on his left butt cheek, she gave a gentle squeeze. “Sore?”
“Nothing I can’t handle. Although, I can feel it every time I move.”
“Good. Maybe it will remind you to keep that smart mouth of yours in check.”
Drew surprised her by rolling her over. “You love my smart mouth.”
“Nope,” Beth said trying to suppress a smile. She wasn’t doing a very good job.
The next thing she knew, his hands were at her sides, and he was tickling her.
“Drew! What. Do You. Think. You’re. Doing?”
By the time he let up, she was gasping for air. And he was beaming down at her. He looked younger and more carefree than she’d ever seen him before, and her heart skipped a beat. This felt so natural. It didn’t feel as if they’d only been in her bed together a handful of times.
Before she could analyze what she was feeling too closely, Beth took hold of the back of his neck and pulled his mouth down to hers. She attacked his lips in a not-so-subtle reminder of who was in charge.
Beth didn’t release him for several minutes—not until she felt him press his weight against her. Even then, the look in his eyes held things she wasn’t ready for, so she averted her gaze and pretended to look at the clock. “We should get some sleep. I still have to work tomorrow.”
He moved, bringing his cheek to rest above her right breast. “I signed up to do some volunteer work in the morning, but I should be free after lunch. Would you like some help at the café again?”
“If you keep coming by to help, I’m going to have to put you on the payroll.” She ran her fingers through his hair as they talked. “Sure you don’t want another job?”
Drew snorted. “Thanks, but I think I’m good. You see, I have this girlfriend that keeps me pretty busy on my days off.”
“She does, does she?”
“Oh yeah. She’s a real slave driver.”
Beth pinched him, and he laughed.
“Remember you said that the next time I have you tied up,” she said.
His only response was to dip his head an inch or so and draw her nipple into his mouth.
She could have made him stop, but it felt too good. Besides, it was the perfect distraction to her thoughts and where they were leading. Taking hold of his wrist, she guided his hand between her legs. Beth opened herself to him and stopped thinking for a while.
***
Drew waved to Tommy as he ducked in behind some customers a little before one. Tommy nodded and then turned his attention back to the man standing in front of the counter. As usual, the café was busy. Drew only counted two empty tables and there were four people in line. It said a lot about Beth’s food. Since he’d eaten it several times himself, he knew what all the fuss was about.
Beth was standing at the sink washing her hands when he strolled into the kitchen. She looked in his direction.
“You made it.” The smile she gave him sent warmth spreading all the way down to his toes.
Unable to resist, he closed the distance between them, and gave her a kiss that was probably a little much for the workplace. Good thing he wasn’t her employee.
She released a contented sigh as his lips left hers.
He waited until she opened her eyes and then glanced around the kitchen. “Now, put me to work. What do you need me to do first?”
Put him to work she did. Within minutes, he was loading food on trays and taking them out to customers. Things didn’t slow down until it was nearly time to close. He liked working with Beth, mostly because every so often when she’d hand him a tray of food she would rise up on her tiptoes and give him a peck on the lips. It made the running back and forth worth it.
They were closing up when a woman stopped near the front of the café acting as if she wanted to come in but kept changing her mind.
“Beth.” Drew yelled loud enough to get her attention in the back.
“Yeah?” She appeared through the kitchen door, wiping her hands on a towel.
He tilted his head toward the front. The woman still looked unsure of herself. “Want me to see what she wants?”
Beth shook her head. “No. I got it.”
When the woman noticed Beth was heading her way, she froze. He’d seen that look before from people who were standing across the street watching their home burn. It was a deer in the headlights kind of look—a mixture of panic and something akin to disbelief.
“Can I help you?” Beth asked, cracking the door open.
The woman spoke, but it was too low for him to hear. Beth nodded a few times. Whoever the woman was, she was obviously shy, or nervous, or maybe both. After several minutes, the woman left, and Beth locked the front door again.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“She was inquiring about the job opening.”
Even though the woman was nowhere to be seen, Drew looked behind Beth to where she had been. “Does she realize she’ll have to deal with people?”
Beth smiled. “Yes. She worked in a diner when she was in high school.”
He went back to the table he was cleaning. “So are you going to hire her?”
“I told her to show up Tuesday morning at seven and I’d give her a trial run.”
“That was nice of you,” he said.
She took a step forward and brushed the back of her hand along his arm. “I can be very nice. When I want to be.”
Drew took a deep breath and met her gaze. “Are we going to the club tonight?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“I doubt it could be worse than last night. I’d say the hard part is over. Everyone knows we’re together now. End of story.”
Beth shrugged. “Maybe. But that wasn’t why I was considering staying home.”
He gave her a questioning look.
“It’s your last night off. I don’t want to wear you out when you have to be at work first thing in the morning.” He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. “Plus, I think I might want you all to myself tonight.”
It was hard to argue with that.
As it turned out, they did make an appearance at Serpent’s Kiss that night. They received a few lingering looks, but it was nothing like it had been the night before. For the most part, they hung out with friends and relaxed.
They headed back to Beth’s house around ten thirty. Drew was feeling a little guilty that he hadn’t really talked to Shawn since Wednesday morning. Other than a few quick texts, he hadn’t communicated with him at all in the last four days.
“What’s bothering you?” Beth asked as they lay in her bed that night.
“Just worried about Shawn.”
“I’ve sort of monopolized your time off, haven’t I?” She turned slightly so that she could look at him.
“Could be the other way around. I could be monopolizing your time.”
Beth rolled so that she was facing him. “This is moving kind of fast, isn’t it? I mean, we’ve spent nearly every minute I wasn’t at work together.”
He hated to ask, but he felt he needed to. “Are things moving too fast for you, Beth?”
Her forehead wrinkled as she considered his question. “I don’t know.”
Drew waited.
“I know it should. It’s only been a week since our first date, but . . .” She looked him in the eyes. “I missed you Tuesday night when you weren’t in my bed.”
It didn’t take a genius to know how much that admission cost her. The urge to tell her that he loved her was strong, but he resisted. She may have admitted that she missed him, but that didn’t mean she was ready to hear that he had fallen in love with her.
“I missed you, too,” he whispered. “I was lying in my cot remembering what it had been like to fall asleep with you beside me. It made it hard to go to sleep.” Drew flexed his hips against her to make sure she got his meaning.
She gave him a gentle shove. “I’m sure you managed. Don’t you have a shower at the station?”
He laughed. “If you think I’m going to go into a public shower room to jack off, you’re crazy.”
“So you just had to suffer, huh?” she teased.
“Yes.” He buried his face in her hair. “I could hear all the guys around me and all I wanted was to be here with you. Tomorrow night is going to be torture.”
Drew expected her to laugh, but she didn’t. “I know.”
Neither said anything for a long time, but Beth finally broke the silence. “What’s your family going to think of me? Am I anything like the other girls you’ve brought home?”
He was grateful for the change in subject. “Yes and no. I’ve always been attracted to strong women, even in high school, so that won’t shock them. I think the biggest difference will be our relationship itself.”
Beth stiffened in his arms, and he knew he needed to clarify. “Not what we do in the bedroom. I’m talking about the normal stuff.” He laced their fingers together and held them up close to their faces. “Like the fact that I like to be touching you. It doesn’t matter if I’m holding your hand or if I have my arm around you.”
She squeezed his hand. “So that’s different. What else?”
“I’ve been thinking about sleeping arrangements. There is no way my parents are going to let us share a bedroom—they’re old-fashioned that way.”
“Mine probably wouldn’t either.”
Drew lowered their hands, but didn’t release her. “What do you think about camping?”
She raised her eyebrows. “I thought we already covered this.”
“True, but if you recall I presented you with an alternative that would make camping more appealing.”
“You did. Although I’m not one-hundred percent convinced,” she said.
Taking the plunge, he told her his plan. “Give me the chance to convince you. Sunday night you and I will camp under the stars. We’d be away from the house and completely alone. And best of all, we can share a sleeping bag.”
Beth kissed the hollow at the base of his collarbone. “You think you have it all figured out, don’t you?”
“I think I’d go insane if I knew you were sleeping in the same house and I couldn’t be there next to you,” he confessed. Let her take that however she wanted.
“Your parents won’t get suspicious or want to come with us?”
“I don’t think so. Mom doesn’t camp. And Dad’s back gives him issues now and then, so I doubt he’ll want to chance it the night before the big party.” Drew paused. “The only one we really have to worry about is Seth.”
“You think your brother will want to tag along?”
Drew shrugged. “It’s unlikely, but maybe. You never know with Seth.”
“Do you and your brother get along? I know you’ve told me some about when you were kids, but what about now that you’re older? Does he still treat you like you’re his pesky younger brother?”
“I suppose we get along as well as most brothers do. He has his life. I have mine. We don’t exactly travel in the same circles.” Drew preferred physical work and getting his hands dirty. Seth was just the opposite. Drew was pretty sure the only time his brother broke a sweat was in the gym.
“So no meeting for lunch or dinner even though you both live in St. Louis?” she asked.
“Not really. As I said, we both have very different lives and we’re both happy the way things are. I think we’ve met for lunch a handful of times since I moved to the city.”
Beth sighed. “That’s kind of sad. I’m not very close with my siblings either, but that’s mainly because they’re so far away. Still, we e-mail about once a week just to see how each other is doing.”
He knew he shouldn’t ask, but that little voice inside wouldn’t let him leave it alone. “Have you told them about me?”
“Yes.”
Knowing she’d told her family about him made Drew smile.
“Don’t get all cocky on me.” She poked him in the ribs. “It’s not a big deal.”
Whether Beth admitted it or not, it was a big deal. At least, to him.
He slipped his arm around her waist and cupped her ass in the palm of his hand as he tucked her head into his shoulder. It was a near perfect position and he didn’t have any desire to move from it until morning. Drew kissed the top of her head and rested his cheek on her hair. “I’m glad you told your family about me.”
She didn’t say anything for a long time. He thought maybe she’d fallen asleep. Then, in a soft voice she said, “Me, too.”