Three Sweet Nothings (Blindfold Club 5)

“Me, too.”

How fast could I rush her through dinner and get her back to my place? Tomorrow I’d talk to Joseph and get his advice on how to proceed in the areas I didn’t have experience. It’d be awkward for me, but I could deal. Joseph had admitted during his time running the club, he’d trained several men who wanted to become Doms.

Which was appealing. In court, I was used to persuading the jury, controlling the way they interpreted the facts. In my personal life, I controlled my emotions. So it wasn’t a leap that I craved controlling pleasure, both hers and mine.

The waiter appeared tableside, his attention on Ruby. “Would you care for more wine, miss?”

“Yes,” we answered at the same time.

She seemed to loosen up after her glass was refilled. She wasn’t drunk by any means, but the wine took the edge off, and I hoped my enthusiasm played a role as well. When she seemed comfortable and confident again, I made my move.

“You’ll come home with me tonight.”

Her movements slowed to a halt. “Oh, will I?”

Under the table, I ran my palm over my dick, smoothing out my discomfort. It had to be my place. From the limited amount of hers that I’d seen, it was too . . . comfortable. My apartment was an advantage.

And there was the fucking wall of photos at her place which had dug under my skin. Her whole life was up there, including a picture with some burly guy, who I’d never met, when she’d graduated from Randhurst law school. I hadn’t made it on her wall, which of course I didn’t deserve to, but he had. Was he one of the three since me?

Focus.

“You think I can wait after reading your list? I can’t.” My tone was rich and deep. “I’m going to be like a kid in a freaking candy store when I’ve got you in my bed. I don’t even know where to start.”

A blush crawled across her face in the firelit room, and the gleam in her eyes was unmistakable. She’d marked bondage. She’d marked edging. Fuck, she’d said she was interested in not only anal play, but anal sex. She wanted what I did, at least as badly.

Maybe even more.

Her expression turned playful. “What are you thinking for tonight?”

“Yeah, that’s not how this is going to go.” Unlike her, I didn’t need any alcohol in my system to feel ballsy. “You like it when I’m in charge. I do, too. A whole, fucking, lot.” She sucked in a sharp breath, but didn’t deny my statement. “Will you do everything I tell you to, Ruby?” I leaned forward over the small table, which made the space between us feel secluded and intimate. “Starting right this very second?”

Her bottom lip was snagged between her teeth and, Jesus, she looked incredible. All turned on just at the idea of my control.

Her single word was breathy, but her eyes lidded heavy. “Perhaps.”

This wasn’t helping the dire situation in my pants, but I ignored it. “Are you wearing underwear?”

The large sweater she had on couldn’t hide how her breathing picked up. Her tone was concerned. “Yes.”

“I don’t like that. Take them off.”

Her gaze flitted around to the other tables. She whispered it with fear. “Right here?”

A smile warmed my lips. “I’m sure this place has a restroom.”

It drove me insane how quickly she shot to her feet, as if eager to follow my command.

“Wait,” I added. “Before you go, I’m going to need proof you’ve done as told.”

Her gaze shift upward as she considered my statement. Something was decided, she grabbed her purse, and then her boots clomped away.

I used the alone time to get a grip. I had to come up with a game plan for this evening, but my mind was racing with different scenarios. I didn’t want to do too much, too quickly. And I didn’t have any of the heavier BDSM things at my place.

Julius would.

I shook my head, pushing the thought away. Giving Ruby the willing list was as close to the blindfold club as I wanted her to get. If things progressed between us as I hoped they would, I didn’t want her to know my sister’s secret. It wasn’t mine to tell, and I didn’t want it to color Ruby’s perception of Payton if they ever met.

Time dragged while Ruby was gone and I only had her list to keep me company. Should I text Joseph? I could send him a picture of her answers, but even though he didn’t know her, doing that felt like a violation of her trust, which was the whole point of this thing.