Yours Tonight (Reign 1)

He gave a single nod and the bartender hustled to return with his drink.

“I better get back to the group,” I said.

Jack glanced over his shoulder at the booth of co-workers I was referring to. “Company outing, huh?”

“It’s the first time I’ve been invited anywhere.”

“And you don’t want me to join?”

“I don’t want people to get the wrong idea,” I said quickly.

“What idea?”

“That we’re…”

“Fucking?”

I opened my mouth and snapped it shut. “Don’t worry. No one can have that idea since it hasn’t technically happened yet.” He leaned in and whispered in my ear, “Unless you fucking my tongue counts.”

“I…I didn’t…”

“There’s that shy thing again.” He took a drink of his bourbon. “Go have fun with your co-workers. Wouldn’t want to embarrass you.”

I couldn’t tell if he was messing with me or being supportive. Jack Powell said and did whatever he damn well pleased. My reaction was his fuel. That was becoming increasingly clear with each interaction. He was methodical. He pushed my limits of propriety and made me fidgety for the fun of it. Which was better than feeling frigid.

We’ll break you of that…

That one statement churned in my mind until it stuck in every thought, every fantasy, like butter against my skull. He didn’t allow me to have enough time to refute, or even reply to half of his naughty notions. Didn’t allow me to overthink it. Didn’t allow me to disagree. And yet, one theme was present when dealing with Jack: What he’d allow.

He was in control.

What he allowed me to feel was carefully orchestrated. He picked every word to paint a vivid picture, and watched my reactions. He was learning me. Like plugging in different numbers into an equation and seeing the value he’d get.

It’d be wise to start using my own equation and figuring this man out. Especially since everything in my body was desperate to take him up on his offer.

Yet he said “we.” Like I would have a part in finding myself. As if he understood, once again, what I needed.

I wanted to ask if I’d see him tonight. Ask if we could have dinner. Ask if we could pick up where we left off in his office and make some unofficial things official. Ask if he’d talk to me in the dirty way he’d just been doing a little more.

But all I got out was, “Will you…”

Jack waited for me to finish, but a husky voice from behind me did instead.

“Yes. To anything you want, the answer is yes.”

I turned to find Callum.

Leaving the drinks on the counter, I stared at the firefighter, and wondered if he always had this kind of timing.

“Careful, Kitten.” He nudged my chin with his finger, effectively snapping my mouth shut. I wasn’t even aware it had hung open. “Guy might get the wrong idea.”

With a wink and a sexy smile that made my already humming body blare out of control, I gaped at him. Did I have a sign on my head that said, Please say naughty things to me today or something?

“Are you okay?” I asked. It was the only thing that made sense, since last I saw him was a week ago, and he was rushing off to the fire. “With the fire, I mean, and the going into it. Is everything okay?”

His navy eyes held a charming twinkle as his brow furrowed. “Checking up on me?”

“I went to the station several days ago and a guy told me you were gone.”