“That’s not one of ours.” She knew it before she even checked the spine for a call number. The library had strict policies about books with nudity on the cover. She’d had to order most of her BDSM books from Amazon.
“No.” He held it out. “It’s for you.”
It was one she hadn’t read, although she supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of books on the subject.
“It’s actually out of print,” he confessed. “That’s one of the few author copies I have left. It’s probably a collector’s item…somewhere.”
“Thank you.” She opened the cover and saw two things-Liam’s picture, arms crossed, on the flap near the bottom, and her name, written in Sharpie, on the cover page, with a message,
For Katie,
In service.
Liam
She looked up at him, confused. “So… is this what you came for? To give me your book?”
“I also wanted to take you to dinner.” It wasn’t phrased as a question, but he waited for an answer, his gaze moving over her face, like he was drinking her in. She touched her hair, piled onto the top of her head, pushing her reading glasses up her nose, knowing she looked like the quintessential librarian in her pencil skirt and v-neck blouse, and wished she’d at least left her hair down today.
“Okay.” She tried to imagine sitting across a table with him, doing something so mundane as eating, and couldn’t fathom it. But she said yes anyway, without a moment’s hesitation. “When?”
“How’s now?”
She didn’t even check her watch. “Let me get my coat.”
“So what do they call you?” Katie was feeling far more relaxed after two margaritas and she giggled when she cracked her crab and red pieces of shell exploded onto the tablecloth.
“Don’t you love it when it comes out like this, instead of all shredded?” she asked. Liam watched her pull the crab meat out of its shell in one, long piece. She eyed it delightedly before dipping it into the butter sauce, not even bothering with a fork.
“They call me Liam.” He answered her question, watching her lick butter from the tips of her fingers.
“Not Master? Or Sir? Or something… you know… cool?”
Liam snorted. “What did Patrick want you to call him?”
“Dom.”
“How original.” He rolled his eyes and she saw his jaw working as he put his fork down on his plate next to what little was left of his salmon. “This isn’t a game, Katie.”
“I know.” She paused, licking butter off her lips, and took a sip of her margarita.
“Patrick’s sin is pride.” He took a drink of his water-he hadn’t ordered wine or alcohol with dinner-catching the waitress’s attention. “Hubris. A Dom is humble. A servant, really.”
She crinkled her nose at him, regrettably finishing the last piece of delicious crab. “But the submissive is the one-”
“Sure.” Liam smiled at the waitress as she stopped at another table on her way to theirs, acknowledging her need to serve them first. “Everyone knows what the submissive is giving up. Your power. Your control.” His gaze moved back to Katie and she felt it immediately, rushing hotly through her, like the blood through her veins. “Your body. Your love.”
“Love?” She swallowed, putting her fork down next to her place. Her hands were trembling and she didn’t trust herself to actually hang onto her utensils.
“But the Dom is always in service to the sub,” he explained, watching as she started to nervously play with the corner of her napkin. “He is offering you his time, his focus, his attention. He has to be completely present with you in every moment.”
She had never wanted anything more in her life than what he was talking about. And the way he said it! His words were fluid, sure. He knew exactly what he was talking about, had experienced it, lived it.
“And the Dom has to be willing to accept the gifts a sub is offering.” Liam went on, his voice soft, and she focused on him, entranced. “It’s a precious thing, when someone is willing to give themselves to you that way. It takes trust beyond measure. It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”
She nodded, feeling tears prick her eyes, and she quickly blinked them away, turning to her margarita and hiding behind it as she sipped. She wanted to give herself, wholly, completely, had wanted it for so long-and now… now she knew she’d found the man she wanted to give herself to. It seemed so simple, but her heart ached as she looked at him, fearing his rejection still, feeling as if she was at some sort of “submissive tryout,” trying to say and do the right thing, walking on eggshells.
“But a Dom has to be worthy of such a gift,” he reminded her. “And he has to feel worthy of it.”
Katie’s eyes widened. “That’s really Patrick’s problem.”
“Yes,” Liam agreed. “That, and his damned pride.”
He looked up as the waitress approached. She was the bright, shiny sort of pretty Katie always wished she could be-bubbly and blonde, she smiled easily and flirted with her customers, moving with a natural grace.
“Tiramisu,” Liam ordered.
“Two?” she asked, putting pen to pad.
“Just one.”
Katie opened her mouth to protest-dessert sounded delightful! — but she argued with herself that she’d had more than enough as the waitress continued to flirt with Liam, exchanging some pleasantries about where she was going to school, what she was studying. Katie hadn’t been paying close attention-she’d been too focused on how the girl flipped her hair and flashed her smile, the way her hips swayed under her black skirt when she walked away.
“But you can read all this in the book.” Liam sat back in his chair as the waitress departed, taking his napkin from his lap and putting it over his plate. “Didn’t you say you learn best from books?”
“I like hearing it from you.” Katie watched the waitress stop and take plates from another table, balancing them easily, even in heels.
“You’re jealous.”
“What?” Katie coughed, reaching for her water.
He chuckled. “I can almost hear the voices in your head.”
“I hope not,” she muttered, gulping water. Of course, he was right.
“You don’t need to be.”
She put her glass on the table, not looking at him. Instead she looked out the window where the sun was setting over the city. The view was stunning from this high up, snow falling steadily, melting into the lake far below.
“Do you always flirt with waitresses?” she finally asked.
“You can label it as you like.” He shrugged. “It’s really just an energy exchange.”
“Is that what you call it?”
“All relationship is about energy exchange. I’m sure you’ve read about Total Power Exchange? ”
She nodded. Of course she had-the 24/7 Dom/sub relationship. “Have you ever done that?”
“Once.” He didn’t offer any more information and Katie didn’t ask. “Ah, here we are.”
He sounded pleased and Katie looked longingly at the layered dessert while he thanked the waitress, picking up the spoon as she left. Liam glanced over at her as he slid the spoon through the creamy layers, smiling at her expression.
“You’re distracted.”
She licked her lips. “That looks yummy.”
“You want it.”
“Yes.” Looking between him and the dessert, she wasn’t sure which she wanted more.
Liam smirked. “That’s why I ordered it.”
“For me?” She brightened.
“Close your eyes.”
“Here?” Katie glanced around the restaurant. It was a Friday night-they were packed. When she looked back at Liam, she understood her mistake immediately. He’d given her an order and she had refused to follow. Stupid. She chastised herself, closing her eyes instantly, both to comply and to hide from his dark gaze.
“Open your mouth.”
This time she did as she was told and was rewarded with a delicious bite of tiramisu, incredibly rich and creamy, with that dark hint of mocha and a lovely finish of chocolate.
“Keep your eyes closed.”