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“So.” I cleared my throat and dabbed the corner of my lips with a napkin before I went back to cutting another piece of burger. “Structure?”

“Yes.” Jaime answered much faster than I would’ve imagined. It was only a second later his features marred with a frown. “And no. It depends.”

“Elaborate.”

I didn’t think it needed to be said, but I wasn’t going to take it for granted with him. Or give him so much breathing room he thought he could derail the conversation one way or another.

There would be times for his bratting. This wasn’t one of them.

Jaime squirmed for another second before he met my gaze head-on.

“Yesterday, I realized I might have a tendency to self-sabotage every time I play harder with someone.” He glanced down, lips pursed. “So, I’m trying extra hard not to do that and be more honest or whatever about my fantasies and shit.”

“I’m listening.”

The pup glanced up again. I couldn’t read him completely, but I’d say he was equally parts determined and terrified.

“I really, really like the idea of someone holding the reins and taking charge and just letting mebreathe.” As if he needed to drive the point across, he let out the biggest exhale of air before crossing his arms on the table. “But I’m not Eli. And I know I can be messy, and impulsive, and plan stuff on the run, and… I don’t want to feel cornered and end up lashing out, because I know that’s what I do.”

None of what he said fazed me. I could reassure and soothe all his worries right this second.

However, it didn’t take years of experience with power dynamics to see he needed to sit with that confession. I gave himtime to do so. I also resolved to continue the conversation once we were home. I needed him close and sated.

“I know you’re not Eli, pup.” Erika’s sub was all too happy having their entire day planned out and a list of tasks to get done by the time Erika arrived home, whether those tasks were sexual, nonsexual, or about them socializing with others. I could only imagine what would happen if I tried to allocate specific time for Jaime to go meet Cece or any of the others. “I don’t want you to be. But I want to be in charge of you and know you’re taking care of yourself instead of running yourself ragged. And I want to tease the lines of discipline with you.”

“Tease?” The pup sat back, eyebrow quirked. “So, what, you just wanna rile me up?”

“Riling you up has its appeal.” I shrugged, making sure I held his gaze the entire time. “But I want to see you so deep in subspace, you don’t remember what bratting out means, too.”

Jaime snorted. “Good luck with that.”

“I knew we’d see eye to eye.”

I let him eat after that, only half ignoring the way he tried to huff and scowl while getting too engrossed in the food before him.

TWENTY-ONE

jaime

“Tired yourself out, pup?”

I snorted. I’d just walked inside Tony’s house. Having a key had its advantages. “You wish.”

I might have teased him with all the things I’d planned to do with Cece. She’d been exhausted after some work-related drama I didn’t try to follow too closely, but it was still fun to tease Tony. It had become a ritual of sorts over the past month.

I came clean eventually, obviously—I was a decent person deep down—but not before I had my fun.

“Come here.”

Tony was manspreading on the couch in the living room as he usually was. Had to say, I hadn’t quite grown used to seeing him in loungewear. Iunderstoodthe impracticality of wearing leather gear around the house, but a pup could dream. Tony had rolled his eyes when I’d shared that, but he’d also started to wear a full getup more often when we went to Plumas.

Little things.

As I stood in front of him, I didn’t even try to straddle his hips. I was athletic, but that didn’t translate to flexibility. Kneeling between his thighs meant I remained more in control anyway, so it was a win-win.

“I’m here.” I cocked my head to the side. “What now?”

Before he said a word, Tony grabbed my arms and pinned them behind my back. A gasp escaped my mouth as he pulled me closer to him, his hard-on jabbing my thigh.