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That was all the texting we did for the rest of the day. I supposed she was busy at work. She’d mentioned that her father was putting more responsibility on her, so it would make sense.

I still didn’t like it. I was… restless. There was a certain sense of security, and comfort, in the knowledge that I could give her what she wanted from my role as a Domm. There was also more insecurity, a need to have more defined lines around whatever it was that we were doing or building or…

Ugh.

I was so gone, it was ridiculous.

My head hurt now too, because I’d come to Randy’s early after I’d run out of things to do around the house, and I’d run into Ray. I liked him, and he was great, but ever since he’d learned my family was from Québec, he just switched to French when I was around. It wasn’t as if I’d suddenly forgotten my native language, but I hadn’t really spoken it since I graduated from high school.

Arlene walked into the diner about five minutes later. I was going to flag her down, but she spotted me quickly. It was stupid, but a part of me wanted to say it was because she was tuned in to me already.

See the part about being too far gone? I needed to clear my head, stat. No one wanted a clingy person, Domm or not. I wasn’t a clingy person.

Arlene looked good as she sat down in the booth. She was wearing a cute vintage dress and a matching headband with sneakers. I guessed she had changed clothes after coming back from the office. She might tease me all she wanted about my biases against finance people, but sneakers were not business attire. She was the kind of person to dress up for work, too.

“Sorry I ordered already.” I realized belatedly the way her eyes tracked the half-finished plate of fries. “I ended up arriving here about… two hours ago, I think?”

“Oh.” Arlene’s eyes widened before her face settled on a relaxed smile. It suited her, even though it wasn’t as common as I would’ve liked. I liked to think I was bringing it out of her, and I liked how the thought made me feel. “How come?”

“Honestly?” I grimaced. Other people being vulnerable around me? That was fine. Me, being vulnerable around other people? Not so fine. “I was anxious as fuck.”

Arlene hadn’t expected me to say that. It was as clear as day in the way she froze. One of the servers walked by to get her order before she could say a word, though. I didn’t know if I was saved by the bell, or if it was the complete opposite. I couldn’t look away from her until the server left again and she had to figure out how to get back on topic.

“I’m anxious, too,” Arlene said before she licked her lips. “At the same time, I’ve never been as relaxed as I am today. I guess I’m still riding the aftermath of last night?”

“That’s good.”

“My… you know… are sore as fuck, though.”

I chuckled. It was cute that she didn’t want to say nipples out loud. The diner was getting crowded, I guessed, but although none of the patrons here would be scandalized by overhearing something of a more sexual nature, I didn’t tease her about it.

“And they will be for a few more days.”

At least, that was my experience with clamps. It might be different for her. I got a feeling it wasn’t going to be a problem either way. There was no way she wasn’t the type of sub that got off on having physical reminders.

I was the type who got off on it, and I was no sub.

Arlene didn’t answer right away, but she nibbled on her bottom lip as if she was debating the benefits of my words.

“Good to know.”

“I bet,” I teased.

I was sure there was some kind of script I was supposed to follow. A part of me was stressed that I didn’t know for sure and already going through a list of people I could reach out to for advice. Another part of me was… settling. Arlene was fine. She was more relaxed than I’d ever seen her, soon sipping on a cherry flavored milkshake.

She looked gorgeous, too.

The world hadn’t imploded because I’d given her a mind-blowing orgasm and pulled her into subspace hard. She hadn’t said those words, and I wasn’t sure if she was aware or if she’d had time to research and look into it, but that was what it had been. She’d been delirious with pleasure, and want, and all the things I cared more about than I’d first assumed.

I’d been delirious with it, just in a different way. All my focus had been on her in a way that allowed me to just feel. I hadn’t had to worry about my body, to feel any type of way about it. It was just there to give her what she was begging for—I was there to give her that, to give her everything.

It should be scary, but it wasn’t.

“I still want you to teach me how to bake,” I blurted out. “You’re not getting out of that.”

“Oh gosh.” Arlene groaned, heat creeping up her cheeks. “I’m probably the worst person to teach you. But yeah, okay.”

“Why would you be?”