Page 2 of The Year of Us: March

“Let me take you out, Reese. I know that’s not what we planned, but I’m dying to see if sushi is really as good as everyone says.”

“Sushi,” Reese said. “You want to take me for sushi. I thought I was on the menu?”

“You are. But as delicious as you are, we’ll need to keep our strength up for everything I plan to do to you.” I didn’t want the conversation to devolve into innuendo, especially when I was in a place where I could whip my cock out and no one would care. A public solo jerk was by far one of the tamer things people would see at The Black Door.

“Is it so hard to believe that I might want to see you outside my hotel room, Reese?”

“And here I thought you just wanted me for my body.” Reese let out a breath. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Let me take you to dinner,” I said, imagining the way he must look. He would get this expression on his face when I told him to do something, like he wanted to listen, and liked that he wanted to listen, but wasn’t sure if he should like that he liked it.

“Okay.”

A smile formed on my lips. “Good boy.”

CHAPTER 2

Reese

“You look fine,”Morgan promised, patting my chest before grabbing my shoulders and spinning me to face the mirror.

It had been almost a week since Cory called to ask me on a date, and one day less since he texted to let me know he’d be in town during the week so I wouldn’t have to miss work to accommodate his schedule. It was achingly thoughtful, and I’d tried to not think too hard about it, but as soon as I told Morgan, she’d had hearts in her eyes and a scheme in mind.

She’d promptly determined all the clothes I owned—clothes that Cory had already peeled me out of on more than one occasion, I reminded her—weren’t good enough. I’d been dating casually for years and she’d never complained about what I chose to wear, and I hadn’t been able to figure out why she was so concerned now, given my distinct lack of a relationship with Cory.

“I look overdone,” I argued, reaching for my hair. She smacked my hand out of the way before I could mess up whatever style she’d put in place. “I look like I’m trying too hard.”

“It’s the bare minimum,” she promised, flicking off the light and shoving me into the living room.

Of my own apartment.

“What time is he picking you up?” she asked.

“I’m meeting him.”

Cory had put the planning on me, which was…what I preferred. He’d given me a date and a window of time, and I’d done the rest. After thinking about it for too long, I settled on a little place in the valley that told you upon arrival they didn’t serve California rolls. Not that I had anything against California rolls, but if I wanted Cory to enjoy sushi, I needed to give him good sushi. And I did want him to enjoy sushi even though I wasn’t sure why it mattered so much. Maybe it was because it was something he’d wanted to do with me? I tried to not think too hard about it and booked the reservation for two.

“You could have offered to pick him up since you have a car,” Morgan admonished.

“I did offer.”

I smacked her on the outside of her arm, which only earned me a laugh. She flipped me off and grabbed her purse from the couch, rifling through it for her vape.

“Did big daddy boss dom say no?” she teased.

“He’s not… just…whatever, Morgan. He said he’d meet me there.”

“You don’t like when your submissives drive either,” she said, and if looks could kill, my living room would’ve been a crime scene.

“I’m not his submissive.”

“No,” she agreed. “Anyway, what time are you meeting him?”

“Seven.” I tapped my phone to light up the screen and we both looked down at the time. Six-thirty.

“You should get going.”

“Youshould get going.”