Page 100 of When We Ignite

“About what you expect from me. I don’t really understand what you want.”

“What do you mean?”

He sighed, shoulders tensing. “You said you wanted me to be submissive with you.” A flush crept up his neck.

I smiled softly. “Forget about that for now.”

“But—”

“I want toknowyou, Ethan,” I interrupted gently. “I don’t want you to hold back or be scared of me. I want this to feel natural. I’m not expecting anything—just do what feels right.”

His lips parted, surprise flickering in his pale-blue eyes. “I thought that was what you wanted,” he whispered. “Isn’t this what you’re into?”

“Yes, but it’s not what you’re into,” I replied, watching the tension in his shoulders ease slightly. “When you let go, it’s fucking incredible. But you don’t shine when you give up control—you shine when you take it.”

I leaned in, cupping his jaw and resting my forehead against his. His eyes darted to my lips, his frown still lingering.

“I don’t get it.”

“I think you don’t know what you want yet,” I said, brushing a kiss to the corner of his mouth and pulling back just enough to see him lean toward me. “I want to help you figure it out.”

His baby-blue eyes were attentive in his surprise.“How?”

“Trying things, letting go, doing what you want. You can do what you like when you’re with me.”

“I wouldn’t know what to do.”

Again, hesitating. He had no idea of the fire that burned inside of him.

“You don’t have to know. You just have to want,” I said, smiling to myself as I watched him process my words.

“For example,” I began, holding Ethan’s gaze, “I know you’ve toyed with something you like but haven’t made up your mind about it yet.”

He blinked, confused. “What?”

“You hold back with your strength,” I said plainly, watching the flush creep up his neck as my words sank in. “One of the perks of being with a man is that you can use your full strength. You can be rough with me—if that’s what you want. You can even ask me to do the same to you. Or not. Whatever feels right for you.”

I leaned back, giving him space to process. Taking a slow sip, I placed my empty glass on the table, letting the moment stretch.

Ethan’s brows knitted as his eyes darted around, clearly mulling over my words.

“Do you want a ‘for instance’?”

He glanced up at me, hesitant, then nodded.

“In the Hamptons,” I said, “when I had you over the desk and you were holding me down.” His lips pressed into a tight line. “And I suspect you have a kink for public spaces—but that one’s off-limits for obvious reasons.”

Ethan’s entire body flushed, his reaction both endearing and enticing.

“Do you want to try it?”

“What?” His voice wavered.

“Getting rough with me,” I said matter-of-factly, watching his eyes widen.

“How?”

“Take a drink,” I said, gesturing to the glass in his hand.