have any in your system before I take you into a scene."
"Oh, um...a glass of water then."
The waitress glanced at Reed. He shook his head, and the server left to fetch Marley's drink. Reed looked at Marley then, his gaze intent and focused on hers, yet he said nothing.
Was he waiting for her to say something? If so, what was she supposed to say?
Reed's intent was purposeful. He needed to see Marley unraveled. Her reactions to his silence would show him what kind of woman she truly was.
"I'm not sure why you're not saying anything, but I want to go through with this, you know."
He hid his smile. “I suspect you do want to continue with our night, since you're still here.” He'd seen a flash of the strong woman within her, and he planned to draw that part of her out.
She raised her head, and uncertainty filled her expression. “Why then are we just sitting here not saying anything?"
"I demand my subs start the conversation, especially with you since you appear to have some hesitation in that regard. You apparently have nothing to say."
Her green eyes lit up as she laughed, her dark hair fell over her shoulder to trail along her breast, and her lips captured his gaze—it all stirred his cock. “Okay, well then, you should have said you wanted me to go first, because I have a few questions."
Yes, he could clearly see she did. Her inquisitive eyes screamed a thousand questions at him. “You may ask anything you'd like."
Marley sighed, and her gaze lifted to the ceiling as she clearly processed her thoughts. She glanced back to him with a serious expression. “Well, I suppose my first question is, you're not married or dating anyone, right?"
Reed found her question sweet, and it showed him her morals, ones he approved of. “No, I'm not involved, but you should know penetration play normally does not happen in the scenes I create—if that is a concern of yours."
"Oh, I thought we'd be..."
His response obviously disappointed her, and he took note of the little pout that formed on her mouth. He'd rectify her disapproval. “But that's not to say you won't orgasm."
"Oh.” Marley's cheeks burned red. She glanced down to her hands, fiddled with her fingers before she looked up and the blush vanished. “So do you live a normal life?"
"What's normal?"
"You know, everyday job and such.” She exhaled deeply. “I guess what I mean is, are you the dom persona outside of the castle?"
"Yes, I have a typical life outside of the castle walls, but my personality isn't different. I am who you see now. The scene created for you is more about you than me, anyway. I'm merely there to bring pleasures into your life you've never experienced."
She nodded, appearing content with his response. “I suspected as much from what I've read about BDSM."
It'd been so long since a woman intrigued him enough to ask questions outside of the usual ones to discover her limits and safe word, but he couldn't stop himself now. “You've never dabbled in the lifestyle?"
Marley shrugged. “I've never had anyone to do it with."
"Tell me then, why have you searched this out now?"
"My friends and I made a pact. We're each going to fulfill our ultimate fantasies, things we'd never do before but something we've always dreamed of doing."
Now he understood the telephone call two weeks ago, and who the others were. He leaned forward in interest. Her answer was a first for him. He'd heard many reasons that drew a woman to this lifestyle, but the thought that he'd be her fantasy aroused him, and he needed to hear her reasoning behind her choices. “Why did you agree to such a pact?” He ran his finger along her inner wrist and felt her quiver.
"Be-be-because.” She steadied herself, then spoke in an even tone. “I'm a teacher, always disciplining and being in control. The idea of being on the other end intrigues me—I want to be the one to obey. The idea of adding pleasure into the mix makes me hot."
All things he'd give her, and it