Cherished (Masters and Mercenaries #7.5)(19)

His brow rose higher.

“Sir.” That shouldn’t be so hard to remember.

“I wanted to know about your prior boyfriends. From what I understand, you’ve never had a D/s relationship.”

“Though I do play a sub on TV.” Well, she wrote about them.

His lips curved faintly. “I’m serious, Bridget.”

That was apparent. He really had that Dommy vibe happening. From the moment he’d let her in his condo, he’d kind of oozed authority. He always seemed in control, but tonight all that willpower was focused on her, and it made her both uncomfortable and a little hot. A lot hot. Her nipples might chafe if they didn’t go down soon.

What should she say about her former loves? “They kind of sucked. The relationships that is. I haven’t had a ton.”

“Of men you would call boyfriends?”

Of men at all, but she nodded anyway. “I had a boyfriend in high school, but he was approved of by my father so I didn’t sleep with him.”

“Why were you with him if you weren’t attracted to him?”

“It was easier than fighting. I needed to keep the peace at home for Amy’s sake. There were events to go to that I needed a date for and Nick obliged. We were only friends, but we told people we were dating.”

“So you didn’t have a real boyfriend at all during high school?”

This was starting to sound like a counseling session, but she was willing to go with it. “No. I didn’t fit in at my school. It was a prep school and I always felt out of place. I liked Nick because he didn’t fit either. But his father was my dad’s lawyer so he was acceptable. No. I didn’t have a boyfriend until college and he was unacceptable to say the least.”

“Did you care for him?” Will’s question sounded more academic than emotional.

“Did I love him? I don’t know. I thought so at the time. There was definite lust going on. He was a bad boy on a motorcycle. He was a bartender at this dive off campus. Tall, dark, and handsome. I was crazy about him. Right up until we actually slept together and I realized he didn’t believe in anything but getting off as quickly as possible.”

“You lost your virginity to this man?” He was so serious, as though he was trying to figure her out.

He should know how simple it had been. “Boy, really. I did. It was awkward and painful, but I thought it would get better. I was with him for about six months and then I found him with one of the waitresses at the bar. But not before I overheard him telling his real girlfriend that I was good for extra cash.”

“That must have made you angry.”

To say the least. “I spray-painted his motorcycle pink. He wasn’t thrilled, but I couldn’t care less. I was alone for a while then. I dated some, but I didn’t have a serious relationship until Benjy. I lived with him for five years until I finally realized he didn’t give a damn about me except that I paid the rent and he could follow his bliss. He was an actor for a while and then he decided to play drums in a band. Yeah, that was successful. Screaming for Georgia. I still don’t know what that means. He either really liked Georgia or really hated it. Or maybe Georgia was a girl. People name their kids Georgia, right?”

He utterly ignored her musings. “How did you come to the conclusion he didn’t care about you the way he should?”

“Uhm, I ended up in the hospital and he didn’t even bother to show up. I don’t think he even realized I was there for a few days. I would have had to take a cab home except Chris stayed with me the whole time.”

“What were you in the hospital for?” His eyes had narrowed, leaving him looking like a gorgeous hawk scenting prey.

She didn’t want to talk about it. She didn’t want to talk about that day Serena’s ex-husband almost killed her. “It was nothing. A minor incident, but he should have been there.”

“It wasn’t minor if you were there a few days.”

She shrugged. “The point is I knew he wasn’t really in love with me. Especially since I later discovered he’d spent the entire time I was in the hospital with his girlfriend. He was hanging around because I would pay for stuff. Story of my life. How about you? When was the last time you were in love?”

His dark head shook. “I don’t like that word so I don’t use it. I’ve never been in love. My last relationship was with a woman who was using me as well. Something we have in common.”

She should have known a man as seemingly distant as Will wouldn’t like the word love. Again, the story of her life. “That’s not a good thing to have in common. I think hobbies and a shared love of classical music are more like what we’re supposed to look for.”

“I don’t like classical music. I find it annoying.”

“Really? More of a rock guy?” She loved the way his face flushed slightly. He would be so much fun to tease. “Country. Oh, you’re a country boy.”

“I grew up with it,” he conceded. “Why don’t you come sit in my lap?”

“Because I have a perfectly good seat where I am.” She couldn’t help it. It kind of popped out of her mouth. Sarcasm was her default state.

“This isn’t going to work if you won’t touch me. Now tell me why you don’t want to sit in my lap.”