“Did you have fun?” I asked.
She nodded, but it was hard to see her expression in the dark car. “I did. Love those girls.”
“Pretty sure they like you more than me. Iris just told me I’m dumb.”
She sputtered a laugh. “Did she say why?”
“Nope. Just a general dumbness, I guess.” I squeezed her hand. “We good, Baddie?”
“Yeah. What you said was shitty and untrue, but I guess that’s how you see me.” Her head turned toward her window. “Idowant something real.”
“Then you’ll have it. Just not with the assholes you keep picking.”
Something like a whimper came from her. At least…that was what it had sounded like, but it didn’t make sense. She coughed a second later, so I was probably mistaken.
“You wanna tell me about the conversation you were having with the girls about being tied up?”
Her head whipped around. “What?”
“You weren’t quiet. I heard you. I know you bought those straps. You’ve never used them?”
“Not yet,” she replied.
“Plan to?”
“I hope to.”
“Not with some random asshole.”
She pulled her hand from mine. I took it back. She hissed at me. “I’m a woman living on my own in Manhattan. I’ve been dating and having sex since I was a teenager. I think I know how to be safe.”
“I know you’re smart. You’re smarter than I’ll ever be. But when you’re talking about being tied up, completely vulnerable, you have to trust the other person implicitly. Who do you trust like that?”
“You,” she answered.
I sat with that answer for a beat. “You want me to tie you up? Show you what it feels like?”
“I don’t know.” She turned back to her window. “That would probably be a dumb thing to do.”
“You tell me, Baddie. I’m willing. And I’m fucking honored you’d trust me enough to let me do it.”
The idea made my dick twitch. Adelaide’s wrists bound to her bed, helpless. I’d show her how it felt to do that with someone who cared about her, who wouldn’t hurt her. Then she’d know she couldn’t do that with just anyone. I’d take care of her.
After a long moment, she sighed and laid her head on my shoulder. “I’m really glad you’re back, Adam.”
Something inside me settled. Warmth spread over me like oil. “You have no idea how glad I am to be home.”