“Teach me,” Maverick whispered, eyes lowered.

Douglas inhaled shakily, overwhelmed by the trust Maverick was showing in him. Lifting his hands, he skimmed his middle fingers of each along Maverick’s skin from wrist to the end of his finger, receiving a tremble in return.

“It will be my pleasure.”

Reining in his libido because he knew what needed to be done first, he cupped Maverick’s chin with his forefinger and lifted his face to his. “Maverick, we have things to discuss before this can go any further.”

“Mav.”

Maverick’s eyes were heavy-lidded, and it took everything in Douglas to keep from closing the gap. Douglas blinked a few times and frowned. “Sorry?”

“Please, call me Mav.”

Douglas licked his lips and pulled back, releasing Mav. “Okay. Mav, take a seat. We have things to talk about.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Maverick—Mav—stumbled over to the sofa opposite, which was much farther than Douglas wanted him to be, but a suitable distance to allow Douglas to think properly. When Mav sat, Douglas took a breath.

“Before we go any further, we need to decide what it is you want from this relationship. What do you like? What don’t you like? And safe words are a few questions.” Mav cleared his throat, but Douglas held up a hand. “Let me ask you one at a time, and you need to think before you answer. I will take whatever you say as truthful unless your body language says otherwise.” Mav nodded. “I think I have an idea, but tell me, what don’t you want?”

Mav gripped his own hands, rubbing the thumb of one over the back of the other as he contemplated Douglas’s question. “I don’t want to be hurt. Pain for me is just that, pain. I don’t have a high pain threshold, I don’t think.”

“I beg to differ.” When Mav raised his eyebrows in silent question, Douglas continued, “You manage to continue working when you have a migraine. Now, I’ve never suffered from them before, but I know they can be debilitating. If you have the strength to work through those, then your pain threshold is higher than you think.”

Mav tilted his head, and Douglas could see his brain whirling. “Regardless, though, I don’t like pain. I don’t find it sexy. I don’t find it arousing. I find it painful. It’s why I’ve shied away from BDSM in the past. I thought it was all about pain.”

Douglas narrowed his eyes. “What made you decide to research?”

Mav’s cheeks darkened until red stained his cheeks and neck. “After thinking about the massage and what you did, I was curious.” Douglas wasn’t sure if Mav was aware he was skimming his fingers across his own palms as he spoke, but the action heated Douglas’s blood.

“Ride a motorcycle. Take a road trip. Get drunk. Dance on a bar. Correct me if I’m wrong but you knocked those out already. Why are you bothering to write them down?” 

She shrugged, “I like checking things off to-do lists.” 

That made him laugh, “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.” 

She continued, putting check marks by the things they’d done already. He could read most of the napkin even upside down. He smiled as he watched her write but when she paused and glanced back up at him from beneath her lashes, biting her bottom lip far too suggestively for his liking he felt heat curl in his belly and stomped it down immediately. 

“Don’t you dare write one-night stand on that list, Ashtyn.” 

She flushed a pretty shade of pink, “How did you know…” 

“You mentioned it last night. Remember?” 

That made her cringe, “Oh yeah… unfortunately I do.” 

“Don’t put it on the list.” 

She smirked, “But it is on my list.” 

“Not this one.” He tried to glare at her but wasn’t sure the look worked for him when she only smiled in return. “It’s not going to happen.” 

“Need I remind you that it’s my list, not yours?” She raised a perfect eyebrow. 

“Need I remind you that we’re sharing a hotel room from here to Vegas so you’re not going to have much privacy.” 

She looked offended, “You’re joking.”

“Not in the least.” He eyed the napkin and frowned. “You can mark skinny-dipping off that list too.” 

“Oh come on!” she laughed, “It’ll be fun.” 

“Give me the list.” He held out a hand but she jerked it away. “Ashtyn, give me the list.” 

“Fine.” She handed it over and he snatched the pen from her as well. 

He read through it again, noting everything that she had listed. When he glanced back up at her she was wiggling uncomfortably in her chair. He sighed and folded the napkin, putting it in his pocket. 

“I will help you check everything on this list off that doesn’t require bodily harm or the potential to be arrested.” 

She rolled her eyes, “And here I thought you took pride in being adventurous.”

“Every minute with you is exactly that, princess.” He winked playfully and then scooted to the edge of the booth. “Come on, if we’re going to get all this done, we can’t waste any more daylight.”

He pulled her panties down, over her toes, and tossed them to the floor. Then slowly he brought his fingers back to her, finding the spot between her legs. He knew she wanted him when he touched her, and she shivered. He slipped a finger inside, and she groaned against his mouth, making him hard. “Take me to bed,” she begged.

 

Chris smiled. “Not yet. I still have things I want to do to you.”

 

In a husky, demanding whine, she protested, “But I need you now.”

 

“I want to watch you let go with my hands, then we’ll go to the bed.”

 

In tantalizing circular motions, his fingers expertly teased her. She felt tight sensations building in her core.

 

He stopped to pull her T-shirt over her head.

 

She moaned. “Please, don’t stop. I need you so bad.”