“How original.” He rolled his eyes and she saw his jaw working as he put his fork down on his plate next to what little was left of his salmon. “This isn’t a game, Katie.”

“I know.” She paused, licking butter off her lips, and took a sip of her margarita.

“Patrick’s sin is pride.” He took a drink of his water-he hadn’t ordered wine or alcohol with dinner-catching the waitress’s attention. “Hubris. A Dom is humble. A servant, really.”

She crinkled her nose at him, regrettably finishing the last piece of delicious crab. “But the submissive is the one-”

“Sure.” Liam smiled at the waitress as she stopped at another table on her way to theirs, acknowledging her need to serve them first. “Everyone knows what the submissive is giving up. Your power. Your control.” His gaze moved back to Katie and she felt it immediately, rushing hotly through her, like the blood through her veins. “Your body. Your love.”

“Love?” She swallowed, putting her fork down next to her place. Her hands were trembling and she didn’t trust herself to actually hang onto her utensils.

“But the Dom is always in service to the sub,” he explained, watching as she started to nervously play with the corner of her napkin. “He is offering you his time, his focus, his attention. He has to be completely present with you in every moment.”

She had never wanted anything more in her life than what he was talking about. And the way he said it! His words were fluid, sure. He knew exactly what he was talking about, had experienced it, lived it.

“And the Dom has to be willing to accept the gifts a sub is offering.” Liam went on, his voice soft, and she focused on him, entranced. “It’s a precious thing, when someone is willing to give themselves to you that way. It takes trust beyond measure. It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”

She nodded, feeling tears prick her eyes, and she quickly blinked them away, turning to her margarita and hiding behind it as she sipped. She wanted to give herself, wholly, completely, had wanted it for so long-and now… now she knew she’d found the man she wanted to give herself to. It seemed so simple, but her heart ached as she looked at him, fearing his rejection still, feeling as if she was at some sort of “submissive tryout,” trying to say and do the right thing, walking on eggshells.