True Beginnings Read Online Free

of the largest owner/management groups of restaurants and bars in the city. He doesn't really talk business with me, though. He doesn't even ask about my job.
    Max ignores me and answers Dan instead, "You're just happy because it means I'm always going to be able to get us a table at one of your favorite bars in town!" Max is laughing, but the dark look hasn't left his eyes. He keeps flicking them at me.
    "You wound me, friend!" Dan is clapping his back though and everyone's laughing. I join in, but only for a second.
    The bartender hands our wine to Max. He hands me one, but doesn't let go. He leans over my side, "That's strike one, little girl." I swallow and feel my face turning red. He didn't whisper it, just said it in his usual deep voice. I glance around to see if anyone heard him. He nods at me and lets me take the glass. He must be upset that I had that drink before he arrived. It's his biggest pet-peeve so far. He always orders everything for me. It's been this way since we met, and I've never challenged him on it.
    It's one of the strangest parts of our relationship. From the beginning, Max has been more attentive than any other guy I've dated. He notices everything, keeps an eye on me at all times when we're together, and always does little things to show me how special I am to him. But his attentiveness also means he has a lot of these pet-peeves. A long list of things he does or doesn't want me to do.  I don't have to guess how to make him happy. He tells, shows me.
    And I have surprised myself with how much I like it this way. He's in control. There's never been a question about this in my mind. Take Max, take his control. It wasn't until after our trip to meet his parents though, that I realized how deep this need for control goes. His. And mine.
    I've never really liked the wishy-washy nature of guys I've dated before...leaving everything up to me to decide...leaving the brunt of relationship building and commitment pushing up to me. Max has been different from the start. And the depth of my response to him has surprised me.
    I've wanted to please him from the beginning. I've wanted to follow his little rules and old-fashion-ness to show him how much he means to me. I've been proud of being able to do every little thing he's asked. Since he slapped me, though, there's also been this element of fear of not pleasing him.
    And the depth of my response to that has been the hardest for me to understand. Just looking at the darkened look he still wears now...makes me wet. He made me a promise. And I know that I can trust him. I know that I can give into these feelings…that I’m safe...to be turned on by his anger, his control.
     

Chapter 3 HIM
    I like watching her change before my eyes. She shrinks into herself, blushes, looks around embarrassed. She's aware that I'm angry with her and she's trying to figure out why. She should know by now, though. I'll have to make that lesson more memorable for her. I keep an eye on her, admiring how beautiful her blue eyes look when they are tinged with fear.
    Dan is asking Stephie about her latest case, "...So is the defendant as sleaze-bag as the blogs make him out to be?" Since attending law school with Dan, Mike, and Stephie, Stephie has been the only one of us who has stayed in her original field, civil defense. 
    She puts on her best "lawyer face for the cameras" as we called at Northwestern, "I cannot confirm nor deny these allegations, gentle sir!" We laugh, but I like seeing that Lucy is still too on edge to laugh.
    Before Dan can give a smartass comment back, Jake arrives and hugs everyone, stopping in front of Lucy. "You must be Lucy?" He smiles down at her from the same height as me.  We could almost be twins, except he keeps his wavy brown hair longer, touching his collar.
    She gives him one of her prettiest smiles. Her head held back and eyes sparkling. "You must be Jake?" They shake hands.
    Stephie breaks in though, reaching with her hand towards Lucy's