By the time Friday morning rolled around, she’d answered every question he’d sent her, and they were so clearly on the same page he was tempted to forego the discussion he’d intended to have with her over dinner and jump right into the scene he’d scripted. But he reminded himself that going over everything in person, where he could see her face and hear her voice, was a necessary step. Olivia was too important to risk a misunderstanding.

No, he’d stick to the plan. They’d have dinner, talk things through. And if they were as in sync as he thought they were, he could set his plans in motion with no reservations. Though what he’d come up with for their first CNC scene together wasn’t as physically violent or emotionally heavy as some of the scenarios she’d described to him, it wasn’t a beginner scene, either. She’d had those, and he didn’t see the need to replicate them. This would be the first test of trust and compatibility, and he had his fingers crossed that it would be just the beginning.

* * * *

Olivia had lunch with Sadie on Friday afternoon. She’d thought it might be a nice distraction, but it wasn’t working. “I feel like I have a fever.”

Sadie dipped a fat French fry in the puddle of ketchup on her plate. “You don’t have a fever.”

“I know I don’t have a fever. I said I feel like I do.” Olivia picked up her burger, then put it back down again. “I can’t eat this.”

“You should.” Sadie gestured with another fry. “Cade gets home tonight, right? You might need your strength.”

“Thank you, Sadie, that’s very helpful.” Olivia pressed a hand to her stomach. “Maybe I have a stomach bug.”

“You don’t have a fever and you don’t have a stomach bug. You’re just horny.”

“Well, no fucking shit.”

Sadie froze, a French fry halfway to her mouth, her eyes like saucers. “Wow.”

“What?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you swear before.”

“Yeah, well.” Olivia plunked her elbows on the table and buried her face in her hands. “I’m a little worked up.”

“Clearly. Maybe you should take the rest of the day off work. My three o’clock canceled, so I can bring my table over and give you a massage if you want.”

“I wish I could.” Olivia dropped her hands and leaned back. “I’ve got patients all afternoon.”

“Well, you’ve got to do something to calm down. Go rub one out in the ladies’ room or something.”

“I can’t do that either,” Olivia said, miserably aroused.

“Why not?”

“Because I promised Cade I wouldn’t.”

Sadie shook her head sadly. “You’re never going to make it through dinner.”