Mina's Heart by Michele Zurlo

certainly not enough to bring him here.”
    * * * *
    With the plates and cups clean and drying in the rack, Everett turned his attention to the spinach and red peppers on his cutting board. On the other side of the island, Wilder had spread out several different gauges of rope.
    “Was it everything you thought it would be?”
    Ever studied his brother, looking for the intended joke. “Are you asking about my date?”
    Wilder chuckled. “Yeah. I know she enjoyed herself. Thin walls.”
    Once again, Ever was relieved that Wilder had the apartment next door. He’d rather nobody overheard his bedroom activities, but if he had to live in a place with barely adequate soundproofing, then he was glad Wilder was the person he was bothering. Now if only he could convince Wilder to put himself out there again.
    “She’s coming over at noon. I’m going to take her out to the property for a picnic. I think it went well.” Ever attacked the waiting ingredients with practiced skill. Cooking brought him a lot of pleasure.
    Frowning, Wilder untwisted a length of rope. “I seriously didn’t peg her for a submissive. My radar must be off.”
    Everett had no doubt about her submissiveness. “She’s submissive, but she doesn’t know it.”
    Wilder lifted his gaze. It was filled with alarm. “How can she have spent an evening with you and that topic not come up?”
    The fact that his brother had leaped to that conclusion didn’t surprise Ever. Nobody knew him better than Wilder. “She’s inexperienced. Very inexperienced. I’m treading lightly. I want her to be comfortable with it before we have that conversation.”
    Though she hadn’t minded the blindfold or the restraints, she’d nearly freaked out when he’d mentioned spanking her. He would have to test her to see what she was open to, and ease her into those things. If he had to, he could talk himself into living without seeing his handprints on her reddened ass. Though he preferred it, he didn’t need her on her knees.
    A bit of shock crept into Wild’s expression, mingling with the alarm that hadn’t diminished. “Ever, I think you’re making a mistake. You know that Dad always says to be up-front about who you are and what you want.”
    He was well aware of his responsibility as her Dom. “Wild, she needs to be eased into this. She’s fragile and delicate and incredibly naive. If I have a frank discussion with her before she’s ready, she’s going to flee. If I wait until she’s ready, then she’ll be mine forever.”
    Though they’d only had one date, he had already decided she was the one for him. His father had always told him he’d know his soul mate when he met her, and that assurance had definitely proved true.
    Wilder snorted. “If she thinks you’re playing vanilla games and finds out you’re lying to her, you’re going to lose her anyway.”
    “I’m not lying.” The accusation stung, especially coming from his best friend. “I’m waiting for the right time. There is a difference.”
    He wasn’t sure what the right time would look like, but he trusted that he’d know when the time had come.
    * * * *
    She arrived at Ever’s apartment almost an hour early. It was easier than facing her mother’s calculating, silently knowing looks. Wilder answered her knock. He and Everett truly resembled each other, but where Ever tended to be relaxed, Wilder radiated thoughtful intensity.
    He smiled as he opened the door wider to admit her. “Good morning, Mina. Come on in. I’m not sure Ever was expecting you quite yet.”
    Perhaps she had miscalculated. The need to escape her mother’s knowing gaze had made her forget what went on in the hour before a date. She spent a lot of time on her hair and makeup, though Ever had told her just to wear shorts and dress comfortably. The lack of pizzazz in her clothing had to be accounted for in the care she took with the rest of her appearance. And it had to look effortless. The makeup had to cover her flaws