As Cade and I worked our way through the boxes that littered the main rooms, he filled me in on Club news. I didn't know when or if I intended to return, but his stories provided a welcome distraction. "Rhea's been a regular again," he said. "Unattached." "We spoke last week." I mumbled as I flattened another box and added it to the stack in the sunroom. Rhea and I had scened together regularly at Obsidian before I left. She was even one of the rare few I tried dating outside the club, but we didn't hit it off as well in the restaurants as in the dungeon. Two weeks ago, the thought of pairing up with her again would have been tempting. But she wasn't the girl I couldn't stop thinking about. A night at the club didn't sound that appealing when I knew the girl with golden-blonde waves and deep green eyes, whose face I hadn't gotten out of my head all week would not be at Obsidian. Cade leaned against the window frame and crossed his arms. "How long have you been out of the game now
LENAThe concert wouldn't start for another forty-five minutes, leaving me with full reign over the empty auditorium. I found a good spot along the aisle near the back of the room, pulled out my book, and settled back in the uncomfortable seat, propping my feet up on the back of the chair in front of me.Rude, yes, but I could never sit like a "lady" despite the years of nagging.People darted around the auditorium and across the stage, fixing this and that, tweaking the lighting and sound equipment. I hated coming early to these things, but it gave me time to read - as long as I could get my brain to concentrate on the words instead of letting every movement of the tech crew disturb me. But I couldn't really blame the tech crew for my inability to concentrate. I blamed Eric and my own damn curiosity since crashing into him on Wednesday. If not for that, I wouldn't have started clinging to the idea of seeing him again. Of knowing more about him.And now, because I opened my mouth, the
By the end of the second movement, my skin was covered with the prickle of goosebumps as if the cool air of the auditorium, at war with the heated sensation of Eric sitting next to me, was dead set on pushing me over the edge. They must've turned the air conditioners on high. I fought a shiver, but it ultimately won, making me wish I'd packed a sweater in my bag.The performers exited the stage for intermission, and as the overhead lights kicked on, I quickly pulled my arms over my chest and leaned forward, hoping to get warm and hide my embarrassingly hard nipples. The man who noticed everything would definitely notice that.From now on, always grab a sweater. Even if it's a hundred degrees, always grab a sweater."I have a jacket in my car," Eric said, rubbing my back."I'm fine." But, damn, his warm hand left a soothed trail along my cold-bitten nerves."I'll go grab the jacket." He tapped the bottom of my chin with his index finger, drawing my eyes up to his. "No arguments."I sat
The music swelled, and I jerked my head up from Eric's side. Either time was playing a cruel joke on me, or I had actually passed out in the middle of a concert with my head resting on a guy I'd known exactly a week.Eric squeezed my shoulder, his chuckle audible under the sound of the music. I glared at him, but his smile didn't waver. Instead, he caught my chin and quickly pressed his lips to mine.Startled, I jerked back."You owe me," he mouthed.I shook my head and leaned in to whisper, "It's your fault for being comfy."And warm, and so very... irresistible.He raised an eyebrow. "At least you didn't drool on me."No other retort available, I stuck out my tongue, then buried my face in my hands before I burst out laughing and manage to disrupt the audience more than I already had. I'd been spending way too much time around elementary school kids. Thanks to the shock of adrenaline, I was now wide awake, but I had a feeling this whole incident was going to turn Eric from incorrigi
The dimly lit restaurant was busy, but we were seated in a booth at the end of a narrow section near the back, where - for better or worse - it was quiet. After the waitress brought our drinks and took our dinner order, I was left to fend for myself as the sole object of Eric's attention."How long have you been teaching?" he asked. "I managed to get a subbing position last year, and they hired me full time this fall." I fidgeted, playing with the napkin roll, then the little coaster under my glass. Now, there were no sports games, crowds, or dimming lights to offer an occasional diversion, just plenty of quiet space for the doubt and anxiety to wind around my spine and cloud my head. I hated the feeling and wished more than anything that I could really be the girl Eric had met in Diggers. The girl he claimed to know was really me."What grade?" he asked."Third."Eric chuckled and sat back. "This isn't an interrogation, you know. I'm trying - ""I know." I took a deep breath and drop
"Lena," he said calmly. "We're just having dinner.""That thing in the cab?" I whispered. Just thinking about that night made the sensations slam into me again. "You have a thing for what? Tying girls up and spanking them?"Even I knew that was a narrow definition, but it was all I could come up with - and at the moment they were the only things I was concerned with."Former, yes. Latter, only when needed." He tilted his head forward. "And none of the above unless it's consensual."Needed? Consensual? I managed a slow breath. Just in time to notice the movement just passed Eric as the waitress arrived with a tray of food. Eric continued caressing the side of my wrist as the waitress sat our plates in front of us. She didn't even blink twice to see Eric in his new seat.I thanked the waitress and lowered my voice as soon as we were alone again. I had too much going through my head to eat. "What if I'm not interested in that?""What if you're just afraid to try?"My breath rushed out. "A
"Cade knows, doesn't he?" I whispered, unable to speak any louder as I recalled the looks he kept giving us at Diggers."He was my mentor."My fingers went numb. I flipped his phone over and handed it back to him, shaking my head. "This is by far the strangest date I have ever been on, and I really don't think I can top it off with talking with one of your ex... what?""Submissives."There it was. I hadn't intended to make a sound, but my breath squeaked through my throat. "What if I'm not into this BDSM thing?""Then you say you're not interested, and I leave you alone. Your call." His eyebrow arched to emphasize the last two words.Just say you're not interested. Be done with it. If you don't, you're going to have a heart attack before this night is over. As easy as he made it sound, I knew it wouldn't be that simple. I drummed my fingers on the table. Urging myself to just say the words. I swore he had to be able to see my heart pounding through my shirt. What's the point? I slumped
I parked in the lot of the same Inn where we'd parted ways a week earlier. Lena had been quiet for most of the drive, and I wondered whether she'd manage to talk herself out of her own request. I wouldn't have held it against her. Even a brief introduction to the lifestyle would be demanding. But she wanted a taste, and I intended to give her several as long as she was willing. We'd agreed on a neutral place - a hotel room, since I was certain she wasn't ready to handle the full club experience. The hotel was "public" enough to, hopefully, help her feel secure.Although, we'd have to watch the noise level."What are you thinking?" I asked, rubbing my fingers over her knee to gage her reaction.At first touch, her knee jerked, then she relaxed. "That I've lost my mind." She took a long breath and dropped her hand onto mine. "Remind me why I agreed to this.""I could, but it could be a little awkward working around the gear shift. We could move to the back seat though."Her green eyes