Page 16 of Playing with Forever
The indignant tone of his voice took me aback and I scrambled to make amends. “Right, no, of course not, that’s not what I meant. Rebecca’s really—”
“I’m not interested in just anyone, you know,” Brandon insisted. “I like classy, sophisticated women, and they’re hard to find.”
On some level, I should have been flattered by the compliment, but honestly I was just more embarrassed that I’d made things awkward. “I’m sorry. Forget I said anything.” I waved a hand between us as if to clear the air, then clicked on the graphic I’d been analyzing before I’d gotten distracted by Chase’s text. “How about we look at that ad we created again? See if there is anything we can do to elevate it for the client.”
Thankfully, that segue back into work cut through the tension I’d caused and we were able to have a productive day. But to be honest, the more the afternoon wore on, the more my mind began to drift. I kept wondering what Chase had in store for me.
I had no idea what to expect this evening, but as I headed home after work to shower and change I decided I didn’t want to be too dressed up for tonight, or too casual. I fretted for a while, wanting on some level to impress him. I went through half a dozen outfits while being grateful that Violet was still at work. I didn’t want her to see what an anxious mess I was over Chase Noble, of all people.
Eventually, I decided on a nice set of lingerie I’d bought on sale, in a pretty coral hue and a scalloped lace design. Then, I chose a nice but casual summery dress to put over it. Understated on the outside, but sexy and sophisticated beneath. Perfect.
I followed the directions Chase had given me to his place, finding myself at a very luxurious high rise on the outskirts of Vegas with residential condominiums. I rode the elevator up to one of the top floors, and when I arrived at his place and Chase ushered me inside, my jaw dropped a little as I took in the floor to ceiling windows in the spacious living room and a shiny black and chrome modern kitchen.
In comparison to the modest condo Violet and I had purchased together, this place was definitely high end. But of course he’d live somewhere a little more private and exclusive. He worked for possibly the best security firm in the city—one that serviced billionaires, celebrities, and even royalty—and he was a member of The Players Club. No simple one-night-only guest invitation for him.
Despite the luxurious feel of the place, there was something very pristine and almost sterile about it all. I didn’t see much color, no splash of artwork on the walls, and I definitely didn’t see any personal effects, like photos or other intimate items that really made a house a home.
“I’m glad you came,” Chase said, approaching me.
He wore a light gray t-shirt that pulled across his wide chest, the muscles in his arms straining the short sleeves, and a pair of well-worn jeans. His feet were bare…and just like his hands and dick, they were big, as well as symmetric and well groomed. How odd was it that I found them incredibly…sexy?
He put a hand on the small of my back to guide me to one end of the open floorplan to the dining room table. To my surprise, a lovely dinner was set out.
“I hope you’re hungry,” he said.
“I…am, thank you.” I hadn’t thought I was, my stomach tangled tight with nerves up to this point, but the pasta and chicken sitting ready to be served looked and smelled delicious.
Confused, I turned toward him. “Can I ask what all this is? I thought I was here for a . . . a lesson.” I didn’t know how else to describe our arrangement.
He tipped his head, amusement shining in his eyes, which I liked seeing more than his normal gruff demeanor. “What, you just thought I’d strip you naked the moment you walked in the door and fuck you over the back of the sofa?”
My face flushed, because yes, that’s pretty much what I’d anticipated. Some kind of immediate sexual encounter, not something resembling a…date.
He shook his head, a slight smile on his lips. “This is allpartof the lesson,” he said, pulling a chair out for me and winking as I sat down. “Outside of a place like The Players Club, or a one-time scene, a good, experienced dom will take care of his partner, including feeding them before any sexual activity. It helps to have carbs for energy, and something in your stomach so you don’t get light-headed or dizzy during some of the more intense scenes.”
I nodded, filing away that bit of information. A part of me was shocked that he was taking this so seriously, that he was truly teaching me things I didn’t know and were important when it was time for me to find a partner of my own.
I swallowed hard at the thought…because right now, I couldn’t imagine doing this with anyone else other than the enigmatic man sitting next to me.
“People know aftercare,” he went on, uncorking a bottle of wine. “But not enough of them talk about the buildup, the beforehand. This is the kind of thing that creates trust between you and your dom outside of the bedroom, or playroom, as it may be.”
I laughed lightly. “I assume you have the latter here at your place?”
“Yes.” He hesitated for a moment, his expression turning serious. “A bedroom implies intimacy, and it’s important to me that my play partners distinguish the difference and know that my playroom is strictly about sex and pleasure, nothing more. My bedroom is off-limits.”
My chest tightened a little as I processed that.Okay, duly noted. The man, for whatever reason, didn’t dointimate.
“Wine?” he asked, indicating the bottle he’d just opened.
“Yes, thank you.”
He served me then himself. “Don’t have more than a glass,” he advised, setting the bottle aside. “I think this vintage goes great with this meal, but if you have a dom who keeps trying to top your wine, or whatever alcoholic drink you’re having, don’t trust him. A lot of emotions can happen during a scene, and you need to be sober to really process them.”
“Got it,” I said, appreciating the insight.
We plated our food, and after a few bites of the delicious meal Chase spoke again.
“So, it sounded like what we did on Friday was your first experience?” he asked curiously. “Or close to it? Have you done any type of BDSM before?”
