“You said you were an artist?” His questionseemed to be a huge leap in topic, but pointing that out would’ve been rude.
“Yes.” I decided to keep my explanationsimple since he seemed even more easily distracted than I was. “I paint andsculpt.”
“That’s cool. Do you want to talk to someof the Doms who are artists? Most have regular day jobs, of course, but they’rereally interesting to talk to.”
“No, thank you.” Two highly creative peoplemade drama, not a relationship. “I’ve heard accountants are patient as long asthey’re not easily overwhelmed by people.”
Conner was back to blinking at me.
It was quite unnerving, even if it made myfingers itch to start sketching him.
“Accountants? Okay, let me think.” Helooked around the room, studying the different groups of men before turningback to me. “So if I understand you right, you’re looking for a patient Domthat likes creative guys but is a bit more logical himself.”
When I nodded, pleased we were finallygetting somewhere, he started asking more questions. “Do you have any particularkinks you’re interested in, or something you want to have in common with yourDom?”
Were fun toys from Bad Dragon considered akink?
Everybody had dildos and toys, right?
“No? I enjoy toys, but I haven’t exploredmuch beyond the basics with the Doms I’ve met.” My judgment might bequestionable, but I wasn’t stupid. Letting someone I’d just met tie me up anduse wonderful things like floggers on me wasn’t a good idea.
My mother would’ve killed me.
Conner nodded, but his expression said Ihadn’t made his job any easier. “Alright, what about dislikes or kinks that youcouldn’t deal with?”
That made me think. “Um, no blood play oranything my mother would see as questionable. I just don’t think it would beworth the safety lectures.”
I thought the answer was logical, butConner’s head cocked to the side and he was back to watching me curiously.
He was so strange.
“So we’ll look for a patient Dom that’s notinto anything extreme.” It sounded reasonable to me, but Conner’s expressionsaid we weren’t seeing things the same way.
Thankfully, a pleasant-looking gentlemantook that moment to come over. He radiated Dom, but he didn’t seem to beflirting, so I guessed that he was the other owner or another employee. He hada very similar aura to Mom’s, so I found myself relaxing as he stopped by thetable we were sitting at. “Hi. I thought this might be a good time to come overand introduce myself. I’m Ben, the other owner of the club.”
Ha, I’d guessed right.
As he reached his hand out to shake mine, Ismiled. “Keegan Banner. It’s nice to meet you.” It was good to put a name witha face even if we were technically strangers.
“Mom said to say hello if I saw you.’’ Hisface went blank for a split second.
Right as I was thinking I’d have to explainwho she was—which would’ve been awkward since she counted him as a casualfriend at the very least—he smiled. “Alexandra. It was good to hear from her.”
He glanced around the room. “She was a hugehelp putting all this together.”
Ben chuckled as he turned back to me. “I feelbad. I didn’t even remember her having a kid, much less one old enough to jointhe club.”
Shrugging, I brushed off his worry. “Sheprobably never mentioned me. Until I got old enough to make my own decisions,she was careful about protecting my privacy.”
I hadn’t even been allowed to have any kindof social media presence until she’d been convinced I could be responsibleenough. Though given her position in the community and the fact that she’dworked as a consultant setting up BDSM clubs all over the world, I couldunderstand her caution.
But people’s reactions to my existence werestrange.
And it was making finding a Dom awkward.
For some reason, the fact that she’dtrained a lot of the most trustworthy local Doms made them uncomfortable.
“Well, she did a very good job.” Bensmiled. “I just hope we make a good impression.”
