Page 20 of The Dom with a Safeword

“Not close to your extended family?”

“No. My parents were victims of a drive-by when I was twelve. Wrong place at the wrong time.” She fiddled with her cup.

“I’m sorry, Q. That’s awful.” He was trying to make eye contact, but she looked out the window instead.

She shrugged. It wasn’t time for that. Nothing like being a downer on a first date. “It was a long time ago. Anyway, my older brothers raised me. They ran off all of our meddling aunties, so there aren’t any family reunions for us.” She shrugged. “It was fine by me. The last thing I would have wanted is lectures on the dangers of premarital sex.”

“Your brothers didn’t sit you down for that chat themselves?” he chuckled.

“Um, no. Not unless you’re counting the times I borrowed their porn.” Did she really just tell him that? Ugh. At least he looked amused. Maybe he thought she was joking.

“So… what methods have failed to teach you manners?”

She was relieved by the change in subject, but had no plans to give him ammunition. “Hmmm. Most. Brats are notoriously hard to teach.” Q took a sip of her coffee, but watched him closely. Time to see if this one was up to the challenge or if he’d bolt.

His face lit up. “I have a soft spot for brats. So you’re a brat switch?”

“Yes,” she said, surprised. “A brat switch. A veritable social pariah in the fet world. You don’t have a hate-on for girls like me?”

“Not a hate-on, no.” He winked and Q got caught in the wave of a full on, hot-faced blush.

There was an awkward silence as she floundered for something to say that wasn’t tie me up and make me your bitch. He smirked and waited, like toying with her was amusing. It made her submissive side go straight into overdrive.

She dropped her gaze and waited.

“I haven’t seen you at the club before. I would have remembered you.”

Q smiled at the thinly-veiled flattery. “I think I know pretty much everyone, except maybe some of the newer people. Small city with only one club.”

“Do you know Fredrick? He’s my landlord. He introduced me to a few Doms. One guy, Cross, is going to help with renovations. I think he owns a store downtown. Good guy.”

“Yes. I was just at Cross’s shop with Sabrina the other day. That’s where we got the outfit she wore to the concert. I know Fred too. Do you know Ivy?” She’d forgotten how much she missed the club until he brought it up.

“I’ve met her. Nice girl.” His eyes were warm, but it didn’t look like Ivy had caught his fancy. “You haven’t been going lately though. How come?”

“I’ve been avoiding someone,” she hedged.

“A Dom?”

She nodded and drew a long breath while she chose her words carefully. “Yes. I’ve only had one. We broke up about six months ago. It was messy.” In the he-ripped-out-my-heart-and-kicked-the-shit-out-of-it sense. She wasn’t about to tell him that though. “He left me for a 24/7 service slave. I’m not into that level of submission. We were supposed to go to the concert together anyway, as friends, but he backed out at the last minute.”

“Would it have been awkward to go with him?”

“Yeah.” Especially since they might have run into Jude.

“So have you been into Slipknot for long? In my experience hot girls usually only go to concerts like that because of their boyfriends.”

“Oh no! He’s cute but sexist. What’s a girl to do?” She batted her lashes sarcastically.

“I’m cute?”

“I’m sure you own a mirror, sunshine. As for Slipknot, I’ve been into them for about seven years. Their music is... it makes me want to...” She paused, weighing her options. She decided on the truth, even though it might make her seem crazy, sex-obsessed, or both. “You know how some music’s described as the singer making love to you with his voice? The music I like is more like a good hard fuck.”

Jude slapped a hand over his mouth like he was struggling not to spit out his mouthful of coffee. He finally managed to get it down then gave her an incredulous look. “You really don’t mince words, do you?”

“Sorry. I swear a lot. It can be a bit shocking, I guess. I wanted you to understand that I don’t just go for the mosh pits.” It wasn’t the first time Q wished that she was a little less crude, but better he got used to it now if this was going anywhere.

“Maybe not, but you seemed to be fighting pretty hard to go back in. What’s the attraction?” He looked honestly interested.