“Thank you. I’ve never had a whole glass before.”
“Oh. Didn’t you like it?”
“There was only a mouthful left.”
Tal frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“It was all that was left in the bottle in the restaurant after I’d cleared the table. I was curious as to why it cost fifty quid, so once no one could see me, I swigged the remains.” He took a drink. “This is nicer.”
“This is more like a hundred pounds a bottle, if not more.”
“Bloody hell.” Corey took another drink. “I better not get a taste for it then. Oops, too late. It’s lovely.” He took another sip, hiccupped and chuckled. “Which character did you get in the murder-mystery thing that you don’t think we’ll be here for?”
“True Brand.”
Oh.Corey took another gulp when Tal didn’t say anything else. “How do you feel about that?”
“Are you Sade Dominus?”
Corey nodded. “How do you feel aboutthat?”
“It has to be chance they picked us for those roles.”
That put Corey’s back up. He didn’t hide his irritation. “Because you think no one would see me as a dom? You think they should have picked me as True Brand?”
Maybe they’d thought it would be funny to see a smaller young guy in charge of a cultured man like Tal. Corey’s heart was hurting now. He went to take another drink and realised it had all gone. It did slip down in a dangerously easy way. But maybe it was giving him the courage he needed.
“I’m quite happy to be Sade Dominus,” Corey said.
Tal refilled Corey’s glass.
“Thank you. Are you okay about being True Brand? Assuming we’re still here.”
“I don’t mind.”
“Do you know anything about BDSM? What pet play is? Or TPE? Or brat taming?” Corey took another drink. “Do you know how a sub should behave? Do you even know what a sub is?”
“I’m familiar with the terms.”
“You’ve read about it?”
“I’ve…played.”
Corey didn’t try to hide his shock. “You… You’ve played?”
“Yes.”
Tal had to be a dom. Of course he was. How could he be anything else? So they weren’t compatible. Why had Corey ever imagined they might be?Bang head against wall moment.Or maybe adrown myself in the hot tub moment. Damn it.But maybe this was a learning opportunity.
“I’m a dom too.” Corey watched Tal carefully.
Tal opened his mouth, then closed it again. Twice.
Ah well…“At least you didn’t laugh, though that was a pretty good impression of a goldfish.”
Tal huffed.
“Before you ask if I’m sure, yes I am.” Corey met his gaze. “I know what I want. I’m not interested in dressing head to toe in leather, or using a whip, paddle or crop on someone. I don’t want to be a daddy dom with a baby or a little to take care of. Or be in a total power exchange where I’m in control of everything all the time, including what my sub eats, what toys he has and when he goes to the bathroom. My brain would explode. Nor do I want to play with a pet or discipline a brat.”
