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Nino reaches for my hand, kisses my knuckles, and mouths a thank you before releasing me.
I flash him a genuine smile and discard the box on the coffee table. “Where were we? Taking it slow…” I grunt. “But why?” I hate that my voice sounds so whiny.
He tilts his head to the couch and we sit down, facing each other. “There’s about a million reasons why,timal.”
“I’m single.”
“I figured, although it looks like I had to see it with my own two eyes.” He shrugs, an amused expression crossing his face. He hands me a glass, which he clinks with his, and downs it in one go. He pours himself another and orders me to drink. I comply and wince at the slight burn as he easily gulps his. “See, that’s what actual rum tastes like, my friend.” He winks.
“Myfriend?” Disappointment. Annoyance. Anger. These emotions color my question. I frown.
Don’t ruin the rum with tears.
“Chill, Ash. I’m just saying that no matter what happens, I’d hate to ruin the friendship we built. Maybe I should have given you more time before barging in on you.”
I gesture my disapproval with my head and hands. “Nah, I sure wasn’t expecting your visit, but… it’s perfect timing.” I let out a relieved breath. “Now, spill the beans: Is this your first time in LA? Where are you staying? Are you on a job assign—”
“Hold on, will you?” Nino chuckles at my enthusiasm. “Your excitement is truly endearing, but the Twenty Questions can wait. I’m not going anywhere in the near future, if that’s okay… So, relax…”
To do so, the third shot hits my lips that would rather be connecting with his. The second he places his own empty glass on the coffee table, I straddle him.
“Such a bold submissive!”
My body heats up, although only my knees are touching his outer thighs. “Oh, shut up and kiss me already.”
He clears his throat, his strong hands clamping down on my ass. Good! “Listen, I want to give you the space you need. Your welcome kiss tells me that you’re as attracted to me as I am to you… but whips and chains… Well, not sure that’s my thing. I can’t promise anything… I live on the other side of the planet…”
“I hear you and thank you for being so considerate.” I reverently kiss his lips. “I really appreciate it… whatever it turns out to be. Tell you what: One CliffNote equals one shot. I’ll reveal what turns me on as long as you promise to reciprocate. It’s not just about me.”
“Deal, let’s play Twenty Questions”—he rubs his hands together—“before practice!” A mischievous grin appears, but he sighs. “But you being… so close... complicates things.” I reluctantly slide back onto the sofa.
“Shoot!”
CHAPTER17
THE PLEASURE AND THE PAIN
Nino
“Mmpf…” I gradually emerge from my not so restful slumber with a dry mouth, a slight headache, and an irrepressible need to pee.
As much as I’d rather sleep for another couple of hours, the latter has me sprinting to the bathroom the second that I untangle myself from Ash’s sleeping form. His even breathing is a clear indication that he’s fast asleep, and there’s no sign of the nightmares that plagued him when I stayed with him in Brooklyn.
If I’m completely honest, waking up to Ash wrapped around me warms my heart, even if he did hog his beloved Egyptian cotton sheets last night. I shiver at the loss of his body heat and the shock of the frigid A/C. The morning wood that I’m sporting might disagree with the cause of my response.
What the hell happened last night?
Once I’ve relieved myself and washed my hands, my memories come to light. Neither of us is naked or sticky: unfortunate evidence that I’ve kept his virtue intact. Not the direction I was hoping for after we moved the Twenty Questions game to his bedroom around question twelve. Steamy kisses. Desperate dry-humping. Animalistic noises... Too bad we crashed shortly after hitting the mattress, alcohol getting the best of us. So much for practice!
Granted, my impulse to see Ash wasn’t driven by sex, rather confirming what my options were. For now, my best option is to return to the bed we shared. Using the loosest definition of the word “bed,” that is; it’s a box spring on the floor, shoved under a massive window with no blinds.
It’s still dark outside, but I guess that my body is still on Paris time. “Might as well make up for lost time,” I think aloud.
There’s no need for a pep talk, I’m confident in my ability to pleasure him now that I’ve been briefed.“My tastes in BDSM don’t require a leather suit and tons of equipment. Power exchange is what matters.”Ash’s confession after his fourth shot led to a deep blush, but his body language showed that he fully embraced his kink.“I’ll have you know that submissives hold the power; we set limits we’re comfortable with.”He gave me food for thought, paired with a wry smile; one I’d never envisioned outside of a dirty fantasy. This side of him is equally unexpected and entertaining.
I let him tease me about my reluctance to dictate his domestic life. We were already negotiating terms; I had to point out that telling a personal stylist what to wear didn’t make much sense to me, although he assured me that it lifted some weight from his shoulders.
Were the pancakes I prepared at your place allowed by your long-time boyfriend?
