“Uh-huh.” Payne’s expression was dubious, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he tucked his arm through Hunter’s and guided Hunter away from the bar, a pleased little smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.
Hunter decided it was better to let the subject drop for the moment. “You seem to be, uh, well known here.”
“This is where I’ve come to play since I started working for Herc five years ago,” Payne said, stroking Hunter’s bicep casually. He seemed about to say more, but he was interrupted by someone calling his name, and his face lit up when he spotted an older man waving at him from a nearby booth. “This is great! Come on, I’d like you to meet someone,” he said, tugging Hunter toward the booth.
Hunter went along, but he was distracted by the way Payne had caressed his arm. The casual touch was far more arousing than it should have been, and he wondered if Payne had even realized he was doing it.
Forcing his attention back to matters at hand, Hunter found himself looking at a man for whom the phrase “Silver Fox” must have been invented. His hair was black with striking patches of pure silver at his temples, and his jaw looked sharp enough to cut paper. Hunter remembered an older drill sergeant from his days at the Point who had radiated the same air of total confidence, something Hunter had always thought was sexy as hell.
Payne released Hunter’s arm so he could shake hands with the silver fox, who was seated next to a younger man, who was beaming at Payne, but didn’t say anything. The younger man was shirtless, but unlike most of the other patrons, the silver fox wasn’t wearing leather or fetish gear. Instead, he was dressed in a charcoal gray three-piece suit that appeared tailor made.
“Payne! It’s so good to see you. It’s been too long.” The silver fox looked Hunter up and down with an appreciative eye. “And you brought a friend!”
“James, this is Hunter,” Payne said. “He’s interested in learning about BDSM. Hunter, this is Master James, one of the best Doms in the state.”
James made a scoffing noise, but he seemed pleased by the compliment. “Won’t you join us? You know Tyler, of course. I’ve got him under a vow of silence right now.”
“I figured,” Payne said as he slid into the booth across from the couple, and he patted the seat beside him, watching Hunter expectantly.
“Nice to meet you,” Hunter said, taking the seat beside Payne. He looked at the much younger man with James, a cherubic-faced blond with guileless blue eyes and a head of curly ringlets. Hunter was surprised to see Tyler was wearing a black leather collar with an attached leash, the end of which James held in one hand. “A vow of silence?”
“It means he may not speak unless I give him permission,” James said, smoothing his hand along the back of Tyler’s head, and Tyler leaned into the touch. “Tyler is a bit of a chatterbox, but I’ve promised him a special reward when we get home if he obeys.”
“I see.” Hunter had to suppress a smile, though he shot an amused look at Payne, remembering how much Payne had talked back when they’d first met, trying to draw Hunter out. “It sounds efficient.”
“If I was only trying to make him hush for a couple of hours, I suppose it could be called efficient,” James said. “But this is a lesson in obedience, something meant to challenge Tyler and make him earn his reward. That makes it fun for both of us.”
“Ah. A game. I see.” Being in the military probably gave Hunter a different take on obedience, reward, and punishment than most people had, but he thought if anyone would understand him, Payne would.
“Yes, that’s it exactly.” James gave him a look of approval, then gestured to the rest of the room. “This is a playground, and we’re here to play.”
A veryadultplayground, Hunter thought, but he got the analogy. “A well-mannered playground, though,” he said. “No one is allowed to be a bully or throw sand at the other kids. Or to take their toys? Or is that considered one of the games?”
“Only if it’s agreed upon by all parties involved,” James said. “I assume Payne told you about our playtime being safe, sane, and consensual?” He raised a questioning eyebrow at Payne, who nodded.
“I’ve explained the basics, but I thought he’d learn more from seeing for himself,” Payne said.
“I’m no stranger to discipline, punishment, and consequences.” Hunter tried to keep his tone light, but a sudden mental image of Mark’s mangled body caught him unawares. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then opened them again when he heard a crunch, and he realized he’d crumpled the water bottle in his hand. “Sorry.”
James and Tyler appeared alarmed by the unexpected destruction of the bottle, but Payne immediately clasped Hunter’s upper arm in a firm, warm grip.
“It’s okay,” Payne said, his voice low and soothing. “You’re in a club in Raleigh with me. Whatever you saw isn’t real. I am.”
Hunter glanced at Payne, letting Payne’s touch help ground him, as it had the night before, when Hunter had experienced one of his nightmares and Payne had come into the room to comfort him. “Thanks.”
He could feel James and Tyler’s curious gazes, and he knew he had to offer an explanation. He glanced at James, shrugging slightly. “Sorry. I’m dealing with something… complicated. It hits me out of the blue sometimes.”
“It’s all right,” James said, his expression turning sympathetic.
Payne leaned close and pitched his voice for Hunter’s ears alone. “Would you be okay with telling James what we’re doing? He’s been a Dom for almost thirty years. He might have some insights.”
Hunter’s automatic, knee-jerk reaction was to say no, but he knew that kind of response was a part of what had kept him in denial for so long. Instead of answering immediately, he looked at Payne. “Do you trust him?”
“I do,” Payne said simply. “Master James is the one who’s helped me after some rough missions.”
Hunter remembered Payne saying he’d used BDSM as a way to deal with some issues. If James was the man who had helped Payne come to terms with things that bothered him, maybe James could help Hunter too.
“All right.” Hunter said softly. “Could you start?”
