“He’s not my boyfriend. We’re friends with benefits.”
“Uh-huh,” Rob says.
“Who is he? Why haven’t you mentioned him before?” Mick asks.
“A guy I met online a year ago. We hooked up after he moved back to Leeds. It’s only temporary.” I rub the heel of my hand over my thigh.
“Hence friends with benefits, not boyfriends,” Mick says.
“He, uh, he’s introduced me to things I’ve never thought of doing before.” Why the fuck did I say that out loud?
Rob elbows me in the ribs. “Spill. We want all the details.”
My face gets hot. “On Saturday, I, uh, held him down while we had sex.”
“That’s nothing,” Mick says.
Rob and I stare at him.
“My missus and I have a box.”
“A box?” Rob laughs. “Like Karl and Susan’s blue box inNeighbours?”
Mick curls his lip. “I don’t watchNeighbours, plus our box is red. Not blue.”
“What does it have in it?” I ask.
“Handcuffs, blindfolds, a flogger, and some other toys.”
My jaw drops.
“Kinky. Which one of you likes getting tied up?” Rob asks.
Mick smirks. “Both of us, depending on our moods. We’re switches.”
“You’re—what?” I ask.
“We both like to be in charge and submit. I can lend you a pair of handcuffs if you want.” Mick drinks his tea like we’re talking about gardening, not kinky sex.
“Your wife whips you?” Rob asks.
“Yup. And I whip her. It’s all consensual fun, and it keeps our marriage fresh.”
“And spicy.” Rob laughs.
Mick finishes his tea. “Let me know if you want to borrow anything. We have a silk blindfold that’s—” He does a chef’s kiss.
“What’s so good about it?” Rob asks.
“It’s soft on the skin and blocks out all light. Most of the others let in a bit of light, but this one is perfection.” Mick nods. “You might want to scrape your jaw off the floor before we get back to work.”
“Can—can we talk later?”
“Sure. Let’s go for a drink after we’ve knocked off for the day.”
“Can I come?” Rob asks.
“No,” Mick and I say in unison.
