“It was the intrigue of take-home handcuffs that did her in,” Gavin said, winking at me over his shoulder.
I rolled my eyes, let his hand go, and gave Avril my full attention. “Do I need to sign anything?” I asked.
Avril held out a hand. “Right this way.”
Once we were signed up and given name tags, two keys, and two sets of fuzzy black handcuffs, I turned back to look at the people waiting for the game to start. Arrow’s CFO, Zayn, came up to talk to Gavin before taking to the top of the steps and speaking to the crowd.
Gavin turned to me, tuning Zayn out. “If you need saving, you know the word,” he said softly.
I almost frowned but then remembered what he meant. “Arrow?” I asked, recalling the safe word he'd once given me.
He smiled. “I’m impressed you remember,” he said.
A soft huff of amusement left me, and I looked directly into his eyes as I said, “Gavin, I remember everything.”
His tongue darted out over his lips, and his smile faded slightly. “Not everything,” he said.
“Rule number one—“ Zayn’s loud demand pulled me from our conversation. I looked over just as he held up a set of keys and began pacing at the top of the steps to start the game.
“—Do not lose your keys. You have two: one for your cuffs and one for someone else in this room. That someone also has your key. On the key that goes to your cuffs is a number, and that number determines which group you’ll be in. Now, I want everyone to take their handcuffs out and lock both around your wrists,” Zayn said, holding up a pair of cuffs.
People exchanged glances, and Zayn grinned. “Come on, I know all of you like bondage,” he said, and the room laughed. “Both cuffs. You’ll have to figure out how to maneuver using both hands for the next hour.”
People did as they were told, some having friends clasp the cuffs on their wrists, laughing nervously as they did.
“Each group will have ten minutes total. At the end of those ten minutes, Avril will be dinging the timer chime. There are five groups, ten people in each, so you’ll get one minute each to chat and see if your key works in their handcuffs. At the end of that minute, you will switch partners, and at the end of ten minutes, Avril will call out the next group pairing. Now, if you find your match, you can either pull from the game, come upstairs and mingle, or you can continue playing to chat with everyone else and then meet up with that person at the end.”
I leaned in closer to Gavin. “What exactly is the goal with the cuffs?” I asked.
“It’s an easy, fun icebreaker,” he said, arms folded over his chest. “Helps the minute flow more naturally than the interview style like most speed dating events can feel. Also, the person with your key might be someone you wouldn’t have considered just swiping profiles.”
“I like it,” I said, and he turned his head, our gazes meeting.
“Really?”
“Yeah,” I said. “It sounds fun and not completely awkward. And I like how open this all is. No labels. ”
“We believe in an inclusive concept here,” he replied. “Everyone deserves love. You might even find a new best friend if the relationship part doesn’t work.” He nodded toward the key in my hand. “What’s your key number?” he asked.
I looked. “Five. Yours?”
“One,” he replied.
“How many godly tricks have you played with the pairings?” I asked.
“Ah, that’s for after they’re paired up,” he said. “Sometimes people need a nudge.”
I still wasn’t sure if he was joking or not.
He turned into me then and took my cuffs from my hands. Eyes never leaving him, he spread the metal open wide on one wrist, the soft fuzz brushing my skin, and he clicked it closed. That little click made my breath catch. He didn’t put the other one on, and I was grateful not to have to walk down the steps with my hands bound in front of me.
I reached for his cuffs and put one around his left wrist, my heart stammering the entire time as I remembered all the ways he’d taken me the last time I was wearing handcuffs and threatened him with them while pleasuring him in the shower. I was sure my cheeks were pink when I locked them securely.
“Are you thinking of a fantasy you’d like to share?” he asked, his voice deep.
“Don’t you wish,” I said, though the image of him with his hands behind his back while I sucked his cock played at the edge of my mind.
“Are you sure?”
