A little while later I emerged from the steamy bathroom wrapped in a towel, all nice and refreshed. I ruffled my hair and crossed the hall.
“Hey, Emy.”
“Sean.”I stopped dead.“And Ari. Hi! How long have you guys been home?”
“A few minutes,” Arisaid.“Why?”
“No reason.”
“Oh god, I don’t wanna know.”
I laughed and went to my room. Ari was right; she did not wanna know. I shut the door and turned to see Dennis laid across the bed. My chair was clean and so was he. His hair was damp and falling toward his eyes.
“I took a shower in your other bathroom. I hope you don’t mind.”
“That’s fine.”I draped my towel across the chair.“That one is Ari’s, but she always uses mine so we can hang out more.”
“You’re already constantly together. Why do you need to share a bathroom?”He gave me a weird look.
“So many reasons. You don’t understand.”
“I really don’t. Your uncle’s home. I heard him park a minute ago.”
“Crap, I need to get dressed.”I searched my drawers for pajamas.
“How do you feel about shackles?”Dennis asked, sitting up to watch me change.
“Like prison shackles?”
“Like dungeon shackles against a wall.”
“How freaky do you wanna get?”I was unnerved but surprisingly turned on by the idea.“Actually, I might like that. We can try it, as long as you’ll let me out if I don’t like it.”
“Of course. That’s a given. I was also thinking we could tryastraight jacket. Maybe one with an open chest.” He walked over and touched my hair. “I might get a few other things, too.”
“What kind of things?”I shied away from him.
“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. All I need is your consent and a safe word. The rest is up to me.”
“I feel like you wanna torture me or something,”I half joked. He smiled.“What the hell, Dennis! Do you wanna torture me?”
“I never said that.”
“No, but I can see it. I know you. I know what this face means.” I gestured toward his expression. “You can’t torture me. I don’t agree to that shit.I’m serious. We’re not doing that.”
“Whatever you want, Vixen.”He was still smiling.“Consider it off the list.”
“Good. I don’t know why torture was on the list in the first place.”
“Have you ever tried electric play?”
I gave him a‘what thefuck’look right as I heard Ari greeting Uncle Tom downstairs.
“Oh good, you’re home,”hesaid.“Is Emy here?”
“Yeah. She’s upstairs. Sean is, too.”
“That must be your bind. Of course you would have one too.”
