THE DINERAndrew took him to was nice. They didn’t just serve the typical American diner foods like burgers and apple pie, but also had a selection of Hispanic food like arroz con pollo and Cuban sandwiches. At Andrew’s recommendation, Curtis ordered the mango-avocado salad and the Havana burger, which turned out to be a delicious blend of American and Cuban ingredients. Andrew had another fusion cooking meal with rice, cheese, and a steak. After they had eaten their first bites, Andrew looked at Curtis with a half smile on his lips. “So this was a typical workday for you?”
Curtis took some time to chew some of his salad before he answered. This seemed like a loaded question to him, and he wasn’t entirely sure where things were going and if he liked the direction. “Yes, more or less. Having somebody at my side was new, though.”
Andrew nodded. He, too, seemed insecure. “I liked it. Really.” It sounded a bit as if he wanted to assure himself as much as Curtis. Curtis sighed. Things were going nowhere fast and he decided to stop trying to read Andrew and just be upfront.
“Andrew, you can tell me if you didn’t like it. Just because we have chemistry doesn’t mean we have to work out. I think it was big of you to apologize to me and come to the opening, but if you don’t feel comfortable with my work, it’s no use pretending otherwise. My work is a big part of my life, and I can’t always separate it from my private affairs.”
For a moment Andrew seemed taken aback, but then a smile bloomed on his face. “I see, you’re a power bottom, aren’t you? I wasn’t trying to back out of this. I’m merely in the process of understanding it all. Martin mentioned that you’ve got a lot of work with your galleries, as in plural, and on top you have Collin to manage, which I first didn’t see as a big task, but I’m beginning to think he’s a lot more successful than his appearance lets on?”
“Is this your way of asking me to put my cards on the table?” Curtis tried to sound casual, though he was wound tight as a bowstring inside. Andrew didn’t sound freaked out, just curious, and Curtis found he wanted to explore what could be between them.
“Well, yes. I was already blindsided once, and I almost lost my chance to get to know you. I think we can both agree that there is something between us. Something I want to delve deeper into, but I want to do it with my eyes open. As for the cards on the table, you already know I own a bakery here in Miami. I come from a small town in Colorado, which I left because I started suffocating there. I have a sister, who lives close to my mother. My parents divorced ten years ago but are still on speaking terms. They know I’m gay and I think they have a suspicion as to how I like my sex, but they have never said anything about it. I make decent money, though surely not nearly as much as you do. Not enough to be able to afford a membership at Whisper, which is the main reason I don’t want to go there. No need to dangle that particular carrot in front of me when I know I can never have it. That’s about it.”
Andrew’s smile was open, but it was the hint of vulnerability in his eyes that convinced Curtis that he really wanted to give him a chance. “Fair enough. Fist of all, if we work out, the fees won’t be a problem. It’s in the club rules that you can bring a steady partner to play as long as he has been vetted by Richard and Martin. As a Dom you have to pass a little test that is more extensive if you express the wish to play with other subs as well. If you only play with me—which I would prefer should we come to an agreement—the test is a formality to make sure the privacy of the other clients is protected.” Curtis hated to refer to their potential relationship with such clinical terms, but even though there was a chance of them being together, he didn’t want to get too enthusiastic yet. That way, rejection, if it came, wouldn’t sting so badly… or so he hoped. “As for my businesses, I do own several galleries in Europe, the US, and Asia. My name is a brand in the world of art, and I make seven-figure sums every year. My parents are British nobility, and if I stopped working today, I could still live in the lap of luxury for the rest of my life on my trust fund alone. In addition to these very happy circumstances, Martin has also asked me to manage Collin’s career. He is one of the stars in the art scene, and his pieces sell for six- to seven-figure sums. Martin is also one of the owners of Whisper, in case you were wondering. I have no siblings, and my last relationship is almost eight years in the past and ended with me being dumped for a younger model.”
Curtis knew the last sentence sounded bitter, but he couldn’t help it. He had realized long ago that Jasper had just been an asshole who’d managed to deceive him for five years, but he’d still been the longest relationship Curtis had ever had. For a few moments, Andrew didn’t say anything. He seemed to be in shock.
“Wow. That’s… more than I anticipated. And a lot to address.” Andrew’s tone changed. All of a sudden, Curtis could see the Dom shine through. “First, whoever dumped you was an idiot. Second, if we reach an agreement as you called it, I would never play with other subs. I don’t like to share, and I’m conservative when it comes to my relationships. Conservative as in exclusive, I mean.” Andrew winked. “As for the vast difference between our incomes, I’m not going to lie to you, it will take me some getting used to. I’m not a fan of stereotypes, but I have to admit I seem to be caught up in quite a few regarding Dom/sub relationships.”
Curtis lifted a brow. “I didn’t think you were a 24/7 guy.” That would be a deal breaker for Curtis.
Andrew shook his head. “No, I’m not. I prefer keeping the Dom/sub dynamic in the bedroom and the club. That doesn’t mean I don’t have certain images of what a Dom and a sub should be like internalized. We’ll have to work on those together.”
Hearing these words, Curtis dared to hope a little more fiercely. Andrew was definitely interested in more, and he was smart enough to see his own hang-ups as well as brave enough to address them. Curtis put his cutlery down to reach for Andrew’s hand over the table. He entwined their fingers with an encouraging smile on his lips. “It would be my pleasure. Thank you, Andrew, for being so open with me. For giving me—us—a chance. I like to think I’m a good sub, but a lot of it is just routine, and I would love to go about exploring my submissive nature anew with you as my Dom.”
Andrew squeezed Curtis’s fingers. “You honor me, Curtis. I promise, I will do my best to be worthy of your submission. And hopefully of your love as well.” He smiled crookedly. “I know it’s early to talk about the L-word. I just wanted to make my intentions crystal clear.”
“You did. And they do match mine. I’m getting too old to play games.”
Andrew laughed. “You’re not the only one. Though playing games never appealed to me. I like things that are real.”
They stared at each other over the table, all the time holding hands like lovestruck teenagers. Curtis found he could get lost in Andrew’s dark gaze that seemed to devour him alive. The waitress politely clearing her throat yanked them out of their blissful haze.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, guys, but are you done?”
They both looked at their empty plates. Curtis couldn’t remember having eaten anything. He blushed. “Of course. Sorry. We got—lost here.”
She winked. “No problem. Being in love is great.”
“We would like the check, please.” Andrew’s cheeks sported a healthy pink color, but he didn’t let go of Curtis’s hand. When the waitress was gone with their plates, he lifted their hands and pressed a kiss to Curtis’s knuckles. “The night is young. How about you give me that tour of Whisper?”
Curtis lifted a brow. “Are you sure? I mean, I would love to, but you’ve already had a busy day.”
“I am sure. And why put it off when I seem to be on a roll today?”
The waitress came back with the check, and after paying it, Andrew took Curtis’s hand again. They both rose. In front of the diner, Andrew suddenly stopped. He turned around to face Curtis, a hungry look in his eyes.
“Before we go to Whisper, I need to do this.” He bent down to press his lips on Curtis’s. Automatically, Curtis tilted his head to give Andrew better access. He felt Andrew’s breath ghosting over his face, warm and with a faint aroma of mango. Their lips met tentatively at first, both of them testing the waters. When he felt the same electricity surge through his body that he experienced whenever Andrew touched him, Curtis parted his lips in invitation. It seemed as if Andrew had just waited for that. His tongue entered Curtis’s mouth, started exploring right away, while Andrew’s arms tightened around Curtis’s waist, pulled him so close he had trouble breathing. Though that could have been the kiss as well. It was determined and dominating, but with a sweet undertone that had Curtis wishing for more. When Andrew finally broke the kiss, they were both panting.
“Damn, I should have done this sooner.” Andrew sounded satisfied, and he looked like a sated lion basking in the sun.
“Yes, you should have.”
Laughing, they sauntered toward Andrew’s car. Once they were inside, they started kissing again, like two parched men in the desert. In Curtis’s case, it was definitely true. When their lips were red and swollen, Andrew sat up straight in the driver’s seat. “Let’s get going. Can you give me directions?”
“Of course.” Curtis leaned back in his seat. What a perfect day.
THE DRIVEto Whisper took them about twenty minutes. Twenty minutes during which Andrew had every chance to freak out. Only he didn’t. Being with Curtis almost half the day, seeing him in his element, had somehow lessened Andrew’s fears of being inadequate. On the contrary, he was proud Curtis had subtly leaned on him by way of his body language. Andrew was nervous, though. Whisper was a great club with an impeccable reputation. When they drove through the gate into the fenced-off parking lot, Andrew got a first taste as to why the club was so popular among the upper crust. Curtis had shown his membership card at the gate and now, in front of the huge double doors leading into the building, his card was swiped by a scary-looking security man who could easily pass as a hardcore Dom in Club Submission. Once inside, they had to get through two more security checks. The interior was tasteful and classy, with red carpets and huge photographs of BDSM scenes on the walls. At what Andrew thought had to be the reception area, they handed all their electronic devices to a sub in leather shorts and a black fishnet T-shirt. Andrew was given a day pass, and he was asked if he wanted a leather bracelet to announce his status as a visitor. Since he was here with Curtis and not looking to play with anybody, he declined. The sub wished them a nice evening and another broad-shouldered security man opened the oak door for them that led into the club. There was a short corridor leading into an open space with a raised stage. Andrew felt himself drawn there, but Curtis dragged him through a door to the right first.
