Like a rocket, he’s up and about three feet back.
“I’m not in the market for a sub.”
I stand. “Oh… oh, sorry. I just. You seem to know all the things, and I thought—”
“Doms up,” Tank bellows. “Say bye-bye to your current subs and head to the right!”
Someone approaches my table, looks at me, at Broody Bar Guy, and moves on.
“You scared the next Dom away, Gen,” Tank yells from a couple of tables off. “Looks like you owe the woman her speed date.”
For what must be a good fifteen seconds, Broody Bar Guyseriously considers hot-footing it out of here. I’m sure of it. Finally, with a sigh, he casts a narrow-eyed glare at our MC and holds out my chair.
“Honestly, I could use a break anyway.” I stay standing. “Carry on.”
“Carry on?”
“Yep. I’m good. No need to play Dom with me.”
A hint of humor warms his eyes. “Come on.” He sweeps a hand at the chair. “Give me a chance to be less of an asshole.”
“I think I’ll go. This isn’t my scene after all, and—”
“No!”
Everyone stops talking. And dancing and spanking, or whatever that couple in the corner just started doing. In my peripheral vision, I catch Tank folding his massive arms over his chest and giving Broody Bar Guy the kind of raised-eyebrow stare that would make me want to run and hide.
BBG sighs. “Please.”
After a second, I sit and watch him head to the bar and return with the open bottle of champagne and a beer. Around me, people have gone back to their conversations and… yep. That’s just a casual, garden-variety spanking happening over there.
Wow. Okay.
I risk a quick glance and turn back as BBG sets a full glass of champagne in front of me and moves to take the chair opposite.
“I’m truly sorry.” He squeezes his temples before looking at me, head-on. “Let’s start over. People here call me the General.”
“Oh! That seems appropriate. I’m Sunny.”
“I am bossy.” He smiles, and it is…whoa. Uh-oh. Big, huge uh-oh. The man is handsome and dimpled, his smile bright and white. Between his almost-beard and the shadow of chest hair, the tailored midnight blue shirt and well-fitted pants, he’s the perfectcombination of groomed and rough around the edges. “Sunny suits you,” he says.
Though I know it’s meaningless, the compliment hits warm and solid in my center. “Thanks.”
“What brings you to Off the Cuff tonight?”
“Curiosity.” At his look, I go on. “I’ve spent a lot of time reading BDSM romance and how-tos and watching YouTube videos and other fun stuff, so you know.”
“Figured you’d check it out IRL?” His smile becomes a grin. The man is way too gorgeous when he’s not scowling. It’s unsettling.
“Yeah.”
“And? What are you into?”
“You want to read this?”
Though he accepts my list of desires, his eyes stay on me. “Why don’t you tell me?”
I consider, barely registering as my hand moves to cradle my own throat.
