“But you’re intrigued?” she probes.
“I don’t know.”
“I get it. When my best friend, Nadia, brought me here, I was shocked to say the least. It’s such a beautiful bar, though. I enjoy coming to hang out with everyone.”
“I wasn’t planning to come tonight. I just sort of found myself downstairs.”
“I’m starting to learn about the lifestyle. I don’t know if it’s something I’ll pursue, but I kind of want to know more.”
“I’m a little… well, a lot actually… intimidated. What if I can’t be what he needs?”
“Who?” Genevieve utters. “Ry?”
I stammer over my words. “I… he wouldn’t want… I just mean any man in here. A Dominant wouldn’t want me.”
“For a start, being feisty is one of the hallmarks of being a submissive. Any Dom in here would salivate at the thought of taming such a beauty. And as for Ry, that boy has been miserable lately, and I get the impression it’s because he has feelings for you.”
“I doubt that. We’ve barely spoken since he came back to the restaurant.”
“Ignore him and his feelings for a moment,” Jenna says with such confidence. “Doyouhave feelings for him?”
“Yes. No. He hurt me. I would have given myself freely. I did. And in the end, it broke me.”
Jenna nods in understanding. We all have those relationships that take a piece of our soul. Ryder is that for me.
“And does he know how you feel?” Genevieve implores me with a gentle strength I admire.
“Not in great detail. He knows that he hurt me, and I hurt him. I didn’t mean to, but I did it anyway. He can’t forgive that, and I’m not sure if I could forgive him for his part in all this.”
“There’s something I need to tell you, Aspen. Jenna came tonight so she can watch a training session up on the third floor.”
“Really? Could I come?” I’m intrigued. Ryder would probably freak if he found out.
“There’s more.” I don’t know this woman, but her tone tells me I’m not going to like what comes out of her mouth next. “Ryder is doing a demonstration.”
“Oh.”
“Breath play.”
My stomach drops at the thought of him touching another woman.
“He’s demonstrating on me.”Fuck.Of course, he would move on. She’s more beautiful than I could ever hope to be. I know I’m pretty, but she oozes sex from every pore.
“I’m going to go.” I move to stand, but she entreats me not to.
“He couldn’t bear to engage with a submissive, so I offered as a friend. As a fellow Domme. There’s nothing going on between us.”
“You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“Did you hear me? He can’t take another sub. Why do you think that is?”
“I don’t know.”
“Because of you. He’s waiting for you, whether you want him to or not.”
“I can’t stay.” My pulse is racing as my heart hammers in my chest.
“I can’t stop you, but if there’s even a small chance that you want to know more about our lifestyle, and you want it to be with Ry, please stay.”
