Ryder: What were you thinking? Something dirty I hope.
Me: I’m just walking home.
Ryder: Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.
Me: Aren’t you working at Rooftop tonight?
Ryder: Yeah, but I don’t like the thought of you walking around by yourself at this time of night. Shoot me your location and I’ll come get you.
Me: I’m fine. I was just wondering if you’re ever going to give me that tour of Venom?
Ryder: Disobedient girls don’t get tours. Where are you?
I consider whether or not I want to see him after the night I’ve had.
Me: I’m almost home. By the time you get here, I’d already be in my apartment.
Ryder: No tour for you. Text me when you’re home.
Me: Don’t be mad. You can’t lift and lay me everywhere I go.
Ryder: Text me.
Should I have let him come to meet me? He’d have questions as to why I was dressed up. Questions I can’t answer. I walk the rest of the way with a weight on my chest. I feel guilty. Ryder and I haven’t defined what we are to each other. We fucked one day—many times.
When I get home, I jump straight in the shower before slipping on my sweats and a hoodie, curling up in bed with my phone.
Me: I’m home.
My phone starts ringing. It’s Ryder.
“Hey, baby girl.” My heart skips a beat at the sound of his low, rasping voice.
“Hey. Are you still at Rooftop?”
“I’m down in the club right now.” A sinking feeling drops my stomach to my feet.
“Oh.”
“Not like that.”
“You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“So, you think I’m down here fucking other women?” His tone is irate.
“We slept together. We haven’t spoken about it since, so I just assumed that you’re free to do whatever you want. I’m not like those other women.”
“I didn’t think discussing it in front of people was something you’d be up for. Was I wrong? Should I tell everyone tomorrow?”
“No.”
“You better not be fucking another guy. And what do you mean by ‘those other women?’ Enlighten me.”
“Submissives.”
“You’re not a sub.”
“I know. That’s the problem, right?”
