Jay seemed to misinterpret it as distaste. “I guess you’re not into that? Well, you know the guys you met earlier, Matthew and Alex? They usually go for bratty twinks, but you must have been too alluring to pass up.”
Jay’s voice was low and hypnotizing as it poured into Aaron’s ear. They were dangerously close. If Aaron turned his head to respond, their lips would touch, and he forced himself to stay still. He could already sense his control weakening. Another few minutes, and he would break. Jay was too tempting, and Aaron too weak to resist.
Abruptly, Jay flinched, his smile morphing into a frown. They’d only just met, but already Aaron could tell the expression didn’t belong on his face.
“Shit, I gotta go.” Jay stood up quickly and rushed away, his long strides carrying him farther and farther from Aaron until he disappeared through the exit.
Aaron didn’t move, wondering what the hell had just happened. A moment ago, Jay was winking and flirting, and now he was gone, the indent in the cushion and the fading smell of cinnamon in the air the only proof he’d ever existed.
Had Jay grown bored with his company? Aaron hadn’t been in the dating scene for almost two decades—for all he knew,this was the in-person version of ghosting someone. But no, Jay seemed far too nice and mature for such behavior.
Maybe Jay had remembered he had somewhere to be. Picking his parents up at the airport. Meeting a friend for happy hour. Volunteering at a puppy shelter.
Aaron sighed in resignation. It was ten o’clock at night. The explanation couldn’t be so innocent—and besides, even if he was running late, surely Jay could have spared a few seconds to address his sudden departure. It was far more likely that he had to get home to his wife before she discovered his secret life.
It didn’t really matter.
Aaron rearranged himself, tucking his body against the arm of the couch, no longer buoyed by Jay’s contagious enthusiasm. At least the night hadn’t been a complete waste, and he had a new spot for the next time he visited.
Whatever fleeting feelings bounced around his head during their easy banter had not been a part of the plan. And Aaron was more determined than ever to follow the plan.
Kink Talk
DommyBoy: How was everyone’s weekend? I went on a fantastic date. She’s not in the lifestyle, but she seems open-minded.
SubSequins: Congrats! That’s far more exciting than my weekend of watching TV alone on my couch.
SubLime: Mine was quiet, as usual. No kinky adventures to report—just me and a pile of romance books.
DomPetty:I reorganized my closet and decided I own way too many black T-shirts. Is that a Dom thing, or am I just boring?
SubZero:It’s a normal person thing. And you don’t have to worry about getting dressed in the dark.
SubScribble:My weekend was awkward…My roommate accidentally opened my package and I had to come up with an excuse for ordering handcuffs. I said it was for Halloween.
DommyBoy: Of all BDSM props, handcuffs are probably the most mainstream and easiest to explain.
SubScribble:The package also had a flogger.
SubAir:What Halloween costume could you possibly make with that?
SubAir:Never mind. Anyway, I went to a kink club for the first time. It was interesting. I didn’t pass out from awkwardness, so I’m calling it a win.
DomicronPersei8:Congrats! That first time can be so nerve-wracking. Did you talk to anyone, or just scope it out?
SubAir:I planned to just lurk in the corner, but ended up having a pleasant conversation. It didn’t go anywhere, but I feel a lot better about next time.
SubMarine:That’s awesome. My first time, I sat in the corner and tried not to hyperventilate. You’re already ahead of me.
DomAndDommer:I went on a terrible date on Friday, then a shibari workshop on Saturday. Spent the rest of the weekend practicing knots on a chair leg.
SubZero:Did the chair eventually safeword or did it suffer in silence?
Chapter 2
JAY
Jay finished typing the last of the code and leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. He was done. There was still work to do—beta testing, fixing the bugs—but that was the boring stuff. He’d always preferred the creative part, imagining something that didn’t exist before and making it a reality. Even though most people wouldn’t look at programming as art, Jay did, and he was used to being a little different.
