by Mimi Tulane
Ebony was nodding her head, giving him her full attention. “Are most of your clients into pain?”
“No, not all. There are those that find it arousing when elements of pain are introduced, but not all. I am versed in most areas of kink. I don’t judge my clients’ needs but I do have my own limits. I’m not into degradation play, you know, name calling? See, at the Velvet Fantasy there is a Dominant and submissive for just about every taste. I specialize in bondage, toys, spankings, floggings and role play. For clients with harder limits there are Doms there that can meet those needs. My clients are often first time kinksters, or those seeking a little naughty adventure.”
He waited for her to take all that in, observing her body language. She didn’t appear to be too nervous, if anything quite the opposite. Perhaps the writer in her was being inspired? He’d like to think that he could serve as her kinky muse. The idea nearly made him smile. “You know I never looked at BDSM in that way. I think the first thing that came to my mind, honestly, was people who loved getting their asses beat while wearing diapers.” She looked a little chagrined by her admission but Rasheed laughed.
“You know, Ebony, you wouldn’t be the first to think that way or the last. That is why it’s extremely important to me and Jocelyn that we offer a safe, sane, and consensual environment for those wanting to explore their sensuality and offer our expertise and guidance. You’ll get a few jug heads that don’t adhere to any rules, contracts, or safety concerns, but for many in the life, we practice safely, we respect boundaries, and we don’t do a damn thing without consent.”
“I once helped a friend who was writing a book with her research. She was writing a story where her characters were in a polydynamic. I learned a lot but the information we came across, well, some of it was sketchy at best. People we had lined up to interview were even reluctant to speak about it. Then there were those that gave you erroneous information. You got the good and the bad and even some straight up pervs! In the end she decided against a poly theme for her book and toned it down to just a ménage.” Rasheed couldn’t help himself. He reached over again and took her hand, twining his fingers through hers. She smiled at him softly and he felt like the king of the world at that moment.
“If your friend ever wants to interview someone who lives a true poly lifestyle, I know someone who would be happy to talk to her about it—in fact five someones.”
Reese Jackson was a good friend of his cousin Jocelyn’s and a pretty sharp dude in his opinion. His “family” subscribed to polyamory. As the head of the clan, Reese was the Alpha. The other members had their place within the dynamic but more importantly, Rasheed had never met a group that meshed so well together. They lived, played, and loved together, pooling their considerable resources and created a loving environment that was the envy of anyone privilege to know of their lifestyle.
“Oh wow, now that would be fantastic if they’d be willing to do an interview! Jalisa writes erotic romance and she’s not too shy about her questions…I hope that doesn’t turn your friends off?”
Rasheed chuckled. “Nope, not in the slightest. I hope you aren’t pulling punches either. You can ask me anything, Ebony. I’ll do my best to answer your questions and if I don’t know the answer I’m willing to bet I know someone who does.” He watched her nibble on her bottom lip and had the strong urge to distract her with a kiss. Sitting with her now, talking about anything and everything, was more than he could have hoped for—not bad for their first “date.”
“May I ask you a question, Ebony?” When she nodded, he pushed forward, hoping his timing was on the money. “You mentioned the stories you write often reflect your own fantasies and dreams. Have you ever considered acting them out? Taking them from the subconscious and bringing them front and center?” He held his breath. If she was going to bolt, this would be the time. Instead she sat there pursing her lips in concentration before answering him.
“No, I haven’t, and it’s really silly my reasons. I write about confident sensual women who aspire to true love, but in my own personal dealings, well, I haven’t had much experience. My one serious relationship was totally toxic and it did a number on my self-esteem.”
Rasheed swallowed then took the plunge. “I’m sorry about that, Peaches. Nothing pisses me off more than thinking some jerk broke your heart and made you feel bad about yourself. He had to be a first-class dickhead. I don’t want you to ever feel insecure with me. Ever. I won’t rush you, or try to remake you. I won’t intentionally hurt you in any way. What I will do, is care for you, get to know you as intimately as you feel comfortable with, and if you want to explore your fantasies without reservation, judgment, or inhibition, I’m your man.” He didn’t waste his words. He spoke them clearly and with resolve. He wanted her. Mac was right. It didn’t take him putting on airs or fronting. He needed to be transparent.
Ebony took him by surprise when she leaned in closer to him. She was just a breath away. His free hand naturally cupped her chin, and when she closed her eyes and parted her sweet lips, he took his cue from her and leaned in the rest of the way, closing the tiny gap grateful for the spontaneity of the moment—and kissed her.
Chapter Six
The kiss only lasted a fraction of a moment but everything in Ebony stilled. The wild beating of her heart, the insecure mind rantings, all of it melted. She’d never been one to initiate anything but this, this felt right. Rasheed had bared his feelings to her and his openness had melted the last of her reserve. Ebony was no fool. Tremaine had taught her the best lesson of her life—of how not to settle for anything less than a man that wanted you. Rasheed wanted her and he let her know what his terms were. There wasn’t anything in his litany that didn’t send a resounding yes to her soul. All she had to do was accept his offer and take each moment with him as it came.
“Rasheed, a part of me wants to believe that you are too good to be true. But the real deal is, I want to explore…this. I want to get to know you, everything about you. I don’t know that I can live a completely devoted lifestyle like my sister, but I’m willing to keep an open mind—so long as you are willing to be patient with me. I’m still working on the self-love part.”
Rasheed was nodding his head. “Would you believe I’ve been there myself? I was heading down a self-destructive path after my brother died. I didn’t care about myself or my family during that time. I just wanted the pain to go away and I didn’t handle my grief in the best of ways. Mac stepped in and gave me some tough love, but it was what I needed. I straightened my ass out and realized I had to give more, love more, and to view every moment I was given as precious. So I’m not willing to waste time and miss out on the best thing that could ever happen to me. I want to take this as slow as you need me to, but as far as I’m concerned? When I look at you, I’m looking at my future. I’ll try my best not to fuck this up, Peaches. I promise.”
Ebony felt her eyes growing misty and looked away for a moment. He cupped her chin again and turned her head leaning in and brushing another short sweet kiss across her lips. “I believe you, Rasheed. Now I have a question for you. How would I act out my fantasies?” When he began to slowly grin, the air between them charged. Ebony’s eyes widened. She wondered if she should be nervous about that feral grin on his face but instead of worry she felt alive and aroused.
“Have you ever heard of role-playing? I think that would be a great start.”
“Is that like cosplay? I’ve gone to one or two conventions when I was younger out of curiosity.”
“You could liken it to that. Role-play can involve the wearing of costumes but it’s a bit more adult—especially with what I have in mind.”
Ebony giggled nervously but was willing to hear him out. “Oh, really? And just what do you have in mind?” She was feeling daring and growing more and more aroused—and she liked it.
“You have written some really hot love scenes, baby girl. I’m not ashamed to say I’ve had to handle business a few times after reading them.” Now Ebony
felt her face heating up. The unbidden image of Rasheed sprawled out naked on his bed with his cock in his hand leapt into her mind and damn if she wanted it to vanish anytime soon. “This time, baby girl, I want to be the hero in your story. And I want you to be the heroine in mine. We can set our scenes with inspiration straight from the pages of your books. What do you say?” He sat back and folded his large arms across his chest, causing his Bob Marley T-shirt to mold against his body. She felt herself growing wetter by the second. The familiar ache that had her panties dampening was building, causing her to throb in want.
“I like the sound of that,” she whispered.
They gazed across the table at each other, each one momentarily lost in their own imaginings, cognizant of the significance of the moment.
“Okay, how about this: we’ll set up regular times to meet up, like I would with my clients, except this is strictly for us—just us—our play, our way—no scenes from your stories are off limits.”
Ebony mulled that over. “No scenes? Including the ones that require, well, props?” She was past feeling nervous, she was excited and the man sitting across from her was the reason.
“None. Not even the ones where the heroine takes over. I want you to enjoy our sessions as we play. I want us to connect.”
The waiter took that moment to bring the check and as Rasheed tossed some bills on his tray, he thanked him but clearly indicated the waiter was holding up progress. He wisely took the money and vanished.
“Well it appears we have some planning to do later. Rasheed, I have another meeting this afternoon, then dinner with my sister and parents. I should be home about nine, call me?”
Rasheed was grinning like a cat that had swallowed a canary and Ebony again marveled at the wonder that was his face. “Damn skippy. We’ll talk over some particulars. Hey, be sure to jot down any questions you might have. We’ll go over them as well.”
She reached behind her and pulled on her jacket, as they stood and gathered their things, adding, “I’ll do that. Thanks for the coffee…and the kiss.”
Ebony decided the minute she and Imani were alone, she’d tell her about today. She couldn’t get over how excited she was and looking forward to hashing out plans with Rasheed and wondered what would be the first scene they picked for their first play date. She just hoped she’d follow through and not chicken out. Sneaking a quick glance at the sexy man walking beside her, she put all thoughts of reneging clean out of her head. No way was she going to pass up the chance to play with Rasheed. The idea alone had her growing wet with excitement.
* * * *
Rasheed insisted on riding her on his bike to the parking garage. As aroused as she had grown during their talk, riding on the back of his bike was only fanning those embers. In fact her nipples were so hard it was a wonder Rasheed didn’t feel them while she pressed up against him during the all too brief ride. Between hugging his hard body for dear life, and the vibrations of that monster he called a motorcycle, Ebony knew she was going to have to make a pit stop before heading to her next meeting. She needed relief and she needed it fast!
They shared another slow kiss before she climbed into her car. He trailed her out on his bike and she waved to him as they parted at the exit. She squeezed her thighs together tightly on the drive home, her clit throbbing with anticipation. Despite her earlier trepidations, she discovered she really enjoyed riding with him. He was totally in control, handling his bike with precision. He had brought up her riding with him after the book signing on Saturday and she agreed. It didn’t dawn on her until she walked through her apartment door that she had written a scene that involved a motorcycle in her latest book. Thinking about that scene now, she began to substitute Rasheed for the hero. Now the ache between her thighs was raging full on.
Ebony headed straight for her bedroom and hastily removed her clothing. All she could think about was how hard Rasheed’s body had felt pressed to hers. Sprawled across her bed, she recalled the scent of his cologne as her hands began to roam slowly over her body. She paid particular attention to her breasts, pulling and plucking the stiffened nipples, her mind’s eye calling up the scene in her book. Instead of the book’s hero leading the heroine out back to where his bike was parked, it was Rasheed leading her. She imagined him standing behind her, placing her hands upon the seat of the bike, ordering her to spread her legs. That’s when he lifted her skirt, exposing the globes of her ass to his large hands. Ebony’s own hands were now caressing the flat plane of her stomach, inching their way down toward her aching cunt. As the scene from her book unfolded, her make-believe Rasheed was now kneeling behind her, same as the hero in the book, spreading her ass cheeks, then moving the thong she wore to the side. Ebony parted the lips of her pussy and began to tease her clit, just as “Rasheed’s” tongue dipped between to find her wet slit.
“Mmm…” Ebony’s hips began to swivel slowly as she teased herself, spurred on by the vision of herself and Rasheed reenacting the scene from her book. The more she imagined his tongue flicking and probing her pussy from behind, the higher her arousal grew. She was now plunging the fingers of one hand in and out of her wet pussy, her hips raising from the bed to meet each thrust—while using a single digit from her other hand to continue the pleasure on her clit. Her juices coated her fingers as she humped her hands, while her heels dug into the mattress as she continued to lift her ass up and down.
Now Rasheed was fucking her from behind as she bent over the bike. One of his hands held her in place while the other shoved both her T-shirt and bra up, capturing one of her breasts. The utter force of his thrusts and the feel of the leather seat beneath her palms were as palatable to her in her imagination as the real Rasheed had been on the ride from earlier today. The smell of him, the feel of him all mingled together with her fantasy, until on a gasp, she came.
The crest down from her climax was bittersweet. Sure she’d managed to take the edge off but the act itself left her empty. She wanted Rasheed, not just the fantasy. And he was willing to become her fantasy just to be with her! Squeezing her thighs closed, she rolled over onto her side and closed her eyes once more. Next time, she’d have the man…and she could hardly wait.
Chapter Seven
Dinner with the family had been a pleasant affair. Ebony shared small talk and caught up on everyone’s day but she was anticipating talking privately with her sister Imani. “Hey Mom, we’ll get the dinner dishes, why don’t you and Dad head up for the evening? Isn’t that crime drama you guys watch on tonight?”
Her sister caught on and added, “Besides, you know us, we’ll only start talking about shopping and we know how much you both love to hear about that!” Hustling their parents off with cups of coffee to their room was a tag-team effort but nothing new. They’d been conspiring against their parents since they were in diapers! Not that their parents weren’t aware that the girls wanted their privacy, if the knowing expressions on both their faces was any indication. Thankfully they good-naturedly complied with kisses good night and admonishing them both to let them know when they were each heading home.
With one last peek around the corner to ensure their conversation wouldn’t be overheard, Ebony grabbed her sister’s hand and blurted, “I’ve made a play date with Rasheed!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold the press! When?” Imani’s eyes were about to bug out of her skull.
“Okay, we’ve been talking on the phone, since dinner at your place. We went for coffee today and, oh my gosh, we kissed, I mean we talked first but, then we kissed and…” Ebony hated when she started rambling but the rush of emotions she felt when speaking of Rasheed was hard for her to sort through let alone contain.
“Peaches, start from the top then work your way to the juicy parts—like you do in your books, heffah.” Ebony rolled her eyes when her sister tossed that bit in. She was still digging at her for not divulging more of the latest book’s plotline to her.
Imani stopped loading the dishwasher and propped her hip upon the counte
r while Ebony recounted the coffee date in detail. “As bad as I wanted to not like Rasheed, I can’t. We’ve talked and he’s wonderful, Imani. He’s considerate, respectful, sexy to a fault, he listens to me and when he offers his peace, he’s not condescending or critical. I’m more than just attracted to him—I really want him in my life,” Ebony admitted.
Imani hugged her sister for a brief moment. She resumed loading the dishwasher before saying, “I’m not surprised. There’s just something about the Mackenzie Family DNA. Mac and I fell fast and hard. Even though we’d been working together for three years and not one word that we had feelings for each other, when it came down to it, I knew he was the one for me. Jocelyn and Ahmad had a brief connection in the past, sort of, but their relationship was the stuff dreams are really made of—if you ask me. Peaches, I don’t find this at all shocking. But you’ve said to me a dozen times, since I shared my lifestyle choice with you, that you aren’t interested in BDSM. What’s changed?”
Ebony was rinsing the pots and pans, handing them to Imani as she poured out her heart to her sister. “I’m still not that interested,” she admitted. “I’m also not as blind to my own issues and how they may have come across to him. This play date has more to do with his desire to reach me and help me come out of my shell. He may not have said that in so many words, but in an effort to get to know me, and for us to find our own unique way, he suggested role playing.” Ebony had mulled over quite a bit since the coffee meet up with Rasheed. He’d been totally sincere during their conversation and it wasn’t lost on her how insecure she’d acted at the dinner. Their talk had truly quelled a considerable amount of her trepidations. “You know what, sis? I really am comfortable with Rasheed being a Dom. I think I can even handle it if he chooses to take on a sub. I may not find his total lifestyle a good fit for me personally, but I’d never stop him from being who he is. I wouldn’t want him to stop me from writing.” As she spoke, her sister nodded her head while they continued to work side by side tidying up the kitchen. “Oh girl, this man knows my books cover to cover! We’re actually going to be role playing some of the scenes—we just haven’t decided which ones. I’m calling him later tonight to finalize our plans.” Imani paused long enough to quirk a finely plucked brow, causing Ebony to titter.