by Alice Moore
“Is this your first time at an event like this?” Nodding, I licked my lips while my fingers tingled with nerves, and the man hummed softly. “If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.”
“How long have you been coming to these things?” Before answering my question the man slid his palm along mine to lead me away from my little, protected hovel. Following him deeper into the house on stiff legs, I gnawed on my bottom lip as we weaved through the crowd. Wandering from the living room to the dining room, my nerves skyrocketed at the rows of chairs that replaced where a table should’ve been.
“Almost eleven years. What can I call you, if you don’t mind my asking?” Taking the very last chair in the very last row, I clasped my hands together as the man sat backwards directly in front of me. Resting his chin on his hands, his sheer comfort helped ease the tension in my shoulders, and I shook my head.
“I don’t know?” Warm eyes narrowed on me, and everywhere they looked goosebumps welled up on my skin. Grinding my teeth, my chest tightened with each passing beat of my heart. Leaning in close, he took a deep breath, his eyelids fluttering and lips thinning.
“You smell like peanut butter and chocolate. How about Peaco?” My mouth moved, silently rolling the nickname over my tongue, and my smile was all the answer he needed. Rocking back, he reached to rub his hand through his wavy, dark brown hair before speaking up. “Peaco. I like that a lot…”
The man trailed off, his eyes flickering to the entryway behind me, and I twisted to find what had stolen his attention. A woman in a red mask leaned elegantly on the door frame, and I scanned her tall, shapeless form. Even her floor length sun dress couldn’t give her any curves; she almost looked unhealthily skinny.
I should ask her to come by my bakery. She could use it. The thought tugged down the corners of my lips, and I tore my gaze off her just as the man before me lifted himself to his feet.
“I’ll be right back.” Sauntering away, he spared me no glance as a sour taste spread across my tongue. When I looked over my shoulder they were both gone, and I released a sigh filled with annoyance.
“Great… This was a mistake.” Standing up, I grumbled to myself and clutched my purse to my chest. “Shitty, shitty idea.”
Irritation hardened my footfall as I left the dining room and made my way through the crowded living room. Inching around a pale cream, leather couch, I narrowed my eyes on the only barrier between this disaster and my freedom. My bee line was swift, and I reached for the handle only to pause. Against my skull my inner voices argued, drowning out the music that pumped softly through the house.
Don’t be a quitter. Especially over a guy like that. Squeezing the door handle, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as that voice became the loudest. When did a man stop me from doing anything?
“Don’t be a little bitch…” Slowly releasing the brass handle, my whisper was filled with conviction that slowly beat back the scorn in my heart. “Fuck that guy. I’ll at least stay for the general seminar.”
“Do you always talk to yourself?” Déjà vu hit me hard, and I jumped at the voice that sounded behind me. A warm, hard body stopped me from turning, trapping me face first against the door. My heart pounded against the wood so hard I was afraid it’d make a dent, and I squeezed my eyes shut as stiffness invaded my muscles. “Because if you do, just know that it’s sexy as all Hell.”
“L- let me go.” Grinding out my demand, I silently cursed the weakness in my voice. Slowly pulling my hair over my shoulder, the man dipped his nose into the crook of my neck. Sucking in air with a whistle, I clenched my hands into fists even as his fingers wrapped around them to pull them up on either side of my head.
“What if I don’t want to? What if you don’t want me to? I saw you in the dining room, and I wanted to know if you really do smell like peanut butter…” Gasping lightly, I bit down on my bottom lip as heat flushed my cheeks, and chapped lips curved against my neck. “I’m so glad you do. I love peanut butter.”
“Now that you know, will you let me go, please?” My voice was a little steadier, and the man lifted his head to press a chaste kiss to my cheek.
“Of course I will, Peaco. Before I go, I just want you to know that you have a glorious ass, and that is also something I find incredibly attractive. You should be more aware- that man you were with wasn’t one of the good ones… although I’m sure you figured it out already.” Blood rushed to my face at his compliment, mixing with mortification that he’d witnessed my blunder. The man made no move to let me go, and I shivered lightly as he kissed the pulse point in my neck. “I knew you were that kind of sub. Not having a choice makes it easier to think. You can say ‘no’, but that would mean you’d have to go back to dealing with all of those things you don’t want to deal with, right?”
Gulping down the lump in my throat, I nodded slowly without thought. Against my back the man’s heart was steady, strong, and it carefully brought my own back into rhythm as he nosed the crook of my shoulder. Tiny, weak voices protested, wanting me to tell this stranger to let go of me.
But I couldn’t, and he shuffled closer to sandwich me against the door.
“You can call me Nash…” Taking a deep breath, Nash groaned softly and tightened his grip on my fists. “Fuck. Your smell- I wonder if you taste like peanut butter… You’re going to stay with me, and at the end of the night I promise you- I’ll find out just how delicious you are.”
Chapter Three:Natalie
Leaning back in my chair, I pursed my lips together while my mind rushed to process everything I had just seen and heard. My gaze was glued to the woman only a few rows in front of me, following the lines of rope that bound her. She looked perfectly content, her vibrant, yellow hair held back from her face. Her hands were bound before her, and I rubbed my palms together as my chest tightened.
“What do you think?” Tearing my eyes off her, my nervous smile was all Nash needed before he nodded firmly. His mask was different from the others, only covering half his face.
His was the only one that was gold, creating the perfect scape to highlight his dark eyes.
“I- I don’t think I would go too far… but-“ Trailing off, I let out a shaky laugh as discomfort swarmed my chest. “I don’t know. There’s a lot of things that I don’t seem to know when it comes to this.”
“That’s perfectly okay, Peaco. There’s no shame in learning.” Draping his arm across the back of my chair, Nash tugged gently on my hair before opening his mouth. The quiet conversation of others did nothing to drown out his voice, but I still leaned closer to listen. “I don’t find tying you up attractive. It’s not part of my kink. I learned very early on that no two people’s preferences are the same, though they may be similar.”
“So, what is your… kink…?” Red flushed my cheeks as I stumbled over the word, still getting used to such casual language. Sighing, Nash lifted his shoulder in a half shrug before slouching slightly.
“I enjoy using my hands. I want to feel your pulse racing without having to shuffle around rope of handcuffs. Compared to some, I’m fairly docile in that respect. Truthfully, though, the sex is secondary to what really boils my blood.” Stiffening as his lips caressed my ear, my breath caught in my throat at the warm air that tickled my skin. His tongue sneaked out to drag along the crest, and his tone was lower, rougher, when he spoke up again. “I like slaves. I like to take women like you that have the weight of their world on them and break them down to the core. Women that aren’t used to being ordered around but want it. Women that would never be caught dead in public being told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. I want you to learn to trust that I would never make you do something that goes against who you believe is yourself. And then, I want you to submit to me knowing that no one will ever be able to shake that belief.”
My pupils widened at that, and shivers raced down my spine even as Nash took my chin in his free hand. His face was so close; his breath racing down my nose and flecks of gold shining from his e
yes. Holding my breath, I opened my mouth only to close it again until he smiled in understanding.
“The goals of a master and a slave aren’t physical pleasure, Pe-“
“Natalie-“ Cutting Nash off with a whisper, I gulped down the lump in my throat and clutched my bag tighter. “My name is Natalie.”
Goosebumps washed my arms and chest, and Nash spread his fingers along my jaw. His mouth moved, silently rehearsing my name in the intense silence I had created. God- I’m an idiot. Why did I tell him my name?
“Natalie… very pretty. I am more than happy to have you naked and thrashing underneath me- but there’s more to this life than that. This is about trust, respect, and giving. It’s a real relationship.” Every ounce of blood in my body rushed to my head, and he gave me a shit eating grin before releasing my face. My skin tingled where he’d touched, and I leaned back into my seat with a big sigh.
“I- I haven’t been in a relationship in a while. I’ve been so busy… I don’t even know where to start.” Nibbling my lips, I stared at my lap until Nash stood up in my peripheral. Holding out his hand, he waited patiently as the weight of the situation settled on my shoulders. My gaze narrowed on the rumples in the old, used faux leather of my purse, and I furrowed my brows. His fingertips sat on the edge of my field of vision, outstretched and speaking louder than anything else.
This- this is where to start. I heard it clearly, tantalizing and sweet, and I carefully released my bag to reach for his palm. Nash didn’t immediately wrap his fingers around mine, waiting until my smaller hand was firmly above his. My heart pounded against my ribs, blood rushing in my ears to drown out the sounds and conversations around us.
Leading me out of the dining room and a staircase at the back of the kitchen, Nash didn’t rush me even as a sense of urgency swathed my body. Ascending to the second story of the house, I followed in a blur of creams and light browns that coated the tunnel like hallway. Softly knocking on a closed door, he pushed open the barrier when no one sounded in protest to tug me inside.
Alone, I clutched my bag to my chest as Nash’s height and build really became apparent. At least 6 feet tall, his form was clothed in a dark gray, silk shirt and black dress pants that seemed tailored. He didn’t give me much time to ogle him, carefully taking my bag to set it on the floor at the end of a bed I hadn’t even noticed.
“Sit on the bed.” Blinking at the commanding undertone in Nash’s voice, I tensed and ground my molars together. The surge of defiance that swept through me was quelled by the expectant glint in his eyes, and I slowly climbed onto the bed to sit in the middle. My low heels threatened to puncture the dark green duvet, but before I could reach for them his hands were there.
“Ehm- so… why is everyone else wearing red masks and you’re wearing a gold one?” Posing my question, I bit my lip when Nash dragged his fingers along my ankle and down my foot. The sensation flexed my toes, and a shiver lodged between my shoulder blades. Heat slithered up my leg, and I closed my eyes to fend off the almost unnoticeable pulse from my abdomen.
Stop that, idiot. It’s been a while, but you don’t fuck on the first date. This isn’t even a date. What are you doing? Silently berating myself, I took a breath before opening my eyes to find Nash’s on my face, a slight smile tilting his mouth.
“They’re simply preferential, Natalie. Red is uniform for experienced doms and subs, but it’s not mandatory. When was the last time someone pleasured you? I can’t imagine you’re that responsive, right?” Mortification flushed my cheeks, and I shook my head a little too hard. Removing my shoes, Nash chuckled lightly as he set them on the floor to climb up next to me. The bed was large enough that we could sit side by side, and I crossed my legs before willing my tongue to work.
“It’s been… a while. Like I said, I’ve been really busy.” I didn’t go into details, and Nash didn’t press for more information. My mind wandered back to the last time I’d even looked in a man’s direction; the memory twisted my face in distaste. “After I broke up with my last boyfriend, I kind of put guys on hold. We were together for a year, but it just wasn’t something I wanted to sustain anymore.”
“I see. With my kind of kink, ‘boyfriend’ and ‘girlfriend’ are relative terms. It’s very difficult to find someone that understands the difference between what I want and what they perceive as a relationship. Most of the time, they end up believing there’s something more when I made it very clear I wasn’t looking for that.” Humming softly, I ducked my head in a nod as my mind churned. Our situations were so opposite; Nash wanted a specific kind of relationship while I just wanted something.
Or, at least, I did before I started my bakery. But now there’s no time for men…
“Why me?” Posing my question into the ensuing silence, I tilted my head to look at Nash. His expression turned thoughtful, and I held my breath until he opened his mouth.
“If you’re in this long enough you can sense it- the person that can fulfill your kink. I’ve spent 8 years sifting through what I don’t want in a woman… I was going to approach you, but Judas got to you first. I knew that asshole would do something to turn you off, so I just had to wait.” A frown overtook Nash’s face, and my own twisted in disgust before he continued. “He calls himself that because Judas was the disciple that betrayed Jesus, and he thinks of himself as a rebel. He doesn’t care about his partner- he just wants to choke you. That’s why he left you. He found a more attractive neck.”
“That’s… that’s messed up… on so many levels.” Reaching to touch my neck, I cringed at the idea of someone’s hands wrapped around me. A solid arm slithered along my back, and Nash squeezed me lightly with a soft sigh. Goosebumps washed my chest, and my breath caught in my tight throat when he rubbed soothing circles along my shoulder blades.
“Yes, but unfortunately it’s not uncommon, Natalie. Do you have any other questions for me?” My brows came together, and I closed my eye to collect my thoughts. I’d dodged a major bullet; there was no doubt about that. Pushing the scenarios from my mind’s eye, I took a deep, stabilizing breath only to let it out in a huff.
“You said sex was only secondary, so what are we going to do up here? I can’t really wrap my head around this.” Nash’s gaze bored into the side of my face, and after a moment or two he pulled me down onto my back to hold me to his side. Cupping my cheek, he forced me to look at him as my heart started to thud harder. His expression was so intense, and I pursed my lips together before he opened his mouth.
“I also said I wanted you underneath me. Make no mistake- sex is important. It’s just not as important for me as your obedience. Are you on birth control?” Nodding, I shivered when Nash ran his fingertips sensually down my spine, a soft gasp filling what little space was between us. His words were low, a mere mumble, and his nose bumped mine to coax my eyelids shut. Holding my breath, my mind went blank as desire coiled in my abdomen.
He could play me like a fiddle, and we’d only known each other for half an hour.
“Good. You’re nervous- alert. I want to spend a relaxing night with you in this bed, Natalie, and to do that I’ll need to tire you out.” His lips brushed mine when he spoke, and I whimpered pathetically. Taking Nash’s face in my palms, I kissed him fully before he tightened his grip on me. Nudging his knee between my thighs, his acceptance sent a rush of heat to my core. Moaning softly as he pressed the fabric of my panties against my folds, I did nothing to stop his tongue plunging behind my teeth.
Our kiss deepened, and with each gyrating motion of his leg my body temperature increased. I gave no thought to the fact that this was so out of character; Hell, being at this event was something I never thought I’d do. Slipping my fingers up into his hair, goosebumps washed my arms when my hands brushed heavily over the thin ribbon that held his mask on.
Rolling on top of me, Nash pushed my legs apart to grind his thigh against my apex. Grabbing one of my wrists, he trapped my arm above my head with a groan that set fire to the embers inside me. My
right arm fell before he could take it, and I tilted my hips up before tearing my mouth from his. Panting hard, I clenched my jaw tightly as he peppered hot kisses down my neck.
“Fuck- you smell ready… It really has been too long, Natalie?” My loud moan bounced off the walls in answer, and I arched my back when Nash sucked gently on my collar bone. “I bet you’re already wet for me…”
Unbuttoning my blouse with practiced movements, Nash inhaled sharply to suck the warmth from my chest. Against the light green lace of my bra my nipples hardened, tightening into peaks that ached for his attention when he hadn’t done more than look. Harsh pants filled the room, and his palms slid heavily down my arms to peel back the cups.
A split second of insecurity washed over me, a memory breaking through the red haze in my mind. My hands moved automatically to cover myself, but Nash was faster. Jerking my wrists back above my head, he grabbed my chin to squeeze. Forcing my eyes open, they widened at the fierceness that met them, and my heart jumped into my throat.
“Don’t cover yourself. You’re beautiful no matter what anyone says. Repeat it- ‘I’m beautiful no matter what anyone says’.” Leaning up to my face, Nash bore his weight down on me as he hot breath flowed across my cheek. Cotton coated my tongue, and I opened my mouth only to produce silence. “… You don’t need anyone to validate you, Natalie. Just say it…”
“I- I’m beautiful…” Rasping, a gasp tore from my dry throat when he released my face to palm my breast. “-n- no matter… what anyone says.”
“Good girl.” Murmuring softly, Nash gave me a chaste kiss before tweaking my pebbled nipple. Leaving my face, he gripped my breast to lick the peak heavily. Arching into his mouth, my silent plea didn’t go unnoticed before he started to nibble and suckle.