Page 67 of Foreplay on Words

Walking slightly behind Chase, I followed along as she tugged me toward Emory’s photography studio. It was located at the edge of a trendy warehouse district that appeared to be a pivotal part of the local art scene.

My palm was slipping against hers as my anxiety started amping up. I was trying to practice my breathing techniques, but it was increasingly difficult.

“Well, we’re kind of going as a group. Emory, his partner, and sub, Talia; Nathan’s label is a switch and his current sub.”

I’d read up a little bit online about the various kinds of people involved in BDSM. Tops were Dominants, bottoms were submissive, and switch described someone who did both. But it didn’t always have to be something sexual. Some subs were service subs, and others liked different fetishes. It was a lot of information to absorb at once, but I was trying.

“Like I told you before, Em flirts with everyone. He doesn’t mean any of it unless it’s aimed at Talia. Please don’t freak out on me again. I promise it’s all platonic innuendo.”

I nodded, kissing the side of her head. Normally, I would tease her about the oxymoron tacked onto the end of her statement, but I wasn’t sure I could talk past the lump in my throat. While I’d initially been a jealous, territorial asshole, I knew Chase wouldn’t lie to me about the nature of their relationship.

“You still with me?” she asked as she looked back, smiling nervously.

“I’m trying to be,” I replied honestly. This was way out of my comfort zone, but it was important to her. It was important to us.

“I know you are, baby,” she smiled as she pulled the door open to the gallery on the street side of his studio. “I honestly didn’t even think I’d get you out of Connecticut. So the fact you’re here tonight is almost a miracle.”

Following her past the empty desk and through a curtain at the back of the room, I tried to calm my breathing. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but it looked like a regular studio. Lights and backdrops were set up throughout the large open space.

“We’re here,” Chase called out as the door closed.

A feminine squeal came through a door at the back of the studio. “Back here, Chase!”

She tugged me with her toward the door. I was imagining all kinds of things on our way across the room. Red walls, sex swings, whips, and chains. The reality was not what I was expecting. Neither were the occupants of the room.

Perched on the edge of the leather bed were a pale, lean-muscled, dark-haired man and an equally pale, petite, blonde woman. She had a leather choker and an off-the-shoulder minidress with a leather band along the top. He was dressed casually in dark wash jeans, a black T-shirt, and a black leather jacket with tattoos covering his forearms.

In the back corner was a tall, olive-skinned man with messy black hair and a neatly trimmed beard leaning against the metal grates mounted to the wall. The woman beside him had darker skin and gorgeous, shiny, dark hair pulled into a tight bun. She had on a beaded crop top and a dark skin-tight skirt. He wore a dark red suit, and his eyes lit up as Chase and I entered the room.

“Chase! I was beginning to think you’d chickened out on us,” he greeted us as he stepped forward.

“Are you kidding? I love people-watching at these things. I wouldn’t miss it.”

How many of these had she been to?

“I told him you were probably running late, as usual,” the woman to his side responded. I assumed this had to be Emory and Talia. He had a definite air of dominating energy.

“You show up late to a flogging once and you never live it down.” Chase rolled her eyes as she glanced at me out of the corner of her eye.

They all laughed, and then the dark-haired man crossed the room and hugged Chase, lifting her off her feet. “It’s good to see you.”

He kissed her cheek and then stepped in front of me. We were about the same height, but he had broader shoulders.

“Do you want me to call you Evan or Stone?”

He held out his hand to me, and I cautiously shook it.

“Uh––I don’t know. Whatever you want, I guess...” I responded nervously.

“He’s adorable, Chase. Is he normally this skittish?” he asked, smiling at her.

“Yes,” she laughed as she slid her arm inside my jacket and hugged me to her side.

“We’re going to be in trouble with him tonight,” Talia laughed. My eyebrows rose as she slowly ran her gaze from my shoes up to my head, giving me a look of scrutiny.

“Fresh meat.” The blonde giggled as she winked at me.

“Don’t let them scare you, man. It’ll be fine,” the other man said as he rolled his eyes at his three companions.

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