Page 8 of Dark Bonds

“So latex, leather, or teeny tiny something. Got it!” I winked.

“Funny… and mostly true. Now that we’ve got that settled, it’s time for some vanilla shit. Where do you work?”

“I’m a proofreader. I work for myself, so I’m lucky enough to be able to work from home. It saves me from the sheer amount of stupidity I’d find working for someone else.”

“I hear you there. I wish I didn’t have to work with people, but you can’t really be a dance instructor by yourself.”

“You have two jobs? Is being an over-achiever a pre-requisite of working at the club?” I laughed. “What kind of dance do you teach? My parents tried to put me in dance classes when I was younger, but I wasn’t any good.”

“You can’t be that bad if you danced for hours last night,” she laughed.

“Grinding with someone on a crowded dance floor is hardly the same thing.”

“I beg to differ. I teach all kinds of dance to all ages. I love not having to choose just one kind of dance. It keeps things interesting.”

“I totally get it. That’s why I don’t just proofread one specific genre. I started out doing technical proofreading but it bored me half to death. Now I do fiction and it’s much more interesting.”

“That may well be, but you must still have a favorite,” she smirked.

“Yeah, you’re right. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like a steamy erotic book, especially when my date ends up pretentious like fucking Tad.”

“Honestly, Leah, would you have expected anything different? I mean, I assume you knew his name before you agreed to the date.”

“Live and learn,” I giggled. “Are you dating anyone?”

“Me?” she scoffed. “I’m happy with my subs. I don’t need a date. I have favorites, of course, but on any given night at the club, there are unattached Doms/Dommes and subs. Those are the ones I tend to scene with. My room is saved for my favorites.”

“How come?”

“Because I fuck my faves and I can’t very well do that out in the club and be an effective assistant manager. Doing scenes, though, works well for both me and the club. I get the enjoyment of doing it and the club gets someone who knows what they’re doing to draw the crowd.”

“I’m kind of wishing I was a guy right now.”

“Umm, why?”

“I guess because it would be nice to have someone I know to play with.”

“Honey, what makes you think all my subs are men?” she asked, brow arched.

“Well, shit. I have no idea why I made that assumption,” I said, my cheeks heating.

“You’ll still come tonight? I’d love for you to see the club on a normal night.”

“I’m in. What time?”

“I’ll meet you outside the club at 7 p.m. Make sure you dress sexy!”

“Like there’s any other way?” I laughed. “In all seriousness, thanks so much for this, Sasha.”

“Don’t even mention it. I’ll see you tonight. Oh, one other thing. Phones aren’t allowed in the club, so plan to either leave yours at home or you can stow it with my shit.”

“Huh? Why aren’t they allowed?”

“Would you want a picture of you in the club floating around?”

“Gotcha, makes sense. Okay, I’ll see you tonight.”

“Oh, just in case you didn’t notice it coming in last night, there’s a free coat check at the interest. It comes in handy when the weather or choice of wardrobe requires a coat.”

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