Page 27 of Indiscreet

CHAPTER SEVEN

I lay down on my bed after Elliott left, thinking about Dane. We’d agreed to have me come over after six. I was sure now that it wasn’t just my long dry spell that had me doing things I wouldn’t normally have done before. Something about the way the two of them guided me, the way Dane took control…it got to me. It was under his direction and control that Elliott had touched me again, and the sinfulness of him listening in and watching had intensified the orgasm to combustion. I was captivated, even though I barely knew Dane. The little I did know showed he operated well beyond my experience sexually. Nevertheless, I couldn’t suppress the growing excitement within at what sex would be like between us. I had little doubt I’d find it satisfying, but would he with me?

A man connected to a mysterious matchmaking service who hosted orgies in his home must have seen and done more than I could ever imagine. If that wasn’t enough to worry about, there was the possibility that he was still involved with someone. He had said the woman he was with was gone, but did gone mean forever?

Evidently, he wasn’t willing to share more than his body, but did I need to know everything if we weren’t going to date? I couldn’t anyway right now, so did it matter? Maybe I was making excuses because I wanted him for a fling, not just a one-night stand. After some more cleaning and a short nap, I awoke with the same worrying thoughts and even considered calling off my plans with Dane. My thoughts were interrupted by the buzzing of an incoming text. It was Liz, and my stomach instantly sank. I had completely forgotten about her.

Liz: I’m worried about you. Did Elliott leave?

I was perplexed by her message. In all the time I’d known Liz, she’d never behaved like a nagging mom, so I didn’t understand why she was being so pushy about Elliott. Was she into Elliott herself? I would ask them both about it later, but for now I tried to ease her mind and wrote back.

Gia: He did. Stop worrying. Everything is fine. What about you?

Liz: It’s too late for me.

I rubbed my neck to pat down the hairs that had risen there. She wasn’t one for dramatics either, but new relationships could take you on a bit of a rollercoaster ride. Still, her message unnerved me.

Gia: What do you mean? You’re kind of freaking me out over here. Did you and Marco break up?

I pressed send, but I was also considering calling her to talk.

Liz: Sorry about that last message. Let’s have lunch when I return from San Francisco.

I called her anyway, but she didn’t pick up. I thought perhaps time away was what she needed. I called Astrid to see what she thought of Liz’s odd message, and to calm my nerves. Once Astrid got past me not sharing with her about seeing Liz with her boyfriend, she was ready to offer her advice.

“Liz sounds a bit dramatic, but new relationships can be like that. Liz is smart. If she wants to move on, she will, but when she’s ready.”

I chewed on my lip. “That was what I thought too. I’ll just ask her to meet up when she gets back from her trip.”

“Me too,” Astrid said. “I don’t like being left out of the loop. Since I have you on the phone, would you like to come over and hang out? I can get Tim to watch Jacob. We’re not leaving to go to his parents’ until tomorrow night.”

“I can’t tonight. I have plans,” I said in as casual a tone as I could muster.

“Oh, you do. With who?” she asked, and I smiled at the delight in her tone.

“It’s someone from the mixer, but it’s not a date or anything big,” I replied. Except we are planning to have sex. I decided to keep that part to myself.

“Why are you being mysterious? You can tell me something, at least who it is,” she prodded.

“It’s Dane, the host of the mixer,” I told her. “But before you get excited, it’s nothing serious. He’s not really…interested in dating. We’re just staying in at his place.”

“Ohhh,” she said, slowly getting what I meant without me having to spell out that we were just getting together for sex. “Well, good for you. I hope the sex is good.”

“Me too,” I said as I touched my warm cheeks. “I better go get ready.”

“Have fun,” she said, and we laughed. “Seriously, you do whatever feels right for you.”

“Thank you,” I said then hung up. It was good to share some of what was going on with Astrid, but I didn’t want to share everything since I didn’t really know much about it myself.

I went and changed into a nice black lace bra and underwear set. I dressed in a black crepe wraparound dress with thigh-highs and heeled boots. It was suitable for a night out, though Dane hadn’t made plans other than sex. Even so, I quickly put on my coat and left the house, not lingering, lest my nerves get the better of me.

***

Dane answered the door when I rang the doorbell. Somehow, I managed to keep my cool, though his silvery gaze burned into me with such a dauntless, salacious scrutiny. I was sure he had me naked in his mind already. He wet his lips then curved them up into a bright smile that shined through the dusting of stubble on his jaw. His appeal was devastating, and a deep shudder coursed through me at knowing I’d soon know him carnally. My thoughts heightened my nerves, and I trembled. Dane closed the distance between us as he placed his arms firmly around my waist.

“Try to relax for me. Nothing will harm you, I promise,” he whispered soothingly. He didn’t break our connection right away, and I remained in his arms as he rubbed my back, enjoying the way he held me close. His arms were warm and comforting, and I found the tension in my body start to release, though my pulse remained erratic in anticipation of what would come next between us.

I took a deep breath in, and with it came the tantalizing scent of his aftershave. Everything about this man was seductive.

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