Page 17 of Rowdy St. Nick

Parker

I’m amazed at the nonchalance of everyone here. “Play area” is a fitting name for what I’m looking at, what Tess just showed me. She walked around showing me ropes, chains, and “impact play” like it’s some everyday thing. I suppose it is for her. This is really what she does every night?

She’s back to assisting the couple on the swing. They’re not actively fucking but they might as well be. I don’t think actual intercourse is allowed on the main floor, but it seems like everything else goes. That appears to be what the dungeon master is there for.

I look up at her and see her diligently surveying the play areas. She has a whip in one hand and a leather mask that covers her whole face. How does she breathe in that thing? I wonder how itfeels to have leather covering my whole body, to hold a whip and know that if I crack it, the person in front of me gets wet with the anticipation of the leather licking their skin.

And that woman is Tess’s boss. I cannot imagine what it would be like to have a boss who dresses like that for work. But again, she’s used to it. This is her world, and I’m a spectator. For now.

The couple on the swing is still blindfolded. They’re grinding together with their middles in the fabric, their hands all over each other. I can see their legs on either side, the woman’s toes curling. She stretches her neck, and her partner’s tongue traces a path down her neck. I can see his fingertips moving up one of her sides on the open side of the fabric. She’s wearing a sort of bikini top.

As his fingers move up the side of her body and reach the band around the underside of her breasts, she cries out. His mouth covers hers then, and he slips his hands under the fabric of her bikini top. It’s in my eyeline so I can see it pretty easily, but I think it’s out of view of the dungeon master, like he’s skirting the rules only enough not to be kicked out.

Tess is there, watching the connection of the swing to the ceiling as they move. She walks over to the “impact play” area and observes the partners cracking whips at their subordinates. The sound makes me hard. The moaning all over the room makes me hard. I don’t want to draw more attention to myself, but I’m starting to wonder if anyone can see it through my pants. Would they care if they could?

And then there’s that cross. I keep picturing Tess stretched out on that cross, her legs spread for me to see everything. My mouth is practically watering with the idea. I wonder what the limits are to the public play areas? What are they doing in the back rooms if this is what they’re doing here? If I book time with Tess, is that like a date?

I spend my life outside, in the sun. This is actually late for me. I’m usually long past asleep, and I still have to be up in the morning, first thing. I shouldn’t be here. I look over at Tess again, and I can tell she sees the change in my attitude reflected somewhere on my face. What am I supposed to tell her?

Watching her is like watching the sunshine through clouds when a storm is ending. She is light. Everything about her radiates positivity. I must look like a walking shadow to her with the brim of my hat pulled down as I scuff my boots on the floor. What is wrong with me right now?

She’s heading back over to me, and I don’t know what to do. What the fuck am I supposed to say to her? This never happens to me. No woman has ever had this effect. What’s making her so special?

“Hey, you’re still here!”

She sounds like she’s actually happy to see me. Maybe I’m not as shadowy as I thought.

“Are you gonna try one of the play areas?”

I’m pretty sure my whole face turns red when she asks that. I’m like a fucking preteen in the hallway at junior high. I might as well hand her a note asking if she likes me or not.

“No, not tonight.” I clear my throat. “I have to leave, actually. I need to be up early.”

“Oh, right, ranch work. You get up with the sun, right?”

“Before.” He glances at me to see my reaction.

“Shit, you really do need to get home.”

“Exactly.”

“Okay, well, I hope to see you here again soon.”

She isn’t walking away, but I know that was basically a dismissal. What is she waiting for? Am I supposed to be the one to walk away? Fuck it. I’m shooting my shot.

“Would you like to get dinner with me tomorrow, Tess?”

This time she blushes. I didn’t know someone who does this for a living could blush for any reason.

“I can’t.” She speaks softly. “I have bookings all night tomorrow.”

“Oh, okay then.”

I turn to leave, but she stops me.

“Wait!” I turn back around. “I’m free Sunday night. Can you have dinner then?”

“Sure can. How about you put your number in my phone, and I’ll give you a call with the details.”

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