Page 4 of Good Girl

3

Cadence

It’s not the worst date I’ve been on, but definitely not the best either.

I pretend to listen to Malcolm as he drones on about his patients at the hospital. I wonder if he’s somehow breaking doctor-patient confidentiality by being so forth-coming with their information. I’m offended on their behalf. Some pompous asshole is telling me about the grapefruit-sized tumour he found in some woman’s colon and her stupidity at not seeking medical attention sooner.

I want to yell at him, tell him maybe she was embarrassed when the bathroom issues started coming up, that we aren’t all medical practitioners and will have a tendency to write off the obvious symptoms as something else. Instead I keep my lips sealed. Arguing with this man will only encourage him to argue back and he’s not worth it. I never intend to see him again.

We wrap things up and pay our separate bills. I’m ready to walk away from this date forever when Malcolm suggests we go back to his place. I want to decline, but Vin’s final words are ringing through my head, “Don’t touch him,” making me feel defiant.

“I’ll follow you,” I murmur, sliding into my white Chevy Cruz.

I berate myself on the way over. Vin won’t even know I’m defying him. He’s probably searching for a new sub while I’m on this miserable date. I nearly change my mind and drive home instead, but politeness wins out. I need to at least tell my date I’ve changed my mind. As he pulls into his driveway and I park out front of his house I decide one drink won’t hurt and follow him in.

“What will you take?” Malcolm asks, pulling his jacket off.

“Wine, if you have it. Red please.” I peek around his place as he pours. His home is very sparse. A couch in the living room, no TV. A dead plant. A shelf full of medical books and several certificates on his wall. I wonder why he doesn’t have a formal office somewhere for his certificates. Then I shrug the thought away. I don’t actually care enough to ask.

I take the glass he holds out to me and murmur my thanks. We sit on the couch and stare awkwardly at his lack of furnishings. I might be a little more worried about his lack of connection to his home, worry that he’s some kind of serial killer, except I’m pretty sure this is just a doctor thing. He probably lives at the hospital most days.

I’m about to say something completely inane to spark a conversation when he reaches out and grabs my face. I flinch against his touch and frown, about to tell him off when he leans in for a kiss. My body goes hot and cold and it’s everything I can do not to drop my wine and smack the shit out of this man. I have to remind myself that he isn’t into kink, he doesn’t know we’re supposed to negotiate these things. And that I don’t kiss.

Instead, I force myself to relax, remember this is a real date, and allow him to run his soft lips over mine. He probes a little with his tongue, requesting access. I open my mouth to him, giving him what he wants, Vin’s warning hot in my ears. I need to do this. I need to move on and the best way for me to do that is to go out and have a good fuck. Something utterly mind-blowing. Something that’ll make Vin look weak in comparison.

But that isn’t this guy. His tongue in my mouth feels rubbery and foreign. It’s not even really wet, which strikes me as odd since people’s mouths are inherently wet. I think he should get this dry mouth thing checked out in case he has a medical condition. I laugh into his mouth at that thought and he backs away, frowning.

I put my glass on the coffee table and stand. Malcolm stands with me, still frowning. He reaches for me, but I step away. “I need to go,” I say firmly, reaching for my purse and jacket.

“Are you sure? I’d love for you to stay, Cadence.” His voice is smooth and though he tries to conceal it, I can see the lust in his expression.

I briefly consider staying, giving him what he wants. Using Malcolm to get over Vin. But I know it won’t work. Malcolm is going to be just as bad in bed as he is at kissing, unless he has a hidden kinky side I haven’t seen. I eye him. No, I just don’t see this guy as a hair-pulling, bottom-spanking, Dominant. He’s just not going to do it for me.

“I’m sorry, Malcolm, I really need to go. Thank you for a lovely evening.”

He walks me to the door, holds it open and kisses my cheek good-bye. “I’ll call you later in the week.” The way he says it, the statement almost sounds like a question.

I sigh, turn slightly toward him, but still poised to leave. “I don’t think there’s any point. I’m not interested in seeing you again.”

His face falls and I feel a little bad. “Are you sure? I thought we were having a nice time.”

“I’m positive. Have a good night, Malcolm.”

I turn and walk away, leaving him on his porch, staring after me, his expression somewhere between crestfallen and surprised. He’s probably not used to such blunt speaking in the arena of dating. But, while I may be a submissive in the bedroom, I am extremely confident in every other avenue of my life. I won’t redo a bad date. I won’t pity fuck a guy. And I won’t stay in a pointless conversation longer than absolutely necessary.

My heels tap decisively against the pavement as I walk swiftly to my car. It’s now fully dark out. I don’t feel unsafe though. Malcolm lives in a good neighborhood with lots of streetlights. My place is a fifteen-minute drive from here. I slip into the driver’s seat of my car and allow a sigh of relief. I should’ve known this wasn’t going to work. It’s going to take a hell of a lot more than Doctor Drivel to wake up my libido and toss Vin from my memories.

The thought of Vin saddens me and I have to choke back a sob. I smack my hand impatiently on the steering wheel. “It’s not like we were even in a relationship, for fucks sakes!” I growl. He was just my Dom. My first real one. The one who trained me. Who showed me how good I could feel through his guidance.

Then I realize what I need to do. I need to find a new Dom. Someone capable of taking me on the highs I need when subbing for someone. Someone who knows Vin’s tricks, and maybe some new ones too, but isn’t anything like my first Dominant. Excitement blossoms in my chest and my tears are forgotten as I contemplate finding a new Dom. Finding Vin wasn’t too difficult. I had to weed through a lot of assholes who just wanted to get their dicks wet first. But when Vin approached me, I knew he was different. He commented on my profile, said something funny that made me laugh out loud. I responded to him and we went from there. We chatted for days, rarely touching on the lifestyle. Instead, getting to know each other’s minds. It was such a new experience for me, to find someone online that I actually liked. I’d fallen a little in love during those first few days.

By the time I reach my home, I’m feeling much better. Actually looking forward to the idea of vetting a new Dom. I have to let Vin go and I think this is how I’m going to do it. I park my car in the garage and let myself in the side door. I trip over a suitcase sitting in the entryway.

“What the f…?” I didn’t pack my suitcase and I certainly didn’t place anything in the doorway. I reach blindly for the light, smacking it with my palm. Nothing happens.

My heart starts tripping in fear. What the hell is going on? I grope around and almost trip again when I discover several more items on the floor. I bend and touch them, squinting in the dim light coming through the window from the street. Boxes. Maybe six of them. Lined up in order next to the door leading into the garage.

Someone’s been in my house! I back up against the wall, thinking frantically. They could still be in my house!

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