Page 39 of Prey for You

“It’s a kink,” I said bluntly. “She wants to feel overpowered. Dominated. But in a way that’s safe.”

“Safe? But you just told us that you and your prey were often injured in these interactions?”

“So are football players and we have entire stadiums showing up to watch. Humans are strange creatures,” I snapped.

My lawyer cleared his throat. He’d warned me that it was important to stay calm and unemotive, to portray all of this as something simple andfun.

“Ah, thekink.So this practice is sexual?”

“Often, yes.”

“Often? Usually? You seem reluctant to give me straight answers, Mister Priestley.”

“I’m not reluctant—but you aren’t asking the right questions.”

“Then please, enlighten me: How often—a rough percentage will do—does this practice lead to sexual contact?”

“Objection—calls for speculation.”

I stopped, heart beating hard, but everyone was waiting for me to answer. I swallowed hard. “Every woman who made an agreement with me had protocols in place for sexual contact,” I said calmly. “What was and was not allowed. What she liked.Firm boundaries—and areas in which she’d like to be challenged.”

“So, there was a script?”

I shook my head. “No scripts. No specific plans. Only boundaries and freedoms.”

“Then how would you know if you were doing what she wanted?”

“I always gave her alengthylist of activities I’d be happy to provide and we used a stoplight system—green lights were things she knew she liked and was happy to engage in. Yellow lights were places she was curious, but unsure, or things she was afraid of that she might become open to… challenge. Red lights were off-limits. Firm boundaries. Under no circumstances would I engage in redlight behavior with a client.”

“And every client was different—meaning, they had different practices or activities that they wanted, or that they refused?”

“Yes.”

“How did you keep them all straight? How could you be certain you remembered the details correctly?”

“I put a lot of work into this,” I said, biting back a smile because even though this guy was pissing me off, I had the distinct feeling that he wasjealous.His irritation and mock-shock in these questions were a little overplayed.

He got off on this idea.

“It seems like, in the heat of the moment—especially if there was no script or plan, it would be very easy to overstep a boundary, or remember one wrong.”

“Objection, counsel isn’t asking a question. Don’t answer that, Sam.”

I did smile then. And it was a fucking mistake.

14. Say it Slow for Those in the Back

~ SAM ~

“I’ll rephrase: Were there ever moments when you got it wrong, Mister Priestley? Or perhapschoseto push a boundary?”

“No.”

“Do I need to remind you that you’re under oath?” His eyes burned and it feltgoodbecause this asshole was a prick. “You were convicted of sexual assault, Sir.”

That deflated me like a pricked balloon. “I was a different man then. The activities we’re discussing occurredaftermy prison time.”

His eyes narrowed. But his aggravation was way too personal. He was aching to do what I did, and it showed.

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