Page 37 of Stained
“Actually?” Alicia didn’t know if that grin was facetious or serious. “One. The youngest daughter of a principality came knocking a few years ago. She would have lost her title marrying a commoner like me, but her family thought it worth it… my family has twice as much money as they do.”
“So a step down, huh?”
“As I said,” Danica leaned forward, drink dangling between her legs. “I don’t ‘date’ unless it’s with serious intent.”
“You have serious intent with me, huh?”
“I take my gut instincts seriously. If it says to give you a healthy chance, then I’m inclined to listen.”
She was on the verge of popping out the M word again. Already! “Unfortunately, I doubt your family would accept me, should it ever get that far. Sounds like they’re intent on marrying you to someone more on your social or at least financial level. I barely have an income. My debt is as much as you pay for your dock space rent.”
“That would be my father who cares that much.” Danica ignored the other things said. “Except he’s not the one getting married, is he? He never remarried after my mother, and thatwas a marriage of convenience arranged by their parents. They only met a handful of times before marrying.”
“Wow.” Things really were different at this level, considering Danica was born in, what, the mid-90s? “No wonder they got divorced.” Alicia bit her lip. “I mean… excuse me.”
“No excusing necessary. You’re not wrong.”
They sat in silence for more than a minute, Danica nursing her drink while in deep thought and Alicia staring at the blank TV before them.This woman is something else. She had brought up love at first sight and marriage so many times tonight that Alicia wondered if she actually had any solid handle on reality. No woman jumped right into the marriage talk unless she was unhinged…
Or really, really rich and pressured to marry as soon as possible. Danica was in her thirties. Surely, that’s when the pressure started? Especially as the only child in her family…
Danica put down her empty glass. “Let me cut to the chase, Ms. Colbert. I’m a woman who does things earnestly. I don’t know how to do things any other way. I like you. Something has drawn me to you not once, but three times. That tells me that you’re someone I should pay attention to. Perhaps a sign from the cosmos coming at the most opportune time. When something like that happens, I’m likely to listen. I didn’t mean to frighten you with talk of marriage or my sexual preferences.”
“Oh, please…” That alcohol made its way through Alicia’s system. “Like I couldn’t tell you were into stuff like that from the way you do it.”
Danica’s grin was certainly more earnest now. “A woman needs her outlets. When you live the life I lead, you hold in a lot.”
“So you take it out sexually.”
Danica leaned back, arm snaking behind her. “I take it out however I please. I’d rather channel that energy into sex than through unhealthier ways. I’ve watched too many of mycontemporaries fall to drugs and other illicit affairs. BDSM is tame by comparison. And legal.”
“Uh-huh.” Alicia steeled herself. “Let me guess. If I were to keep dating you…”
“It would be brought up sooner rather than later, yes.” Danica gestured to the door. “You are free to leave whenever you want, though. But I would implore you, unless you already know for sure that you do not wish to partake, that you at least give it a try. You were so responsive in our other encounters that I couldn’t help but think you were either a natural submissive or at least inclined to the role.”
“I’m not submissive,” Alicia was quick to say. “Not like that.”
“No. You’re not, are you?” Danica’s fingers danced upon her shoulder. Alicia moved a hand over hers, both stilling Danica and encouraging her to continue.Don’t make me do it. Don’t make me fall for you yet again.“You could become more than you already are. It’s all right if you weren’t born knowing you could thrive in the role. Many women don’t realize how powerful it is to consent to a lifestyle like that.”
“Lifestyle…” So it was like that. Danica wasn’t just talking about some spanking and other play when they were having sex. She wanted the kind of package Alicia had seen a dozen times over her one night at Midnight. “You want to make me your permanent, submissive toy?”
“Toy? Please. I don’t consider women toys. The perfect submissive would be my eternal partner. It’s about balance. We would check each other. You would keep me in line like I would keep you in line.”
“You’re making such a great argument here…”
“It’s all right if you don’t understand yet. We could discuss that later.”
“I’m not even sure I want to think about it now.”
“Then, please…” She was so close, so intrusive in the way she wrapped her arm tightly around Alicia’s shoulders and breathed her alcohol-laden breath into her ear. “Let me show you how exquisite it can be.”
Tingles spread through Alicia’s body. Between Danica’s firm touch, the feel of her breath, and the deepening tone of her voice… Alicia was a goner if she didn’t get her shit together. “I told you,” she whispered. “No hinky stuff.” Before she could say something, she continued, “You may be rip-roaring to whip and chain me, Ms. Moreau, but I’m not ready for something like that.” She decided to throw the smallest bone. “Yet.”
“I told you that you don’t have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.” Danica nuzzled Alicia’s cheek. “I think you might be surprised by what you’re into once you get going. We can take it slow. I have all the time in the world tonight.”
Alicia repressed a girlish smile.God, I am such a virgin.She may not be new to relationships, but she was new to ones that incorporated such heated sex in them. “Are you taking requests, Ms. Moreau?”
“Please, Ms. Colbert.” Her lips traced the underside of Alicia’s ear. “I’ve told you a hundred times to call me anything but that.” Teeth nipped her cartilage. “But yes, what is it?”
