Page 10 of Relentless Pursuit

“I don’t know.”

“Then you shouldn’t have checked it off.”

“I was a little overwhelmed when I filled out that questionnaire.” She took a sip of her water. “I didn’t know it was going to be gospel.”

“You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into, do you?” Disappointment filled his core when she confirmed his suspicions. He’d hoped she would present a better argument for herself when he spoke to her one-on-one. But she was just as clueless as her paperwork had indicated. “What you’re looking for is much more intense than any research you may have done or any movie you may have watched. People who participate in BDSM take their lives and community very seriously. A ‘wanna be’ submissive has no place here. My clients are too busy and too demanding.”

“Stop mocking me. Would it have been better to go online myself and find my own Dom? Go into one of those chat rooms and take some guy’s word as truth without actually knowing his intentions? Meet him and have him kill me or do whatever he wanted to me?” She straightened her posture. “I thought coming here and having a reputable place help me find what I wanted was a better idea.”

“That’s the smartest thing you’ve said so far.” Maybe she did have potential.

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s not like you take me seriously.”

He reached across the table and trailed his fingers down her jaw and to her throat, noting that she trembled under his touch. “You’re going to treat me with more respect starting right now or this all stops,” he said in a low, calm tone, taking satisfaction in the way her pulse quickened beneath his fingers. “Certain men demand it.” He stroked her collarbone. “I happen to be one of those men.”

“Oh.” She swallowed hard. “I didn’t realize you...well, that’s what you’re into.”

“I’m into many things. Concepts you couldn’t possibly comprehend now.” Not yet, but maybe with the proper training...

“I want to learn.” Her eager expression unsettled him. “That’s why I’m here.”

“Then you’ll have to display some patience while we go through the process.” He cupped the side of her face in his hand, holding her head still as he gazed into her eyes. “Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, Mr. Anders.” No hesitation. No apprehension.Perfect.

* * *

The week had drawnon for Kayla. Julian, orMr. Anders, had requested that she take some time to think about her goals and what she hoped to gain from the relationship she’d sought out. He told her not to return until the following Friday. Blake’s assistant, Christine, had called Kayla on Wednesday and instructed her to arrive at six PM and wait in the same lounge where she had met with Julian the week before. Maybe they had found her a match. She was anxious about getting the process started and at least begin meeting men she wanted to spend her time with.

As she glanced around the room, she observed couples making small talk as they got to know one another. Were they nervous? Was this their first time? How many potential matches did they have to meet with until they found the right one? Was there such a thing as the right one? As she studied each couple, she tried to figure out who was in it for a relationship and who wanted straight-up sex.

“They’re hard to read, aren’t they?” Julian placed a glass of white wine in front of her before taking a seat and slipping his tablet out from underneath his arm. “I’ll be joining you this evening.”

Her palms dampened and her insides tightened. As much as she’d like to have said she was disappointed, she wasn’t. His attention thrilled her. Maybe he would even touch her again.

“Thank you for the wine.” She took a sip. “I was just people watching. Trying to figure out their stories.”

“It’s very mysterious here.” He looked around. “You never know who is in it for what reasons. One month, a person can be here because they want quick and no-strings, but the next time they come back, they want long-term. Or the other way around. We find many are looking for a release. A way to get away from the tension of real life.”

“Do you cater to a lot of fantasy relationships?” Connie had told her men who pay for the platinum package requested women who were open to anything.

“It’s split,” he said. “Blake has been successful in matching many long-term couples. A high percentage have gotten married to the person they met right here in this lounge. Others are looking for less of a commitment. The most important thing is that the couple is on the same page and there are no expectations that aren’t outlined from the beginning.”

“It sounds fail proof.”

“Nothing is perfect.”

“How many times have you tried it?” Connie had also told her that Julian dabbled quite often. “Were all of your encounters successful?”

“We’re here to learn about you.” He rattled his glass, the ice hitting the sides. “Have you thought more about your checklist? Are you ready to make revisions?”

“I thought about that this week.”

“Good.”

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