So, he did recognize her. Not only that, he remembered her. “It was a play party. But I didn’t really play. The guy I was starting to see didn’t think I was ready.”
His forehead wrinkled. “You weren’t ready?”
“Yeah.” She sighed. “I think I’ve gone about all of this backwards. I wish I had found this place much sooner. The people here are way nicer, and the classes have been helpful.”
His expression relaxed, and his smile warmed.
“To answer your question. No, I haven’t done pet play, but that’s why I signed up for tonight—new experiences.” Finally, words that worked in the right order.
“That’s good to hear. You said the guy you started to see… are you not seeing him now?” He gently guided her to the side as another couple joined the group.
“Oh, no. I dropped him weeks ago. I thought he would be a good… I don’t know… teacher… mentor… I’m not sure of the terminology, but he was too much of a jerk. I mean, if I’m wrong and I earn punishment, I get that—and I like that… well, at least in theory—but I won’t let anyone just scream at me and berate me.”
Tony had been a mistake—one she’d rectified later than she should have. Mary, her roommate and ex-matchmaker, might have liked her partners to be alpha-holes, but it wasn’t what Sandra wanted. She desired a man who took his dominance seriously, but still had a brain and a heart. Tony had neither qualification.
The last dominant was called up to the stage, and Sandra turned to watch. James wrapped one hand around her torso, locking her arm in place, while the other came up under her chin, lightly clasping her throat. His chest pressed against her back, and she could feel every ripple of his muscles as he held her there.
“Some people confuse fear and submission. Sounds like you weren’t interested in the fear he offered.” His voice was a soft whisper in her ear. The gentleness of the tone both calmed and aroused her the same time. The light brush of his chin against her earlobe made it hard to focus on their conversation and not other things pressing against her.
“Not that kind, no,” she answered quietly, pushing away the distracting thoughts to keep her attention focused in front of her.
If she moved, he would probably release her, so she leaned into his chest instead. Another first for her, having confidence that she could put her weight on him, and he wouldn’t let her fall. The other men she’d played with had been so overpowering with their chest-beating and demands, it hadn’t occurred to her that a dominant could be an anchor as much as the captain.
So far, James had the promise of being different.
A soft chuckle rumbled at her ear. “I didn’t think so.” His fingers curled into her throat, but not tight enough to take away her breath. His presence was doing that well enough all by itself. “Do you think you’ll make a good pet for me?” His words were spoken in a raw, almost animalistic tone, sending a heated shiver down her spine.
She swallowed hard as his fingers squeezed a little tighter around her throat. Could he feel her heartbeat through her veins?
“I’ll do my best,” she promised. It was all she had to offer.
Hopefully, it was enough.